Picture this: You just got this cute little bundle of fur. When you brought this bundle of fur home it was so playful, funny, & loved to cuddle.  Then one day this cute little bundle of fur goes to the bathroom on your brand new rug (new rug $50).  The next time it chews a hole in your drywall (drywall repairs $300), starts digging holes in your yard (landscape repairs $250), and chews up the leather couch (new couch $1000).  Now this cute little bundle of fur isn’t so cute anymore since it is destroying all of your things.

When you starting looking for dog training there are several things to consider.  Here are a few things for you to think about.

* Private lessons- These lessons are normally done in your home or a place agreed upon by you and the trainer.  Lessons include you, your dog and the trainer.  Private lessons are great to work on specific problems and get more personal attention.  Private lessons are usually more expensive than group classes.

* Group Classes- This would be a class were there would be multiple people & dogs. Classes are usually once a week for a certain amount of weeks (normally 4, 6, or 8 weeks long).  Group class is great when working on socialization & distractions.  Most of the time (depending on the trainer) you will not get the personal attention in a group class.  Group classes are usually less expensive.

* Board & Train- a board and train program is where you would send your dog off to a trainer or training facility.  Board and Train programs can vary in price depending on how long your dog stays, what it taught and where you send your dog.  Some trainers or training facilities will tell you that the dog get a certain amount of  “training sessions” in a 14 day period.  What does your dog do the rest of the time its at the training facility?

* Specialty classes- These would be classes geared toward teaching your dog specific skills such as agility, tricks, AKC CGC, etc.  These classes are usually less expensive like a group class because there are multiple people & dogs.

No matter what type of training your interested in doing, make sure you check out your trainer or training facility.  Make sure you are comfortable with whoever will be helping you train your dog.

So the original question was Training your dog- is it worth it?  Think about how long you are going to have your dog and how much training will cost.  My answer would be, if its going to save my stuff, stop my dog from chewing up things, & I can take my dog with me out in public without having to worry about him or her acting like an unruly child, then YES its worth it.

Did you get a new puppy for the holidays? We are getting ready to start our first puppy preschool class in Sanger Texas. On February 6 2010 @ 11am start your new puppy out right!
In this class you will learn how to:
* House break your puppy
* groom and provide appropriate health care
* play positive games with your pup
* begin shaping behaviors such as leash walking, waiting at the door, sit and come.
* reduce behaviors such as play biting, jumping up, and inappropriate chewing.

This is a 4 week class. Cost is $75 per puppy
Last day to reserve a spot is February 1st 2010
Contact us @ www.ontheballk9.com or 940 765 3597 to reserve your spot today!

Keep your pets warm during this winter weather!

With this unusually cold weather in North Texas we don’t want to forget to keep our furry kids safe.  Here are some tips that will help you do that:

* If your pets are normally outside, you may want to consider bringing them into the house.  If you are unable to bring them inside, make sure that they have a draft-free storage building or garage to go into with dry, clean bedding. Use extreme caution when using electric heaters or heat lamps and keep cords out of reach.

* Very young, old & short-haired dogs and cats should only spend a short time outside in freezing weather.

* Make sure to give you animals with plenty of fresh, unfrozen water in plastic bowls. With temperature below freezing, your dogs tongue could stick to a metal bowl.

Remember your dog still needs to get excercise.  If you have a short-haired dog, make you put a coat or some sort of protection on them. We don’t have any snow here in North Texas to worry about (right now) so booties wont be necessary.  If you are unable to get your dog out for its regular walk, here are a few things to consider to still get your dog some physical and mental stimulation. 

* Teach your dog a new trick, obedience command or game. Hide a toy or treat and have your dog find it.  Start out by hiding the toy or treat in a place that would make it easy for them to find and then increase the difficulty.

* Teach your dog to walk on the Treadmill- Treadmill training is a great way to still get excercise for your dog when the weather is too cold or too hot for that matter. 

