Pet Tutor: The Dog Treat Dispenser You Wish You Had

January 25, 2017 by Fanna Easter

Pet Tutor Dog Treat Dispenser Review

Technology continues to advance within the pet industry at lightning fast speed. Several new pet-friendly apps, dog monitor camera systems and remote training devices will positively change dog training forever.

At the top of the technology heap is Smart Animal Training Systems’ Pet Tutor. The dog treat dispenser is a shining star beaming with endless pet training and enrichment opportunities for dogs. With Pet Tutor’s technology, endless options and a savvy dog trainer, this tool has the power to replace shock collars. The only limitation to the product is a dog trainer or pet owner’s imagination.

What is a Pet Tutor?

Pet Tutor is a computerized dog treat dispenser programmed with different dispensing settings, which can be controlled through a smart remote or mobile app. Pet Tutor’s tube is made of stainless steel and lexan, which is a clear and super strong polycarbonate. Lexan is so strong that it’s considered bullet resistant, and used in safety glasses.

In addition, this blue cylindrical device is mobile. You can place it on the ground, mount it to a crate or hang it from a wall with a 3M removable hook.

Setting Up Pet Tutor

Pet Tutor sets up easily, dispenses dog treats soundlessly, and offers endless mental enrichment ideas and training possibilities for your dog. It only takes a couple of seconds to set up the treat dispensing function. If you’re using the training system’s more advanced settings, such as installing a Bluetooth app, setup can take 5-6 minutes.

Dispenses All Types of Treats!

Another huge bonus is Pet Tutor will dispense different types of high value treats. Smart Animal Training Systems has a patented treat dispensing design that prevents training treats from jamming, so any type of treat can be used. Think kibble, chopped up hot dogs, diced string cheese, etc. Some animal trainers use chopped up carrots to teach horses to stand still during grooming while others are dispensing birdseed when teaching birds new behaviors.

Pet Tutor Creator

Wes Anderson created Pet Tutor as a fun game that infuses and combines positive reinforcement training principles and mental stimulation. In the past, Wes worked as an electrical engineer and statistician. He studied neuroscience with a focus on Alzheimer’s research. Recently, Wes decided to focus on another passion and became a dog trainer. Using his extensive knowledge, he designed and created Pet Tutor and committed himself to offering the latest updates as technology advances.

How Will Pet Tutor Help My Dog?

Pet Tutor is a game changer in the animal behavior world. This dog training tool can slow down fast eating dogs, offers different forms of mental stimulation and teaches a dog that barking doesn’t pay. Yes, this dog treat dispenser will certainly help dogs.

Slow Fast Eating Dogs

For fast eating dogs, Pet Tutor will slow down meals by dispensing one kibble at a time. Instead of inhaling food within seconds, dogs may take up to 20 minutes eating their meals, depending on your chosen setting. All you have to do is go on the Pet Tutor smartphone app and change the setting to dispense treats over a period of time and voila! With a few taps, you’ve maximized your dog’s mealtime.

Provide Super Powered Mental Enrichment

Take mealtimes up a notch by teaching a dog to walk over and touch a Kong Wobbler. The dog learns that touching a Kong Wobbler, that’s sitting on the ground, will dispense a treat from the device. Simply place a smartphone that has the Pet Tutor app, or remote, inside a plastic Kong Wobbler to get started!

Stop Dog Barking

Pet Tutor’s technology will dispense treats while a pet owner is away or out of sight. Using a smart remote or app, pet owners can reward dogs for quiet behavior from another room or even online. When away, you can use the training system to reward your dog’s quiet behavior for you. Dogs quickly learn that quiet behavior pays well and barking becomes a thing of the past.

Help Dogs With Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety in dogs is much more than excessive barking; it’s a very serious issue. In short, dogs with separation anxiety panic when they’re left alone, which can result in them seriously harming themselves. The training system can certainly help with separation anxiety, but it requires the expertise of a professional dog trainer or veterinary behaviorist for best results.

Smart Animal Training Systems is committed to evolving its products as new pet technology is discovered. Pet Tutor offers remote rewards through a smartphone or tablet. Pet owners can check in on their dogs using Pet Tutor’s tablet or smartphone app. Additionally, pet owners can instantly dispense treats to reward good behavior remotely.

While many dog camera systems offer this option, there’s a slight delay between pressing the treat dispense button on a smartphone and the treat being dispensed. When changing dog behavior, timing and speed is essential.

https://youtu.be/Jrlrj62-GMY

Easy Impulse Control Exercises To Teach Dogs Self-Control

January 23, 2017 by Fanna Easter

Self-Control Games For Dogs That Work

Controlling your behavior in certain situations is tough, so it’s easy to sympathize with dogs. Many dogs struggle to behave calmly in exciting situations because they haven’t been taught what to do. As pet owners, it’s our responsibility to teach dogs self-control at an early age. Never punish a dog for getting excited, knocking over furniture, jumping up on people or stealing food from your hand. Train your dog what to do instead. These fun and quick self-control games teach dogs to control their impulsive behavior to earn rewards.

