Category Archives: Training

Dog Training – A Fun Activity

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Training Tips

Too many dogs are given up on after their normal, easily modifiable behaviors are allowed to become problems. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Dog’s trained in their own environment learn better. Good training is a fun activity that helps your dog become a well-behaved, safe, and valued member of the family.

Why Training is a Necessity:

Does your furry companion need training? Yes, and so do you!

Whether you are intentionally teaching him or not, your canine friend is always learning and this is true not just for puppies but also for older, adult dogs. If you do not teach your pet your rules, he will invent his own. Alpha Dog Training shows caregivers how to safely and humanely control their dog’s behavior. Positive training enhances the bond between dog and owner, and helps ensure that your dog will respond happily to your instructions.

Do you make these common mistakes with your dog? Many common dog-rearing techniques may actually be backfiring. But don’t be too surprised.

Dog training mistakes are really human mistakes. Many dog owners make mistakes inadvertently — due to bad advice from friends, reading something that’s not correct or “that’s how we did it with the family dog when we were growing up.

Then frustration sets in when puppies “have accidents” in the house, or an adult dog won’t come when called or jumps on people for attention.

But these and other problems are not the fault of the dog. And they’re not your fault either. So, don’t feel guilty.

Here are a few common mistakes that most dog owners do, without knowing they’re sending wrong signals to their dog:

MISTAKE #1

Calling Your Dog To You.

When your dog comes to you, do you unknowingly “punish” him for it. For example your dog is having tons of fun outside– you call him — and he comes to you.

Do you reward him by putting him on a leash and taking him home? Think about it. Do you think he’ll want to come to you next time?

MISTAKE #2

Not Giving Attention To Your Dog’s Emotions.

For example, after 15 minutes of training, you notice your puppy isn’t paying attention to you, he’s yawning and simply refuses to look at you. You continue training but your dog doesn’t respond the way you want him to. The result: You get frustrated and irritated. And, that affects your dog, too.

MISTAKE #3

Following Through With Your Training Lessons.

For example, you spend 1 hour on a Sunday teaching your dog to sit. But, during the week you’ve been too busy and you couldn’t devote much time to training. So, next Saturday you start again — but, your dog has most likely forgotten the initial lesson.

You need to follow the training routine until your dog has learned the lesson thoroughly. Dogs love to learn and will learn by regular, consistent repetition with positive reinforcement. There are several other such common pitfalls that should be avoided. And once you take the right steps, the training process will be far more enjoyable and effective.

Training your dog is not at all difficult. But you have to:

1) Know what to expect

2) Know the exact steps

3) Know what common mistakes to avoid.

Alpha Dog Training sets you on the right path. Imagine the feeling of pride (and relief) you’ll have when your dog comes to you every time you call — even if your dog is surrounded by cats, toys, and other distractions.

And picture how happy you’ll be when there are no more accidents in the house.

Imagine the incredible look of amazement and astonishment when your friends and neighbors see how you have turned your dog into the best pet on the block!

Choosing Elementary School Photographers – Part I

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If you look on the wall of any mother’s home you will find cherished memories framed for every year. No matter how silly the photo, school photographs are remembered for a lifetime. Like most things that have a deep rooted tradition, technology has made elementary school pictures much more exciting. Many schools go with the traditional school pose for their fall program. But did you know a lot of schools use spring pictures as a fundraiser and have fun doing it?

Things to Consider when Choosing an Elementary School Photographer

Before you can think about how school photography can be a great fundraiser, you first have to choose the right photographer. For school photographers in San Diego, most decisions are made by the administrative staff, while others are left to the PTO or PTA. However, with school staffs being spread so thin these days, many schools are leaving the decision to the PTO.

There are so many school photographers available today that the decision to choose a school photographer can be a difficult one. A school photographer in San Diego is going to have a different program than a local company in a small town.

Listen to word of mouth. Good school photographers will have people talking about them. They will also have a good selection of experienced, professional school photographers to run your school picture day. It is always good to take a look at the company’s website to see their overall philosophy.

Something else to consider when choosing a photographer is who is actually taking the school pictures. You might want to ask for sample pictures taken by the actual photographers who will be at your school picture day. Many schools ask to meet the photographers who will be working at their school, which isn’t a bad idea. You want a photographer who will allow the kids to relax, because when kids are relaxed they take better pictures. This in turn leads to parents who are satisfied with their school pictures.

Another consideration when selecting a photography company is how much work will be required of the school. Many companies provide all the staff needed for picture day and require no volunteers from the school. When a company takes most of the work off of the school they are well valued.

Other photographers prefer teacher and parent volunteer involvement on picture day. There is a rational explanation for this, that the parents and staff know the students better. However, if your photographer is experienced in taking elementary school pictures, the kids will warm up to them very quickly. Plus, parents are not experienced in running a school picture day, that should be the job of the school photographer.