Smart Dog U really helped me deal with my first puppy and help me grow her (Etta) into a sweet little girl. Without that training from SDU this would have been a tough journey.
Ingrid CopelandWe did in-home training and group classes which helped us welcome Ember into our family. Her understanding of both dogs and busy families made the training easy and guilt-free.
Beth SchillaciThank goodness I discovered Smart Dog University! Laurie’s methods quickly made me realize that I was the one in need of training. The end result: A well behaved pup (Kasey) who is a true companion!
Matt ChurchLaurie is someone Your Dog’s Friend depends on for good information on dog behavior and training presented in an engaging, understandable way. She has done free workshops for us; we have used her articles in our newsletter; and she is a trainer whom I can refer people to with total confidence.
Debra Ekman, Your Dog’s FriendLaurie is a very knowledgeable and experienced trainer. She does a wonderful job with both the dog and owner. She is easily approachable and genuinely wants to make sure you and your dog are getting the most out of her classes.
Suzie Brown
Gee, you make it look so easy! What do you do if you adopted a dog (already 6 years old) that is for the most part house trained, but occasionally goes in the house? She doesn’t let me know that she has to go out. I would love to be able to train her to somehow let me know. How do I do that? She is otherwise an extremely lovable little pooch.
Thanks for stopping by, Judy! It really is fairly easy — dogs depend on us for everything, including providing them the opportunity to go outside to do their business. I would make sure the dog doesn’t have any house freedom — she’s where you are (or crated). If she doesn’t have the opportunity to wander, she won’t have the opportunity to go to the bathroom inside.
In addition to no house freedom, I’d make sure she’s going outside on a predictable schedule, say every 2 hours during the day (or crated if you aren’t home).
Thanks, Laurie. I can’t really give her no house freedom at all. As it is she’s confined to only the main floor. Upstairs and downstairs is closed off (if my husband remembers to close the doors!). I do try to have her go out 4 times a day, at least. It’s not at the same time every day. I sort of do that purposely, though. I don’t want her to get used to the times, in case I am not available one day at that particular time. She’s a very quiet dog, so I do forget sometimes. Those are the times I wish she’d bark to let me know that she has to go out. Is there any way to train her at, now almost, 8 years old to to let me know?
Also, when I posted my comment, I didn’t realize my name would show there. Is there any way to write ‘Anonymous’ or ‘JOM’?
Thanks so much, Judy
Hi! I have an 8 month old Vizsla. We cannot break her from jumping on people
especially me. We have tried everything. This is not our first vizsla. we lost our other to cancer a year ago, she was 12 years old and an exceptional dog. This one seems so much more hyper or even aggressive than our first. We have a lot of grandkids and are afraid she may knock one of the younger ones down. She loves the kids and would never intentionally hurt them, but accidents happen. Help! Please!
Thanks for stopping by. Sounds like you need to first control her ability to jump with some management. To do this, use a gate or a leash. Put your dog on the leash or behind the gate when visitors arrive so she’s unable to practice the inappropriate behavior of jumping. That’s only half the solution, though. The other half of the solution is to teach her what you want her TO DO. So completely separately, when there aren’t guests around, teach her to sit. Ask her just once, then wait. And wait. And wait if necessary. Don’t force her to sit, don’t keep asking her to sit. If she sits, she gets her click and a treat, if she doesn’t sit, she gets nothing.
By preventing her from practicing the habit (managing the dog and the situation), AND teaching her what to do (training), you’re providing the dog with the full solution in order to get it right.