By Arden Moore
Did you just adopt a puppy or an older dog? My congratulations — and condolences. Chances are that your much-loved canine pal may be displaying some unwanted behaviors, such as barking rapidly when the doorbell rings or chewing your just-bought sneakers.
With more than 200 breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club and endless mutt combinations, dogs certainly put the capital D in diversity. But what every dog, big and small, young and old, benefits most from is proper training.
Fortunately, help is here. In recognition of February’s designation as National Dog Training Education month, I reached out to five well-credentialed dog trainers based in Palm Beach County who have collectively trained thousands of dogs of all sizes, ages, breeds and temperaments.
Mitchell Stern, owner of Yes! Dog Trainers in Boynton Beach, is on a quest to increase adoptions at animal shelters by training both the person and the dog.
“I tell clients, ‘Don’t be a dog owner. Be a dog trainer’ to bring out the best in their dogs,” says Stern. “Training your dog for five minutes per day enhances the bond, trust and communication with your pet.”
He emphasizes that no one training tip will fit all dogs. Dogs, like people, are individuals.
But he does offer this strategy to curb nuisance barking.
“When your dog is looking out the window and barking incessantly, we must acknowledge the job their DNA tells them to do,” says Stern. “Your dog is alerting you to an outside presence. So, try standing up, going to the window, getting in front of your dog, cactus your arms and make a big show of looking outside for the ‘murderer.’
“Then announce ‘all clear’ and run to the other side of the house. Say ‘thank you,’ and give your pup a treat. Eventually, announcing ‘all clear’ will have your pup leave the barking behind and come to you for a pet-fest, treats or praise.”
Got a mouthy new pup who loves to nip? Robert Burnell, of Sit Means Sit based in West Palm Beach, first advises pet parents that puppies use their mouths to explore and to interact, as they are still learning the rules of the household.
“Reward your pup when he is calm or preoccupied with chewing a safe toy,” says Burnell. “You can try putting bitter apple or vinegar on your hand or leg to make it taste bad and offer them a Nylabone or Gumma bone soaked in (salt-free) chicken broth that you froze. This will make it taste better and give the dog the chewing satisfaction that they need. Dogs need to chew.”
Jeff and Heather Hill, owners of Sit, Fit & Trained based in Boynton Beach, emphasize the importance of crate-training newly adopted puppies as a win-win for the pup and the pet parents.
“When pups are in that infant stage, people need to be available to keep their eyes on their pup at all times, learn their body language and be ready to take them out to potty in a split second,” says Heather Hill. “A crate can become a puppy’s little happy and safe place. Puppies need that alone time to build confidence by instilling autonomy. Plus, crating a puppy at night and for naps during the day will give their owners the chance to take care of their own human needs.”
Michelle Martiya, owner of Essential Animal Trainer based in Boca Raton, says be concise and consistent and don’t forget to celebrate when your dog is doing something right.
“Resist saying, sit, sit, sit and repeating those cues,” Martiya says. “Ask your dog for that desired behavior by saying, 'Sit.' Then pause. Give your dog a hint to figure out he needs to sit by raising a treat over his head.
“My biggest piece of advice is to stop micromanaging your dog. If you only look for what your dog is doing wrong, you miss the awesomeness when your dog is doing something right, like sitting.”
Arden Moore writes about pets and can be reached at fourleggedlife@gmail.com.
How to reach trainers in this story
Mitchell Stern, Yes! Dog Trainers: yesdogtrainers.com
Robert Burnell, Sit Means Sit: sitmeanssit.com
Heather and Jeff Hill, Sit, Fit & Trained: sitfitandtrained.com
Michelle Martiya, Essential Animal Trainer: essentialanimaltraining.com
Lessons learned from dogs
When asked, “How have dogs made you a better person?” our featured dog trainers unleashed these answers:
Mitchell Stern: “Dogs live 100% in the present moment. I often think about how I carry anger from an argument I had an hour ago and then stop and try to be more like a dog.”
Robert Burnell: “I have learned how to step back and look at the situation for what it is and what the dog needs. Dogs continue to instill in me patience, persistence, fairness and consistency.”
Heather and Jeff Hill: “We are both patient people by nature, but working with dogs 24/7 required us to get a whole other level of patience. We also love that working with dogs has required us to continue learning and growing.”
Michelle Martiya: “I now see training as a conversation. When you are in a conversation, it is much better to pause and wait for them to respond instead of just talking. Dogs have taught me to listen more.”
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