Canine Kindergarten

Class begins now

Gina Hayes, a 4 year dog training veteran, has taken her love of obedience to a new level by opening a canine kindergarten of sorts. Here, puppies have a haven for learning simple commands and complex tricks. Hayes boasts that pooches in her class learn the basics in a matter of moments; mastering sitting within the first five minutes of class.

Does Hayes have any words of wisdom for pet parents embarking on a training program for their pup? Of course! Hayes offers, "Consistency in training a dog is extremely important. If you are not consistent they are very confused and they don't always know what you want. So sometimes you can ask them to come to you, but if you don't follow up on that all the time then sometimes they will come, sometimes they won't…consistency is very important."

New Years is the perfect time to begin a training program or to brush up on Bowzer's manners. Thanks Gina, for the inspiration!

Photo found on Flickr

Give Thanks for Good Manners

This Thursday, among the list of reasons to be thankful, we've decided to throw in "bowzer being a good boy." With so much activity taking place in the home, between the guests and the turkey and the festivities, your four-legged friends might find cause to cause a scene. Prepare you pup a few days in advance for Thursdays feast to ensure an uninterrupted meal. Sarah Hodgeson, a NY dog trainer, offers up a few relevant etiquette tips from her new book:

* "Establish proper etiquette by creating a special place by your (front) door where your dog can wait ... when company arrives."
* "If you allow your dog to loiter nearby while you are eating, you will almost certainly experience interruptions. ... Politely ask guests to help civilize your dog by ignoring him until the meal has ended."
* Teach your dog "to lie on a floor mat while you dine. To prevent hunger tension, feed your dog his own meal before you sit down to enjoy yours. Then send him to his special mat, instructing him to "Settle."'
* "Table manners for dogs can be reduced to one basic maxim: Eat and drink only from your bowl."
* "If you want to share leftovers (with your dog), then do so in a manner unlikely to disturb your human guests. Wait until you have finished your meal, and then place a sensible portion in his bowl."

Find more tips, and check out the new book here.

Photo found on flickr