October 2020 Updates from Shelby Semel Dog Training
/It’s Fall Y’all
Fall means getting to go on brisk walks with your dog, enjoying the lovely crisp weather, and beautiful foliage outside! However, fall can also mean seasonal allergies for our dogs.
Many people don’t realize that dogs and cats are affected by the same allergens that plague humans! The big difference, though, is in how these allergies are presented. While we can get red and watery eyes, sneezing, and coughing; more common for our pups are skin issues.
Most common allergens for dogs during seasonal changes:
Trees, grass, and pollens
Mold spores
Dander
Feathers
Here are some ways you can help them feel better:
If your pet is itching (biting their skin, scratching, rubbing against walls/floors/rugs), it may just be allergies, but speak to your vet about it to ensure your pet doesn’t have a secondary bacterial infection that requires antibiotics. (You should always check with your veterinarian first about what medications and supplements you're giving your pup.)
Make sure to wipe your dogs paws every time they come back inside, so you can help them to not track in any allergens they're sensitive to. This will help them just as much as it will help you to keep your home nice and clean!
Make sure you're giving your dog regular baths to keep their skin nice and clean. If your pet has irritated skin, bathing will rinse the allergens away and make them feel better quickly. Don’t be shy about how often you bathe your pet, especially if he or she is suffering from allergies that itch and irritate their skin. Discuss with your vet what prescription shampoos are best, as frequent bathing with the wrong product can dry out skin.
Tip of the Month:
Practicing "Leave It" with outdoor objects (like crunchy leaves!)
Tip # 1:
Make sure to learn and practice "Leave it" with your dog inside first with minimal distractions:
Put a treat in your fist and present your closed upside down hand to your dog on the ground, and allow them to sniff and lick at it. They will eventually lose interest, and we’re going to mark the second that they choose to look away from the treat in your hand. YES and treat from the other hand (We recommend keeping this hand behind your back while you ask them to "leave it” or they’ll start to just look at your other hand expecting a treat.)
Then you’ll start to make it harder for them to ignore by putting the treat on the ground and just lightly covering it with your hand, your foot, etc. (don’t move too fast with this or they’ll be likely to fail and get frustrated)
Once they are pausing reliably and looking at you, you can start adding the verbal cue “leave it” when they are sniffing the treat under your hand/foot.
Tip # 2:
Over time, once they can leave a treat alone on the ground/floor uncovered, start working on dropping the item we want them to leave alone. This will make it much harder and they'll have to practice more self-control!
To make sure your dog is set up for success, drop the treat closer to YOU than to your dog so you can cover it if they go for it!
Jenna (pictured below) got SO good at leave it, a treat can be placed on her paw, and she doesn't take it!
Tip # 3:
When you're ready to start practicing with objects other than treats, we'll make sure to practice in a quiet setting where they're likely to be able to focus on you. Try to do something that can fit fully under your hand (a leaf, small stick, etc). Practice with a treat the first two times you ask, then switch to the other item in order to transfer the skill successfully!
If you only work on/practice this behavior in a very distracting setting, your dog will not learn as successfully and may get frustrated quickly.
Tip # 4:
Once your dog is consistently responding to "Leave it" when you drop different items on the ground, practice dropping AND walking by lots of different objects and asking them to "leave it," and giving them heavy rewards/reinforcement for listening!
If your dog is quick to try and take the item, try not to respond by grabbing it out of their mouth! They could start to develop some resource guarding behaviors this way. Instead, ask them to release the item using your "drop it" behavior!
If you have any questions or would like specific help and advice, feel free to contact your SSDT trainer, or contact us on social media!!
If you have not worked with us before, but you’d like to have a private session to begin your training process, and start working on your dog's basic obedience or other training needs, our virtual training sessions are a perfect place to start!
Upcoming Group Classes:
Puppy Socialization Class
Locations: Chelsea and UES "D is for Doggy" locations rotated each week
(Oct 5th - UES, Oct 12th - Chelsea, Oct 19th - UES, etc)
Price: $40.00
Date/Time: Mondays at 7:00pm
Puppy Socialization Class is the perfect way to get your pup NYC ready! Each week a puppy topic is covered (i.e., Chewing, nipping, jumping, etc) followed by a focus cue (look or touch). The remainder of the class is off leash, so the puppy can learn how to play and owners can learn about their dog’s body language and signals. We end with desensitization to handling sounds and wheels! Puppy Socialization Class is perfect for puppies ages 8 weeks to eighteen weeks. All puppies must be under 14 weeks for their first class!
Please note, we require proof of negative fecal sample from your local vet for all attendance and RSVP.
For more information and to sign up, please email jenna@shelbydogtraining.com with your name, contact info and a few sentences about your dog!
Pregnant in a Pandemic 1 & 2 Combo Class
Virtual Workshop
Price: $50.00
Date/Time: Tuesday 10/13 at 7:30pm (1 hour 30 minutes long)
This workshop is for expecting mamas and also parents who have recently brought home their new human baby! This workshop is geared at the intro and the days and weeks directly after to ease stress (on both humans and dogs!). Q&A at the end.
The full $50 class fee is donated to Ancient Song Doula Services, a local organization that provides birth support and advocacy to low income women of color in Brooklyn, NY.
Mind Your Manners Outdoor Class (10/17)
Location: Stuyvesant Park
Price: $280.00
4 hours over 4 classes
Dates: October 17 - November 14, 2020 (Saturdays at 1:00pm)
In this class, we will help your dog learn to control their impulses. They will learn to focus on you while being around other dogs and major distractions. Advanced Stays and Leave-it commands will be worked on as well as Place/Mat work to help your dog relax. We also teach no jumping and emergency recalls during class.
Rain date is November 21st.
Basic Obedience Class (10/20)
Location: D is for Doggy - 552 6th Avenue
Price: $350.00
6 hours over 6 classes
Dates: October 20th - Dec 1st, 2020 (Tuesdays at 7pm)
Basic Obedience Class is great for dogs of any age who are ready to work on basic commands such as: sit, down, stay, leave-it, come and loose leash walking. We also work on impulse control and anti-jumping exercises. Class is full of natural distractions, so even if you have a few of these cues already, it is a great environment to work in to increase difficulty. This class is also a great way to strengthen the bond between you and your dog!
Contact your SSDT trainer or email us below if you'd like
more specific information or guidance on which class to join!
Trainee of the Month:
Greeley
8 month old Bernedoodle
Greeley is 8 months old, and just getting into his adolescent rebellious phase. His parents have been working very hard with him on curbing his counter-surfing behaviors as well as his alert barking! Since relocating from suburbs back to the city, they have been actively practicing their Leave It's with a lot of different items (food, shoes, trash, etc) and their management of his alert barking at hallway noises. He is doing very well, and his parents are very proud of him.
If you’d like more information on learning new behaviors like Baby, or fixing any undesirable behaviors, please check out our virtual group workshops and private and in-person virtual training sessions on our website!