Dogs Speak Newsletter for December08

1. Dogs Speak
Secret Lake Dog Training, LLC
December 2008
Holidays mean visiting with family
and friends. Make the holidays
enjoyable for all. Survival tips for
the Holidays for you and your dog.
Holiday Manners for Dogs! difficulty gradually as your dog
Stealing Food
understands the command. “Leave
In the last newsletter, I talked Of course a dog will steal food if it
it” is used to tell the dog not to
about keeping everyone safe on is available. We have all
touch or take something—to leave
the holidays. In this newsletter, experienced the sudden loss of a
whatever it is alone. Then if you
manners are the topic of sandwich or bagel and the
must step away from a plate of food,
discussion. disappointment that it brings.
issue a strong “Leave it” command
Once the food is stolen and gone,
Dogs do whatever works for to your dog. If you have worked to
let it go; don’t continue to
them. If jumping on people gets train your dog to do a solid “Leave
verbally punish the dog. It is
them any attention, dogs will it”, you will be able to step away.
actually your fault that the dog
continue to jump. If dogs are
stole your food.
successful at stealing food, then
Mattie’s Safety Tips
they will continue to steal. With proper training and
management, you can eliminate This Thanksgiving weekend a Golden
You can teach your dog to have
food stealing. Plus it is simple! Retriever was shot and killed by
good manners. Start now to
hunter in CT. Please be safe during
prepare for the upcoming If you do not leave food out
hunting season by dressing yourself
holidays! where your dog can steal it, food
and your dog in hunter safety orange
will not be stolen. That’s
Jumping clothing.
management and prevention.
Ignore the jumping dog. Do not Teach yourself, family members Inexpensive orange vests with
pet the dog who is jumping on and guests NOT to leave tempting reflective tape can be bought for your
you and do not shout at her. food where the dog can reach it. dog and should be on the dog
Instead, fold your arms and whenever you are out hiking or
If you teach your dog a rock solid
ignore the dog completely. Once walking. Your dog will be visible to
“Leave It”, your hors d'œuvres
the dog puts four feet on the floor hunters and to traffic.
should not disappear in front of
or sits, praise her! Praise the
your guests. Mistletoe, holly, and
desired behavior and ignore the
poinsettias are poisonous
undesired! Work on teaching your dog to
to dogs!
“Leave it” and on increasing the
Fun with Obstacles Classes
K ar e n J . Mo ul to n
December 13 to January 10 at 9am
F a r m s V i ll a g e Pl a z a
January 17 to February 14 at 9 am
2 4 4 F a r m s V il l a g e R o ad
We s t Si m s b ur y , C T
Emphasis is on playing with your dog to build teamwork and attention, learning
Phone: (860) 404-0038
the obstacles, and having fun. Course is not geared toward agility competition.
secretlakedog@comcast.net
Goal of the course is to teach you and your dog one more way to work as a
www.secretlakedogtraining.com
team and have a blast!