We can’t say enough about the advantages of the “place” command in dog training.  Teaching this to your dog is essential as it can be used in many situations.
You may have a dog that is always at your feet when you are at home.  They will follow you everywhere:  to the bathroom, to the kitchen.  What if you drop something tasty while cooking that they can pick up?
Having a dog in the kitchen at your feet may become dangerous.  You could trip over them or spill something hot on them, leading to injury.  In this situation, the “place” command can come in handy.
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This command can be considered an extension of the “stay” command.  Your dog should go to a location designated by you as their owner.  A “place” can be anything with clear borders.  It can be a mat on the floor or a dog bed.  Some people use special raised dog mats for training a dog the “place” command.  Additionally, it doesn’t have to be the same location every time you train your dog. 
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When you tell your dog “place”, they should go to a designated location and stay there with all of their paws on the mat until you issue a release command.  “Ok” or “break” can be used for releasing the dog from their “place”.
If you own a fearful or a reactive dog, teaching “place” is very important.  Instead of barking at squirrels or bypassing cars, the dog will have a safe place to go to, relax, and calm down.  It will become an important tool for them to handle any stressful situation, including travelling or moving to a new house.
If your puppy lunges at the door at the sound of a doorbell, the “place” can be a life saver.  When someone comes to your door, send your dog to a “place”.  This will prevent any unwanted jumping or barking at visitors.
No matter the location you utilize as the “place” or command you use to release from it, consistency is the key.   The dog should go to the “place” and stay there with all of their paws on the “place” until released.  You can start with keeping her on the “place” for 5 minutes, but increase the time gradually.
Dog training takes some patience on the owner’s part, but the end result will be a dog that knows their boundaries and has the skills to calm down in any stressful situation.

By Stephanie and Adam Knapp,
Dog Trainers in Cincinnati, OH

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We’ve recently came across a question on social media about an aggressive 8-month old pit bull mix.  As described by the owner, the dog doesn’t allow the groomer to complete any services, pulls very hard on walks, and tries to attack other dogs.  He is very good with humans, but gets too excited, jumps, and scratches.  The owner doesn’t know what to expect of his pet and how to proceed with his training.

Many people consider pit bulls to be predisposed to aggression.  Historically, a pit bull is a descendant of the English bull-baiting dog – a dog that was bred to bite and hold bulls, bears, and other large animals around the face and head.  When baiting large animals was outlawed, people crossed these larger dogs with smaller terriers to produce a more agile dog to fight other dogs.

While pit bulls may be genetically predisposed to certain aggression traits, it is warranted.  Genetics is not the only factor in developing aggressive behavior.  Factors such as housing conditions and early social interactions play important roles in proper behavioral development.

Even though pit bulls were bred to fight dogs, aggression towards people was not tolerated.  Research shows that dogs aggressive towards other dogs are no more likely to be hostile toward humans than dogs that aren’t aggressive to other dogs.

As a first step, it is important to have the dog evaluated by a reputable and experienced dog trainer or behaviorist.  An evaluation will help determine the seriousness of the issues.  Often times, a fearful or reactive dog is incorrectly marked as aggressive.  There is no one training methodology that works in all situations.  The owner needs to find a trainer whose methods make the most sense to the owner.  Once the trainer prepares a training plan, it will be the owner who will need to continue train and manage the dog.  The better the owner understands and stays consistent with the chosen training methodology, the better the outcome will be.

The training plan should include basic obedience training and dog socialization.  While this particular dog may never like other dogs, he should learn how to remain calm and listen to the owner’s commands in any situation.  The owner should take a few safety measures before this goal is reached.  The focus should be placed on keeping the dog out of situations where he is set up to fail.  Dogs with aggressive tendencies should not be taken to dog parks or ever run off leash in any areas except a fenced-in yard.

Training an aggressive or a reactive dog involves a lot of work, but with a clear training plan and the owner’s involvement, the dog can learn how to behave and make the right choices in critical situations.

Curtis Craig, dog trainer
The Calm K9

​Long nails on dogs not only look bad but are also bad for their health. A lot of my clients tell me that they would love to be able to trim their dog's nails but are often met with resistance in the form of snatching the foot away, trying to run away, even biting. 

