Difficult questions considering most have some sort of vague idea the US FDA regulates the pet food industry.

What you don’t know is that it is understaffed to the point it could be considered non existent in too many cases. Compliance with minimal regulations is also voluntary, essentially self regulated. Of course these are things that are never considered until after the fact your dog had a seizure, got violently ill, or just is not the same.

How To Make Healthy Dog Food Choices

The only real answer to this is to DO YOUR RESEARCH. It’s very easy to allow media to pull you in with healthy looking images on the bag and the words “wholesome”, some even use the “organic” terminology, but remember under the dog food industry FDA standards are for the most part voluntarily in compliance with a certain “standard” for ingredients, where the ingredients came from, and most certainly the chemicals added to the end product for preservation.

How Dog Food is made leaves out the nasty practices many dog food companies use in the quality of ingredients and the effects the chemicals used have, but it does give you a good idea as to why you may be feeding your dog pure junk food laden with toxic binders if kibble is the only food your dog has ever known.

So what you should do about feeding your dog safe pet food?

Make sure to check the list of recently recalled pet food. However, just because you pull your dog off of one that is on the list doesn’t mean that the next food you choose isn’t processed in the same exact way. Kibble no matter where it comes from is processed.

The following is a list of options you can use to feed your dog healthy food. Raw food falls at the top of the list and though it is best it may not be the easiest.

When feeding a raw diet it is important to know that dogs require vitamins and minerals different than humans. Without the correct balance of things like calcium, and other specific requirements your dog may still be deficient in the required nutrients with a random raw food diet. Again, do your research and read references like Raw and Natural Nutrition for Dogs: The Definitive Guide to Homemade Meals to ensure your dog is getting a balanced diet.

How to Choose a Good Dog Food

• Vary your dog’s diet!
• Raw food is the number one choice.
• Is your raw food AAFCO compliant?
• Are the ingredients from the United States.
• You should have meat as the first ingredient of the list.
• Human grade whole foods as ingredients.
• Feed dehydrated raw food.
• Make your dogs treats with Pumpkin Dog Food + Treats Recipes.
• Pumpkin Noni Coconut Oil Dog Treats

Personally, I feed my dogs organic dehydrated dog food and I can tell you it makes a huge difference. I used to feed them kibble. They went from itching and dull coats to vibrant. My Weimaraner had cysts. They’ve decreased more than 75% in size. Just recently I fed her some kibble as a fill in. She puked. Hmmmm…. it was a loud and clear statement that the processed format is without a doubt bad for her.

What are you feeding your dog? Does the recent dog food recalls make you skeptical about all processed kibble?

Want to stay up on the latest in dog food, recipes, dehydrated food, what is good what is not for your dog? Subscribe to ReVIBE | Dogs + Joy + Vibrance.

Jt Clough lives on the Big Island, Hawaii, and practices health, happiness and natural remedies, while working as a ReVIBE Habits Coach for people looking to live healthier and happier lives.  She is a dog whisperer for our best friends and studies natural dog remedies, nutrition and communication, and is creator of Pumpkin Noni Dog Treats + Recipe Book & co author of Treading for Dogs.

What is Urban Agility | K9 Cross Fitness?

Urban agility is done outdoors in parks, by the beach, on trails and roads and open areas on the Big Island. We use everyday things you would find while out and about, as well a few home made props as our official agility equipment.

Mental stimulation is just as important as full on exercise for you dog. Urban agility teaches you to recognize every day things as obstacles creating your own agility course, without the cost and the rigidity of standard competition agility equipment.

Who is Urban Agility For?

What if my dog doesn’t even have basic training? Is urban agility still for my dog?

Yes. What many people never get the chance to do is apply “basic training” to real life. Instead they focus on an obedience training class, usually about the time that your dog seems out of control and you’ve reached the tipping point of actually getting something done.

In real life urban agility teaches your dog to wait and stay, to take direction from you and to pay attention even with the distraction of other dogs. It doesn’t matter if you are starting from scratch, had some training, have an older dog or a puppy, in essence urban agility teaches basic obedience skills only it’s fun.

