Equipment

What do I need to obedience train my dog? You don't need a lot of fancy equipment, although there are a few special items you will need:

1. Dog

2. Training area

3. Non-slip, comfortable shoes (for you, not the dog)

4. Training collar

5. Training lead

Dog

This probably sounds silly, doesn't it? Of course you have a dog! But...do you have a healthy dog? Make sure your dog is up-to-date on vaccinations and has been checked for heartworms and internal parasites. You want your dog in tip-top physical condition before you begin. You also need an up-to-date county dog license. 

Does age matter? Your dog needs to be at least 8 weeks old, 12 weeks is even better. There is no upper age limit. I've seen trainers have success with dogs well into their teens. You can indeed teach an old dog new tricks.

Training Area

This was already covered in an earlier post.

Non-Slip, Comfortable Shoes

You are going to be walking, running, stopping, and turning. Make sure your shoes are comfortable and have a no-slip bottom. This is not a fashion show; this is form over function. There is nothing better than a pair of comfortable tennis shoes. Flip-flops, sandals, and high heels have no place in dog training.

Training Collar

Ah, not we come to the first area of debate: What kind of training collar should I use? There are multiple options on the market, and every dog trainer has their own opinion over which are best. Here are some options and my opinion on each. Take my experience for what it is worth and make your own decision.

One note before we begin: Your dog wears only one collar at a time; a training collar during training, and a buckle collar with his identification tags the rest of the time. The identification tags jingle during training and can give your dog unwanted signals, so that is why we switch collars during training time.

Choker Collar

I'm not going to side-step the name of this collar. It is a chain or nylon collar, outfitted with a ring on each end. The design is simple: It tightens around the dog's neck, causing discomfort. I have heart stories about tracheal damage and tracheal collapse as a result of these collars. I have never seen a case of tracheal collapse, but I have seen tracheal strain caused by pulling, either by the dog or handler. That's why I teach my handlers to use a loose leash and only 'pop' or provide a short jerk for correction. 

I've seen hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people using these collars effectively. I don't have a problem with choker collars, provided they are used properly.

To put the choker collar on your dog, slide the chain or nylon through one of the rings, forming a loop. Facing your dog, form the collar into the letter 'P' (allowing the loose ring to dangle and form the leg of the letter) and slide the collar over your dog's head. This is important, as your dog will be working on your left side. The letter 'P' method allows the collar to loosen after it has been popped. If you put the collar on backwards, the collar will no loosen, and will matter of fact continue to tighten as you train, thus choking your dog. Attach your leash to the loose ring of the collar.

To size a choker collar, you size it to your dog's head and neck. Take your dog with you to the pet shop when you get the collar fitted. You want the collar loose enough that it slides over the dog's head to put it on without discomfort or ripping the dog's ears. You want the collar snug enough that it doesn't slide off over your dog's head if he should lower it.

Fixed or Buckle Collar

This is the traditional dog collar, usually made out of leather or nylon web. I have seen many people use these collars in training. It can prove to be troublesome if your dog is a puller, but we will address pulling in a later post. Some dogs outsmart their owners by pulling backwards and sliding their collar over their heads to escape. If this happens, try tightening the collar (but not so tight as to restrict breathing). If it continues, then I suggest switching to a choker collar. Remember, this collar must be free of identification tags or anything else that jingles.

Head Halters

This device is works on the same principle as a halter on a horse or other livestock. I have seen it used effectively, especially in dogs who like to pull or dogs that like to continuously sniff the ground. It also tends to curb aggression issues somewhat. If you purchase one of these, make sure you follow the fitting instructions on the box very carefully and/or have the employees at the pet shop assist you. The biggest drawback that I see to the head halter is that it can be difficult to wean a dog off of them to go back to using regular collars. Head halters are not approved for dog obedience competitions.

Harness

A harness can be particularly useful in dogs that have spinal damage, such as a pinched nerve. It can be problematic with dogs that like to pull, but, once again, we will address this problem in a different post. Harnesses, like head halters, are not approved for use in dog obedience competitions. 

Prong Collar

Poor prong collars. The are constantly vilified. A prong collar has a small chain loop at the bottom of the collar; the rest of the collar is made up of prongs facing the dog's neck. Usually, these prongs are 'L' shaped. The idea of use is to apply the prongs to pressure points onto the back of the dog's neck, requiring the handler to use less force when making corrections. I have seen them used successfully in large dog/small owner situations. That being said, a prong collar should only be used under the supervision of a trained professional, and even then only for a limited time. They are very powerful and dogs are abused when they are used incorrectly.

