<![CDATA[KyleRothfus.com - My Dog Training Blog]]>Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:23:28 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Can You Train Your Puppy to Stay Like Jarvis?]]>Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:00:13 GMThttp://www.kylerothfus.com/my-dog-training-blog/can-you-train-your-puppy-to-stay-like-jarvisOne of the keys to puppy training is to teach your puppy that it is important to have patience and wait at feeding time. In this video, Jarvis, my twelve-week-old Labradane puppy, demonstrates how even a young puppy can have self control. It is never too early to start training your puppy about obedience and good behavior.

Stay tuned for future blog posts about tips and tricks to train your puppy to stay and wait. In the meantime, you can also see another example I posted about training a puppy to stay and come.

P.S. Of course the ever obedient Gatsby has a background cameo in this video. He never ceases to amaze me, and he is the most amazing role model for little Jarvis.
]]><![CDATA[My New Puppy Makes Me Nostalgic]]>Wed, 12 Jun 2013 10:39:27 GMThttp://www.kylerothfus.com/my-dog-training-blog/my-new-puppy-makes-me-nostalgicPicture
On Saturday, May 25th I brought home an energetic new puppy to join our family. Jarvis has quickly settled into his new life with Ryan, Gatsby, Dr. Seuss, Joe, Mr. Moore, Zoey, Rory, and me, and the whole process has really made me miss all the times I got the privilege of helping my Get Pet clients with their new dogs. A couple evenings ago I tortured Ryan by reading several of my old blog posts about puppy training to him, but being the ever-supportive boyfriend, it resulted in him encouraging me to start blogging again - so here I am.

Selling Get Pet was one of the hardest decisions I ever had to make, and having Jarvis around has reminded me why the decision was so hard. It brings me so much joy to watch this little guy learn and adapt, and I am always so proud of Gatsby's ability to appropriately interact with every dog he encounters. He truly is the reason that Get Pet was a success, and he immediately helped Ryan and me get Jarvis started in the right direction.

Since the puppy training is so close to home this time, I thought I will focus on Jarvis' development over the next few months here on the blog, and I hope my stories and experiences can be a resource to you from one dog parent to another. Please feel free to comment and ask questions. You can always reach me via email at kyle@allrovertown.com.
]]><![CDATA[2013 National Pet Holidays to Celebrate with Your Dog]]>Wed, 23 Jan 2013 18:47:09 GMThttp://www.kylerothfus.com/my-dog-training-blog/2013-national-pet-holidays-to-celebrate-with-your-dogLooking for another reason to spoil your pup? Be sure to mark your calendar for the following special pet holidays in 2013.
January


February

  • Spay/Neuter Awareness Month. (Humane Society of the United States) 
  • Pet Dental Health Month.
  • Responsible Pet Owners Month.
  • Responsible Animal Guardian Month.
  • Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month.
  • National Prevent a Litter Month.
  • Unchain a Dog Month.
  • Feb. 7-14, 2013: Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week.
  • Feb. 11-12, 2013: Westminster Kennel Club Annual Dog Show. Held at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, this event is televised.
  • Feb. 14, 2013: Pet Theft Awareness Day.
  • Feb. 17-23, 2013: National Justice for Animals Week.
  • Feb. 20, 2013: Love Your Pet Day.
  • Feb. 22, 2013: Walking the Dog Day.
  • February 23, 2013: International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day.
  • Feb. 26, 2013: World Spay Day. Annual campaign by the Humane Society International and The Humane Society of the United States; held the last Tuesday of February.

March

  • Poison Prevention Awareness Month.
  • Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month.
  • March 2, 2013: Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race begins. Called “The Last Great Race on Earth,” this grueling race travels along a path that alternates between two paths, changing in even and odd years. The race crosses two mountain ranges in conditions that range from 30 degrees above to 30 degrees below zero.
  • March 3, 2013: If Pets Had Thumbs Day.
  • March 3-9, 2013: Professional Pet Sitters Week.
  • March 7-10, 2013: Crufts. Held in Birmingham, England, this is the world’s largest dog show, featuring nearly 28,000 canines in its four days.
  • March 17-23, 2013: National Poison Prevention Week.
  • March 23: National Puppy Day. The Animal Miracle Foundation sponsors this annual event that encourage dog lovers to adopt from a shelter.

