Eye contact is often the first things learned in basic obedience classes because it helps dogs focus. In the world at large, eye contact can be seen as a challenge, but in loving relationships, it’s a sign of trust and love. Think about your own eye contact habits; if you’re nervous or intimidated by another person, you might have trouble looking them in the eye, but if you trust them and want to show respect, you’ll meet their gaze.

 

It’s very similar for dogs.

Look command is a request for a dog to make eye contact with you.

Eye contact isn’t just a sign of a strong bond between a dog and her person, it’s also a way to create and improve that bond. According to Japanese researchers, dogs who gaze at their owners show elevated levels of oxytocin (aka the love hormone), and the owners experience raised oxytocin levels, as well (source). In other words, gazing at each other starts a feedback cycle of love and attachment. That’s right: you can increase your bond and your happiness levels by gazing into each other’s eyes.

Filed under: News & Events by Pamela Wiltgen Saturday, March 20th, 2021
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It’s breeding season coyotes are more active.

Coyote breeding typically peaks in late February and early March, the gestation period averages 58 to 63 days. Male coyotes can become more aggressive during this time of year, the long and short of it all is that coyotes always pose a risk to your dog (and other small pets).

Coyotes are generally monogamous and maintain pair bonds that can last for several years. The breeding season runs from late December through March, and pups are born in the early spring. … The den is abandoned after the pups are weaned but may be used from year to year.

Unneutered male dogs can be lured away by the scent of a female coyote in her ovulation cycle.  Keep a vigilant watch over your male dogs intact. 

Filed under: News & Events by Pamela Wiltgen Wednesday, March 17th, 2021
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A dog refusing to come to you can be very scary!

This is a two week class that can save your dog’s life.  Thursday at our Hernando location at 2 pm.  

The first class we teach the commands.  We provide you 3 different commands to call your dog to you. 

We also review a “leave it” command, which assist in getting your dog to move away from a distraction. 

   This class is a life saver!  

“Come! COME!!! Come! Come! Come! Please come!”

If this sounds like your dog’s current recall, you may have a “poisoned cue.” This generally happens unintentionally and occurs when the cue either has an unclear meaning or takes on a negative association for the dog, so they ignore it. The easiest way to poison a cue is to overuse it by repeating the word over and over without your dog responding.
Come join our Recall Class and improve your dog’s recall performance.

Filed under: News & Events by Pamela Wiltgen Tuesday, February 9th, 2021
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ACAA is now requiring documentation of training

Helpful air  travel reminders

• Service animals must be properly harnessed or leashed and remain under the direct control of you or the dog handler at all times.
• The animal must behave properly in public and should follow directions from its owner.
• Dog must be a minimum age of 4 months for acceptance on United.
• The animal is required to be seated in the floor space directly in front of your seat.
• The animal should not extend into the aisles.
• If you’re traveling with an animal in cabin to any international destination (or some domestic locations, such as but not limited to Guam or Hawaii, where local regulations may require it), United may require you to bring an up-to-date copy of your animal’s vaccination certificate with you on your trip. We recommend that you have a copy on hand during travel.
• You will not be able travel within 30 days of your animal’s rabies vaccination.

Rule on ESA Traveling by Air with Service Animals

Wednesday, December 2, 2020

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation today announced that it is revising its Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) regulation on the transportation of service animals by air to ensure a safe and accessible air transportation system.  

The Department received more than 15,000 comments on the notice of proposed rulemaking. The final rule announced today addresses concerns raised by individuals with disabilities, airlines, flight attendants, airports, other aviation transportation stakeholders, and other members of the public, regarding service animals on aircraft. 

The final rule: 

• Defines a service animal as a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability;
• No longer considers an emotional support animal to be a service animal;
• Requires airlines to treat psychiatric service animals the same as other service animals;
• Allows airlines to require forms developed by DOT attesting to a service animal’s health, behavior and training, and if taking a long flight attesting that the service animal can either not relieve itself, or can relieve itself in a sanitary manner;
• Allows airlines to require individuals traveling with a service animal to provide the DOT service animal form(s) up to 48 hours in advance of the date of travel if the passenger’s reservation was made prior to that time;
• Prohibits airlines from requiring passengers with a disability who are traveling with a service animal to physically check-in at the airport instead of using the online check-in process;  
• Allows airlines to require a person with a disability seeking to travel with a service animal to provide the DOT service animal form(s) at the passenger’s departure gate on the date of travel;
• Allows airlines to limit the number of service animals traveling with a single passenger with a disability to two service animals; 
• Allows airlines to require a service animal to fit within its handler’s foot space on the aircraft;
• Allows airlines to require that service animals be harnessed, leashed, or tethered at all times in the airport and on the aircraft;
• Continues to allow airlines to refuse transportation to service animals that exhibit aggressive behavior and that pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others; and
• Continues to prohibit airlines from refusing to transport a service animal solely based on breed.

Final Rule Link:    https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2020-12/Service%20Animal%20Final%20Rule.pdf

Filed under: News & Events by Pamela Wiltgen Monday, February 1st, 2021
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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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