How do you walk your tiny dog?

All dogs need to be walked, and not just for exercise! Walking is, in this trainer's opinion, one of the single best bonding experiences to be had with any dog, regardless of size or shape.

It breaks my heart that so many owners, and their dogs, are deprived of this.

And unfortunately it seems that the smaller the dog, the less the dog gets walked. Now I don't know if this is because the owners figure that small dogs = small exercise, which can be true in some cases, but more often that not it is because the dog is in the owners arms, or a purse, or in their coat, or in their - well, you get the idea.

I know they're cute. I know they're cuddly.

I know that it is much easier to carry them than it is to walk them, but they still need to be walked.

That being said, most of these dogs don't know what it means to be walked on a leash. Some pull way out in front leading the charge, while others shut down and refuse to move at all. And it is in these situations that owners are more than likely going to pick up their dogs and continue on their way without a second thought.

So how do we teach little dogs leash manners? No one likes to bend over the entire trip around the block (using treats to keep the dog in place), and there is simply too much leash required to "lock in" the dog (by lock in I mean using as little leash as possible to limit freedom while still remaining comfortable).

So I guess this is an open call to all of you out there with tiny dogs: How do you walk them? What works/has worked for you in the past? Any helpful hints as to breaking the dog-carrying habit?

Why don't we socialize our dogs? Part 1.

The greater majority of the dogs that I see on a daily basis have negative behaviors that can be attributed to a lack of proper socialization.

Whoa. What does that even mean?

It means that the dog has not learned, or rather, has not been taught, what type of behavior is appropriate for a given "social" situation.

Still confused? I think I am too. Think about it this way:

How do you become a better basketball player? A better typist? A salesman? How do you earn straight A's in school? How do you make a relationship work?

I'll let you ponder it for a minute...

The answer? Practice. Hard work. Repetition. Luck. Instruction. Talent. Understanding. Trust. Guidance.

Right now I know you're thinking "But my dog does fine is social situations! He/she's a really friendly dog!"

Awesome. Congratulations. But have you ever thought about why?

I always use athletes as examples. Michael Jordan would not be Michael Jordan if he didn't practice. What would he be like if he never had any coaching or instruction at all? He was blessed with almost limitless talent to be sure, but he also had family and coaches and teachers and teammates who fostered and nurtured that talent. And you can be sure that MJ was never satisfied with "good," or "fine."

So How did your dog become this exceptional citizen? Think really hard. What have you done to bring him/her to this point (it's ok to brag yourself up a bit here)? Chances are, you have actually done a lot. Granted, you might a very happy social dog to begin with - but that doesn't mean that there isn't room for improvement.

Next on Don't Think. Just Dog: More on socialization and what it means for us as owners.

And it begins. Actually, it has begun. Plus a list.

Ah, blogs. I swore I would avoid them for as long as possible, but in the end I just couldn't resist. I plan to use this for updates regarding the progress of my book about dogs and dog training, plus other dog related topics from foods and treats to product reviews.

The other day someone asked me what my top 10 favorite purebred dog breeds are. Actually it was more than a week ago now. I finally came up with a list (in no particular order):

Border Collie
German Shepherd
Great Dane
Weimaraner
Doberman Pinscher
English Pointer
Boston Terrier
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Boxer
Airedale Terrier

The truth is, I love all dogs - this list could have 200 breeds on it. That being said, we all have to start somewhere...