OKC Pets Magazine Nov/Dec 2020

14 OKC Pets • November/December 2020 “We like to bring them along when we go adventuring so they can get exercise and enjoy being outdoors with us,” she said. “But it comes down to being attentive to them and to other hikers or dogs.” Dogs can be an added joy when adventuring outside or taking a road trip. So we asked obedience trainers the best ways to train your pup to be an adventurer like you. Sydney Head, owner and training director of Oklahoma City’s Full Circle Obedience, and Nina Russell of Tulsa’s Nonstop Dog Canine Training and Behavior share their best tips on how to train your dog to be an adventure buddy. Know Your Dog Is your dog nervous or a real risk taker? For many, the first step in knowing what adventures your dog is up for means knowing what kind of dog you have. Head said the most important thing you can do as a dog owner is know your dog. If your dog is skittish and gets overwhelmed by new sights and sounds, you’ll have to ease the pup into accepting new environments. If your dog is easily distracted, you may have to spend more time training him or her. “Know your dog. Some dogs can’t handle the responsibility to be off leash. Some dogs need more socialization than others,” said Head. “If your dog is easily skittish and nervous, it might be best not to bring the dog out. The best thing is to start socializing your dog, which doesn’t necessarily mean getting him used to other dogs and people, but getting him used to unusual sights and sounds.” Russell said finding a trainer, like her, who specializes in adventure training can help. She takes her clients’ dogs out on adventure days on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Sometimes they go hiking and paddle boarding, and other times they go to Costco to people-watch. “If you don’t have any major issues like serious fears, start going to fun places with your dog,” said Russell. “The point is to start practicing skills in real life that they learned in their training.” ‘Come!’ Head said teaching your adventure dog how to come when called may be one of the best ways to protect your furry buddy and others when out on adventures. A “come when called” training is vital to keep your dog from running after wildlife on the trails or taking off through the woods. “If you start off with a puppy, do a lot of practice sessions. Make your dog associate ‘come when called’ with treats so they have a positive association with the command,” said Head. “If you’ve had a dog for a while, and they ignore the ‘come when called’, it’s best to choose another command like ‘Here!’ or ‘Aqui,’ which is Spanish for ‘here.’” Using the commands that a dog has learned in training is a must when introducing him to new experiences, said Russell. “Teach your dogs to stay and to come when they are commanded to. You can even have specific commands like ‘stay on trail’ for when you are hiking or commands to get on top of something in case there is a snake on the trail,” Russell said. “Again, it goes back to the foundation of training and establishing that trust.” Getting Socialized When people hear the term “socialization,” they often think of exposure to other dogs