Do I Need to Commit to An 8 Week Series to Sign Up for Urban Agility?

NO! Urban Agility Big Island Style is for those who want to do things with their dog. In order TO DO THINGS with your dog you need a little training.

How many times have you scene or heard about an agility class for dogs and thought, “Awwww that would be way cool to do with my dog.”

Only to find out upon inquiring that the rules and regulations are quite stringent, you must be at a series of 8 classes, week after week, and you have to find a group of dogs that are at your same level. Chances are, at that point you are out. Or you try it and find it’s a bit overwhelming.

Still to say “I do agility” with my dog would be a cool thing for your dog and for you. It makes for great photo opportunities too and we all love pictures of our dogs!

*by the way, taking dog photos is part of Urban Agility Big Island Style.

Many people don’t end up actually doing any formal training with their dog for these reasons:

• You can’t make all 8 weeks, or even 4 weeks for that matter of the class series.
• The training series is too expensive.
• Your dog did a basic obedience class and it didn’t go so well.
• The dog trainer made you feel like you were bad at training your dog.
• Your dog is still a little wild even after all of your attempts to follow the Dog Whisperer on TV

Urban Agility is dog training in Kona that is:

• Only $10 per session.
• You only need to confirm when you CAN be there . In other words come when you can for as long as you want or only a few sessions!
• Teaches you how dogs think and learn versus just how to make your dog sit during class.
• Is fun for you and for your dog.
• Is for dogs of all ages and abilities.
• Gives you the chance to apply training to real life things to do with your dog.
• Teaches your dog to be a good socializer.
• You can work on the basics until your dog gets it.
• You can advance as far as you want with fun things to do with your dog.
• You both get exercise, fresh air, and enjoy all the wags along the way.

*Note if you need to check “Does Not Play Well With Others in regards to how your dog deals with other dogs, or even the sight of other dogs, contact me here!

*Your dog MUST be vaccinated for Parvo to join class.

Sign up for Urban Agility | K9 Cross Fitness

Enter you name and e-mail address. You’ll receive a confirmation e-mail making sure you want the Urban Agility | K9 Cross Fitness training schedule.

Good News! There ARE things to do with your dog in Kailua Kona.

Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being (and dog), while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it. ~Plato

As a professional dog trainer and habits coach I have always incorporated exercise and fun into my training. The reason?

Success for both dogs and for people. To make it fun through movement, games and activities changes your mindset as well as your dog’s.

It is as simple as this. A series of obedience classes tend to be something people don’t commit to because they know before they start they probably won’t make all the classes.

Or perhaps….

You’ve already been through the class and didn’t feel that you’ve even began to get where you want to go with how you and your dog are together.  Not only that, many times the class setting is not in any way shape or form fun in the mind of the human, who has to get the dog to to the class. It becomes work.

While I believe a basic obedience class of any kind is the best thing for any dog, there are some other options that can lead to even better communication and fun times with your dog.

Kona is a Beautiful Active Place – Get Out and Enjoy It, Dog Included

I’ve been busy compiling a list of things you can do and places you can take your dog in and around Kailua Kona.

How To Get A Copy of Things to Do With Your Dog on the Big Island Hawaii

You can get it by here and by entering your name and e-mail. You’ll get the latest updates on new places I find while out with the dogs, K9 Cross Fitness Classes (which are located in varied locations you can also take your dogs on your own) and anything else dog that happens here on the Big Island.

Things To Do With Your Dog On The Big Island Hawaii

Don’t worry. I STRONGLY DISLIKE spam. You’ll only get the info you asked for which means it will be all about dog goodies, and things you LIKE. It stays safe and sound and goes to no one else and I always provide a place for you to opt out should you find the information is just not for you or for your dog!

I’d love to hear from you. Write what you do with your dog to get movement, exercise all that kina thing? And cool places you’ve found for dogs in Kona…. please share!

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So in the case of the dog who suffers anxiety why wouldn’t this be the same? And how on earth would you get an anxious or nervous dog to practice yoga?

