Dog Spelled Forward :: Dog training and behavior consulting services for Bergen County, New Jersey

First, some general training tips:

• Focus on the behavior you want rather than the behavior you do not want. It’s a lot easier to train a new behavior than it is to un-train an old one. Try teaching a new behavior that is incompatible with the one you are trying to eliminate, I.E. sitting for a greeting rather than jumping.
• Keep sessions short and fun. Four 15 minute sessions during the week will be much more effective than a single one hour session.
• Always finish with success I.E, don’t keep pushing until your dog is too tired or confused to work for you. Quit while you are ahead!
• When introducing a new behavior, start with no distractions. Start teaching new behaviors in a quiet area, before trying to teach them outside in a park or city street where your dog will have a hard time focusing on you.

Here’s a list of tips:

• Jumping up - helping for dogs that jump up on strangers and visitors
• Crate Training - helping getting a dog accustomed to being in a crate, which can be a very valuable management tool when used wisely
• House Training - help with one of the most common problems with new dogs
• Playing Tug - how to play tug safely and train your dog at the same time
• Body Language - interpreting your dog’s body language

We feel the an educated dog owner is our best client. We have assembled a list of books that will be helpful for anyone interesting in better understanding their canine companions:

The Other End of the Leash - in this book renowned ethologist takes you about as close a one can get to being inside a dog’s head, and helps you understand why they do the sometimes strange and infuriating things they do.

The Culture Clash - sometimes called “Dr. Spock for Dogs,” but as opposed to that famous book, this book is very up-to-date and scientifically accurate. Jean Donaldson, the director of the prestigious San Francisco SPCA changed the dog training world, and many lives, for the better with this book.

For the Love of a Dog: Understanding Emotion in You and Your Best Friend - an in depth look at the human-dog relationship and emotions in dogs.

Don’t Shoot the Dog! - another landmark book in the dog training world. This book introduces very important concepts that all trainers and dog owners should be familar with. While the book focuses on clicker training, it is applicable to all methods and all species - not just dogs. Written by Karen Pryor, another pioneer in bringing behavioral science into wider use in dog training.

Dogs: A New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior and Evolution - where do domestic dogs come from? A fascinating read.