Training Lead

You will be using two different training leads:

Six-Foot Leather Training Lead

When you enter the leash section of the pet store, you gaze upon rows of different leads. They come in a wide array of different colors and designs - it's a dog leash fashion show! Walk away. Yes, walk away from these pretty leashes. For one thing, they are 4 feet in length, and you need a 6-foot lead. For another thing, they are made out of nylon. If your dog pulls on the leash or you pop the lead to make a correction, those lovely leashes will slice your hands to ribbons! (Doesn't sound very pleasant, does it?)

When choosing a training lead, look for a 6-foot lead in the softest leather possible. (If you can't find them in the store, they are easily found online.) You don't need a wide lead, 1/2 - 7/8 inches is the perfect width. If you like, you can apply a leather conditioner such as mink oil to the leash and work the leash through your hands prior to using it in training. Leather leashes are great; they last a lifetime and  get even more soft and pliable with age. 

Long Line

The long line is used with stay and recall commands, as well as working toward off-leash training. You want a lead that is at least 20 feet in length, although 40 feet is better. You will find them available for purchase in cotton, nylon, and even leather. However, they can get a bit pricey. 

I recommend that you make your own long line:

You will need a snap for your leash; these can be purchased at any hardware store of livestock supply. The other item you need to purchase is a clothesline. Look for a clothesline material like cotton that is a bit heavier - more like a thin, soft rope as opposed to a string. To make the long line, fasten the snap on one end with a good double knot. At the other end (40 feet), tie a loop, again using a double knot so it doesn't tighten on your hand. Voila! A long line at a portion of the cost.

Training Area

Where are you going to train your dog?

In an ideal world, everyone would have a 40' x 40' training area where distractions can be controlled. No distractions in the beginning, then gradually adding distractions each week to acclimate your dog to the 'real world'. This setting is ideal.

However, not everyone has an 'ideal' setting. Work with what you have. Use your back yard, or your driveway. Go to a local park. Train in a barn. Use whatever tools you have at hand, and try to control distractions.

Don't forget that your home is a training area, too. Many of these lessons can be practiced using your entire house. The reason you are obedience training your dog is to make your dog more enjoyable as a member of the family. 

If you have a spouse and/or children, use them. They can call commands. They can provide distractions as as you train. Play music over speakers. Invite friends over for a 'distraction party'. If you have friends that have dogs of their own, have them walk their dogs past or even through your training area. Got a crazy cat lady? Use one of her cats as a distraction! The same can be said for friends who own goats, horses, pot-bellied pigs, motorcycles, loud cars....the possibilities are endless. Use your imagination.

As you progress, take your dog for walks in unfamiliar neighborhoods. Walk through a busy downtown. Go to a parade. Socialization involves exposing your dog to a wide variety of people and situations.

Reminder: Train every day, for at least 30 minutes a session. Have fun!

Before Getting Started

Congratulations! You and your dog are beginning a wondrous, incredible journey. If you have come here, it's probably because you want your dog to become a better community member, a better-behaved family member. I want to help you on this journey.

Each lesson is designed to last for at least one week. Training sessions are at least 30 minutes in length. As we go along, your lesson times will get longer. Most people schedule training sessions with their dogs either first thing in the morning or in the evenings. Not only are these times usually the least busy, they are also the coolest temperature-wise if you are training during the summer months. Training should be daily. This is important. You cannot skip  a couple of days, then try to 'make up' for it by having an hour-long session; it just doesn't work. Trust me on this.

If the weather is bad, you can work on most of the exercises within your home. However, a little rain or snow never hurt anyone. That's not saying that I want you to train in a lightning storm or a blizzard! What I am saying is this: You don't stay home from work or school when it is sprinkling; it shouldn't stop you from training, either.

One caveat: When you get angry or frustrated, stop training for the day. Whatever you feel transmits right down the leash to your dog. If you are happy and enthusiastic about training sessions, your dog will be, too. Anger and frustration often lead to abuse, and that is not what training is about. You need to keep your energy level up as you train. If you feel yourself starting to get frustrated, take a break. Go do something else for awhile. You can come back to it later, even the following day. 

As you and your dog learn each exercise, find creative ways to incorporate it into your daily lives. For example: After you learn the sit stay, have your dog sit and stay outside the dining room during meals. Include your family, teaching them the commands so they can use them, too, and reinforce your dog's lessons.

That being said, let me add one more thing: One dog = one trainer. One person (you) is the main dog trainer. That one person works through the lessons with the dog. Too many trainers are confusing for your dog. Reinforcement is okay, actual training by multiple people is not.

Any questions? Please comment and I will try to answer them.

