Mannerly Mutts Dog Training
(207) 361-4395 Robin Rubin, Certified Professional Dog Trainer
(508) 735-8630 Robert Rubin, Sales and Inquiries
37 Paul Street York Beach, Maine 03910
[email protected]
  • Home of the Best Dog Training
  • Dog and Puppy Obedience Training
  • About
    • FAQS
    • Facilities
    • Directions and Contact
    • Resume
  • Testimonials
  • New Online Dog Training Program

Should you let your new puppy (or dog) just be a "puppy"?

1/23/2024

Comments

 
Picture
This really depends on what "being a puppy" means to you.  If this means playing, enjoying, snuggling and affection as PART of the puppy's experiences, well then yes.   If this means, you do not expect perfection or for a puppy to act like an adult dog, that is an absolutely correct mindset.  If that means you are aware that your new puppy (or dog) needs to be protected from things in our domestic environment that they don't understand, then that is also a yes.  Your puppy is now learning about an domestic environment and how to treat humans (and other animals as well).   


Read More
Comments

Common Mistakes that First Time Puppy Owners Make (Series 1 of)

10/8/2023

Comments

 
Avoid Common Puppy Training Mistakes
Getting your first dog or puppy is such an amazing time for most people.   Like some other pets (like parrots for instance) they need our support as much as we need theirs.  You can revel and enjoy the cute loving nature of your dog or puppy.   Many, especially first time dog or puppy owners, make some mistakes that are avoidable if you know about them.  The mission of this blog is to help dog and puppy owners with information like this.  Btw, dog trainers make mistakes too, because not all dogs are alike.   They have very individual personalities.  At another time, we will address those too.  In the meantime, here is some general advice on mistakes to avoid.

In the first series for this article, I am going to go over new puppies for new puppy owners, as this article will be too long otherwise.  Later on in the month, we will go over adult dogs and rescue adult dogs.



Read More
Comments

How to Use Steps to Build Up to Your Ultimate Training Goals

12/28/2020

Comments

 
PictureIzzie is our model for this blog.
The ability to teach dog training commands that are later on reliable and ​functional depends upon how the ability to break them up into steps and then layer onto them different environments and distractions.   This is also true when you are modifying your dog's behavior or changing your dog's perception of things that might make them defensive or scared.  Many dog owners are not aware that going slower and methodically is going to give them a much better chance of reaching their dog training or behavior modification goals with their dogs.

Dogs neither understand English nor read minds.   It is the dog owner's and trainer's job to break commands down into parts which can be taught well, and then advance the command by increasing things like the three Ds (duration, distance and distraction), which was discussed in our previous blog post.


Read More
Comments

Patterns and Structure, How Do They Help with Dog Training and Behavior?

10/19/2020

Comments

 
Picture
Patterns, as I define them in dog training and behavior modification, are manufactured predictable events.  That is they are a sequence of steps  that become predictable with repetition and consistency.  Remember, canines do not share our human language.  We can not tell them what is coming up, but our actions to create patterns and structure can place them on more predictable ground.

​As humans we take this for granted for ourselves, but if you think about it, our every day patterns and structure lend to the feeling of safety and security for human children and adults alike.   Of course we can talk to each other should an unanticipated event comes up.   Can you imagine how scary some events are to dogs who do not have that sort of heads up?  We can make everything smooth sailing (or smoother sailing anyway) by adding a little pattern and structure to certain parts of our canine's day. 


Read More
Comments

What is your dog's bliss?  How can finding their bliss help?

10/13/2020

Comments

 
Picture
Leon loved fetching as a wee young thing. We both learned about this skill together, and had a lot of fun doing it.
What do I mean by your dog's "bliss"?

  • The activity or item that eventually or immediately drives your dog to do it more or want to engage with you more.​
  • This is something the dog is going to eventually be clear about. You can experiment with to find it and start the process, but ultimately you need to pay attention to whether it is truly motivating your dog OR do you just expect it would motivate your dog.

Read More
Comments

Engagement and Motivation

10/5/2020

Comments

 
Picture
Engagement in dog training is the ability to create a relationship with your dog where you are the reward. Engagement done well will have your dog insisting on continuing the activity with their owner. In other methods of training, there are some elements of this as well, but the engagement that I am talking about is much more. Engagement in dog training is more about play with their owner or handler to create that very strong bond and work ethic. As with anything, it can have it's pluses and minuses. I really enjoy this method, because I get to play with my dog and train. The thing that motivates me in this method, is seeing my dog have fun while we are doing it. Why do I also use other methods other than Engagement and Motivational methods? One reason is this is a bit slower process than some other methods in the shorter term.   Sometimes if you really need to stop your dog from jumping on your elderly relatives, while including them in your family activities, you might want to take a faster course of action.  Of course there are ways to control what you dog does by confining them more, but I like my dogs to have certain freedoms during the day, where this perhaps might not happen if I was only using this method. It takes longer not in time per day, but the progress to build to a goal in general will take more time. There are reasons to want to spend a longer period if time in training your dog. I will go over that at a later date.


