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The Monthly Wag October 2024
Ready Set...Train! Monthly Newsletter
ReadySetTrainDogs
October 06, 2024
Hello Fellow Dog Lovers!
Thank you for subscribing to our monthly newsletter! We’re thrilled to have you be a part of our ever growing community of dog lovers and training enthusiasts. Each month, you can look forward to receiving valuable training tips, behavior insights, and updates on our upcoming events and classes. We're excited to share this journey with you and your furry friend!
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Table of Contents
New Dog Walking Service!
Your dog needs daily exercise, but fitting walks into your schedule can be tough! We’re here to help! Whether your dog needs a morning stroll, a lunchtime break, an evening walk, or additional support with exercise and training, our structured walks provide the perfect solution. Your dog will receive the exercise, training, and mental enrichment they need, while you enjoy peace of mind knowing their needs are met.
Unlike other dog walking services, our structured walks are led by certified trainers! During these sessions, we incorporate training and loose-leash exercises to enhance your dog’s behavior. We offer a variety of walking options, including training walks, sniff walks, and exercise walks. Check out our website for more information or to book our walking service: https://www.readysettraindogs.com/dogwalking
Dog of the Month: Zane
Name: Zane
Age: 1 Year 10/1/24 Happy Birthday!
Breed: 50% American Pit Bull, 22% Siberian Husky, 17% German Shepherd, 11% Boxer
Favorite activity: Playing with and fetching his ball
Favorite food/snack: Carrots
Best personality trait: Fantastic walker and extremely chill especially for a puppy!
Fun fact about Colt: Zane loves to lie flat on his back with his front legs fully extended upward. (see picture above)
Zane started training with us with the goal of learning his basic good manners behaviors and to proactively work on his crate/separation training. We love it when clients reach out to us to proactively work on training their dogs! Zane is an incredibly sweet, social, and calm dog who loves everyone he meets, both human and canine. He has made great progress in loose leash walking, responding to his name, and coming when called. He still likes to sit and watch squirrels sometimes. Zane continues to work hard on training with his dad, and it’s been a joy to watch him learn and grow over the past few months!
Monthly Training Video: Muzzle Training Tip
Training Topic: Sniff Walks what are they and why are they important for your dog?
Dogs experience and navigate their world primarily through their sense of smell, which is hardwired into their genetics. While humans have about 5-6 million olfactory receptors, dogs have an incredible 100 to 300 million! Their olfactory cortex—the brain region responsible for processing smells—is roughly 40% larger than ours. Just take a look at your dog’s nose. Notice how their nostrils extend to the sides? This design creates a vortex when they breathe, stirring up scent particles from the ground and making them easier to detect. All of this leads to one clear conclusion: our dogs need to sniff!
Sniffing walks provide a fantastic outlet for this natural instinct. During a sniff walk, your dog takes charge of the journey, determining the pace, direction, and the scents they want to explore. This engages what we call "searching mode," which fosters slow, critical thinking and curiosity, ultimately calming them down. When dogs sniff, they’re essentially practicing deep breathing, which helps lower their heart rates and relaxes them. These walks also allow dogs to absorb a wealth of information about their surroundings, helping them become more comfortable with various stimuli. Many pet owners are amazed at how tired their dogs can be after a good sniff walk!
So, how do you set up a sniff walk? We recommend finding calm, open spaces for the best experience. Once you arrive at your sniff spot, let your dog lead the way, choosing where to sniff and how fast to go. If the area is safe, consider using a 10-15 ft long line to give them even more freedom. Don’t forget to bring along some high-value treats to help call your dog back if needed. For secluded sniffing locations, check out sniffspot.com, which allows you to rent private areas for an hour.
While it’s great to let your dog take the lead, safety is always a priority. Make sure to follow leash laws, and don’t let your dog chase or disturb wildlife. Regardless of their temperament, avoid allowing your dog to approach other people or dogs. Your dog’s sniffing adventure should never compromise the safety, comfort, or enjoyment of others in the area.
Upcoming Classes and Events
10/5: 11:30 am- Good Manners I | First Class
10/12: 2-4 pm Ottawa Park-Free park training and vaccination event hosted by Toledo’s PET Bull Project. 80 Rabies/DHPP vaccines and new collars/leashes will be given away for free to anyone in need. Ready Set…Train will be providing free training for anyone that comes to the event.
10/14: 6:30 pm- Toledo’s PET Bull Project Volunteer Orientation and PET Safety Class. If you sign up to volunteer we give a free class on being safe around dogs and reading canine body language.
10/16: 6:30 pm- Puppy Socialization I First Class
10/19: 1:00 pm- Good Manners II. This four week class is designed to get your dog out in the community. We work on teaching your dog to handle distractions and pay attention to you in public locations.
All of our upcoming class still have several spots available. Sign up today!
