DeMaster Dog Training

03/10/2023

Many thanks to My School Preschool for having Ringo and I this week to discuss dog safety!! Ringo helped teach the kids how to properly meet a dog, what to do when a dog jumps, what it means when a dog growls and what to do when a dog chases you!

This is part of the community outreach that I offer FOR FREE to local schools, troops and other facilities that work with children.

Ringo is always such a big hit with the kiddos and I always appreciate getting to spend time with him! ❤️❤️ Special thanks goes out to Ringo and his family!!

02/15/2023

Meet Kylo! Kylo is still looking for a loving home. He is the last one of my friend’s pets that still needs a home. All the rest have found loving homes and we have a couple of people working to help find him a home, but can use all the help we can get!!

Kylo has been staying with me since Friday, so I’ve had some time to observe him. He’s a German Shepherd mix (I’m thinking Australian Shepherd, but can’t be sure). He’s intact (we’re working on getting him neutered) and approximately 1 year old.

He is energetic, smart, cuddly and playful!! In the few days that he’s been here, he’s picked up on some routines and is starting to work to improve his manners. He’s willing to do the work and he loves learning. He has amazing recall (comes when called) and when he knows a cue, he nails it the first time you say it!

He loves people!! He’s definitely a bit skittish, but he warms up quickly. He loves when I sit on the floor with him and he practically lays on top to get as many snuggles as he can! He loves playing fetch and we’re working on “drop it” with the toy as is common with most doggos. 😉 He also really enjoys car rides!

Kylo would be best in a home without small children. He’s so playful, but definitely a “herder” and he loves to chase. He would be fine in a home with older children who are more calm.

While Kylo loves to play with other dogs, he tends to resource guard. So, it’s safest if he is the only dog. He’s also got some separation anxiety. He is crate trained, but he seems to do better when you hang out for a few extra minutes until he calms down. He wouldn’t be a good fit for anyone who works long hours. We’re working on leash manners and he’s getting much better at not pulling. Yay!!! He’s such a hard worker.

Please help Kylo find a good home! If you know anyone who might be the perfect fit for him, please reach out to them and please share this post. I can be reached via email: [email protected]
Anyone interested will need vet references and there will be a rehoming fee.

I am also offering free trainings to help work on the behaviors that are mentioned above and to help him acclimate to a new environment. ❤️

02/02/2023

Saw this cute/funny picture today and while it gave me a good chuckle, it also prompted me to share it with a client. You see, we’re working with her dog on separation anxiety (as I am doing with so many dogs) and she was shocked to learn that he dog knew she was leaving before she even grabbed her keys! The dog escalated when she had her keys, but he knew LONG before that what was happening. Dogs are smarter than we give them credit. They constantly take in their environment and pick up on all cues related to scent, hearing and vision. They are just the most amazing beings!

01/14/2023

Here are the top 5 things I will never do with my dogs (as a dog trainer):
1. Take them to a dog park!
—besides all the diseases, too many opportunities for aggression and fights.
2. Allow them to have any meet-n-greets while on a leash/collar!
— It is so important for the dogs to give consent cues and their body language is too restrictive on a leash/collar/most harnesses.
3. Use a retractable leash!
—Too many reasons to list, but they are unreliable and dangerous for everyone!
4. Get littermates!
—Double the work, literally double, because they need 2 separate crates, food dishes, training schedules, and even with all of this, they may still suffer anxiety and/or aggression.
5. Leave food down for them all day!
—I use my dogs dish to help keep tabs on her health and mental wellness. You see, if your dog is ill, they will most likely reduce their food intake. If they are too anxious or nervous, they will also refuse food. And that is only one of the benefits!!
Reach out for more information or to schedule trainings!!!

01/04/2023

This. I am always very clear with my clients. We’re looking for “exposures”. When it’s called “Socialization”, humans automatically think specifically of other humans/dogs. But, it really means exposing your dog to a variety of sights, sounds, smells and experiences that they might encounter during their daily living‼️You should aim for 100 exposures by 6 months of age ‼️Reach out for more information or for ideas on exposures!