April

  • National Pet First Aid Awareness Month. This event is an effort by the American Red Cross to draw attention to the need to know specialized pet first aid.
  • Prevent Lyme Disease in Dogs Month.
  • Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month. (ASCPA)
  • April 7-13, 2013: Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week.
  • April 11, 2013: National Pet Day. From the Animal Miracle Network, this day honors our furry friends.
  • April 18, 2013: Pet Owners Independence Day.
  • April 22, 2013: Earth Day
  • Third week in April. Animal Cruelty/Human Violence Awareness Week. An effort by the Humane Society of the United States.
  • Third week in April. National Pet ID Week.
  • April 26, 2013: National Kids and Pets Day. From the Animal Miracle Network, this day celebrates the special bond between children and pets.
  • Late April: World Veterinary Day. This event from the World Veterinary Association is always celebrated on the last Saturday in April.
  • April 27, 2013: Hairball Awareness Day.

May

  • National Pet Month
  • Chip Your Pet Month.
  • National Service Dog Eye Examination Month. The American College of Veterinary Optholmologists hosts this annual event when over 200 veterinary optholmologists donate their services to provide eye exams to service dogs in the US and Canada. 
  • May 5-11, 2013: American Humane’s Be Kind to Animals Week. This week-long event has been celebrated since 1915. Always the first full week of May.
  • May 5-11, 2013: National Pet Week. Always held the first full week of May by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
  • May 6-12 2013: Puppy Mill Action Week.humanesociety.org/puppymills An initiative of the HSUS, this week is always scheduled to begin the Monday before Mother’s Day.
  • Second Saturday in May. Animal Disaster Preparedness Day.
  • May 16-19, 2013: World Dog Show Hungary. This large show is hosted by a different county every year.
  • May 29-25, 2013: Dog Bite Prevention Week. This event by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) along with the United States Post Office (USPS) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) focuses attention on preventing dog bites.

June

  • Adopt-a-Cat Month®. From the American Humane Association.
  • Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month. From the ASPCA.
  • National Pet Preparedness Month. This month, timed for the first month of hurricane season, urges people with pets to make preparations in case they should be hit by a disaster…and that includes making plans for what you would do with your dog in case of a hurricane, tornado, flood or other natural disaster.
  • June 4, 2013: Hug Your Cat Day.
  • 1st week in June. Pet Appreciation Week.
  • June 10, 2013: World Pet Memorial Day.
  • Mid-June: Animal Rights Awareness Week.
  • June 21, 2013: Take Your Dog to Work Day. 
  • June 21, 2013: National Dog Party Day.

July

  • Dog House Repairs Month
  • July 4: Independence Day. This US holiday is no holiday for dogs; the sounds of fireworks causes many dogs to panic and run, resulting in many lost dogs every year.
  • July 15, 2013: National Pet Fire Safety Day. Sponsored by the The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), ADT Security Services and the American Kennel Club® (AKC).
  • July 31, 2013: Mutt’s Day

August

  • Aug. 1: DOGust Universal Birthday for Shelter Dogs. The North Shore Animal League America, the world’s largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization, declared August 1 as a birthday for all the shelter animals whose birthdays are unknown. Happy DOGust!!
  • Aug. 5: Work Like a Dog Day.
  • Aug. 4-10, 2013: International Assistance Dog Week.
  • Aug. 17, 2013: International Homeless Animals’ Day. From the International Society for Animal Rights.
  • Late August. Pet Fashion Week. Similar to the human Fashion Week, this week flaunts the latest fashion…on four legs. Held at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City.
  • Aug. 26, 2013: National Dog Day. From the Animal Miracle Network, National Dog Day celebrates shelter dogs.
  • Aug. 30. National Holistic Pet Day.

September

  • National Disaster Preparedness Month. Led by FEMA’s Ready Campaign, Citizen Corps and The Advertising Council, this effort encourages individuals, families, businesses and communities to work together and take action to prepare for emergencies. Visit Ready.gov and CitizenCorps.gov.
  • Second Sunday in September. National Pet Memorial Day. Established by the International Association of Pet Cemeteries (IAPC).
  • 4th week in September:  National Dog Week.
  • Last full week in September. Deaf Pet Awareness  Week. By Petfinder.com.
  • Sept. 23, 2013: Dogs in Politics Day (also known as Checkers Day). Recognizing the dogs of politicians.
  • Sept. 28, 2013: World Rabies Day. Sponsored by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control.

October


November

  • Adopt a Senior Dog Month. By ASPCA.
  • National Pet Awareness Month.
  • National Senior Pet Month.
  • Pet Cancer Awareness Month.
  • Pet Diabetes Month.
  • National Dog Show. Always broadcast in the US on Thanksgiving, this event is held at The Greater Reading Expo Center in Reading, Pennsylvania and is hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia. Sanctioned by the American Kennel Club, the event features 2,000 dogs.
  • Nov. 3-9, 2013: National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week. by The Humane Society of the United States.
  • Nov. 17, 2013: National Take a Hike Day.
  • Nov. 17: National Black Cat Day.

