Happy Wednesday!

Today, we focus on 'training'! Dogs AND Cats.

Does your dog know how to 'sit' on command? 'Lay down?' 'Roll over?' 'Get down?' Does s/he know how to ask to 'go potty outside?' Does your cat know any tricks?

Included in this newsletter:


  • Basic Dog Training Commands
  • Puppy Training Timeline: Teaching Good Behavior Before It's Too Late
  • Mask Force: Training Dogs to be Comfortable Around People in Face Masks
  • Why Does My Friendly Dog Bark and Lunge at Other Dogs When They Are on Leash
  • Fun With Healing - It's Easy to Teach Your Dog to Walk Beside You
  • Dog Training Versus Animal Behaviorists: Which is right for your dog?
  • Cat Training: How to Train Your Cat the Easy Way
  • Cat Behavior Myths Decoded
  • Charlotte Dog Trainers and Behaviorist

A huge thanks for your continued support and feedback!

Terry Richardson
Basic Dog Training Commands
Brought to you by
Puppy Training Timeline: Teach Good Behavior Before It's Too Late
Mary Kearl | American Kennel Club (AKC)
Puppies, like human babies, do a lot of learning to do in their early months, especially when it comes to navigating their new environment and adopting good manners.
For tips on how to facilitate that learning, we turned to certified dog trainer Kate Naito, who is also an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator and Manners Program Director at Doggie Academy.

The first thing to do before training begins
Before you even start training a puppy, it’s important to focus on your little one’s emotional health, says Naito, “That means making sure you create an environment in which your puppy feels safe around you.”
Puppyhood training, she says, comes down to two key components:
  1. Relationship building
  2. Creating structure
After all, once a loving and trusting bond exists, it’s much easier (and enjoyable) to teach your dog specific behaviors and commands, such as “drop it” and “heel.”

This article provides 8 total training goals covering each stage below:
  • Growth stage: between 8 - 16 weeks
  • Puppy stage: By 6 months
  • Growth stage: By one year
Dogs: Masks | Lunging | Heeling
Dog Trainers Versus Animal Behaviorists - Which is Right for Your Dog?
Jenna Stregowski, RVT | The SprucePets
Dog Trainers
Dog trainers train dogs to perform specific tasks or actions. They also teach dogs not to do certain things. Some trainers will work with problem behaviors, even delving into the behaviorist side of things. However, a good trainer knows his or her own limits and, if necessary, will refer you to someone better equipped to deal with the issue. Some dog trainers work in the field as a hobby, while others are professional dog trainers with some kind of certification, often through the CCPDT or IACP.

When looking for a dog trainer, research his or her certifications, education and experience. Ask for references as well. Letters after the name, while important, are not going to assure you that the trainer is good. Conversely, there are plenty of excellent trainers without letters after their names. In addition, some dog trainers also have certification in behavior as well.

Animal Behaviorists
Again, anyone can claim to be a behaviorist. However, technically speaking, professional behaviorists are called Applied Animal Behaviorists. They earn this title through formal education and earning an MS, MA, or Ph.D. in animal behavior. Some go on to earn additional certifications such as CAAB or ACAAB. It would be reasonable to think of an applied animal behaviorist as a kind of pet psychologist. 

Applied animal behaviorists focus on shaping behaviors in animals and tend to work with pets displaying behavior problems. They can recognize how and why your pet’s behavior is abnormal, and can effectively teach you how to understand and work with your pet. Good behaviorists are experts in behavior modification and also deeply understand the normal behavior of the particular species being treated. In addition, they spend a lot of time counseling humans about the way they interact with their pets. They are not trainers but are often able to give advice about training.
Cat Training: How to Train Your Cat the Easy Way
Erin Ollila | Hills
When learning how to train your cat, you'll start with very basic first steps that both reward good behavior and discourage the bad. But can you train a cat the same way you might train a dog? Yes and no.

Because they're highly independent animals, cats might appear aloof or uninterested in following your commands. That doesn't mean you can't influence their behavior, though. If you're patient and consistent, your new kitten or older cat can be trained in no time.

What Do You Want to Train?
First, determine what you'd like your cat to learn, then move toward them in small ways each day. Before you start training your cat, however, consider what commands you'll use and what types of behavioral actions you want her to learn. Think about what you may have wondered in the past: how to train your cat to use a litter box, how to keep her calm on trips to the veterinarian's office, and the like. How can you teach her stop scratching your rugs or furniture? These are all options you can work on during training.
Some common objectives include:
  • House training or litter training.
  • Coming to you when you call or gesture.
  • Staying calm and still for grooming.
  • Interacting with you, other people, or other animals.
  • Playing with toys, with you, or with another cat.
  • Calm traveling (getting into carrier and riding in the car).
Cat Behavior Myths Decoded
Tabitha Kucera RVT, CCBC, KPA-CTP
Cats are one of the most popular pets yet they are often misunderstood. This is, in part, due to the many myths and stereotypes that are commonly shared about cats. It's time to separate fact from fiction by dispelling four common myths about cats.

Myth: Cats Can’t Be Trained
There is a common misconception that cats cannot be trained, or that training them is more difficult than with dogs. Both of those statements are false and can be detrimental when a cat owner believes them. When owners feel that their cats cannot be trained, they also believe that cats' behavioral problems cannot be resolved. This can often result in fatal consequences for cats, including euthanasia and relinquishment. 

The truth is that many feline behavior problems can be resolved, and they are easy to train. Cats can be taught foundation behaviors (targeting, attention), positive husbandry behaviors (nail trims, brushing, and handling), and fun tricks (roll over, high five).

When training cats, focus on the good, meaning, focus on the positive behaviors and build upon those instead of telling an animal what not to do. Positive training methods accelerate learning since animals can better understand what we are asking of them instead of repeatedly telling them no. These methods also help to not only keep training fun for both the teacher and the learner but also creates enthusiastic learners and encourages creativity along with strengthening the human animal bond.

Using aversives, meaning something the cat doesn’t like (i.e. spraying with water, shocking, yelling, hitting), to stop the behavior is not recommended. Using aversives does not teach the cat the wanted behavior (the cat learns to wait until you are not around before engaging in the behavior), does not effectively communicate with your cat what you do want, can increase fear and anxiety, and can cause the cat to be fearful of you and damage the human-animal bond.
How to Train a Cat
Towergate Insurance
Cats aren't just nimble - they're also quick-witted. In fact, studies have suggested that they may have the ability to recall memories in an episodic manner similar to human beings. While there have been stories of cats achieving greatness - from travelling hundreds of miles to get home, to playing the piano - this training guide is aimed at the average feline companion.


  • Tools you'll need to train your cat
  • Cat training methods
  • Cat training: from easy to advanced
Charlotte Dog Trainers and Behaviorists
  • Agility Classes
  • Obedience\Pre-Obedience Classes
  • Pet Classes
  • Rally Classes
  • ScentWork Classes
  • Shows and Trials
  • Obedience
  • Puppy Communication
  • Behavior Intervention
  • Give Your Dog a Job
  • Board and Train


  • First Class Canine Classes
  • Puppy Socialization Classes
  • Adult Dog Play and Socialization Class
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