Memorial Day weekend!

It's that time again - a dog sitter's favorite - the holidays! The best time for pups to spend some quality time at their home away from home. While they miss their mums and pops terribly, they too get to go on their own mini vacation up to the country or get a chance to check out a different part of the city.

This weekend Monster, a delicious little Yorkie, and Fuji, a sassy Shiba Inu, come to lovely Williamsburg, Brooklyn to make friends with the local pups at Cooper Park, sunbathe and picnic at McCarren Park, and sniff out all the neighborhood BBQs!

That scruffy mutt you see in the background? That's my main man, Douglas. Also known as Doug, Doogie, Doogan, DooDoo, Booger, Bubby, and about ten other aliases on any given day. He gets just as excited for the holidays because he knows there will be new pups to clown around with.

While Fuji prefers to rough house with any pup who'll have it, Monster would rather take it all in from the best seat in the house for any proper yorkie - a lap! To each their own!

Happy Memorial Day!

Bring on the sunshine - the whole team at New York Walk and Train would like to bid a fond farewell to the season by shedding our jackets and boots and welcoming in our shorts and tank tops so we can start working on our summer coats! (don't worry - we won't forget the SPF)

- woof, woof!! -
Lisa :)

Doh! Common Mistakes in Dog Training

So you've got your new pup or dog, now what?
Training, of course!
Hiring a professional , searching the internet and reading positive reinforcement based training books are all great ways to get off on the right paw.
In developing and solidifying a strong training program for your dog, it is important to recognize and avoid these common dog training no-nos.
Below are some of the most commonly made mistakes in dog training:

1. Ignoring Desired/Wanted Behavior
As the trainer, it is your job to clearly communicate to your dog when you like what she is doing. It is equally important to reward your dog for good behavior whether or not you have asked for it.

Rewarded or acknowledged consistently, your dog will learn that particular behaviors bring good things (treats/toys, being petted, hearing you say "good dog!") and he will begin offering these behaviors more frequently and reliably.

For example, if a young puppy collects a chew toy (instead of your shoes or furniture)and heads to her bed to lie down calmly (instead of jumping on the couch or racing around), it is extremely important that you provide her with information that you like what she is doing. Taking good behavior for granted is the quickest way to lose it.

Think of your behavior at work. If you were not paid, given performance feedback or raises, how motivated would you be to set that alarm every morning?

2. Rewarding unwanted/undesired behavior
The best examples I can give of rewarding unwanted behavior are demand barking and jumping as a form of greeting.

Owners often believe they are correcting or dissuading their pup from jumping or barking by responding to these behaviors with a stern look and "no," while brushing the dog from their leg or grabbing the dog to calm him.

In both cases, the jumping or barking dog is seeking attention. The response described above (eye contact, hearing a voice and being touched) gives the dog (almost) exactly what he/she is craving.


While it may seem counter intuitive, ignoring undesired behaviors and responding only to calm behavior is an extremely effective way of training your pup. Don't be confused though, this does NOT mean you should allow your dog free roam to practice bad behavior.

3. Too much freedom and inconsistency:
Simply put, puppies that chew shoes...were given access to shoes! Dogs that jump are allowed to jump. It’s really that simple.

By allowing a dog too much freedom or the ability to practice undesired behaviors, an owner enables him/her to develop bad habits. Prevention and management are easy and will reduce the likelihood of behavior problems down the road.

If your dog is a jumper for example, she should be on leash when guests come over. If your puppy is fully not housetrained, he should not be given free roam of the house, but rather placed in a crate when unsupervised.

Some examples of prevention and management tools: crate, gate, readily available and enticing chew toys, leash, closed doors, safety latches on cabinets, secure fencing.

4. Assuming the dog "knows" a behavior too early
People will come to puppy class confidently announcing their smart puppy knows "sit." Twenty minutes into class they declare that their puppy knows what "sit" means, but is stubborn at times and will not offer the behavior when outside of the house or when excited.
The puppy is not stubborn. The puppy is simply learning "sit" and has not mastered the behavior enough to generalize it to all places and situations.

Dogs are great at picking up particular cues from their routine environment. This means that while in your quiet apartment, while you are holding a treat, you’re pup knows "sit." Change the situation (when guests come over) or environment (like adding city noise) and all bets are off.
This is extremely normal dog behavior. Strong behavior is only built over a long period of time. Before you can assume your dog knows anything, you must first do lots of practice not only in your home, but in numerous environments.


5. Moving too fast – Setting goals too high
People expect dogs to learn fast. They assume because their dog is "smart" that he should stop exhibiting unwanted behavior or learn a new behavior almost instantaneously.

