1. Welcome to Faithfully Yours!
Welcome!
Hi there! My name is Lauren Tsao and I will be your certified professional dog trainer during your Faithfully Yours Dog Training program. This orientation presentation will cover subjects like what to bring to class, class rules, your first homework assignments, and more. It is very important that you watch (or read) the entire presentation and listen carefully.
If you have any questions or concerns before our first meeting or after, the best way to contact me is via email or text message at my private client number. If you are seeing this video, you should already have both. Just in case you lose them, my email address is [email protected] and my private client number is 769-307-4865.
If you need to speak with me over the phone, please keep in mind I am with clients most of the week. So, please email or text me to schedule a time to discuss your concerns over the phone so, we can avoid playing phone tag.
It is very helpful to me if you can send videos of your practice sessions if you have certain concerns with homework or training exercises taught in class, so I can better identify what problem you are having. Videos are best emailed to me and once I have time to review them, I will get back with you about what I see.
I can’t wait to start training with you and your dog, so let’s get started!
Class Rules
So, first’s thing first, let’s cover the ground rules during your program. These rules apply to both group classes and private sessions and it is very important that you follow these rules. Failure to comply might result in you being asked to leave class or the trainer ending your session without refund.
Rule #1: Be positive! We ask the all students remain positive during training. A negative Nancy can be stress to be around and disturb your progress and the progress of others in class with you. Instead of immediately deciding you and your dog “can’t”, try to focus on what positive things you are seeing – no matter how small they are. If you feel like you are struggling, get your trainer or training assistant’s attention and let them know that you are struggling. We are here to help you and your dog succeed and there is no dumb question! So, don’t suffer in silence, let us know before you feel like you are getting left behind.
Rule #2: This goes along with be positive during your program, try to avoid comparing yourself to your trainer, others in class, or other household members during your program. Nothing good ever comes from comparing yourself or your dog to others. Your trainer should be able to get your dog to behave better than you easier – after all we have years of experience, practice, and education in this subject on you. Dogs perform better or worse for different people for many reasons, but this never means your dog doesn’t like you or doesn’t respect you. If we see a way you can increase your bond with your dog, we will let you know. As for comparing to other students in class, every student and dog will be at a different level in class. They are a variety of ages in class as well. For example, a puppy might not focus as well as a five year old dog and this is natural and to be expected. We cannot will a puppy to have the attention span of a five year old dog, as this something that will naturally occur with time – not with training. So, keep these details in mind and try to focus on your own progress and goals.
Rule #3: Don’t be late to sessions or classes. Private sessions are allotted one hour of a trainer’s time only. Please be respectful of the fact that we have other students or classes to teach during the day that we cannot be late to. Anyone more than ten minutes late will be considered absent and his or her session or class will be counted as used without refund. It is especially to be on time for group classes and workshops. After the ten minute grace period, you will not be allowed into class as it disturbs the other students in class and we have already begun teaching exercises at that point.
Rule #4: Give each other space! During group classes and workshops, please give the neighboring team a least six feet of space at all time. We give other teams this much space because a standard leash is five to six feet usually. Everyone should have their own personal bubble in class and the more space you give others, the better your own dog can focus on the task at hand. Fearful or shy dogs might be attending class as well. You can undo month’s of another teams training by allowing your dog or yourself into their personal bubble, so please keep this in mind and be thoughtful of where you set up in class. Feel free to politely ask other teams and students to give you more space if you need it. If it continues to be an issue, please alert your trainer or training assistant to the problem.
Rule #5: No on-leash greetings should occur during group classes, workshops, or sessions unless your trainer has directed you to do so. Dogs usually do not greet well on leash – even very friendly dogs. Dog greetings on leash are highly likely to result in dog fights, injury, or negative experiences for the handler or their dog. So, this rule is VERY important to follow. Most people are attending classes to train their dog is a safe space and are not interested in having dogs greet their dog on leash. If you would like to setup a play date with another student’s dog, please arrange to trade contact details after class amongst yourselves.
