Koda the German Shepherd is staying with Suburban K9 for our doggie bootcamp. Koda is about six months old and is doing very well. He has been with us for roughly one week and listens around almost every distraction already!
Matt Covey
Proofing, it’s not just for baking!
Anyone out there that has baked bread has heard of proofing your dough. It is the final step of allowing the shaped dough to rise before baking. Proofing is also a term that is used in dog training and much like in baking, proofing is one of the final steps before completing the training process. Proofing your dog’s behavior is simply a fancy way of saying that you are teaching… Read More
Using Nosework to Help Solve Behavioral Issues in Dogs
Lets face it, most people have busy, hectic lives filled with work, cooking, cleaning and a thousand other tasks. The average dog on the other hand does not have a “job” to keep them busy and is often bored. Some dogs handle this boredom well, but others develop anxiety or other behavioral issues. For millennia, we’ve bred dogs for utility; herding livestock, pulling sleds, hunting, and many other useful activities…. Read More
How a dog should behave around food
A well trained dog should not only listen to commands, but should be well behaved even if a command has not been issued. In this video, we show how a dog should act while an owner is cooking dinner. You can see the dog is able to leave the meat alone even when the trainer drops it on the floor and leaves the room. Notice that the trainer never tells… Read More
Puppy Practicing the Stay Command
Max is a typical 8 month old puppy. He loves to run, jump, and act wild. Chasing kids is pretty high on his priority list! In this video, a Suburban K9 trainer is working on Max’s stay command. Max is asked to stay while multiple toys are thrown past him, a treat is tossed next to him, a dog walks by, and a child runs around yelling. After Max successfully… Read More
Layla the Victorian Bulldog Playing Dead
Layla is “playing dead” in this video. We trained her to wave her paw and then fall over when she hears the word “bang”. Since she is a Victorian Bulldog she doesn’t exactly do the command quickly. We call it, moving at the speed of bulldog!
Pomeranian practicing off leash come
Nala is staying with Suburban K9 for our dog boot camp. Here she is practicing a long distance down stay along with a long distance come. She is about 75 yards from the trainer at the start of the video.
Over the Shoulder Leather Leash
An over the shoulder leash is a great tool for a well trained dog. The leash allows you to have your hands free while still having control over your dog.
Teach a Dog to Heel
To teach a dog to heel you first must know exactly what you want the dog to do. When heeling the dog should be even with your heel and focused mainly on you or the road ahead. The main reason for teaching a dog to heel is not just to stop him from pulling on leash. The main reason that I train a dog to heel properly is to be… Read More
Do’s and Dont’s of Dominance
I have posted this in order to answer some common concerns I hear from dog owners, this is by no means a complete list of how to live with your dog. Every piece of advice that you read or hear can be construed in many different ways. Unfortunately many dog owners are confused or misled about how much love they can give a dog, or when is the proper time…. Read More
House Breaking and Nipping
As the proud owner of a new puppy you are probably dealing with two very common “issues” that are typical of young dogs. Cute little puppies can easily test your patience as you are trying to potty train them and teach them not to bite everything in sight, including you! Raising a puppy takes work, but with a little knowledge and some specific rules it can be much easier than… Read More
Choosing the Proper Collar for your Dog
Professional dog trainer Matt Covey discusses how different collars can be used for different dogs. Watch this video if you would like to learn what type of collar you should use with your particular dog.
How to Socialize Your Puppy
Socializing your puppy is one of the most important things you can do for them. Socializing is simply the process of teaching your puppy what is normal in the human world. The good news is that this is not hard and will be a fun and positive experience for both of you! Unfortunately many people wait too long to socialize their dog and set them up for a difficult life…. Read More
All About Dog Toys
Household dogs are frequently bored in their daily life and a large selection of toys and bones can certainly help. The more things your dog has to play with the less of your things he will feel the need to chew on. Having one or two dog toys is not enough for the average dog. I typically suggest to clients to find around ten toys or bones that their dog… Read More
Treat Training A Dog
Training dogs with treats is a polarizing topic in the dog training world. Some trainers say that it is awful and others will tell you that if you don’t train with treats then you must be cruel. The truth about treat training a dog is that there is a time and place for it. The two main times that I will use food rewards to train a dog are when… Read More
Jumping the Fence
If your dog climbs or jumps fences you know how frustrating and scary this can be. A fence is there to contain a dog and now he is loose on the other side. This is an easy way for your dog to get lost, get into a fight, or even get hit by a car. I frequently receive calls about stopping fence jumping and I explain to clients that there… Read More
Dog Fetching Quarter
This video shows a dog practicing retrieving. She has been trained how to pick up many objects without chewing or breaking them. This command can be useful (ask any pregnant women who just dropped her car keys) and it is also good for the dog to have a job.
Off-Leash Training a Puppy
This video shows an eight month old puppy that is working on his off-leash training. The long line is on the dog for safety since he has only been training for about two weeks. Notice the calm demeanor of the trainer, Suburban K-9 trains household dogs without using excitement or lures except when appropriate. When training the average young dog, the goal is to teach him to listen even when… Read More
Guarding the House
Many people get dogs both for the love that they give us and because they are such natural guardians of their home and family. I love all dogs, but I tend to gravitate towards the guarding breeds for those very reasons. I enjoy having a dog that is great with children, friendly towards all adults, but will also guard my family if needed. Unfortunately many people have issues with their… Read More
Leash Aggression
Leash aggression is one of the most common issues that we deal with as trainers. Unfortunately, a dog with leash aggression is severely limited in their ability to enjoy life to the fullest. Can you imagine going through life with the stress of wanting to lunge and bark at every member of your species that you pass? With a little training and patience you and your dog can have a… Read More