Teaching Dogs To Swim

Posted on July 11, 2011 by Erica Manney

It’s summer and there’s nothing better than a jump in the pool. Even better if your dog can splash around with you! Unfortunately, some dogs haven’t quite gotten the hang of taking a dip, and some dogs are scared of water and backyard pools.

We can help!

Dogs don’t always get the hang of swimming, and instead try to run out of the water. This doesn’t end well, and can be very dangerous for the dog (and humans that try to help a terrified, panicking dog.)

Watch this video of the Best Friend’s Dog Traininer’s teaching a dog to swim. You can see the progress and results!

Want your dog to become a great swimmer or get over fear of the water? Call or email us!

Just remember to never leave a dog unattended near a pool, even if they are great swimmers. Safety first!

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Remote Collar Dog Training Seminar in Syracuse, NY

Posted on July 10, 2011 by Erica Manney

Are you in the Syracuse, NY area?

Come to our Remote Collar Training Weekend

Frank Bonomo and the Best Friend’s Dog Training Team are offering a Hands-On Weekend Seminar on September 11th and 12th

This if only for people (and dogs!) who are serious about learning new methods of dog training – you can be a beginner, or an expert and you’ll see results!

In just one fun weekend with your dog, you’ll learn:

  • Selecting And Using a Remote Collar (and why we use them)
  • Maintaining Attention with lots of distractions
  • Communicate with difficult or impaired dogs (blind, deaf, aggressive or shy and sensitive dogs)
  • Off Leash Control
  • Obedience Pet Training
  • Sport Dog Training

You’ll be able to STOP -

  • Raising your voice, screaming and yelling
  • Outdated and dangerous dominance exercises
  • Jumping on people
  • Pulling on the leash
  • Unwanted barking

Only $199 for the WHOLE WEEKEND

Register Today! Email us training@muttmanners.com, call us 516-785-8200 or register now: www.muttmanners.com/seminars

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Dog Training In Brooklyn

Posted on February 28, 2011 by Erica Manney

Did you know ….

That Best Friend’s Dog Training offers our services and dog obedience training in Brooklyn?

It’s true!

Dogs in Brooklyn can learn to be well-mannered, both on-leash and off.

We even have weekly group dog training classes for our lifetime members. Come visit us in Marine Park, Brooklyn to see a group class for yourself.

For more information, call 212-785-8200 or email us!

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Best Friend’s Dog Training Client in Westminster Kennel Club Competition

Posted on January 24, 2011 by Erica Manney

Best Friend’s Dog Training congratulates David Kralstein and his Flat-Coated Retriever “BLACNFLAT BURNS AND ALLEN ‘GEORGE’” for their inclusion on Tuesday’s Westminster Kennel Club’s competition at Madison Square Garden.

The first competition is Best of Breed, and then with some luck, David and “George” could show at Best of Group (Sporting Breeds.) Then – is Best in Show in George’s future?!

About George

George started and finished his Championship at his first cluster of shows in tough Northeast competition in just five straight days in July of 2010. A willing worker, he remains the typical Flat-Coated goofball. He dabbles in agility, and begins field training this spring. Tall, with good bone, dark eyes and nice angulation, he moves cleanly with a typical Flat-Coat silhouette. George has a stable, confident temperament and is social with both humans and dogs. A certified Therapy Dog, he enjoys reading with children.

Owner David Kralstein is a familiar face at Best Friend’s Dog Training. Frank Bonomo met him at a seminar almost a decade ago, and began training the Kralstein’s “Carole’s Sedgeblac Say Goodnight Gracie” in 2007. . George began his training in 2008.  You can frequently catch David attending and helping out with our lifetime group classes. See what David has to say about Best Friend’s Dog Training in this video.

In addition to training and working with his great dogs, David is also the co-founder of Canine Club Getaway. BFDT’s Frank Bonomo is the Head Trainer for this unique dog-focused retreat.

Did you know?

Westminster’s first sellout of Madison Square Garden for the show came in 2005 and has been repeated each year since.  Learn more about the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show here, and see when you can potentially catch David and George on TV! We’ll have our DVRs set, but you can also watch streaming coverage.

Congrats again George and David. We’re proud and rooting for you!

