Answering Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Training in Royal Oak, MI

When it comes to dog training, you’ll hear many different opinions—even from professional trainers. It’s much like raising a child—there’s no “one-size-fits-all” approach. Just like each child has their own needs, personality, and learning style, the same goes for dogs. What works for one may not work for another, and that’s why it’s important to find an approach that works for both you and your pet.

That’s why we use a balanced approach to training, combining positive reinforcement and gentle corrections to establish clear communication between you and your dog. This creates a parent-child relationship where your dog looks to you for guidance and support. Our goal is to find the right balance of rewards and structure that leads to lasting changes and a deeper bond with your furry friend.

Some dogs might respond better to treats, while others might thrive on affection. Some dogs may need e-collars, while others don’t respond well to such tools. The key is finding the right mix—tailored to both your comfort level and your dog’s needs.

Excessive barking usually stems from excitement, anxiety, boredom, or frustration, but the cause varies based on the situation. Understanding the root cause is key to addressing the behavior effectively.

In most cases, a blend of clear commands, structured training, and controlled exposure can teach dogs when barking is appropriate and when to stay quiet. The enough or quiet command, paired with reinforcement for calm behavior, helps dogs understand expectations. Mental stimulation, structured walks, and leadership-based training prevent boredom-driven barking by giving dogs a productive outlet for their energy. By providing consistency and addressing the underlying cause, we help dogs communicate appropriately without excessive vocalization.

While determining the cause of your dog’s excessive barking will require meeting your dog in person, this issue can commonly be fixed by addressing both its emotional and physical needs. By doing so, you help your dog feel more secure and calm, reducing destructive behaviors caused by anxiety or lack of stimulation.

Separation anxiety can be a big challenge, but it’s important to understand it as a sign that your dog needs structure, consistency, and reassurance. Dogs that experience anxiety when left alone often feel insecure and need help learning how to manage those feelings.
By addressing both their emotional and physical needs, you can provide the support they need to feel safe and confident when you’re not around. Some ways that you can address this issue include:

• Calming Products: Consider using calming aids like anxiety wraps or pheromone diffusers to help reduce stress.
• Crate Training: Provide a safe and secure space for your dog with a crate to reduce stress when you’re not home.
• Establish a Routine: Consistent feeding, exercise, and playtime schedules help your dog feel secure and reduce anxiety.
• Exercise Before Leaving: Ensure your dog has a good amount of physical activity before you leave to tire them out and reduce restlessness.
• Interactive Toys: Provide puzzle toys or chew toys that keep your dog mentally engaged while you’re away.
• Gradual Desensitization: Start by leaving your dog alone for short periods and slowly increase the time to help them get used to being alone.
• Positive Reinforcement: Reward calm behavior when leaving or returning home, creating positive associations with your departures.

At Connected Canine Academy, we use a gentle, step-by-step process to help your dog feel secure when left alone. By building a parent-child relationship. your dog will feel confident and safe, even in your absence.

Teaching basic commands like sit, stay, and come is essential for building trust, communication, and a strong bond between you and your dog. Basic commands are the foundation of obedience training, making everyday life easier and more enjoyable for both you and your dog. They help establish boundaries and give you control in various situations, whether it’s keeping your dog calm during a walk or having them safely come when called.

We recommend using a balanced approach that combines both positive and negative reinforcement to encourage good behavior and discourage negative habits. Positive reinforcement rewards your dog for following commands, while negative reinforcement helps guide them away from undesirable behaviors, creating a clear understanding of expectations. This combination ensures that your dog knows exactly what to do and why it’s important.

To teach these commands, start with a quiet, distraction-free environment, use treats or toys as rewards, and be consistent with praise or corrections. With practice and patience, these commands help create a well-behaved dog that responds to your cues confidently.

Leash pulling is often a result of excitement, impatience, or lack of training. Dogs pull because they want to get somewhere faster or are simply used to leading the way.

To address this, start by teaching your dog to walk calmly by your side using leash training techniques. Positive reinforcement, like treats or praise, when your dog walks beside you, encourages the desired behavior. Also, using negative reinforcement like stopping the walk when your dog pulls helps them learn that pulling doesn’t get them where they want to go.

With patience, consistency, and calm energy from you, your dog will learn that walking nicely on a leash leads to a more enjoyable experience.

