Most people simply do not know how to keep a dog happy and tired. Did you know that mental stimulation in the form of training, activities and games is critical to having a well-adjusted, happy dog? Don't feel bad if you do not. Most people do not have the knowledge to keep their dog mentally tired.
Did you know that if you physically wear your dog out, he can still be mentally bored and can have severe behavior problems including barking, digging holes in the backyard, destruction and even aggression? Most people do not know that a physically tired dog is not always a happy, relaxed dog.
I have had multiple dogs fall asleep during training because their family was not practicing enough mental stimulation and I completely wore their dog out using simple mental stimulation training exercises. I have had multiple situations where my client said that they, "never saw their dog this tired!" Usually we are inside their house in one room. Their dog hasn't been running, jumping or other physical play. They are just mentally tuckered out! (And happy!)
I can show you logical, effective and humane strategies to provide your dog the enrichment and stimulation that is needed to have a happy dog and happy home. You are probably going to be surprised at how easy it is and it doesn't take as much time as you might think.
Overview
I will provide specific training strategies and show you examples of how I conduct training sessions. I will make sure that you understand the steps involved and can continue working in between sessions. I will make it logical and fun for both you and your dog. Of course the strategies will be humane.
Training Topics
Whether your dog is a complete novice or has a lot of training, I can show you how to take your training to the next level. Examples of topics that we might work on include:
- What to do if your dog is bored
- How to stop demand barking
- Stay
- Retrieve
- Object discrimination
- Clean up (put toys away!)
- Touch
- Placement cues
- Off leash control
- Leash walking and heel
- No jumping
- Come
- Leave It
- Sit, Down, Stand
- Counter Surfing
- Stop
- and more . . . .
Have a Dog and a Life
Feel like your dog is taking over? It such an unpleasant feeling trying to enjoy yourself knowing that your dog is bored. I can show you specific strategies and a structure to have a happy, tired dog and also be able to have some peace and quiet, or go out to dinner, watch your child's soccer game, or go to the farmers market or a street festival without the guilt often associated with having a dog. Even better if your dog is relaxed and under control so you can take him to some of those activities! It is such a joy to be able to take your dog places or know how to wear him out before you leave him at home. Imagine being at a restaurant knowing that your dog is at home happy and tired! Avoid the guilt and gain the knowledge of how to make this happen. I can show you!
If your goal is to take your dog more places and simply can't because he or she is a bit too wild, I can help with that too.
We can meet in your home, neighborhood, your child's soccer game or wherever the problems are happening and I can show you specific strategies to involve your dog more into your routine. The more he is with you and your family, the more tired he will be. Everything is easier at that point.
Dog Park Play
Maybe your goal is to tire your dog out at the dog park but just don't feel confident that you know how to do it, you think your dog is too aggressive, or you are concerned about the other dogs in the park. It is important to understand how to safely take your dog to the dog park. You might decide ultimately that it makes more sense to take him near the park for socialization and activity but it is too much to take him inside. I can show you how to make these decisions safely. I have been to a dozen different dog parks thousands of times when I lived in Chicago and have visited dog parks in Cary, Raleigh and Durham and Apex many times since moving to North Carolina. You know what? They are all the same! Sometimes there are aggressive dogs that should not be in the park, but most of the time the dogs are simply acting like dogs. I always observe the dogs playing before I enter the park, and sometimes I will leave before even entering the park, but that is rare. Usually the dogs and people are pleasant, energetic and enjoyable and can be a great outlet for your dog!
Whether you decide to simply go near the park to socialize with dogs entering and exiting the park or venture into the park, let an expert show you the way.
I frequently get asked if I offer Board and Train. If you are not familiar with this type of training option, trainers will take a dog into their home (or in a kennel in the backyard) and work with the dog for a period of time each day, often for weeks at a time. They then return the dog to the family and (hopefully) spend some time explaining what their dog learned and teach the family how to communicate to their dog and continue the training that was done with the trainer. 
