#zakgeorge

[marvelousmissmaisel]

Puppy’s first 🍦! Our first 80 degree day and someone is in need of a haircut, so a frozen treat to cool off. Peanut butter and bacon flavored frozen yogurt!

[marvelousmissmaisel]

High Five! 🖐 Someone celebrated 2 weeks of no accidents in the house! @awnerd @erin-hart

[doggiedayoutnc]

How to Stop Your Dog from Pulling on the Leash: Tips from Zak George’s Dog Training Revolution

Is your dog constantly pulling on the leash during walks? You’re not alone! Leash pulling is a common issue many dog owners face, and it can turn a pleasant stroll into a frustrating experience. Fortunately, renowned dog trainer Zak George offers practical solutions to help your dog walk politely on a leash. In his video, "Stop Leash Pulling," Zak breaks down effective techniques that use positive reinforcement to make walks enjoyable for both you and your dog.

Why Do Dogs Pull on the Leash?

Before diving into the training techniques, it’s essential to understand why dogs pull on the leash in the first place. Dogs naturally walk faster than humans, and they’re often excited to explore the world around them. The more they pull, the quicker they get to sniff and explore new scents, which inadvertently reinforces the behavior. To change this, Zak emphasizes the importance of teaching your dog that walking nicely beside you is far more rewarding than pulling ahead.

Step-by-Step Guide to Stop Leash Pulling

Zak George’s approach revolves around teaching your dog to stay close to you while making walks engaging and fun. Here are the steps he outlines in his video:

1. Use High-Value Treats

Zak recommends using high-value treats that your dog loves. These treats serve as a powerful motivator and a way to reward good behavior. Make sure the treats are small, easy to eat, and only given during training sessions. The goal is to create a positive association between walking by your side and receiving a reward.

2. Start Training Indoors or in a Low-Distraction Environment

Begin by practicing leash training indoors or in a quiet area with minimal distractions. This allows your dog to focus on you and the training without getting overwhelmed by the sights and sounds of the outside world.

3. Reward When Your Dog Walks Beside You

Hold a treat by your side and let your dog sniff it. Start walking, and if your dog stays by your side without pulling, immediately reward them with the treat and praise. This reinforces the behavior of walking close to you.

4. Use a Marker Word or Clicker

Zak emphasizes the importance of using a marker word like "Yes!" or a clicker to signal to your dog that they’re doing the right thing. The marker word or clicker helps your dog understand that they will be rewarded for the desired behavior, creating a positive reinforcement loop.

5. Change Directions When Your Dog Pulls

If your dog starts to pull, Zak suggests changing directions abruptly and calling your dog to follow you. This technique teaches your dog that pulling doesn’t lead them where they want to go and that staying close to you is more rewarding. Repeat this exercise several times until your dog starts paying more attention to your movements.

6. Practice with Patience and Consistency

Consistency is key to any training, and leash training is no exception. Practice these exercises regularly, keeping training sessions short and positive. Over time, your dog will learn that pulling is not rewarded and that staying by your side leads to treats and praise.

Tools Zak Recommends

Zak advises against using tools like choke collars, prong collars, or retractable leashes, as they can cause physical harm and anxiety in dogs. Instead, he suggests using a standard 4-6 foot leash and a comfortable harness that doesn’t put pressure on the dog’s neck.

Understanding Your Dog’s Needs

Remember that training isn’t just about discipline; it’s about understanding your dog’s needs and motivations. Dogs are naturally curious and energetic, and they require both mental and physical stimulation. Zak recommends incorporating sniffing breaks and playtime during walks to keep your dog engaged and satisfied.

Celebrate Small Wins

Training takes time, and it’s important to celebrate small successes. If your dog manages to walk a short distance without pulling, that’s progress! Gradually increase the distance as your dog becomes more comfortable with the new walking routine.

Final Thoughts

Zak George’s training philosophy focuses on creating a positive, trust-based relationship between you and your dog. By using positive reinforcement, patience, and consistency, you can transform your dog’s leash-pulling habit into a pleasant walking experience.

So, the next time you grab the leash for a walk, remember Zak's tips and turn your stroll into a fun and rewarding bonding session with your furry friend!

Check out the full video for more in-depth training techniques: Stop Leash Pulling by Zak George’s Dog Training Revolution.

[dogtrainingfactory]

Solving Dog Problems

Have you ever been enjoying a walk with your dog when suddenly you are almost tripped by Fido or Fifi unexpectedly crossing in front of you? Not only is it unpleasant, but crossing in front of you like this is dangerous for both you and your dog. Luckily it is fairly easy to teach your dog to stay on one side of you and not to switch sides.