Yoga for Dogs

We humans immediately think of yoga as being able to do a headstand or hold a tree pose. Not exactly the picture you can carry for your dog to attain. So how can yoga apply to dogs?

Break down the yoga portion of breathing. The simple act of taking more oxygen in. It is calming to the body and the mind. For a dog that means they need to move. Whether it be a walk, jog or run get outside and get your dog moving. Make home made jumps out of two boxes and a broom. Anything you can come up with to get your dog moving.

The movement will increase oxygen intake. It will pull your dog’s mind into something else to focus on rather than going into a panic attach about being left alone, or nervous about people she doesn’t know coming to your home, and a myriad of other reasons dogs react with anxiety.

The Habit of Sitting for Dogs

While on one of these movement outings find a place to just sit with your dog. Practice sitting for minutes at at time. It’s a good time for you to focus on your breath and your dog will start to find the peace of just sitting with you as well.

Dogs who are anxious have to practice just sitting. Sitting quietly isn’t coming naturally to the the anxious dog, so the more time you spend in this state with your dog, the easier it will be for your dog to start to enjoy the feeling of calm and practice all on her own.

Mini-Mission

Start with small sessions. It is the very first thing you can do to make this a long standing habit.

• Do a 10 minute walk or run 3 times this week with your dog.
• Practice sitting with your dog somewhere other than in your home on the couch while you are watching TV 3 times this week for at least 10 minutes.
• The best time to add the sitting is some where in the walk or run!  Don’t forget to enjoy your surroundings while you are out there.
• Write a note in the comments on your plans to get your dog moving  3 times this week.

• Note if you plan to walk or run.
• Note where you plan to sit that is different than normal to disconnect for the buzz of electronics for you.
• Writing down what you plan to puts your subconscious into action!
• If you need more support I am here.

Give your dog the gift of learning how to settle and be content without the thought of anxiety in the moments you create with this exercise. You’ll find yourself adding more time to this mini mission. It’s a fabulous habit.

Jt Clough lives on the Big Island, Hawaii, and practices health, happiness and natural remedies, while working as a Habits Coach for people looking to live healthier and happier lives.  She is a dog whisperer for our best friends; and studies natural dog remedies, nutrition and communication.  Her latest e-book is 5K Training Guide | Running with Dogs.

 

One of the wonderful things about Habits Coaching and writing a book about running for dogs has been the interaction I get with people and their dogs.  Here is a question I recently receive about a Labrador and the habit of running:

HI Jt … I have a question for you … I have been training with my beautiful yellow labrador for a 5K … on and off for a month and two weeks, running/walk 3 times a day.

My question to you is how do I know that my pup does not like to run … he is a ball of energy but he is running 15 min/mile then 12 min/mile. The other day he lagged behind me from the get go … I am a semi runner … I try I just don’t want to force him if it is not his thing … how will I know or for how many weeks into training should I insist?

Thank you for your help!

Great question and one that comes with an introspective answer.  Once again, is the dog reflecting some of our own behavior?  Is it easier to say the dog doesn’t like it than to admit we’d rather have a way out of this next new health endeavor?  Even as a semi runner, how much passion do you actually have to get out there and do it?  Would it be easier to say the dog doesn’t like it and once again start looking for a new avenue to pursue?

Good Habits Don’t Always Come Easily

I clearly remember when I decided I wanted to do a triathlon I didn’t like swimming.  In fact I was really bad at it. I actually had huge fear of it.

I remember in fact getting all worked up about it every time I went to swim.  And I remember standing on race start lines with really loud thoughts in my head about why I was here and how awful it was and maybe I should find something else to do and how stupid it all was and why was I putting myself through this?

Years later I no longer compete but I can say, I love swimming. It has become a thing I do where I find much peace of mind in the pure joy of moving through the water.

I would have never gotten to this point if I wouldn’t have just kept doing it.

Other examples…. your mom made you take piano as a kid. You hated it. Now you have an appreciation for music and understand many things about it you may not have had you not gone to the weekly lesson.

