What DogSmith Customers Say About Our Service

Are you interested in opening a Dog Training Business and enjoying the benefits of being part of a small team of professional business owners who only offer unrivaled pet care services?

DogSmith’s offer a range of exception pet care services to pet care owners. DogSmith’s are trained proficiently in the use of scientifically proven dog training methods and DogSmith’s have a true understanding of how important your pets are to you.

These are the kind of testimonials DogSmith customers send to local DogSmith business owners.

“A Note of Thanks” to Rachel Williams – “The Dogsmith” Dog Trainer and Pet Care Expert in Jupiter Beach Florida
I have to write to thank you for taking care of my Golden Retriever, Abbey (2 yrs. Old), over a four day weekend while I was busy with my Catering Company.
I did consider boarding Abbey with a local vet. Wow… what a mistake as I thought about it. Being confined in a kennel, maybe exposed to unhealthy animals, and bombarded by multiple handlers, in a hectic business environment that is closed and empty at 6 pm.
What an extreme contrast I found in your care. Abbey was in a family environment, introduced to your home and family pet (Chloe), protected, exercised, loved, and handled by a professional dog TRAINER!!!
I can say with great confidence, that my decision to leave Abbey in your care during a busy time with my business was calming to me and an absolute “adventure” for Abbey.
I was impressed at your level of attention, care, and great communication with me over the time that you were caring for Abbey. It was a bonus to receive phone text msgs. and even a quick photo to keep me informed of what she was doing. The caring service you provided extended beyond the treatment of my puppy. I was impressed with your careful attention to activity, any diet concerns, and importance of making a comfortable environment for Abbey by suggesting her favorite toy and her bed.
Lastly, I appreciate you delivering Abbey to my home at the end of her stay with you… I was amazed that you were thoughtful enough to give her a bath. I actually teach “Customer Service” in the Hospitality Industry and I feel that your level of care far exceeded all my expectations and felt compelled to write this note to recommend your business to anyone that is searching for outstanding care and thoughtful training of their family pet.
Sincerely,
John Carlino

15,000 Valentines Going To Forgotten Dogs

15,000 Valentines to be delivered to America’s ‘Forgotten Dogs’ Tipton, PA, February 7, 2010—15,000 Valentines will be delivered this week to some very unusual recipients: dogs. Dogs of every breed, size, and color may receive one, but all that do have one thing in common—they are America’s ‘Forgotten Dogs.’ Dogs Deserve Better, a national rescue and advocacy group dedicated to ending the suffering endured by chained and penned dogs, annually sends Valentines and dog treat coupons to canines across the country. The 2010 campaign has reached a milestone: 15,000 Valentines will be mailed between February 7-14 to chained and penned dogs nationwide. Dogs of every breed, size, shape and color end up outside through no fault of their own. Caretakers claim they are not house trained, too big for the house, or too dirty to be inside. Yet through it all dogs just want to be with humans, part of our pack, and putting a dog outside for life when he/she becomes a burden is not an acceptable solution.

The mailing includes a Valentine for the dog and a brochure for the dog’s caretakers, explaining why the practice of chaining dogs for life is a form of abuse. The materials encourage people to bring their dogs into the home and family or to find better homes for the animals. “We call these dogs the Forgotten Dogs, because they may technically have a home, but do they really? Left alone in the elements, enduring extreme heat and cold, often withstanding inadequate or no shelter, food, or water, there’s no doubt that these dogs suffer, and suffer immensely. Winter is a critical time to reach out directly to the people who chain their dogs, and what better excuse than Valentine’s Day to send these forgotten animals a little love,” says Tamira Thayne, founder and director of the eight-year-old non-profit. “Every winter our rescuers see dogs that have frozen in the snow, suffered frostbite, or otherwise endured horrific living conditions because of the longstanding misperception that it is ok to chain a dog and let it out there for life. It isn’t.” “This is the perfect opportunity for people who pass chained dogs every day but feel powerless to help them to make a difference,” continues Thayne. “People anonymously provide us with the addresses of these dogs, or make us a batch of Valentines, and we do the rest.” Schools, scouting troops, and other similar organizations create the Valentines, expressing love and such unusual sentiments like “Chains Break Hearts” or “I Promise to Spread the Love, Not the Fleas.” “Children have a natural affinity for animals and they enjoy making art projects,” says Thayne, an artist herself. “In this way we remind children of proper pet caretaking, and educate guardians as well.”

