Dog Trainer Advice on Dealing with Car Anxiety

Driving around Portland, you’ve no doubt noticed many dogs are happy to take car rides – but your tail-wagger is always reluctant to hit the road. Overcoming car anxiety is essential, and the professional dog trainers at Blackwood Canine can help.

You may want your beloved canine companion along when you’re running errands or traveling, but that’s not an option if they whine, shake, whimper or refuse to get in the car. And while anxious dogs can often be left at home, there are certain places – such as the veterinarian’s office, the groomer’s or a Portland dog training facility – that require a road trip.

Fortunately, you can make riding in the car less stressful for your pooch. And, you may even be able to help your furry friend come to enjoy going for a drive. Here, our experienced dog trainers offer advice on how to address car anxiety.

Is Motion Sickness the Problem?

 Just like people, dogs can suffer from motion sickness when they ride in a car – and if your pooch gets nauseous during road trips, their reluctance to travel is completely understandable.

Not every dog vomits when they get car sick, so you’ll need to watch for other signs that your tail-wagger is feeling nauseated. Any of the following reactions may indicate motion sickness is an issue:

·       Excessive drooling

·       Lip smacking

·       Heavy panting

·       Repeated yawning

·       Restless pacing

·       Shaking and shivering

If you suspect that your fur baby is getting car sick, there are a few strategies you can try to quell nausea. Experienced dog trainers suggest:

• Limiting food and water intake before taking your pooch on a trip

• Using a doggie seatbelt to keep them facing toward the front of the car

• Lowering the windows a few inches to allow fresh air to circulate

• Asking your veterinarian to recommend an anti-nausea medication

Motion sickness is incredibly unpleasant, so it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to make your pooch comfortable with car rides until you find a way to keep nausea at bay. Once you do, you can begin taking steps to resolve your dog’s anxiety.

Help Your Dog Feel Safe in the Car

For your fur baby to enjoy taking a ride around Portland, they’ll need to feel safe in the car.

Professional dog trainers recommend creating a cozy nesting area, using a doggie car seat or crate with a cushioned liner to keep your pooch comfortable and ensure that they feel secure. If you opt for a crate, you may need to place rolled towels underneath to make the surface level. And if your dog has a favorite comfort item, like a stuffed toy or blanket, bringing it on car rides may help.

Create a Positive Association with the Car

Does your tail-wagger get anxious when you simply pick up your car keys? They may find the vehicle to be a scary place, and you’ll need to turn that around.

To help your dog overcome this fear, experienced dog trainers say to begin by offering a small, high-value treat for approaching the car. Then, place your pooch inside and encourage them to roam around. Give another reward, and once they appear to be more comfortable, start the car and offer a treat. If they’re able to stay calm, turn off the engine, secure your fur baby in their special spot, and dish out another treat. When you think your dog is relaxed, try taking a drive around the block.

Make Car Rides End at a Fun Destination

For many dogs, car anxiety is the result of a previous negative experience – and if that’s the case for your fur baby, you’ll need to erase their fear of the destination.

Only riding in the car when it’s time for a vet visit or a trip to the groomer’s could make your pooch understandably wary of taking a drive. To alleviate their anxiety, professional dog trainers suggest taking short car rides to fun places. If the majority of your road trips end at a local park, Portland hiking trail or somewhere else your tail-wagger wants to be, their car anxiety should soon become a thing of the past.

Get Help From an Experienced Dog Trainer

Teaching your furry friend to tolerate or, preferably, to enjoy car rides can be challenging. When not addressed early on, canine car anxiety can escalate – and you may need the help of an experienced dog trainer to overcome the problem.

At Blackwood Canine, our puppy jump start program, private dog training lessons, and board-and-train programs are designed to address a range of behavioral issues. Our professional dog trainers have the skill, knowledge, and expertise to identify the root cause of canine car anxiety and teach your pooch to be more comfortable on road trips.

The dedicated dog trainers at Blackwood Canine have been helping pet parents for over a decade, and we’re proud that our positive, reward-based approach has led local veterinarians, rescues, shelters, and breeders to recommend our dog training services. We work with tail-waggers of all ages, breeds, and temperaments – and our highly experienced dog trainers know how to achieve positive outcomes when dealing with behavioral issues.

For more information on Blackwood Canine and our dog training services for pet parents in Portland, Oregon – or to schedule an evaluation to discuss your fur baby’s car anxiety with our professional dog trainers – contact us today.

Is Your Pup a Nipper? Try These Puppy Trainer Tips to Stop Biting

Ask any puppy trainer in Portland, and they’ll tell you that biting is one of the top issues pet parents have with young pups. Our fur babies can do serious damage with their needle teeth – and for nippers, no one is off limits.