You had to take science in high school.  You hated it.  Now you understand some things about the food chain, the GMO language that is out there, the way you need to deal with a cold or a virus.  You are glad you have some understanding of science now.

The examples go on.

You Think Your Dog Doesn’t Like Running

It may be a new thing for your dog to start running but this a game that will become a habit very much so appreciated in a couple of years.  In order to stay healthy mentally and physically your dog NEEDS exercise.  Especially in this case, the dog is a Labrador!

Structured exercise can be a habit that takes time.  More time than 4 or 6 weeks to feel good about doing it and usually longer than that to learn to love it! Just like love at first site happens here and there, many times it doesn’t last, it was merely an infatuation .  A love developed over time runs deep and the benefits are huge.

You May Be Cuing Your Dog

In my years of training dogs I have found that cuing is a bigger factor than most realize.  It’s just like The Reflection of Dislike.  When we come upon someone we don’t care for so much, the first thing that comes to mind is NOT that we are like them at all.  In fact it is that we see ourselves quite different.  Yet there was a cue there and the reaction is one we can learn from or we can ignore.

Same with dogs.  Your dog is slow or lagging behind.  Are you cuing your dog that it is okay by actually slowing enough to actually stop?  If so the answer here is keep moving.

4 to 6 weeks is still early in becoming a master at anything.  If your dog is moving slower than you’d like it may not be that your dog doesn’t like it.  It’s just that at this point the dog may be moving slower than you are comfortable with.  YOU start projecting your dog doesn’t like it.  Your dog just needs to have gym class be part of the curriculum until it becomes easy and normal and something you both have made a habit of doing.  It becomes something you look forward to.

Keep moving. And be patient. Don’t stop and continue to develop the habit.

The Benefits of Running with Dogs (especially a Lab) Are Huge

Running with your dog is not only going to keep you both fit and healthy but will indeed begin to clear your mind.  It becomes a form of meditation.  It does take time to get there.

Think of it like the practice of yoga.  When most people start it’s about trying to achieve the pose.  It ends up becoming something that quiets the mind.  It takes time before reaching the point of really pushing everything out of your mind and only concentrating on the breath.  You don’t get to that point in 4 to 6 weeks.

So why would we expect to get that same effect with running in just a few weeks?  Even if you do happen to be a dog?  Commit to 3 times a week for 6 months and then do it for a year.

If you need support to do that I am here.

Aloha wags!  Mahalo for reading.  If you liked this post please subscribe to Big Island Dog and follow me on Pinterest, Twitter and G+

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Jt Clough lives on the Big Island, Hawaii, and practices health, happiness and natural remedies, while working as a Habits Coach for people looking to live healthier and happier lives.  She is a dog whisperer for our best friends; and studies natural dog remedies, nutrition and communication.  Her latest e-book is 5K Training Guide | Running with Dogs.

Teaching Your Dog To Come

First get your dog to sit. Then back up two steps. Yes only two. Call your dog to you.

That is how it begins and until you can get your dog to do that with ease, forget even trying it from another distance. Dogs do in fact learn in pictures so make this one clear before adding the distraction of all the things that could get in the way with distance.

Training Your Dog is Like Changing a Habit

So you want to stop eating junk food. You have to replace it with something else like fruit or nuts or something green. It has to become a habit or you will go on eating junk food. You have to resist the old habit and do the new for the result you are looking for, and so desire.

The concept is no different for the dog and recall. You want your dog to stop ignoring you when you need her to come here right now. You have to replace the habit of letting her do whatever she wants and teach her what it means first. Replace roaming with at least 20 repetitions of come here from 2-5 feet away every day. Make it a habit. Resist letting her wander off until you have 2-5 feet mastered.

Move on to the next distance. Make it a habit.

Practice from as many different spots in the house and outside as possible. Dogs need to see this picture over and over and over again with all kinds of different sights and sounds in order for it to become an automatic habit.

Make Training Your Dog A Game

As with any new habit, take it on as a game. Play the game all the time and have fun while you do it. New habits are fun. Don’t get stuck staying the same. That’s no fun!

