Where problem dogs are no problem

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Stay tuned

This afternoon, I am being trained on how to work my website.  This is exciting for me, I feel like a real business person now.  People will be able to find me easily and will be able to find out all about me before they call me, so I better make sure I make a great first impression.  If anyone I have worked with would like to send me a testimonial via my comment section or via FB, I would greatly appreciate it.  I am already make plans for some new services to offer.  After a year, I am still looking for my niche and think I may have found it.  I am already the only trainer that offers classes on how to be a good family dog.  Stay tuned for the new plans.

Thursday, January 19, 2012


This is Lucy.  She is a 5 year old border collie mix.  She was given to me by her Mom who, because of life situations, can no longer take care of her.  Lucy is spayed and up to date on her shots.  She gets along with cats and other dogs.  She does not do so well with little kids.  She prefers women to men but will tolerate men.  She loves to play and will keep you busy throwing her ball or other toys. She is a very devoted dog and is looking for a home where she will be loved and where she can give you all the love she has. 

Website

My website is up and live.  Please check it out. It is still a work in progress but please let me know what you think.http://amsterdamdogtraining.com/

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Petsmart visit with Chance

Chance and I went to our local Petsmart yesterday and met lots of wonderful people.  Chance was the perfect gentleman and greeted everyone with a smile.  Hopefully someone he met has fallen in love with him and will offer him his forever home.  If I had room for him here, I would keep him but hopefully Jake is coming back to me and this is Jake's forever home.  If you want more information on Chance, click on the Northeast Pyrenees link over at the right of this page.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Winter Exercise

Now that the cold weather is upon us, we may need to make some adjustments in our dog's exercise routine.  There really is more to exercise than leash walking, actually leash walking is not really exercise for the dog.  A dog needs mental exercise as well as physical exercise.  This is the perfect time to ramp up games to exercise your dog's mind.  A simple game of hide and seek is a great inside game, you hide, the dog has to find you.  Be creative.  There are some outside things that we can do in the cold weather. Biking, skijoring, carting, sledding, tug, fetch, running, or backpacking are just a few activities you can enjoy with your dog, depending on his health and your climate. Always check with your vet before introducing a new exercise regimen. 

Monday, January 2, 2012

10 reasons to adopt a shelter dog

A visit to your local animal shelter or Dogster’s adoption center (powered by Petfinder.com) will get you started on the road to K9 redemption. Need incentive? Here are 10 compelling reasons to adopt a shelter dog. What are you waiting for?
1. As the environmentally conscious recycling movement has proven, it’s easy (and fun!) being green, and dog adoption is the noblest form of recycling. One person’s trash (boo!) is another’s treasured pet.
2. Every year, millions of healthy, sweet, soulful dogs are killed at animal shelters across this country just for lack of cage space; as with people, bad luck can cause good dogs to become homeless through no fault of their own. By adopting a shelter dog, you’re doing your part to help end the nationwide crisis of homelessness.
3. With so many charismatic celebrities walking around with adopted dogs by their side — Lenny Kravitz among them — it’s clear that adoption isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s the cool thing to do. To your adopted dog, you’re the resident rock star!
4. You know all those people who are so proud of their honor-student kids? Well, adopted dogs are super-smart, the Mensas of muttdom. So skip the bumper sticker — flaunt stray pride with a cool collar or T-shirt. Even your coffee can proclaim pride for pound pups!

5. Don’t you want somebody to love? Somebody who will actually love you back? For anyone who’s ever suffered the pangs of unrequited affection — and who hasn’t? — rest assured that an adopted dog will return those tender feelings tenfold. No more lonely nights!
6. If you’ve had it up to here with criticism from your nearest and dearest, get used to unconditional K9 adoration. Years of psychotherapy can’t hold a candle to an adopted dog’s uncomplaining, adoring presence. “Dinner’s late? Again? I adore you!”
7. Got performance anxiety about trying out a new hobby or activity? With an adopted dog as your nonjudgmental audience or workout partner, there’s nothing to fear: From exercise routines to gourmet cooking to knitting, your efforts will get an A+ even if they deserve a D!
8. Adopting a dog proves you’re a person of great inner depth who values substance (a mystery dog of unknown parentage) over style (a predictable pedigreed purebred).
9. But hey, if you’re a style hound, there’s no more stylin’ statement than a shelter dog — s/he coordinates beautifully with any outfit or style of decor!
10. Are you a political animal? Then reaffirm your faith in the democratic process with an adopted dog. After all, shelter mutts are the people’s dog: E Pluribus Unum, one dog out of many. Uncle Sam wants YOU to adopt today!
About the Author: The author of six books, Julia Szabo writes Dogster’s Living With Dogs column and is a pet expert for Howcast.com.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Happy New Year

To all my clients:

Thank you for making our first year in business successful. Having been in business for a year and it being a new year, I am reviewing my policies and making some changes.

The first change is that boarding will be charged by the day instead of by the night. Boarding will now be $20 a day. If a dog is checked in after 6 PM or picked up before 9 AM, they will not be charged for that day.

I will also be collecting sales tax this year. I am charged sales tax on my services and, unfortunately, I need to pass this along to my clients.

I will be teaching a new type of class this year. This class is called Family Dog class and will be taught in 3 levels. In this class, we will teach your dog how to be a good family member. It will consist more of what your dog needs to know for everyday life, not so much what is needed in an obedience ring. We will teach you how to train your dog in everyday situations. We may even learn some tricks to impress your friends with!

Barney will be helping me teach this year by helping teach dogs how to be stable dogs. Barney has helped me do this with several dogs this year and has been very successful. The rescues that come in don’t always know how to get along with other dogs and Barney is very good at showing them how to do this.

My website will soon be up and running so be looking for that, amsterdamdogtraining.com. I am very excited about this aspect of my business. It will include class schedules, types of classes, prices of classes and a place for testimonials. So if you would like to have a testimonial included on my page, please email me at amsterdamdogtraining.com.

I am looking forward to working with all of you and your dogs this year.

Bonnie