Having off-leash control of your dog in real-world situations is so much fun!  Going to the park, hiking on the trails, participating in agility, or playing frisbee with your dog are all great, but very difficult to do on-leash. While all of the training starts on-leash and needs to be mastered while on a leash, at some point we have to cut the chord. Transitioning from on-leash obedience to off-leash obedience is more involved than just dropping the leash; certain steps need to be taken to ensure that the training carries over into the off-leash world.  Having a great obedience ..read more

Yup, small dogs need training too!!  Here is some footage of Blue, a 3.5lb Yorkie, showing that small dogs can do big things.  Enjoy! If you own a small dog and are looking for some training in the Austin, Cedar Park, Leander or other central Texas areas, check us out! If you enjoyed this entry, don’t forget to subscribe to our dog training blog. You will be automatically notified as soon a new entry is made. Also be sure to check out our Facebook Fan Page and follow us on Twitter. The post Blue’s Video Highlights first appeared on Unleashed Unlimited ..read more

Knowing the differences between cruise control and autopilot may be a good way of thinking about dog training and how you interact with your dog.  Now stay with me, here is what I mean: Autopilot – When setting an airplane to autopilot, the pilot inputs some crucial data and then the systems of the airplane take over continuing to make sure that the plane is on task, headed in the correct direction, and maintaining proper altitude.  When on autopilot, the pilot is free to monitor other systems (weather, hydraulics, etc.) and the plane will continue to stay on task. Cruise Control – W ..read more

It is that time of year again where the temperatures start rising and the questions pertaining to shaving dogs start being asked.  I have heard many different theories and opinions about the benefits and risks of shaving a thick-coated dog in the summer.  Each differing opinion will cite reasons and facts that favor their decision, but should you shave your dog in the summer or not? Just like all of the others that weigh in on this topic, I too have an opinion; my answer is no, you shouldn’t shave your dog in the warmer months.  Here are some of the reasons that bring me to this ..read more

Absolutely!  Although I say that without hesitation, there are some exceptions and conditions that must be met if you’re going to allow your dog on the furniture. Make sure they are only allowed onto the couch or bed when invited.  There are going to be times when you don’t want them automatically jumping onto the couch and snuggling right up against your friend who is scared of dogs or getting hair all over your Sunday best.  If your dog jumps up without permission, have them get off of the couch, sit, and then invite them back up.  The consistent enforcement of ..read more

Starting a new obedience program is a very exciting time!  Enthusiasm is high, the potential progress is exciting, and it can be fun to spend this time with your dog.  With all of that excitement, it can sometimes be easy to make some mistakes so here are some things that we commonly see during the beginning of a dog training program that we would like to help you avoid. Focusing on too much at once –  When we work dogs that are in for our in-home board and train program, we go into the lesson with just a few things in mind that we want to accomplish during the tr ..read more

We see a ton of missing dog flyers in our daily travels and it’s always sad to see a family missing their pets.  If you’re looking to avoid the heart-wrenching task of searching for your dog, here are some simple precautions to take: 1. Don’t leave your dog unattended in the yard – I know you have a fence but given enough time, this can happen. 2. Make sure your dog’s collar is fitted correctly – This means that the collar should not be able to slip over your dog’s head under any condition, including if they decide to suddenly put on the breaks and try to back out of it. 3. Don’t take you ..read more

Introducing dogs while they are on their leashes can be a potential disaster.  Not even getting into the discussion of leash aggression, dogs that are well socialized and friendly can react differently when faced with the spacial limitations and added frustration that leashes sometimes provide, especially when greeting another dog. In a perfect world all dogs would be introduced to each other with the presence of movement, in a calm state of mind, and without the restraint of a leash.  Unfortunately the gap between the perfect world and reality can be enormous at times, so let’s go o ..read more

Many dog trainers throw out the term “Certified Dog Trainer” as part of their credentials or qualifications.  While this sounds impressive, did you know that there are no national certifications or qualifications to becoming a dog trainer?  That’s right, anyone can open up shop and start taking money to train dogs.  Pretty scary, huh? So if there are no national certifications for dog trainers, what does it mean when someone says that they are a certified dog trainer?  Well in most cases, these trainers have participated in or completed some type of course and have bee ..read more

There is nothing better than getting a new puppy!  For the most part, they are blank slates that can be molded, shaped, taught, and turned into the dogs that we eventually need them to be. On the other hand, there is nothing worse than missing opportunities and watching fear issues develop, experiencing ongoing potty accidents, inadvertently creating behavior issues, and not recognizing the early signs of issues. That is the Puppy Manual comes in.  The Puppy Manual will outline all of the time-sensitive topics that your puppy needs in their early life.  Not only will it show you ..read more