While each dog can be different based on their breed, personality can play an even bigger role. For example a Siberian Husky is generally going to be more stubborn and challenging to train than a Golden Retriever, but that is not always the case. Sometimes you find a Golden that might be just as stubborn as a Husky and vice versa. Training ultimately comes down to being able to effectively communicate with a dog based on their personality.

Here at Buckeye Dog Training we work with every breed of dog you can think of, from Labrador Retrievers to Yorkies to Jindos. We commonly work with Pit Bulls, German Shepherds, Boxers, Australian Cattle Dogs (commonly known as “Heelers”), Rottweilers, Dobermans, Maltipoos, Beagles, Havanese, French Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, and so much more.

There is no breed we can’t handle or train at Buckeye Dog Training!

If you have a dog that is in need of training, don’t hesitate to reach out, we can help! We specialize in behavior modification for aggressive and anxious dogs. We also have programs for dogs in need of basic obedience and puppy training. Whether you have a small dog, or a big dog we can help you and your dog achieve behavioral balance.

All of our in-home dog training programs are commitment-based. Meaning we are going to work with you and your dog until the issues are resolved and the training goals you have are reached. At Buckeye Dog Training we stand by our clients, no matter what!

Call us or send us an email to learn more, or to set up and in-home behavior consultation.

The post Working with ALL Breeds of Dogs appeared first on Buckeye Dog Training.

All dogs need a basic set of ‘manners’, such as recall (responding to their name), sitting/staying, dropping or leaving objects, and focus training. A dog with a strong obedience foundation will have confidence around new people or dogs and will respect and obey your training commands, which makes it easier to bring them out in public or confront things they may have trouble with. This is a long and involved process, and it takes dedication to set this foundation, but these behaviors will last for years to come and will establish trust between you and your dog, as well as potentially set an example for the rest of your pack.

Give our expert dog trainer at the Buckeye Dog Training Columbus Ohio a call today at 614.347.9127 to talk about behavior training and the first steps to establishing a good foundation. Our in-home behavioral assessment will guarantee that you get a training program that matches your needs as an owner and works at your pace in an environment that makes it easy for your dog to learn.

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Recall is a very important thing for a dog to possess, no matter how young or old they are.

Most people want their dog to be able to come on command, with just a verbal cue, not through treat bribery or trickery (I had one former client whose dog would only come if they jingled their car keys, giving the idea that they were leaving and going for a ride).

Building solid recall can be a process, but it can be helpful and even life-saving for your dog.

I’ve gotten many clients over the year that want recall included in the in-home training package, even if there are more serious issues like anxiety or aggression occurring. Many of these clients are concerned about their dog getting into a potentially troublesome situation, and then being unable to bring them back and away from harm’s way.

I booked a client who called because their dog Rufio was both hyperactive and a brilliant escape artist. His recall inside the home or outside with light distractions around, was decent. However, when Rufio was hyper, excited, or chasing after a squirrel or car, it was impossible to call him back. The day he nearly got hit by a car after another escape incident was when I got the phone call to meet Rufio and his owner.

While your dog may not be life Rufio who puts himself in very risky situations, it is still good to be able to command your dog’s attention when you need it. You can help prevent a problem from developing in the first place. Your dog’s quick response to your command and recall can spare you stress or a vet bill, but this is a sign that your dog is not only obedient, but that they trust you and your leadership. If your dog chooses your command over chasing a cat or freely visiting every dog in your neighborhood, then your dog surely trusts you and that you know what is best for them.

Recall can be built over consistent work over time. If you need help working on your dog’s recall or any other behavioral problems, call us at 614-347-9127!

The post Why A Solid Recall Can Be a Life Saver For Your Dog appeared first on Buckeye Dog Training.

My Columbus dog training aims to set everyone up for success – not just the dog in training, but their family members as well, be it human or animal. When people first call me for training, they tell me the issues they are experiencing with their dog(s). When I get to meet everyone at the initial in-home consultation, I often find that there are even more issues occurring, and that there are red flag and triggers everywhere being unaddressed. Sometimes those triggers can be other family members, including other dogs in the household. Even if another dog in the home doesn’t have severe issues, they could still be negatively influencing the dog that is in need of behavioral training.

I left the home of a young woman named Lila, who has three dogs — Jax, Clyde, and Missy. When Lila first called, she was calling for Missy, who was fighting with Jax, and also being extremely destructive in the home. Sitting down with Lila and her family, I could see that Missy’s aggression was in response to Jax being a very dominant dog. He would lead Clyde and try with Missy, and if she did not respond, he would bark incessantly. Jax also lacked basic commands, and all three dogs lacked a regular exercise regimen, which caused anxiety and Missy’s destructive habits. 