​It's important to start with baby steps and keep yourself calm when working through your dog's discomfort. Pairing high-value food with the nail trimming process can help in the beginning. One thing that is very effective while trimming a resistant dog's nails is to touch the feet while you give a little light verbal praise, followed by food, then a repetition of the process. If your dog tries to pull their foot away, say "No" firmly but calmly while squeezing the dog's foot. The squeezing isn't to hurt the dog but lets them know that resistance won't get them what they want. Once the dog stops trying to pull away, immediately release the pressure of the foot. With enough practice, you should be ready to reintroduce the clippers. 

​Depending on how the dog reacts, you can either touch the nails to the foot or go straight into clipping. You may not get all of the nails done at one time, but it's important to not get stuck in the prepping stage forever. If you accidentally cut the blood vessel in the nail, don't make a big deal out of it, and don't stop the session. Doing so often times confirms the idea that nail trimming is bad in the dog's mind.

Besides the techniques of teaching your dog how to be more accepting of nail trimming, the most important thing is to remain calm. If you feel yourself getting frustrated put your dog away and try again later!

Alex Harris
Reliable K9 Training
Board And Train Programs for dogs

Hi Everyone! Flower here! 

Guess what?! Today was my adoption day!! 

After 3 weeks and 3 days, my trainer and Shelly at Rotten Rottie decided that Stacey and Bill were lucky enough to adopt me! And now I have 2 more brothers and 2 more sisters! Most of them are smaller than me but I had lots of practice with small dogs at my trainers house! 

Oh! And I forgot to tell you!! My trainer has a real name! It’s Karen. Karen took me to my new house and we did introductions with the new dogs. I was awesome. I met my new dad for the first time and while I’m still a little shy, Karen said I’m one million times better with men than I used to be! I think a million is a lot. 

Both my new mom and dad learned how to use my prong collar and e collar, learned how to manage me and most importantly, were instructed not to love on me right away. Karen said just like I had to have a foundation at her house before affection, my new owners have to do that too. That way, I will see them as strong leaders and not weak softies that need me to manage them!! By the end of my stay with Karen I was able to receive lots of affection from her and it had no negative effect on me. But that’s because I had equal amounts of structure and rules! Stacey and Bill know that if they don’t follow Karen’s instructions, I could regress back to the old me. Nobody wants that version of me so they promised they would keep up their end of the bargain. 

When Karen left today, I was hanging out on Place. I knew she was going to leave me because she had some water coming out of her eyes. I watched her leave but knowing Place Command was so helpful because even in a new home, I knew what I was supposed to be doing! 

I think my new life is going to be pretty awesome. I’ve been through a lot. From scary shelters, surgeries and multiples homes. With all of that, I am still the happiest and most confident that I’ve ever been in MY LIFE! I thrive with structure! Karen said all dogs do. 

Thank you for following my story and please learn from me! Adopted dogs living happy, balanced and safe lives is my legacy! 

​Love, Flower 🌺 

​(read the following two blog posts to hear Flower's whole story)

Hi All! Flower here with my one week+ update!

First, I wanted to tell you that my trainer saw all of my well wishes and passed them on to me! We love knowing you care about my story and hopefully my story taught some of you a few things that may help other scared dogs.

Life is pretty ahhhmaaazzzingg over here at DDTAZ! Let me tell you what I’ve been up to! 

Most importantly, I’m not guarding ANYTHING! People can come in the house and I don’t bark, Dexter can walk in the kitchen and receive yummy treats and I stay on place and when my trainer hugs her husband, I don’t care! I feel soooo much better! 

My walks are really good. My heel command is solid even when a moderately intense dog walks past us. I might look, but I don’t react. My trainer even taught me how to go up and down the kiddie slide! Of course I was scared at first, but not anymore! 

I completely understand my e collar pressure and I work at a level 5! I’m working without a leash inside the house. I am still a Rottweiler, so of course I have to be a little stubborn! I wouldn’t want to make it too easy on my trainer! 

I’m warming up to my trainers husband. He can walk around the house and Place and I don’t care! I come up for pets but if he makes a weird move like crosses his leg or moves a little too quick it scares me. I don’t act aggressive or anything like that, I just flinch a little and get the hell out of there! But my trainer doesn’t let me run from my fears anymore, so we re group and start over. Because I trust her so much, I let her guide me through that stuff. Today, her husband even took me for a walk and while I’m used to my trainer doing it, I was fine with it. 

