Amiable Dog Training

Practical Dog Training Skills

At Amiable Dog Training, we strive to teach you and your dog practical skills that can be used in day to day life in order to make living with your dog easy and enjoyable. After all, a well trained dog is a joy to be around. 
Here, Amiable instructor Emily Casey, Maggie the Doberman pinscher, Allie the Yorkshire terrier mix, and Lulu the Great Dane demonstrate a practical use of a "sit-stay." 

 

Want to teach your dog some practical skills of his or her own?  Call us today at (414) 289-7785 for more information, or to sign up for a group class or private lesson.  We look forward to working with you and your dog!

Banish ugly crates. Get the table/crate!

Yesterday, my new crate arrived, but it wasn't for my own dogs. You see, one of our students was sick of having a big eyesore - otherwise known as a dog cage - in her dining room.

Knowing this, I had researched table-style dog crates

New Spin on the Retractable Lead

While sipping a cup of coffee in the press room at the Superzoo pet product trade show, a bubbly, confident woman approached with a request: "Would you like to review my product?" She handed me a retractable lead. I looked at her and thought, "You just picked the wrong person; I HATE these things."

Regardless, I am possibly the ideal reviewer because I can be objective. Clearly, I am rigid about my approach to handling dogs, but I respect and support individuals who have divergent ideas as long as it works for them and is thoughtful, safe, and responsible. Equipment is, to a degree, a personal choice. And, personally, I choose NOT to use retractables; what's the point? After all, my dogs are trained to walk on a slack leash at my side, and if I want to exercise them I remove the leash and call them back when needed.

 

How to Safely Pick Up a Small Dog

Often times, people take for granted the ease at which they can scoop their small dog up into their arms without much regard for the dog's own comfort.  Watch here as Amy and Snuggles the toy poodle show you how to pick up your small dog in a way that is comfortable and secure for both of you.

 

For more tips and tricks, sign up now for our "Small Dogs, Big Potential" class, geared specifically towards toy breeds and dogs under 15 pounds at maturity.  The next class starts on Sunday, February 13th, 2012 at 12:30PM and runs for three consecutive weeks. 

Topics include:
- Making the most of having a small dog
- Socializing with people and other dogs
- House training and problem solving
- Listening to “quiet,” “stay,” and “come” commands

 You can enroll here or by calling Amy at (414) 289-7785.

Rescue Dog - Rehoming for Success!

Amiable instructor/assistant Julie Phillips has been taking in rescue dogs and training them for proper rehoming. Fe Fe, a bichon/poodle mix is her latest assignment. Check out Julie's approach and apply the tips for problem solving with your dog!

Fe Fe - Reinventing a Rescue Dog for Successful Rehoming:

1.)  This is Fe Fe.  She is a 9 month old bichon/poodle puppy.  I have been fostering Fe Fe for just over two weeks.  She was surrendered to the humane society.  Fe Fe was not housebroken when I took her in.

 

2.)  I had trouble with Fe Fe soiling her crate.  This is the first crate I used. I also had provided Fe Fe with a thick blanket.

 

 

 

3.)  I moved Fe Fe to a smaller crate and took the blanket out to detered her from wetting.  When there was nothing to absorb her messes and she was confined to a smaller area, the problem completely disappeared.

 

 

4.)  Another training tool I used was a tie-out station.  Having Fe Fe on a short tie out prevented her from sneaking off and eliminating on my floor.  I have tie-out stations set up in different rooms around the house so I can easily move her from room to room with me. I keep them out of my family's traffic pattern, but in areas where I can keep an eye on her.

 

5.)  When I take Fe Fe outdoors and she does her business, I reward her with monitored freedom. I watch her AND keep a leash dragging on Fe Fe at all times so I can interrupt if she begins to have an accident. Also, I've taught her to potty on command and now she eliminates within 3 minutes.

 

6.)  After 2 weeks of using these training techniques, intense supervision, and feeding on a regular schedule,  Fe Fe is no longer having accidents in the house or crate.  I do not expect Fe Fe to indicate when she needs to go outside.  Instead, I've noted her pattern, take her out accordingly, making certain not to give her opportunities to use my house as toilet.  It will take a while before Fe Fe is trustworthy, but I know she will be in a few months thanks to this program.

7.)  When given freedom, Fe Fe will often gravitate to one of her tie-out stations.  Here she is enjoying some freetime with my dog, Dillon. Dillon has displayed dog aggression, but after training with Amiable, you can see that he is a lot more social now.

 

 

8.)  Another training tool I used is a platform.  Placing Fe Fe on it not only prevents her from having accidents, it helps her develop better emotional control -- especially when visitors come to our door.

 

 

Want a customized program to achieve your dog behavior goals? No problem, give us a call today at 414-289-7785.
And, have a dog-gone great day!

Off Leash Control

A reliable off-leash recall can be (literally) a life saver for your dog.  Watch below as Amy and Obey the Rat Terrier demonstrate one of the skills you'll learn when you enroll in the "Off-Leash Control" class at Amiable.

 

To learn more, or to sign-up for a class, click here, or give Amy a call at (414) 289-7785.

Amiable on Fox 6 Wake-Up News

Amiable Dog Training was featured on Fox 6 Wake-Up this morning to share some tips for new dog owners.  

Amiable's "cast" from top left includes: Dianne and Oliver (Teddy Bear), Ann and Chester (Teddy Bear), Emily Casey and Maggie (Doberman Pinscher), Amy Ammen, and Fox 6 Wake-Up anchor Shawn Patrick.

Amy's Expecting!

No, it's not me. Rather, one of my recent students (who, coincidentally, is named Amy) called me with her good news and wondered what she could do to prepare her 5 month old Lab. If you find yourself in a similar situation, check out this article I wrote for pregnant pet parents:

Bringing Home Baby Without Displacing Your Dog:
By Amy Ammen and Kitty Foth-Regner

One of the most traumatic events in the life of a hyper dog is the arrival of a new baby. That's because, inevitably, when the baby arrives, things change for the dog.

Radio Interview on "Hip Ideas for Hyper Dogs"

Think your dog is hyper?  Think he is hopeless?  Have you tried everything?  
Laugh and learn as Lisa Woody, the host of The Lucky Dog Show, and I discuss surefire strategies to calm, comfort and control any canine.

Click here to download the Luckydogshow interview