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Come “Ask a Trainer” at events in Long Island and NYC

Posted on November 30, 2010 by Erica Manney

We’re always happy to answer questions about your dog and dog training. You can call us, email us or even schedule a free evaluation in your home. We love dogs, and we’re serious about making sure you have the tools you need to succeed.

There’s a lot that goes in to training a great dog, and no doubt – a large part of it is nutrition (c’mon, be honest – how well do you concentrate when you are hungry or have eaten lots of junk food?) We’re happy to have been asked by Holistic Select pet food to come to some of their “Pet-wise In-store Events” to help answer some questions about your dog’s training and behavior.

So, if you have a question you want answered in person (and don’t want to come to one of our group classes), we’re going to be making a few appearances in local pet supply stores in the New York City and Long Island area.

Come on down, ask a question or just say hi!

On December 4th, 2010, from 1-3pm we will be at:

Mutts and Butts
2076 Merrick Rd.
Merrick, NY

AND

Beasty Feast
630 Hudson Street
New York, NY

And on December 11th, come join us at

Pet Supplies “Plus”
601 Portion Rd
Lake Ronkonkoma, NY

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Client Stories: From Willful Puppy to Great Family Pet

Posted on November 12, 2010 by Erica Manney

The following story is from Best Friend’s Dog Training Clients, Brian and Maria Nielsen.

Training “The Beautiful Monster”

We purchased an incredibly bright and absolutely gorgeous German Shepherd in  September of 09. She was only 8 weeks old and we fell in love. She learned simple commands like come, sit, stay, down, play dead and roll over in a span of 2 weeks…with treat training. Like I said, she was very bright and a quick learn…so while we didn’t have any issues teaching her, we quickly found out that she was STUBBORN! We eventually nicknamed her our “beautiful monster”! We knew that when we decided to own a GS puppy that she would be inquisitive and “get into things”, that she would need lots of exercise and playtime to keep her mind and body active so she wasn’t destructive in our home. But nothing prepared us for how strong minded she would be and how she would use her intelligence and stubbornness to manipulate us.

The Puppy Was Winning

Besides using those skills to get her way, she was growing quickly and becoming stronger. Eventually, she was taking me for walks in the directions that she wanted. When it came time to start giving commands without treats, that’s when things got very difficult. If I had a treat in my hand she would follow my commands beautifully and eagerly await for the next, but when I didn’t have a treat in my hand, she would blow me off without a second thought. Being that she was a puppy, she was constantly eating rocks, dirt, cigarette butts and anything else that was a “NO”. She also had a penchant for digging, stealing shoes or clothing and her favorite was to shred paper towels. If I had a treat with me, she would stop instantly, if I didn’t, it was a struggle to get her out of whatever mess she was in at the time. Eventually, it got to the point where I couldn’t control her unless my husband was home and that was NOT acceptable.

The Puppy Learns The Rules. Without Treats.

After some research and a couple of enthusiastic recommendations, we decided we NEEDED help from Best Friends Dog Training. Within the first lesson, our trainer Derrick had her obeying and listening WITHOUT TREATS! He taught us the tools we needed to continue training with her until his next visit, so it was our responsibility to take the time to work with her throughout the week until he came for the next training session.
(Trust me, he could tell when we worked with her more or less.)

By the 3rd lesson she knew that Derrick meant work, and being the shepherd that she is, she thrived on working. My husband and I were amazed at how well she was behaving and how well she was responding to the training. By our 5th lesson we were deemed ready for group class (which is FREE for the life of the dog and unheard of ANYWHERE else).

Our first day of group class was an eye opener, to say the least. I thought being ready for class meant that we were trained, but I was utterly wrong. I realized that group class was an extension of OUR training as owner and pet. It took training to a whole new level, making us both work harder and become more knowledgeable of what was needed and expected. By our 4th group class, the leash was off!!! It wasn’t pretty, but it was off and she was following my commands! If anyone knows Dutchess, they know that she is incredibly social and LOVES other dogs, which can be her downfall in the event she invades the space of a dog that may not be friendly. Yet another reason why class is so important for her. She’s the type of dog that gets so excited to see other people and other dogs that training would literally “fly out of her brain” if it weren’t for the training methods taught and used by BFDT.

While we were always the proud owners of dog, only now are we the proud owners of a well behaved dog…thanks entirely to the team at Best Friends Dog Training!!!

Want your own puppy success story? Give us a call!

