​Have you ever seen dogs meet for the first time? Everywhere that we train dogs around Nashville, Murfreesboro, and Franklin we get this question. How do we introduce our dogs properly and safely? A positive first meeting is no accident. Did you know there are ways owners can set their dogs up for successful social interaction? Keep reading to learn how to introduce dogs to new pets and people.
Tips for socializing your dog. Dogs have unique personalities. Some are more social than others. But dogs can also be trained to get along with other dogs, animals and people. Socializing a dog works best when you:

• Start young
• Create a safe environment
• Make socializing a priority
• Watch for signs of stress or distress
• Develop opportunities to try introductions

No matter what your dog's age, it's never too late to learn how to socialize your dog. Here are some ideas to try every day:

• Play games with your dog  like "fetch" to teach your dog body language and sharing.
• Interact with other dogs to help your dog interact appropriately.
• Observe your dog's emotional state. (Behaviors like cowering and tail-tucking indicate he's overwhelmed.)
• Reward good behavior. Progress deserves praise your dog will recognize.

Puppy socialization just like children, puppies go through key developmental periods. Their brains are busy learning about the big world around them. So, starting young will help your puppy develop social skills for life. Purina Senior Scientist, Human/Animal Bond, Ragen McGowan explains, “the sensitive period for puppies begins at about 3 weeks of age and lasts until about 12 weeks of age.”
During this period, it is important to expose your puppy to a lot of new experiences. Some ideas on how to socialize a puppy include opportunities to:

• Meet new people
• Meet other dogs (and cats, too)
• Visit new places
• Get comfortable around children

To a puppy, children may just seem like small humans that make funny noises and unpredictable movements. That's why it's especially important to introduce your puppy to children during this period. That way your puppy will the learn the differences between children and adults.
How do new experiences help dog socialization?Think about dog and puppy socialization this way – it’s practice. The more you and your dog practice, the more socialized he becomes. Each and every new experience will build on what your dog has already learned. Try to praise good behavior at every opportunity. Praise will not only reinforce good behavior, it sets up your dog up for lifelong success.
How to introduce dogs in your familyAlready have a pet dog? Here are some ways you can welcome a new dog into the family:

• Prevent tension. Meeting at a place that isn’t your house or yard can limit territorial behavior.
• Be calm. Your dog can sense if you’re stressed – from your voice, body language and even if you’re holding his leash taut.
• Give them space. Dogs will be more at ease if they can each retreat to a comfort zone.
• Take it slow. You have a lot of time to help your dogs build a lasting relationship. If you have any questions or need help give us a call! 931-808-8612

Have you ever seen dogs meet for the first time? Everywhere that we train dogs around Nashville, Murfreesboro, and Franklin we get this question. How do we introduce our dogs properly and safely? A positive first meeting is no accident. Did you know there are ways owners can set their dogs up for successful social interaction? Keep reading to learn how to introduce dogs to new pets and people.
Tips for socializing your dog. Dogs have unique personalities. Some are more social than others. But dogs can also be trained to get along with other dogs, animals and people. Socializing a dog works best when you:

• Start young
• Create a safe environment
• Make socializing a priority
• Watch for signs of stress or distress
• Develop opportunities to try introductions

No matter what your dog's age, it's never too late to learn how to socialize your dog. Here are some ideas to try every day:

• Play games with your dog  like "fetch" to teach your dog body language and sharing.
• Interact with other dogs to help your dog interact appropriately.
• Observe your dog's emotional state. (Behaviors like cowering and tail-tucking indicate he's overwhelmed.)
• Reward good behavior. Progress deserves praise your dog will recognize.