We discussed it and knew that BOTH Missy and Jax had to be trained. Clyde, while older and not causing many problems, was also enrolled so that all three dogs understood the expectations of the home and from Lila, their leader. We did not want any of the dogs to feel they were in charge of the home, because that role is only Lila’s. Once Jax acclimated to the training, the relationship with him and Missy changed instantly. There was more of an understanding and control between the two. With Clyde, he tagged along and succeeded along with his brother and sister.

Even if there’s one dog that is causing most of the major issues, it is best to keep all your pack members on the same page when it comes to basic obedience and behavioral progress. All dogs, no matter what their differing issues are, can benefit from training and also bond together through the process. It increases the chances of consistency, and that is the key to successful dog training.

If you and your dogs need some behavioral help, call us at 614-347-9127!

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Herding breeds such as Border Collies need lots of mental stimulation and exercise, without this they can develop serious behavior problems. Keep their minds busy and it will be an enjoyable relationship for dog and owner!

There are many parallels between dogs and humans in the area of mental stimulation. Have you ever had a job that required little to no physical activity, but was mentally demanding? If so, can you recall how exhausted you were by the end of day and how your lack of energy didn’t allow you to do anything but relax. Unsurprisingly, the effect of mental stimulation is also true in dogs.

Without physical exercise and adequate mental stimulation your dog may be at risk or even suffer from anxiety related behavioral issues. Several dog breeds require mental stimulation and without it they often exhibit bad behaviors. Incorporating mental stimulation in your dog’s everyday routine is not as challenging as it may seem. For example, you could require your dog to perform the “down” and “stay” command while playing a game of fetch. The act of listening, processing and obeying your commands is a great way for your dog to receive mental exercise while physically exercising.

Buckeye Dog Training can help alleviate your dog’s anxiety related behavior issues with our customized in-home training plan. We will come out to your house and assess your dog and create a plan to help your dog live a more enjoyable life. If you are ready to have a physical and mentally fit dog please call us today at 614.347.9127!

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Following the pack theory with dogs, we understand that they will instinctively develop a hierarchy when it comes to themselves and their other pack members. The pack members are not limited to other dogs in the home, but it also applies to the humans any maybe other animals in the home (ie: cats). Most dogs will automatically accept the owners as head of the pack, but may have some struggles coming to terms with the pack hierarchy with other dogs in the household (with cats, they usually let the dogs know pretty quickly!). As owners and leaders for our dogs, we must take the initiative to make sure that ALL dogs in the household acclimate to each other, whether it’s a puppy or an adult dog entering into a new home and a new pack.

Welcoming a new dog into the home and pack isn’t too difficult, but caution and careful monitoring must be in place. Dogs communicate in their own language with each other and it is important that we allow them to do this with one another. However, we must supervise and make sure that neither dog takes things to an inappropriate level, such as violent fighting with each other. A new dog may be very nervous coming into the home initially, especially if there are other dogs present, so we should make sure they do not act aggressively out of fear, or if the “veteran” dog doesn’t take their dominance to an aggressive level, beating up on “the new guy”.

A few tips to make sure your new dog adjusts well in the home and with the rest of the pack:

-Walks together are a great way to bond (though make sure that the dogs are well trained on the leash). This allows the dogs to be in each others’ company and without necessarily having to have close encounters or potentially be in each others’ space. The physical and mental stimulation from a good walk can be a great bonding experience and encourage the dogs to be calm together.

-When it comes to meals, try to feed the dogs separately to prevent from any potential food aggression incidents. With treats or bones, try not to treat one dog and not the others. Dogs should be able to get along without any possessive behavior over food, treats or toys, but be careful with this in the early stages. Make sure any aggression is corrected and do your best to prevent the opportunity from arising in the first place.

-Make sure if the dogs will be playing outside together, laying down inside the living room together, or doing any activity together, that there is someone to supervise. After enough time and enough trust has been established, then try to give them more space. Anything can happen at any time though, so the more monitoring you can provide, the better.

-Try to give the dogs their own crate and/or bed, so they have something to call their own, in case there is no sleep space sharing allowed within the pack. If the dogs do decide to be sleeping buddies, then great! At least there will still be another bed that you can use as a “place” for your dog’s training, and it can overall, just be something your dog can identify as theirs and as a positive, safe association.

And these are just a few things you can try to get your new dog to feel more at home with the rest of the family dog(s). If you have questions or are struggling with some sibling issues, call 614-347-9127!

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As a reward-based dog trainer, I always approach training with the attitude of being least invasive and minimally aversive (also known as “the LIMA model” for many dog trainers). It doesn’t matter what kind of dog or what the issues are, I always aim to set the dog up for success. Typically in the beginning of training, putting a dog in a chaotic environment filled with distractions is the perfect way to set the dog up for FAILURE. That’s what so great about in-home dog training too: not only for convenience purposes, but your dog is able to start this new behavioral training regimen in his/her’s most comfortable and familiar atmosphere – in the house.