I feel that it is works best to teach your dog leash manners when using a 6 foot leash (not a Flexi-type) and a no-pull harness if your dog pulls.

The first thing to do is decide which side of you that you would like your dog to walk. Then, as your dog is walking on the leash reward him any time he happens to be on your chosen side by saying "yes" or "good" and feeding him a treat right by your side.

Be very careful to feed the treat by your side and not to feed the treat in front of you as that will encourage crossing in front.

While walking your dog, be careful to watch him, and as soon as he starts to cross in front of you, use your leash to prevent him from crossing, and stomp your feet to make your presence known.

Consistently rewarding your dog for being on your preferred side and preventing him from crossing in front by using the leash and by stomping your feet should help teach your dog to stop crossing in front of you and lead to safer and more pleasant walks. Enjoy!

Click here for more ---Click here tips on training

[dogstrainers08]

Dogs Can’t Help Falling in Love

One researcher argues that a dog’s ability to bond has more to do with forming emotional attachments than being smart about what humans want.

TEMPE, Ariz. — Xephos is not the author of “Dog Is Love: Why and How Your Dog Loves You,” one of the latest books to plumb the nature of dogs, but she helped inspire it. And as I scratched behind her ears, it was easy to see why.

First, she fixed on me with imploring doggy eyes, asking for my attention. Then, every time I stopped scratching she nudged her nose under my hand and flipped it up. I speak a little dog, but the message would have been clear even if I didn’t: Don’t stop.

We were in the home office of Clive Wynne, a psychologist at Arizona State University who specializes in dog behavior. He belongs to Xephos, a mixed breed that the Wynne family found in a shelter in 2012.

Dr. Wynne’s book is an extended argument about what makes dogs special — not how smart they are, but how friendly they are. Xephos’ shameless and undiscriminating affection affected both his heart and his thinking.

[dogstrainers08]

Why Dogs and Humans Love Each Other More Than Anyone Else

You speak dog better than you think you do. You may not be fluent; that would require actually being a dog. But if you went to live in a dogs-only world, you’d be pretty good at understanding what they’re saying. You can tell a nervous yip from a menacing growl, a bark that says hello from a bark that says get lost. You can read the body language that says happy, that says sad, that says tired, that says scared, that says Please, please, please play with me right now!

Think that’s not a big deal? Then answer this: What does a happy bird look like? A sad lion? You don’t know, but dog talk you get. And as with your first human language, you didn’t even have to try to learn it. You grew up in a world in which dogs are everywhere and simply came to understand them.

That, by itself, says something about the bond that humans and dogs share. We live with cats, we work with horses, we hire cows for their milk and chickens for their eggs and pay them with food—unless we kill them and eat them instead. Our lives are entangled with those of other species, but we could disentangle if we wanted.

With dogs, things are different. Our world and their world swirled together long ago like two different shades of paint. Once you’ve achieved a commingled orange, you’re never going back to red and yellow.

The relationship began—well, nobody knows exactly when it began. The earliest remains of humans and dogs interred together date to 14,000 years ago, but there are some unconfirmed finds that are said to be more than twice as old. The larger point is the meaning of the discoveries: we lived with dogs and then chose to be buried with them. Imagine that.

[dogstrainers08]

Dogs Are Our Best Friends and with Good Reason

Why are there so many dog lovers out there ? Dogs share our lives in a way that most other animals can't, and they're so commonplace that it's easy to take their faithful companionship for granted. The purpose of this article is to remind us of why we love dogs so much, to spare a few minutes and to spare a few words in praise of "man's best friend," the dog.

Dogs are friendly and they love human companionship. Whose ego would not be gratified at the sight of a happy dog who can't wait to greet you at the end of a hard day ? Your dog waits for you by the door, face smiling, mouth open and tail wagging, ready to dote on you, his best friend in the world.

Dogs are loyal and, as pack animals, they respond to the presence of a leader - you ! Dogs are eager to please you in any way they can. When you're feeling blue your dog will remain by your side silently comforting you. When you're happy and excited, your dog will leap about you and share in your joy.

Dogs are playful. They love physical activity such as going for walks, fetching sticks, leaping into ponds, and racing wildly to and fro. Dogs will join you for a jog or for a day in the park or even for an exhuberant game of frisbee. Yet dogs can also be soft and cuddly and ready at anytime for a loving pat and a reassuring hug. They're affectionate and they're soothing to stroke, plus most dogs can also remain calm when necessary and be tolerant of small children who don't yet know how to be quiet or to behave gently around animals.