Although the practice of 24/7 chaining is pervasive in many parts of the country, states and cities have started to pass laws against the practice. So far four states have passed limitations on chaining: California, Texas, Connecticut, and Nevada. Hundreds of cities and counties have passed limitations or flat-out bans. Meanwhile, countless backyard dogs are spending yet another winter in the cold. Often, they shiver day and night in hole-riddled doghouses, suffer from thirst because their water is frozen, and pace neurotically from lack of exercise and attention. Perpetually chained dogs often become aggressive from their constant confinement, thereby posing a danger to people, especially small children.

For more information about the Valentine’s Day outreach, go to http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/Valentines2010.html or email info@dogsdeservebetter.org.

For general information about Dogs Deserve Better go to www.dogsdeservebetter.org

.

The Mercedes-Benz of The Dog Training & Pet Care Industry

Florida, February 2010  - The DogSmith, a national Dog Training, Dog Walking and Pet Care Franchise operating out of Florida, is  offering deferred franchise fees on select Franchise Territories in Florida.

Niki Tudge, the founder of The DogSmith, explains the motivation for this unprecedented Franchise offering.  “If we can increase the share of the pet adoption market by a mere 3% by educating qualified dog trainers committed to assisting rescue groups and shelters with training and socializing more dogs and cats thus making them more appealing to the adopting public, we can stop the killing of millions of animals each year.  That is the mission of The DogSmith. “I developed the DogSmith training methodology because of the huge disconnect between the millions of dollars we as pet owners spend each year at groomers, dog boutiques and pet stores yet millions of adoptable dogs and cats are sentenced to death each year for behaviors and quirks that could be easily resolved with a couple of hundred dollars invested in training.  So many animals are surrendered to shelters and rescue groups every year because of problem behaviors that could be remedied with just some basic training.”

As a professional dog trainer and dog behavior analyst Niki witnessed firsthand the paradox in the number of pets coming into our homes nationwide versus the number of dogs abandoned at shelters available for adoption.  Families bring more dogs and cats into their homes than there are adoptable animals in shelters (more dogs and cats are brought into homes every year from breeders and “puppy mills” than are waiting for adoption through shelters and rescue groups).

When asked why The DogSmith is offering franchises to qualified persons on such attractive terms,   Niki explains that “there is a lack of affordable, humane, efficient and effective dog trainers and an even bigger shortage of dog trainers willing to give their time and services to local rescue groups.  I am passionate about helping the “The Rescue Industry”.  My dream is to train enough DogSmith Dog Trainers and Pet Care experts to make a difference in the way we live with our pet animals.”

One of The DogSmith’s primary missions, and a requirement to attain DogSmith certification, is for each DogSmith franchise owner to partner with local rescue groups and help animal facilities by supporting training and behavioral change programs for animals searching for new homes

“DogSmith Trainers can play an integral role in each step of this process but I cannot do this alone” says Niki, “I need likeminded people to join me in making this dream a reality.  We have the resources, the passion and the energy and we invite others who share these goals to join us. We are so confident in our system as a viable business plan and as the best way to make a difference in our relationship with our pet animals that we are prepared to make this unprecedented offer”.

Potential DogSmith’s will go through a rigorous interview process to ensure they are correctly aligned with The DogSmith Mission, Vision and Values. We consider ourselves the Mercedes-Benz of The Pet Care Business

www.DogSmith.com

http://www.dogsmith.com/FranchiseBrochure.pdf

Happy Confident and Well Behaved

Don’t be employed or self employed. Become a Business Owner – Research The DogSmith

Don’t be employed or self employed. Become a Business Owner

The DogSmith is actively recruiting like minded persons into our company as business partners. We are seeking individuals who fully comprehend and agree with our training philosophy, the role we play in the community with rescue organizations and the level of commitment towards all of our clients required to become a DogSmith®. The DogSmith stands alone as the only national franchise that offers both positive learning-theory based dog training services coupled with professional pet-sitting, dog-walking, pet waste cleanup and pet nutritional expertise.

