Browse published articles attributed to Niki Tudge, with full-archive search.
Before you hand over your hard earned money for a Home-Based Franchise in the Pet Industry, perform your due diligence and get the answers to the following ten questions. 1. Is the business model scalable and will the franchise opportunity allow for multiple streams of income?
Do you want to teach your Dog to ‘Sit’/’Stand’/’Down’ when you are 20 feet or further away from your dog? There is a difference between asking a dog to ‘down’ when you are standing next to it or having it ‘stay’, then walking away, waiting for ten seconds and then walking back to deliver a treat – and accomplishing these same behaviors when you are 20 feet away from your dog and asking them to ‘sit’ if they are standing, ‘stand’ if they are sitting or going into a down position if they are sitting or standing.
We love our dogs and cats. We buy them gourmet treats, designer apparel and lavish them with our time, love and attention. They share our lives, our woes and are by our side throughout all of our ups and downs. They are purely and simply an important part of our family. But how many of us ...
Many studies have shown the direct correlation between diet and academic performance in children to the point that no one questions that a good diet equates to improved grades. Though less scientific research has been done on the relationship between nutrition and dog training, there is ample anecdotal evidence that the relationship between eating and performance is no less true and what research that has been done is convincing enough that dog trainers and behaviorists should not ignore the connection.
Dog barking is a natural behavior and dogs bark for as many reasons as we speak, grumble, scream, and cry. Short of a radical, and dangerous, approach, you will never eliminate a dog’s bark entirely. That would be like you taking a lifelong vow of silence. So our goal is to manage our dog’s barking so that it isn’t a nuisance. In order to properly do this we need to set reasonable goals so rather than try to eliminate all barking let’s start with an achievable goal such as reducing the frequency of the barking or shorten the duration of the barking.
The world of dog walking and pet sitting is unregulated in most areas so anyone can potentially call themselves a professional Dog Walker or Pet Sitter. But, much like choosing the best care-givers for your children, it is essential that you make every effort to ensure you find a qualified, trustworthy and professional pet sitter and dog walker. You are entrusting the health and well-being of your pet family members to their care so ask the following 9 questions about Pet Sitting/Dog Walking professionals before you hire them. 1. What are their Qualifications?
Why have small cricket boxes found in children’s toy shops been renamed as clickers and infiltrated the dog training arena. What do they do? How do they work? Are they a gimmick or founded in science? Learn about the connection between clicker training and Pavlovian conditioning and how clickers actually work. An organism exhibits two types of reflexes, unconditioned reflexes and conditioned reflexes.
Dogs don’t whisper nor do they talk, they use a complicated system of communication to express themselves. Learning to talk dog will enhance the relationship you have with your dog and have an immediate impact on the way you meet and greet dogs in public. Effectively communicating with dogs keeps us safe, humans and canines alike.
There are fewer careers that I can name that free you from the office cubicle while providing virtually unlimited potential for personal fulfillment and professional achievement tha Dog Training and Pet Care. Dog Training and Pet Care is a field that will constantly challenge you intellectually and can provide you the opportunity to create a truly balanced joyous life. Once you’ve determined that you want to be a professional dog trainer you need to do some research to find out the pros and cons of the various training philosophies and methodologies currently used.
If you are thinking of becoming a pet care professional or opening your own pet care and dog training business it is important that you have a solid theoretical background and practical experience in a variety of subjects from learning theory to business practices. You will need many hours of hands-on skill training for both dogs and humans and you will need to align yourself with an organization which supports your continued growth and has an investment in your success. And if your plans include starting your own business, a strong business mentor is a huge asset.
If you wish to travel through the land of dogs and avoid being bitten then there are a few things you need to observe. If you and your children plan to reside in the land of dogs alongside them then there are many more things you need to learn and understand. Dogs communicate their frustrations, dislikes or fears in many subtle ways, these subtle ways are often missed by humans so the dog’s communication progresses through a hierarchy of events until eventually the dog bites if it isn’t understood.
The holiday season is almost upon us and many pet owners are starting to make their travel plans. The DogSmith knows how important pet care is -- whether you travel with your pets or if you are leaving them home. If you cannot travel with your pet you may want to book your pet into a boarding kennel which can range from high-end luxury boutique style pet hotels and catteries to traditional kennels. If available, many pet owners choose to let their pet stay with their veterinarian. Whichever you choose it is always a good idea to get to know the staff beforehand.
It is first important to understand some basics of canine social systems. Dogs live in social groups and they establish a social structure, called a hierarchy, within the group. This hierarchy or “pecking order” serves to maintain order, reduce conflict, and promote cooperation among pack ...
I am always delighted when people, clients or just friends, ask me why I became involved in training dogs. I train at locations that are 50 to 80 miles away from my home which does not enhance profitability; in fact it is an ill thought out business decision. Our key business focus is operating ...