Toys are a vital tool in positive reinforcement dog training. They are not just a positive way to reward your dog, but it’s fun, too! Using play as a reward is often more bonding for most dogs than simply giving them some treats. First, you will need to pinpoint what type of toy your dog enjoys. There are many different types of toys to choose from. For example, your dog may prefer tug toys over a tennis ball, or vice … Read More
Setting your dog up for success to attend daycare is important! Dog Daycare provides your dog with enrichment, socialization, and an outlet for their energy. However, it can sometimes be overwhelming if the dog does not take the necessary steps beforehand. The goal is to have your daycare facility be a place where your dog feels safe and happy being at. That is why preparing your dog before going into daycare is essential. We often have clients who come in … Read More
It is important to remember that a deaf dog can do just about everything a hearing dog can! The only difference is that you communicate through hand signals and body language versus a verbal command. They play with toys, go for walks, give cuddles, do obedience training, and everything in between! First, we will talk about how deafness occurs in dogs. Like with humans, deafness can be hereditary and present at birth. Other times, deafness can be caused by a … Read More
Wags & Wiggles is seeing a massive surge of private lesson requests for crate training. Crate training is an essential tool for both the dog and owner. We all knew this was coming. But, unfortunately, dog owners have forgotten the value of teaching their dogs to be comfortable being restrained, confined, or resting in a crate. Some of these dogs are ending up in rescue. Their new owners now face the challenge of teaching their dogs this important life skill. … Read More
It’s a New Year, and we want to welcome all our new and existing clients back to our fully renovated doggie daycare locations! The last two years of surviving the pandemic have been an enormous strain. In the beginning, closing forever was on the table for consideration. However, we could not throw away 23 years of hard work and dedication to our community. Besides, we are having too much fun! We decided to double down and work on projects … Read More
Wags and Wiggles offers many positive reinforcement training programs One of these training programs is our Board and Train service! We have 2 week and 4 week training periods where dogs come to stay at Wags and Wiggles. They learn new behaviors, work through problem behaviors, and increase their socialization with both people and other dogs. One recent student to join our Board and Train graduates was a small terrier that we will call Phoebe. Phoebe was recently adopted from … Read More
Here at Wags & Wiggles, we believe in training both ends of the leash! Our four-legged students are always willing to please and eager to learn in our dog obedience classes. However, the same cannot always be said about our two-legged students! If you truly want your dog obedience training to be effective, you have to learn how to be a successful student. Dog training isn’t always easy and can definitely be frustrating at times, but it is more than … Read More
Establishing and reaching your dog training goals can be difficult Maybe you’re busy and always on the go with kids, work, or life. Maybe you have a puppy and the list seems endless, or maybe you have an adult dog with a chronic bad habit and you’re not quite sure where to start. Training your dog isn’t always easy, but it sure is rewarding! The most difficult part of training your dog is getting started and establishing a dog training … Read More
The tie-down is a great tool used in positive reinforcement dog training! Here at Wags and Wiggles, we have a very specific dog training philosophy. It focuses on building up both dogs and their owners through positive reinforcement. But training at Wags isn’t all sunshine and cookies. Every day the trainers get questions on how to stop a dog from doing a dangerous, destructive, or just plain annoying behavior. Our answer is always two-fold: What would you like your dog … Read More
Every basic dog training program includes the the command “touch!” If you’ve taken any of our obedience classes, you are familiar with the behavior “touch!” The goal is to teach your dog to touch the palm of your hand or tips of your fingers when commanded to do so. This simple behavior has many applications in basic dog training. The use of “touch” can substitute for the command “come.” Some dogs are more likely to respond to “touch” rather than … Read More