Blog
November News
Published on Nov 12, 2007 | Category: What's New?
* Workshops this week: Coming When Called, Fraidy Dog, Baby-Proofing Your Dog * Online dog training forum is up and running! * Featured product at the store. * Free Training Practice class moving to Mondays. * TIP: Teaching your dog to fetch.
How to Teach Your Dog or Puppy To Fetch
Published on Nov 7, 2007 | Category: Tips & Safety
Does your puppy grab a toy and run off with it instead of bringing it back to you? You should be able to play catch *with your dog* and having your dog fetch the ball instead of playing “catch the dog” and having to fetch her. Fetch should be exercise for the dog, not for -> Read the full article…
“Good Dog!” NOT “Good Sit”
Published on Nov 7, 2007 | Category: Tips & Safety
You hear it all the time. “Sit, Fido.” (Fido sits). “Good sit!” It’s in my old training, too, but it’s a habit I’m mostly over. It’s not helpful for dogs when you use the cue (like “sit”) in the praise. It’s probably actually making your dog learn more slowly
The future of Agility at Ahimsa
Published on Nov 6, 2007 | Category: What's New?
We have offered agility classes at Ahimsa for several years. Our core focus is to improve the relationship of dogs with their humans, and while agility does serve that goal, the training center is so busy these days that I had to decide between continuing to offer agilty classes and offering more manners classes,
How to Get Your Dog Comfortable in a Head Collar
Published on Oct 19, 2007 | Category: Tips & Safety
There are many different brands of head collars for dogs these days. Popular dog head halter brands are Gentle Leader, Halti, NewTrix, and the ones that we carry on our website, the Comfort Trainer and the K9 Bridle. Head collars give you a lot of control, but dog’s can take several weeks to get used -> Read the full article…
Dog Training Advice & Community Forum
Published on Oct 11, 2007 | Category: What's New?
We did it! The dog training forum is ready for people to visit. Complaints about off leash dogs in Seattle? Need help with coming when called? Or weaning off of treats? This is the place to post your questions, rants, and raves. Visit the forum at http://doggiezen.com/forum.
Voted Best in Seattle – again!
Published on Oct 10, 2007 | Category: Uncategorized
CityDog Magazine had it’s annual readership poll for TopDog in various categories. In 2006, we were voted TopDog in the Dog Trainer/Behaviorist category. In 2007, CityDog wrote that we were a “close second” to a facility in Woodinville. When I asked my clients for suggestions for what to say about Ahimsa getting the most votes -> Read the full article…
I have other dogs. Does my puppy still need Puppy class?
Published on Oct 10, 2007 | Category: Puppies
Yes! I get this question a fair amount. I’d rather get this question than have people simply skip puppy class, believing that their other dog(s) will socialize the new puppy. It helps to have dogs at home, but it’s not enough, and it may convince you to not be as diligent in socializing your new -> Read the full article…
How to Click Your Dog’s Cute Behavior Into a Trick
Published on Oct 6, 2007 | Category: Tips & Safety
Your dog does a million cute things every day, if you look closely. Yoga stretches, head tilts, lip smacking, barking, you name it. Let’s turn one of them into a trick using clicker training! Here’s how:
October News – Puppy Jr. High, Rally is back, more!
Published on Oct 4, 2007 | Category: What's New?
In this Newsletter: New class: Intermediate Puppy, a.k.a. Puppy Jr. High Baby-Proofing Your Dog workshop – this Saturday Rally Obedience starts on Oct 18. Wallflower Shy Dog class starts Nov 17. More Agility Classes on the Schedule CityDog’s TopDog votes are in!
My Dog is Afraid of the Clicker!
Published on Oct 4, 2007 | Category: Tips & Safety
Some dogs are nervous about the clicker. It does happen from time to time, and almost all dogs will get over their fears, given the chance. So you have one of those dogs? Here’s what to do.
Recalled Dog Treats – Smokehouse
Published on Sep 19, 2007 | Category: Safety Warnings
It’s not an official recall yet, but Petsmart is pulling the following Smokehouse dog treats from their shelves, because of some dogs becoming ill after eating these treats.
Upcoming classes, call for volunteers, free training
Published on Sep 8, 2007 | Category: Tips & Safety
In this post: * Free Training Sessions moving to Thursday * Volunteers needed for Growly Dog class * Ahimsa won a “very close second” in the CityDog Magazine Top Dog awards (and the first place center isn’t in Seattle!) * Upcoming classes * Dog Training Conference
Woman breeds, chains dogs, who escape & kill others
Published on Aug 22, 2007 | Category: Uncategorized
I could have used the headline that others used, “Pit Bulls maul sleeping woman…” but I think the more important detail here is how this happened. It’s not the breed, it’s the fool who chained them up outside. Yes, some pit bulls are dog aggressive. And yes, they are powerful. But I have seen dogs -> Read the full article…
Hiccup Cure!