Dog Photo Challenge

Try playing this game with your dog and take photos in as many different places as you can. Send a photo and your story to me. (you’ll first need to send an e-mail, I’ll respond to give you a place to upload your photo) I’d love to feature your best friend in the gallery.  You’ll get holistic dog treats for your story!

*Bella lives on the Big Island Hawaii and has her video is taken from location around Kailua Kona Hawaii

Jt Clough lives on the Big Island, Hawaii, and practices health, happiness and natural remedies, while working as a Habits Coach for people looking to live healthier and happier lives.  She is a dog whisperer for our best friends; and studies natural dog remedies, nutrition and communication.  Her latest e-book is 5K Training Guide | Running with Dogs.

America’s Bark Off to McDonald’s from BADRAP.org on Vimeo.

Way to go dog owners. You spoke up quickly and prompted McDonalds to take down their ridiculous advertising suggesting Chicken McNuggets are safer then petting a Pit Bull.

Hawaii has limited number of McDonalds and a large population of Pit Bulls. More good than bad once again in paradise!

The Pit Bull Personality

American Pit Bull Terriers are outgoing and people loving. Properly socialized dogs are extremely friendly, even with strangers. Pit Bulls are intelligent and eager to please and tend to remain playful throughout their lives. While some can be low key and like to chill out most the time, many others need a job to do to channel their enthusiasm and energy.

Put Bulls excel in dog sports, search and rescue work, drug and bomb detection work, and as therapy dogs. Severe shyness, fearfulness or human- directed aggression is not characteristic of the breed and highly undesirable in any dog.

As a professional dog trainer and Habits Coach in my years of training dogs, Pit Bulls are incredibly smart and easy to work with. I love working with Pit Bulls.

Unfounded Fear, Dogs & the Media

Is it that we are a nation that has to have something to be afraid of? Is it that we judge unfairly because the media only shows the negative? We are a country with an amalgamation of color and ethnics. Are we truly still afraid of people because of their heritage?

People are coaxed into being judgmental, being afraid. The media uses a common happy meal kids place theme like McDonalds to portray these messages. The politically correct police aren’t so hard on those who make judgmental statements out loud about dog breeds though, and so it goes… The Pit Bull gets a bad rap unfairly.

Let this one be a lesson on how we treat both people and dogs and how the media can portray the good as the bad and vise versa. Don’t judge and create fear based on breed, and certainly be aware of big advertising campaigns suggesting what we should and should not fear.

Misrepresented:  Safe and Chicken McNugget

Case in point, McDonalds suggests that Chicken McNuggets are safe. They have cute kids, nice bright toys and most the world eating them.

What if the world got to see this on a bill board?

The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan is a book I highly recommend you read. It describes how the eating habits of Americans have changed over the past 30 years. He talks about the subject of Chicken McNuggets and defines the ingredients used. The following exerpts are taken directly from The Omnivore’s Dilemma:

Chicken McNugget Ingredients

The ingredients listed in the flyer suggest a lot of thought goes into a nugget, that and a lot of corn. Of the thirty-eight ingredients it takes to make a McNugget, I counted thirteen that can be derived from corn: the corn-fed chicken itself; modified cornstarch (to bind the pulverized chicken meat); mono-, tri-, and diglycerides (emulsifiers, which keep the fats and water from separating); dextrose; lecithin (another emulsifier); chicken broth (to restore some of the flavor that processing leeches out); yellow corn flour and more modified cornstarch (for the batter); cornstarch (a filler); vegetable shortening; partially hydrogenated corn oil; and citric acid as a preservative. A couple of other plants take part in the nugget: There’s some wheat in the batter, and on any given day the hydrogenated oil could come from soybeans, canola, or cotton rather than corn, depending on the market price and availability.

