Highland Canine Training, LLC » Therapy Dog Training http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog Tips and Advice on Dog Training and Behavior Tue, 13 Sep 2011 14:46:07 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Having Realistic Expectations of Dog Training http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2011/01/11/having-realistic-expectations-of-dog-training/ http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2011/01/11/having-realistic-expectations-of-dog-training/#comments Tue, 11 Jan 2011 15:53:04 +0000 admin http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/?p=419 Continue reading →]]> We ask the majority of all of our clients this question when they come to our facility to drop their dog off for training. It sounds silly to most clients, they look at you funny, and say of course I’m going to follow through once the dog is home! But we have found that some dog owners have a false since of hope that there dog will come home a push button robot; whether it be a pet dog here for behavior modification, a protection dog, a police dog, or even an autism assistance dog many owner’s must realize the finished results don’t transfer over automatically it’s a gradual thing with consistency and patience. So let’s go over what we mean by expectations of training!

No matter what type of pet dog training you chose, whether it’s in-kennel training, private lessons, in-home training, or even group classes, you have your home work cut out for you! In-kennel clients should understand that just because the dog does all the commands for our dog trainer’s doesn’t mean that will automatically apply to you. Let’s say, for example your dog has had the run of the house the last 2 years, he comes and goes as he pleases, chews up things in your home, lunges at people on a walk, and maybe a little rough when playing with new dogs. You as the pet owner, have allowed that to go on the last 2 years, and that is no big deal, we see it all the time, but when your dog returns home you have to get with the program and apply the rules instantly. This can take several days or even weeks for your dog to realize that “Mom is not putting up with my bad behavior anymore!” And my group class, private lessons, and in-home training clients you are not off the hook either! You will be assigned things to work on between sessions, it’s your job as the pet owner to follow through, and it’s so worth it!

Protection dog clients maybe the worst as far as expectations! They often times purchase a dog that is picked from a vendor in Europe, we ship the dog to our facility, and the owner may or may not even come visit before training begins. We work with the dog for several months in obedience and bite work and deliver the dog to the client’s home. This dog doesn’t know you from Adam; it takes several weeks and sometimes months depending on the dog, for a bond or relationship to take effect. Clients want good social dogs that can do well with kids that perform bite work, then call the first week and say it’s not mean enough! Once the dog understands his home he will guard it to the fullest! This goes back to patience and consistency in training once the dog is in your home! We have a protection dog in the Charlotte area, the owner called after week two and said that his wife has spoiled her so much he didn’t think she would bite a flea! Jason went down to the home did a little decoy work with her and she still had it! Jason explained that she was still settling in to be patient and stick with working obedience daily (this helps with the liability issue that come with a protection dog to work on nice solid obedience). A few weeks later, the owner called and said he had to leave work early and go home, because the cleaning lady had stepped out of the house and their dog would not let her back in! Since then this family has had other positive experiences when the dog performed their job, you just have to give it a chance!

Our Autism Assistance Dog clients probably have the most work do to once the dog arrives. For this simple reason is why we generally stay five days upon delivery of the dog to make sure the transition goes well with the children! Our families already have a tight schedule with school, therapies, and doctor appointments and so on, now they have to learn how to utilize a dog in this chaos! We prepare our clients for the responsibilities that are added with a dog and how they still have to work daily with the child and dog on obedience and structure. Like our protection dog clients we often purchase a dog to fit the family’s needs and they may visit the dog a few times upon delivery, so again it takes a little bit for the dog to settle and bond with your family so be patient it will pay off in the end!

So when asked “What are your expectations of the dogs training?” Your answer should be I understand that your job is to lay the foundation work for my dog, but it’s up to me and my family to properly nurture and mold the finished product with training my dog! Keep expectations realistic, understand that these dogs will not be push button in the beginning, it takes time, with consistency and structure you will get there, and we guarantee it! We are only a phone call away and any of our dog trainer’s will be happy to assist with advice and/or a visit if needed!

]]> http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2011/01/11/having-realistic-expectations-of-dog-training/feed/ 0 Upcoming Dog Behavior Seminar http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2010/01/05/upcoming-dog-behavior-seminar/ http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2010/01/05/upcoming-dog-behavior-seminar/#comments Wed, 06 Jan 2010 03:28:41 +0000 admin http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/?p=347 Continue reading →]]> Highland Canine Training, LLC will be holding a FREE dog behavior seminar on February 25, 2010 at 6 p.m. at the Mint Hill Fire Department located at 8313 Fairview Rd. Charlotte, NC 28227.

This seminar is a great opportunity for dog owners, veterinarians, rescue volunteers, petsitters, groomers and others to learn about canine communication, canine cognition as well as answers to some common myths and questions about dog behavior. The seminar will last for about 3 hours and will include a question and answer session with our training staff.

