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We are very excited about a new class we will begin offering in November. Some of you have heard about our intro to Scent Games Class. This is a fun class that every dog can have success at and you will enjoy immensely as your dog learns to harness the power and ability of his/her nose! All dogs have an excellent sense of smell and a desire to search for the source of odors. This class was created to develop your dog’s natural abilities by using their desire to hunt combined with their love of toys, food and exercise. It’s a great way for your dog to have fun, build confidence and burn lots of mental and physical energy. There are no prerequisites for the class. Dog's of most any age can participate and no obedience is required. This is a skill you will be able to use at anytime to entertain your dog and burn some of their energy! This is a 6 week class that will be held on Thursday evenings at 5 PM. We will begin on November 4th and finish on December 16th. (No class on Thanksgiving 11/25) Class size is limited to 6 participants. Fee is $125.00 For more info or to register: Robin@ThatsMyDog.comread more »

Congratulations to our newest TMD E-cademy grads. Bonnie Krupa of Muncie,IN Jim Wright of Wooster, OH and Laurie Spain of Winnebago, IL just completed our 10 day course. They are returning home with some new skills and fresh ideas to help the dogs in their area live more fulfilled lives. By adding remote collar training to their bag of tools they will be better prepared to give frustrated dog owners easier and faster results to every day problems like not coming when called or jumping on people. The students spent 10 days here observing our lessons and participating in group classes, working with dogs from the shelter, their own dogs and TMD board and train dogs. They received lots of hands on experience as well as daily lectures and discussions about problem solving and dog rehabilitation. They were observed and evaluated each day and completed a written exam to test the breadth of what they had learned. I was proud to issue each of them a certificate of accomplishment. Bonnie, Jim and Laurie have been added to our referral list of graduates and I wish them great success. Woof!read more »

We all celebrated as the Chilean miners were successfully rescued yesterday. It is hard to imagine how any of us would handle being trapped 1/2 mile below the surface of the earth for 69 days. What would we think about, how would we maintain hope, what would the emotions be when we came back to our loved ones? One of the news releases had this to say about Mario Sepulveda, the second miner to exit the rescue hole, " he reached into a large yellow bag and handed out what appeared to be rocks to officials and rescue workers. Sepulveda cracked jokes in his first moments above ground and led the crowd in a cheer for Chile. As the 40-year-old was hauled away on a stretcher for his medical evaluation, he asked his wife, "How's the dog?" That might seem and odd question to some, but not to any of us dog lovers. We know how big the relationship is and how much "the dog" is part of the family. Gene Hill may have said it best: "He is my other eyes that can see above the clouds; my other ears that hear above the winds. He is the part of me that can reach out into the sea. He has told me a thousand times over that I am his reason for being; by the way he rests against my leg; by the way he thumps his tail at my smallest smile; by the way he shows his hurt when I leave without taking him. When I am wrong, he is delighted to forgive. When I am angry, he clowns to make me smile. When I am happy, he is joy unbounded. When I am a fool, he ignores it. When I succeed, he brags. Without him, I am only another man. With him, I am all-powerful. He is loyalty itself. He has taught me the meaning of devotion. With him, I know a secret comfort and a private peace. He has brought me understanding where before I was ignorant. His head on my knee can heal my human hurts. His presence by my side is protection against my fears of dark and unknown things. He has promised to wait for me... whenever... wherever - in case I need him. And I expect I will - as I always have. He is just my dog."read more »

Today marked the first day of our final E-cademy program for this year. The TMD E-cademy is a continuing education course for dog professionals who wish to learn more about remote collar training for dogs. We currently have 3 students who have traveled here to the Dubuque, Iowa area to eat, sleep and breath dog training for the next 2 weeks. [More...] We spend our days training dogs, teaching lessons and learning more about how electronic, remote collars can be useful in teaching obedience and rehabilitating behavior problems. There are lots of questions and much discussion about this method of training...but the interesting comment I heard today from one of the attendees was "I just saw that dog learn more in one lesson than I have ever seen achieved in a six week training course." I thought that was a pretty powerful statement. I also know that it is true and it is what we have been building the TMD reputation on for years. The simple philosophy is to get to the heart of it right from the start. Help people with the problems that are most common in their everyday lives and get solutions as soon as possible. For us that means our first lesson takes care of teaching the dog to walk on a loose leash, stops the annoying behaviors like jumping up, stealing food and not letting go of things and teaches the dog to come when called. Not only do we cover these issues in the first lesson, we introduce the concepts to distractions too. Distractions are part of the world we live in so we figure we might as well help dog owners learn how to handle them when they come up. That way we create a well behaved companion that can be truly integrated into our everyday lifestyle. So the first day for the students was a big one and we are just getting started with what is possible. Imagine what six weeks of training can create! :-)read more »

