BLOG.OHBEHAVEDOGTRAINING.COM
Real Hardwoods - Real Flea Problems
www.ohbehavedogtraining.com
Before Frontline and Advantage, my house in Coconut Grove (Miami), Florida had the worst flea infestation. My poor dogs were subjected to what I thought were an invincible species of fleas. I would walk through the house only 30 minutes after what my exterminator said was a really powerful treatment and my socks would be covered in little black flea dots.
Before you burn your house down or spend more money on clueless exteminators, let me give you the key to the strength of these seemingly indestructible fleas. I had hardwood floors. I had original 1954 hardwood floors in old Miami. This means the little bungalow house was a few steps up to get in the front door.. and a scary crawl space existed to harbor all types of evil under the house.
You could not pay me enough to go under the house. Finally after an exhausting search, I found an exterminator that really knew his business. He sealed off the crawlspace vents with wood and ran a hose through a hole in the wood. While one guy sprayed the house, the other guy fogged the crawlspace. Those evil little fleas that had been evading me by squeezing through the cracks of the floor to breath the air of the crawl space, no longer had their refuge.
Find a bug guy that really knows something about architecture as well as bugs!
Before Frontline and Advantage, my house in Coconut Grove (Miami), Florida had the worst flea infestation. My poor dogs were subjected to what I thought were an invincible species of fleas. I would walk through the house only 30 minutes after what my exterminator said was a really powerful treatment and my socks would be covered in little black flea dots.
Before you burn your house down or spend more money on clueless exteminators, let me give you the key to the strength of these seemingly indestructible fleas. I had hardwood floors. I had original 1954 hardwood floors in old Miami. This means the little bungalow house was a few steps up to get in the front door.. and a scary crawl space existed to harbor all types of evil under the house.
You could not pay me enough to go under the house. Finally after an exhausting search, I found an exterminator that really knew his business. He sealed off the crawlspace vents with wood and ran a hose through a hole in the wood. While one guy sprayed the house, the other guy fogged the crawlspace. Those evil little fleas that had been evading me by squeezing through the cracks of the floor to breath the air of the crawl space, no longer had their refuge.
Find a bug guy that really knows something about architecture as well as bugs!
Fun and Games
www.ohbehavedogtraining.com
Training your dog should not be something that you (or your dog) dread. Classes and training sessions should be infused with games and lots of fun. Not only will this increase the likelihood that you will train often, but your dog is also more likely to learn if you can keep him engaged and focused.
First, you will want to find out what games your dog enjoys. Give your dog the opportunity to try games like fetch, chase, tug, and find. You can be as creative as you like making up games. Infusing games into your training routine will give your dog the fun and energy to stay focused on practice.
Make sure that your dog already has an understanding of the command you are practicing. For example, you will want to teach a sit-stay in a distraction free environment using tasty treats until your dog "gets it". Once your dog "gets it", generalizing the stay behavior in other environments will be alot more fun if you break up the stays with a fun game. Your dog will learn patience leads to wonderful things.
Maddie loves "diving fetch" at Arfington Pet Resort in Tamarac www.arfington.com
Training your dog should not be something that you (or your dog) dread. Classes and training sessions should be infused with games and lots of fun. Not only will this increase the likelihood that you will train often, but your dog is also more likely to learn if you can keep him engaged and focused.
First, you will want to find out what games your dog enjoys. Give your dog the opportunity to try games like fetch, chase, tug, and find. You can be as creative as you like making up games. Infusing games into your training routine will give your dog the fun and energy to stay focused on practice.
Make sure that your dog already has an understanding of the command you are practicing. For example, you will want to teach a sit-stay in a distraction free environment using tasty treats until your dog "gets it". Once your dog "gets it", generalizing the stay behavior in other environments will be alot more fun if you break up the stays with a fun game. Your dog will learn patience leads to wonderful things.
