Jeremy Baer

07/04/2022

07/10/2019

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07/04/2019

Let’s Keep your dogs safe this week! Don’t forget you get what you pet! So don’t coddle or reinforce anxiety or nervousness during the fireworks. Giving your dog a job will help them focus on something other than fireworks! Utilize duration work and crating during stressful times.

07/01/2019

Don't Let them fool you! Your dog is always watching, always looking for who is going to be strict and hold them accountable and who is going to be that soft push over that lets things slide. They are always looking for those holes, that opportunity to take advantage of the situation and take that easy road out. Often times we see some type of change in the household that can lead to a shift in overall demeanor. It can be as simple as the authoritative figure leaving the house on business to throw the routine, structure and discipline off kilter. Then the fall out ensues. You start to see some selective hearing, maybe some pushiness and then a total disregard for your authority. Associations can change so quickly because they are always watching those small moments and they are opportunists. Be aware of the small bratty stuff and correct those little infractions before they turn into unmanageable disasters. What are you allowing your dog to get away with?

06/23/2019

BREAK THE CYCLE! Your dog is misbehaving because they know they can. If you want your dog to be better in situations they struggle in you have to work them in those difficult situations most!! The behaviors you work and use on a daily basis will be the information that becomes second nature for your dog. If you have a dog that fence runs at your neighbor and/or their dogs, you must find a high enough consequence to break the pattern and make them think before they just bust out of your back door barking and carrying on. If your dog pulls during your walk, you have to work more on properly communicating with your dog and show them through consequence that the behavior is not acceptable and they must follow your lead. If your dog acts out when guests come over you have to show your dog that you are the authoritative figure holding them accountable at all times. These things take time and work but are they not worth it? We have to re-pattern our dogs mind and change the mischievous cycle they are in now. It does not matter what behavior we are trying to break… There must be believable consequences for the unwanted behavior. Be persistent and consistent and let’s stop the behaviors we are tired of!

06/17/2019

We are given total responsibility when it comes to our dogs and their best interests. However, don’t be so quick to take that easy road out. Sometimes it’s not as simple as just throwing a pill at them and think “oh maybe they are more relaxed because they are now sleeping most of the day.” Or he/she is a rescue dog so it’s ok for them to be stressed and have terrible anxiety. What is best for our dogs may not be the things we think they need the most from us. If you choose medication over training your dog and you’re not comfortable with corrections, you shouldn’t own a dog. Or, if you can’t find a few extra min. in your busy day to put in a little work in, then you should not own a dog. The choice of personal comfort over communicating with your dog is absolutely ridiculous. Sure it takes time and energy but the number of people I talk to daily that tell me their dogs are on this pill or that pill because their trainer or vet was not okay with a prong, slip or an E-collar is absurd. Obviously there are cases when medication is needed, but all resources should be exhausted for each individual circumstance. It’s not about you or your comfort; it’s about what’s best for your dog. Stop doping up your dog and start putting in the work with a real trainer and continue the after care work that was prescribed. There is no excuse that your “shelter” dog is the way he is because of previous situation. That he has terrible anxiety and stress yet you exacerbate it by doing the exact opposite of what that dog needs from you. There is no miracle cure for anything only hard work and determination. It’s your responsibility to do better by them.

06/10/2019

Here it is again! “My dog is pretty good but...” This week I had owners complain about aggression (human and dog), jumping, fear, destructiveness, uncontrollable energy and leash issues. There is always one reoccurring pattern of what is actually taking place in that dogs environment and routine. Once we take the environmental factors out of the picture we are then able to see the dog in a totally different light. The questions are simple! Here are a few: Do you constantly allow your dog into your personal space? Do you use high pitch or baby voices? Pet the dog constantly? No longer use a crate because they are potty trained or is locked in a room? Are they constantly being yelled and screamed at? and has no clear guidelines when it comes to rules, boundaries and structure? The bottom line is; inconsistent owners get inconsistent dogs. How can you expect your dog to walk good on leash when the dog only gets walked every blue moon and on that walk the dog is constantly sniffing marking/pulling. IF you have a dog with behavior issues it might be a sign that the lifestyle you've been living with your dog isn't working and things need to change. I would bet most of these behaviors have been going on for years but now they could be surfacing do to a change in environment; new house or apt. new person, baby or dog in your life. The day to day dynamics have changed and maybe your love and affection and time has lessoned making a already needy VELCRO DOG just a little more demanding and not so tolerable anymore. Maybe you cannot identify the change. Whatever pattern has shifted has thrown your dog for a loop and the old routine is no longer relative. The things that once made you feel good has now created severe separation anxiety, distraction and stress. Leading to the chaos of today!

05/31/2019

Have you ever seen a dog out in public and said “what a well trained dog that is! I wish my dog acted like that!” Then you may ask the owner how old that dog is and think how much longer do we have until ours calms down and acts like that? 3 or 4 years. Maybe? OR do they just grow into these unwanted behaviors even more. Wouldn’t it be nice if your dog did most of what you asked for TODAY? You are not constantly yelling or screaming or losing your temper at them, they are not jumping on your guests, dragging you on the leash or being destructive in the house. Why do they have to be locked up in prison/crate/room all day when you’re home and when you’re gone? Why don’t you take the bull by the horns and allow your best friend to be a part of your life today? To be able to calmly stay in whichever room you are in, go anywhere dog friendly you go. To travel nicely in a car to the pet store or to the vet without over excitement or anxiety and just have the manners we all look for in man’s best friend. Yes, it takes work, it takes holding them accountable and being persistent. But aren’t they worth it? It’s really as easy as using your tools and being consistent with the work. We can make you and your dog’s life pretty damn good and allow you the freedom you want. The bottom line is: It’s up to you. You are in control of this situation. You are the pack-leader and they are just a dog. But, you have to step up and act like it; you have to be believable in their eyes. Hold them accountable, not allow them to test you and push you. We put the dog in uncomfortable situations we know they will be ok in because you as the “parent/leader”, advocate for them and you won’t allow bad things happen to them. Sometimes it’s the hard stuff that makes us stronger and better and turns us into our true selves. Tomorrow can be a little better than today if we put the work in! It’s all about your dog’s routine and their patterns. It’s not always taking the easiest and most comfortable road out. You have to be consistent with the work, persistent with their accountability. It’s about the structure and routine and the patterns we put in place and then we begin to get a better picture of just how much more enjoyable life can be. We all know their lives are never long enough so why don’t we be the best we can today for our pets and stop making excuses for them. You can be that owner with the well-trained dog everyone else envies, but it’s up to YOU!