docchat — November 17, 2009 [...]]]> Get your tissue ready. This video will make grown men cry and dogs will howl with pride. The video includes a song by Taylor Hicks (Do I Make You Proud), which goes perfect with the story about one dog’s journey to becoming a surf dog for charitable causes.

docchat — November 17, 2009 — This video is copyrighted by: http://www.surfdogricochet.com. Kleenex alert! Each person who watches finds an individual message that touches them on many levels, & brings them to tears. It’s about acceptance, adjusting expectations, & focusing on the "can do’s" in life which allows for a celebration of amazing outcomes. This is Surf dog Ricochet’s journey from birth, to service dog training, to dog surfing, to surfing tandem with quadriplegic surfer, Patrick Ivison, to fundraising for charitable causes. She has raised over $20,000 in the last six months. She is currently leading a fundraiser for a six year old boy named Ian who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a horrific car accident that claimed the lives of his parents. For more info on Ricochet, dog surfing, and her charitable causes, please go to http://www.SurfDogRicochet.com. To follow her on Facebook & Twitter: "Surf Dog Ricochet"

If you need a new best friend [...]]]> “My New Best Friend – A Public Service Announcement” What a cute video from Petfinder.com These kids made a fantastic Youtube Video. Maggie thinks you should “paws” from your busy schedule and check it out. We did. Don’t you need a new best friend?

If you need a new best friend in Idaho – We have a link to Idaho Dogs who need you.

He sounds like he really knows what he is talking about. [...]]]> From Ted Partner Series – “Dog Trainer Ian Dunbar asks us to see the world through the eyes of our beloved dogs. By knowing our pets’ perspective, we can build their love and trust. It’s a message that resonates well beyond the animal world.”

He sounds like he really knows what he is talking about. We like this guy.

Veterinarian, dog trainer and animal behaviorist Ian Dunbar understands our pets’ point of view. By training dog owners in proper conduct (as much as he trains the dogs themselves), he hopes to encourage better relationships with dogs — not to mention their friends and children, too.

His WebSite: Sirius Dog Training

He has written many books about dog training. Find them here at Amazon.

Click to Purchase

National Geographic [...]]]> Don’t ya just love the Dog Whisperer

Click to Purchase

National Geographic Youtube Video featuring Cesar Millan and Border Collie Maya. Cesar teaches the dog, Maya, not to jump on her owner. He teaches the owner to “own the place”. Be the Pack Leader. Cesar shows us how.

DogBlog picks – books by Cesar Millan.

Check out our Boise Dog Obedience Flickr Photos in the DogBlog Photo Gallery.

If you have a reference for dog or puppy obedience classes or dog obedience trainers in Idaho, Washington, [...]]]> We found our favorite dog obedience person right here in Boise. See our review of Boise Petco and Victoria Johnson, our Canine Education Instructor.

Check out our Boise Dog Obedience Flickr Photos in the DogBlog Photo Gallery.

If you have a reference for dog or puppy obedience classes or dog obedience trainers in Idaho, Washington, Oregon, or anywhere else for that matter, please give us your referral or recommendation and we will pass them on to dog lovers here in our dogblog.

Dog trainer, Victoria, praises Maggie as she completes her 6 week basic dog training course at Petco.

For 1 hour a week Murry, Julie & Maggie focused on basic commands such as sit, stay, down, wait, come, and the all important command to stay away from CATS – “leave it!”.

Even though Maggie had [...]]]> Maggie Graduates Dog Obedience

Dog trainer, Victoria, praises Maggie as she completes her 6 week basic dog training course at Petco.

For 1 hour a week Murry, Julie & Maggie focused on basic commands such as sit, stay, down, wait, come, and the all important command to stay away from CATS – “leave it!”.

Even though Maggie had some training before we adopted her, we could tell that more was needed.  I would say we needed the training just as much as our pet.

During the first class we learned an important lesson to make trips in the car more enjoyable. 

This is Maggie before the training — She gets into the back seat, even though she loves to ride in the car she was all over the place.  Trying to get to the front seat, barking at bicycles, barking at dogs, barking at innocent mother’s pushing their baby strollers.

On the first day of training this is what we learned to do:

• We brought along a spray bottle of water to squirt Maggie when she misbehaved.  It only took one time to teach her to cease and desist.
• The other method we used is the leave it command.  As we passed a noisy motorcycle we would say “leave it, Maggie, leave it” and as we successfully passed by the former object of distress Maggie was praised with a “good girl” and given a treat.

It has been a few months since her graduation and Maggie is doing great.  I would say the most important aspect of keeping her under control is for us to focus on our part of her training.  We need to take time from our day to give her commands and praise and to take her for walks.  She loves to go to the park. 

We will keep up our personal training and definitely recommend Victoria as a first class trainer at Petco on Federal Way in Boise.

Do you have a Dog Training Comment?  Please let us know.