* Dont have a treadmill?  You may want to consider getting a dog walker.  This is a great idea if you have a very active dog that needs lots of excercise.

 

 We offer both treadmill training and dog walking services. Contact us for more information!

With only 11 more days  until Christmas, are you getting your furry friend a gift this year?  We have several gift ideas that we would like to share with you. 

Toys: Planet Dog offers toys for puppies to older dogs and everything in between.  We are proud to be a retailer for Planet Dog toys.  Currently we have some great toys available for the Holidays. The Orbee-Tuff Bulb with Treat Spot is a great way to keep your pup occupied while you have company over.  Fill the Orbee-Tuff Bulb with your pups favorite treats or even their kibble. We also have the Orbee-Tuff Bone & Orbee-Tuff Ball with Rope in stock.  These are great toys for hours of fun with your dog. Planet Dog toys are Eco- Friendly and Made in the U.S.A.

Beds: Tired of spending money on beds that only last a few days or a couple of weeks at best?  We carry durable dog beds for dogs of all sizes. These beds are raised which helps keep your dog cool in the Summer, durable, easy to clean & comfy. You wont have any stuffing to clean up and will have a bed that lasts.

Holistic Pet Food: If you have a dog or a cat, you want to make sure that you are feeding them the best food. HealthyPetNet offers nutritious dog & cat food, treats, & supplements as well as Revitalizing Shampoos, Bath Mist & other Pet safe products.  If you don’t have a furry friend but know someone else who does, you can also get Gift Baskets or Gift Certificates.

Expectant Parents: Are you expecting a new baby and have a dog or do you know someone who is? We have the perfect gift for you. We offer a training program for expecting parents with dogs.  This program will help you get your dog ready for the arrival of the new baby and covers some basic commands as well as teaching your dog to walk next to a stroller.  This program also comes with a reference booklet.  Contact us for more information.

New Puppy: Getting a new puppy for the Holidays or know someone who is?  We offer a K9 Starter Kit to get you and your puppy started on the right paw.  This 2 hour In Home Consultation covers housebreaking, play biting, socialization, handling skills and more. We will be starting our puppy group classes in January. Contact us today to get your puppy started.

We also offer several other training programs.  Contact us to schedule a FREE demonstration and evaluation with YOUR dog.  We service the Sanger and surrounding area, including but not limited to, Denton, Gainesville, Krum, Justin, Valley View, Flower Mound, Cornith,McKinney & Lewisville.

Now that the Thanksgiving Holiday is over, it’s time to prepare for Christmas. Some may have already started putting up your decoration, wrapping gifts, or preparing for Holiday parties. Make sure that with all the things going on during the holiday season that you keep you dog safe.  Here are a few things to keep in mind this holiday season.

FOOD:  Beware of alcohol, coffee, chocolate, tea, tobacco products, rich fatty foods such as gravy & grease, uncooked yeast dough, grapes & raisins, bones from fish, meat or poultry, macadamia nuts, & the artificial sweetener, xylitol.  All of these can cause serious harm or death to your dog. Teach your dog to stay out of the kitchen while holiday cooking is going on.  If you are unable to supervise your dog, put them in a crate in a quite room. To help prevent your dog from trying to steal food, feed him/her before you start cooking.

PLANTS:  Holly, Mistletoe, Hibiscus & Poinsettia can all cause problems from upset stomach to death.  Be sure to keep these plants out of reach of your dog.

DECORATIONS & GIFTS UNDER THE TREE:  Ribbons, yarn, & string can all cause intestinal obstructions. Gifts such as perfumes or after shaves can be toxic if ingested. As far as the tree itself, do not leave your pet unsupervised in the room where the tree is.  Teach your dog a “place” command so they have somewhere to relax that is away from the tree.