According to the handout, McNuggets also contain several completely synthetic ingredients, quasiedible substances that ultimately come not from a corn or soybean field but form a petroleum refinery or chemical plant. These chemicals are what make modern processed food possible, by keeping the organic materials in them from going bad or looking strange after months in the freezer or on the road. Listed first are the “leavening agents”: sodium aluminum phosphate, mono-calcium phosphate, sodium acid pyrophosphate, and calcium lactate. These are antioxidants added to keep the various animal and vegetable fats involved in a nugget from turning rancid. Then there are “anti-foaming agents” like dimethylpolysiloxene, added to the cooking oil to keep the starches from binding to air molecules, so as to produce foam during the fry. The problem is evidently grave enough to warrant adding a toxic chemical to the food: According to the Handbook of Food Additives, dimethylpolysiloxene is a suspected carcinogen and an established mutagen, tumorigen, and reproductive effector; it’s also flammable.

But perhaps the most alarming ingredient in a Chicken McNugget is tertiary butylhydroquinone, or TBHQ, an antioxidant derived from petroleum that is either sprayed directly on the nugget or the inside of the box it comes in to “help preserve freshness.” According to A Consumer’s Dictionary of Food Additives, TBHQ is a form of butane (i.e. lighter fluid) the FDA allows processors to use sparingly in our food: It can comprise no more than 0.02 percent of the oil in a nugget. Which is probably just as well, considering that ingesting a single gram of TBHQ can cause nausea, vomiting, ringing in the ears, delirium, a sense of suffocation, and collapse.  Ingesting five grams of TBHQ can kill.

My choice is the dog as a wonderful loving companion. McDonalds is in fact the unsafe choice here.

 Jt Clough lives on the Big Island, Hawaii, and practices health, happiness and natural remedies, while working as a Habits Coach for people looking to live healthier and happier lives.  She is a dog whisperer for our best friends; and studies natural dog remedies, nutrition and communication.  Her latest e-book is 5K Training Guide | Running with Dogs.

Make life easy for you and for your puppy with 3 easy steps to a perfectly potty trained puppy.

Without following these three simple steps puppy potty training can be nothing less than frustrating. It is a bit of an exercise in patience.

Remember you just brought a baby home and like a toddler it is going to require your attention much more so in the early puppy stage then a few months down the line when you take the time to follow these guidelines the first few weeks.

1. Get a crib for you baby, known in the dog world as a crate.
2. Do not leave your puppy unattended, just like a baby.
3. Take your puppy out every 1-2 hours the first week. Every 2-3 hours the second week and every 3 hours the third week.

If your puppy should make a mistake it is of utmost importance you clean it up correctly! You don’t want to smell urine in your home even if a mistake happens. Your puppy will smell it for sure and recognize it as a place already established as an acceptable potty spot. Read below for more information.

Why a crate?

Notice in the list it is described as a baby crib. No one would consider you a terrible person and you wouldn’t consider yourself unfair for putting a baby in a crib to sleep or while you aren’t watching every single move. So why is it that people have an opinion that crating a puppy is a bad thing?

Get over that one and realize you can think of it and even call it a crib or the nursery in your mind and your puppy will be safe and happy about it.

Do Not Leave Your Puppy Unattended

When you cannot watch your puppy as though it is a new born baby, put him in the crib or crate, whichever you prefer to label it. It is as simple as that.

Puppies will wander off and have an accident without you knowing it. Since a puppy learns in pictures as well as led by his nose this proves to be quite frustrating to fix if the habit is established more than a couple of times.

Take Your Puppy Out Often

Ideally taking your puppy out every 1-2 hours will ensure mistakes are impossible. Your puppy may not have to go every time but if you create the picture often enough in the beginning your puppy will without a doubt learn where to go potty.

Crate your puppy to sleep overnight and plan on getting up at least once to take him out. As your puppy grows you’ll be able to let him sleep all night and stretch the day time hours out to 4-6. BE PATIENT and spend the first couple months to get this one right. It will pay off in a perfectly potty trained puppy and you’ll be well on your way to other stellar puppy training as well.

What if I can’t take my puppy out that often?

Many people have to leave their puppy longer than 1-2 hours at a time. If this is the case with you, take your puppy out as often as possible. The first thing you should do when coming home is take your puppy out. Once the pup has done the business play time outside of the crate is on! Just remember not to get distracted and let your puppy run off on his own EVER in the beginning.