The seminar will include:
How Dogs Learn
Canine Body Language
Behavior Problems
How to be a Better Dog Owner
Bite Prevention
Working with Dogs and Children
…and much, much more!

This seminar is free of charge and is open to anyone who would like to attend. Space is limited and registration for the seminar is required. If you would like to attend the seminar, please email us at training@highlandcanine.com. Please include your name and phone number in your email. If you have questions about the seminar, feel free to call us at 704.728.9494.

]]> http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2010/01/05/upcoming-dog-behavior-seminar/feed/ 0 New Years Resolution for You and Your Dog http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2010/01/03/new-years-resolution-for-you-and-your-dog/ http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2010/01/03/new-years-resolution-for-you-and-your-dog/#comments Sun, 03 Jan 2010 19:56:15 +0000 admin http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/?p=338 Continue reading →]]> Another year is upon us, as is those New Years Resolutions we all seem to forget about after the first three weeks. Chances are, we have all made a resolution and quickly forgot about it because of our busy schedules and hectic lives. This year, man’s best friend wants you to make a resolution, and they need you to follow through on it to ensure their happiness and wellbeing.

So, I am sure you are asking, “Where do I start?” You should start by looking at what you did and didn’t do with your pup last year, and what you can do to improve upon it. It’s imperative that you understand that your dog’s happiness directly correlates with the activities you do together. When is the last time you guys went on a walk together? Did you bring him to the park with your family at all? Invite him to a BBQ and let him run around with friends? Did you even have a nice catch with him in the house? If you did, ask yourself how often. If you didn’t…you have to ask yourself, why not?

Many times we are involved with dogs because the owner is not comfortable with the dog out in public. So they don’t bring him out in public. Often this will lead to destructive behavior inside the house, i.e. chewing on the furniture, counter surfing, chewing through walls and doors, non stop barking. It is common to see these behaviors purely because the dog is bored and makes games by himself to keep his mind stimulated.

If your dog is good in public with people and other dogs there is no reason not to get him out more often. This will decrease his energy, destructiveness and increase his behavior when he is home. If your dog is not good in public you need to address these issues. Does he bark or growl at strangers, or dogs? Has he bitten someone? Does he tend to pull on the leash and is hard to control when distracted? Do you have to repeat commands in order for him to pay attention to you? Does he jump on people? Is he easily startled or scared? Does he growl when he has a toy or food?

If you answered yes to any of the questions above you came to the right spot…because your dog needs your help. If these issues are not dealt with they could become serious, potentially dangerous for family members, neighbors, even strangers. Although these issues are common and can be fixed, you should consult with a professional dog trainer in order to make sure you don’t try to fix it and accidently make it worse.

We have many different training options, including group lessons, private lessons, in home training and in kennel training. We are committed to helping you and your dog succeed at this New Years Resolution so that you and your dog can live happier, healthier lives. Not to mention, we guarantee our training for the life of the dog. Contact us today to take the first step towards a new year both of you.

]]> http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2010/01/03/new-years-resolution-for-you-and-your-dog/feed/ 0 Upcoming Dog Trainer School Schedule http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/10/17/upcoming-dog-trainer-school-schedule/ http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/10/17/upcoming-dog-trainer-school-schedule/#comments Sat, 17 Oct 2009 20:16:18 +0000 admin http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/?p=148 Continue reading →]]> Highland Canine Training offers intensive and highly educational schools for dog trainers. Our programs teach students innovative methods of training dogs and gives our students everything they need to start their own dog training business. We offer training courses for basic dog obedience, advanced dog obedience, a Canine Training and Behavior Modification Professionals Course to teach the student how to train dogs as well as rehabilitate problem behaviors. We also offer working dog programs for the Police Canine Trainer / Instructor, Search and Rescue Trainer, Protection Dog trainer as well as courses to teach narcotics, explosives and human remains detection.

Our schedule for 2010 is listed below:

    January 4th, 2010
    April 5th, 2010
    July 5th, 2010
    October 4th, 2010

We are also offering discounted pricing for all of our courses for the Winter semester beginning on January 4th, 2010. Offers are available to those who register before December 1 , 2009. You can fill out our Dog Trainer Course Application here. For more information on our programs or our discounted prices, email us at training@highlandcanine.com or call toll free at 866.200.2207.