HAVING COMPANY:  If you are having company over, make sure your dog is up to date on its obedience.  Don’t allow your dog to jump on your guest, steal food off the table, get on the couch, or bolt out the door when people are going in and out.  If you need to, put your dog in a crate in a quite room, away from all the commotion. Once things have calmed down, allow your dogs to join the party.

Make sure to have a safe and happy holiday by keeping your dog safe and happy!

Need help teaching your dog not to jump on guest, not bolt out the door or to not steal the Christmas ham?  On The Ball K9 Training LLC offers a wide variety of training that can help you have a very happy holiday with your pet.  We can set the foundation for great manners with our 2 week board and train program.  Contact us to schedule a FREE demonstration & evaluation with your dog.

Getting a new puppy for the Holidays?  If you take your new puppy to a group class or enroll in private training make sure to get it started on the right track. 

Starting in January we will be offering puppy group classes for puppies between 8-16 weeks old. This class will cover all the basics including housebreaking, crate training, socialization, grooming/handling skills, nutrition, basic leash training & basic manners.  Puppies and their owners will learn what is acceptable play, how to deal with issues such as play biting, how to socialize your new puppy to different situations and unfamiliar object & how to create a confident, well-mannered puppy and future adult dog. This class will be limited to a max of 10 dogs/handlers.  **Owner/puppies who have completed the K9 Starter Kit will be permitted to attend puppy group class-  Contact us to schedule your K9 Starter Kit today!

 

Do you have busy schedule and can’t attend group classes?  We offer a board and train program that will get your puppy started off right.  During this program we will do all the work for you including housebreaking, create training, socialization, handling & more. Even if you have an older dog who needs to learn some manners, we can help you with that too.  Contact us to schedule your FREE demonstration and evaluation today.

 

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 This year has been crazy for me, with moving from Alaska, seminars, training & restarting a business in a new state, I am hitting the road running.  I look forward to meeting and helping people in North Texas have happier more balanced lives with their furry friends. 

In the last couple of months Modi (my Belgian Malinois) & I have attended several training classes & seminars.  In September we headed to Wisconsin were we attended an Advanced Trainers course at Thats My Dog Inc.  After the week-long course we stayed for the weekend and attended the annual E-palooza event.  Being away from home for 3 weeks was starting to get old so Modi and I headed home.  

We were home for a month then headed down to Austin to Unleashed Unlimited.  We attended an Agility & Disc Dog seminar by Cyndy Douan from Georgia Dog gym.  We are now home and ready to start training lots of dogs.

I have recently updated the website with a few new things that I am offering.

  I have recently become an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator and will be offering AKC CGC Prep classes and testing as well as AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Classes and testing. Contact us for more information if you are interested in either of these classes. 

Another new program we are offering is for women or couples expecting a new baby. This program is to make sure your dog knows how to behave once the new baby arrives and covers basic commands, walking with a stroller & more.  If you are expecting a new baby or know someone who is,  contact us to get the dog ready before the new addition comes.

I am also now carrying Planet Dog merchandise.  I am looking forward to receiving the Orbee-Tuff® Bulb with Treat Spot™ 3 out of 5 Chompers-Break out from the masses with the Orbee-Tuff® Bulb. Its vintage design coupled with traditional colors brings back the holidays of yesteryear. The Bulb has a Treat Spot to stuff, well, stuffing and other holiday leftovers. It’s the perfect way to keep Rover busy (and his tail out of the eggnog)! This jolly toy is made from Orbee-Tuff® material, which makes it doggie-durable, buoyant, bouncy and mint-scented (ideal for holiday!).

I am also expecting the Orbee-Tuff® Bone & Orbee-Tuff® Ball with Rope.

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On The Ball K9 Training LLC is a professional dog training company serving North Texas including but not limited to Sanger, Denton, Krum, Justin, Cornith, Pilot Point & Flower Mound.  If you are interested in scheduling a FREE demonstration or evaluation with YOUR dog or if you are interested in any of the products listed above, contact us through our website for more information.

