Total Dog! is your source for Phoenix Dog Training. In addition to offering dog training in Phoenix, Total Dog! also has dog trainers in Scottsdale, Glendale, Peoria, Paradise Valley, and Chandler Arizona.

Different sizes of dogs require specific collars, and small dogs are often the most confusing to make the decision for.  Just as dog training is needed for big dogs, it is additionally a necessity for small dogs, so picking the right collar for a small dog could make all the difference in your dogs training and safety.  Here are a few different types of dog collars for small dogs.

Chokers

Many people are thrown off by the slightly gory name of the chokers, but these collars are actually one of the most humane and easy ways of teaching a dog to walk at your pace.  When the dog pulls on the leash when he has the choke collar on, the collar will tighten based on how hard your dog pulls, and will release when your dog slows down to your pace.  These collars show them that it is bad to try to pull you, and this is especially ideal for small dogs, because since small dogs don’t have as much power when pulling, they won’t get hurt from wearing a choker collar.  Chokers are ideal for dog training.

Pinch collars

Pinch collars are generally a bad idea for small dogs.  On bigger dogs, it is a slightly more severe way of saying ‘slow down!’ than a choke collar.  These collars have metal prongs that stick sideways out of the collar so that when the dog pulls, the collar will tighten and the metal prongs become very uncomfortable.  These aren’t safe for small dogs because smaller dogs have more sensitive skin, which is easily damaged by these hard metal prongs.

Harnesses

Harnesses are straps that go over the dogs chest, and stomach that most often give the dog more force when pulling.  However, when they are used on small dogs, these harnesses are used to keep the dogs from injuring their necks.

Face Harnesses

Face harnesses are another type of harness available.  These harnesses fit right over a dogs nose, so that when they tug on the leash, the leash pulls back on their face and makes them very awkwardly uncomfortable.  These harnesses are  my personal favorite, but many people think look too funny to walk their dog around with.

Regular collars

Regular collars or buckle collars tend to damage small dogs’ necks, and are generally not recommended for smaller dogs.  These collars are great to keep dog identification on, but just remember that your dogs aren’t meant to be walked using one.

Puppies are known for bouncing around as little spark plugs of fun, practically exploding with their playful and adorable energy.  However, there is a point at which puppies do not know the difference between right and wrong, and this rings especially true when considering the teething phase in which they love to chew things.  Just like babies, dogs teethe and this can be a very painful process for them.  When dogs go through this phase, many puppies chew things as an outlet to relieve pain, and sometimes it becomes a habit for them when they grow up. Here are a few pointers on how to train your dog to stop chewing.

Removing Temptation

An easy way to teach your dog not to do something is by simply removing temptation! Some dogs only chew things that people leave on the floor such as socks and shoes, so remembering to clean up after yourself and not leave valuable possessions on the floor could save you a lot of time!  Depending on how large your dog is, and where they are allowed in the house, make it a routine to clear those places of all your smaller possessions in order to remove temptation.

The Game

Many people try to pull what the dog is chewing on out of their mouth, and are not aware that this makes it a sort of a game for the dog.  They think you want to have fun with them and play, so they’re going to pull back as a reaction, commencing a sock-shredding game of tug-of-war.  This is easily preventable by lightly smacking the side of their nose and saying ‘No’ with force.  If this does not work, try grabbing your dog underneath their muzzle and pushing on both sides where their teeth connect, forcing them to release.  Remember to be light with punishment!

The Importance of ‘Puppy’

It is extremely important that you teach your dog these lessons while they are puppies!!! Good behavior becomes a habit if they are taught when they are young, and this will have a positive effect on both of your lives, making being ‘man’s best friend’ a lot easier for them.  Puppy training is always a smart way to go when you want the message to really sink in for your dog so they really remember what is right and wrong.

Taste Spray

Dogs have an elevated sense of smell and taste, making them sensitive to things that we don’t even notice such, as taste spray.  Taste sprays are sprays made to taste disgusting to dogs, but to be un-noticeable to humans because of their sensitivity to taste.  These sprays can be put all over your personal belongings to fend off your fuzzy little friend from chewing up your couch and clothes!

Training

My favorite option has always been puppy training your dog, simply taking them to a few lessons and having an instructor teach you how to handle your dog. Dogs are like people in the way that we are alike, but have variations in the way we learn and comprehend different things.  This makes a trainer sort of like your translator, showing you how your dog functions in the way they think and learn.

For more information comment below, or contact our dog training facility in Scottsdale Arizona.

Love your pet!

