r/PawChampClub

im trying to do 20 min sessions every evening but my pup completely checks out around the 10 -15 minutes mark and starts sniffing random stuff. how long to train a dog per session before it becomes counterproductive? should i be splitting this up into shorter chunks?

Dealing with dog reactivity can be so exhausting. My dog barks and lunges whenever we encounter triggers, and sometimes it feels like we take one step forward and two steps back.

We're trying our best with reactive dog training (focusing on counter-conditioning and keeping distance), but progress feels so slow.

To anyone else who has managed reactive dogs, what made the biggest difference for your dog's mindset? What turned things around when you felt stuck?

I recently got a dog and I'm trying to decide if I need to hire a pro or if it's realistic to train a dog at home by myself.

Professional classes in my area are pretty pricey, so I've been looking into doing at home dog training using online resources, guides, and videos. But part of me worries I'll miss something fundamental or create bad habits.

Has anyone here successfully done dog training without a trainer from start to finish? Did you hit any walls, and what helped you stay consistent?

I adopted a rescue dog a few months ago, and overall he's doing great at home. But whenever we see another dog on our walks, he turns into a huge anxious dog. He freezes, pants, and sometimes whimpers or tries to hide behind me.
I really want to start some gentle rescue dog training to help him build confidence, but I'm not sure where to begin. I don't want to push him too far past his comfort zone.
For those who have worked with a rescue dog anxious around other dogs, what actually helped you in the beginning?

Mine is absolutely terrified of the sound of a plastic bag being opened. Thunder? Fine. Vacuum? Doesn't care. Plastic bag? Immediate evacuation. What completely random thing scares your dog?

Hey everyone, looking for some advice from people who've survived the puppy stage.
Lately, whenever we sit down for short puppy training sessions, my pup suddenly gets super mouthy and starts biting my hands or clothes. It usually happens when he seems to get frustrated or overly excited.
I know puppy biting is totally normal, but it's making basic puppy training pretty tough. Is he just getting overstimulated, or is his attention span just way shorter than I think?
How do you guys handle puppy biting during training without completely stopping the session?

Every dog seems to have that one completely ridiculous habit. 😂
Maybe they sleep in the weirdest position, bring you random objects, bark at something that doesn’t exist, or suddenly get the zoomies at 2 AM.
What’s your dog’s weirdest habit? 🐾
Bonus points if you have a photo. 😂❤️

sometimes sneezing feel like it will be cured. But sometimes it creates bigger problems

Observations of a Dog Walker Part 2:

I have been involved with many different types of pet care jobs for quite a long time now. I have recently stepped back from dog walking and pet sitting except for long term established clients that I have had for a long time.

Now that I have distanced myself from the daily stresses of trying to drum up dog walking clients while making sure that I am practicing good protocol with both the dogs in my care and their owners; I have realized that there are two behaviors that I have noticed among pet owners that has an extremely negative affect on the joys of being a pet care provider.

These two situations are listed below:

1.      The first situation is regarding potential clients.

 I have noticed that a large percentage of potential clients often contact a pet care provider and ask way too many personal and inappropriate questions that have nothing to do with pet care or the services that are provided by the individual pet care provider.

I have also learned that you must be very careful what you post on social media regarding your pet services and personal history. I have experienced almost stalkerish type behavior from individual s posing as “potential clients.”

2.      The second situation is regarding pet owners who allow their dogs to be off leash for regular dog walks.

I cannot even begin to count the number of times within the past six months that I have had negative encounters with off leash dogs and their owners. An few examples of these encounters are listed below:

·         Dogs off leash come running up to dogs that I am walking with no pet parent in sight. These dogs often scare or intimidate the dogs that I am taking care of. (Many of the dogs that I care for are senior dogs and they are often skittish and afraid of other dogs that they do not know well.)

·         Unleashed dogs that come uninvited to a rest/snack time with the dog that I am walking, and their owner does not come and retrieve them, often ignoring the fact that their dog is in another dogs safe space.

·         Unleashed dogs that approach my dogs aggressively which causes extreme anxiety for myself and the dogs in my care.

When these encounters happen, 90% of the time the pet owners will not take accountability and instead say things like, “Oh, he/she doesn’t usually act like that.” Or “He/She is just so excited to see a new friend.”

It is because of incidents like these that I have become an advocate for ALL dogs being leashed for their regular walks.

I have been in and seen way too many unleashed encounters go wrong or have a high potential to do so.

It is very important that pet owners be responsible and take accountability for their pets well being and care. It is important for their safety, their pet’s safety, and the safety of others and the community as a whole.

All of us need to work together to make sure that the dog walking experience is safe and enjoyable for everyone. 😊

Happy Walking!!