Compare this to you learning a new skill. How many times before you will master a black diamond hill loaded with moguls? How hard was it for you or a friend to stop smoking, biting your fingernails (ewww) or stop eating the chocolate that is in your cabinet?

Be fair to your dog and set training goals that are easily attained. Taking 100 baby steps forward will be much faster and more productive than taking leaps back and forth.

Your dog will need to receive AMPLE FEEDBACK (praise & treats) OFTEN about his behavior in order to learn. Set too high, you and your dog will be left frustrated and confused with goals that are simply unattainable.

The training you and your pup do should be fun and easy for both of you. Being mindful and working to avoid these mistakes, you and your dog will be on the fast track to building a trusting and enjoyable relationship (and good manners too!).
Good luck!

Featured Walker: Lyna - West Village, Chelsea

Lyna is an "upstate Manhattan" residing up north in Harlem. Lyna is a long time fur lover who began professionally working with animals in 2004. Lyna's vast experience includes working and volunteering in animal shelters, veterinary hospitals and daycares. Lyna knows dogs in all boroughs.

Lyna loves every minute of her time spent with animals. The one thing she knows for sure...she can't be a vet tech. It's not the poop, blood, or emergency situations that scare her off. It's a disdain for science!

Considering herself a serious musician, Lyna played bass about seven times a few summers ago. She admits to once singing so terribly that a dog got angry. Please rest assured, she is not singing to our furry clients.

An important note about Lyna...this lovely lady keeps her fingernails long for butt scratching and the dogs love it too!  

Pictured above: Lyna and Mitzi (arguably the cutest Maltese in Chelsea!)

Patience is a Virtue! Two Minutes a Day to Creating a Patient Pup

Creating a patient pooch is important both for the relationship you have with your dog and your dog's own safety.

Unless instructed, your dog will act like....well, a dog. Acting impulsively, he will jump up for the things he wants, bark when he is frustrated, and run after anything that appeals to him. This is NORMAL dog behavior.

Since we expect a refined furry companion for domesticated living, it is our job to teach our dog exactly what we expect from them in routine daily interactions and situations.

Developing patience in your dog, like any other skill, takes a bit of pratice. With the tiniest effort on your part however (literally just a couple minutes each day), you will see dramatic behavior changes in your pup. Practiced consistently , these skills will begin trickling over into all facets of your pup's life. You will have developed a well-behaved and patient dog who offers routine calm behavior.

Offering a "sit," is a great way for your dog to say, "please" or express to you that he or she wants something.

I imagine that your dog, like most dogs, would like access to some (if not all) of the following:

1. Attention and Petting (a greeting when you come home from work or maybe a seat in your warm lap)

2. A Favorite Toy

3. Food (whether it's in a dish, stuffed in a toy, or a tasty treat from your hand)

4. Access to his/her friends (at the dog run, on the street)

5. Access to the great outdoors (whether on leash or off leash in your yard)

As loving owners, we tend to give our dogs everything for "free." Instead, ALL of the items above should be used as rewards in your dog's life. You need to work for the things you want in life, right? Well, it's time to get your pup working too! Your dog may have any of the above items, but first he must do something...like sit. Once your dog sits (or says "please!") you may give him what he wants.

To begin, your pup might need some "think time." If he has never been required to say "please" for the above items, it will take a little time before he starts to understand the new rules. BE PATIENT AND CONSISTENT! IT WILL HAPPEN! Once your pup begins to understand the new rules your interactions together will become much smoother and enjoyable.

How to create a patient pooch:

1. Food/Treat Access: While holding your dog's food/water dish or treat in your hand, ask that your dog "sit" before lowering the dish to the floor or giving that treat to your pup. **This seems to be the only one most owners do daily!

2. Attention: Before petting or picking up your dog, let him get all that excited energy out. Ignore all the hoopla (turn your back on and walk away from any jumping) . The moment your pup settles a bit ask him to "sit." Begin petting when your pup sits. If he jumps up again in excitement...repeat. Wait out the excitement and only offer attention when he is sitting.

3. Play with other dogs: Upon arrival at the dog run, ask your pup to sit as you approach the gate. The leash is unclipped and the gate opens only after your pup has offered a sit for you.

4. Access to the outdoors: Whether on leash or off, your dog should "sit" before any door is opened for him to walk through. If you are leash walking your dog (who likely becomes excited at the sight of the leash) require that your he sits calmly as you put the leash on.

These very easy exercises only add a maximum of two to three minutes to your daily routine!

As devoted and loving dog parents, I think we would all agree that a few minutes each day are well worth a life-long solid relationship our furry best friend!

Woof!

Copyright 2009, NY Walk & Train