Many people view dog obedience school as training your dog to perform in shows, and therefore see it as an unnecessary task for their own dog.  Dog training is a regular for dogs at home, and has many purposes, such as pertaining to behavior, relationships, and as an extra measure of safety.  However, before learning about any of this you have to understand the training itself.

About Training

Training is not just for show dogs.  I personally have heard people object to getting their dogs professionally trained because of the ‘snooty’ aspects of it, and feel that people are uneducated when it comes to dog training.  Many types of dog training do focus on show dogs, but training a regular dog has no prejudice to it.  Dogs do not have to be purebred or have any qualifications.  Dogs don’t even have to necessarily have a problem in order to be taught!

Behavioral training

Most people who have their dogs professionally trained do so because of behavioral issues that their dogs have.  These issues can include small things such as not sitting when you want them to, or big things such as biting.  Training will benefit a dog with behavioral problems by showing them what is appropriate, and what is against your house rules.  Training a dog for behavioral problems will also benefit you by giving you a well-behaved dog and letting your dog know that you’re boss.  Many dogs with behavioral problems have issues because the alpha wasn’t established, and letting them know that you are in charge of the house is very important.

Relationship Establishment

When you get a dog you don’t want it to be Fido the dog, you want it to be your dog Fido!  Many people have issues establishing relationships with their dogs, and this mainly takes place in houses with two adults.  When two adults live in the house, dogs generally tend to stick to the one that gives them the most attention.  Having a bad relationship with your dog is no fun, so going to training to solve this is a great idea for people and their dogs who have bonding issues.

Extra!

Some people who have done dog training love it and decide that no matter how exceptional the manners of any of their dogs, they are all getting trained.  These people are what we call ‘overachievers’. Nah, just kidding, but lots of people decide that training their dogs is a good overall idea so their dogs can get an idea of some basic rules and guidelines to follow.

Here are some other things to consider when adopting a dog.  We all want to make the right decisions, so think a little more before adopting a specific dog.

Where do you live?- Thinking about where you live is crucial in getting a dog.  When looking at breeds think about the specific climate to where you live, and think about how the dog will cope with the weather.  An example would be that if you live in a very hot place such as a desert, getting a dog that has low heat tolerance (Such as all bulldogs and pugs) is a very bad idea.  If you live in a snowy area, getting a dog with a thin coat is also a bad idea.  Think about how the dog will cope with your living area.

Change-  change doesn’t just effect humans, but can also greatly effect a dog.  Consider if you are willing to put a dog through the changes that may lie ahead of you, such as if you are going to college.  What will you do with your dog? Will it go with you to a tiny apartment? Will it live with your parents? Really consider what you have potentially ahead of you for the next 15 years and see what your dog will have to go through with or without you.

Health- Health problems are another thing that takes some serious research.  If you want a steady dog, check out the potential problems with the breeds of your choice and consider if you would be willing to go through these with your dog.  Also, look for ways to prevent these issues and see if you can afford to commit to your dogs health.

Money- You may not think so at first, but dogs are a serious investment.  When it comes to all their shots, checkups, toys, food, beds, cages, etc, the amount you pay for a dog is WAY above what most owners originally think of.  Think of your dog as another child.  A lot of time and money goes into raising it, so really consider what the breeds you find need for their well being.

For more information, contact our Scottsdale dog training center or comment below!

When getting a new dog, many people have questions as to if they are making the right decisions.  There are many consequences we must take into consideration, and uncertainty may lead to a bad decision.  Getting the wrong dog could mean a very unhappy pet, or even being dissatisfied with your relationship with your dog, which is entirely preventable if you do adequate research before adopting.  Here are some good questions to ask yourself when considering getting a dog to see what decision suits your lifestyle to help you in your voyage to obtain a new family member.

Size- What size dog are you looking for? When you think about this, consider the size of your home.  Additionally, if you have children, what size would be ideal for their well being? Do you have a small yard or a big yard? Where would they stay?  Determining the size you are looking for will help you narrow down breeds.

Shedding- If you have ever been to an unkempt house in which the owner has a heavily shedding dog, you know that it looks like chaos.  When people don’t have the time to clean up dog hair, their house becomes a mess because dog hair magically sticks to everything.  Furniture, carpet, clothes and anything in the house that isn’t tile is an absolute hair magnet, and it’s not that easy to clean.  If you have ten extra minutes a day to brush your dog, go for the shedding dog! Just make sure that excess hair isn’t something that will get out of hand quickly.

