Hello...Hello. One of the most common "issues" we deal with is "My dog is randomly peeing in the house" or worse yet on the bed or couch. Well, if your dog is that dog that pees 157 times on a walk around the hood then you have a dog that is dominate in it's nature. If that same dog is peeing in the house it is safe to assume this has become a behavioral issue due to inconsistent pack leadership and that there is nothing physically wrong with his or her bladder. All dogs will scent mark but it is the dominate one who dares to pee in such sacred territory as the home. To deal with the behavioral side we must catch the dog in the act and immediately negatively reinforce the act with sound our touch and positively reinforce the act when done properly outside. Also and at the same time you should completely restrict the dog from any spot it marks in the home until such time as the marking behavior is extinguished from within the boundaries of YOUR territory, the home. As well you should "bring her" to any spot where she pees outside on the walks. This means the spot should be one of your choosing to reinforce that you are the one who decides where we pee. Another common mistake we make is allowing our dogs constant access to food and water by leaving it laying around on the floor. As consistent pack leaders we should provide and be present when our dogs eat and drink especially when the dog is dominate in nature to begin with.

You can't fight mother nature...you can only set yourself up for success in dealing with her.

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Here at WGO we enjoy taking on the challenge of those difficult dogs that most chains store will turn away in a nano-second. We honestly owe everything to the dogs. We may be their leaders but social learning is huge and success truly comes from forming the right packs with the right dogs for the right reasons

With that said, Dominant Females play a huge part in maintaining pack structure and especially order. WGO has a few choice big mamas (oh don't be fooled, actual size doesn't mean a thing) that we purposely pair up with those dogs who need it the most. The problem lies when owners have a female who they may think it expressing typical "Dominant Female" behavior when in fact that are imbalanced.

A true Dominant Female knows how to correct with just the right amount of intensity and at the right moment. More often then not their energy and presence is enough to keep everydog under control. Correction is done quickly and only when necessary.

If your female is constantly correcting, doing so for no reason at all and is super intense when she does, she may, in fact, be imbalanced. Especially if who she's correcting is YOU!

Email us for more information or to inquire about your females' behavior and maybe we can help.

Stay on top!

Maxine

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What I believe to be a new "Rule of Thumb" (if it already isn't one) is this: If you don't want them to chew it when it's new, don't give it to them when it's old! Dogs, believe it or not, can not tell the difference between objects that are old and objects that are new. Sure they smell different, but the difference in VALUE of the objects means nothing to them. Just the same as they can't tell the difference between your Coach purse and your Mudd purse. So if you don't want your dog chewing your new shoes, don't give them your old ones to chew! If you don't want your dog chewing your new socks, don't give them your new ones to chew.

And heres another great tip. Save yourself a whole lot of money on your dogs toys. Buy 5 toys you know they'll enjoy but only use one at a time, rotating them. You should be engaging them with toys and not leaving them to chew it to pieces. Rotating the toys makes them seem even more awesome because they don't get to see them as often and engaging your dog instead of leaving him/her to their own devices with a toy ensures the lifespan of the toy (and of course that your dog doesn't swallow any piece--when a $5 toy becomes a $2000 obstruction removal)

Tug away!
-Maxine

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We all love to bring our dogs to the dog run. We want them to be well socialized. The problem with this is that too many people bring their dogs to the run to release energy. Or they bring an unstable dog in the run. Both big no-no's in dog run etiquette. Instead, try finding another, well balanced dog, and just walk together. We humans underestimate the power of the pack and pack migration in the dog world.

Keep on keepin' on!
Maxine

For more information on training or dog runs in your area, contact Dave at davestratton@wannagoout.net or me at MBania426@aol.com

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Summer is here everyone and Urban Mushing is the new pink! Some of you we have spoken to personally and others we haven't. We have a workshop dedicated just for Urban Mushing, so if your interested, drop us a line! Until then, here are a few things to look out for.

