Trish Wamsat's AdobeDogs Puppy and Dog Training
Training for Today's Dogs
Boarding Cheat Sheet
MEET AND GREET:
Is required if I don't already know your dog. You just drive down to the Farm and we take your dog for a walk with the current guests and the resident dogs. We walk FAST, in the beginning in a specific direction, as a matter of routine for all of the dogs. Each dog that comes in, takes the walk with us. It forms a solidarity and is comforting.
While you're here, I'll be looking at your dog's social skills and willingness to be a part of the group as well as follow direction from me. Now, that probably sounds scary, but there is NO TRAINING required. Just a desire to be with us. I'll also hand out treats to the group as I do many times per day and I'm looking for a lack of violence. I'll also be watching his/her reaction to the resident farm animals.
Otherwise, it's a great time to come and walk with your dog offleash with a bunch of others. It can be pretty powerful for some people...
CRATES:
The dogs are crated twice a day, for meals. In addition, I occasionally run errands in town and they may be crated then (usually only if they're not trustworthy in the house without a person). I usually try to schedule my errands for lunchtime as that's when the dogs are most likely to just sleep. They are never in a crate for more than 3 hours during the day.
Because this is so important, it's great if they are used to being crated at home, sometimes, especially for getting bones, treats and other good things!
SLEEPING ALONE:
The dogs live, with me, in my living room; they sleep there (on the couch, or a comforter, or a dog bed... some dogs prefer a crate and some need to be in a crate for various reasons), and my room is on the other side of an open door with a baby gate. It's really important that they not get too anxious because they can't see me.... Separation anxiety is a tough thing and can be worked with for an extra training fee.
Obviously, anxiety from a new place and being around new friends and new routines is normal and expected!
BARKING:
Excessive, "bossy", or protest barking is a real problem because I live with these guys nearly 24/7 and I need what brain cells I have left, to remain intact. The barking I'm talking about is barking that is insistent and doesn't stop with words from a human, or worse yet, is at the human who is asking for quiet.
Again, barking is completely expected; after all, it's a weird place with weird sights and sounds and they're DOGS!
PREDATION:
Dogs that want to eat any of my animals are not going to work out here. My chickens, goats and horse are confined in an area fenced to keep them in and dogs out. Some dogs become obsessed with them, though, and end up not having any fun and making everyone else nervous and miserable.
MOST dogs are fascinated by what's on the other side of the wire and enjoy watching the animals and even bark and run around the pen a little and I'm fine with that ... and if the animals were free and ran away, almost any dog will chase and grab. The true, prey-driven obsession is very different and we'll know within a few minutes of our meet and greet if it's bad.....
HOUSETRAINING (HOUSE BREAKING):
Dogs should be capable of not pottying in the house, except in case of emergency. Non-housetrained dogs will be accepted with an additional fee for training and extra cleaning.
COMPATABILITY:
Dogs should be social and like people and playing with other dogs. They should be able to take treats while in a group and not be growly or aggressive. I know... sounds impossible, but it's not and those dogs capable of it are VERY welcome, here!
Arguments are normal and an important part of communication. I never worry about dogs telling other dogs off as long as there are no injuries and no bullying, so if your dog has had a couple of onleash scuffles or arguments at the dog park, it doesn't automatically mean he won't fit in, here.
EXERCISE:
All day, every day, rain or shine.... No one is forced to exercise, but they often push themselves to keep up with the others. It's a lot of fun and more exercise than most of them are used to, so I'm careful to make sure they get lots of rest, too.
COUCH TIME:
All of the dogs are welcome on my couches...
FOOD, MEALS:
The dogs are fed twice a day; morning and evening. I usually discourage play for half an hour or more after eating, by encouraging a nap. We also have snacks mid-day to prevent hunger from causing grouchiness. I'm sorry, but, at this time, I'm unable to accommodate special diets.
I feed a mixture of high quality, easy to digest, and bland food to prevent stomach upset. In addition to what I feed them, they eat grass, horse poo, and other things they find in the pasture (ick... sorry...). I also offer raw beef bones a couple of times a week and most dogs love them!
GROOMING:
Sorry, I do bare minimum grooming. If your dog's coat requires frequent brushing or you're worried about tangles, the Farm is not a great place to board. I brush out stickers and check for foxtails, but the dogs play in the mud, roll in smelly things and generally have a great time. Your dog will come home tired and in need of a bath. In some cases, I can arrange to have your dog bathed the day he goes home.
PAYMENT:
Please plan to pay at the beginning of your dog's stay. I take checks and cash, as well as credit cards via PayPal. If you'd like to pay with a card, just let me know and I'll set it up for you. Only one discount applies per visit, please. There is no charge for the meet and greet, I just want to meet you and your dog to make sure we'll get along and you won't have nightmares imagining what might be happening.