Family- If you have a family, ask them what kind of dog they want.  Take their offers into consideration and do some research!  If you have small children, a hyper dog (no matter big or small) is a bad idea.  Don’t judge dogs solely based on size because some larger dogs are actually calmer and more docile towards children, while small yippy dogs can be a real handful.

Breeds-  When looking at breeds consider all the aspects of that type of dogs general personality.  Will the dog have to go through dog training? What is their activity level? Are they natural escape artists? Look at some blogs from people who have the specific breed and see what they personally think of the dogs you are looking at.  Opinions from others are often very helpful in decision making.  One of the easiest ways to see what a dog is truly like is to see what their specific breed was bred for.  Dogs breeds were created for hundreds of different purposes, so what is your dog’s specialty?

For more information comment below or contact our Scottsdale dog training offices at www.totaldog.com

Dogs are easily construed into being destructive hyperactive little whirlwinds when they become bored.  Some dogs are calm no matter the circumstances, but others are couch chewing floor peeing excessively barking little monsters when they have too much energy.  A good way to kill off this energy is to simply spend more time with our furry little friends! There are many ways for people to get active with their dogs, and not only does it help dogs burn off energy, but its an easy way for an owner to stay in shape too!  Dog exercise is necessary for any dog who has destructive or hyperactive issues, so try a few of these…

Walks and Runs

If you are a runner, try taking your dog with you! Dog’s are often amazing runners, but just remember that they need as much break time as we do when we first began running, give them time to build up endurance.  If you aren’t a runner then consider training with your dog!  Learning together is a big part of being a team, which will be great for you and your dog.  If you aren’t much of a runner, try going on daily walks to burn off that energy.

Fetch

If you don’t want to literally exercise with your dog, but still want to spend time with them, try getting a fetch slinger!  Most everyone has seen these, they are just little sticks that chuck tennis balls to amazing distances, and dogs who like to fetch go insane over them.

Swimming

Swimming is a fun way to unknowingly exercise, and most spunky dogs love to swim.  Swimming is an especially ideal way of exercising for dogs with joint issues.   Swimming in  comparison to running has a  lower impact on joints and a higher resistance level which helps dogs stay healthy without injuring them.

Dog Parks

For all y’all that exercise individually and prefer to relax while your dog is playing, try going to a few of your local dog parks.  Going to dog parks will not only help your dog with socialization, but it will also let them feel more free as opposed to being tied on a leash.

Training

If you still have issues with your dogs excess energy after trying some outdoor activities, it’s time to consider dog training.  Some dogs are just naturally feisty, but for many people, a tired dog makes a less destructive dog.  Have fun!

Dog training can be tough with certain dogs, and to these dogs, commands such as ‘sit!’ and ‘stay!’ mean absolutely nothing.  It’s not that these dogs are bad, they’re just typically stubborn and hard to teach.  Training these dogs can be a real challenge, but getting it done will be the best thing you ever did for the both of you!  Some breeds are hard to get through to, and these are generally placed under the classifications of Hounds and Terriers.  We aren’t saying that these are the only dogs that are difficult to teach, but they definitely rest on the top of the chart.  Here are a few easy dog training tips for the more difficult breeds.

Persistence

Persistence is always a necessity in training.  Especially with more difficult breeds, training can become a contest between you and your dog.  An example of this would be if you told your dog to sit and he refused.  If you give up, he wins, and getting him to sit the next time will be even harder.  Because of this, persistence is always key in training your dog, because you are in charge!

Authority

When you command your dog to do something, MEAN IT!  When you say sit, he should know that you are commanding him to do something.  We aren’t saying to do this in a mean way, but demonstrating a strong clear voice will show great authority.  This also holds true with your body language.  When you give a command, you should never look like you are questioning your actions or the dogs actions.  If you have a particularly stubborn dog, it is best to train them while they are on a leash, that way when you say sit, they can’t just walk away and ignore you.  If they try to walk away or ignore you, jerk them back and say no(With authority!).

Praise!!!

Total Dog has always been a big fan of praising your dog.  When your dog does something right, even if it is just getting them to pay attention to you, praise them like there’s no tomorrow.  Showing your dog your full appreciation will help them understand that you love them and want to help them!  Positive reinforcement is always a good idea when training your dog, and praise will help you teach them through love instead of just commands.

Contact our Total Dog! offices or comment below with any questions!

The Petsmart charity event at Tempe town lake is coming, and people are getting ready to save the lives of thousands of sheltered pets. This charity event in Tempe Arizona includes a 5K, a walk, and an adoption event that kids and pets can take a part in along with you! The charity event is a way to save lives, and feel good about the impact you’re having on the community. The event joins hundreds of people and pets every year for healthy fun activity and the chance to feel good about going the extra mile for the well being of abandoned and homeless animals. Half of the pets that enter pet shelters are euthanized every year, and this event is a well-known way to stand up for what you believe in.