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Bed-Bug Sniffing Dogs

Posted on November 3, 2010 by Erica Manney

When you think of specialty working dogs, you may think of therapy dogs, seeing-eye dogs, hunting dogs and dogs for police work and narcotics detection. But have you thought about bed-bug sniffing dogs?

You should! Unfortunately, New Yorkers are experiencing a serious bedbug infestation, and NYC and Long Island have been hit especially hard. Statistics from the city’s Department of Housing, Preservation and Development reveal an epidemic. Manhattanites have been complaining about bed bugs at six times the rate they did in 2005. On Staten Island, the number of complaints is 32 times higher than it was five years ago.

Why are bedbugs such a pest? They are hard to kill, have itchy, annoying bites, easily spread and can go a year without feeding. Bedbugs don’t spread disease, but they have a major financial impact. Recent reports show that tourism is down because travelers fear these pests. And rental apartments are sitting vacant out of fear. Not only are homeowners afraid, but businesses are willing to pay top dollar to get to the source of the problem, and find out if their shops and hotels are infected.

What do bedbugs and Best Friend’s Dog Training have in common …? Luckily, not a home! But that could be because we are currently training bed-bug sniffing dogs. Trained bedbug dogs can quickly determine if a residence or home is infested, and homeowners, pest-control companies and business-owners are willing to pay top dollar for this service. Even movie theaters are using bedbug sniffing dogs to see if they are affected!  A residential visit can earn your pup approximately $350, and larger residences and businesses are willing to pay in the $800 range to quickly and efficiently diagnose bedbugs.

If you are interested in learning to train your dog for bed-bug sniffing or detection, give us a call at 516-785-8200 or email us at training@muttmanners.com

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Frank Bonomo to lead dog training seminars

Posted on November 1, 2010 by Erica Manney

Frank Bonomo of Best Friend’s Dog Training Trains Tri-State Dog Trainers About New Advances in Dog Training and the “Fusion Method” at events in NYC and Long Island.

Frank Bonomo, of Best Friend’s Dog Training, New York’s premier dog training company has been invited to address a select group of dog trainers from the Dog Trainers’ Connection on the topic of Fusion Training. This conference, to be held on November 11th in New York City, will be an opportunity for trainers across the tri-state area to learn more new tools, including advances in remote collar to improve their skills and incorporate new techniques.

The profession and art of dog training has seen many recent significant advances and Bonomo will examine how trainers can incorporate modern methods into the traditional usage of clicker and leash training. He will also discuss the advances in remote collar training.

Following the conference, Bonomo will be leading a weekend-long, hands-on seminar for attendees and dog trainer on December 4th and 5th in Wantagh, NY. Weekend seminar attendees will be invited to attend Bonomo’s regular, weekly off-leash group class. Many different techniques are displayed with a group of clients that may be friendly, scared or aggressive dogs. After the class, hands-on training will begin with demo and client dogs that the trainers are encouraged to bring.

The purpose of these seminars is for dog trainers to take a step towards better education and to start uniting the profession. Many trainers are taught “this is the only way to train”, and have difficulty getting out of that mindset. Bonomo has found that dogs trained with a few methods at once are usually the best trained. Trainers that can utilize multiple methods will improve their professional abilities, their demo dog and grow their business. The group discussions will also include topics such as “Three Mistakes that Cost Trainers $1,000 a Month” and tips on how to grow their business. This is a great networking opportunity for professional dog trainers.

Bonomo’s philosophy is that there is “no one ‘right’ way to train.” By combining several different modern methods, Fusion Training allows the flexibility often needed for success. “The method used has to fit both the individual dog and the handler’s capabilities.” This approach is how he helps trainers achieve success.

“I’m excited to work with so many engaged and interested dog trainers at this event,” said President and Founder Bonomo. “I’m sure that sharing what I’ve learned about fusion training and the implementation of mixed techniques will help not only a lot of trainers, but a lot of dogs, previously considered untouchable. This is a great opportunity.”

To sign up for the NYC conference, contact Bonnie Brown at 917-621-6239; to learn more about the weekend event, Fusion Training and Best Friend’s Dog Training; call 516-785-8200. Bonomo is also available to the media to provide expertise about all training and behavior-related issues.

