January is National Dog Training Month

Schedule your private or group lesson to celebrate! 

Private Lessons are by appointment call 904-352-7631.  We serve Citrus County. 

Next available Group Lessons are coming up January 28th at Bark Central in Inverness 

9:30 am AKC STAR Puppy – Bark Central 

10:30 am AKC CGC Canine Good Citizen – Bark Central 

January 28th – Hernando Location 

3 pm AKC STAR Puppy- Hernando 

4 pm AKC CGC Canine Good Citizen – Hernando 

• All classes are one hour in length and for 6 weeks. 
  

  Private or Group Lessons
  904-352-7631 Serving Citrus County

Call us today if you have any further questions:  904-352-7631

Filed under: News & Events by Pamela Wiltgen Monday, January 11th, 2021
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Here is a quick guide. I find that most behavior problems can be solved by offering the dog more exercise. Go to AKC.org to find out what group your dog belongs to if you are not sure. A Tired Dog equals a Happy Dog Owner.

Filed under: News & Events by Pamela Wiltgen Sunday, December 27th, 2020
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Merry Christmas,

Gift Certificates are available for

Pet Sitting

Dog Walking

Daily Pet Care

or

Dog Training Private or Group Lessons

Contact us today! 904-352-7631

Filed under: News & Events by Pamela Wiltgen Monday, November 23rd, 2020
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If you have trained your puppy or adult dog at home and would like to earn the AKC’s Virtual Home Manners titles to demonstrate your accomplishments, this is the place for you! Virtual Home Manners Reviews by Far Fetched Tales Dog Training

What is Virtual Home Manners?

Virtual Home Manners (VHM) is the answer when you want to train your dog at home. When you get a puppy or new adult dog, Virtual Home Manners can get you started on practical skills before you attend a training class.

The evaluation of a dog’s ability to perform ten home manners skills will be done by a video recording. Two levels of Home Manners will be offered – Virtual Home Manners Puppy (VHMP) and Virtual Home Manners Adult (VHMA). Dogs that pass the tests will be awarded these titles.

The Virtual Home Manners tests assess ten skills that well-mannered pet dogs need in the home setting.  The skills relate to the dog owner having control over the dog, being able to walk the dog (which is one of the most frequently cited activities that owners want to do with their dogs) and developing a bond with the dog during playtime.

The Virtual Home Manners tests are evaluated online by CGC Evaluators in the same manner that is currently used for Virtual Tricks. There is not an in-person VHM testing process. Virtual Home Manners is natural lead-in for AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy and Canine Good Citizen (CGC) in-person training.

How Virtual Home Manners Works

To earn the Virtual Home Manners titles, follow these easy steps:

1. Dog owners will video their dogs performing the required skills (on the VHM checklists).
2. A link to the video will be sent to an Approved AKC CGC Evaluator. Zoom and other live formats may also be used for evaluating Virtual Home Manners. To contact our evaluator, by email at trainerpamela@gmail.com or call our Hernando, FL office at 904-352-7631.
3. After watching the video, if the dog passes, the Evaluator will send the combined Checklist/Video Verification Form to the dog owner. The Evaluator will also send a copy of this form to AKC.
4. The dog owner will send to AKC:
   1) the Checklist/Video Verification, and 2) the Virtual Home Manners Title Application form along with a fee of $25.00.

Filed under: News & Events by Pamela Wiltgen Tuesday, October 20th, 2020
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If your puppy keeps going into attack mode: growling, grabbing clothes, and biting legs.

It is normal for puppies to behave this way; your very young puppy is just trying to get you to play. The dog is obnoxious at the moment, but will grow up. For now, make sure that you initiate play with your pup several times a day. Don’t always wait for your pup to start things.  Tug and fetch are good outlets for puppy energy. When playing with your pup, always have a big toy that you can get into their mouth, so that the puppy doesn’t nip you. Ask for downs, sits, and tricks, which will redirect her and give the puppy a chance to earn a reward, either food or play with a favorite toy. These toys should be special ones that she doesn’t have access to unless she is playing with you.

Do offer your puppy:

• Scheduled playtime and activity time to minimize boredom
• Chew Toys: Plenty of rest and time out periods after plenty of stimulation: Having a few out at a time and swapping them out on a weekly basis to keep dogs interested.
• Food Puzzles: Which are great for mental and physical stimulation.
• Edible treats when teething, A more appropriate alternative whenever the nipping instinct kicks in.
• Tug time to teach dogs the rules for “polite play,”. Make sure your dog sits before your start and the game only continues for as long as the toy is the only thing your dog chews. If he redirects to your hand, the game stops and you remove the toy until he can sit or stand to resume the game.