Puppy socialization just like children, puppies go through key developmental periods. Their brains are busy learning about the big world around them. So, starting young will help your puppy develop social skills for life. Purina Senior Scientist, Human/Animal Bond, Ragen McGowan explains, “the sensitive period for puppies begins at about 3 weeks of age and lasts until about 12 weeks of age.”
During this period, it is important to expose your puppy to a lot of new experiences. Some ideas on how to socialize a puppy include opportunities to:

• Meet new people
• Meet other dogs (and cats, too)
• Visit new places
• Get comfortable around children

To a puppy, children may just seem like small humans that make funny noises and unpredictable movements. That's why it's especially important to introduce your puppy to children during this period. That way your puppy will the learn the differences between children and adults.
How do new experiences help dog socialization? Think about dog and puppy socialization this way – it’s practice. The more you and your dog practice, the more socialized he becomes. Each and every new experience will build on what your dog has already learned. Try to praise good behavior at every opportunity. Praise will not only reinforce good behavior, it sets up your dog up for lifelong success.
How to introduce dogs in your family already have a pet dog? Here are some ways you can welcome a new dog into the family:

• Prevent tension. Meeting at a place that isn’t your house or yard can limit territorial behavior.
• Be calm. Your dog can sense if you’re stressed – from your voice, body language and even if you’re holding his leash taut.
• Give them space. Dogs will be more at ease if they can each retreat to a comfort zone.
• Take it slow. You have a lot of time to help your dogs build a lasting relationship. If you have any questions or need help give us a call! 931-808-8612

• Get him used to a collar and leash: Let your pup get used to a collar and leash before attempting to walk him. Let him drag the leash around the house attached to his collar. You want him to be comfortable with the leash, not afraid of it.
• Have short training sessions in familiar places: Your puppy has a short attention span, so don't expect to keep his interest in training for long. Start with just a walk around the house or the backyard— a place where he is already familiar with the smells. That way he won't be as inclined to break off in a dozen directions to smell exciting new odors.
• Praise good behavior: When your dog is walking alongside you on a loose leash — also called "heeling" — heap on the praise and reward him with the occasional treat. Never pull your dog along. If he resists leaving a spot, pulling on the lead can potentially injure him (or you if you're walking a bigger dog). Instead, focus on rewarding him for coming when you call him to keep walking along. If he is particularly persistent, you might have to intervene and redirect his attention back to the walk and away from the thing with all the smells.
• Keep a short leash: While this is often seen as a negative to humans, keeping your dog on a short leash is integral to leash training success. The less room your dog has to stray away from your side, the easier it is for him to learn to walk next to you. As he starts to get the hang of things you can let out the lead a little bit, either with a retractable leash or by giving some slack from your hands.
• Keep him at your side: Similar to a short leash, walking with your dog at your side instead of in front of you allows you to control his direction. When dogs are allowed to walk out in front or behind, they tend to wander off and smell everything. This will also help prevent the leash from becoming tangled underneath him. Again, you can start to be more lenient with him as he becomes more trained, but it's best to keep him close while still a puppy. Remember dogs are pack animals. If he sees you as the pack leader, he will eventually fall in line and become the perfect walking partner.
• Give him time to do his business: For many dogs, a nice long walk is a chance for him to relieve himself. However, dogs naturally like to mark their territory, so they may want to sniff around to find the perfect spot. If you notice that your dog needs to relieve himself, you can stop walking and give him more leash to explore and do his business. Once he is done, be sure to reward him with praise or treats (after all, you're likely going through potty training at this time too). One thing to keep in mind is that dogs do not always evacuate their bladder at once, so some dogs may look for multiple spots to urinate. It is vital that you reward him only the first time, otherwise he will start to understand positive associations with marking multiple times. This makes for a much more difficult walk. When he understands he only gets the one opportunity to relieve himself, he will start to walk better.
• Find a pace: Dogs are naturally curious so dogs tend to want to rush to certain spots on your walk, or linger in their favorite spots. It's important to pick a pace that is comfortable for both of you. You never want him to pull or lag behind as this is where injuries can occur. If you notice your dog struggling to keep a certain pace, stop and wait for him to come back to you and then reestablish the comfortable pace.

Sounds easy, right? 
​If you need help dog training in the greater Nashville area to include but not limited to Franklin and Murfreesboro give us a call!