Read More
Comments

Crate Training Tips

5/8/2020

Comments

 
Picture
​Objectives: Using a crate is important for many reasons. House training, boarding, possible veterinarian visits where they are staying hours or overnight, safety in the house (puppies will try and chew wires and all sorts of things left to their own devices), just having a shower without worrying about what puppy is getting into, and separating out from company that may be afraid of dogs, in general. The objective is to create a peaceful place where your puppy or dog knows they are safe and comfortable to rest and relax.


Equipment: Crate, flat collar on dog (so you have some hold on him putting him in or out), toys placed in the crate already, and a lot of patience. You don't want your puppy to see you getting frustrated. This is all a learning experience for them.


Read More
Comments

So you have a new puppy what training to start with right away-Pandemic Series Day 28 of Social Distancing

4/7/2020

Comments

 
PictureSally Wally Woo as she is known here.
Puppies can do more than human babies can do, but do remember that these are babies.  Everything is new to them.   In this article, I am going to attach some basic puppy links of the things that you might not know about puppies, how they develop and how they mature.   The real purpose of this article is how you go about training a puppy the right way, and with the knowledge that these are babies.
  1. Growth Stages in Puppies (Many people consider a dog mature at 2 years, but with our breed, the Doberman, it seems like three years in when they get there)
  2. Critical Periods in Puppy Development
  3. Incomplete listing of things that are poison to your puppy
  4. House Training Tips
  5. Crate Training (be sure to scroll all the way down, they have specific instructions on this article)
  6. A listing of all sorts of link in regards to puppies
  7. Socialization strategies
  8. Tips about your new puppy


Read More
Comments

House Training Tips

3/9/2020

Comments

 
PictureOur Shana was once an 8 week old baby, as pictured.
I get a fair number of calls a year for house training advice. I give out a lot of tips for free.

Here are a list of tips that I give to owners that are seeking to housebreak their dog:

  • Puppies NEED to go out more often than adults. Some can sleep through the night, and others can't. Some will need to go out about every two hours at first.
  • When first bringing home a puppy, crate training and tethering when your attention can not be on them are great solutions. Let puppy or dog inside for loose play only after they have done number one and two as expected when first entering your home (and in their outside area obviously).
  • Write down the times of any "accidents" and add those times to your schedule of when you let your dog or puppy out, until a reliable pattern develops.
  • After an accident, immediately bring your puppy or dog outside.


Read More
Comments

Poison to your dogs but not necessarily you

7/23/2018

Comments

 

Talking about things that can harm your dogs, here is some more information.


Chocolate
Raisins or Grapes
Castor Beans
Anti Freeze (and other products you may use to de-ice in winter that contain anti freeze)
Caffeine
Garlic
Onion
Mushroom
Plants on the attached link http://www.dogpack.com/health/poisonplants.htm
Moth Balls
Broccoli
Raw Salmon
Too much Asprin & Asprin subsitutes (Tylenol) are always toxic http://www.school-for-champions.com/animalhealth/aspirin.htm
Below are some helpful links regarding this:
Poison Help Site
Various Toxins
Even More Toxins
Human medications toxic or deadly to dogs
Comments
<<Previous
    Call Us

    Author, Robin Rubin

    ​Owner and Head Dog Trainer in Maine, Robin Katherine Rubin, started her Maine dog training business in September 2004.  Our dog training facility is located in Southern Maine in York Beach and we help families enjoy their dogs more, making sure they listen reliably and resolving unwanted behaviors.

    Archives

    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    September 2022
    September 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    July 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017

    Categories

    All
    Activities
    Basics
    Behavior
    Commands
    Dog Care And Grooming
    Dog Daycare
    Dog Play
    Dogs From Rescues
    Dog Toys
    Dog Trainers
    Dog Training
    Dog Training Distractions
    Dog Training Equipment
    Fearful Dogs
    Health Issues
    Intermediate
    Laurel Training Journal
    Multiple Dogs
    Obedience Training
    Pack Dynamics
    Pandemic Series
    Play Training
    Podcast Finds
    Poison To Dogs And Puppies
    Puppies
    Puppy Tips
    Puppy Training
    Questions From Dog Owners
    Safety First
    Selecting A Dog
    Selecting A Puppy
    Shana Training Journal
    Small Dog Tips
    Socialization
    Spaying Or Neutering
    Training Journal
    Training Techniques
    Tricks

    RSS Feed

Mannerly Mutts Dog Training Services are located near the following communities in Southern Maine and New Hampshire:

Maine: York, York Beach, Cape Neddick, Ogunquit, Eliot, Kittery, Kittery Point, Berwick, South Berwick, North Berwick, Wells, Moody

New Hampshire: Dover, Portsmouth, Newington, Rye, North Hampton, Stratham, Greenland
Proudly powered by Weebly