Rule #6: Dogs must stay on leash during group classes and workshops until your trainer has told you to remove them. Dogs should be on a standard five to six foot leash, not a retractable leash or long line. During private sessions in which we go on field trips, into your unfenced yard, or neighborhood, your dog must be following all leash laws at all times.
Rule #7: Clean up after your dog and bring potty bags in order to do so. If you are looking to achieve the AKC STAR Puppy title, this is required to receive your title, but also responsible pet owner behavior.
Rule #8: No prong, choke chains, e-collars, shock collars, slip leads, yelling/screaming, hitting, pushing, pinching, or kicking, leash pops or leash corrections, or other aversive training methods should be used on your dog during your program. These methods are not compatible with the type of training we do at Faithfully Yours Dog Training and will slow down your progress. This is non-negotiable. If you feel you cannot control your dog without these methods, please let your trainer know ahead of time so, we can assist you in finding a better solution.
We ask the dogs attend all programs with us on a harness and regular nylon or rope five to six foot leash – no a retractable leash or flat collar. Flat collars are for ID tags, not for training.or walking.
A final note on class rules – please make sure your dog is up to date on all vaccines before attending group classes or private sessions at our property. Your dog’s last fecal test should also be negative to prevent the spread of intestinal worms. You will be asked to provide proof from your vet before you attend any classes on our property. Do not bring sick dogs to training sessions or classes. Let your trainer know if what symptoms your dog is having before you arrive, so we can decide if it is safe for your dog to attend class or not.
If your dog has bitten a person or animal before, you may be asked to train your dog to wear a basket muzzle before class so, the dog can wear it the first class. If you have been asked to do this, it must be done before you can start attending classes and the dog must wear the muzzle throughout the entirely of the time they are on our property – unless the trainer asks you to remove it.
Treats
Now, onto the fun stuff – what to have for your training program!
The most important item will be a few different kinds of delicious, soft, non-crumbly training treats that your dog enjoys.
We ask that you bring a few different kinds of treats so, you have something to fall back on if your dog gets bored or maybe doesn’t like the treats as much as you thought. We have some treats available for purchase at our store on our property – but do not rely on these and make sure you bring your own in case we have sold out or your dog doesn’t enjoy those.
Kibble alone will not be good choice because distractions are high during training and your dog should be well-paid when learning a new behavior. Later on, you can degrade your dog to kibble once they have learned the behavior.
Not every dog will like everything, so sometimes you need to search for the correct treat. Do this before your first class though, so you are prepared to begin training. If you cannot find a treat that your dog likes or your dog has a complex dietary situation like a food allergy or intolerance, please alert your trainer to this before you attend your first class so, we can help you select a good treat.
The first treat pictured is shredded boiled chicken. Chicken is a great choice of high value treat and most dogs enjoy it. It is bland so, sensitive stomachs can usually handle it in small amounts. If your dog is allergic to chicken, you can use turkey instead. Do not season the meat and remove all skin, bones, and fat before giving it to your dog.
If you want to use real meat, but feed raw diet and do not desire to cook the meat, you can grind up the meat and put it into refillable lotion tube, which is sold at most stores that sell camping supplies like Academy or Dick’s Sporting Goods. These can be cleaned in between uses and refilled later. You will squeeze the treats directly into the dog’s mouth and keep your hands free of germs at the same time. Your tube will need to be placed in a cooler with ice pack when not in use to keep the treats fresh.
A favorite of ours at Faithfully Yours Dog Training is the Cloud Star Tricky Trainers treats. We recommend the chewy ones vs the crunchy ones. We find most people have success with the liver flavored ones and that they do not crumble very much. The salmon flavor is very smelly, but highly enjoyed by many dogs and they also break apart easily. The cheese flavor is the least smelly and least liked by most dogs, they are also very difficult to break apart and crumbly – however some dogs enjoy these the best at of all of them. These are best and cheapest purchased on Amazon in the 14oz bags, but you can get smaller bags at Petsmart or Petco.