If you want to teach your new four-legged family member not to bite people, a professional puppy trainer can help you accomplish that goal. A number of techniques may be effective – but keep in mind, certain methods can rile up excitable puppies, making them nip even more.

Below, the Blackwood Canine team covers the different ways to stop biting. See which one works for your little nipper – and if you struggle to find a solution, you can always turn to a Portland puppy trainer.

Nipping is Normal for Puppies

First of all, we’d like to explain why younger puppies bite. As professional puppy trainers, we know it’s not a sign of aggression, which is a common worry among new pet parents. Nor does nipping indicate that a pup wants to hurt someone – it just ends up hurting, thanks to their razor sharp teeth.

If your pup is a nipper, the behavior may be happening for one of these reasons:

• Your fur baby is teething and feeling the pain

• Boredom is leading your pup to bite for attention

• Rough play or corrections have reinforced the behavior

In many cases, however, problem puppy biting is simply a misguided attempt at playing. Our young furry friends are used to mouthing and biting their fellow litter pups when they’re feeling playful, and the instinctive behavior doesn’t go away when they’re adopted.

As you can see, nipping is normal – but you’ll want to stop the behavior as soon as possible, long before your puppy grows to be a fully grown dog and becomes capable of inflicting serious harm. To do so, puppy trainers recommend trying the following techniques.

Redirect with a Chew Toy

Professional puppy trainers advise pet parents to have plenty of chew toys on hand when they bring a furry friend into their Portland home. If your pup starts to nip at your hands, feet or anywhere else they can reach, try to draw their attention to a chew toy. If they continue to come after you instead of the toy, give them a timeout in a crate or puppy pen. But do so in a calm manner, as the intent isn’t to punish your pet.

Use the “Ouch!” Method

Another method puppy trainers recommend pet parents try to stop a young pooch from biting is with a loud “ouch!” as soon as the behavior occurs. The sudden noise should tell your fur baby to cut it out, and if they do, offer praise and affection. Repeat these steps every time your pup bites, and motivation for positive attention may start to outweigh their instinct to keep on nipping.

Ignore the Nipping

For some younger puppies, the above technique actually encourages more nipping – which is exactly what you don’t want. If that seems to be an issue, puppy trainers say to try ignoring your little pooch when they bite. Move the body part they’re biting out of reach, of course, but don’t interact. By becoming as boring as you can be when your pup nips, you may be able to get the biting to stop.

Try the Treat Technique

Professional puppy trainers know that a direct approach can be effective in teaching some young fur babies not to bite. The treat tactic involves holding a small tasty bit of food in your fist, but not letting your pup have it if they start nipping or pawing at your hand. When they take their nose away, let them have the treat. This can help a young puppy learn that biting will never get a treat.

Give Your Pup a Break

Implementing the 3-strike rule in your Portland home may be a good way to stop problem puppy biting. The first time your furry friend nips at you is strike one, and that earns a firm “NO.” The next time, say nothing, but redirect their attention with a chew toy. If they aren’t interested and continue to bite, it’s time for them to go to their crate. Remain calm, however, as this is a timeout -- not a punishment.

Get Help from a Professional Puppy Trainer

This may seem like quite a lot of information to take in, and dealing with a puppy biting problem isn’t easy when you’re still getting the handle on being a pet parent. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or your efforts at teaching your beloved pooch are less than successful, it may make sense to enlist the help of a professional puppy trainer.

Private lessons with an experienced puppy trainer may be the right solution, as their guidance and demonstration of how to stop the biting could be enough to put you on the right track to better behavior. If you’re diligent in following their advice, your pup should come out of the nipping phase rather quickly.

If you’re looking for an experienced professional puppy trainer in Portland or elsewhere in northwestern Oregon, Blackwood Canine is here to meet your needs – and since we’ve been helping pet parents for more than 10 years, our team knows how to achieve results.

Our puppy trainers offer in-home private lessons for pet parents in the Portland area, or, if you prefer, you’re welcome to schedule private lessons at our state-of-the-art training facility in Scappoose. And you may want to consider our popular Puppy Jump-Start program, a three-month training course designed to help young pups develop basic life skills and a love of learning.

At Blackwood Canine, we work with dogs of all ages, breeds, and dispositions. In addition to our Puppy Jump Start program, our in-home private lessons, and our in-facility training, we offer several board-and-train programs – otherwise known as dog boot camps – to better accommodate Oregon pet parents.

For more information on how we train puppies – or to schedule an evaluation with the professional Portland puppy trainers at Blackwood Canine, contact us today.

