A Kenneling Alternative

Michele Hatley

The 178 Flavors of AKC Breeds. Who Will Fit Into Your Family?

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AKC-Breeds

What Will Fit Into Your Family? One of the 178 Flavors of AKC or A Mixed Floofin?

Dogs were domesticated thousands of years ago and have been man’s companion for just as long. Over the centuries, dogs have been bred to serve different purposes. The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes 178 different breeds in seven groupings: Toy; Hound; Sporting; Non-sporting; Working; Herding; and Terrier. Floofins & Co. dog walkers, pet sitters, and dog trainers work with all sorts of purebreds and mixes and each has special considerations when considering adding them to your family. What characteristics are ideal for your household? [Read more…] about The 178 Flavors of AKC Breeds. Who Will Fit Into Your Family?

What is Positive Reinforcement Training?

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PositiveReinforcement

Not All Dog Training Methods Are The Same. What Is Positive Reinforcement Training?

There are many different dog trainers and training schools located in the Chicago Suburbs. Throughout Elmhurst, Oak Park, La Grange, Wheaton, Bloomingdale, and Woodridge, you will find trainers with different expertise (i.e. positive reinforcement, adverse, etc.) as well as trainers and behaviorists that handle behavior issues other than obedience training. Depending on the issue at hand and the method you are most comfortable with, there are many options when it comes to “training”. At Floofins & Co. our in-house expertise is with Positive Reinforcement Obedience Training, but what does that mean and what will you experience with this method? [Read more…] about What is Positive Reinforcement Training?

Michele’s Thursday Dog Training Tip – Commitment

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Dog Training Tip Commitment

Dog Training Tip – Commitment

Making the decision to bring a pet into the family should be no different than the commitment you make to a child. You should be prepared to care for them for the course of their life; which means recognizing the financial responsibility, the time needed to properly care and exercise them, and the effort that is needed to train them.  Make sure to consider all of these things before bringing a pet home and remember that training takes time. Don’t rush into bringing a pet home before considering all of the responsibilities involved, but when you find that the time is right for you, nothing is more rewarding than the love from a pet. 

We hope these weekly training tips assist you in your training adventure. Floofins & Company head trainer, Michele Hatley, is available to create a customized training program for your dog. Visit us at www.floofinsandco.com/our-services/dog-training/ to learn about training options with Floofins & Company.

Michele’s Thursday Dog Training Tip – Old Dogs Can Learn New Tricks!

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Dog Training Tip – Don’t Overlook Older Dogs When Visiting Local Shelters

Dog Training Tip Old Dogs Can Learn New TricksOctober is Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month and a very happy 5 year adoption anniversary to my Buffy girl! Don’t overlook the adult dogs when visiting your local shelters, because despite that saying, old dogs CAN learn new tricks! An adult dog is just as likely to make a good fit for your family and they’re just as capable of learning new things as a younger dog. The next time you’re looking for a new furry family member, make sure to get to know some of those adult animals, because they just might be the perfect fit. 

We hope these weekly training tips assist you in your training adventure. Floofins & Company head trainer, Michele Hatley, is available to create a customized training program for your dog. Visit us at www.floofinsandco.com/our-services/dog-training/ to learn about training options with Floofins & Company.

Michele’s Thursday Training Tip – Eye Contact

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When Communicating With Your Dog, Look Them In The Eye!

Eye ContactBefore asking your dog to do something, make sure they’re looking at you. If you’ve got they’re attention, your dog is more likely to follow through with what you want the first time.

We hope these weekly training tips assist you in your training adventure. Floofins & Company head trainer, Michele Hatley, is available to create a customized training program for your dog. Visit us at www.floofinsandco.com/our-services/dog-training/ to learn about training options with Floofins & Company.