Interested in becoming a Dog Trainer and Business Owner

If you long for a career combining your passion for animals with an independent lifestyle and you would like to feel the pride and satisfaction of building your own business, a business that can make a difference in your community, then we are interested in talking to you. The DogSmith is an equal opportunity business and welcomes individuals from all walks of life. Our professional code of conduct and professional ethics recognizes the dignity and autonomy of all people and animals.

A Brief Overview of the Training Process

The DogSmith Dog Training Certification starts with 20 hours of training research, exercises and assessments to complete prior to your arrival at the training center. Each DogSmith Candidate receives 2 weeks of intensive onsite start-up training covering hours of practical hands-on dog training time. The training covers every aspect of owning and operating a DogSmith franchise. Our expert instructors will teach you how to perform every one of your dog training and pet care responsibilities. The DogSmith Franchise also offers continued educational units to its Franchise owners through webinars and onsite educational programs. The DogSmith Franchise Training also covers finance, marketing and human resources modules so you are equipped to run all aspects of your business. The DogSmith Training Center is situated in beautiful rural Northwest Florida, 40 minutes from the Emerald Coast.

Download our full DogSmith Franchise Information pack. If you are interested in talking to us then call The DogSmith at 1-888-Dog-Smith (364-7648) or email us at Info@888DogSmith.com to schedule an appointment and learn more about our company and the business opportunities in your area.

Dog Training Gainesville, Dog Training Orlando, Dog Training, Tallahassee, Dog Training Jacksonville. Become a Dog Trainer; Open Your Own Dog Training Business. Dog Training Certification, Dog Trainer College ABC College, a positive alternative to Bark Busters. APDT certified Dog Trainers. NADOI endorsed Dog Trainers, Certified Pet Care Technicians, and Association of Animal Behavior Professional.

Obesity is one of the most common canine nutritional disorders in America

Obesity is one of the most common canine nutritional disorders in America. And vets widely agree that excessive weight can lead to a whole host of health problems.

Therefore, it’s easy to see that shedding a few unwanted pounds now can make an enormous impact on your dog’s quality of life. Compared to our regular formula, Life’s Abundance Weight-Loss Formula contains 28% less fat and 32% fewer calories to help adult dogs maintain a healthy weight and an active lifestyle. And, it’s enhanced with L-carnitine to help the body utilize fat and to support long-term weight management. Read more about this weight loss dog food here For the most part, your dog eats the same food every day. That is why carefully choosing a food is so important to your dog’s long-term health.

* Life’s Abundance Weight-Loss Formula is veterinarian-formulated to help your dog lose weight and maintain optimum health. * We use high-quality ingredients and a “fast-cook” process to help preserve the nutritional value of each and every wholesome ingredient. * We maintain strict inventory controls to ensure that quality and safety of our foods. * Since we use only wholesome ingredients, this formula contains no artificial flavors or colors, and no corn, corn gluten, wheat or wheat gluten. Does all this make a difference? You bet it does. We take great pride in providing your dog with the finest quality foods.

We invite your close inspection of the wholesome ingredients in Life’s Abundance Weight-Loss Formula. Wholesome Ingredients: * High-quality protein for muscle maintenance during weight loss, including chicken meal, egg and catfish meal. * A selection of nutritious vegetables and fruits. * Wholesome grains, including pearled barley, oat groats and ground brown rice, which provide excellent sources of complex carbohydrates your dog needs for energy while nutritionally managing his or her weight. * Omega-3 fatty acids for healthy skin and a shiny coat. * L-Carnitine to help the body utilize fat. * An antioxidant system including vitamins A, C and E. * A proprietary blend of vitamins and minerals. * Calcium and phosphorus for healthy teeth and strong bones

The DogSmith Urges Animal Lovers to Participate In “Week for the Animals”

The DogSmith National Dog Training and Pet Care Franchise encourages all animal lovers to support Animal World USA and Animal World International  by participating in their “Week for the Animals” beginning Saturday, February 6, 2010 and concluding on Sunday February 14^th 2010.