"Blessed is the person who has earned the love of an old dog" ~ Sydney Jeanne Seward We can't help but have a special place in our hearts for older dogs. We've been in the dog training and boarding business for a while so we've watched snuggly pups grow into rambunctious youngsters, transition into dignified adults and then mellow into gentle seniors. We are always pleased to see our senior citizens come back to visit. This sweet boy has been coming to stay with us for 13 years. Senior dogs require much of the same care and attention as young or adult dogs. Things like good nutrition, adequate exercise and a structured routine are important to the health and well being of all dogs, regardless of their age. But there are a few things to pay attention to with your older dog. Watch for changes in flexibility as your dog is getting older. Does Fido have difficulty getting into the car, getting up, laying down or climbing stairs? Dog's, especially large breed dogs can suffer from arthritis just as humans can. Check with your veterinarian for possible medications that could ease discomfort. Many dogs experience reduced hearing as they age. Watch for signs that your dog is not hearing as well as he used to (this is different than selective hearing!) If you're dog is more difficult to wake, does not hear you or is startled by your approach these are generally signs of hearing loss. Take care to keep your dog safe in environments where he may not hear approaching cars, etc. Even if your dog is young now, cross train him with hand signals (as well as verbal commands) so you can use them later in life to communicate. Periodontal disease is common in older dogs. Because poor oral hygiene can lead to more complicated health problems down the road so it is important to keep your dog's teeth brushed with an animal approved toothpaste. Also watch for any signs that your dog is not eating well and follow the advice of your veterinarian regarding dental cleanings or teeth that need to be extracted. Slowing down can lead to weight gain, so really watch your dog's waistline. Obesity can lead to a myriad of health problems and decreased quality of life. Keep a regular exercise routine of walking with your dog and consider a possible food change. There are a variety of high quality senior diets on the market so do a bit of research to see if there is something that may be more appropriate for your older dog. Just because your dog may be slowing down does not mean he can't learn new tricks. The mental challenges of learning new things, conquering new toys or finding new places to explore are just as exciting as they were to him when he was younger. Spend some time together and enjoy those special moments together. woof!read more »

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Every September trainers from across the country travel to SW Wisconsin to enjoy E-palooza. E-palooza is a dog trainers continuing education weekend that attracts some of the best and brightest professionals. I started the event six years ago as a way to support those of us who utilized e-collars as one of the tools in our toolbox. As all things, the event has evolved over the years and the E in palooza represents much more than just the electronic collar. It is about; education, entertainment, enthusiasm, ethics...all the things that the people that gather here represent. We have had some great themes over the years; E2, Year of the Dog, E3-Integrating Business and Education, E4-Think Outside the Box, E5-Get Your Piece of the Pie and this year is E6-Have More Fun! (it comes complete with tie-die) I'll be catching lots of photos and video over the coming days and posting some great moments on our FB page...so pop in. If you have any questions you would like to ask of the great speakers we have here for the weekend, let me know and I'll see if I can get some answers. ...and watch for the purple hat!read more »

Want to know the secret to how we get so many great pictures of our dogs? How is it that we get them to pose? It is called a place command. What that command means to the dog is he/she has to stay (and keep four paws on) the "place" we designate. The place can be any physical object that the dog can comfortable fit on. We've used boulders, tree stumps, park benches, stairs, chairs, pillows...you name it, the options are as endless as your creativity. It is not a difficult concept to teach because the dog is aware of the physical boundary that is created by the object. As long as you put the dog back each time they make the mistake of leaving (before given permission to do so) they learn pretty quickly to stay put. In the beginning stage of teaching the command it is really helpful to use an object that has at least a few inches of height to it. That way the concept is much clearer to the dog if he/she is on or off of the object (as opposed to a flat rug or towel). A dog bed can work fine, but something a bit more sturdy can work nicely if you want to the dog to remain in a sitting position. I usually start teaching the concept on this placeboard, it works great due to the height and can double as an easy to clean and transport dog bed. The steps in teaching the dog to stay on the place are pretty simple: 1. escort the dog to the place and help him/her get all four paws on the object 2. help the dog remain there by using a leash to fix mistakes as he/she starts to step off 3. reward the dog (treats, praise etc.) for remaining steady on the place 4. gradually increase the duration of the stay and the distance you are from the dog, fixing any mistakes of the dog getting off as needed. 5 go back to the dog and release him/her by encouraging movement and using a "free" or "ok" command to signal it is okay to get off of the designated spot. So there you have it, five simple steps to get your dog to hold still so you can snap those photos. Now getting them to look at the camera and not make funny faces...well, I'll let you and your dog work that one out. :-) Woof!read more »

...because a tired dog is a good dog, that's why! Dog's need something to do. And if you don't direct them to what they CAN do...well, guaranteed they will find something. (and you might not be so happy about it!) You can take your dog for a walk or a jog or enjoy a game of fetch, but you can't be there all the time. Teaching a dog to entertain themselves is part of the process of raising them properly and that is where toys come into play. Toys allow your dog a way to exercise the mind and the body and thus, alleviate boredom (the nexus for most problem behaviors). Make sure you give your dog *the right* toys. Toys that aren't easily destroyed or mistaken for other household items make the best choices. Our preference for chew toys are those made of hard rubber or nylon. These items don't smell like the other things in your house, they are simple to clean up and dog's get satisfaction out of gnawing on them for hours. If you have a preference for giving your dog soft or plush toys but have a problem with them getting dissected, try using toys that have no stuffing like these Bottle Buddies. The dog's have fun with the crackling sound but there is no stuffing to be constantly picking off the floor. Avoid giving your dog household or personal items for toys. Things like old socks and shoes are not appropriate toys. We can't expect Fido to know the difference between the old and the new since it all smells pretty much the same from the dog's perspective. If you're dog shows very little interest in the toys you bring home, add some excitement to the presentation. Rather than just putting the toy on the floor make it a game of "you can't have it". This adds an element of intrigue to the new item. Dog's tend to want what they can't have...(remember how that puppy loved stealing and running off with your underwear?)...so if you play a little keep away when first introducing the toy you add interest and it becomes much more desirable for your dog to play with that toy! Toys are commonly an afterthought to your dog's routine but with the above insights in mind they can be part of a lifestyle that keeps you, your dog and your underwear happier. Check out this little clip of Diva and her Kong Wobbler. Diva vs the Kong Wobblerread more »