Real Life Husbandry Archives

Golf Cart Ride with Sophie

Aussie mix and Certified Equine Safe Sophie takes a golf cart ride with Ben that includes a duration Stay while Charlie walks around her and a neighbor’s dog barks in the distance. She comes out of the cart on command, offers a nice front, and then loads on command. In some areas of the Village…

Ziggy learns to Move

https://studio.youtube.com/video/zZ2JJX-JQ1w/edit Ben works with six-month-old male Labradoodle Ziggy on Move, which means get out from underfoot and/or out of the trainer’s line of travel. Some dogs stay more close to people than others, and while we may value this quality, at its worst it causes trips and falls and may contribute to door dashing and…

Dogs in the workplace

One of the hardest things about living with dogs is leaving them behind every day for the office. Those puppy-dog eyes can really do a number on a dog lover. Fortunately, more and more workplaces welcome dogs. That improves the lives of dogs, their guardians, and the company’s bottom line. Employers report reduced absenteeism and…

Five Tips for Keeping Your Dog Busy

Dogs get stir-crazy, too. If yours is climbing the walls and driving you to distraction, here are five ways to help him chill. Lots of exercise. “A tired dog is a good dog” is a cliché for good reason. It’s easy to be well-behaved when you’re sleeping off a good run. If a run isn’t…

What we worry about these days

Besides making us worry about getting sick, running out of money, and forgetting who our friends are, COVID-19 has us afraid for dogs. Not because we believe it could be transmitted to or by dogs, but because the practices we must follow to stay healthy are problematic for dogs. Separation anxiety Staying at home all…

Size differences in dogs

Size matters. Your Chihuahua may love Boxers and your Rottie mix may adore Dachshunds. But, when little and big play together, keep a close watch. Big dogs can unintentionally harm small dogs—and on the rare occasions when friendly play escalates into a scuffle, the smaller dog is at risk for serious injury or death. If…

Sibling rivalry

Why do my dogs quarrel? All dogs squabble occasionally. Mostly, dogs who live together get into scraps over stuff they both want: Food, bones, toys, human attention, and sleeping spots. Like us, they also have individual preferences and moods, and might be having a grumpy day or a headache. What should I do? If the…

Kitchen and Mealtime

Why bother with kitchen & mealtime training? Because you want to teach your dog not to be underfoot while you are busy in the kitchen, and not to beg for food or steal food off the counter or table. Train for good mealtime manners when you have time for it. Thanksgiving Dinner, for example, is…

Getting Puppy Ready for the Groomer

Grooming can be a stressful experience. Think about it from your puppy’s perspective: She will be left with a stranger for a good part of the day. That stranger will handle her a lot—holding her still, touching her all over. There will be new objects like scissors and nail clippers. Also a bath. And loud,…