Florida February 2, 2010 – DogSmith Dog Training and Pet Care Franchises join with animal lovers everywhere in supporting “Week for the Animals” across the USA and the World.  This annual event presented by Animal World USA and Animal World International kicks off around the world on Saturday February 6, 2010 and concludes on Valentines Day, February 14th.

Animal World was formed to inspire, educate and empower communities everywhere to understand, love, nurture and protect the amazing animals of our world.  Toward this end Animal World partners with educational institutions, animal shelters, rescue groups, and humane organizations to host a variety of animal-themed special events.  Educators, students, businesses and animal lovers join in, creating and planning activities to celebrate and help animals.

Typical “Week for the Animals” events will include adoption fairs; spay/neuter awareness events, shelter beautification days, Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) programs in libraries, walks for the farm animals and therapy dogs visiting hospitals and nursing homes.

Many communities will also stage a salute to our canine military and police dogs, feral cat initiatives, animal law events, educational programs at zoos, blessings for the animals, and fun-filled festival days for families to come and enjoy food, music and some comically entertaining animals!

Please get involved! Events are planned in many communities, and all animal lovers are welcome.  Visit http://www.weeksfortheanimals.org/ for more information and to find out what is planned for your state or community.  You can also make a donation to help the animals.

About The DogSmith – The DogSmith Franchise Services Inc. is a Florida based company whose mission is to enhance the lives of pets and their owners by improving their relationship, and the quality of the life they share, through providing professional support and training to pet dog owners, supporting and assisting animal shelters and rescue organizations to minimize the number of unwanted animals and offering affordable and professional care to family pets so that pet ownership is never a burden. To learn more about, or to become a DogSmith Dog Trainer, visit www.DogSmith.com or call 1-888-364-7648

Spare The Rod And Train The Dog, Punishment and Its Fallout

Have you ever asked yourself “why do we do what we do?”  All animals, including humans, demonstrate certain behaviors because they are reinforced in some way.  In many cases this characteristic is essential to our survival and helps us secure the necessities of life such as food, water, approval and safety. Reinforcement for behaviors that lead to these essentials helps us survive the perils of the world. Learning what not to do also helps us survive and our brain teaches these lessons through fear, pain and suffering.

Join The DogSmith, Unrivaled Pet Care

If you consider an injury you have had you will find that it may have been brought about by your behavior and you hopefully learned from it and will make efforts in the future to avoid similar behavior. You may also be aware that much of the punishment inflicted on you is external, from the hands of other people (Time-outs as a child, detention in High School, speeding tickets). Most of us live in healthy, happy environments and receive far more reinforcement than punishment from those around us. But for some, life can be one punishing experience after another.  The world we live in is filled with aversive consequences that are imposed in an attempt to suppress unwanted behavior.  Many family pets live under constant fear of punishment when they are desperately seeking  the attention, approval and love from their family.

So what is punishment and how is punishment used to suppress a dog’s behavior? Punishment as described above is an event that takes place after a behavior AND that is likely to reduce the behavior in the future. The law of effect says that behavior is a function of its consequence. A punisher can be anything that reduces behavior; shouting, hitting, withholding something (such as a toy or affection). A punisher is something that your dog will seek to avoid or escape. However, if the punisher does not reduce the behavior then it stops being a punisher.  Sometimes things that we consider punishment may not actually be an aversive to our dog and vice-versa; things that we may consider a reward may actually be a punisher in the eyes of a dog. Whether something is a reward or a punisher will be determined by the person/dog receiving it and is defined by whether it is increasing or reducing the “unwanted” behavior.