12/29/2022

As we prepare to wrap up 2022, I want to take a moment to tell you all how much you all are appreciated!!

I am so grateful for the trust that you place in me every time you schedule a session or refer me to your family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors! ❤️❤️

My health forced me to cut my hours back this latter half of 2022 and I’ve had to reschedule more sessions than I expected. So, for my clients who saw me from 7/22-12/22, thank you. Thank you for your patience. Thank you for being flexible. Thank you for understanding when I needed to change my schedule last minute because I overextended myself. Words cannot begin to express my gratitude to you all.
I’m on the path to better health now. ❤️❤️

Despite the health challenges, 2022 saw significant growth in my business. It’s amazing to think that I started this from the ground up and started that first year with about 20 clients. Now, I’ve helped over 600 dogs both locally and in about 5 different states through virtual trainings!

My hope for 2023 is to offer group classes, day training programs, and more virtual sessions. Be on the lookout for more information about those in the future! ❤️❤️

08/29/2022

I cringe every time I see a dog on a retractable leash.
If you still use one, please read this article!

A retractable leash might seem more convenient, but are there some reasons you shouldn’t use them? Read on to learn more about why retractable leashes might not be a good choice for you and your dog.

08/27/2022

Happy National Dog Day to all of the amazing dogs out there! Give them all an extra treat and scratch behind the ear from me!!

08/24/2022

DeMaster Dog Training is working to go paperless!! Beginning this week, I’ll be working on typing notes and emailing them directly to you before I leave your house!

Please bear with me as I acclimate myself into this century. ❤️

As always, paper copies can be given if it’s more convenient for you!

07/03/2022

It’s that time of year again. As I’m sure all dog owners can relate, this is the most stressful holiday for our fur babies. Here are some tips:

1. Keep them home.
2. Make sure they are wearing a collar with current identification.
3. Make sure chips are updated.
4. Have some background noise playing and the further away they are from the sound of fireworks, the better.
5. If you have a physical fence or an invisible fence, leash your dog if you have to take them out for a potty break after dusk. Do NOT trust that they won’t bolt!

📌If your pup is 6 months or younger, get some cheese, hot dogs or something extra delicious and for every boom of a firework, give them the reward. Continue this thoughout the evenings and in the days leading up to or following July 4.

📌If your dog is between 6 months and 1 year, do the same as above, but make sure you’re in a quieter location in your house.

If your dog is fearful of thunderstorms, they will be fearful during fireworks.

06/15/2022

I could not have said this any better myself.

Learning shouldn’t hurt. Period.

In order for punishment to be effective, the punishment must be significant enough that the dog will actively work to avoid it happening again. That means it has to be painful, uncomfortable, or scary enough for the dog to want to avoid a repeat. That means the dog is working out of fear of punishment, not motivation to succeed or work with a human. Even if on the other side you are reinforcing what you want the dog to do, the act of using punishment to create avoidance requires the dog to be more afraid of punishment then he is motivated by reinforcement. This means you cannot build trust with your dog. If your dog is afraid of being punished, at no time will he ever be able to fully trust you. The same is true for children, and well documented that punishment in children leads to sneaky, distrusting kids who avoid going to their caregivers for help when needed out of fear of punishment. The same goes for your dog. They cannot trust you and at the same time work to avoid being punished by you. Choose trust. Always choose trust.

05/10/2022

I need help….

A lot of people ask me for suggestions on various dog services and while I have accumulated a number of options, there are a few things that I’m lacking suggestions for. If you, or someone you know, has used or provided services for the following, can you please share their info with me? There’s a trend swinging towards people wanting their dog in their own home or in a home vs a kennel.

Dog sitting at the owners home? Not looking for ones that stop in for short visits, but ones who stay on site and only watch the dogs in the house at one time.

Dog sitting at the house of a sitter?

People who offer pick-up/drop-off services? For example, a dog who might need picked up from a boarding facility and then brought home.