 At TriStar K-9, we believe in strengthening the human-dog relationship through our. We know that your pup has great potential, and our training focuses on integrating your dog into your everyday lifestyle and routines. This type of dog training allows for you and your dog to not only bond in a natural setting, but it also establishes confidence and growth within the relationship. A loving and thriving human-dog companionship is our goal at Off Leash, and it is our hope that we can only strengthen the bond between owner and dog through our dog training. Below are three ways that dog training will allow for you to love your pet even more.Alleviates Stress Training your furry friends ensures that rules and commands are established right off of the bat, so that your pet is aware of right from wrong, and he or she knows to look to you for guidance and reassurance. Training helps a dog understand boundaries, whether they’re in the home, or in public. This means that you can feel at ease if you have to leave your pet at home alone, or that you feel comfortable and confident that your dog can handle being around strangers or other dogs if you go on a hike or a walk around the neighborhood. Training alleviates the stress that can come with social situations, leaving you with plenty of time to love your pup and live your life!Builds Trust and Confidence Trust and confidence are two big results from dog training. Not only will your dog build trust in you and gain confidence in his or herself, but you will also feel the same way. Some of the most solid relationships are built on mutual trust and having confidence in one another; therefore, you should want the same thing for your relationship with your pet. A confident pup is a loving pup, meaning that there will be plenty of snuggles and puppy kisses to go around, and your dog will be more trusting of your friends and the people that you bring into your home as well.Allows for New Adventures Lastly, dog training allows for the possibility of many new adventures. If you know that your dog can handle stressful situations, and you’ve established trust and confidence in one another, then there’s not much that can hold you back! One of the best things about owning a dog is exploring together while making new memories. The experiences and memories that you make with your furry friend will be ones that you will cherish for a lifetime!
Ready to get started? View a complete list of our dog training services or book a free, in-home dog training consultation today!

 
​What is Crate Training?

Dogs are den animals, which means they like to have their own personal space (den) to rest, take a nap, or hide from thunderstorms. Crate training is a practice that uses a dog’s natural instincts as a den animal. Even though den animals like to have an area that’s all theirs, it takes some time getting used to a crate.

Benefits of Crate Training

There are a lot of good reasons to crate train a dog, house training being the main reason. Crate training is an essential part of housebreaking new puppies too. Puppies will not usually soil their bed or den. Therefore, if the crate is set up as a resting space, the puppy will wait until he leaves the crate to do his business. This will put you in control of where and when your puppy relieves himself.


You’ll also find that crate training is useful for sequestering rambunctious dogs when you have company over, during car travels, and for making sure a new puppy or anxious dog is safe and happy at night – i.e. not eating everything that’s left within reach, tearing up furniture, or soiling the floors.


Another reason to crate train a dog is if there are certain areas in your home where the dog isn’t allowed. Crate training your dog will limit their access to the rest of the house while they learn the other house rules, like not chewing up furniture.

How to Crate Train a Puppy

“Step 1: Familiarize your puppy with the crate to make crate training a pleasant experience.

To avoid making crate training your puppy a traumatic experience, make sure the he feels at ease throughout the entire process. You can do this by placing an old shirt or blanket on the bottom of the crate so that he is comfortable.


A puppy must never be locked up and left alone if it is his first time inside the crate. This can be a very traumatic experience for your puppy and will only make it more difficult for you the next time you try and get him to go inside the crate and behave.


Instead, tempt the puppy to enter the crate by placing some kibble inside. Be generous with your praises, as he enters the crate to eat the kibble. If he does not make a move to enter the crate, pick him up and slowly put him inside with the door left open. Reassure your puppy by petting him if he seems agitated and frightened. Once the puppy is inside the crate for a few moments, call him to come out of the crate to join you. Praise him with simple words and pats when he comes to you.


After practicing going in and out of the crate willingly several times, once the puppy appears to be at ease inside the crate and does not show any signs of fright, then you can close the door slowly. Keep it closed for one minute, as long as he remains calm all throughout. After that, open the door and invite him out while generously praising him.

Step 2: Feed your dog inside the crate to make him more comfortable with it.

