When you work for a company that does grooming, you meet and talk to people who are often from out of state. These people sometimes call in for appointments for baths or hair cuts, and get mad when we tell them that we need to see proof of rabies information before we can do anything with their pet. The most common response we get to that statement is anger and annoyance.

The gist is, how dare we ask for proof that their pets are responsibly vaccinated against disease before we put them in an area that has a high pet traffic volume. They are out of town, and just wanted to get their dogs bathed.

As a grooming salon that is run by a corporate company, Petco requires proof of Rabies vaccination before taking a dog into the back areas of their salons.

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In many dog training classes, you teach ‘sit’, ‘down’, ‘stand’, ‘leave-it’, and more. You work with your dog daily for 15 minutes, or a half hour, in the morning or at night as you have time. You go for six weeks to a standard group dog training class at your local pet store, and you graduate and move on.

What really changes about your dog? They may calm down a bit, and they learn to sit when you tell them to, when it’s quiet and there’s not a lot going on. They know how to impress visitors once they calm down from their initial greeting by shaking hands and rolling over. These are good improvements, and as you see a difference, you’re happy with those six weeks you spent learning how to train them.

There is a difference, however, between teaching your dog tricks (sit, down, shake, rollover), and teaching them good behavior.

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Dogs are complicated creatures. They wag their tails, growl and snap, run in circles, snuggle on the bed, and eat the couch.

We all have those days when the family dog just drives us up the wall and over it. He won’t stop barking, he’s running around like a headless chicken, he’s chewing up your favorite shoes, and he marked the new table in the dining room.

Why are dogs so crazy? Why do they wreck the house when we leave, and sometimes when they’re unattended for a whole five minutes while you’re in the other room?

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Communication! It’s the most important thing you can participate in with your dog.

Don’t be afraid to talk to your friendly canine as you go about your day. Tell them about your successes and worries, your high points and low points. It will make you feel better, really.

Listen to them when they tell you something, such as they don’t feel well, or they really want their favorite toy that slipped under the couch. Let them remind you that it’s dinner time when you’re absorbed in a book, or watching your favorite television show. Read the rest of this entry

Dog training isn’t just about teaching your dog to sit and lay down on command. It’s not even about things like leash training, or teaching them not to jump on visitors when they walk in the door.

Dog training is ultimately about the human-animal bond.

To build a bond with your dog, you have to trust and love each other. You have to know that your companion will turn on a dime and listen to you. Your dog has to know that you will be there for them if they need you. Read the rest of this entry