What do you want to do with your pet? Therapy,service dog or visit hospitals?

Lately I have had many calls from people who want their dogs to become a therapy dog or a service dog. These same people begin by telling me that their dog is dog aggressive and bites people. They say their dog listens to them but only as long as it is not distracted. They say their dog will sit and lie down but only until it decides to get up and wander away. Is it just me or am I correct in thinking these dogs have no real training?

My point here is, many people want so much from their dogs but do not want to put the time or energy into training. Training can be as simple as socializing  your dog. For any dog to move forward it must be social and it must have some obedience on it. You can't even join agility unless your dog comes when called and doesn't run away when you drop the leash. You can't have a therapy dog if your dog bites people and shows aggression.

Plain and simple!

There are things you can do and you don't need a trainer for this. Once your pup has been fully vaccinated you can begin to show it the world. Walking by shops and people is always good. A walk around the park and a few stops at the benches so you can just sit and your dog can people watch. Do not allow your dog to rush people walking by, the dog should be at your side. Do not allow  your dog to rush into the face of a dog he does not know, he could get his nose tweaked off! The dog remains by you and is just there to watch and observe.

You can walk  your dog up and down steps. The court house usually has a lot of steps, just don't let your dog poop there. A walk to the bus station is good as well.. The different noises will be a help.Just get out with your dog and walk and talk to people. Do not allow your pup to jump on people, that is a no no.

In most cases you can get your dog out and about once it has had two sets of vaccines (8 and 12 week)...usually about 12 weeks old... But try to keep it in safe areas and places you know are clean. Allow it to visit with other family dogs or a neighbors friendly dog. Please be sure the other dogs are friendly as you do not want your pup to have a bad experience meeting a dog that mauls him..This might effect him as he grows up. 

Keep in mind that your pup or dog needs social skills in order to move forward in most all training classes. 

There are many trainers who want nothing to do with your dog if it is not social. A dog that is not social can become a threat to other dogs and this is not good when running group classes.

Most people  tell me their dogs are not social and only want to enroll them in a group class because it is the least expensive, well it won't happen in most cases. Again, an unfriendly dog is not to likable, and  it scares most people and their dogs as well. I do work with unsocial dogs and there are classes I allow them in. In most cases I  have to work with the owner and their dog prior to coming to any classes.

So, what you want to do is work on your dogs social skills. This pretty much insures  you that your dog will grow to be a good companion and a willing dog who will learn most anything you want to teach him. I can not express enough how socializing your dog will keep you and  your dog happy.

I hope this information is of value to you.....

If you are having problems with  your dogs social skills or you purchased a dog that is not to social or possibly fearful, give me a call...... together we can make a difference in your best friend.

Sully's Dog Training and dog friends.

It is so nice when dogs have good manners. You can take them any where with you and truly enjoy their friendship.These dogs have worked hard to earn their freedom and deserve to be posted for their job well done.

A learning workshop for fosters and foster dogs.

Let me thank you all for fostering pets that hopefully will go to forever homes.I have spoken with many fosters and they have asked me to help them with problem dogs that they personally do not know how to deal with? Many rescue dogs are handed over to kind and caring fosters with problems the fosters do not know how to deal with? If the problems are not dealt with by the foster parents then the dog usually gets returned and this is very upsetting for the dog. I am holding work shops for the fosters and their problem pooches at 3671 Nameoki Rd Granite City IL. Every lesson you learn, you will be able to apply to most every dog you foster. My goal is to educate you in simple but effective training techniques that rid your dogs of most their problems. The work shops are 3 hours long. Every foster gets the chance to work through their pooches problems. In my work shops we will all learn from one another. There will come a time in fostering where every person will come up against one of the problems we are working on in my work shop.By working together we can make a huge difference. There is more to fostering then providing a home and food and love. There is the well being of the animals mind. My workshop will deal with fearful behavior, attitudes,barking,hiding under furniture,growling at people and most all problems you are capable of dealing with. Check my calender for work shop times. They will all be held at the Granite City location. Cost of work shop is $50.00. You will leave with a discount training certificate valued at $25.00 for Group training classes. You may hand this coupon to the new owner as a thank you for adopting the pooch that was in your care. You will also be handing over a dog that has manners and walking skills(no pulling). Check the calender at sullysdogtraining.com click on calender...... Workshops are limited to 8 people and 8 dogs. You will need a pen and pad...no cells or calls taken in class please... this workshop is for you and the dog and all the learning skills I can share with you. I believe the dogs will stay in homes forever if we give them a few skills to start out with? I believe you will come away with teaching skills you can share with every dog you foster.Only by working together do we make a huge difference in all our lives and the lives of our furry friends....Thank you, Sully 618 789 6872

Dog saves Dog

Golden Retriever Saves Boy from Cougar Attack

An outing at the water hole. I introduce them to swimming and then they play on their own.Charlie,Eddy,Augie,Tia ,Ellie,Bella,PattyO, Beaut.What a FUN day...

My friends, Karma, Waylon and Beaut

 

2008-09-09

Park day and swimming so much fun !