Dogs can be trained so that they can easily cohabitate with us in our human-built dwellings. They can also be trusted to act appropriately around other people and in public. Dogs can learn to save nature's call for outdoor walks, to walk on a leash when on public roads where cars lurk, and to sit and to stay whenever and whereever necessary.

The family dog is as much a part of daily life within a home as is any human household member. Our dogs are always there for us, day and night, sharing in every activity from breakfast time through a cozy evening spent watching TV. They can share both our indoor and many of our local outdoor activities, but that's not all. Dogs also play a big part in family life even when the family isn't at home. They can readily go places with us in cars, everywhere from a romp in the local park to a family vacation. Because they can travel with us, they can be a part of our lives in a way that most other companion animals can't. As dogs can participate in many of our most unusual experiences and outdoor adventures, they become forever associated with many of our most treasured memories.

Dogs, in all of their various shapes and sizes, are also beautiful animals to admire and to look at. From their big beautiful eyes and lovely faces, to their soft, sleek, shiny coats, to the tips of their joyfully wagging tails, dogs are a pleasure to behold. With so many different breeds to choose from, everyone can choose the dog whose appearance most appeals to them, whether large or small, short or long-muzzled, short-haired or long-haired or curly or straight-haired, with a muscular build or a slim build, with an elegant face or a comical face, and in any number of colors.

Each family can adopt the perfect dog to suit their taste and lifestyle by considering factors such as a dog's size and temperment. Does the family have a large fenced yard where a big dog can romp in safety, or a cramped apartment suitable for small dogs only ? Can the family pet care budget support a large dog with a large appetite ? Are there lots of flower beds that might be dug up and ruined by a breed such as a terrier ? Are there children in the house who require an extra gentle dog who'll tolerate the uninformed tail-pulling of a pre-schooler or the roughhousing of a ten year old ?

Does the family have the time available to give a dog all the love, attention, exercise and play that he deserves, or will he be alone all day ? How about two dogs to keep each other company when the human members of the family aren't around ? Perhaps a loveable mutt or two would be the ideal choices ! The local dog shelter is likely to be harboring many abandoned dogs who are sad and lonely and desperately in need of a second chance to find true happiness with a loving family.

Dogs give us the best of themselves: their love, loyalty, unconditional acceptance and affection, playfulness and companionship. In return, we owe them our best and the best care that we can give them, including a healthy, well-balanced diet, constant access to clean water and shelter from the hot sun or extreme cold, regular brushing and other grooming, ongoing veterinary care, plus annual vaccinations. Dogs should also be spayed or neutered, so that they do not contribute to the tragedy of the pet overpopulation problem.

A safe environment is, of course, a must. Indoors, be sure that cleaning products, medications, houseplants and other potential poisons are kept safely out of reach. Upper floor windows need secure grills or screens if they are to be opened. Heavy objects must not be left where they might fall on and injure dogs. Outdoor yards need secure fences if there are roads with cars nearby. (Please don't chain dogs outside and deny them their freedom of movement.) Antifreeze and other poisons mustn't be allowed to leak where any animals might have access to them and try to drink them.

A leash should be used for walks where traffic poses a threat to safety. Don't skimp on daily exercise and provide lots of opportunities to run around and play but, if a little dog has short legs, remember to slow down and not force him to overwork his little legs in trying to keep up with your larger stride. Don't force dogs to hurry past every tree when out for a walk, either. Sometimes dogs just need to sniff, so don't rush them too much.

Above all else, dogs deserve gentle handling and an abundance of our time and attention. Love can make a dog's world go round as much as love makes our world go round. When we give our love freely to our dogs, we receive their love in return. Dogs can truly be man's and woman's and children's best friends, and we should feel honored to be theirs, as well.

[dogtrainingglobal90]

Get to Know Your Dog

Every dog has a unique personality and may respond to things differently. Tailor your training and educational methods to suit your dog’s personality. Dogs differ in their energy levels, confidence levels, and curiosity. They also differ emotionally – with nervousness, shyness, or confidence. While some dogs are food-motivated and will respond enthusiastically to any sort of edible treat as a reward, it's important to not rely on treats to show acceptance of a positive behavior. Try experimenting with other rewards, such as praise at the right moment by showing plenty of affection.

This isn't just important to consider when choosing how best to praise your dog but also when setting your own expectations for your canine companion! Above all else, dogs need leadership. A shy or introverted human can attend a big gathering and act appropriately while there but may not choose to attend a party as their favorite activity. In the same manner, consider your pup’s personality and select an activity that would be the best activity for your dog’s personality.

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