Published on Aug 20, 2007 | Category: Tips & Safety
The cure below is for curing human hiccups, but do dogs get hiccups? (hiccoughs?) Yes. Puppies are more prone to hiccups than adult dogs. My dog had hiccups every single day when she was a puppy, and has since grown out of that. But I wanted to write this blog entry because I got hiccups -> Read the full article…
Shy Dog class, Agility, Free Practice Class, more!
Published on Jul 31, 2007 | Category: What's New?
Once again, I have a boatload of news for you… In this newsletter: CityDog TopDog voting ends today! (maybe tomorrow) Free Practice Class for past and current students Join the Humane Society’s fight to end Dog-Fighting! New Round of Dog Agility Wallflower Shy Dog class returns! Baby-Proofing Your Dog – workshop Burien classes: Terrier & -> Read the full article…
Baby/Dog workshop, new dog training classes
Published on Jul 26, 2007 | Category: What's New?
We have new classes! The Baby-Proofing Your Dog workshop for expecting parents is completely new, and the Wallflower Shy Dog Class is a returning favorite. I’ve also added a ton of new classes to the schedule: Agility, Basic Manners, Terrier classes in Burien, and a new Saturday puppy class in Burien. Click here to see -> Read the full article…
Seatbelts or Crates in the Car
Published on Jul 19, 2007 | Category: Safety Warnings
When I was growing up, the concept of having a dog in a seatbelt was never even considered. Even having a baby in a strapped-in secure, safety-tested car seat was a pretty new idea. But now that they are available, would you take your newborn home from the hospital just sitting on the car seat -> Read the full article…
Household Poisons & Toxic Plants (Dogs and Cats)
Published on Jul 19, 2007 | Category: Safety Warnings
People often ask what things around the house – and what plants – are dangerous for their dog. The ASPCA has a list of poisonous items. Some of them “just” cause vomiting, others are things that some dogs are allergic to and others aren’t, and some will kill any dog. The ASPCA Poison Control Hotline -> Read the full article…
Recalled Dog Foods – Up-to-date list
Published on Jul 19, 2007 | Category: Safety Warnings
I can’t seem to keep up with all of the different foods that have been contaminated with Melamine. I think what this crisis has shown us, more than anything else, is that most dog food manufacturers are relatively the same and treat our dogs as not being worthy of truly good nutrition. Makes you want -> Read the full article…
Collar Warnings, Foxtails
Published on Jul 12, 2007 | Category: Safety Warnings, What's New?
COLLAR & HARNESS WARNINGS I have some awful news. A dog that took puppy class with me this spring passed away last week. Her harness caught on the exercise pen that she was kept in when her owners were gone for a bit, and she strangled. The family emailed me because they wanted to prevent -> Read the full article…
Your Dog is Watching! Modelling Behavior in Dogs
Published on Jul 5, 2007 | Category: Uncategorized
Who knew that dogs could actually copy each other? Scientists have always said that dogs can’t learn by “modelling.” That is, they thought dogs couldn’t see other dogs doing something and then copy that behavior. Turns out they do that, and they do it in context! If they watch another dog going after a treat -> Read the full article…
Find Your Dog a Friend in Seattle
Published on Jul 2, 2007 | Category: Uncategorized
The Seattle Dog Play Classifieds have made news twice lately. They were featured in Seattle Metropolitan Magazine’s “Best of the City” issue, July 2007) and in the Seattle Times (“It’s a Dog Meet Dog World,” August 2006) In the Seattle Dog Play Classifieds, you just list your dog or search for friends, based on play -> Read the full article…
Newsletter July 2007
Published on Jun 27, 2007 | Category: What's New?
I have quite a few new bits of info for everybody and finally decided to make an online version of the newsletter. Here we go…. 🙂 Please Give Feedback We now have an online class evaluation form. Please take a moment to give us feedback on the quality of your experience at Ahimsa. Advanced Puppy -> Read the full article…
King 5 News Interview – June 07
Published on Jun 15, 2007 | Category: Our Dogs, Tips & Safety
A visit with friends turned tragic when a child approached a family dog with a bone. You hear about this sort of thing all of the time, but too often, people “correct” the dog by telling it not to growl, rather than changing the emotionally charge of the situation. Now the dog is still angry -> Read the full article…
Seattle PI Article June 07
Published on Jun 1, 2007 | Category: Uncategorized
I was interviewed by Susan Paynter at the Seattle PI about what’s new and interesting in the dog world. Click here to read the article. Wilson is now taking classes at Ahimsa. This was one of the few times that I felt well-represented by a news article, probably because I was interviewed for a good -> Read the full article…
