#dogbehaviour

[followtheleaderinc]

A gentle reminder that sometimes, we're the ones that need guidance.

[trainingwatchme]

How To Train Your Dog to ‘Watch Me’ 

“Watch Me” is one of the first commands I taught my dog Maple when I got her. Maple was a reactive dog that barked and lunged at people. By teaching her to focus on me, it meant that she was not focused on anyone else and limited her amount of reactivity.

Teaching Your Dog the “Watch Me” command

Creating focus and building a strong connection with your dog can make all the difference, especially when distractions like squirrels or other dogs are around. At Follow the Leader Dog Training School, we know how valuable it is to teach your dog the “Watch Me” command—a simple yet effective tool to strengthen your bond and help your dog look to you for guidance. Using positive reinforcement and the word “yes” as a marker, this training helps your dog learn that focusing on you is always rewarding. Here’s how to teach “Watch Me” and make it a reliable part of your dog’s training toolkit!

Reinforcing Eye Contact and Your Dog’s Attention

I started by getting Maple’s attention in a quiet, distraction-free setting. I held a treat in my hand where Maple could see or smell it, but I didn’t give it to her. I was patient; some dogs may need a moment, but as soon as Maple looked at my face, I marked the behaviour with a cheerful “Yes!” and gave her the treat. This “Yes!” acts as a marker to let her know she did the right thing by making eye contact. I repeated this process a few times to help reinforce that looking at me brings rewards.

Once I had reliable eye contact, I added the verbal cue “Watch Me.” Say it, then mark the behaviour with “Yes!” and reward them. Soon, she started associating the words “Watch Me” with looking at me. After Maple mastered the cue, I worked on increasing the time she had to hold my gaze. I started with just a second or two, gradually built up to longer intervals. I kept each session upbeat and fun to keep her interest.

When Maple had a solid grasp of “Watch Me,”  I practiced in different environments. We started with mildly distracting locations, like the backyard, and eventually worked up to busier areas, like the park. Each time she focused on me, I rewarded her, to reinforce that my cue is more rewarding than anything happening around her.

Helpful Tips from Follow the Leader for Teaching “Watch Me”

Reward frequently, especially in the beginning, to make sure your dog associates the cue with something positive.

Avoid repeating the cue if your dog gets distracted—reset instead to build consistency.

Remember to stay positive, as a cheerful tone keeps training enjoyable and motivates your dog to stay engaged.

With consistent practice, “Watch Me” will become your go-to for capturing your dog’s attention, whether to manage their reaction to a squirrel or guide them in a busy area. At Follow the Leader Dog Training School, we’re here to help you overcome training challenges and celebrate every success.

Let us know how the “Watch Me” command works for you and your pup!

[dogrecall]

How to Teach Your Dog to Come

At Follow the Leader Dog Training School, we know a reliable “come” command is crucial for a well-trained dog, enhancing safety and making life easier and more enjoyable for both you and your pup. Teaching your dog to come when called takes patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement, but it’s well worth the effort. Our proven approach, using treats, praise, and gentle guidance, can help your dog learn to come every time—no matter what exciting distractions may be around.

How to Teach Your Dog to Come

The first step is to build positive associations with your dog’s name. Say their name in a happy tone and immediately reward them with a treat, even if they don’t move toward you. You’re not asking them to come just yet; instead, you’re helping them connect hearing their name with something positive. Repeating this throughout the day, both indoors and outdoors, will soon have your dog perking up happily whenever they hear their name.

Teaching Your Dog to Come from a Distance

Once they respond to their name consistently, introduce a short distance. Toss a treat a few feet away, call their name in an upbeat tone, and say “Come!” As they move toward you, have a treat ready and shower them with praise. This setup allows them to experience the excitement of the command while creating a predictable, rewarding routine. When they reach you, gently grab their collar before giving the treat. This teaches them to feel comfortable with you touching their collar, which is helpful in situations where you need to secure them quickly.