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Halloween Dog Safety Tips

Posted on October 27, 2010 by Erica Manney

Candy, cute kids, dog costumes–you don’t have to be a kid to love Halloween! But some dogs aren’t as thrilled with the festivities. Here are some tips to keep your dog safe and happy on Halloween.

  • Carefully monitor the treat bag. Chocolate is a major toxin for dogs, and the darker it is, the more dangerous. Be sure not to leave unattended candy. And throw out your wrappers after you’ve devoured the loot – the smell of candy could make a discarded wrapper a potential choking hazard.
  • Select your dog costume carefully. Make sure it’s not too warm for indoor events, and that it’s the right size. Too small and it may be hard for your dog to breathe; too large and your dog could trip – or mistakenly pee on it. Ewww.
  • Beware the doorbell. For some dogs, a constant stream of doorbell ringing visitors can lead to over-excitement. And what would normally be a quiet walk may have lots of sugared-up kids on the trail. To keep your dog calm, start practicing your “sit and stays” and “place” (while ringing the bell.) a few days prior.  If your dog reacting when the doorbell rinsg is a problem even when it’s not on All Hallow’s Eve, or doesn’t know sit, stay or “go to place” give us a call.

Follow these tips and you’re sure to have a great night. And don’t forget to share the pics of your dressed-up dog on our Facebook page.

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Bad weather exercise ideas for your dog

Posted on February 25, 2010 by Frank Bonomo

When the weather turns cold, rainy or snowy dog exercise options get very limited, especially if you live in a big city like New York. You don’t have to pay a dog walker or send your pup to daycare.  Here are some simple and creative ideas to exercise your dog out of the wet and cold so that you both can stay sane this winter!

 

Treadmill- if you have a treadmill in your house or apartment, then you have a readymade dog walker. Teaching your dog to like the treadmill is easy.  Put a harness on your dog.  Stand on the stationary sides of the treadmill with your dog between your legs.  Grasp your dogs harness and lift him slightly so that his weight is off his feet a little.  Start the treadmill very very slowly.  As he gets the hang of it, lower him slowly so that he’s putting all his weight down and keeping up with the motion of the treadmill.  Slowly increase the speed and ease yourself away.  Even when your dog gets the hang of the treadmill and is comfortable using it, don’t ever have your dog on the treadmill unsupervised!  Start off with short treadmill walks of a few minutes at a time.  You will see how quickly your dog tires with this exercise.

 

The Stair Fetch Game- this one is great.  Find a quiet stairway away from your neighbors so that you don’t disturb anyone.  Service stairs often work well.  Start at the bottom of the stairs and throw your dog’s ball or favorite toy up the flight of stairs.  He will go charging up the stairs to get the toy and then run back down so you can throw it again.  For a fast paced game, have two balls.  As soon as your dog comes down with the first toy and drops it, immediately throw the second ball like relay fetch.

 

Hide and Seek Game – this works well with dogs that will search for treats or lost toys.  Put your dog in a sit (stay) or have a family member hold the dog.  Show the dog were you are hiding the treat or toy.  Tell him to “find it” or “search” (or whatever makes sense to you) and release the dog.  Eventually hide the reward behind the dog’s back.  When he gets really good, hide the reward in another room and watch him use his nose to find the treat.  This game makes use of the dog’s most proficient sense, smell.  You will be surprised how tired he gets from having to sniff things out. 

 

Hallway Obedience – don’t want to go out to train your dog? You don’t have an excuse to miss a lesson!  Hallways make great environments to work on your dog’s heel, heel as a position, automatic sit, recall, sit on recall, sit (stay)/ down (stay) and change of positions.  You can use the elevators in the lobby to work on training around distractions. 

 

Dog Bubbles- feeling really lazy?  Hey the weather is lousy, I don’t blame you.  Pick up some specialized dog bubbles and sit on the couch.  These can be really fun, but watch for signs of frustration.  When a dog keeps chasing something he can’t have they sometimes get a little neurotic.  Always have a tangible toy on hand for your pooch to fetch and chew when playing with “disappearing toys .“ (Same rules go for snow ball fetch and laser pointers.) 

 

Interactive Toys – feeling very lazy?  Stuff your dog’s food in a kong or other interactive toy and have him work to get the food out.  At the end, your dog will be full and tired!\

 

Hope you find these suggestions helpful.  Happy Snow Day for you and your Pooch!

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