Another option is low-fat mozzarella string cheese. String cheese is easy to break apart and the dogs can eat it quickly. It is perfect as a high value treat, though it can get melt-y on hot days, so we recommend transporting it to and from classes in a small cooler with ice pack. Some dogs are lactose intolerant just like people, so if your dog has gas after using the sting cheese as treats, they might be lactose intolerant and you should discontinue use of diary treats until you can discuss it with your vet further. All diet changes should be discussed with your vet beforehand.
Treat Pouches
The next item on the list is a treat bag or treat pouch. Your treat bag is a very personal choice and everyone will prefer a different one. The ones listed below are just various ideas to get your started. Your treat bag should buckle around your waist or attach to your waistband. These help get treats out of your hands while training, so you can work more effectively.
The first treat bag option is the Rapid Rewards treat pouch and can be purchased online. It has a large mouth opening, can snap shut when needed, and an extra pocket for your clicker. You will need to wash this pouch between uses since it is made of fabric and crumbs can easily get left behind.
The second idea is a fanny pack! These make great choices for those who want a wide-mouth treat pouch or need one the zips completely to keep treats away from their jumping dog. You will need to wash your fanny pack between uses just like the Rapid Rewards pouch.
Another option is a silicone treat pouch. Many different brands make these and they can be purchased online or through our store. These pouches are more square shaped and make removal of treats much easier. Since they are silicone they are easier to clean out by rinsing them at the sink and most are dishwasher safe.
Toys
The next item on the list is an array of toys you should have prepared. Even if your dog doesn’t like dog toys, have some of these ready. Many times we can create toy drive and motivate the dog to play with them – with a few clever methods.
What toys dogs like will vary a lot, but these are some of our favorites for starting dogs out. Bring a few different options with you to use. You should store your training toys in a closet or out of reach location when you are not training to keep their value. They shouldn’t be laying out for the dog to access at all times.
The first toy we recommend is a fur tug toy. These are great for reinforcing behavior and made with real animal fur, so dogs that are not toy motivated usually find these interesting. You can purchase them with or without tennis balls. These can be purchased at CleanRun.com and we recommend avoiding any toys with bungee cords in them if your dog doesn’t already have a good Drop cue.
The second toy we recommend is for those attending disc classes or those working on controlling their dogs prey drive. For example, dogs learning not to chase cats or squirrels. It is the Chuck-It Paraflight. If your dog doesn’t play with plastic discs, we recommend starting them on this softer disc to start out. Chuck-it Paraflights can be purchased at Petco and Petsmart – we also try to keep them in stock at our location.
Later on you can switch to a plastic disc. For plastic discs, we recommend Hero Discs. You should only be using discs made for dogs because they are made of a special plastic – discs for disc golf or humans are not safe for dogs. Cheaper discs do not fly well and will be easily destroyed. If you are attending disc class, bring at least four discs of the same kind with you to every class – no matter what kind you are using. Hero discs will need to be purchased online. If you don’t know what kind to purchase, contact your trainer before class begins and we will help you select a good disc for your purposes.
The third toy we recommend are the Skinneez stuffing-less animal toys. These toys have no stuffing and are good and floppy, which makes them easy to get the attention of puppies with. They are very cheap toys and we recommend stock piling them for use during training. They have squeakers, which are also go for getting your dog’s attention. They can be purchased at Petco or Petsmart.
On top of these, your trainer will probably recommend purchasing some food puzzle toys. Our favorites are from Planet Dog, West Paw, and KONG. These toys can be used to keep your dog quiet and calm during class, as well as used for management of unwanted behaviors.
Leashes
The next item you should bring to every class is a leash. A leash is a very personal item and there isn’t a single right leash for your course usually. We will go over my usual recommendations and what leashes to avoid. You want to avoid cheap big box pet store leashes that a rough on your hands when you slide them through a closed fist. If the edges feel like they could cut until your hand, skip that leash and get another one. Leash burn is seriously pain and usually comes from using a cheap leash on an untrained dog. We recommend standard leash lengths from four to six feet for class.
