Tag Archives: puppy training

Can my dog do Rally O?

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We have had many of our clients asking if Rally O is breed specific like for example Shutzhund Training/Trials? The answer is no, absolutely not! We had the pleasure of attending a Rally O trial in Durham, North Carolina over the weekend and there were dogs of all shapes, colors, and sizes; which in my opinion was refreshing to see. The competition included breeds such as the border collie (and border collie mixes), terriers, Retrievers, and your non-specific pounds puppies!

My advice to pet owners who are looking to pick up a hobby with thier dog, is to give Rally O a try. You may have a large breed dog like a Great Dane or St. Bernard, and no you may not be the fastest in the bunch, but look how much fun you could have for simply completing the course w/ little or no error! Obviously, your collie breeds usually rule the trials when it comes to competion obdience and agility, but that is not always true. This weekend we saw a Golden Retriever take top prize and a few Aridale Terriers place well too!

Rally O is perfect for large and small breeds, so don’t let size and shape determine if you pick up this hobby with your four-legged friend. Highland Canine is now offering both group classes and private lessons in both the Charlotte and Statesville,North Carolina areas to prepare you for Rally O events, so don’t hesitate to call our trainers and set up an evaluation to move you in the right direction with your training. Rally O events are held all year round throughout the state of North Carolina so we hope to take you and your dog to the next level and see you there!

The Pursuit..Dog Training as a Career!

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There is no time like the present to get started on a new career , start your own business, or simply do what you love everyday. Many people adore our four-legged friends and are intersted in pursuing a career in the dog training industry. My advice, is to go for it, there is plenty of business for everyone!

The first step is to decide which area of dog training is most interesting for you; is simply pet dog training (basic obedience and advanced obedience), behavior modification, agility, rally sports, herding, puppy training, therapy dog training, working dogs (police, detection, protection, Search and Rescue). The second area you should work on is deciding how you want to work your schedule or run your business. If you are the person who wants a little more freedom, then private lessons and group classes would be the area to focus on. However if you want the consistency of an everyday schedule, in-kennel training may be a better choice for you as a dog trainer.

Next you should narrow down a few schools that interest you, and go personally visit the site. You can get more out of personal visit than a telephone call; meeting the people you would be working and learning from can help you decide if you are a good fit for that particular school or environment. After a quick visit you can decide how much time you want to put into your career. For example, you could choose a 6 week program or tough it out and sign up for the 12 week program (which will allow you more experience by putting your hands on different breeds of dogs with different behaviors).

At Highland Canine Training we offer teaching for all the above areas of dog training. Students are able to combine classes and learn as much about as many areas of dog training as they can obsorb. Students who are just starting out,often sign up for obedience courses, but are also interested in protection courses; as a student you are able to take the both courses parallel for the length of time you wish to attend (6-12 weeks). Highland Canine also offers custom classes to fit your lifestyle. Many of our students also work full or part-time, have families, layed-off, or simply live out of state; we are able accomadate their schedules to help them earn the certification they are striving for!

Many students ask how they can gain experience after their school is finished and they are building their book of business? The answer is simple, pro-bono work with local shelter and rescue groups is the easiest way to gain experience and give back to your communities and the animals. Now more than ever, family pets are suffering because; people are surrendering their family pets at rescue groups or pounds because they are moving (leaving animals behind), have no time for the dog, or simply don’t like the dogs and will not take the time to place them in a proper home or work on fixing behaivor issues. Rescue groups will return the favor and referr business to you so everyone wins!

Finally, many people want to become dog trainer’s so they don’t have to work with people. That is not the case, the wonderful dogs usually belong to people and you must be able to communicate effectively with the owners to first off, diagnose the problem (if any), then teach dog owner’s how to work with their dogs! At Highland Canine Training we involve our students in the initial drop off of client dogs, what questions to ask the oweners, how to perform at both private lessons and group class settings, and how to teach the pet owner’s to work with their dogs and complete the “Go Home.”

If you think becoming a dog trainer may be in your near future, please give us a call or better yet stop by for a visit ,and we would be happy to introduce you to the wonderful world of dogs!

What is Rally Obedience?

