They might be man’s best friend, but dogs are still a different species from humans. They’re driven by separate instincts and therefore, what counts as normal for one might not be so for the other. So while a canine under your guardianship will appreciate being part of your life, you cannot expect them to fit in naturally and behave well — not without a bit of schooling anyway.
That’s just one of the benefits of enrolling your pup in a Seattle dog training program. A schooled canine is a joy to have around; he’s adaptable to the point where you could take him with you anywhere. Training will also give your dog more freedom, since you won’t need as many restraints to keep him in control.
Need help training your dog? Fuzzy Faces Dog Training Seattle is here to help. Give us a call today at 206-364-4072 and let us train your dog for you. We offer affordable hourly rates and only hire the best trainers.
Continue reading the article below to learn more about the dog training process and the types of training we provide.
Types of Training
Most people identify dog education with K9 courses — the kind provided to prepare pups for roles in law enforcement. But canine training can take many different shapes and forms. Some courses help dogs learn basic etiquette, while others are meant to correct behavioral issues. To help you pick the right option for your mutt, take a look at the 5 most common kinds of programs.
Puppy Training
As much as they are splendid bundles of energy, puppies can be quite irritating. More so if you’re a first-time canine parent… Remember your first few days with that little cute ball of fur? No sooner had you brought him home than you realized that it was going to take a little bit of training to make him follow your commands.
Indeed, it’s recommended to start training a puppy right from the get go. That’s according to Cesar Millan, a widely-recognized authority on all matters canine training. Cesar believes that teaching at the juvenile stage makes a puppy recognize his/her guardian as the pack leader.
It is worth highlighting that puppies have short attention spans, much like babies. So just like crawl comes before walk, you want to focus on simple routines before commencing anything else. That means teaching your puppy:
-Simple obedience commands like ‘sit’, ‘stay’, ‘come’ and so on.
-Where his food, water, toys and dishes are located.
-Where his bed is
-What times he gets up, eats, and goes to bed.
No-Bark Training
Barking might be a canine’s primary mode of communication, but a dog that barks all the time can be a nuisance. No-bark training doesn’t necessarily aim to obliterate the habit. Rather, it aims to identify the cause and provide the most suitable remedy. If your dog barks just to get your attention, for instance, you can teach them a ‘cue’ that tells him to be quiet. Specialized training is often required for issues like aggression and territorial barking.
Dog Leash Training
Canines aren’t born knowing how to walk appropriately on a leash — that’s why yours (probably) keeps pulling ahead or lagging behind every time. Leash training revolves around 2 commands: ‘stay’ and ‘come’. No need to point out the obvious here, but it’s important that you use the right tools (i.e. a collar that fits properly, and a suitable leash).
Potty Training
Most dogs will come with less-than-perfect skills when it comes to controlling the urge to ‘go’. The good news is that potty training is relatively easy; it’s all about positive reinforcement. That means making your dog relieve themselves at the same spot every time, and offering a treat for appropriate behavior. Do keep in mind that potty training will involve cleaning up after ‘accidents’ to some extent.
Agility Training
A more advanced form of training, this focuses on sharpening the athletic capabilities of dogs. This is done by directing them through a handful of obstacle courses designed by specialists. Agility training is meant to allow for participation and enhance performance in canine sports like jumping and racing.
Or is it? Although it’s true that agility training is more favorable for certain breeds than others, just about every canine can benefit. Regular exercise is key for dogs, after all. A good agility course provides exercise for both body and mind.
That doesn’t sound good enough? Okay — try to remember the last time you took your pooch out for a run. You were surprised to see that he was more hyper and excited when you brought him home than before, right? That’s because the run charged up his muscles but fell short of stimulating the mind.
Agility training helps with that by combining physical exercise with the challenge of mastering new skills. And you too can benefit — the course will teach you how to use body language to communicate with your furry companion. Sounds like a wonderful prospect, doesn’t it?
back to menu ↑Breaking Down the Dog Training Process
You cannot train a dog in the same way you would a person. Canines, like most animals, don’t have the ability to reason out like humans. If that sounds obvious, it should come as no surprise that a well-behaved pup is usually the result of a long, complicated process.
Dogs can be trained using a wide range of methods, but they all follow the same sequence. So the best way to understand how training works is to look at the key stages of the process. These include:
-Association: This is where dogs pick up basic commands. Before that happens, a trainer must first shape the animal’s thinking — the dog needs to acquire a sense of what’s expected of them. That requires prompting (asking your pooch to perform a certain action) and reinforcement (offering a reward when he follows through). It’s recommended to avoid punishment/correction at this stage; just withhold treats until your desires are met. Keep in mind that it’ll take dozens of repetitions before your pups shows fluency in their response.