This is not how you want your dog to look at you

Graduation Day 2010

Graduation Day 2010

Graduation Day

Graduation Day May 2010

Look what else your dog can join in!!!!

Good day to you all. I have been doing my homework and I have found more for our canines to do. I have a few more training sessions you can join in and there is also a play day at Traveling Tails Inn where you can drop your dog off and they can play with their friends for hours and just be dogs.
Traveling Tails Inn
2764 Route 66 Business Park Drive
Edwardsville IL 62025
618 659 2366
Cindy and Chris (owners) run a lovely business that caters to your best friends.
NO kennels for your dogs!!!! They get to run free and be part of the family. They will asses your canine and welcome you in if your dog is of the friendly nature.
It is a care free environment and well supervised at all times.
Feel free to stop in and see the girls and their operation.
Leave your address and number and let them know I sent you.. You never know when I will put a free training session on that you will want to attend.
They also provide overnight stays and grooming and agility training.
I am now the trainer for the facility so we will be putting together training classes to fit your needs.
I am not the agility trainer, I am the obedience and behavioral trainer.
For anyone that knows me "Sully" I will work with what ever problem your canine is having? I also run canine training classes at the Fort Russell Veterinary Service.
Between the two locations there will be something for everyones furry friend.
If your dog is having trouble being social, please contact me and I will put your dog in a class that will work on his social skills. My track record so far has been quite good at creating dogs who want to be friendly but haven't figured out how!!!
Hug your dogs for me and remember... you can train your dog while watching TV or doing the dishes. Join up for classes and learn to be your dogs leader and friend. Life is soooooo much better with a canine that has manners.
If you want your dog to have the freedom to go places with you and join in fun activities, simply get them trained.
Only well trained dogs are aloud the freedom they deserve.
Freedom comes with rules and good behavior!!!
Let's get together and create a canine you will enjoy having around for many years to come.
Trainer and friend,
Sully

Sully's leash law!!!!

Your goal...
Have your dog listen without a leash on.
How to attain this goal?
Keep a leash on while dog is in your presence.
Confused???? Not to worry.. I will help you...

The reason for the leash being on while you and your dog are together is so you can correct for unwanted behavior without having to put your hands on your dog. Once you touch your dog or physically remove them from something with your hands, your dog will enjoy being touched so much that he will continue to do what he did in the first place that got him touched. Are you with me now?
Keep a leash attached to the collar. If the dog is on the couch, walk to the end of the leash and grab hold of it.
Command (say) "OFF". If your dog doesn't move, then pop the leash in a forward motion directing your dog to the floor and once your dog is on the floor,ONLY then do you put your hand on him in a petting way and say "thank you".
The more you touch your dog and talk to him, blah blah blah, the less they will listen or understand what it is you want from them.
"Say what you mean and mean what you say" and your dog will understand what is expected of them.
There are no reasons to smack at your dog or drag them around. This is rude and unkind. Once you learn to use the leash for corrections your hands become your dogs best friend. Using the leash while training or asking something of your dog will allow you to have control over most situations.
With out the leash, your dog can run from you and this is soooo bad. This habit leads to dogs running from you when they have something they are not supposed too. This trains your dog to run away from you when you call him to you. Without the leash on they are free to do as they please, and this could cost them their life!!!
The leash can be on in the house and in the yard...
Do not leave the leash on if you can not be with your dog. This is a training tool only.
Hope this helps you out with some of the problems you might be having?
If you need more help, get back to class....
Trainer and friend, Sully.

Puppies that bite hard and get really mad at us!!!!!

This seems to be a problem many people with new pups are having. You try to love on your new pup and he gets all nasty and bites you, hard, tearing your skin.You wonder what has made this little pup so angry and mean? Well honestly, we don't know that answer and we usually don't know the history of the pup from birth. Either way the problem must be dealt with and it must go away or your arms will be shredded. If you are shaking your head and agreeing with me then give me a call or email and set up a time for two puppy classes. During these classes I will address the biting and the personality issues.Your puppy must learn that we the humans, are not their chew toys.
This personalty problem does not make your puppy a bad puppy it just makes it a puppy that must learn the rules of living with humans.
Normally I will give you tips on how to address most problems but in the case of puppies (12 weeks and under) biting too hard and getting angry and flying back at you to bite you again, I personally will deal with this problem.If this lesson is not done correctly the first time then you have only angered your new pup and the fight is on.
2 puppy classes will cost you $70.00. You get 2... hour and a half sessions at my training store. You will go home with homework to follow up on and I personally will teach your pup that biting the human hand is not what they want to do. There is no hitting or yelling or smacking with a newspaper!!! As a behaviorist and trainer I am qualified to think like a dog and get the point across so your new pup understands the rules.
This is one lesson I will not discuss over the phone or give hints on how to stop it. If your pup is seriously biting you and chewing on your arms and drawing blood, then you should think about calling me before you finish reading this message.I deal with this problem all the time so don't go thinking you have purchased a bad puppy. Your pup simply does not know the rules and this is what I am here for.
Thank you, trainer and friend, Sully.

sully_dogs2.jpg (JPEG Image, 337x370 pixels)

sully_dogs2.jpg (JPEG Image, 337x370 pixels)