Don’t:

• Overstimulate your puppy with wild play
• Unintentionally reward him when he nips
• Hold your dog’s muzzle shut as a correction, which teaches fear

To intervene when your dog is play biting, make sure not to come across “like a giant squeaky toy” something young kids often appear like. That means not appearing too exciting, keeping your body quiet, and presenting appropriate chew toy alternatives.

“The longer the toy, the less likely your dog is to accidentally bite your hand at the other end of it”.

The second your dog’s teeth touch your skin or clothes, be prepared to put your dog in a “time out.” “These early ground rules set your dog up for success and teach him that only polite behavior will get him what he wants”.

Ultimately, the goal of training should be to teach your dog that polite forms of play are more fun than biting behaviors.

Keep in mind, it may take weeks or months before you see signs of improvements.

Filed under: News & Events by Pamela Wiltgen Thursday, August 20th, 2020
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Protect your dog’s nose with “My Dog Nose It.” Your’s dogs nose will thank you. If you are in the outdoors a lot you also might consider having your dog wear protective eye-wear. Personally, I have used and like Petlesco Goggles for my border collie. Enjoy outdoor playing with your pets such as skiing, biking, cycling, no fear of sunshine and UV rays.

Filed under: News & Events by Pamela Wiltgen Friday, July 31st, 2020
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Here are some tips for the 4th that deal with a sound sensitive dogs.

1. Make sure your dog is as TIRED as possible. A tired dog is a calmer dog.

2. Be prepared with medication ahead of time, a puppy doggie emergency room visit can run over $300. Call your vet today, ask them for recommendations on medications to help ease your dogs anxiety.

3. Make sure your dogs tags and microchip information is up to date. If your dog does escape (most dogs are lost during the 4th than any other holiday) .

4. Put your dog in a “safe” room with as few windows and doors as possible.

5. Keep the windows and curtains drawn during the festivities. You want your dog to be as stimulus free as possible.

6. Make your own noise to drown out the sound of the fireworks. Turn the T.V. on as loud as you can tolerate it. Set up numerous fans in the safe room so that they produce a fairly decent amount of background noise.

7. Use some type of pressure wrap. Although wraps such as the Thundershirt claim to completely eliminate anxiety. You can also make your own anxiety reducing wrap by using an ace bandage.

8. Associate fireworks noise with positive things. If every time your dog hears a firework, treats rain from the sky, your dog might not feel so scared.

9. Try to keep your dog entertained all night long with Kong, work to eat puzzles, or plenty of high value bones to chew on. The act of chewing helps a dog to relieve anxiety.

10. Purchase CBD oil for dogs. Make sure the formula is made specifically for DOGS. Then give your dog the appropriate dose based on the manufacture’s instructions.

11. BONUS TIP: Add a dog homeopathic anxiety reducing solution like Rescue Remedy to your dogs dinner. We at Far Fetched Tales Dog Training, hope these tips help you make the 4th more enjoyable for both you and your fur kids. We look forward to seeing you in our upcoming classes or sometime soon! www.dogtrainerpamela.com

Filed under: News & Events by Pamela Wiltgen Saturday, July 4th, 2020
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Congratulations to Susan and Riker for receiving their Performance Trick Title. Congratulations! This was my first COVID19 video experience with AKC as an evaluator, so glad it was an easy process! Win on both sides!

Filed under: News & Events by Pamela Wiltgen Monday, June 15th, 2020
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Fireworks can be very scary to our fur kids. Please keep your pet on leash or kenneled during fireworks. Especially if you are in a different environment than at home.

Filed under: News & Events by Pamela Wiltgen Friday, May 22nd, 2020
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Body Temperatures of a Dog

Hypothermic/Low Below 101
Normal Between 101 and 102.5
Hyper thermic/High/Fever Over 102.5

The body temperature is important to the health of a dog. If a dog is too cold or hypothermic it may not receive adequate blood flow to all the parts of the body. If it is too warm or hyper thermic it may cause damage to internal organs. This condition is also referred to as a fever. Both extremes can be fatal to a dog.
If a dog has an abnormal body temperature it may be lethargic and not very alert. If the temperature is too low, the dog may shiver but if the temperature is too high the dog may pant. Either extreme is worrisome.

Heart Rates of a Dog

Bradycardic/Low Below 60
Normal 60-140
Tachycardic/High Over 140

Resting Heart Rate Ranges of a Dog in Beats Per Minute
Smaller and out of shape dogs may have faster normal heart rates than larger dogs. Smaller dogs typically have heart rates between 100-140 while larger dogs will be between 60-100 BPM.
Respiratory Rates of a Dog

Bradypnic/Low Below 10
Normal 10-35
Tachypneic/High Above 35
Respiratory Resting Rate Ranges of a Dog in Breaths Per Minute. Smaller dogs may have faster respiratory rates than larger dogs.

Filed under: News & Events by Pamela Wiltgen Wednesday, May 6th, 2020
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