Chewing is a natural behavior, but it can become destructive if not managed properly. Dogs often chew to relieve stress, out of boredom, or because they haven’t been provided with the right outlets.

To prevent this, provide plenty of appropriate chew toys to redirect their energy. Crate training can also help manage your dog’s behavior when unsupervised. If your dog chews due to anxiety or boredom, be sure they receive mental stimulation and physical exercise through play and walks.

Our approach focuses on redirecting chewing by providing appropriate chew toys and using crate training to manage when your dog is unsupervised. We also address the root cause of the behavior, such as anxiety, boredom, or a lack of stimulation, ensuring that your dog gets the mental and physical engagement they need to stop chewing on furniture.

Anxiety and fear in dogs can manifest in several ways. Recognizing these signs early on is crucial in providing the right support and creating a calmer, more secure environment for your dog. Here are some common behaviors to watch for:

• Aggression or defensive behavior when approached by strangers or other animals
• Avoidance behaviors like turning away or backing up from people or objects
• Destructive chewing on furniture or household items when left alone
• Excessive barking when alone or in stressful situations
• Hiding or seeking refuge in corners, under furniture, or behind objects
• Panting or drooling excessively, even without physical exertion
• Shaking or trembling, especially when exposed to new people or environments

By identifying these signs, you can begin addressing the underlying anxiety with positive reinforcement, crate training, exercise, and mental stimulation.

To get your dog to stay for long periods of time, you need to start by teaching them basic stay commands in different positions. Commands like sit, stay, down, crate, and place are essentially variations of the stay command in different forms. Each of these positions should have your dog staying in that specific position until you give them a release word like “free” or “release.” This helps your dog understand that they must remain in position until told otherwise.

To train your dog to stay for longer periods, begin with short durations and gradually increase the time. Positive reinforcement plays a crucial role here—reward your dog with treats or praise when they remain in position for even a few seconds. As your dog gets better at staying in position, extend the time and introduce mild distractions.

If your dog leaves its position without being released, use negative reinforcement in the form of a gentle correction, such as a verbal cue or a vibration from an e-collar, before redirecting them back into position. This teaches your dog that the position you put them in is where they want to be at that moment. With consistent training, your dog will learn to remain in position for longer periods without becoming anxious or distracted.

Dog socialization is often misunderstood as simply getting your dog to get along with other dogs, but it’s much more than that. It’s about making sure your dog is comfortable and relaxed in a variety of different environments. Socialization is about helping your dog feel at ease in situations that might typically be scary or overwhelming to them, such as unfamiliar places, loud noises, or new people. This can include introducing them to different types of environments, from parks to city streets, and ensuring that they remain calm and confident throughout these experiences.

True socialization means that your dog can go to a variety of places and handle new experiences without reacting fearfully or aggressively. It’s about giving them the tools to remain relaxed when exposed to different sounds, sights, and smells. This includes meeting new people and being around other dogs, but it also involves getting used to things like traffic, public spaces, and crowds without reacting.

While being comfortable around other dogs is an aspect of socialization, the ultimate goal is to help your dog become well-adjusted and able to enjoy new experiences without anxiety or fear. A well-socialized pup makes outings, trips to the vet, or meeting other pets a much more enjoyable experience for everyone.

Dog aggression and reactivity are often misinterpreted as the main problem when, in fact, they’re usually symptoms of deeper underlying issues. In many cases, aggression is caused by factors like anxiety, fear, a lack of respect for the owner, or even over-stimulation.

For example, dogs may act aggressively because they feel the need to protect their owner or territory, either out of fear or a lack of confidence in their owner’s ability to protect them. Dogs that aren’t sure of their place in the family hierarchy may act aggressively to fill that role, while others might react out of stress or overexcitement, especially in stimulating environments.

To address dog aggression, you must first identify the root cause, as this will determine how to best train them. Exercise plays a key role in reducing reactivity by helping to burn off excess energy that may lead to frustration and aggression. Building confidence through structured training, like teaching commands and ensuring the dog feels secure in their environment, can help prevent fear-based reactions. Behavioral corrections, such as redirecting or setting clear boundaries, also help guide the dog toward more acceptable behavior.

Tackling the underlying cause—fear, anxiety, or overstimulation—can significantly reduce issues like aggression and reactivity, resulting in a calmer, more well-adjusted dog.