QUESTIONS:
please feel free to write with anything I haven't answered here.
Is required if I don't already know your dog. You just drive down to the Farm and we take your dog for a walk with the current guests and the resident dogs. We walk FAST, in the beginning in a specific direction, as a matter of routine for all of the dogs. Each dog that comes in, takes the walk with us. It forms a solidarity and is comforting.
While you're here, I'll be looking at your dog's social skills and willingness to be a part of the group as well as follow direction from me. Now, that probably sounds scary, but there is NO TRAINING required. Just a desire to be with us. I'll also hand out treats to the group as I do many times per day and I'm looking for a lack of violence. I'll also be watching his/her reaction to the resident farm animals.
Otherwise, it's a great time to come and walk with your dog offleash with a bunch of others. It can be pretty powerful for some people...
CRATES:
The dogs are crated twice a day, for meals. In addition, I occasionally run errands in town and they may be crated then (usually only if they're not trustworthy in the house without a person). I usually try to schedule my errands for lunchtime as that's when the dogs are most likely to just sleep. They are never in a crate for more than 3 hours during the day.
Because this is so important, it's great if they are used to being crated at home, sometimes, especially for getting bones, treats and other good things!
SLEEPING ALONE:
The dogs live, with me, in my living room; they sleep there (on the couch, or a comforter, or a dog bed... some dogs prefer a crate and some need to be in a crate for various reasons), and my room is on the other side of an open door with a baby gate. It's really important that they not get too anxious because they can't see me.... Separation anxiety is a tough thing and can be worked with for an extra training fee.
Obviously, anxiety from a new place and being around new friends and new routines is normal and expected!
BARKING:
Excessive, "bossy", or protest barking is a real problem because I live with these guys nearly 24/7 and I need what brain cells I have left, to remain intact. The barking I'm talking about is barking that is insistent and doesn't stop with words from a human, or worse yet, is at the human who is asking for quiet.
Again, barking is completely expected; after all, it's a weird place with weird sights and sounds and they're DOGS!
PREDATION:
Dogs that want to eat any of my animals are not going to work out here. My chickens, goats and horse are confined in an area fenced to keep them in and dogs out. Some dogs become obsessed with them, though, and end up not having any fun and making everyone else nervous and miserable.
MOST dogs are fascinated by what's on the other side of the wire and enjoy watching the animals and even bark and run around the pen a little and I'm fine with that ... and if the animals were free and ran away, almost any dog will chase and grab. The true, prey-driven obsession is very different and we'll know within a few minutes of our meet and greet if it's bad.....
HOUSETRAINING (HOUSE BREAKING):
Dogs should be capable of not pottying in the house, except in case of emergency. Non-housetrained dogs will be accepted with an additional fee for training and extra cleaning.
COMPATABILITY:
Dogs should be social and like people and playing with other dogs. They should be able to take treats while in a group and not be growly or aggressive. I know... sounds impossible, but it's not and those dogs capable of it are VERY welcome, here!
Arguments are normal and an important part of communication. I never worry about dogs telling other dogs off as long as there are no injuries and no bullying, so if your dog has had a couple of onleash scuffles or arguments at the dog park, it doesn't automatically mean he won't fit in, here.
EXERCISE:
All day, every day, rain or shine.... No one is forced to exercise, but they often push themselves to keep up with the others. It's a lot of fun and more exercise than most of them are used to, so I'm careful to make sure they get lots of rest, too.
COUCH TIME:
All of the dogs are welcome on my couches...
FOOD, MEALS:
The dogs are fed twice a day; morning and evening. I usually discourage play for half an hour or more after eating, by encouraging a nap. We also have snacks mid-day to prevent hunger from causing grouchiness. I'm sorry, but, at this time, I'm unable to accommodate special diets.
I feed a mixture of high quality, easy to digest, and bland food to prevent stomach upset. In addition to what I feed them, they eat grass, horse poo, and other things they find in the pasture (ick... sorry...). I also offer raw beef bones a couple of times a week and most dogs love them!
GROOMING:
Sorry, I do bare minimum grooming. If your dog's coat requires frequent brushing or you're worried about tangles, the Farm is not a great place to board. I brush out stickers and check for foxtails, but the dogs play in the mud, roll in smelly things and generally have a great time. Your dog will come home tired and in need of a bath. In some cases, I can arrange to have your dog bathed the day he goes home.
PAYMENT:
Please plan to pay at the beginning of your dog's stay. I take checks and cash, as well as credit cards via PayPal. If you'd like to pay with a card, just let me know and I'll set it up for you. Only one discount applies per visit, please. There is no charge for the meet and greet, I just want to meet you and your dog to make sure we'll get along and you won't have nightmares imagining what might be happening.
QUESTIONS:
please feel free to write with anything I haven't answered here.
