GOLO: Go Local. Talk Local. Share Local.
bad dog: blog ↓

bad dog's blog


debra morgan's blog: the first bad dog

by Debra Morgan
Published Jul 10, 2008
Views: 1033

    Tonight's the night!  During WRAL's 5:30 News for the next three Thursdays, we're going to profile a bad dog and see if we can turn him or her into a good dog!  We had so many great entries, it was tough to pick just three.  But we chose dogs who seemed to represent several other dogs with "issues."  You may see some problems you see in your own dog.  And, as I'm sure you know, training the family is just as important as training the dog.   Our first dog is Albie.  He's a Puggle with multiple bad behaviors such as barking (a lot!), going to the bathroom in the house, acting up in his kennel, chewing, and did I mention barking?!  But, by the end of the story, you can see some obvious improvement.  Once we profile all three dogs, we will revisit them in a fourth story to see if they've really gone from bad dogs to good ones.   This project really interests me since my two children have four legs.  Bailey is the black Lab and Harper is the yellow Lab.  This picture I've attached shows them when we first brought Harper home.  Bailey is now 7 and Harper is just one.  My husband has done an amazing job training them!  In fact, if you watch the Bad Dog! promo running on TV right now, you can spot Harper in the "O" and Bailey runs through the picture carrying a newspaper.  They'll do whatever my husband says so they were great to work with during the photo shoot.  I'm a proud mom!

   By the way, the trainer on this project, Jenny Marconyak with Bark Busters, is willing to answer your questions on this site so ask away!

Debra

Filed under: Pets




28 Comments


Golo

Welcome to GOLO, where WRAL.com visitors can comment on stories and create profile pages, blogs and photo galleries.

You must be a registered WRAL.com user to use these tools. Click here to register or log in.

View Comments View Comments


page 1 | 2
<prev    next>
sort order: oldest first | newest first

skidkid, did you read "Marley and Me?" Not a dig, just curious.

I have a question. Why is barking bad. If barking is an issue for you... do you really thing pets is the thing for ya?

btw - I wasn't being sarcastic or mean.. maybe I don't understand because my baby doesn't bark a lot. only when someone is at the door she doesn't recognize or people are too close to our fence.

The peeing in the house however! She can go outside and do business right before we go to bed! She'll still pee in the house. I detest locking her up in a crate all night, but it's what we've had to resort to

Stonecutter, I read it, and cried! I'm wondering how the movie will end!

barking is bad when it disturbs the neighbors, and the dog owners don't seem to care....

Some dogs bark NON-STOP!

We have a dog, Zero, that I think holds it while he is outside and comes in just to pee. He has it backwards!

We don't have the problem with the girl dogs.

Happy dogs don't bark unnecesarily, so if a dog is barking nonstop, it's important to figure out why and deal with the problem, whether it be fear, hunger, boredom - or a combination of any of these.

Peeing in the house is very frustrating, so it helps to make sure you are educating your dog clearly about your expectations. Crate training is a great way to do that, if it's done right. Tonight's dog, Albie, hated his crate. So the first step was teaching him to relax in his crate! There are also some great training tips on our site at www.BarkBusters.com

As a professional dog trainer, I see the root of many behavioral issues as poor dog management/inactive lifestyle. All dogs were originally bred for a purpose, i.e. herding, stock guarding, hunting, ratting, etc. First and foremost, look at what your dog's breed or breed mix was meant to do. Your dog may need much more exercise and/or outlets for their individual drives. I see many, many dogs in our area that come from field stock or working lines of sporting dogs. This means high drive and high energy that turns into hyperactivity, destructive chewing, and other behavioral issues without an outlet. I also encourage pet parents to look at other lifestyle aspects such as diet, giving your dog access to safe, mentally stimulating toys such as Kongs and Busy Buddies, the importance of teaching basic commands, and, when possible, enrolling in a reward based group dog training class.

Just glad to see you have your own blog.

I hope that everyone will enjoy checking out this week's "Bad Dog" winner Riley on Thursday. He is a cute little dog with a big(and not-so-cute)attitude! Feel free to post your questions about the training sessions to this blog and I will do my best to answer.