What You’ll Need

You’ll need lots of pea-sized high value treats (i.e. chopped up hot dogs, cheese chunks), a dog training clicker (or verbal marker “yes”) and your dog. Each dog training session should last 1-2 minutes, so set a kitchen timer. Give your dog a break in between sessions, and practice again for 1-2 minutes. Practice once or twice a day for best results.

Self-Control Games for Dogs

Each impulse control exercise teaches your dog how to control her behavior to earn a reward. Basically, you’re teaching your dog that doing this, instead of that, will make a treat appear.

1. Touch

Many dogs get excited and nip or mouth hands, especially if hands are moving away really fast. During a game of “touch,” dogs learn to calmly and lightly touch their noses toward the palm of your hand rather than touching your hand with their teeth. This self-control game is fun and addicting for dogs, which is a good thing. Additionally, this game can be played anywhere and at anytime.

https://youtu.be/d-spTywRXEo

2. Leave It

During this self-control exercise, dogs learn that ignoring a treat makes it appear. To begin, hide a super yummy treat inside of your closed fist. Now, place your fist right in front of your dog’s nose and wait.

At first, your dog will lick at your hand in attempt to reach the treat. The moment you no longer feel your dog touching your hand, say “yes” and reward with the treat in your open hand. You’re rewarding your dog to leave your treat hand alone. Soon, your dog will turn her head away, or even remain seated when presented with a treat in your hand. Now that’s self-control!

3. Place

Teaching an energetic dog to settle in one spot is challenging. With this self-control game for dogs, you’ll teach your dog to lie down on a mat. In the beginning, you’ll teach her to place two paws on the mat, then place four paws, sit and finally lie down on the mat. Check out details for teaching the “place” behavior.

4. Sit

Usually, “sit” is the first dog behavior most puppies and dogs learn, which is a good thing. When your dog jumps up, runs out the door or gets super excited, ask her to “sit.” When your dog sits, reward her immediately and generously. Soon, your dog will learn to “sit” when guests come over, when food is on the counter or before she walks out a door.

https://youtu.be/5aaa7DxKDfo

5. Wait Before Eating

When it’s dinner time, dogs get excited! Mealtimes are a perfect time to practice self-control. When lowering a food filled bowl down for your dog to eat, wait for your dog to “sit” or back away from the food bowl. If your dog rushes toward the bowl, simply pick up the bowl. Once your dog sits or stands quietly back, lower the bowl again. Once the bowl is down, say “okay,” so your dog can enjoy her meal.

https://youtu.be/2jBFJ2fGiqA

Teaching Dogs Polite Manners Around Treats

January 18, 2017 by Fanna Easter

Games That Will Teach Your Dog Manners

Dogs love training treats, as they should, because dog training treats are their paychecks. Sometimes, excitement takes over around high value treats, and dogs snatch treats from their pet parents’ hands or bait bags. This behavior is frustrating. Dogs quickly learn that snatching treats from your hand works, especially if they were successful at stealing and eating the treat. If this has happened to you, then you were mugged by your dog. 🙂

Just like humans, dogs need to be taught how to behave politely around resources they want. Soon, your dog will learn that if you do this, she can have that. Here are a couple of games that will teach your dog manners around something she really loves. Remember, it’s all about self-control.

Leave It Game

When you’re standing in front of something you really want, it’s hard to stand still and ignore it. Imagine a deliciously frosted cupcake sitting inches from your hand, and your tummy is growling. Don’t like cupcakes? Then, picture a frosty mug of beer on a 110-degree day. Self-control is key here.

Your parents have likely taught you to wait until everyone else selects a cupcake before reaching for one. It’s manners 101. Self-control is a learned behavior, and most of us need daily practice to remind us to control our behavior.

Self-control is a learned behavior for your dog too. It’s time to teach your dog the “leave it” game. Hold a pea-sized piece of cheese in your closed hand and place your hand 1-2 inches in front of your dog’s nose. Of course, she’ll lick your hand, but the moment she stops touching your hand, say “yes” and give her the treat.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]It’s important to teach dogs that human hands make good things happen.[/perfectpullquote]

Using a marker word teaches your dog her action is why she earned the reward. Take another treat and practice again. If your dog stops licking or touching your hand for a nanosecond, immediately say “yes” and reward. Practice 1-2 minutes per day. Soon, your dog will ignore your closed treat hand because she’s learned ignoring makes the treat appear.