Teaching Your Dog to Come with Distractions

Once your dog reliably responds to “come” in quiet settings, begin increasing the distance and adding mild distractions. Practice in your yard or a fenced area to ensure they’re secure, and keep up the rewards to reinforce their response. Consistency is key, and each successful recall strengthens their habit. Use a happy tone and plenty of praise to keep them enthusiastic about coming to you. As they progress, continue to reward their recall, especially in new settings or around distractions. Avoid using the command for anything unpleasant, like ending playtime, so they don’t start associating “come” with something they’d rather avoid.

Dog Training Tips for Come on Command

A few troubleshooting tips: if your dog doesn’t respond right away, avoid repeating the command. Instead, reset by practicing in a more familiar environment, or using a toy to get their attention. For extra fun, make it a game by occasionally running backward as you call them to add excitement. With regular practice and patience, “come when called” will become second nature. If you need more personalized support, the Follow the Leader team is here to help with tailored dog training strategies for you and your dog’s unique needs.

[ritika-25]

Ever wondered if your furry friend truly trusts you? In this video, we dive into the scientific signs that show your dog trusts you completely! From their body language to their behavior, we'll break down the clear indicators of trust backed by research.

How To Know Your Pet Dog Trusts You? These 5 Signs Will Tell You So| Expert Approved

[woofwonderland01]

Beautiful and funny dogs! you will love this

[affiliatemasteratoz]

Ask me how traine the dog? A well-trained dog is a happy dog. AND a happy dog makes for a happy owner. #doge #dogtraining #doggies #dogwalking #dogsandpals braintrainingfordogs #doglanguage#obediencetraining# dogbehaviourist #dogtrainer#dogtrainingvideo#puppytrain ing101 #puppytrain #dogwisperer#dogtrainingadvice#dog #dogtrainingtips #dogtrainerlife #dogtraining101 #dogtrain #balanceddogtraining#dogproblems #trainyourdog#braint raining4dogs #dogbehaviour#puppytrainingtips #dogtraine rsofinstagram#puppytraining#puppytrainingclass #dogtrai ning#servicedogtraining #dogwhisperer#dogtrainersofig # puppytrainer#dogtrainingisfun dogtraining #dogsofinstagram #dog #dogs #dogtrainer #k #puppy #dogstagram #doglife #puppytraining #doglover #training #dogoftheday #doglovers #workingdog #instadog #puppiesofinstagram #dogtrainingtips #puppylove #dogsofinsta #obediencetraining #dogphotography #germanshepherd #puppies #happydog #doggo #obedience #dogboarding #dogslife golden #goldenretriever #goldensofinstagram #retriever #goldenpuppy #ilovegolden retrievers #golden retrieverpuppy #goldenretrievers #goldenlovers #ilovemygolden #thedailygolden

MORE INFORMETION

[headsupfortail]

Ever notice your dog doing things like yawning a lot, licking their lips, sniffing the air, or shaking off like they just got out of the bath?? Well, turns out, these are their ways of talking to us. In our new video, Rashi, our founder, explains these calming signals that dogs use. If you liked this video, please give us a thumbs up and subscribe to our channel for more pet parenting tips. #HeadsUpForTails #CalmingSignalsInDogs #DogBehaviour #HUFT

[petpamperstore]

Develops your Dog's "Hidden Intelligence" To eliminate bad behavior and Create the obedient, well-behaved pet of your dreams…#dogbehaviour #doglovers

[dealsxciting]

#DogCare #DogAnxiety #DogHealth #PetCare #DogFear #dogTraining #dogBehaviour

Is your dog avoiding you? 5 reasons this could be happening

Dogs are admired for their loving and devoted nature, so it may be concerning if they begin to neglect you. Here are 5 reasons behind this behaviour.

