Greetings!
Welcome to The Dog Squad's Monthly Bark Report. This is our second email newsletter and so far we have had a lot of positive feedback about our first issue. Let us know how we can improve the newsletter and what topics you want us to cover in future issues.
|
|
Training Tip - Teaching The "Wait" Command
By Patrick Gibbons
When you leave the house is your dog polite and patient at the door? If not, having a "wait" command will help.
We have all heard that our dogs should pass through a door after us rather before us, and for most cases this is true. However, there are times when we need to send our dog through a door ahead of us. It's not important that they are ahead or behind us. What's important is that the dog goes through the door only when given permission.
Start with a good fitting collar and a sturdy leash, 5 or 6 feet long. You will start your training at the front door since this is the door we usually use to go on walks. Approach the door in a calm manner, open it and give the command "wait". You shouldn't expect your dog to do it on the first try since she won't know what "wait" means. Likely he will barge through the door but this time you will be ready. As your dog passes through the door way tug on the leash and bring him back in repeating the "wait" command, and close the door. You will open the door again, repeat the "wait" command and see if you get the same response or if your dog waits this time. If she waits praise her for a job well done. If she tries to barge through you will again tug the leash and bring her back in and repeat the "wait" command and close the door. This process may go on for several repetitions before your dog understands that you don't want him to go through the open door.
The first time your dog chooses not to go through the open door praise him heavily and move away from the door to further illustrate that the good stuff happens inside rather than outside during this exercise.
Depending on the temperament of your dog you may either take a break or go on a little further. This time open the door with a "wait" command and then put one of your feet out on the door mat and see what your dog does. If she waits come back and praise. If she tries to go out with you tug the leash and repeat the "wait" command, bring her back in and try again. When you are successful with one foot out then switch to the other, still only one foot out at a time. After a number of repetitions you will see that your dog has learned not to exit when you put one foot out. Next put both feet on the door mat but no further. You don't want to ask for too much too soon. Depending on the response from your dog, either praise or correct the mistake and repeat. Once you can do a full step out with both feet give this exercise a rest.
After about 30 minutes you can get your dog ready for an actual walk and head for the front door. This time you should see that your dog waits much easier. Take one step out to see how she does and if she waits return to her and reward. Return to your dog to further encourage the waiting behavior, praise, give a release command and then take your dog out for a walk.
After teaching and practicing the "wait" command for a few weeks you will see that your dog politely waits when you go to the door even without being asked in most cases. I recommend you teach this command at all of the doors that you and your dog regularly use to show her that we want this behavior all the time at all doors. |
Featured Animal Rescue of the Month
Milo Foundation 
THE MILO FOUNDATION was named after an Australian Shepherd. Milo was five weeks old when Lynne Tingle discovered that her puppy was both deaf and blind. Despite concerns from friends and family, Lynne was determined to give Milo a good life.
It was a learning process for both Milo and Lynne, his "seeing eye person." Lynne developed a series of taps to communicate with Milo. A tap on the left or right flank would instruct Milo which direction to go. And a tap on the rear meant "stop." In the park, Milo's feet read the ground like Braille, where he bounded around in circles with his nose in the air, barking with joy.
Given a chance to live, Milo became a happy, beloved dog. The experience with Milo led Lynne to learn about other animals who needed a chance, abandoned and stray dogs and cats who fill city shelters, which led to the founding of the nonprofit no-kill sanctuary known as the Milo Foundation. Founded in 1994, the Milo Foundation has rescued and found homes for more than 16,000 pets. Milo saves at least 1,500 animals every year, and with your support they could help even more!
The Milo Foundation is an established 501(c)(3) nonprofit, no-kill organization providing an alternative for homeless pets. The Milo Foundation Sanctuary is located on 283 acres in Mendocino County, offering lots of room for the animals to run and play. Milo houses cats, dogs, puppies and kittens, and occasionally horses and other domestic creatures find their way to the sanctuary.
Milo has also opened a pet adoption and rescue center in San Rafael, where they bring pets taken from California's high-kill shelters who otherwise face euthanasia. These animals receive veterinary care, get spayed/neutered, micro-chipped, and receive vaccinations and other veterinary care (Milo always has huge vet bills to pay). The animals who come to MILO include cats of all descriptions, both adults and kittens. There are mother dogs with brand-new puppies, dogs and pups of all kinds, and ages, purebreds and amazingly cute mix-breeds of every size and variety. They are terrific pets who are lucky to be alive and are looking for great adoptive homes---like yours?
MILO welcomes volunteers both at the sanctuary and daily at "Milo Marin" in San Rafael. Milo also needs foster homes to help care for some of the animals until they are ready for adoption, and donations are needed to help cover its extensive veterinary bills and the costs of operating and having a roof over their heads! Milo also holds mobile adoptions in the East Bay every weekend. Email marin@milofoundation.org for more information on how you can help!
The mission of the Milo Foundation is to rescue adoptable at-risk animals, match them to homes best suited to provide lifetime care, rehabilitate those who need it, offer sanctuary to those who are not placed, and educate the public about responsible pet guardianship, including spay/neuter.