]]> http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/10/17/upcoming-dog-trainer-school-schedule/feed/ 0 Upcoming Group Classes in Mooresville, NC http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/10/07/upcoming-group-classes-in-mooresville-nc/ http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/10/07/upcoming-group-classes-in-mooresville-nc/#comments Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:47:47 +0000 admin http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/?p=160 Continue reading →]]>
Agility Dog

Agility Dog

Highland Canine Training is offering group classes in Mooresville, NC again this fall. Group Classes will be held at the Humane Society of Iredell located at 110 Robinson Road in Mooresville, NC beginning on Saturday, November 14th, 2009. Each class lasts for about an hour.

Agility for Fun Class 11:30 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.
This class is a great way for owners to teach their dog confidence as well as some exciting new skills. Our agility for fun class teaches ground work and fundamentals to complete a variety of obstacles and jumps such as weave poles, pause tables, tire jumps, triple jumps and more! There are no prerequistes for this course.

Basic Obedience Class 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
This class teaches dogs and owners on-leash skills such as sit, down, stay, come, heel and place. This class is also designed to help owners deal with problems such as pulling on the leash, jumping on people, etc. This course is also a great forum for socializing your dog with new people and dogs.

Rally Obedience Class 3:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Rally-O class introduces dogs and owners to Rally Obedience. This class will teach the skills (sit, down, turn, stand, come, etc) to learn and compete in either AKC or APDT Rally courses and competitions. Rally is a great way for dogs and owner to work closely together and to show others their hard work. Rally is fun, competition obedience that is completed under time.

Therapy Dog Training Class 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Therapy Dog Class teaches dogs and owners the fundamentals of therapy dog work. Dogs and owners wishing to attend this class must have previously completed a basic obedience class or an equivalent. This course teaches the skills and environmental training that is required for therapy dogs. This course is great if you are looking into doing therapy work in schools, nursing homes and hospitals. Many of our previous graduates are already involved in these types of exciting and fulfilling programs.

]]> http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/10/07/upcoming-group-classes-in-mooresville-nc/feed/ 0 AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Program http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/09/30/akc-s-t-a-r-puppy-program/ http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/09/30/akc-s-t-a-r-puppy-program/#comments Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:06:02 +0000 admin http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/?p=138 Continue reading →]]> The AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy is an exciting new program designed to get dog owners and their new puppies off to a good start. The AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Program is an incentive program for dog owners who have taken the time to take their puppies through a basic dog training class.

The Benefits of Training with the STAR Puppy Program

Training classes teach you how to best communicate with your puppy. Organized training classes also provide an opportunity for your dog to socialize with other puppies. In classes aimed at earning the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy distinction, you’ll be able to get information on all of your puppy-raising questions including housetraining, chewing, proper socialization and the most effective way to teach practical skills such as sit, down, stay, and coming when called. AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy training is a natural primer to the AKC® Canine Good Citizen® Program.

How It Works

You’ll attend S.T.A.R puppy or basic training class at least 6 weeks. (All six classes are required to test for the S.T.A.R. Puppy) The instructor will administer the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy test at the end of the course. Upon passing the test, you’ll get an application to send to AKC® for enrollment in the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Program. All dogs are welcome to participate in the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Program including purebreds and mixed breeds.

Your puppy will receive the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Medal (for display or memento purposes; not suitable as a collar tag). You and your puppy will be listed in the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy records. In addition, so that you can continue learning, you’ll receive the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy package that includes:

A beautiful, frameable certificate designating your puppy is in the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy records at AKC
AKC Puppy Handbook, a valuable resource
Discount to enroll in AKC Companion Animal Recovery Corporation, a 24-hour recovery service
Ongoing Monthly Email Newsletter: Your AKC. This includes training tips and up-to-date information every dog owner needs to know. We want you and your puppy to continue learning beyond puppy classes.
How to Get Your Puppy in the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Program

We have new S.T.A.R. Puppy classes coming up this fall! Call or email us to enroll your puppy.

]]> http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/09/30/akc-s-t-a-r-puppy-program/feed/ 0 Upcoming Fall Group Classes http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/09/23/upcoming-fall-group-classes/ http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/09/23/upcoming-fall-group-classes/#comments Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:51:34 +0000 admin http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/?p=117 Continue reading →]]> Highland Canine Training, LLC will be offering group classes again this fall in Matthews, NC as well as in Statesville, NC. Group classes meet each week for about and hour. You can view a description of our group classes here.