Put your puppy in the crate every single time you can’t watch. Not only is it good potty training practice it’s good chew proof practice as well.

What if I feel like I have my puppy in the crate too much?

Simple answer. Make more time to spend with your puppy. One thing you can do is tie a leash to yourself with your puppy clipped to the end. This way there is no wandering off and you can spend time with your puppy other than play time.

Make sure to set an alarm on your watch or phone as a reminder to yourself. The reminder will set a precedent of where to go potty every single time.

What if my puppy makes a mistake?

Getting mad and rubbing your puppy’s nose in a mistake is a big no no. It does nothing to teach your puppy where to go to relieve himself. Puppies and dogs are very much in the moment. Anything you are reprimanding for after the fact only goes in the puppy’s mind as associated with whatever they were doing in the moment you got mad. That could have easily been playing with a chew toy or wagging a tail at you.

Simply take your puppy outside, tell him to go potty and if he does not, put him up in the crate. Take him out later and start the process over. And over. And over.

Most Important Step in Fixing a Potty Mistake

Clean it up properly!! Any old cleaner does not work. The myth of using vinegar doesn’t work for this one either. Pet urine contains enzymes that must be removed or the super duper smell system of puppies and dogs will find the spot again, figure it’s the designated bathroom and go again.

There are several enzyme cleaners out there. From experience there is one in my personal opinion that actually works!

Planet Urine  Get it!  It is a must for any potty training program.  As a bonus there is live coaching that comes along with it!

*I’m not one to recommend anything that doesn’t work and that I haven’t used myself. Over my years of training and working with potty training as an issue this is the one thing that has made the biggest difference. One mistake could establish a built in bathroom in your puppy’s mind!

• Crate
• Outside potty
• Play or stay with you
• Potty
• Back in the crate
• Repeat

Have patience. Breath. Play. Take your puppy outside and most important…..enjoy all the moments. Wag more. Play more.

Jt Clough lives In Kailua Kona on the Big Island, Hawaii, and practices health, happiness and natural remedies, while working as a habits coach for people looking to live healthier and happier lives.  She is a dog whisperer for our best friends; and studies natural dog remedies, nutrition and communication.

Read her book 5K Training Guide | Running with Dogs on Amazon Kindle.

Join the K9 Cross Fitness Dog Training Classes in Kailua Kona Hawaii

I love it when people start right away with training a puppy the sit and down, which in the long run will make for a really great stay.  You need not think of it as training.  Your puppy thinks any attention is play so go with it and have some fun.

The video shows an ~16 week old puppy doing sit – park it, and down – relax. This is the foundation for the best “stay’ ever. The mistake most people make is adding that word “stay” way too early before the puppy or older dog for that matter, have ever practiced to sit, or down for even one second.

Think of the sit and down as nothing more that a trick to teach every single puppy.

Begin the Sit Trick Training

Have your puppy sit, you may need to help her the first several times. Help means you may need to lean over, bend down or whatever you have to do to get to eye level and put your fingers on the upper hips with a downward motion. This helps your puppy understand what position sit even means.

Once she’s done it, give the treat. Make a note here: the treat comes ideally right as the puppy sits when first starting to teach sit.  The idea is to attach the word with the action in the moment. Because puppies and dogs learn in pictures your role in the game is to name the picture right when it happens.

Stretching the Sit for More than a Second

Once the puppy has figured the sit part out start stretching out the time she can hold a sit and then give the treat. That’s how this “park it” thing comes into play. *”Park it” in this case is going to mean the same as stay but we’ll go to that step in the next blog post. Should you want to stay tuned please sign up for the Healthy Living Wag Report so you don’t miss some cool dog thing from the K9 Coach at Big Island Dog!)

Another note for those of you beginning with a new “sit” training tick for any dog, use a bed or something that gives your dog a target to sit on. That way should the pup jump up without completing the trick, or after less than a second which is normal in the beginning, you have a place to target her right back to.  It’s another secret dog trainer trick to getting a great stay or park it in the long run!

For now, practice sit over and over and over in this manner. Don’t get frustrated. It takes repetition. LIke a thousand times.

