Recent Articles from Steven Applebaum
Pool Safety for Dogs
It behooves retailers and their staffs to have some basic answers to common behavioral challenges and learning tasks. Some of the answers/suggestions you give will be product oriented— chewing, house soiling and litter box solutions are good examples. Others might not involve products you sell, but if answered with care and accuracy, may enhance a […]
The Best Time to Train a Dog
Many owners are unsure as to when they should start training their dog. As a young puppy? An older puppy? An adult? The answer will depend on the type of training they have in mind. Training is “the action of teaching a person or animal a particular skill or type of behavior,” as defined by […]
Advice on Dog Aggression
Aggression in dogs is dangerous and should be completely unacceptable to their owners. When I say aggression, I am referring to dogs that growl, snap or snarl at, or bite people. One of the challenges in dealing with aggressive behavior is that there is not much leeway when treating it. If a customer’s dog was chewing on inappropriate items three or four times a week […]
Model Behavior
Some dogs are afraid of being bathed. This isn’t necessarily the fault of the groomer, as there are numerous reasons why a specific dog might not like being bathed. Bringing a dog’s fear to the attention of the owner and being able to offer viable solutions for them to assist in addressing these fears shows […]
Causes of Dog Aggression
Most dogs will, at some point in their lives, exhibit an unacceptable behavior, such as house soiling, jumping on people, chewing inappropriate objects, digging or excessive barking. These behaviors can generally be minimized or stopped through regular exercise, obedience training and/or various preventative measures. For example, teaching a dog to chew on appropriate items, such […]
Focusing on Dog Behavior
No matter who is doing the critiquing, it is always a good idea to mix in some praise with constructive criticism. This is especially true when a groomer discusses the behavior of a client’s dog. Owners can become incredibly defensive when someone tells them their “dog behaved badly.” Businesses run the risk of losing a […]
Grooming Behavior
Aside from being a successful standalone business, grooming can be an outstanding service for retail stores to offer customers. In addition to being another revenue source, grooming can boost product sales, inspire greater customer loyalty and drive repeat business. However, grooming could also be problematic, particularly if difficult dogs are not handled properly, which could […]
Focusing on Dog Training
The first three months of the year is one of the busiest times for dog trainers. Many owners vow, as part of their New Year’s resolutions, to train their dogs. Others will look at the puppy they recently acquired and realize obedience training is needed. Since pet owners often go to their local independent pet […]
Head of the Class
I have always encouraged pet retailers to offer dog training classes through their stores because they stimulate product sales and increase consumer loyalty. Customers are 53 percent more inclined to shop at a retail store if it has services available that can enrich their shopping experience, according to Marketing Metrics. The costs are minimal and […]
Cash in on Holiday Puppies
The winter holiday season is an interesting time for most dog trainers. Starting in mid-November and lasting until January, dog trainers generally experience a business lull. Many owners get so busy during the holiday season that they don’t have time to train their dogs. They also use their discretionary income on holiday gifts as opposed […]
Older Dogs, New Tricks
One of the most common questions I am asked as a dog trainer is whether it is possible to train an older dog. The answer is yes, an older dog can be taught. That said, the more relevant question should be how old is the behavior a client wants to modify. Provided a dog is […]
Halloween Safety Tips for Customers
Halloween is a time for fun and frivolity for two- and four-legged participants alike. It is also a time for concerns about safety. According to the Pet Poison Hotline, calls to veterinarians increase by 12 percent during Halloween. Among the greatest risks for pets is the ingestion of Halloween candy and decor. Here are some […]