Acme Canine - We Teach Dog Owners New Tricks!

Tips to train a dog like a pro

So many people watch dog shows on tv or read a book on dog training and then get discouraged when their dog doesn’t respond as it “should.”  Dog training is similar to dealing with people.  You need to have a fairly good idea of what motivates the dog but even more importantly you need to [...]

Case study: happy go lucky dog

Client Profile:  Jiggs Jiggs, a 1.5 year old male German Shorthair Pointer, entered a 10-day residency program to improve his obedience commands with emphasis on respect, distraction training, and to address destructive behavior and counter surfing. Jiggs is a happy go lucky dog with a desire to please. During his stay he was placed in [...]

Prong collar safety tip

When using a “prong” or “pinch” collar it is important to also have your dog’s leash attached to a chain collar. Sometimes one of the small links allows the flat end piece to slip through and the “prong” collar falls apart. Having the leash also attached to a chain collar on the dog’s neck serves [...]

The art and science of dog training

Dog Training is constantly evolving. There is both an “ART” and a “SCIENCE” of training. The ‘art’ component evolves from the ability to communicate effectively to both the same species (the owners) and the foreign one (the dog). It looks a bit like magic when you see it transform a dog from an obnoxious liability [...]

The best thing for your dog–OBEDIENCE

It is probably a safe assumption that for anyone taking the time from their busy schedule to read this; your dog matters to you. Very few dog owners realize the importance of obedience and how it helps prevent behavior problems. It is also important to understand that dog training is not simply a “dollars and [...]

Train your puppy to be a S.T.A.R.

The American Kennel Club® (AKC)  has a new training program geared towards puppies and their owners. The AKC S.T.A.R.sm Puppy Program rewards responsible owners who take the time to train and socialize their new puppies. The program is the puppy level of the AKC’s well-known Canine Good Citizen® program. “S.T.A.R.” stands for Socialization, Training, Activity [...]

“Leave it” a great command to teach your puppy

The LEAVE IT command is easy to teach and can help prevent your dog from ingesting something it shouldn’t have. You can start teaching this when your puppy is around 12 to 16 weeks old. To commence training “leave” had a good supply of tasty treats on hand and be prepared to have fun with [...]

Is there Acupuncture for Canine Car Sickness?

” Simple questions always bring forth more questions of my own (how old is the dog, how far into the trip do the signs of nausea present, has the dog had a history of car-sickness or is this a new reaction, how much time lapsed between the dog’s meal and the car ride, etc).  But [...]

Stay healthy–own a pet

Here in the United States, one out of every two households includes a companion animal. As a pet owner, you know there’s nothing like the feeling you get from being with your pet. But not only can she bring a smile to your face, recent studies show that your pet can positively affect your physical [...]

coat care in winter

When it comes to your dog, avoid using human shampoos. Human skin is normally more acidic- dogs more alkaline. Dog skin pH is about neutral, like pure water, while humans tend toward acid; which is why a vinegar or lemon rinse will make human hair really shiny. But even human baby shampoo can dry out [...]

We’re open to the world (kind of)

It’s been a long time coming but the new facility is now open.  And our latest addition to the Acme Canine demonstration dogs now has his own blog.  Spike, a 1 year old french bulldog/shitzu mix, joined Acme Canine a few months ago as a rescue and is now on his way to achieving similar [...]