Just trust me on this one… it the set up for the best “park it” or “stay” ever.

Questions about getting your dog to do something?

Leave a comment and I’ll get back to you.

If you are in Kailua Kona private dog or puppy training lessons are available.

If you are anywhere else in the world contact me to set up a Dog Training Skype Session. *Note the puppy in the video is training with me by Skype!

Jt Clough lives on the Big Island, Hawaii, and practices health, happiness and natural remedies, while working as a Habits Coach for people looking to live healthier and happier lives.  She is a dog whisperer for our best friends; and studies natural dog remedies, nutrition and communication.  Her latest e-book is 5K Training Guide | Running with Dogs.

You’ve taken your dog to classes early on in your relationship and tried to achieve this same sort of behavior but it seems like nothing is working.

You are frustrated even though you love your dog. You’d do way more together if only there was some sort of communication that worked while out and about, around your home, in you car or just simply hanging out together..

The Art of Hanging Out

There is always an excuse it seems for lack of time but when it comes right down to it if you kept track of what you did everyday you’d find at least an hour, most likely more you waste on something you either don’t need to be doing, don’t enjoy doing at all, or is simply just a waste of time.

As ridiculous as it sounds simply spending more time with your dog can find you with the perfect well mannered best friend ever.  Use your “wasted” time or time you wouldn’t think of normally to spend with your dog.

Let me explain the art of hanging out with your dog further… as a way of better communication. As a way to find calm and well behaved and enjoyable.

Start from the other end what we picture “hanging out”. Do something with your dog often.

The cool thing about doing things with a dog is you can include all kinds of activities that humans might not get excited about… your dog will.

Hang out with your dog while you:

• Go for a walk.
• Clean the house.
• Take the garbage out.
• While watering your outdoor plants
• Write a thank you letter and deliver it (your dog sits by you while writing then accompanies while delivering it)
• Find 10 things that are clutter in your house, take them somewhere to donate with your dog accompanying you.
• Invite a friend over that likes dogs. Go for a walk with your dog.
• Did I say go for a walk? Go every day.
• Running is good too.
• Plant a garden of greens. Yes your dog can sit and hang out with you while you do it.
• Go to the car wash.
• Play fetch in the backyard, or in your living room. *pop fly is a good one for the indoor game (dog sits 3-5 feet away from you, throw the ball up as pop fly so your dog can catch it at short distance in the air and bring it back)
• Visit as many parks as you can in your area. One per week.
• Go to a K9 Cross Fitness Class (held in Kailua Kona, Big Island of Hawaii)

You don’t need to make it a big outing every single day. You need to spend time with your dog doing things.

You’ll find it becomes quality time quickly.

You’ll find you’ll have that best friend that allows you to be you and accompanies you as the perfect support system, with a wag every single time.

You’ll find you will enjoy your time with a calm balanced dog and your time will be constructive.

How To Get Your Dog To Do These Things With You

So you aren’t starting out with a dog that stays with you. That doesn’t come when called.

What to do?

• Tie two leashes together.
• Tie one end around your waste, attach dog to other end.
• You are now hands free and your dog needs to stay with you.
• Write your own list of things to using the one above as an example.
• Start on the list with your dog leashed to you.
• Use “sit” and “come” as the two things you practice all the time.

Do this so often it becomes normal for your dog to “hang out with you”.

It’s a really super simple method of dog training.

Sure, there are times in the beginning it can be frustrating. But stay with it. A master of anything, including a dog that hangs with you comes down to actually spending your time doing just that.

And if you have big problems and feel like you need some help. Don’t stop. Get a hold of me. Healthy habits and dog whisperer-ing is what I do! Don’t miss out on a relationship with your dog that is the best ever.

Jt Clough lives In Kailua Kona on the Big Island, Hawaii, and practices health, happiness and natural remedies, while working as a habits coach for people looking to live healthier and happier lives.  She is a dog whisperer for our best friends; and studies natural dog remedies, nutrition and communication.

Read her book 5K Training Guide | Running with Dogs on Amazon Kindle.