Contact Information:
Tax deductible donations can be sent to:
The Milo Foundation
PO Box 6625
Albany CA 94706
MILO MARIN is open for Adoptions
Wednesday 12-5PM
Thursdays 2-6PM
Fridays and Saturdays 12-6PM
Sunday 12-4PM
Milo Marin
2060 4th Street
San Rafael, CA 94901
415-454-MILO (6456)
|
Dog of the Month - Bingo
Yvonne & Jack McCredie 
Bingo, our second Portuguese Water Dog, is three and a half years old. For many years, folks we met on our walks would ask - "Is he a Labradoodle?" Now we seem to be answering a different question - "Is that an Obama dog?" Having Bo in the White House has brought a lot of attention to this wonderful breed that we call "velcro dogs" because of their propensity to stick close to us wherever we go. The good news is that the recent publicity surrounding Bo has not resulted in a frenzied rush to acquire them.
We have been training with the Dog Squad for the past 15 months and really enjoy the ongoing program of walks and training sessions in convenient East Bay locations. As an un-neutered male, Bingo can sometimes be grouchy towards large male dogs at a first meeting. However, once he gets acquainted, he becomes good friends. So the regular experience of meeting new dogs, walking with them, and performing all of the interesting group exercises directed by Steve and Patrick, both in park and city settings, is an excellent routine for us. Bingo certainly knows when we are approaching one of the familiar sites and he lets us know he is ready to work.
In addition to training with the Dog Squad, we participate in the Oakland Dog Training Club to compete in AKC sports such as rally, agility and obedience. The combination of the Dog Squad and club activities has helped Bingo earn CGC, rally (RN, RA, and RE) and obedience (CD, GN) titles. Most recently he earned a third place ribbon with a solid qualifying obedience score at the Golden Gate Kennel Club show at the Cow Palace.
AKC obedience events are highly structured and formal activities. Doing well in those events does not necessarily translate to a dog and handler doing well in real world settings such as downtown Walnut Creek and municipal parks. Steve and Patrick provide an outstanding bridge to the real world for us and they are always available for the many questions that arise as we continue to learn more about how to make life even more enjoyable with our great canine companion.
|
|
Bark Control Program 
The Dog Squad offers a Program to help you solve all types of nuisance barking. If you have been cited by Animal Control or have received complaints from neighbors then this is the program for you and your dog. We use a variety of approaches and tools that are custom fit to your dog and home environment. We use Static Collars, Spray Collars and Ultrasound. We will recommend the best device or combination of devices to solve your dog's barking problem.
Our Bark Control Program includes 1 in-home sessions and a Bark Control Device. At the first session we do a quick assessment of your dog and your home situation. We then make a recommendation on what device would work best. We properly fit the dog with a Bark Control device and then introduce the dog to external stimuli that will cause it to bark. We thoroughly instruct the owner on how a device works, how it should be used safely, how to maintain it and how to solve problems if the device is not working. After we have instructed, properly fit and tested the device we leave the owner with instructions on daily use and routine. We offer 30 days of phone and email support and if necessary do another in-home visit.
The Bark Control Program costs $295 and includes one Bark Control Device. |
|
New Email Alert System for Park Sessions
We have a new email alert system to notify clients on the status of a Park Sessions for weather cancellations or scheduled cancellations due to a scheduled event, holiday, emergency or other reasons.
To sign up for these email alerts go to "Update Profile/Email Address" link at the bottom of this newsletter and click. When at the update page select "Park Session Alert". You will then be sent email Alerts when there is a session change.
Weather cancellations will only be sent at 8 AM on the day of the session. If you do not receive a Park Session Alert canceling a session then we will meet as usual. |
|
Dublin Park Session is Permanently Closed
The city of Dublin Parks and Community Services has told us that we cannot run our classes at the Dublin Sports Complex or any Dublin City Park. We are going to try and negotiate getting a Use permit and will keep you updated on our web site. In the meantime we be coming up with an alternative site for the Sunday 10:30 AM slot.
We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause you but we will find a solution soon.
|
|
Canine Good Citizen Test - CGC
Saturday August 7th 9 AM to 12 Noon
San Leandro Marina
The Canine Good Citizen (CGC) is a certification program that is designed to reward dogs who have good manners at home and in the community. The CGC Program is a two-part program that stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs. All dogs who pass the 10-step CGC test may receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club. More Information and sign up form
| |
We hope you enjoyed our second Newsletter and would like your feed back. Emai us at info@dogsquad.biz for article requests and questions for our future Bark Report. |
|
Sincerely,
Steve Bettcher
Patrick Gibbons
The Dog Squad
|
|
|
|
|
$100 Discount on
New System Installation
Extended to
March 31st, 2010
Call for a Free Quote and Consultation
877-632-DOGS |
Suzanne & Richard
Horatio
Joanie & Tom
Vijay & Andrew
Audrey & Ryan
Bella 
Sam & Mary
Daisey & Benny
|
|