Like humans, dogs can also hesitate in interacting at times or keep to themselves. This behaviour can be due to the underlying health issues or their introverted nature. Some of the dogs may also be carrying certain memories and emotions from the past that may be making it difficult for them to open up to you. If you are someone who has recently brought a canine member home, it may take some time to forge a bond with them. Their tendency to avoid them may also be temporary due to anxiety, fear or other health problems. It is advisable to seek help of veterinary experts or dog behaviourists to get to the root of such behaviour.

#DogCare

Listed Reasons:

Health concerns

Fear or anxiety

Changes in routine

Socialization issues

Training and past experiences

[trvernans]

[freshdogtraining]

Developing Your Dog’s Social Skills

As a pet owner, you want your dog to interact well with other people and with other dogs. Socializing your dog is an important step in his development and in helping him become a good citizen.

Form Positive Associations

In many shelters, a big part of getting dogs and puppies ready for the adoption floor is having volunteers and staffers play with them. That's because play - even something as simple as fetch - helps socialize dogs and gives them positive associations with people.

Socializing with Other Dogs

When it comes to socializing your dog with other dogs, proceed with caution. Puppies usually love to be around other puppies, but some adult dogs that haven't been socialized adequately at an earlier age may find the pressure to play with other dogs stressful. If you bring your dog to a place full of other dogs, at first it may be best to keep him close to you and reward him for sitting quietly while other dogs pass by.

LEARN MORE CLICK HERE

[dogtraintips]

Puppy Needs New Food!

Here are the most critical things to look for when shopping for your puppy's food.

Michael Pollan, author of the best-selling books on diet The Omnivore’s Dilemma, In Defense of Food, and Food Rules, once came up with the world’s most succinct guide for a healthy human diet: “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.”

If only we could come up with something that simple for puppies! The advice could start in a very similar fashion: “Feed food. Not too much….” But in order for the slogan to be nutritionally sound, the next part would be far too complicated to put on a book cover or tote bag: “Mostly quality sources of animal protein, delivered at adequate levels. Same goes for fat. Not too much calcium, but enough, depending on the expected adult size of the puppy . . . .” 

There’s more, but you get the idea. There are a lot of factors that have to be carefully considered when feeding puppies – that is, if you want them to grow into healthy and sound adult dogs.

On the other hand, I don’t want to scare anyone; feeding puppies isn’t rocket science. But there are a few little details that you need to attend to in order to make sure your pup grows at an appropriate rate – things that aren’t as critical with an adult dog. 

STANDARD ISSUE

The differences between the nutrient requirements for puppies and those for adult dogs are laid out in tables developed by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO); these are called the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles, and they include the standards for what comprises the legal definition of “complete and balanced” diets for dogs. One lists the nutrient levels required for the “maintenance” of adult dogs only; the other lists the nutrient levels that meet the needs of breeding animals, pregnant or nursing females, and growing puppies. The latter is often referred to as the “growth and reproduction” nutrient profile.

These tables differ in notable ways. Puppies need higher amounts of protein (including higher amounts of many specific amino acids that contribute to the food’s total protein), fat, calcium, phosphorus, and several other minerals than the amounts needed by adult dogs. This is why you must make sure that the food you buy for your puppy (any dog less than a year old) is formulated to meet the standards for complete and balanced nutrition for growth.

Often, dog food labels say that the food contained in the package meets the standards for dogs “of all life stages.” This implicitly includes puppies. If a food is labeled as either meeting the nutrient levels or passing a feeding trial for dogs of “all life stages,” it has to meet the “growth” requirements. 

Often – but not always – food that is formulated to meet the needs of puppies has the word “puppy” in the name of the food. Again, if the label indicates that it’s “complete and balanced for dogs of all life stages,” it has met the AAFCO standards for growth (puppies). But if the label says it is “complete and balanced for adult maintenance,” it is not suitable for puppies. 