The Basics on Dog Boot Camp Programs

If you want your four-legged friend to learn new skills, enrolling in a dog boot camp in Portland can be an effective approach.

Also called dog board-and-train programs or immersion training, boot camps are designed for pet owners who lack the time and patience for dog training. Some professional trainers – including the team at Blackwood Canine – also offer camp programs for dogs who need help resolving behavioral issues. 

How Dog Boot Camp Training Works

 With a board-and-train program, your dog will stay with professional trainers for a period of time – typically between four and ten weeks. Immersion training is highly customized, and after learning about your specific needs and goals, the trainers will create a plan to achieve results.

While at boot camp, your dog will take part in multiple training sessions throughout each day. There’s plenty of downtime, too, and your pooch will have opportunities to catch naps, go for walks and participate in supervised group play.

To ensure that the lessons learned during the boot camp program aren’t forgotten at home, many professional dog trainers in the Portland area include private follow-up lessons. Take advantage of these, and you’ll learn how to work with your dog to maintain and enhance their training.

What Dogs Learn at Boot Camp

As we mentioned, Portland dog board-and-train programs are customized, so the skills and behaviors the professional trainers work on will depend on your unique needs and overall goals. During immersion training, your dog may learn:

·       Basic commands, such as sit, stay, come and down

·       General in-home manners, including how to act when guests arrive

·       Crate training, potty training and housebreaking

·       Loose leash walking without pulling, even with distractions

·       Proper socialization and dog-to-dog interaction

Professional trainers can also focus on behavior modification to bring bad habits to an end. A board-and-train program can be effective in stopping your pooch from:

• Running out the door

• Jumping up on people

• Barking at every sound

• Grabbing food from the table

• Resource guarding

• Nipping and biting

Immersion training can help with other behavioral challenges as well, including fear issues, separation anxiety, and aggression. You can also find Portland board-and-train programs that offer specialty training for agility, competition, and therapy work.

What to Bring to Dog Boot Camp

When you enroll your pooch in boot camp, the professional trainers will let you know what to bring. Don’t expect a long list, however, as most board-and-train facilities have just about everything your dog will need during their time away from home.

You may be asked to send food for your furry family member, as a sudden change in diet can be stressful. You might also want to bring a favorite toy or, perhaps, a worn blanket or t-shirt to provide a familiar scent and help your dog feel at home.

Other than that, you’ll need to make sure that your dog is wearing a collar with an I.D. tag and, preferably, a microchip that holds your current contact information. The professional trainer will also want your veterinarian’s information. These are simply precautions, like those you would take if you were leaving your child with a babysitter.

What to Expect When Your Dog Comes Home

Many pet owners are worried about the transition between the board-and-train facility and home. When a dog returns from boot camp, they need to understand that their new skills must apply at home, too – and there’s a concern that this won’t happen.

Fortunately, professional dog trainers recognize this, and most will provide you with the advice and guidance you need to get your pooch to listen to your commands. Your trainer should also let you know how to motivate and reward your four-legged friend in different situations.

If the trainers you choose use positive reinforcement to promote proper behavior, your dog should be eager to respond to your commands at home. And if you experience any issues, your professional dog trainer can address them during your private follow-up lessons.

How to Choose the Right Dog Boot Camp Program

People often assume that anyone who runs a dog boot camp has met the industry requirements – but the problem is, the industry is completely unregulated. As a result, choosing the right board-and-train program can be a challenge.

To make the best decision for your beloved pet, look for a professional trainer who has made a point of seeking out certifications, apprenticeships and continuing education. These types of qualifications show dedication to the profession, an important trait in a dog trainer.

You’ll also want to consider the dog trainer’s approach, as professionals who employ a balanced approach – with positive reinforcement and clear communication – are more successful in changing behavior. Look for a boot camp where your dog can have fun while they learn, and you can achieve your training goals.

Looking for a Quality Dog Boot Camp in Portland?

Positive reinforcement and reward-based training techniques result in happy, well-behaved dogs – and if you choose our Portland dog boot camp, you can count on the professional trainers at Blackwood Canine to use these methods in teaching your pooch.

Along with immersion training, we offer a puppy jump-start program and private lessons – either at your home or our state-of-the-art facility in Scappoose. We work with tail-waggers of all breeds and ages, and we’re proud to be the preferred trainers of local veterinarians, shelters, breeders and rescues. For more information on the Blackwood Canine team, or to discuss the benefits of enrolling in our dog boot camp in Portland, Oregon, contact us online or give us a call today.

Malinois, True Talk.

This is one of those touchy subjects where a small percentage of folks respond with, “AMEN!” While another group of folks respond with, “she’s just being elitest and on a soap box about her breed.”