Charity
The Petsmart charity event is used to raise money for all of Petsmart’s charities such as the Waggin program. This program transports dogs from overcrowded pet shelters to other ones with excess space, saving thousands of pets lives per year along with raising money to condition pets before they get adopted (such as spaying or neutering them). Another way they spend their donated money includes the funding of their in-store adoption centers which save over 400,000 lives every year.

Fun Activities!
This event isn’t just a walk, but also contains many other activities that you can compete in or watch. There are costume and team uniform competitions, the Purina incredible dog event, and a training semen also included on the day’s schedule. These events take place throughout the day.

Times & More Information
The Petsmart charity event takes place on Sunday February 20th, registration begins at 9:00 am. Early registration begins at 8:30am. , and the overall event concludes at 2:30 pm. If you want to donate, volunteer, or learn more about the annual event, go to www.pschar.convio.net/site/TR?fr_id=1090&pg=entry

Training your dog can be easy if you simply know a few tricks. some people just go straight to dog trainers, and that’s okay! But before you do, you might want to try out a daily routine at home with a few of our easy dog training tips.

Rewards
When you are training your dog, no matter how long they may have taken to understand what you were trying to get them to do, reward them generously. Constant rewards teach your dog that something good will come out of their hard work, and additionally indicate what they did right. Once they begin to see the pattern of getting treats with their obedience, they will do it instantly every time for their munchies!

Love Them
A good thing to think about when considering these dog training tips is that dogs don’t know what you’re saying, so when you say ‘sit’, they probably won’t get it the first time. The same applies when you’re saying ‘good girl!’ or ‘Who’s a smart doggie??’. Most people don’t really think about the things they say as much as they think about the tone they use (thus the funny baby talk with dogs) in different situations with your dog which is a good way to teach them. Dogs do love the high pitched lovey talk, but whats better is loving them with actions. Petting your dog and playing with them when they do something right will let them know that they have done something right, and will be much more influential than a dog treat could be. Dogs crave attention, and this is probably the best and by far the easiest reward.

Consistency
Be consistent in the ways that you verbally award your dog. If you say ‘good girl’, ‘way to go’, and ‘good dog’, than your dog won’t understand that they did something right when you say that. It is best to choose one constant phrase when they do something right to remind them that they did something well.

Good Habits
After awhile, your rewards will no longer be needed. These actions will become habitual for your dog, and thus it will not be necessary to carry treats around, but it is still a good idea to reward them with words and love to keep them motivated to obey you.

These Dog training tips apply to any type of training whether it be for show, or just teaching them to sit so keep in mind to feed them, love them, and be consistent! Good luck!

Owning a dog can be one of the best experiences you can have, but if you have an improperly trained dog, the consequences of disobedience could take over your relationship. An untrained dog is easily seen as a bad dog, and this makes the entirety of having a pet less fun. When we get a dog, we’re excited about all the training and dog loving, and companionship, but some people lose this along the way. This lack of interest in your pet is never a good thing, but it is usually caused by having a disobedient dog. Nobody wants to spend time with a nuisance, and training your dog can be very beneficial to the both of you if you just have the motivation to do it. In Total dog, our commitment is to improving your relationship with your pet, and doing this could be the best decision you make in their lives. Having a well trained dog will make taking care of your dog easier and more fun, along with rewarding to the both of you.

Dog obedience training is not necessarily teaching your dog to jump through hoops and twirl around for you, but rather teaching them the basics of how to behave in certain situations. Many people mistake dog obedience school as a training to be in a dog show, and it is not. Dog obedience school is for owners who want their dogs to be well trained without being a display, it has no breed standards or judges. No matter your type of dog, you may want to look into dog obedience school as an option to teach your dog the basics of behavior. Teaching your dog simple things including potty training, dog socialization and simple tricks will come in handy all the time. Through work or play, dog training will help you in your communication with your pet, letting you both handle situations regular or unfamiliar with ease. Dog training is not just teaching your dog, but rather teaching you how to teach your dog. This is good because it shows your dog how to obey you, and not the instructor. This type of training is rewarding because through time, it also teaches you how your dog thinks, and how to teach him things without a trainer there to instruct you.

Whether you have communication problems with your dog, or just want to teach them the basics, dog obedience training is something valuable that every owner should look into.