July 2020 Updates from Shelby Semel Dog Training
/Fireworks: Staying Calm, Cool and Collected
It's July! That means all across America, people will be setting off fireworks for their Fourth of July celebrations. But that doesn't really bode well for dogs. It's clear that dogs and fireworks don't exactly go great together. Some dogs can have panic reactions and hide somewhere in your house, while others try to escape and run away from the noise, only getting lost outside and potentially hurt.
We don't want any of these things to happen to you! So here are some tips to help your dog stay calm, cool, and collected, just like Cooper (@minicooperbigworld on instagram) in the picture below!
Tip # 1:
Schedule your walks for the day FAR before nightfall when fireworks are likely to be set off. Try aiming for before 7:30pm. As nightfall gets close, keep them inside with doors/windows locked!
Tip # 2:
Make sure they have an up-to-date form of identification tag on their collar (with their name/your name and phone number, like the one Griffy has on in the picture below) just in case they were to get out somehow. This is more likely outside a city setting.
Tip # 3:
If your dog is naturally anxious, try giving them a calming supplement at least 30 min before fireworks start, or ask your vet about appropriate anxiety medication to give them.
Tip # 4:
Create a safe place for your dog, ideally furthest away from any windows. Muffle the sounds of fireworks with classical music, and white noise in the form of fans and air conditioners. Give them a nice cozy place to stay calm, some people use their bathrooms.
Tip # 5:
Keep your dog occupied by giving your dog a stuffed kong or puzzle toy filled with all his favorite yummy treats!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!
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!
Tips to Beat the Heat!
Walk your dog in the early morning and in the late evening when it is coolest. If possible, avoid the hottest part of the day - 3:00-4:00pm.
During your walk, test the heat of the pavement before you start to avoid burned toes, and keep to the shadiest part of the street. Or use booties to protect their pads if necessary!
Stay hydrated! Bring a water bottle with you and a collapsible bowl for longer walks. Check out this water bottle that has a bowl as a lid here!
Have your dog wear a cooling vest or coat on the hottest days and for long walks, especially if your dog has a short snout or is heat intolerant. Our favorites are the Chillybuddy and the Ruffwear Swamp Cooler.
Try a New Trick: Recall Training
This is the perfect time of year to get outside and start working on your dog's recall and response to you. This is going to be an important thing to work on as dog parks open back up this week, and we start taking our pups hiking and adventuring with us!
We are also offering an "Off-Leash and Learn" outdoor class series! This class is designed for dogs who play nicely with other dogs but need extra help learning to listen when they are otherwise occupied with play. This class will brush up on recall and other cues around dogs on and off leash. This is ideal for dogs 5 months to two years old with a basic or intermediate training background. Dogs will be required to be on long-lead during these classes, since they are outdoors.
Click here to sign up for these classes!
Here are a couple easy steps to start training your dog a "Recall" behavior.
Goal: To have your dog respond to their name call/recall noise and run to you immediately.
Step #1:
Work on and "re-charge" your dog's name recognition (indoors) before trying to work on a recall. This entails saying your dog's name, and then giving them a treat afterwards. It becomes a classically conditioned response to look to you for a treat when they hear their name. Additionally, if you want their recall to be a certain noise instead of their name call, use it and then give them a treat afterwards. Try this 5-10 times in a row, and then move on to step 2!
(Make sure you use your highest value treats for this!)
Step #2:
Play Hide and Seek inside! Try working on asking your dog to find you when you call them. When they get to you, get very excited and give them a really high value treat (We love to use peanut butter spread on the back of a spoon!)
(We work on it inside with minimal distractions first to make sure it's consistent, and then over time you can add more distractions as you try it outside.)
Step #3:
When you're ready to bring the recall outside, start by using a recall lead! These are 20-30 foot long leashes that allow your dog to practice exploring on their own and being recalled back to you without actually being off-leash. Then over time, once they show you they're responding consistently, you can try working on their recall fully off-leash.
(This does NOT mean you should pull your dog back to you in order to correct/control them. Always try to keep it voluntary and positive, and use a positive tone to call them back!)
Make sure that we're keeping the rewards consistent for them responding to recall. This is a very important one to reward correctly!
If you have any questions or need help troubleshooting how to move forward, contact your SSDT trainer or reach out to us below!
Trainee of the Month:
Baby - 4 yr old Yorkshire Terrier
Baby hails from France, but is now is a true New Yorker!
He's currently working on perfecting his basics, impulse control around bikes, scooters and skateboards, and exercises for building calmness so he can one day fulfill his dream to be a therapy dog.
He enjoys the company of kids and a good game of fetch!
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!