The focus of this fun, low pressure class is to learn how to accomplish tasks together with your dog in real life situations.

Each week, a simple obstacle course will be set up in a public place.  You will use your mind (and not your leash!) to connect with your dog and accomplish various tasks.   You will be working through real life distractions, teaching you and your dog how to cope with the distractions of the real world.

Just participating in one of these classes can go a long way and be a great first step before attending Basic Manners or Obedience classes.

While it is useful for your dog to know some basic obedience behaviors, it is not required and these classes are open to any dog at any skill level… your dog doesn’t even have to know “Sit”.

We will NOT be teaching obedience behaviors in this class, but we will be introducing skills that will help you connect with your dog.  The tasks will be adjusted to meet the skill level of each dog attending.

Please come ready to have fun, leave your attitudes at home and be accepting of all!  This class is NO PRESSURE.

This class is based on methods promoted by Suzanne Clothier’s Relationship Centered Training (RCT).

Every Tuesday, 7pm, weather permitting. Class takes place at Butler Park. FIRST CLASS FREE with no further obligation. $10 per class a la carte thereafter.  Pre-registration required.  Proof of rabies vaccination is required.

Open to all dogs over the age of 18weeks.

For puppies under 18weeks, please inquire about special puppy versions of this class.

Sun Nov 7, 5:30pm. 5 weeks. $155  ($95 if you qualify for Fresh Start Program)

We will be skipping  Thanksgiving Day weekend.

Register before 10/21 and receive a $10 discount (cannot be combined with other discounts)

Midtown Groom & Board,
1207 Baylor Street, 78703

This class covers Sit, Down, Stay, Loose Leash Walking, Come and other basic manners skills.  You will learn how to elicit new behaviors from your dog and make them reliable in the outside world.  We will focus on getting and maintaining a connection with your dog, in order to improve reliability and communication.  There will be an emphasis on how to NOT have to rely on treats for the long term. Limited to 6 Dogs.

This class is a pre-requisite for Level 2, Canine Good Citizen.

Class runs for 5 consecutive weeks.

Pre-registration is required.

Requirements: Pups must be over 18 weeks of age.  Proof of Rabies Vaccine and DHPP are required.

This is not so much a review as an unabashed rave.  Dogstardaily.com is by far the best online resource for dog behavior tips and techniques, for both trainers and for owners.

The brainchild of the wonderful Dr. Ian Dunbar and his wife Kelly, 
Dog Star Daily is just packed with informational articles, blogs, video and audio

You’ll also find that in the Downloads section, Dr. Dunbar has made two of his excellent books “Before You Get Your Puppy” and “After You Get Your Puppy” available for free downloads.  These books are absolute must haves for new and prospective puppy owners.

Highly Recommended!!

This is a demo of Alan’s Recall Behavior in action. I actually use the word “Here” rather than “Come”. The complete behavior is: 1. Stop what you’re doing 2: Turn around 3: Come all the way to me. I like to make sure I grab the collar when he gets to me, to get him used to me reaching for him. That way, if I ever need to call him away from an emergency situation, he won’t shy away from my reaching hand. Notice how excited he is to hear the “Here!” I try and make teaching this super fun and rewarding for the dog, so that he looks forward to doing it. If he likes to come to me, he’s more likely to repeat the action!

This Saturday, I’ll be at the  Dog Days Beer Social hosted by the new Black Star Beer Co-op in Austin, TX!  I’ll be handing out training tips, dog goodies  and customized refrigerator magnets with your dogs’ photos printed on them.

Dog Days Beer Social takes place June 12 from 7-10 PM.  Enjoy an evening of good beer and good music shared with good people in a co-operative environment.

Location is the site of the soon to open Black Star Co-op Brew Pub.  
Suite 100, 7020 Easy Wind Dr, Austin, TX, 78752.  (enter at Lamar & St. Johns)

With a special focus on local producers, the basic mission and principles of the Black Star Co-op is to foster an environment in which member-owners, as well as the general public, may realize the principles of co-operative ownership, worker self-management, education and community action through the responsible enjoyment great beer and food.

So join the co-op (I’m a member/owner myself) and come down and have a good time!

The Premier Busy Buddy Tug-A-Jug is my favorite of all the interactive food toys. Many of the other interactive toys I’ve found require filling the toy with a few pieces of kibble at a time… with the Tug-a-Jug, you can just twist off the bottom, and scoop the food in as quickly as you would fill a bowl. This also makes it easy to clean.

The idea is that the dog pushes and tosses the Jug around and treats/food fall out. Some dogs need to be taught how to use it. Then give the toy to them with the back open, and let them eat some of the food that way. Then close the back and tip some of the kibble into the smaller opening, so that even the slightest movement of the jug results in food being dispensed. Repeat this step until your dog starts to get it!

Watching a dog figure out how to use an interactive food toy is one of my favorite things… so completely enjoyable when you see the moment they ‘get it’ just click in their head!

One warning… it can be loud on hardwood floors!

They come in 3 sizes, but the smallest one doesn’t work as well, so avoid.

Pros: Easy to clean, keeps dogs busy, fun to watch dog toss the toy around
Cons: Some dogs need to be taught how to use it. Plastic can be loud on hardwood floors.

Click here to buy the Premier Busy Buddy Tug-A-Jug, Medium/Large

In these 3 videos you will see me teach Alan the “Leave It” Behavior from the very beginning, to a real life instance where I needed to use “Leave It” while we were on an off-leash hike.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

A few minutes of me working Alan through some of the behaviors he’s been learning.

I do not currently have any group classes scheduled.  I do have plans to offer a Training Games class very soon.  This class will teach all the basics of any standard general adolescent class, however we’ll be teaching through a series of fun games. Keep your eyes on this space or email me to be notified when I confirm the date and time.