But when it comes to my Columbus dog training, while I do want to start off in the home, I don’t want to remain there forever. The dog needs to understand that the good habits and appropriate behaviors that they are learning from my training protocol is also carried outside the front door, and into the real world. Most dog owners can agree that the time that their dog’s concentration suffers the most is when they are DISTRACTED. Also, some of the most important moments where the dog SHOULD be listening (ie: not running into traffic, not chasing after a dog or a person on a bicycle, etc) is when there are distractions present, or things that could possibly put the dog or owner in a problematic situation.

With my dog training, I want to set your dog up for success, but I also want to ensure your dog’s reliability in any situation or environment. Whether you’re in your backyard, in a public park, sitting outside your favorite coffee shop with your dog, waiting in the lobby at the animal hospital, or just hanging out in your living room – your dog should be able to behave and follow your lead ANYWHERE. When hiring a dog trainer, make sure that distraction training is part of the curriculum, and that your dog will learn better behaviors through instances of desensitization and exposure to real-world triggers.

At Buckeye Dog Training, we cover all your bases, and we ALWAYS include distraction training that will make your dog trustworthy in any situation. If you and your pup need some of this real-world training, give us a call at 614-347-9127 to talk with us and schedule your initial in-home consultation!

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Excessive barking can cause big problems for a dog’s owners. Neighbors may file noise complaints, visitors may feel put off, and the owner may feel constantly worn down from lack of sleep, struggling to make the dog stop, and simply not being able to hear above the din. Some people might simply say “Dogs bark.” But it doesn’t have to be that way.

When a dog barks excessively, there is usually an underlying cause. It is not normal for a dog to bark at every person, animal, or leaf that passes by their window. It’s not normal for a dog to bark at strangers or as a demand to be fed. It’s not normal for dogs to bark constantly while on the leash or when the owner leaves the home for the day. That’s why we call it excessive. Most of the time, this type of barking is due to anxiety or a protective instinct. If your dog feels threatened, overwhelmed, or anxious for any reason, it may manifest itself as this type of behavioral problem.

In order to fix this problem, we have to build your dog’s confidence and take the pressure to protect the pack/household off of his shoulders. Through my in-home training program, we will work to put you in a position of leadership. This will help your dog in several ways: to help him/her feel confident in you, take the weight of protecting the household off his shoulders, and clearly define his place within the household.

Dogs are pack animals, and as such they require structure. Offering this, using several proven in-home training techniques, will help excessive barkers feel at ease. You’ll soon find that the noise tapers off and your home life becomes more relaxed, while your relationship with your dog (and your neighbors!) becomes more pleasant.

To learn more, give me a call at 614.347.9127.

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Food aggression and resource guarding is a very common behavior problem with dogs. Some dogs might exhibit very little or mild resource guarding, such as blocking or standing by their food and water bowls. Some dogs might take it to a whole new level which can include growling, snapping, lunging, and even outright biting. This type of behavior normally stems from anxiety and a lack of confidence. Despite how mild or severe the dog’s guarding might be, it is crucial that is addressed immediately.

A month ago, I welcomed Pebbles into my training program. Before signing up with me, Pebbles was a dog that was always guarding of her water bowl. When first adopted by her owner Cristina, Pebbles would stand by her bowls whenever anyone came near them. After a month of living with Cristina, Pebbles started to become more vocal about her guarding, including growling at her owner! It was only a day before I was scheduled to meet Cristina and Pebbles that there was the first biting incident—Pebbles got a hold of Cristina’s hand as she was trying to fill her water bowl. Blood was drawn and Cristina had had enough.

While I wanted to communicate to Pebbles that her behavior was wrong, I also wanted to get to the root of the problem, which was clearly her lack of confidence. With my dog training programs, I want to eliminate any anxiety in the dog, as this is typically the culprit behind major behavioral problems. By controlling her environment and setting her up for success, we showed Pebbles how being calm and relaxed around her bowls brought great rewards for her.

Along with building her confidence, we had to work on Cristina’s communication and leadership with Pebbles. By strengthening this, Pebbles learned how to consistently follow her owner’s cues and commands, and ultimately find success and peace. To this day, there have been no problems with Pebbles and her bowls! Success is possible!

Even with aggressive dogs showing resource guarding, these behavioral problems can be solved, and they should be worked on at once before things could escalate. If you have a dog that is showing food aggression and resource guarding, don’t wait! Call 614-347-9127 to learn more about our reward-based dog training program, guaranteed to get your the results you and your dog need!

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