There are two types of punishment, positive punishment and negative punishment. The ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ describes whether something has been added to the event after the behavior. If you walk in a park at night and you are mugged, you are less likely to walk in the park again at night. Your behavior (of walking in the park) was punished; an aversive event occurred (the mugging) which was added to the situation. If you drive too quickly and you are stopped by the police and fined, you will drive more slowly in the future (theoretically).  This is an example of your behavior being negatively punished. Something has been subtracted from the situation (the money you were fined). Negative punishment is also referred to as penalty training (Chance 2008).

Punishment is a simple concept.  However, the variables that determine if the punishment is effective are very complicated, and perhaps impossible to implement effectively.  One essential variable to effective punishment is the contingency; how and to what degree is the punishing event dependant on the behavior. If a dog is doing something wrong and only gets punished some of the time, then the dog will not relate their behavior to the punishment. It is virtually impossible for pet dog owners to be 100% consistent and therefore they cannot get the consistency required for the punishment to be contingent on the behavior.  The second variable is the contiguity which is the interval between the behavior and the punishment. Dogs are too often punished after (sometimes long after) an infraction and in their minds there is no connection between the punishment and the infraction, so they don’t know what they are being punished for.  In fact they will associate the punishment to what they happen to be doing at the exact moment the punishment is received. Most people cannot effectively apply punishment.  They either ignore the fact that in many cases the punishment was not contingent on the behavior and/or the timing of the punishment was wrong leaving the animal bewildered and confused (Chance 2008).

It is also nearly impossible to determine at what intensity punishment should be applied.  If the level of the punishment is wrong then the animal either receives too harsh a punishment or the punishment is sustained for too long as the person applying the punishment experiments with the intensity of the punishment in an attempt to get the desirable effect.

This is why “punishment” so often results in unintentional abuse of family pets.  Housetraining is an excellent case-in-point.  Consider a dog that is not housetrained and even though the owner is convinced they are addressing the problem and punishing the dog correctly, house soiling continues. There is a high probability that the punishment is not contingent on the behavior. If the animal is soiling the house without the owner knowing, then contingency is not effective or the animal is only being punished sometimes.  If the house soiling behavior is not punished immediately then there is not sufficient contiguity between the behavior and the punisher. As a result of this the owner increases the intensity of the punishment, labeling the animal stubborn, spiteful or stupid. The animal then seeks to escape or avoid the punishment which results in a breakdown of trust and feelings of insecurity and fear when the dog is with its owner.

So not only is punishment extremely difficult to apply it also has many unwanted, and often unanticipated, side effects. Pet dog owners will sometimes continue to punish their dogs because in the short term they may see what appears to be a result.  The application of the punishment is reinforcing to them (the owner) so they punish again. The potential fallout of punishment is that the dog seeks to avoid or escape the punishment.  Behaviors such as escape, apathy and aggression can result (Chance 2008).

Let’s look at each of these.  A dog can escape punishment without actually fleeing.  The dog becomes an expert at avoidance.  When dogs cannot escape or avoid punishment they become apathetic.  Their general demeanor and behavior is suppressed. It is often safer for the dog to do nothing in an environment where aversive treatment is common place. Aggression is an alternative to escaping punishment. If the dog cannot escape the punishment or the punisher they will resort to aggression and attack. Aggression my not always be directed at the immediate threat and can be redirected to a stationary object or someone else.

Because punishment is so difficult to implement and it has so many unwanted side effects it is not a wise choice if you want to change the behavior of your companion animal. There are so many other choices including response prevention and managing a dog’s environment so they cannot or choose not to engage in problem behaviors. Reinforcement training is a powerful alternative to punishment protocols. You teach your dog what you would like them to do rather than what not to do.  Remember, we all tend to choose behaviors that result in pleasant, desirable or safe outcomes. The huge benefit and positive side effect of using more appropriate training and behavior change methods is that your dog will actually  like, and not fear, you.  I don’t know about you, but I choose to have pets in my life so I can enjoy and benefit from a mutually rewarding relationship where we share our life together.