Maddie loves "diving fetch" at Arfington Pet Resort in Tamarac www.arfington.com
Fair Housing - Fair to Dogs?
www.ohbehavedogtraining.com
Fair housing laws allow disabled persons to use and enjoy their homes with the assistance of service dogs. Even though there may be deed restrictions, condominium rules, or apartment rules that do not allow pets, exceptions are made that are reasonable for those with disabilities. Service dogs placed with disabled persons have typically been through a rigorous selection and training process. Not for profit organizations work with specific breeders to find dogs with the right temperament and motivation for a life of service. They are selected and placed in temporary homes and socialized in a way that a normal family would not take the time to do. Those with the most aptitude are selected for service training. After a thorough program with professional trainers, the dog is placed with a disabled person who has received training and education on their service dog. The dog will likely retire before its senior years. Service work is a very demanding job for a dog, but because of the professionals involved in selection and training, the dogs find it rewarding and willingly channel all of their energy to helping their people. This scenario is the epitome of responsibly and humanely creating service dogs.
Recently, I have seen some petitions to allow dogs in condos. I also recieved desperate calls for training from people that have a medical need for a companion animal and are completely at their wits end with their new companion. Although we need to be compassionate to the needs of disabled persons, people considering companion animals, need to become educated about finding and training the best suited dog for their companion job. The life that some companion dogs are forced to live seems so unfair to me.
When a dog is deemed "medically necessary", the pet is allowed to live in buildings with strict no pet policies. Many condos do not have common areas for dogs and it is very difficult to socialize and housebreak them under these conditions. Furthermore, the owner may not be physically able to give the dog proper exercise and walks. In addition, due to lack of research, the owner may buy the dog from a puppy mill, almost begging for behavior problems. The owner may buy a breed that is completely inappropriate for a “companion” lifestyle. Incongruent lifestyles of owners and dogs can lead to obsessive, compulsive, or aggressive behavior. Many companion dogs are starved for stimulation and exercise and develop severe behavior problems. They may not have the temperament or motivation for this life. Even with the owner’s medical condition, I think this is cruel and selfish way to become a dog owner. There should be some guidelines to help these dogs and educate people.
Fair housing laws allow disabled persons to use and enjoy their homes with the assistance of service dogs. Even though there may be deed restrictions, condominium rules, or apartment rules that do not allow pets, exceptions are made that are reasonable for those with disabilities. Service dogs placed with disabled persons have typically been through a rigorous selection and training process. Not for profit organizations work with specific breeders to find dogs with the right temperament and motivation for a life of service. They are selected and placed in temporary homes and socialized in a way that a normal family would not take the time to do. Those with the most aptitude are selected for service training. After a thorough program with professional trainers, the dog is placed with a disabled person who has received training and education on their service dog. The dog will likely retire before its senior years. Service work is a very demanding job for a dog, but because of the professionals involved in selection and training, the dogs find it rewarding and willingly channel all of their energy to helping their people. This scenario is the epitome of responsibly and humanely creating service dogs.
Recently, I have seen some petitions to allow dogs in condos. I also recieved desperate calls for training from people that have a medical need for a companion animal and are completely at their wits end with their new companion. Although we need to be compassionate to the needs of disabled persons, people considering companion animals, need to become educated about finding and training the best suited dog for their companion job. The life that some companion dogs are forced to live seems so unfair to me.
When a dog is deemed "medically necessary", the pet is allowed to live in buildings with strict no pet policies. Many condos do not have common areas for dogs and it is very difficult to socialize and housebreak them under these conditions. Furthermore, the owner may not be physically able to give the dog proper exercise and walks. In addition, due to lack of research, the owner may buy the dog from a puppy mill, almost begging for behavior problems. The owner may buy a breed that is completely inappropriate for a “companion” lifestyle. Incongruent lifestyles of owners and dogs can lead to obsessive, compulsive, or aggressive behavior. Many companion dogs are starved for stimulation and exercise and develop severe behavior problems. They may not have the temperament or motivation for this life. Even with the owner’s medical condition, I think this is cruel and selfish way to become a dog owner. There should be some guidelines to help these dogs and educate people.