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Rally Obedience, known as Rally O is the hot sport for dog owners who enjoy working with their dogs as a team. The dog and handler team navigate a course with numbered signs indicating different exercises to perform. The exercises include sit-down-sit, figure 8, send over a jump, a multitude of right and left turns, as well as serpentines, front finish and of course, heel. The team navigates through the course at a brisk pace without directions from the judge and the handler can talk to the dog or give hand signals for encouragement.

All dogs, mixed breeds, purebred and dogs with disabilities, can participate in Rally O. Because there are three levels of Rally O dogs in all levels of training can participate. Beginners would work on heel positioning, sits, turning paces, sit stay and come. As the dog becomes more proficient he/she can move to level 2 then level 3.

Titles can be earned at each level and teams may earn Championship titles, National Ranking Awards and a special Award of Excellence.

Rally is an excellent entry level class for Competition Obedience and for Agility. Even though Rally O is a lot of fun, it is a challenging sport that encourages teamwork and develops a bond between the dog and owner. The result will be a well behaved, thinking dog and a very proud owner.

If you think you and your dog would like to try Rally O, or if you just have questions about the sport or the next class schedule, contact Linda Taylor at 704-500-6810 or you may e-mail her at ltaylor@highlandcanine.com.

That Barking Dog Is Driving Me Crazy

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We don’t understand all of the reasons dogs bark, we just know it is irritating and we want them to “BE QUIET.” We get angry and yell at them and sometimes we resort to punishing them. Instead of behaving this way we need to take the time to understand what they are trying to tell us.

Like us, dogs have a language and barking is part of that language. With a little understanding and proper training we can solve the barking problem.

Barking can be classified as follows:
1. Excitement Barking
2. Warning Barking
3. Fear Barking
4. Guard Barking
5. Frustration Barking
6. Learned Barking

We have heard all 6 of these barks, but probably didn’t pay much attention to the differences.

Excitement barking is usually a series of high pitched barks and a lot of body movement. The warning bark is a quick low sounding bark. It sounds like the word “woof.” Fear barking is high pitched and like excitement barking it comes in a long series of barks. Unlike excitement barking which sounds happy, fear barking sounds like the dog is becoming hysterical.

Guard barking is easy to recognize. The dog will growl then bark. The barking may be one or two or even three times followed by another growl. We have all heard frustration barking. That’s the one that drives us crazy. It is the endless bark bark bark bark bark bark that seems to go on forever. And of course, learned barking is the bark that your dog does to get your attention. The dog will bark and then turn to look at you knowing that some type action will take place. Most of us have reinforced that behavior unknowingly.

So the next time you think a barking dog is aggressive, dominant, or is just being a pain in the neck don’t get angry, instead take a moment to listen.

New Puppy Information

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Many people ask us on regular basis, what care they should be providing for their new four-legged family member. Here is a breakdown of a schedule for you to use provided by our local Vet. Hope this helps!

New Puppy Information
Congratulations on your new puppy! As you may be aware there are a number of infectious diseases that your puppy may be susceptible to on a daily basis. Below is a recommended vaccination schedule to help you understand how to protect your pet from most major infections.
6-7 weeks of age: At this visit your veterinarian will perform an initial exam of the puppy and give you guidance on health and nutrition. Your puppy will receive a fecal exam to check for intestinal worms as well as a Distemper-Parvo vaccination at this visit.
9-10 weeks of age: During this visit the veterinarian will administer a 2nd Distemper-Parvo vaccine to the puppy. If necessary a fecal exam may be repeated. This is great time to talk with your vet about any behavioral issues you may be experiencing from your puppy. Also you may consider a Lyme vaccine is tick are a problem in your area.
12-16 weeks of age: During this visit your puppy will receive the 3rd booster of the Distemper-Parvo vaccine. This vaccine can now be administered yearly. Your puppy will also receive a rabies vaccination which will be good for one year. A Bordatella vaccine (kennel cough) may be administered if you plan to have your puppy boarded, groomed, or participating in obedience training and/or dog parks.
At this stage in your puppies’ life we highly recommend you to begin your puppy on heartworm preventive. Heartworms are carried by mosquitoes and can be fatal for dogs. This schedule may be altered to fit your puppy’s age and/or health during the first initial visit. We are pleased to welcome your new puppy as a patient here at Iredell Companion Animal Hospital, where we practice “Modern medicine and Surgery with Old Fashion service.”