AZ Dog Sports

A Training Gym for Dogs • An Academy for Dog Trainers

AZ Dog Sports • Dog Training Gym

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Stop Leash Pulling!

leash pulling, loose leash walking, dog walking, dog training, az dog sports, dog trainer phoenix, dog trainer scottsdale

It took a little time, patience and repetition…but it worked!

Getting your dog to stop leash pulling, will not only make your life easier, but your dog’s as well.

When I started training my puppy, the trainer told me the first thing she needs to learn is walking politely on a leash.  I thought to myself, “don’t all dogs know how to walk on a leash”?  Nope.  They don’t.  As a matter of fact, none do.  They are not born with that skill, it’s learned.  Once she and I figured that out, it became a joy to walk her!

You heard me. A joy.

It is possible to not have everyone run the other way when they see your dog excitedly pulling you down the street towards them.  With the help of the trainers at AZ Dog Sports and a lot of practice at home, my pup went from a “gross greeter” to a “polite sniffer” in just a few short months.  Now, 9 years later, we still enjoy our daily walks and are thankful for the great start at AZ Dog Sports.

Because of demand, we at AZ Dog Sports have added more trainers and more classes specifically geared towards polite leash walking. 

You can check them out and register HERE.

(Please note, there are no reactive dogs allowed in any of these classes. You are asked to do private trainer sessions with a reactive dog, and you can call our front office to register for those. 602-237-6775)

As an added bonus, you can check out this article on Whole Dog Journal that has some great tips on how to get your dog to stop leash pulling and walk politely.  You can also check out their book to help with your walking journey.

As always, call us if you have any questions or need to discuss a dog situation that is specific to you and your family.  602-237-6775

Why do dogs hump?

Do you ever wonder why dogs hump?

Our friends at The Whole Dog Journal have a heartwarming story to help us understand.

Check it out HERE.

why do dogs hump, dog trainer phoenix, az dog sports

Swimming For Your Dog

Swimming for your dog is not only fun for him or her, but it’s a safety issue here in Arizona.

More homes than not have swimming pools, so the chance of your dog being around one at some point in his or her life is pretty good.  Believe it or not, all dogs are not natural swimmers.  Some can be very fearful of the water, which can cause them to panic if they accidentally fall in.  And the last thing you want is for her to panic when she needs to find a way to safety.

We can’t stress enough how important it is to get your dog water ready for the summer.  Our own Karen Burleson has spoken about this before, see what she had to say HERE.

Watch HERE how another one of our trainers, Denise helped “Sky” go from being afraid of the water, to having the confidence to jump in!

Sometimes all it takes are only a few lessons to get your dog in and out of the water. by himself.  Those few lessons are worth everything when you realize it could save his life.

Watch another one of Denise’s AZ Dog Sports Swim Lessons with “Kristopher” HERE.


Get in on our swim lessons now.

Call us to set up your private lesson at 602-237-6775.

Doggy Daycare – A checklist for success!

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A good doggy daycare check list for your dog.
Don’t panic if he gets a bad report card.

For those Dog Guardians who are lucky enough to be able to provide your canine companions with intermittent care at doggy daycare facilities; we have some advice that will help your dog be successful!

Dogs, like people, vary in their ability and desire to be social on any given day.

  • Depending on the time of year, the time of day, the numbers of other dogs there that day in the room; your dog’s behavior may vary. Hopefully, you have attended basic training first to ensure a modicum of structure for learning.
  • Always try to give your dog a short walk or ample time to relieve themselves or “potty” before entering the day care. This prevents lobby accidents due to excitement and therefore eliminates the need to clean up after your pet and avoids creating that bad habit.
  • If you have the option to allow your dog outside time to relieve themselves, it reinforces your at-home elimination schedule.  Some daycares do not allow or have outdoor facilities, and this is not as desirable because your pet will be allowed to go potty indoors. This does NOT help you at home with their potty habits; especially in the first year, when house training is so important.
  • Take advantage of any games, enrichment or social structure that the daycare may provide for your dog. Constant learning is best for young dogs, especially.
  • Make sure that older pets and less social dogs are given ample time to retreat to their own corner or crate for a bit, instead of spending all day in constant company of other dogs.
  • If you have an anti-social dog and don’t want her out in the general population, some day care facilities have separate rooms that allow dogs to be enriched or out playing with a counselor.  This is usually added for an additional charge. Always ask if you are not sure.
  • Pick a daycare that is CLEAN and well-equipped with playground toys and fun equipment. Some daycares have water features, pools and hoses for dogs that enjoy the water on a hot day!
  • Always tour the facility and ask about the safety procedures in place for your dog’s protection and comfort.
  • The ratio of staff to dogs is also a number that you (and they) should pay attention to at all times.
  • Make sure the staff is pleasant, customer service oriented and knowledgeable.  Keep communication open!  Remember your beloved dog is entrusted to their care and you want to have clear lines of communication about their procedures and practice.

