The Central BarkerIt's a Dog's World!

Our little terrier mix Sophie is a great dog but she doesn’t always come when called.  We have been though basic training but she still ignores us.  What can we do to make her recall more reliable?

This is a great question and one I love to answer!  Emergency recalls are easy and fun to train and very effective if you follow a few simple rules.

What is an emergency recall?  I use the term “emergency” because I train a recall specifically in case I need to call my dogs out of some dangerous situation.  I need them to turn and fly back to me immediately.  I also need to be able to catch and leash them when they return.

Are there non-emergency recalls?  Absolutely!  I train a formal obedience “Front” for my competition dogs and I use a casual leg pat to let my dogs know that I am changing directions or pace and they need to pay attention.

Here’s how you train it…

Step 1.  Call your dog loudly once “Fido COME!”

Step 2. Reward your dog for atleast 5 seconds.

Step 3.  Repeat once every few days in different places.

The rules to keep your dog coming…

Always reward.  I like to continue rewarding for my emergency recalls to keep the behavior strong.  Use different toys, treats, and games.  Switch it up to keep it interesting.

Never punish.  Always calling your dog for a nail trim, to leave the dog park, or go in the dreaded crate are all great ways to make your dog run away from you when it hears the word “come”.

Rewards should be engaging.  Playing tug, tossing treats up for your dog to catch, or pulling out a spoonful or wet dog food are all ways to get your dog to stay with you, not just check-in and then disappear off again.

Now you’re on your way to an amazing emergency recall.  Good luck and happy training!

Tucker is a very friendly 3 year old retriever mix that we adopted from the Humane Society.  He has always been great with my three kids and loves playing with other dogs and going to the dog park and has never been in a fight.  Recently he has been barking and pulling towards dogs on our walks.  I thought he just wanted to play but yesterday when he reached the dog he bit it on the face.  What has happened to my sweet Tucker?

What you are experiencing with Tucker is called “reactivity” in the trainer world and it is very common.  Tucker’s reactivity is probably due to a combination of being uncomfortable meeting on leash and feeling frustrated at not being able to greet and play with dogs that he meets.  In this case, having a social butterfly can make the situation even worse because the frustration at not being able to play is even greater.

There are two things that you will need to do to help Tucker’s reactivity.

1)  Teach him that dogs approaching him on leash is awesome and that they are a cue that you are about to dispense awesome cookies and fun games.

How to – Bring tasty treats on your walks with Tucker.  As soon as he sees another dog, say his name and pop a scrumptious treat in his mouth, then walk away.  Treat him the very second he spots that other dog. Before long he will look up at you every time he sees a dog.

2)  Teach him that calm behavior and attention is the key to being able to greet and play with friendly dogs.

How to – Have a helper bring a dog that Tucker knows and likes.  Pick a distance from the other dog where Tucker is distracted but not lunging or barking.  Ask for a sit, wait for him to comply, then release him to go play with his buddy. This exercise works best if both dogs are released at the same time and meet off leash.

I recommend Patricia McConnell’s book Feisty Fido if you want some extra help.  Good luck in your training endeavors!

You can ask the trainer yourself at info@central-bark.com

The Labrador Retriever is the most popular dog in the US for the 20th year in a row!!!

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Central Bark

Join Central Bark at the third annual St. Patrick’s Day Paw Promenade. The “promenade” begins at Mercer Island City Hall and follows the I-90 trail to Luther Burbank Off-Leash Dog Park. There will be vendors (that’s us!), demonstrations, raffles, and doggone fun activities for the whole family. Plan to walk rain or shine and bring your four-legged leprechaun. Prizes awarded for “most spirited” dogs so don’t forget to wear GRRReen!

Day: Saturday
Time: 1 – 3 p.m.
Date: March 13, 2010
Fee: FREE
Location: Walk begins at Mercer Island City Hall, 9611 SE 36th Street, Mercer Island, Washington.

The Luther Burbank Off-Leash Dog Park is located at 2040 84th Avenue SE, Mercer Island, Washington.

Dogs on Facebook?
Can’t get enough of dogs? Facebook has an application that lets you create a Facebook-like page for your dog. You can network with other dogs, post pictures, post your dog’s status, and brag to your heart’s content. Go to apps.facebook.com/dogbook.

Groomer to the stars

We have a celebrity in our midst. You might have heard that “Legally Blonde,” the Broadway musical hit, will be playing at the Fifth Avenue Theater. The story is about sorority star Elle Woods, an underestimated blonde who doesn’t take “no” for an answer. What you might not know is that the canine star is a Central Bark client.

Frankie the Chihuahua (“Bruiser” in the musical)insists on getting spruced up at Central Bark for his starring role. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at the star getting ready for his fans.

Now you can tell all your friends you get your dog groomed where the stars go!

Results from the last blog poll are in. Your pick for the best Seattle off-leash dog park is…tied! Both Magnuson Park (at Sandpoint) and Westcrest Park (in West Seattle) were voted as the best off-leash dog parks. For those of you who use, or those of you who are thinking about using off-leash dog parks, the City of Seattle posts the common-sense rules and regulations for your viewing pleasure at http://www.cityofseattle.net/parks/publications/OLArules.htm.

Here’s a little-known tip that will make your off-leash outings safer and more enjoyable. Don’t be tempted to keep your dog on a leash in an off-leash park. This invites strange dynamics between dogs and can lead to aggressive behavior – both from the leashed dog and the unleashed dog. If you aren’t sure your dog will behave off-leash, consider some additional training or socializing before you venture to an off-leash park.

If you haven’t already voted for your favorite doggie daycare (and you know who that is!) in the King 5 Evening Magazine Best of Western Washington, here’s another chance to do so before voting ends. Just click here. It only takes a minute, and we really need your vote!

By the way, here’s a link to a great web page I found from the ASPCA: Ten ways to help animals in your community.