I have belgian malinois. They are one of my favorite breeds, but I struggle to say that they are MY breed. I have a lot of dogs, and they are all special to me for different reasons. The pit bull was my first entry into studying dog behavior, they will always have a spot in my heart. My chihuahua taught me to appreciate patience and tolerance while training, and also how to be an efficient big spoon. My english bulldog and petit brabancon constantly remind me to laugh, to not take dog training so seriously. My little mutt, Kevin Bacon (RIP) who had touched so many hearts in ways that were totally inexplicable.

And then there are my mals. My maligators. My little raptors. My punishers and teachers and my hearts. The type of dog that requires you to be a little masochistic. The kind of dog that challenges you to be honest, to be fair. They are wonderful, and like everything else in the world, they were not meant for all. They are a whole ass lifestyle.

When my first malinois entered my life as a 2 year old rescue, most people didn’t know what a malinois was. We’d walk down the street in 2010 and everyone would ask me, “do you know what your pretty shepherd is mixed with?” Fast forward to 2021, walking my malinois around town and the comments now range from, “gorgeous mal!” to “looks like my friends malinois!”

So why are folks upset that the malinois are getting more popular? Because this is not an easy breed by nature. You can’t be prepared with reading. You can’t compare their energy to the german shepherds you’ve had. A job for them goes beyond daily long walks, weekend hikes, or just left alone to guard the yard. They will eat your belongings and snap at you if you try to take it back. They will jump on your guests and put their arms in their mouth. They will snatch at your clothing and tug you with a death grip. That’s all typical mal! And the difficult ones can come with a natural defense that can translate to people and animal aggression, and with a very strong focus and bite that can be dangerous if you don’t have the ability to redirect. These dogs need solid training from the get go, and that typically means more than just a puppy class at your local pet store. When these dogs go undersocialized, untrained, frustrated and pent up, they can be a dangerous breed. What does this mean, in simple terms? It means that your natural guard dog is going to decide who the good and bad guys are on his own. That means your elderly mother who visits every now and then, might be an intruder according to your malinois. This means that your nice neighbor, just checking in on the house is a potential ax murderer. It means your college buddy who’s a little loud and boistrous is an excellent bad guy to bite.

People see me walking mine and see how well behaved they are in public and perhaps assume they fell out of their mothers wombs like that. My dogs are a result of literal (yes, literally), years of blood, sweat, and tears. I worked hard for my dogs to be the way they are. The ones I have raised from a puppy, I had individual goals and realistic expectations mapped out from the beginning. Everything I did with them was a step towards those goals.

They demand respect, not love. They want structure, not luxuries. The internet isn’t lying, when they say these are among the smartest of smart dog breeds. The problem in having a dog like this, is that while your malinois will learn sit and down and shake, faster than any other dog you’ve had, they will also outsmart you, manipulate you, pick up bad behaviors, faster than you catch on. They are fast, and you must be faster. This means very little downtime, and always having eyes at the back of your head, and help of professional trainers who have experience with malinois, as well.

So what are you to do after you’ve found yourself totally obsessed with this breed? Don’t just read about them, go meet some. Contact a local club or training group and ask if you can hang out. Ask real people, real questions. Don’t just look at the dog in training mode, look at the dog when it’s “off duty.” Ask the owners about their battle wounds. Scars, bruises, cuts, scratches. They’re there. Ask about the collateral damage. Not just chewed shoes – chewed whole metal dog crates, dry wall, car interiors. No one is posting the bad stuff on their insta pages. But it’s there. Still a masochist, are you? Now go find a trainer first. If you’re in Portland and surrounding areas, I frequently invite those that are curious to come meet some of my malinois. Schedule a private lesson with me, or another malinois owning trainer in your area, to really get to know what goes into training a malinois. See what it takes to get these animals (yes – they are animals before they are dogs, before they are our pets) to the point of control and reliability.

If this has deterred you from getting a malinois – thank you for being honest with yourself! There are so, so many more dog breeds out there that are equally gorgeous, smart, and perhaps much better suited for you, your family and your lifestyle!

If this has not deterred you and you’re still interested or already have one – welcome to the club! We love these beasts and would never trade them for anything less, and that love encompasses even their worse, our hardest moments and our blackest malinois caused bruises.

Looking for dog trainers with Malinois experience? Obviously, if you’re in the Portland, OR area, we’re available.

If you’re in the Denver, CO area - we love Synergetic Canine. Our Los Angelenos should hit up iWorkDogs. My Malinois lovers in San Diego can call Howlcraft K9.

Keep watching this list, we’ll continue to add to it! In the meantime, The Driven Dog also offers virtual training.

Content written by Karin at So Fetch Consulting.