We also recommend avoiding leashes that are retractable and leashes with bungee cords or shock resistance. These leashes have their purposes, but usually not in a training setting as they are reinforce pulling and actually make pulling worse.
Mentioned below are a few leashes we like. The first one is a snap-clip Mendota rope leash. These come in both a standard leash size, which is good for regular training class and practicing loose leash walking and a long line size, which is good for training recall or come when call. We highly recommend these for people who desire a softer feeling in their hands or have thin skin. Mendota leashes can usually be found online and you want the snap-hook variety for class – not the slip lead or martingale variety.
Another option is the Kurgo Quantum leash. This is a hands-free leash that gets your leash out of your hands. If you do not have much upper body straight, a hands-free leash allows you to use your full body weight to stop your dog instead. This leash can also double as a tie-out, a coupler for two dogs, shortened training leash, a standard leash, and more. These leashes can be found locally at Petsmart and Petco usually and purchased online.
The third leash recommended is a long line – as mentioned we like Mendota’s long lines the best because they are very soft. A long line is an extra long leash used for teaching things at a distance. We use these on dogs ready for more responsibility and trust from their owner, but not quite trustworthy off leash yet.
Long lines are provided in classes were we are working on recall, but you will need your own for practice at home. If you consider the feel of your leash for only one leash – it should be your long line you teach recall on because your dog is being encouraged to move a quick speeds on this leash and it is the one most likely to give you leash burn. You should look at long line between 15 to 30 feet depending on your dog’s skill level and your leash handling abilities. The longer the leash, the more difficult. The Mendota long line can only be ordered online or at our store.
Harnesses
The next item on the list is a harness. We require harnesses in class and do not recommend training your dog on a standard collar. Standard collars were designed for ID tags, not walking or training. Harnesses help get pressure off our your dog’s throat and make them less frustrated on walks.
Our favorite harness is called the Balance Harness which is made by Blue-9. This harness is made in the US by a small company and therefore will need to be purchased online. It is often back-ordered so, order it early on to make sure it arrives in time for class. The Balance harness allows the dog full range of motion and doesn’t change your dog’s gait like some other poorly designed harnesses can. It has both a front clip and back clip that you can put your leash which is extremely helpful in gaining better control over a dog who pulls already. If you haven’t been able to find a harness that fits your dog, this is the one to buy because it adjusts on all parts of the harness to ensure a good, snug fit.
The second harness is the Ruffwear harness. Ruffwear’s come with both front and back clips like the Balance Harness and can help with pulling for this reason. However, they will only properly fit certain body shapes. We recommend these for more barrel chested breeds like Labs or Rottweilers, if you dislike the Balance Harness. Dogs with more V-shaped chests like German Shepherds or Border Collies will likely have lots of slipping and sliding in this harness.
The third harness is a leather harness with metal clips made by Bold Lead Designs. If you have fear that you dog can break through a standard nylon harness, Bold Lead Designs makes this leather harness with both front and back clips to assist with better control with a pulling dog. These however, are real leather and extremely expensive. Unless you are absolutely certain your dog can break through nylon, you might want to try on a nylon harness first before purchasing this one.
Dog Bed/Place
The next item is your “Place” training choice. During group classes were this skill is taught we will have platforms available for students to use – but at home, you will need an idea of what you want to use to practice this skill. “Place” training, also more simply known as “Go to your Bed” or “Kennel Up” is a behavior were we send the dog to one place at a distance from us and ask them to then stay there until we release them to get up or out of that area.
This is much clearer to a dog when we have visual item they are targeting and going towards. We recommend using raised or very fluffy dog beds for this, crate pads, training platforms like the Klimb, or crates.
Additional Items
We recommend if you are attending group classes or workshops, that you bring a foldable chair to use during class. For sports dog classes and events, you will be asked to crate your dog out of your car. Battery powered fans and cooling mats are good choices to help keep your dog cool when they are crated – in your car or not. It is your responsibility to make sure your dog is safe, contained, and cool when in your car. You are also welcome to bring your dog’s crate from home to use as well.
Please bring poop bags, water, and water bowls with you to each and every class or session!