Holy Hounds?

Where in the world did I come up with the title, "Holy Hounds!"?

Once upon a time, I was working with three different youth dog training groups: The Tailwaggers, the Wiggles 'N' Wags, and the Holy Hounds. Yep, that's right: three different youth groups, all learning about and training dogs simultaneously. I was away from home and with my training groups three nights out of the week and transporting kids to fun matches just about every weekend. 

The third group gave their group the name, "Holy Hounds", because they met in the basement of the local Catholic parish. Every Thursday night we would get together, move the tables and chairs to give us clear training area, put down rubber mats to decrease the damage to the linoleum floor, train for an hour or two, sweep the mats, roll up the mats, sweep the floor again, then put the tables and chairs back in place. The church members were more than gracious; the custodians even started coming to meetings to help us with the set-up and tear-down. The club members purchased matching polo shirts; each one with an embroidered 'Holy Hound': a brown hound replete with angel wings. The logo was designed by one of the more artistic members of the club. (Not me; I can barely draw a stick figure!)

In addition to the kids, the church secretary was also a member of our training group. Here she was, this delicate elderly lady, training one very young, very large, very male German Shepherd Dog. We quickly learned that the church secretary, although lacking in youthful stamina, was a lot tougher than she looked. The kids made her their honorary grandma, and you can bet she was right there in the stands on show day, cheering on every one of her kids.

My husband is a newly-retired minister. Ministry led us on quite a journey, both spiritually and physically. I joined a therapy dog training group and began training therapy dogs; visiting schools, nursing homes, and hospitals.

During our first move, we happened to stop at a small gift shop. My daughter made a beeline for the plush animals, one of her favorite sections of any store. Suddenly, I heard, "Mom! Come here! Look - it's a Holy Hound!" Sure enough, she had found a small plush brown hound with angel wings that looked exactly like the H.H. club logo. That little dog rode on the dash of my van for years and I still have him today.

When I decided to start this blog, we brainstormed lots of names. 'Holy Hounds!' kept coming up, time and time again. It fit, given my husband's former vocation. It also fits, because I believe dog training can be a very spiritual journey, linking dogs, people, and God together. (More on this later.)

And the rest, as they say, is history.....

Who am I?

Hi! My name is Kerri Archer. I have been a dog trainer since 1974 at the ripe old age of 9. (Gosh, I'm old!) My dogs have received numerous awards at the local, state, and national level. One dog, Kerri's Yukon King, was named #1 nationwide in obedience. I have also trained therapy dogs that I used in work at schools, nursing homes, and hospitals. Most of these dogs were my pets, and all of them were loved very, very much!

I remember that first dog obedience class: There were about ten of us, all nervous, freezing our butts off as we took our classes in an old barn in the middle of winter. Our trainer was Stan, a strict disciplinarian who tried, without success, to hide a huge heart. He was an award-winning dog trainer, working with his first group of youth trainees. I'm sure we all caused some sleepless nights, one little girl in particular (I won't name names, but her name started with the letter, 'K'. Ha!) We were a determined little group, one that was excited when the weather turned warmer and we started training at a local churchyard.

I began training other youth when I was a teen. Some might think it a challenge, training my own competition. You would be right about that - but not for the reason you would think. I would lose concentration with my own dogs, focusing instead on the performances of my students, making notes for our next training sessions, rejoicing when my students won awards. (One of my students had a meltdown when she realized that she had placed first in our class. She was 'just sure' I was going to be furious with her for beating me. Imagine her surprise when they announced that she had won, and I ran over to her, whooping and hollering, grabbing her up in a huge hug and spinning her around!) These experiences made me realize just how much I enjoyed teaching. I even went on to receive a Bachelor's Degree in Education!

Over the years, I have educated countless dog trainers, both youth and adult. Nothing gives me more joy than seeing that 'light bulb moment' when an owner and dog come together. (Hello, my name is Kerri, and I am addicted to training dog trainers.) With the advent of the Internet and social media, I have become the 'go to' person for many of my friends whenever they have a dog training question. It is due to them that I started this blog.

My training methods are a blend of many styles. I was first trained in the W.R. Koehler dog training method, and most of my methods are based on his instruction. I have since continued with a 'give it a try' approach to any other training methods. I won't bash any other training method - to each his own. I have found some alternate routes during my tenure, and I use those as my experience guides me. So, if you are studying The Koehler Method, you will find I go off script. Trust me and stay on the journey, okay?

If you've read this far, let me add this: I have a very weird, very warped sense of humor. It comes from working with dogs and youth. So, if I crack a joke, it is okay to laugh. Go ahead!