Chance, P. (2008) Learning and Behavior. Wadsworth Cengage Learning

Copyright Niki Tudge 2010

An Invitation to Learn More about The DogSmith and How To Become A Professional Dog Trainer

Join The DogSmith Founder Niki Tudge on a webinar in February and learn more about how you can become a professional dog trainer.  In fact, through the DogSmith Franchise you can become a professional pet care provider offering product and services across several business units. The DogSmith, America’s Dog Training, Dog Walking & Pet Care Franchise, invites you to join this webinar so you can learn all about The DogSmith, our training approach, business model and our mission, vision and values that steers our course every day.

The DogSmith® Unrivaled Pet Care – your Neighborhood Expert.

Visit our website to learn more about our company and see if you qualify for the DogSmith opportunity . www.DogSmith.com

1. Please join my meeting on February 3^rd at 8 pm Eastern Time, 7pm Central Time, 5 pm Pacific

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/join/320913120

2.  Use your microphone and speakers (VoIP) – a headset is recommended.  Or, call in using your telephone.

Dial 218-844-4924

Access Code: You will receive this by email

Audio PIN: Shown after joining the meeting

Meeting Password: You will receive this by email

Meeting ID: 320-913-120

GoToMeeting® Online Meetings Made Easy™

Email Niki Tudge and receive the conference access code and password. NikiTudge@DogSmith.com

Niki Tudge

President & Founder

DogSmith® Franchise Services Inc

CPDT, E-Nadoi, CBC

AABP- Professional Dog Trainer

Dip, ABT, Diploma. Animal Behavior Technology

Pet Care Services CPCT, CAPCT

AKC “CGC” Evaluator

www.DogSmith.com

Toll Free 1-888-Dog-Smith (364-7648)

The DogSmith January Dog Toy Review. The Pogo Plush

If you are tired of picking up the stuffing from your dog’s stuffed toys then you will love the new Pogo Plush™  from Premier.  Irresistible plush toys with no stuffing but dogs will love the unique “bounce-back” design.  Inner rubber frame and free-floating squeaker provides endless entertainment and durability.  Available in two sizes, large and small.

You can purchase these toys on The DogSmith website at www.dogsmith.com or contact your local DogSmith to place an order and get pricing for any of the premier products.  1-888-Dog-Smith

Respondent Conditioning, The Four Ways of Pairing an Unconditioned Stimulus with a Conditioned Stimulus

Respondent conditioning involves the pairing of stimuli.  There are four ways of pairing the unconditioned stimulus and conditioned stimulus. The rate of respondent conditioning will vary with the degree of CS – US contingency. The interval, contiguity, between the conditioned stimulus and unconditioned stimulus also affects how quickly conditioning occurs.

Trace and delayed conditioning present the conditioned stimulus prior to the unconditioned stimulus. In trace conditioning the conditioned stimulus begins and ends before the unconditioned stimulus is presented.  With delayed conditioning there is an overlap of the conditioned stimulus and unconditioned stimulus.  Delayed conditioning is also affected by the length of delay between the presentation of the conditioned stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus; these delays are referred to as short and long delays (Chance 2008 p 69).

With delayed conditioning initially both short and long-term delays elicit similar results. However with long delay conditioning the interval between the conditioned stimulus and conditioned responses, conditioned response latency, gradually increases. The conditioned stimulus becomes not just the presented stimulus but the appearance of the stimulus for a given length of time (Chance 2008 p 70). With both trace and delayed conditioning a conditional response begins to appear after the conditioned stimulus is presented as there is a high degree of CS-US contingency and there is an interstimulus interval (Chance 2008 p 73).

In simultaneous conditioning and backward conditioning the conditioned stimulus is not presented before the unconditioned stimulus but either simultaneously or after the unconditioned stimulus is presented. With simultaneous conditioning the conditioned stimulus and unconditioned stimulus are presented at exactly the same time, as there is no interval between the conditioned stimulus and unconditioned stimulus it makes conditioning very ineffective. Backward conditioning presents the unconditioned stimulus before the conditioned stimulus and weakens the contingency between the conditioned stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus. In respondent conditioning the amount of learning depends on the degree to which the conditioned stimulus predicts the unconditioned stimulus (Chance 2008 p 71).

Chance, P. (2008) Learning and Behavior, Wadsworth Cengage Learning