Jenny at Bark Busters:

I have a couple of questions... 1. How does somebody who is an amateur "dog whisperer" go about becoming a professional dog trainer? I definitely have a way with dogs and can think like them....they all love me! I would love to become a dog trainer as I have to say my two dogs are extremely well-behaved. (everyone says so, especially the people at the vet's office...particularly my rescued Chow-Mastiff mix, who everyone expects to be very aggressive...he's not at all.) 2. My brother has a friend whose pit bull terrier is in danger of being euthanized and I'm scrambling to come up with an alternative. Apparently, he got into a fight with another male dog the other day, and bit my brother's friend. He gets along with the other dog in the home, though..she's female; he's neutered, too, so I think he can be trained to not be dog-aggressive. Ordinarily, he's not people-aggressive. Can you please help? How much are your services?

Hi ninamc65. There are many avenues to becoming a dog trainer. Most people go to a canine behavioral college or take an online training program. I cannot attest to the effectiveness of those avenues myself. Other folks go to work for a trainer and learn on the job. Bark Busters trains all trainers in their own school and conducts all testing for licensing. There are continuing education and other requirement to maintain your license. There is more info on the website. The question of your brother's pit bull terrier is complicated. I would have to know more and meet and evaluate the dog to determine what can be done. Just because a dog bit sommeone does not mean they are vicious and must be euthanized - it depends on the dog's temperment and the circumstances around the bite. I can answer more specifically if he contacts us at 1-877-500-BARK, or via the website.

On making a living with dogs:

Bottom line is that you have to really like people. Educating and working with pet parents is the biggest part of my life and I love helping people make the connection and resolve issues with their pets. If you don't genuinely enjoy helping the people, you may want to go another direction.

Look into apdt.com, the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, which is like the "BAR Association" for dog trainers. They provide educational opportunities, conferences, etc.

I recommend reading Nicole Wilde's book "So You Want to be a Dog Trainer". This a great read about all the ins and outs of the profession, how to gain experience and education, etc.

And this article is right on the money on dogstardaily.com with practical thoughts on making a business plan, getting liability insurance, etc. by Valerie Boutelle called "Making a Living with the Dogs":

http://www.dogstardaily.com/training/making-living-dogs-veronica-boutelle-ma-ctc

Best of luck!

barking can be sometimes painful enuf for someone to feel ill http://sambell3rd.com/birddog

First and foremost, look at what your dog's breed or breed mix was meant to do. Your dog may need much more exercise and/or outlets for their individual drives. ============================================================ = lee

Virtual Bird Dog Blueprint

This project really interests me since my two children have four legs. Bailey is the black Lab and Harper is the yellow Lab. This picture I've attached shows them when we first brought Harper home. ============================================================ = lee1

Virtual Bird Dog Blueprint

Bailey is the black Lab and Harper is the yellow Lab. This picture I've attached shows them when we first brought Harper home. ============================================================ = lee10

[url=http://sambell3rd.com/birddog]Virtual Bird Dog Blueprint[/url]

Professor Hopkins has a problem and we need some help. "Hoppy" is a 3 year old Welsh Terrier. Woody our mail man greets him at the backyard gate and gives him two dog biscuits. When Hoppy wasn't outside, Woody would put the dog biscuits through our mail slot with the mail. Only problem is... Woody only works four days a week -- and the mail is delivered six days a week. So now, if there isn't a dog biscuit with the mail, Hoppy tears up the mail searching for the dog biscuit! What are we to do? Hoppy damaged a NetFlix DVD the other day.

page 1 | 2
<prev    next>
sort order: oldest first | newest first

Please log in to add comment.

most recent
   blogs    galleries    profiles    groups    popular  

Generic Profile Image

in case you missed it the first time

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZXEShSIFks

11/19 - palin book signing in indiana fiasco

          In Case You Missed Her Previous Signing   "Former...

public apology

I just want to apologize for my niece posting on Golo. I am so sorry. I walked away from the...

infant was found safe

 Just thought I'd post this since I posted the Amber Alert.  Conover, N.C. —...

phone/internet in angier...