Yesterday, my trainer took me to Pet Planet! We did some work outside and then went inside. All the things I’ve learned at her house was exactly the same at the store so I was pretty relaxed and just did what she told me to. Men and women walked into the store and there were other dogs there and I stayed in my down. I don’t want to brag but I was awesommmmeee!!!! She said I would feel better if I had clean hair so she gave me a bath there! Now I’m shiny and prettier than I already was. 

Some other little things: I was afraid of the water hose in the back yard, but now if I want any petting outside, I have to come up to my trainer and sit while she’s using the hose! Damn, she makes me work for everything! I am awesome in my crate. I play ball by myself sooo cute in the back yard. I jump around and throw the ball so I have to chase it! I met her little dog, Hurley. I didn’t have any aggression towards him, but I did try to be bossy and put my head over his. He corrected me and so did my trainer but I didn’t retaliate at all. Sometimes, Dexter sits on the couch and watches me train. That’s cool too. It’s my trainer’s world and I’m just living in it!!

Oh and last time I told you I would try to find out my trainers name. Her husband calls her Honey so I think that’s her name. 

Thanks for checking in!

Love, Flower and Honey 😉🌺

(read the first blog post about Flower below)

Hi my name is Flower.  I want to share my story with you, specifically to people who rescue, adopt and foster dogs, and even more specifically, insecure dogs.  

I was abused and then I was rescued and treated for my injured knees and then I went into my new home.  I am so thankful that the people who took me in gave me a comfortable bed, good food, nursed me back to health and showed me the human version of love.  What I mean is, they tried to show me I was loved and welcome in their home  by giving me a ton of affection, full rights to the house and yummy food.  That’s how humans show humans they are loved and welcome, right?  They gave me everything they thought I ever wanted.  And let’s just say, at first, it didn’t suck!!  

My trainer says because I am insecure I started to worry that the stuff could be taken away from me and so I started to protect it, including my little human that loved me like I’ve never been loved before!  She said there’s a fancy name for it called resource guarding.   My unstable mind saw these things as valuable resources.  

Let me tell you, protecting a house, my little human, garbage cans, the kitchen and the backyard is a lot of stressful work!  While I didn’t want to be in an abusive situation anymore I also didn’t want this full-time job that was given to me!  You wouldn't ask a toddler to successfully run a corporation would you?  I started being a dog that I didn’t want to be and my people actually started to become afraid of me. They said I couldn’t live there anymore and I was going to be returned!  

I didn’t know if ‘returned’ meant that I had to go back to that horrible shelter where all those unwanted dogs bark all the time, but then the lady from Rotten Rottie Rescue  walked into my house.  She said something about training and then off we went. 

We got to DDTAZ and I was kind of jumpy and of course I didn’t really trust this new trainer lady but we started to work right away!  There was nothing here to protect so that weight was already lifted from my shoulders.  But because I was nervous, I was barking at any noise that I heard and I barked at her Rottweiler, Dexter for really no reason. That dude is confident! He didn’t even flinch when I gave him my mean dog bark!  Oh and every time my trainer went to change my leash or move her hands I was super flinchy but she was also so calm and seemed like she knew what she was doing so I didn’t really object too much. 

I gotta say, this trainer lady really gets me.  She could tell I was worried so we went really slow.  We walked slow, she was nice and quiet and she didn’t try to put pressure on me by petting me or touching me.  She kept a 25’ leash on me when I went outside to potty so that she didn’t  scare me by approaching me to attach a leash. She gave calm, verbal praise when I did good and today she started giving me tiny pets because I showed her I was ready for it.  She taught me Place.  Ah.  Place.  I think I’m gonna love Place.  At first I hated it and wouldn’t step on it or lay on it. One reason, because I am a Rottweiler after all and wanted to maintain my independence!  Two, I thought it would put me in a vulnerable position but now I understand that I can safely lay there and the world can go on around me.  

I put some pictures here to show you what else I’ve been up to.  This trainer makes me wait at every door I go through AND I have to give her eye contact before I can go!  Same for food.  I can only eat a little and then she says this ‘out’ word and I have to stop, come, sit, and give eye contact! SMDH!