 

 

 

 

There are so many different reasons people look for a dog trainer. We want to know what you would LIKE your dog to do!

All puppies are cute

With the holiday season fast approaching, the thought of getting that cute little puppy may have crossed your mind.  Before you make the big commitment of bringing a new puppy into your house here are a few things that you should consider:

*Time- What is your lifestyle? Will you have time to spend walking, playing with, & training a new puppy? Remember, once the puppy grows up you still need to commit time to exercise & to train it.

*Size- What size dog do you want? Remember size matters… you wouldn’t want to get a Great Dane or Mastiff if you live in an apartment or a smaller home.  Some people think that by getting a smaller dog they won’t need as much exercise.  This is not always true.  Some small dogs need just as much if not more exercise then larger dogs.

*Male or Female- Males are more likely to act aggressively towards other dogs, defend their territories, & try to be dominant over their owners, as well as mark territory and wander.  Females are more likely to demand more affection, are easier to house train & obedience train. There is really no difference in excitability, nervous or defensive barking between the two sexes.

*Purebred or Mix- With a purebred dog you know what you’re getting but have a higher chance of inherited disease. If you go with a mixed breed it will be less likely to suffer from inherited diseases but the final size, temperament & grooming requirements will be unknown.

 

*Activity level- What is your energy level? You want to make sure that the dog you pick doesn’t have more energy then you. If you would rather stay at home and watch TV on the couch then take a nice, long evening walk, than you probably would not want to get a Jack Russell Terrier.

*Good with kids- Do you have children or are you planning on having children in the next 10-12 years?  There are certain breeds that tend to do better with children than others, but there are always exceptions to this rule. No dog or breed of dog is 100 % trustworthy with children.

*Good with other dogs- If you have a dog now, you want to think if a new dog will make him or her happy. Is your current dog good at sharing? How will he or she feel about sharing your affection?

*Cost- How much is it going to cost to raise this puppy? You need to take into consideration the cost for food, vet bills (shots, spay/neuter, medications, etc.), toys, training, grooming, & boarding, just to name a few things. Remember that the cost doesn’t end once the puppy grows up. The average lifespan for a dog is 10-12 years.

 

 

 

 

Once you have made the decision to bring a new puppy into your home, make sure that you start in a good training program early.  The sooner you start training the earlier your puppy will be instilled with good behaviors.

On The Ball K9 Training LLC offers a puppy consultation to get you started off on the right paw with your new puppy.  The consultation covers things such as housebreaking, play biting, socialization skills, handling & grooming skills.  After the consultation you can continue your puppy’s education by enrolling in puppy preschool.

 

You will be on your way to having a happy & balanced dog

On The Ball K9 Training LLC offers FREE demonstrations and evaluations with your dog. To schedule your FREE demo or for more information on our programs,check out the website at www.ontheballk9.com

The Thursday before Labor Day weekend Modi and I headed on our way to Southern IL  We spent some time in IL with family before making our way up to Dubuque IA, where we stayed for 13 more days.  Why in the world would anyone want to spend that much time in Dubuque IA?  The answer: It is the closest place to Thats My Dog! Inc in Hazel Green WI.

Modi and I were there attending a one week advanced training program. After a week of advanced training, we stayed for the annual E-Palooza.  This year was another great one with Honkamp Krueger & Co. What you must know about your business, Cindy Douan’s Wings to fly! Teaching your dog to be a safe, intelligent and savvy jumper, Larry Sonntag’s The language of success, Robin Macfarlane’s E-Collar Training: Finding the rhythm, Scott Mueller’s The why and how of a puppy preschool program & Gary Olsen’s Lights, Camera, ACTION! 

After being away from home for a while and learning lots of great new things, we headed back to Texas.

We wanted to share with you some of the pictures from our trip!  Enjoy!

 

On The Ball K9 Training LLC offers FREE demonstrations and evaluations with your dog.  Contact us today to schedule an appointment!