Sophie St.J: a delightful rescue

Sophie is a "Mountain Feist" (a southern breed) found running loose in Tennessee. She made it to a shelter where she found the love of her new owner. She was very shy at first. Fortunately she quickly overcame the baggage she had come with by introducing calm obedience from a leader she could trust. Not only is she a great player in doggie day camp with other dogs but loves to please the leader while doing obedience. She is a great hunter and in her backyard shows her owner the moles and other animals she collects while being careful not to injure them. I have been fortunate enough to work with Sophie and her sister Raven in private lessons and board and train. Sophie loves the association with humans through obedience training. She just needs guidance to be the best her owner wants her to be. Although she lives in Madison, Wisc. the owner uses me because of previous dogs of hers I've worked and the results I've achieved. I'm proud to say that the owner knows the importance of continuing practice and has her enrolled in obedience class in her home town. Keep up the good work ladies and I'll look forward to seeing you again.

Oreo W. @ 16 weeks after Board & Train

I'm sooooo lucky! Oreo is back a month after his first week in board and train for another. Trust and bonding was established along with all the elements of foundation obedience. Now we work on perfecting. Trying to duplicate what we can do in a quiet area all over our 6 plus acre facility. Distance from stimulus makes it easier for the dog and the handler. More praise and fewer corrections. If I'm able to keep the focus on me then Oreo is not worried about anything else. I let him absorb while I keep him in a calm state of mind. Timing is essential. By learning your pet's body language undesired behavior can be corrected before it becomes pronounced. An excellent place to practice is in a group obedience class. If you take the time to guide your dog to be the best you want him to be before bad behaviors become a habit or a release for stored up energy, the owner will probably have less things to fix down the road.

Happy Howl-o-ween!

A few of our friends at Best Friends.

Doggie Day Camp 2008

Always remember dressing up is not a usual routine for your pet, while dogs always aim to please their owners, they might however still show a little fear in an uncertain situation. Some people even recommend that you take your dog to the Dog Park, or on a long walk prior to dressing them up. This way they will be tired and a little more relaxed. You want to make this a fun time for everyone involved, even the dog. You are enjoying dressing them up and seeing people's reaction, let your dog enjoy them self also, make this a rewarding and fun experience for all involved. Remember all of those tricks you learned in basic obedience? Have your dog come to you, sit an stay, etc. He will remember how happy the two of you were during training, and want to continue to please, and have fun. For more recommendations on Dressing your pet for Halloween you can visit the ASPCA. They offer some good tips for the basic safety of your pets during this time.

Rally Obedience

For those individuals and dogs who have learned to work well in obedience there is a team sport just for you! A course is set up with numbered signs. The teams follow the signs around and does the exercise the sign instructs them to do. Instead of driving your car, you navigate with your dog!
For those who desire there is competition at all levelsNovice, Advanced, and Excellent. There are several organizations offering Championship Titles, National Rankings, and Awards of Excellence.
All dogs may participate. Mixed Breeds, Pedigrees, and even dogs with disabilities may join. Trials usually have Level1,2,and 3 courses. Once your team completes three course runs with qualifying scores you receive a Rally Title.
Students in my intermediate and advanced classes have found the level they have achieved from working in my class has them ready to confidently complete in Rally Events.
Rally Classes will be starting in the Beginning of November here at Best Friends. Please call for more information or to sign up.
As always spectators are invited, without their pets, to view my intermediate training class, advanced training class, and Rally classes.

Oreo • 12 weeks

Sometimes my job is just too much fun. Sometimes owners get puppies and go on a vacation or have to leave town. Don't fret, have your pup spend time with me! Instead of boarding it becomes a learning experience. You're pup comes back knowing more than when you dropped them off. It was my pleasure to work with Oreo, a lab, in board and train at 12 weeks then again at 16 weeks. At first I used just a leash and played and guided and had a blast with Oreo and then the next time was a month later. He was heeling and making about turns without reminders and even sits automatically when I stop. Eye contact can be great and he is having a ball. Hopefully the owner will continue to practice and I believe it is very important to continue in an intermediate group when Oreo is 5 months old. A blast to work with..