Where will you find this information? This is where things get weird: This statement is the most important thing to check on the label of your puppy’s food, and I will almost guarantee that it will be printed on the bag or can in teeny, tiny type. Scan the label carefully for the words “AAFCO Nutrient Profiles” or “AAFCO Feeding Trial.” The block of text containing one of these phrases will probably appear on the back or even the side of the package, and it will reference either “growth” (great!), “dogs of all life stages” (super!), or “adult maintenance” (womp, womp, no!). 

CHECK THE SIZE

All puppy foods used to be formulated to meet the same nutrient standards. In recent years, however, animal nutrition experts came to understand that large-breed puppies should receive less calcium than puppies of smaller breeds to prevent their bones from growing too quickly. Excessively fast growth can result in the development of bone and joint abnormalities in large-breed puppies. So, in 2016, AAFCO began to require food makers to explicitly state whether their products contained calcium at an appropriate level for large breed puppies (defined as those pups expected to reach an adult weight of more than 70 pounds). 

If the AAFCO statement says the food is for growth/all life stages “including growth of large-size dogs (70 pounds or more as an adult),” it is safe to feed to large breed pups. 

If the statement says the food is for growth/all life stages “except for growth of large-size dogs (70 pounds or more as an adult),” it should not be fed to large-breed puppies. 

To be safe, if you have a large-breed puppy, or a mixed-breed pup who looks like he may grow to more than 50 or 60 pounds, you should choose foods with the “including growth of large-size dogs” statement. Smaller-breed puppies can be safely fed foods with either statement.

OUR USUAL CRITERIA

Once you are confident that you can identify foods that are appropriate for puppies of the size you expect your pup to be, you can search among those products for diets that meet our usual selection criteria (listed in the box below) and that are in your price range. 

Check the protein and fat content of the food you are feeding your pup right now. If his weight and energy are good, try to buy only those foods that contain similar levels of protein and fat. Be aware that these levels range widely. If you start feeding him a product with double or half the protein or fat content of the food you are giving him now, you will see changes in him; his appetite, weight, stool quality, and/or energy may be affected.

Finally, don’t be afraid to try different foods. Pet food companies want to win your loyalty, but the fact is, variety is actually good for your puppy. The more you change foods, the more accustomed his digestive tract will become to a wide variety of ingredients. Also, because each manufacturer’s products contain different levels of each required nutrient (within the AAFCO specifications), by routinely switching products, you are sure to provide “balance over time” and prevent him from suffering ill effects of any potentially excessive or deficient nutrient levels. 

LEARN MORE CLICK HERE

[woofwonderland01]

#Beautiful dog!

[affiliatemasteratoz]

Ask me how traine the dog? A well-trained dog is a happy dog. AND a happy dog makes for a happy owner. #doge #dogtraining #doggies #dogwalking #dogsandpals braintrainingfordogs #doglanguage#obediencetraining# dogbehaviourist #dogtrainer#dogtrainingvideo#puppytrain ing101 #puppytrain #dogwisperer#dogtrainingadvice#dog #dogtrainingtips #dogtrainerlife #dogtraining101 #dogtrain #balanceddogtraining#dogproblems #trainyourdog#braint raining4dogs #dogbehaviour#puppytrainingtips #dogtraine rsofinstagram#puppytraining#puppytrainingclass #dogtrai ning#servicedogtraining #dogwhisperer#dogtrainersofig # puppytrainer#dogtrainingisfun

[freyavlocke]

My Dog Is Scared Of Shiny Floors. How Can I Make Them Feel Safe?

How do you help a dog who is scared of shiny floors? #dogbehaviour #anxiousdog #phobia

What do you do when your dog is afraid of shiny floors? Image created by WordPress AI. “A dog who is afraid of shiny floors” Shiny floors look wonderful in our homes. Whether tiles, or laminate, or even polished wooden floorboards, they can really make a room look special. They are practical and easy to clean. Less dusty than carpet. What’s not to like? Unless you are a dog. Many dogs are…