TRAINING TIP TUESDAY!

TRAINING TIP TUESDAY from 4Paws University: Does your dog respond well to training in the house and backyard, but finds your neighborhood far too distracting? Take your dog to a location where distractions are only slightly higher, but low enough that he or she can concentrate on the lesson. I love one of our local cemeteries. It dates back to the 1800's and has gorgeous landscaping with lots of shade (important here in Sacramento, where it's over 80 degrees 50% of the year). It's a fascinating walk for history buffs.

If walking around a cemetery sounds creepy to you, that's okay. Check out your local business parks. Also, if there's one thing the recession brought us, it's a bunch of abandoned retail parking lots, which are great for practicing training for dogs who have difficulty ignoring all the amazing smells that grass can hold. On weekends, it's pretty easy to find parking garages with plenty of space and little to no traffic. They provide a nice, shaded area to practice in the summer.

Tennis courts can be terrific places to practice off-leash recalls and long-distance stays and are often vacant during the week. Obviously, when training in these areas, be respectful of those around you and obey leash laws and any and all posted restrictions. At the cemetery, we give mourners plenty of space and, for dogs that have a tendency to mark, we stay away from any of the gravesites and stick to the paved roads. My goal is to go unnoticed during and after our visit. And, it probably doesn't need to be said, but make sure you have plenty of poop bags on hand. I find as long as it is clear that I am working on training, and not there to let the dog play or socialize, people don't mind sharing these spaces. When you start thinking outside the neighborhood walk, you'll be surprised how many potential training areas you will start to spot while driving around. As with changing any criteria in training, the time to move back to the neighborhood, your local park, or other areas with greater distractions is when your dog is so attentive and well-behaved in the current location, that you feel the need for a greater challenge to keep you both from getting bored! 

BONUS: Even if your dog isn't easily distracted in your neighborhood, practicing training in a wide variety of environments will help your dog generalize the training you've done, making it much easier to get good behavior in new places where he's never been before! Because it will probably come up: The dog in this photo is nervous about strangers, and the muzzle serves to keep well-meaning dog lovers from trying to approach him while he's enjoying his walks and training sessions. He is a bright, sweet, sensitive boy and a dream to work with! Want to learn more about muzzle training, check out the folks at The Muzzle Up Project!