December

  • Dec. 2, 2013: National Mutt Day. This special event by the Animal Miracle Foundation celebrates the mixed breed dogs in shelters across the US and hopes to place 10,000 dogs!
  • Dec. 14-15, 2013: AKC/Eukanuba National Championship Dog Show. This show features almost 3,000 dogs from across the US as well as 70 other countries.
]]><![CDATA[Dog-Friendly Mobile App]]>Sat, 02 Jun 2012 18:13:25 GMThttp://www.kylerothfus.com/my-dog-training-blog/dog-friendly-mobile-appWould you like to have a mobile app that allows you to locate dog-friendly places nearby like housing, bars, groomers, vets, and more plus gives you access to dog-friendly deals and events?

I am at Startup Weekend working on a mobile app for AllRoverTown to do just that, and if our team is chosen by the judges we'll receive funding to get it going.

Please help show your support so that I can use it to convince the judges that this app is viable and a solution that dog owners want.  Think Foursquare for dogs with the functionality of Groupon Now, Yelp deals, Meetup, Craigslist and more.

To show your support, please visit www.allrovertown.com and enter your email address. You will receive a unique URL to share with all the people you know to use your social currency to help make this happen. You can also Like AllRoverTown on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

PLUS, you'll be entered in a drawing for a $100 Gift Certificate to redeem in the Get Pet Online Shop when you Like the AllRoverTown Facebook page.

Thanks for your support!

Kyle and Gatsby
]]><![CDATA[Weekly Tricks and Treats - How to give your dog a pill]]>Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:16:05 GMThttp://www.kylerothfus.com/my-dog-training-blog/weekly-tricks-and-treats-how-to-give-your-dog-a-pillCongratulations to the winner of last week's "Tricks and Treats" drawing.  Emily T will receive a gift pack including a KissAble Toothbrush and Toothpaste kit and Dogswell Breathies Jerky Treats to help her keep up the good work of brushing her dogs' teeth!  She'll also receive a $40 certificate to spend in the Get Pet Shop.

I'm very disappointed that so few of you care about your dogs' teeth!  It's National Pet Dental Health Month after all.  So, since so many of you are going to end up having to give your dogs pain medication when they have to get teeth removed, I decided it is best to focus this week's "Trick" on how to give your dog a pill.  Watch the great video below from Howcast so you can learn how to give your dog a pill.

To be entered in this week's drawing for a "Treat" next week, respond to this week's Facebook poll "How do you get your dog to swallow a pill?"
]]><![CDATA[Kyle and Gatsby Join ChicagoNow.com]]>Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:43:18 GMThttp://www.kylerothfus.com/my-dog-training-blog/kyle-and-gatsby-join-chicagonowcomI am pleased to announce that Gatsby and me are official bloggers on ChicagoNow.com.  Please check out our first post  http://www.chicagonow.com/dog-friendly-chicago/2012/02/city-dog-versus-country-dog/ and be sure to follow the blog as we will be updating it on a regular basis with reviews about dog-friendly places in Chicago and tips about having fun with your dog in Chicago. ]]><![CDATA[Vote for your favorite cutest puppy]]>Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:52:27 GMThttp://www.kylerothfus.com/my-dog-training-blog/vote-for-your-favorite-cutest-puppyThanks to everyone who submitted photos!  The entries are below.  You can vote once per day, and you should definitely encourage your friends and family to vote too because the prize will be awesome!  The winner will receive a special prize, be featured in Get Pet's 2013 calendar and be featured on some new Get Pet apparel.

Voting ends at midnight on February 12th.
]]><![CDATA[Chancey the Dog Talks Back]]>Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:54:11 GMThttp://www.kylerothfus.com/my-dog-training-blog/chancey-the-dog-talks-backChancey has an amazing ability to make anyone smile with his "talking".  Enjoy this conversation he and I had earlier this week :-)

P.S. Chancey is not trying to make a fashion statement with his shaved back...he had back surgery in December.  His recovery has gone very well
]]><![CDATA[Celebrate National Pet Dental Health Month]]>Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:29:01 GMThttp://www.kylerothfus.com/my-dog-training-blog/celebrate-national-pet-dental-health-monthCongratulations to the winner of last week's "Tricks and Treats" drawing.  Laura Y will receive a $40 Gift Certificate to spend at any Pet Stuff location in Chicago!  Thanks to everyone who showed some love :-) 

This week's "Tricks and Treats" is dedicated to National Pet Dental Health Month.  If you've never brushed your dog's teeth, then you have to watch the great video from Howcast so you can learn how to help take care of your dog's teeth and gums.