If your pooch has multiple bad days at daycare, consider a series of positive training lessons and be consistent and reliable in your own approach to his or her behavior. Most dogs need refresher obedience about once per year to really keep it up and to learn new things!

Ongoing classes we offer that you can join at any time!

  • Puppy Obedience with Socialization
  • AKC Star Puppy
  • Obedience Level 1
  • Obedience Through Games
  • Agility for Fun
  • CGC – Canine Good Citizen
  • Clicker Training
  • Play and Learn

Check out our full class calendar here.  Or call us for more information 602-237-6775.

10 Dog Training Issues We Help Solve

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AZ Dog Sports has helped thousands of dogs be the best they can be…this is how.

Our trainers have seen it all.  The good, the bad, the hyper, the silly, the damaged, the lost and more.  But one thing is for sure, we don’t believe in giving up.  We live by a philosophy that there is help for all dogs out there.  Here we have come up with the top 10 training issues we’ve helped solve over the years.  Do you see any of these in your pup?

  • Jumping

    • Whether it be on people, furniture or even other dogs, having your dog jump all over things can be a big nuisance.  Teaching him the appropriate behavior at the right times is essential for learning to maintain control in all situations.  We give you the skills to teach your dog that jumping is not ok.

  • Barking

    • Even though a dog bark is used for good reason most of the time, it can be an annoyance when it’s excessive.  We can help you train your dog to listen to you and stop barking when she’s asked.

  • Chewing

    • All puppies chew on things, it’s a natural consequence of teething.  But chewing your furniture or other wrong things, doesn’t have to last past the puppy stage.  We can show you and your dog how direct that energy in a more productive direction.

  • Pulling on Leash

    • We’ve all seen it.  That poor lady who’s dog is walking her instead of the other way around.  This can be helped.  We see this all the time and have helped many a family have enjoyable walks with their dogs.

  • Destructive Behavior

    • No one asks for a dog that destroys things.  But some of us get them.  Some times it is due to a nervous disorder and sometimes it can be separation anxiety.  We can help determine the “why” your dog is acting out and the “how” of fixing the problem.

  • Counter Surfing

    • There goes dinner!  Counter surfing is never an acceptable behavior and needs to be stopped as soon as possible.  It can be harmful to your dog (if they eat something that is poisonous) and extremely annoying to you when you have to make a second meal!  Teaching your dog to have good table manners is a must for a safe house.

  • Door Dashing

    • When your front door opens and your dog runs for the freedom sign, you could be in trouble.  Keeping your dog safely in your house even when doors are open is a must.  You can even have a dog that will warn you if an outside door has been left open accidentally!  (Imagine that!)

  • Scratching on Doors & Furniture

    • This ties back to destructive behavior mentioned before.  Scratching things can be a sign of a more serious issue that your dog is having to deal with, separation anxiety.  There are also other emotional issues that can cause a dog to scratch your door to shreds.  We can help determine the best course of action for treatment and dealing with this destructive situation.

  • Potty Training

    • All dogs pee.  But not all dogs pee in the wrong place.  It’s not that hard, and once trained properly, you can live with a dog that politely asks to be let out and never has accidents in unwanted places.

  • Digging

    • Sometimes this is an attempt to escape and sometimes it’s purely a nervous action for a dog.  Determining why your dog digs is key.  Once we figure out what it is we are dealing with emotionally, then we can teach you ways to redirect your dog to more appropriate behavior.

We are here to help!  Call us to find out more.

Let us listen to your situation and determine the best steps to getting your dog to be the best part of your family!

602-237-6775 or email us at azdogsports@msn.com

We look forward to joining you on this journey!

azdogsports@msn.com

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