zigzag

No Kids run, play, yell, scream.... that's exercise. Sitting at a desk learning times tables, learning the piano, or karate, that's training. Same for a dog...except sometimes, the more running/playing they have , the more they need to get tired...they get fitter and more keen, not quieter... What do your dogs know? Do they have good recall? Do they sit/stay/drop stuff when you ask/fetch/stand still for grooming? These are all skills which need practising also- have a read HERE Ohhhhh! That makes perfect sense with your kid analogy. They rarely get trained then, but that will change today! Is it a bad idea to do training with treat rewards? They are good at coming, sitting, staying, but I will have a look into more training things and get started. Thanks!

OK - I thought training and exercise was pretty much the same thing. What sort of activities can I do to train them and help get their brains going, to hopefully tire them out? They are fine when we are home, no barking (unless someone knocks at the door) and are quite content. Thanks for your great feedback.

Thanks for the links, very interesting to read.

Hi, I walk them for 30-45mins per day (unless its raining really heavily), both on lead and off lead to play in the dog park. I also take them to the beach weekly off lead for atleast an hour. They have toys (old favourites & new toys too) and big marrow bones. They are very loved & I want to do the right things for them, and I was shocked to find out they bark so much when we're not home. How can they be bored?! Argh! I'm thinking I may need to up the amount of exercise they get, maybe two seperate walks a day. Someone has suggested they may have seperation anxiety. I don't know alot about seperation anxiety though, could someone explain this?

I have recently received a council complaint that our dogs bark excessively when we're out. There are so many dog trainers out there & I have settled for a visit from Bob from Dogtech (Gold Coast). Has anyone had training with Bob, and if so, how did it go? Dog training is expensive, but hopefully worthwhile to reduce our dogs barking. Any feedback about Dogtech and/or Bob, would be much appriciated.