To be entered in this week's drawing for a "Treat", respond to the poll "How often do you brush your dog's teeth?".

Respond via Facebook here
Respond via Twitter here and Retweet the poll including #GetPet 
]]><![CDATA[Please make my puppy stop barking]]>Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:51:56 GMThttp://www.kylerothfus.com/my-dog-training-blog/please-make-my-puppy-stop-barkingHow do I teach my puppy to stop barking?  It's all too common of a question, and the first thing to note is YOU'RE NOT ALONE!  Dogs bark, that's a fact, and we should never forget that humans actually taught dogs to bark more than their wild cousins.

How did we teach them to bark?  When dogs were first domesticated, it's most likely that dogs who were better at alerting their human counterparts to threats were considered more desirable and therefore more likely to be chosen for breeding.  Today, however, we teach our dogs to bark because we don't communicate correctly with them.

Dogs are pragmatic; they "deal with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations."  For this reason if a dog receives a certain response when he presents a behavior, he'll keep presenting that behavior in the future in anticipation of receiving the same response, ultimately creating a habit.  For example, dog barks and you fill her food bowl, dog barks and you get her leash, dog barks and you open the door to let her back inside...etc, etc, etc.  We have to shift our thinking from expecting our dogs to tell us what they want to a mindset of telling our dogs what we want.

There is a widely accepted theory that one of the reasons domestic dogs bark is because they have been bred to remain in a more juvenile state.  If this is true, then is your dog really mature enough to run the household or do they need some guidance from you, the adult.

Ok, so enough about why dogs bark; you wanted to know how to make it stop, right?

As outlined in the 7 Facts about Canine Communication there are four main categories of methods used to stop barking: 1. Collars/Devices, 2. Desensitization/Counterconditioning, 3. Psychotropic drugs, 4. Surgical debarking.  I would NEVER recommend surgical debarking, and it is indeed illegal in most states.  The Association of Pet Dog Trainers also takes a firm stance against surgical debarking.

Ask your vet if you want to know more about psychotropic drugs like buspirone, clomipramine and amitriptylene, and don't go doing a Google search about them either.  Since psychotropic drugs can have side effects, be sure to also ask your vet about homeopathic remedies like Problem Pet Solution or Rescue Remedy for Pets  You can also talk to your vet about collars and devices, or you can talk to a certified dog trainer, and guess who I suggest can give you the best recommendation...YOUR VET :-)

Picture
The first thing to keep in mind is that change takes time!  Don't rush your dog, and remain patient.  It might also be a good idea to tell your neighbors about how you're working with your dog.  I advise all my new puppy clients to slide a letter under the door of each neighbor on their floor to invite them to reach out if the puppy is barking.  What's that saying?  Oh yeah, "it takes a village."

I am a strong believer that Step 1 to solving your dog's barking problem is to give your dog an appropriate level of exercise, obedience training and time for enrichment.  Working your dog's mind is guaranteed to tire him out.  Why else do you think kindergarten children require nap time when they're only in school for half a day?  And you'd be amazed what an extra 30 minute walk can do for your dog's overall happiness.

Step 2 to solving your dog's barking is to be consistent when you are around.  If your dog barks in the crate while you're home, wait to take him out of the crate until he is quiet...even if you have to wait for an hour.  If your dog stares out the window barking at dogs who walk past, tell him "No", and if he doesn't stop then close the blinds for 30 minutes.  If he goes right back to barking at the window when you re-open the blinds, then close them again for 30 minutes and keep doing that until he realizes that the his barking removes his fun view of outside.  Oh, and don't forget to tell him "Good boy" when he stops barking; it's even more important that you praise your dog for good behavior even if that good behavior is the act of stopping bad behavior.

To summarize it all: Try to think like your dog.  If someone "barked" at you to make them dinner, would you?  Or would you correct them for being rude and wait for them to ask nicely?  If your mom gave you a piece of candy every time you set the table without her asking, I bet you would have set the table a lot more, but if she gave you a piece of candy when you yelled "where's dinner!?!" then please don't ever let anyone in my family go on a date with 

For more detailed information, I recommend reading:
Barking: How to Get Your Dog to Quiet Down by The Humane Society of the United States
Dog & Puppy Barking Training Info by PerfectPaws.com 
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