Is the only choice we have Embarq/Century Link? And no thank you, I don't have or want Time...

just over 10,000 people show up at book signing for going rogue.

 Ok, Maybe not 10,000. But, according to a fellow GOLO member, she claims " WTVD...

burqa underwear

Me can't show real picture of Burqa underwear, but then again, you could not see anything anyway. ...

new moon

I just went and saw New Moon yesterday with my future MIL, and I was very surprised at the quality...

keep it in the bedroom

  So the very much overrated adam lambert kissed another guy on national tv, hes crying...

you have the power to save five

 . . .members of GOLO in one of the 'arks of safety' that have been constructed and even as we...

   blogs    galleries    profiles    groups    popular  

Generic Profile Image

profile of themediator

I tell it like it is.

profile of dawnssong

DO NOT be afraid to stand up, speak out and/or fight for what you believe in!  DO NOT BE AFRAID TO "Question!"

Generic Profile Image

profile of lcms0516

I am what I am but, I am not Popeye The Sailor Man

profile of ramses

UNC: 5 National Titles (NCAA) Duke: 3 National Titles (NCAA)

profile of dageroth

I am very hard on gov officials who look after their ratings rather than the issues before them, whether they be Reps, Dems or other. Take no prisoners!

Generic Profile Image

profile of amedlin

I am 47 years old and a breast cancer survivor of two years.  I had a mamogram in Feb. 2007 which...

Generic Profile Image

profile of we_all_have_it_coming

We all have it coming.

Generic Profile Image

profile of kbarbour

Fayetteville Dogwood Festival

Generic Profile Image

profile of awlee811

Ring for sale

   blogs    galleries    profiles    groups    popular  

Generic Profile Image

privately public (6 members)

A Public Group for the Private Profiles.   If you like to blog but like to keep...

golo happy birthday club (26 members)

  1/8 - justafella  2/2 - sandlapper 2/9 - Sue Donym  2/10-Pom...

therustybucketkidsclub (3 members)

Fans of The Rusty Bucket Kids Club, as well as cast and crew share the fun and the joy the movie and music are bringing to the community.

the book club (17 members)

This group is for those that would like to get involved with monthly readings, or readings at your...

Generic Profile Image

veterans affairs-are you a vfw (2 members)

OK, lets hear from all our proud Veterans here in Golo land! What branch of service were/are...

unemployed goloers corporation (10 members)

The unemployed Goloers Corporation is a newly formed corporation that contains the skills of all people...

motivation for weight loss (4 members)

If you want to lose weight or have already lost the weight.. we need each other to inspire each other to reach the determined goal..

golo weight loss buddy group (9 members)

  This group is for anyone (male or female) interested in "buddying up" with...

crew the raccoon (1 member)

Fans, volunteers and freinds of the Peak City Film Festival in historic downtown Apex, NC, November 20, 21, 22  2009.  

Generic Profile Image

the throne of wisdom (12 members)

   blogs    galleries    profiles    groups    popular  

profile of kemosabe

I sat down at the bar and ordered a drink. As I sat sipping my drink,...

anyone get a signed book from palin?

Hundreds cheer Palin during Bragg book-signing   ...

ku klux klan rally at ole miss

huffingtonpost.com  The KKK gathered at Ole Miss today to protest...

Generic Profile Image

n.c. parade organizers ban mrs. claus from holiday march (the raleigh christmas parade)

Never saw this story on WRAL.  Interesting that WRAL can report on stories across the nation...

riddle me this...wake up golo - time for some trivia!!

First GOLOer to answer the following questions (all) correctly wins a prize!! ...

what a crowd

WTVD just announced over 4,000 showed up in the rain today for Palin.  Guess they are...

keep it in the bedroom

  So the very much overrated adam lambert kissed another guy on national tv, hes crying...

what's everyone making for turkey-day

Heyyyyy =]  So since the big day is almost here, what cha making??   I'm...