Peer Pressure Now a Good Thing with Dogs in School

Peer Pressure Now a Good Thing with Dogs in School

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Pickles and Obedience

I might not be able to train Grandpa or your husband to share the remote, however I can train your dog not to growl when the children are by the food bowl. As cute as this comic is, in real life this situation is not a good one, but it can be fixed. I offer private lessons if you feel this is the only issue your best friend might have. I also offer Board and Train, and various types of group obedience classes. Thanks to the Pickles cartoon for a funny look at how dogs and humans both do not always like to share! For all those husbands out there, I don't share the remote either, no worries!

Best Friends Jack-O-Lantern!

This Jack-o-lantern was created by our Houston, Texas location. Nice work- click for more detail! Happy Halloween!!!

Oreo W. @ 16 weeks after Board & Train

I'm sooooo lucky! Oreo is back a month after his first week in board and train for another. Trust and bonding was established along with all the elements of foundation obedience. Now we work on perfecting. Trying to duplicate what we can do in a quiet area all over our 6 plus acre facility. Distance from stimulus makes it easier for the dog and the handler. More praise and fewer corrections. If I'm able to keep the focus on me then Oreo is not worried about anything else. I let him absorb while I keep him in a calm state of mind. Timing is essential. By learning your pet's body language undesired behavior can be corrected before it becomes pronounced. An excellent place to practice is in a group obedience class. If you take the time to guide your dog to be the best you want him to be before bad behaviors become a habit or a release for stored up energy, the owner will probably have less things to fix down the road.

Peanut W.• Not Bad /1 week Board &Train

At first pickup Peanut, a year old Schnoodle, went into a corner, growled and almost snapped at me. Her tail was not visible because it was tucked between her legs. In the Canine College if I asked her to sit she would lay down and there was some urine on the floor. Eye contact was out of the question and when she did sit she would face away. Fortunately, she has strong food drive and by the end of the first session through the use of voice, touch, and food, I was able to introduce her to the elements of foundation obedience including the sit, down, stay, heel, and, even watch and come. To get her to take food, make eye contact, and even get her to come to me established the beginning of bonding and trust . I'll teach "off " and "take it" later since I just got her to take food no need to slow the process. She was a little shy the next day, still submissive at first but no urine. By the end of the session she was having a ball.She made about turns without even a tug on the leash and began to sit automatically as I stop. WOW! By the third day she was too excited to see me. Now I can work on calming her down. As dogs learn to work nicely with the handler in quieter areas it becomes easy to see other issues. Peanut has socialization and desensitization problems that now can be worked on. She has learned to avoid or go to flight whenever something is unfamiliar. I'm proud to say we made huge gains in the 5 sessions I spent with Peanut. She had a ball in the game of obedience. I helped to deal with some of the baggage she came in with due to poor communication. I would even challenge her to keep up with me. I can only hope that the owner continues showing Peanut that the world is a beautiful place, especially when her guide is a leader she can trust. Group obedience would be a familiar area with calm stable dogs to practice. I invite anyone to view one of my intermediate, advanced or Rally obedience classes. (Please do NOT bring your dog until it has been determined they and you are capable of working in the class.)

Pet Fitness

We here at Best Friends Pet Care offer many different types of Dog Training. If you have limited schedule availability I offer Board and Train. For this your dog would have his or her very own private suite with a bedroom and patio, and I will work with them privately each day. You can also sign them up for other activities if you wish such as a nature walk, bed time story, or even a scoop of low fat Doggie Ice cream! When all of the sessions are finished I will meet with you to go over all of the notes I have taken for you. This type of training can be done on a daily basis where you would drop off and pick up on the same day, or we can arrange a 1-2 week vacation here for them.
If time is something you have on your side than I offer private lessons, Canine Good Citizen, Rally, and Group Dog Training. These are all great ways to keep both yourself and your pet in shape. A rewarding experience for everyone involved. We also now have a brand new outdoor dog park. You can sign up for a daily pass or a yearly pass and go play and run around before or after class. (all dogs must be friendly towards other dogs to enter the park. Call for more information)
Check out the following site for a cool giveaway from Iams Pet Food and Tails Magazine. It is a really cool giveaway with some neat things to help you and your furry friend keep in shape together!

