Dogs deserve to play. Each dog or puppy I board and train has a different interest. Pups and dogs like to fetch, dig, chase, be chased, hunt, bury, tug, hoard, chew, bark, find, shred, and combinations of all of these and more. One of my dogs likes to squeak toys. The squeaking sound emulates the sound of prey when it’s been caught. I don’t know if that’s what’s turning him on because he oftentimes watches the rabbits dart through our {Read More}
Bouncy Dog Play
September 4, 2017 By
When two or more dogs play together, it’s important to watch the dogs in case playing turns into serious behavior. These two dogs in the video below are playing well together under the watchful eye of their owner and Lee county dog trainer, Helen Verte Schwarzmann, CTC. One of the important qualities in good play in dogs and puppies is how they move when running. In this video, for the most part, Emilie the Dobiermann is running around the Everglades {Read More}
Girls Just Want To Have Fun
June 15, 2017 By
Smokey. Smokey is a 17-week-old mini Aussie who’s board-and-training with us. Her daring enthusiasm is matched by her persistence to get what she wants. This is the kind of pup we love at Outsmarting Dogs. (OK, we love all pups.) With our delicious and motivating training food and solid training plans, she is fast on her way to being a bright star. Smokey’s favorite non-food reinforcement is our recent staff-and-family addition, beautiful Emilie the Dobermann. Smokey loves to play chase {Read More}
A Big Step
May 22, 2017 By
I grew up with a parent who believed a pet dog should not be stepped over, but rather should move out of a person’s way, even if the dog were enjoying a peaceful snooze. He should wake and move out of the way fast. So the family dogs were never comfortable lying in the pathway of foot traffic. And most places in our house were foot-traffic worthy. Because the dogs had been conditioned to jump up and move out of {Read More}
Dogs Air Caching
April 27, 2017 By
Take a look at this one-second video. What do you think is happening? In an instant, it looks as if Emilie the Dobermann is done with her toy and pushing it off the dog couch. She looks a little sassy, doesn’t she? But that’s looking through the human-centric lens. What is really happening is a misfire in Emilie’s innate behavior. That behavior is caching, or burying, usually food, to dig up at a later date when hungry. When Dobermann Emilie {Read More}