She said that she’s showing me that I actually don’t own ANYthing to  protect.   The crate is hers, the food is hers, the doors are hers, she even makes me wait to get on Place so I figured even Place belongs to her.  
She is making me walk on this moving street and says it’s great for my confidence and will help teach me to trust her.  Something about leadership? I guess that’s a thing. 

Oh and the worst one?  She said I’m pushy with my nose and demanding of petting.   She won’t pet me when I tell her to!  Hasn’t she seen how pretty I am?  She said she will only pet me for good work. Like, I have to earn it now.  That’s some BS!

​Fast forward ONLY three days and guess what? I LIKE to do the work!  I look at her eyes all the time looking for cues and guidance.  On our first walk today, I sat when she stopped and looked at her almost every time!  I’m so relaxed in the crate, when she comes out I don’t even stand up!  I’m starting to let her change my leash without flinching and I’m slower and less intense with my food and I’m starting to walk away from my food on my own!  I don’t bark at all with loud noises and lots of dogs walk by my crate and I don’t even care anymore!  What a relief!!  

Human love is not the best love for a dog like me. Not at first anyways. You may be able to give me human love later, after you’ve established yourself as my leader and I’ve learned my position in the house.  I’ve had a pretty messed up life so I may not be able to receive human love for a long time without getting it all twisted in my head!  My owners knew my history.  Some of those crazy dogs at the shelter may not even be able to tell you their back stories; all the more reason to make them earn their way into your house.  I was given these ‘gifts’ and it only took me 2-3 weeks to display issues.   Display.   My trainer says that means I was actually feeling it before then.  My trainer has trained dogs that showed it in one week! Hey, I guess I’m not the worst! #winning

My trainer said she’s going to show me love by teaching me right from wrong, teaching me how to relax, help me trust strangers, teach me that SHE protects ME, not the other way around!  Wow! What a concept!  Doesn’t she know I’m a Rottweiler??  I thought that was my job! She said that what feels even better than human love is knowing I have a stable home that I won’t be removed from, I have someone to guide me which allows me to be a calm, relaxed, house dog that has productive ‘dog jobs’ that don’t include being the boss of anything or anyone.  Sounds good to me, sign me up!!

Humans, I’m writing you this letter because I don’t want you to ever have to return your dog like I was returned.  I want you to know the concept of providing me balance.  Please, balance love and affection with rules, structure and boundaries.  I really DON’T want the freedom like you think I do.   I like it when my trainer tells me what to do so I don’t have to guess or wonder.  It relieves my stress. I want you to contact a balanced trainer THE MOMENT you see ANY negative change in your dogs behavior.  Without professional help, it will likely get worse.  With professional help, you may be able to turn it around and keep another dog out of rescue or the shelter.  I want you to know that as dogs, we will take what you give us, we are  experts at negotiating for more and if you want your dog to behave differently, you will need to behave differently.  Sometimes you may have to hold back what feels good to you (like cuddling, hugging and kissing me) because it’s not the best thing for me at the time.   

If you do these things when I first come into your home, you set me up for success.  I’m relying on you for my success.  I already get a bad rap just because I’m a Rottweiler! I want to make my breed proud!  By giving me rules, you will be teaching your kids how to be good dog owners and that gets passed through generations!  Balance will also set our whole family up for success! We will be happier and you won’t have to explain to the little humans why all of a sudden I was ‘returned’.  

My trainer said it will take at least two weeks with her to get my mind better, get my obedience where it should be and get my confidence up so that I can be a positive addition to my new family.  She also said she will be VERY picky about which people get to be lucky enough to have a pretty, well trained Rottweiler like me.  She said they will have strict rules, just like I do! Haha!  Welcome to my world!  It feels good to have someone fighting for me for a change! 

My trainer wanted to fine print my letter and say she knows not all dogs start guarding when they come from a shelter.  Not all shelter dogs are crazy.  There are lots of easy dogs that you can mush on from day one with no repercussions.  She said if you get a dog like that, congratulations you hit the doggie jackpot!  But if you did get a awesome dog like that, one of your friends or family may not have been so lucky so feel free to share with them!  She also said not all insecure dogs will guard, but all the tips I recommended will help insecure dogs feel more confident, sooner than they would with all the mush.

I’ll keep you posted on my training and I'm gonna try and find out this trainer lady's name!

​Love, 
Flower 🌺🐾