Cat Training

Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks. OOPS! I mean an old cat new tricks! You got it, I said cat. Sorry folks I will definitely leave this training up to Gregory Popovich. Board and Train, Canine Good Citizen, Rally all those fun dog training classes at Best Friends are what I'll stick to! I tell you I give this man credit, that has got to take a ton of patience. Gregory comes from a long line of circus performers so he is used to the hard work, and truly has a love for what he does. He gets all of his dog and cat actors form local animal shelters and pet rescues. He has a regular show in Las Vegas, Comedy Pet Theater. You can read more about his show in the Sun Times, or you can check out his book "You Can Train Your Cat". (St. Martin's Griffin)

Sophie Rose @ 9 yrs It's never too late

What a delight it was to meet this dog. She came into the hotel on a harness and a retractable lead. Aggressive and very dominant for a tea cup poodle tipping the scale at 7 lbs. Full of energy and plenty of food drive. She has some orthopedic issues and waddles and looks like she has a ball between her back legs. Originally she had to be on a harness because she pulled so hard she would injure her neck. Her owner decided to do a two week board and train. We started in the Canine College for work on foundation and bonding. She absolutely loved the game of obedience. We eventually worked in food prep and a courtyard full of barking dogs. Perfecting took us to the main building where we were able to practice in the lobby. We used the elements of obedience to guide her to be the best dog she could be with dogs and people all around. I'm not sure who had more fun, her or me. Her dad had me do another week because he loved the work I had done and the constant observation she receives as I work and spend time with her daily.

A Happy Puppy

Being it is National adopt a shelter pet month I thought I would share with you a few things I have learned through my years of dog training. After all there are many great animal shelters and pet rescues out there with very adorable puppy's. The most common reason someone walks right past that adorable puppy is the lack of training the puppy has. Any rescue pet needs some sort of training or refresher course. No matter what their age they are going into a whole new world when they leave that shelter. They are so happy to have a new forever home that they want to be able to make you proud and be proud of them self. The best way to do that is with some sort of training. Whether it be a refresher course in basic obedience, an intermediate dog training class, private training, or Board and Train. Perhaps you have just rescued the cutest little Border Collie, than after adjusting, Agility Training or Rally Training would be perfect also.
On dogchannel.com, the website for dog lovers, they wrote an article titled "35 Ways to Make Your Puppy Happy". Everything from making sure he or she is micro chipped through Avid, to training an exercise tips. Plenty of great ideas to keep yourself and your new forever friend happy and healthy for life.

Pet Rescue Class

Dr. John Hanover, of the Animal Hospital of Gurnee, will be teaching a pet first aid class at Harper College. He will be teaching basic skills like taking your pet's vitals, including pulse, temperature, and evaluating their lymph nodes. He will also teach you how to handle bleeding, and basic treatment for poisoning. You will learn what basic first aid equipment you should always have on hand, along with the basic principles of dog CPR. For more information on this class you can reference the Daily Herald newspaper, or visit Harper College.

Allan and Petey Obedience

Petey • I first met Petey, a cairn terrier, at about a year old. He
had belonged to the family’s college daughter’s friend. The dog
had no formal obedience training & had taken control. He was
always hunting, guarding, protecting; everything a leader could be.
He has been a blast for me to work with, he learns quick and loves
to please ‘the leader’. Mom and Dad have realized a group oriented
training class is the place to continue being the leader. The BEST is
that 2 of their 3 daughters have worked with me in
private training lessons so they too can control Petey everywhere.
Hope to see them in Best Friends next training class.
Keep up the good work Petey!