Product Pick The Manners Minder

03.02 in Dog, manners, minder, pick, product, the

There are many products out there to enhance our dogs lives.  Oh, does my pocketbook know, so many products!  Of course some are better than others, and the Manners Minder falls into the "better than" category.  This machine was invented by a wonderful veterinary behaviorist from Colorado, Dr. Sophia Yin. 

The Manners Minder is, in simple terms, a remote-control treat dispensing device.  Press a button on the remote and the machine will spit out a treat, with or without an accompanying tone.  The tone can be used like a "click" for dogs that are clicker trained - they quickly learn to associate the new sound with food.  The machine can also be set to dispense treats randomly without manual activation, making it a great tool for teaching a long down-stay, working on separation anxiety or other skills.

The Pros:

• Product works well and takes small, uniform treats (like Zukes) or kibble.
• Excellent for advanced skills, distance work, long stays, preventing jumping up and many other behaviors.
• Comes with an informative DVD, written training guide and a great target stick.
• A unique, innovative tool for any positive motivation trainer or dog owner.

The Cons:

• The machine noise is a little loud when dispensing a treat.  Spend plenty of time acclimating your dog to the sound before you begin training with the machine.
• Expensive - retails for a little over $100, but if you shop around it can be found for closer to $80.

Manners Minder treat dispensor

 

Read more

Our Dog Training Manners Course is now FULL!

11.10 in course, Dog, full, is, manners, now, our, training

Many thanks to all who pre-registered for our Good Manners course at the Inquisitive Canine.

For those who are still interested in getting your dog into one of our Manners Classes, you may contact us to place your dogs name on our "waiting list".

You may also register for Ventura College Community Education Canine College. Registration for the college begins in January. Course series starts February 10th.

For additional information you may visit our
Web site, or contact us via email or phone.


Happy PAWlidays to all!

Read more

Sunday Pomp Circumstance Canine Manners Class Graduates today

06.37 in canine, circumstance, class, Dog, graduates, manners, pomp, sunday, today

What a great day it was today! My first Canine Good Manners class of 2009 graduated today here in Ventura. Such a lovely group. Dogs were showing off their skills by checking in and paying attention to their guardians during discussion time, as well as all the other manners skills, while practicing their loose leash walking, going in and out of the studio, and the ever popular "leave it!"... Brandy even learned to ignore the enticing paper napkin his "parents" tempted him with. 

Riley is getting better at remaining quiet and sitting to greet. Ferris was meeting dogs and people without hesitation. Dickens stayed focus during the more difficult exercise of dogs walking around him in close proximity. And Kona, who is one of the youngest, really showed off her sit and down stay with increased duration and distance... 

All of the guardians really figured out how to troubleshoot as they went along, and that was one of my main goals; this is what I find to be rewarding... Sure its great for dogs to perform all of the general behaviors in the studio here in Ventura, but it really means a lot to me when I see the human handlers getting what they want their dogs to do with the skills Ive taught them. And then being able to figure out what they need to do in case their dog doesnt "get it" the first time. Click-treat for the humans! 

Read more