Breed:
Yes, the breed of your dog matters. Not every dog can be mushed (sadly). Dogs with Hypoglycemia, heart or joint issues, obese dogs and those prone to Collapsing Trachea and Brachycephalic Syndrome should consult a Veterinarian before attempting.

Speed:
Faster isn't always better. Migratory pace is ideal.

Tools:
Don't be discouraged if you don't the fancy stuff, neither do we! A regular 4 or 6 ft leash, looped through your belt or wrapped around your waste, should do it. Make sure it's not touching the ground or too taut.

For more tips and questions on Urban Mushing and/or our U.M. workshop, check out the Contact section of the page.

Merry Mushing!

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That's right, this is one of those moments where we can claim "We are only human." As human beings we show how greatly we care for another human being with affection, affection and more affection. More often than not, we carry this concept over to our dogs. Here's a great tip...DON'T DO THAT! It's fine to give our dogs affection, in some ways, it's natural, but only at the right time and for the right reasons. Think, for a moment, in the simple way your dog--your domesticated animal--thinks. As a dog, there are certain things of importance in your life; Eat, sleep, dominate, submit, procreate and be a part of a pack. When all of these, more important issues, are taken care of; When our belly's are full, our pack is safe, our genes are passed on and everyone is in there appropriate hierarchical place...we may now enjoy some inter-pack affection...because we have EARNED it. Do you see where I'm coming from?

For more questions email us, we'll be more then happy to elaborate, answer questions and/or set up a consultation if you'd like.

May all your migrations me merry!

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Remember to always ask for calm behavior before doing anything with your dog or before allowing them to do anything. Some examples are:

*Allowing people to pet them
*Greeting new people
*Greeting children
*Feeding time
*When putting on the leash and collar

Always remember that human psychology is very different from dog psychology and excited behavior in a dog world in not natural. Your dog does not need to be "excited" to be "happy". Whenever you give affection, cookies or any other form of reward, the behavior pre-reward is the one being reinforced. Barking and being pet; your rewarding barking, being affraid and getting pet; your rewarding fear, coming when called and get pet; your reinforcing the come command, being CALM and getting pet; your reinforcing a calm, relaxed state of mind.

Have a calm, relaxed weekend,
Maxine

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90% of training and behavior modification session we do are a direct result of the lack of research done on the breed of dog brought into the home; to high energy, to big or massive, to sight driven, to scent driven, to loud. These are just some of the characteristics of dogs that people seem to have issues with. You want to enjoy your dog and, very much like any human relationship, the best way to enjoy another's company is to ensure that you are compatible to each other.

Happy hound hunting,
Maxine

***Just so ya kno! We offer consultations for anyone who is looking into getting a dog. We'll help you choose a breed, pick a pup and properly introduce them into your home. We love that stuff!!***

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If there is ever a time, when working with your dog, you feel yourself getting frustrated, angry, annoyed or just plain old fed up...just walk away. Knowing when to check your energy and walk away is one of the biggest challenges you can overcome. Another form of walking away, and possibly the most difficult, is learning when to walk away from the dog entirely. Walking away in the sense that maybe you and this particular dog are just not meant for each other. Maybe you don't have the time or maybe your energy's just don't match up. Knowing when to find a more appropriate home for your dog and a more appropriate dog for you can save you a lot of time, money and emotional distress. You should bring a dog into your life, if for nothing else, for two specific reasons: to reconnect with nature and to enjoy their company. In the end, do what is fair for the dog and what makes you happy.

Do the right thing,
Maxine

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The use of a crate during a puppies young life is sometimes given a bad wrap. Usually due to people misusing this amazing tool. The crate should NEVER be used as punishment but rather it should be your dogs happy place. Dogs are denning animals by nature and generally will not use the bathroom where they eat or sleep. THIS is the big secret of the crate. Its a potty training tool and a means to keep your puppy safe from your house and your house safe from your puppy WHEN YOUR NOT ABLE TO BE PHYSICALLY PRESENT.

Have a dog-gone good day,
Maxine

***We also do puppy training which includes lots of info on crate/potty training. For more info contact us!***

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