-Regression: Much as your dog might expect rewards for good behavior every time, that cannot go on forever. This step is all about weaning off the expectation; you begin to give fewer treats for obedience and positive behavior. Be sure to do this gradually, and only begin when you’re confident that your pup understands your commands. And like with the association phase, you must desist from applying corrections during the regress.
-Generalization: Effective training requires turning positive actions into lifelong habits. As such, the third stage will involve eliciting good behavior from your mutt in many different locations. This needs to be done voluntarily, like in stage 2 above, as well as a high degree of consistency. And since you won’t always be in a position to give verbal commands, you will need to start using gestures as well. Corrections are also OK, but they should only be applied as the last resort. Make sure to keep them reasonable and humane.
-Maintenance: Making your pup grasp a particular concept is all well and good, but it doesn’t mean that they’re set for life. Ongoing practice is key in maintaining whatever your dog as learnt so far, as is expanding their skills through continual learning. With that in mind, you need to look out for opportunities to provide refresher courses — make training part of your mutt’s daily routine. Also keep an eye on his behavior to make sure your canine consistently applies their knowledge.
These four steps are applicable to all kinds of canine training. Needless to say, there are no hard-and-fast rules for how to go about them. So for the most part, you will need to use your judgment to figure out when to conclude one phase and move on to the next.
back to menu ↑Why Choose Fuzzy Faces Dog Training?
Fuzzy Faces Dog Training is one large family of canine handling professionals. We specialize in training dogs around their natural instincts to ensure they have great relationships with their parents. We have programs for dogs of all kinds and personalities — just check out our locations page to see if we can help you unleash your pup’s potential.
And look, we understand the motivation to take ownership of your pet’s learning journey. Molding your dog, whether a young pup or adopted adult, into a well-rounded companion can be a rewarding endeavor. However, it’s also one that requires a huge investment of time and energy.
Enrolling your pooch into one of our programs means you won’t have to trade your precious time for their learning. But time isn’t the only part of the equation that matters; there are other reasons why our training will be a good investment for you and your dog:
-Experience: Fuzzy Faces strives to work with trained professionals who have a long track record in the pet care field. We’ve also trained hundreds of dogs over the years, and it’s this combination that allows us to provide top-notch training.
-All-round training: Our courses cover everything from etiquette to the most advanced commands.
-Customized learning: Just because we train lots of pets doesn’t mean we employ a cookie-cutter approach. We know that no two canines are alike, and are always willing to tailor our courses to fit individual needs. Our trainers will work with you to come up with an approach that addresses both your concerns and your pup’s needs.
-Relationship: Fuzzy Faces Dog Training isn’t meant for canines alone — you too need to be part of the process. Our trainers will provide lessons to help you make the most of your pooch’s knowledge.
-Unparalleled service: The entire Fuzzy Faces family is committed to ensuring the effectiveness of our work. Not only are we open to feedback from clients, but we’ll also follow up to get a glimpse of your experience.
back to menu ↑Dog Rescues and Shelters in Seattle
Thousands of dogs — and pets in general — end up in rescues and animal shelters each year. Seattle has a handful of such facilities, most of whom will be more than happy to offer you a new furry companion if you need one. You could also point friends and colleagues in the same direction — whatever the case, be sure to check out:
-The Seattle Animal Shelter: Located between the Ballard Bridge and downtown, the Seattle Animal Shelter has been catering for homeless pets for almost 50 years. You can visit in person to find more about adoption and/or volunteer opportunities.
-Emerald City Pet Rescue: This was founded in 2013 as a solace for neglected and abused animals. You can get in touch via 206-557-4661 to get started on the adoption process.
-Regional Animal Services of King County: RASKC is the animal-service department of the King County Government. You can check out their website or visit their shelter in person at 21615 64th Avenue Street.
back to menu ↑Best Places to Walk Your Dog in Seattle
Being one of the most dog-friendly cities in the US, Seattle has lots of places where you can take your furry friend for a walk:
-Washington Park Arboretum: Like the Central Park in NYC, this is a sprawling patch of green nestled right inside the city with plenty of walking trails. With the exception of the Japanese Garden, all parts of the park are accessible free of charge.
-Voff Bark & Brew: Want to have an afternoon of fun and play with your pup? Voff Bark and Brew is the place to go. The facility provides a spacious yard with pools and toys as well as drinks for a small entrance fee.
-Discovery Park: Located in the Magnolia neighborhood, this is a 534 acre park with splendid views overlooking the Puget Sound. You also get plenty of space; Discovery Park isn’t as frequented as other parks are. It’s the perfect place for a day of distraction-free fun with your pooch.
-Howarth Park: This has a vast sandy beach on which dogs are allowed to run off-leash. It also offers a playground, picnic facilities, and several tennis courts.