Once you have passed the initial hurdle of familiarizing your puppy with the crate, you will want to get him comfortable to going into the crate and staying there quietly. Similar to before, the best trick for getting a puppy to go inside a crate willingly is to tempt him with food. Fill a bowl with a small amount of puppy food while you let him watch. Let him sniff the food and then slowly place the bowl of food inside the crate.


Once the puppy is inside, slowly close the door (so as not to startle the puppy) and allow him to eat. He will likely finish his food inside and only begin to whine or bark after he is done with his meal. When he starts to bark and whine, tap the door of the crate and say “No” in a strong, commanding (but not loud) voice. With repetition, this will make him stop crying and eventually train him not to whine when he is placed inside his crate.


Step 3: Get your puppy used to spending longer periods of time in the crate.

Now you can gradually increase the time the puppy stays inside the crate. If he whines, wait for him to quiet down -- or five minutes, whichever is first -- before you open the door to let him out. Praise him when he comes out, and take him outside to relieve himself immediately. Repeat this a few times a day, as consistency in training is a key tool to success.


After some time, your puppy will begin to feel at ease inside his crate and may even go to his crate on his own. This is the time to lengthen his stay inside, although you must keep in mind that there is also a limit to the maximum number of hours that your puppy can spend inside his crate before becoming uncomfortable.


Step 4: Crate your puppy overnight or when leaving the house, but do not leave them in there too long.

A puppy should not be made to spend almost an entire day in his crate, nor is it right to imprison a puppy inside his crate for long periods of time. He must be given breaks to walk and play around.


The purpose of a crate is so that the puppy/dog can be tucked inside overnight when you are sleeping and cannot supervise him, when you need to travel, and when you need him to be sequestered from visitors or children. It can also be a very useful tool in housetraining. You can keep him inside his crate until the scheduled outside time -- when you can take him out to relieve himself – and in so doing, the puppy learns how to control his body functions as an internal schedule is being set, so that he becomes accustomed to the times when he will be going outdoors. This method works well because it is a dog’s natural inclination not to soil in his own bedding. He will learn not to eliminate until he is let out of his crate, and later, at the scheduled time.

How to Crate Train a Dog

Maybe your dog is a rescue or was never housetrained, perhaps you’re about to make a long move and need to put him in a crate for the trip, or maybe your dog has been acting up when you’re away from home. Whatever the reason, crate training a dog is slightly different than crate training a puppy.


Depending on the dog’s age, temperament and past experiences, the entire process can take weeks. Always remember to be patient and be positive, offering plenty of praise at every step. Crate training a dog should be done in small steps not rushed. Follow the steps below to crate train your dog the right way:


1. Prepare your dog for crate training by sapping their energy (go for a long walk, play ball, etc.) and making sure they don’t need to go to the bathroom.


2. Puppies don’t have habits that they’ve been forming their entire lives, whereas an adult dog may have spent its entire life never having to enter a crate. For this reason dogs may take a lot longer getting used to the idea of a crate. You must be patient and kind, doing your best to create positive associations between your dog and the crate. Try feeding your dog its meals near the crate.


3. Make the dog’s crate nice and comfy, with one of your old t-shirts, some of the dog’s favorite toys, and a nice soft blanket. Comfort is key to getting a dog to accept his crate, leaving the door open so he can come and go as he pleases will help.


4. Once your dog is comfortable being inside the crate with the door open, you’ll want to start keeping the door closed for small amounts of time. Wait until the dog is hanging out inside offer a toy or treat, and close the door while they’re distracted. Start leaving the door closed in five-minute intervals and stay in the same room, or at the very least within your dog’s eyesight.


5. Keep practicing with crate training your dog, gradually increasing the five-minute intervals and working up to the point where you can leave the room without your dog getting upset. Once your dog can stay peacefully in its crate for thirty minutes, you can start leaving him rated for short amounts of time while you leave the house.


With patience, practice, and consistency your dog will learn that its crate is a safe place and not a prison. The crate may even become your dog’s new favorite place to relax! If you are in need of dog training of any type and are in the greater Nashville, Franklin, or Murfreesboro area give us a call! 931-212-1816