Our group classes in Matthews are held at 800 Elizabeth Lane and our schedule for Matthews, NC is:

Therapy Dog Tuesday Nov 3rd, at 6:30 pm

Basic Obedience Wednesday Nov 4th, at 6:30 pm

Advanced Obedience Thursday Nov 5th, at 6:30 pm

Agility for Fun Friday Nov 6th, at 6:30 pm

Rally-Obedience 1 Saturday Nov 7th at 10:00 am

Our Statesville Group Classes are held at Pet Envy Grooming located at 246C North Center Street in Downtown Statesville and the schedule for our Statesville Group Classes is listed below:

S.T.A.R Puppy Class Thursday Nov 12th at 6:00 pm

Basic Obedience Thursday Nov 12th at 7:00 pm

]]> http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/09/23/upcoming-fall-group-classes/feed/ 0 New Therapy Dog Club http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/09/23/new-therapy-dog-club/ http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/09/23/new-therapy-dog-club/#comments Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:40:42 +0000 admin http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/?p=103 Continue reading →]]> Highland Canine Training, LLC is proud to announce the formation of the Therapy Dog Club of NC! This group allows handlers and dogs the opportunity to train and work in a group to teach people about the benefits of therapy dogs and the work that they do.

Therapy Dog

Because of all the interest in our therapy dog classes and training programs, we decided to offer therapy dogs and their handlers a group so that they could network and exchange information and ideas about their work and adventures as therapy dog handlers. This group also provides therapy dog teams with opportunities to work as well as providing school, nursing homes, group homes and similar facilities with a pool of qualified teams to come and volunteer at their facilities.

If you are interested in joining the Therapy Dog Club or just want to learn more, visit the website at www.therapydogclub.com

]]> http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/09/23/new-therapy-dog-club/feed/ 0 Upcoming Dog Events http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/09/23/upcoming-dog-events/ http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/09/23/upcoming-dog-events/#comments Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:24:25 +0000 admin http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/?p=96 Continue reading →]]> Come visit us at the following events. Staff will be available to talk about training options and demonstrate personal protection dogs, obedience, agility, pet massage and other services.

Saturday, September 26th, 9am – 2pm
5th Annual Race City Weiner Run to benefit
Lake Norman Animal Rescue
Broad Street Mooresville, NC

Saturday, October 3rd, 10am -3pm
Bark for Life
benefit Relay for Life Statesville
Fairview Baptist Church Statesville, NC

Saturday, October 3rd, 5pm – 9pm
2009 All American Dog Show
Bailey Road Cornelius, NC

Saturday, October 10th, 10am
AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluations
Iredell County Humane Society Mooresville, NC

Thursday, October 15th, 6:30
Feed Bucket Animal Health Expo
Hwy 70 Statesville, NC

Saturday, October 24th
Fall Paw Dive
Pet Essentials Charlotte, NC

]]> http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/09/23/upcoming-dog-events/feed/ 0 Considering Dog Breeds http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/08/27/considering-dog-breeds/ http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/08/27/considering-dog-breeds/#comments Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:13:45 +0000 admin http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/?p=62 Continue reading →]]> As you know many dog trainers preach about “how bad dog behavior, in most cases, is the result of human error. “We believe this still holds true, we are seeing dog owners, making mistakes on poor breed choices for their lifestyle. We at Highland Canine simply believe, owner’s are getting too caught up in the moment of bringing that bundle of joy home, and not thinking of the particular breed’s needs for the future. Unfortunately, this result is over population of animals in your local animal shelters, rescue organizations, and strays roaming your neighborhood.

There are many breeds that are conducive to different lifestyles and can adapt to either an active/ or laid back style of life. All dog breeds need attention and companionship, some just require less/more than others. Most of your Poodles, Boston Terriers, Some Labrador retrievers, some Golden Retrievers, Great Danes, Rottweiler’s, Yorkshire Terriers, Bulldogs, Mastiff, Shih Tzu’s, and Bloodhounds, etc. often do well, in homes with less structure and planned activities. These breeds are usually content with a daily walk or play time in the back yard with lots of love. However, you may experience problems with some of these breeds in an apartment type setting where they can’t get outside on a regular basis.

Problems often arise when pet owner’s take in dog breeds that they cannot handle or control. Although most of your terrier breeds (Jack Russell terrier, West Highland Terriers, Scottish Terriers), are small in size, they are highly intelligent with big egos in a lot of cases. If dog owners do not have the time or patience to stimulate these types of dogs, the result is often bad dog behavior (people aggression, dog on dog aggression, resource guarding). Dog breeds such as Border Collies, German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, Heelers; some Spaniels, Miniature Pinchers, Dachshunds, American Bull Dogs and Papillion’s require a lot of attention and dedication. These breeds often do well with active pet owners who run, attend dog parks, bike, or participate in group class for agility dog training, therapy dog training, Rally-O, SAR training, or Protection work.

So a word to the wise, evaluate your lifestyle, your free time, your activities and your hobbies to see which breed or breed mix fits into your environment. Who knows maybe your dog can change your lifestyle for you; nothing like getting out and about with your dog and having a little fun at the same time!

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