Touch Game

It’s important to teach dogs that human hands make good things happen. The “touch” game teaches your dog to touch her nose to the palm of your hand. It’s a quick and fun dog game that can be played anywhere. Plus, this game teaches your dog how to politely earn treats instead of mugging you for them. 🙂

Holding your hand sideways, place your palm about 2 inches away from your dog’s nose. Your dog will look at you for a second and likely sniff your hand. The moment you feel her nose touch your hand, say “yes” and give her a treat. Practice for 1-2 minutes per day. Once your dog understands to touch your hand, start moving your hand farther away. Dogs learn this behavior quickly, and it’s a fun game to play with guests!

Now, your dog has learned a game that makes dog training treats appear. Be prepared, your dog may start an impromptu game to earn some treats or share food from your dinner plate. Dogs are super smart, and you can’t blame her for trying, right? If this happens, ignore it. When your dog pokes your hand, leg or treat bag with her nose, just look away for a second. Walk away and play a quick game of “touch” with your hand. This teaches your dog that an open hand means “the bar is open” and when your hand is away “the bar is closed.”

Can A Dog Be Too Food Motivated?

January 16, 2017 by Fanna Easter

Your Food Obsessed Dog May Just Be Distracted

When pet owners are introduced to positive reinforcement, a common question they ask is, “Can a dog become too food motivated?” I must say the concern is a very misunderstood one.

When teaching your dog new behaviors, there are no black-and-white answers. Instead, there are shades of gray that can confuse novice pet owners and dog trainers alike. What seems like excessive excitement about food may simply be something completely different.

Before assuming your dog is too food motivated, you should make a few dog training adjustments, which can make a huge difference in food obsessed dogs.

Signs of a Food Obsessed Dog

When dogs get excited about food, many pet owners feel they’re “too food motivated.” From another perspective, I know many people that behave similarly when margaritas are served. 🙂 When dogs are excited, they may:

Jump up
Drool
Knock over furniture and people
Lack focus
Focus only on food in hand, on floor, etc.
Ignore (not listen to) “commands”
Will only sit for a treat
Mug, bump or steal from treat bag

Is It Really Food Causing Excitement?

Dogs get excited about food; it’s natural canine behavior. When dogs are introduced to high value treats (i.e. baked chicken, cubed cheese, chopped up lunch meat), especially if they’ve never eaten it before, over excitement is understandable.

Excessive excitement can frustrate the pet owner and dog, so it’s important to bring a dog’s arousal level down a bit. Plus, excited dogs have a harder time learning because they lose focus. During dog training sessions, pet owners should be aware of their own behavior too.

To keep your behavior in check during training sessions, record both you and your dog on your smartphone. Then, make the following adjustments suggested below and record again. You’ll notice a quick and positive difference in your food obsessed dog’s behavior.

Avoid High-Pitched Rapidly Repeating Sounds

Dogs love high-pitched and rapidly repeating sounds—that’s why dog toys have squeakers. When dogs hear squeaky sounds, they get excited. They jump up, run over to the sound, focus on the person or thing making the sound, and dance around because they’re excited!

Fortunately, humans can easily mimic these high-pitched sounds. While many pet owners use these sounds as rewards for good behavior, they can inadvertently use these sounds during dog training too. When pet owners rapidly repeat a cue (e.g. “sit,” “sit,” “sit”), this can cause excitement even if said in a deep tone.

When teaching your dog a new behavior, or practicing an old behavior, say the “sit” cue once. If your dog doesn’t respond, he or she probably doesn’t understand what the verbal cue means. Or your dog has never practiced this behavior in that situation, and is too distracted. Never assume your dog understands a cue. Even if your dog has done the behavior before or will do it elsewhere, it may have been a fluke or you forgot to reward it.

Go Slowly

Oh, this is a big one! Fast movement will get a dog super excited—and quickly! Don’t believe me? Try running around the backyard with your dog. Even better, try running around the backyard while your dog watches you from a window. 🙂 Not only is movement fun, but it’s very distracting for dogs too.

During dog training sessions, it’s important to move slowly. Stand still and hold a treat in one hand. When luring a dog, place the treat on your dog’s nose and move slowly. If you move a food lure too quickly, your dog will move just as fast. When in doubt, put the treat back in your pocket and take a deep breath. Slowly remove the treat from your pocket and try moving slower. Make sure to keep the food lure in front of your dog’s nose. Holding treats too high will cause your dog to jump up for the treat. When you move slowly, your dog will too. 🙂

Make It Clear

When teaching or practicing a dog behavior, clear communication is key. Confusion can look like excitement, especially if a treat is bouncing around a dog’s face. If someone is holding a $100 bill in front of you, while speaking in a foreign language, you’ll try to figure out how to earn the $100.

Now, if this person moves the money around your face really fast, while repeating a sound over and over again loudly, you’ll likely snatch at the money due to frustration. From your perspective (learner), this person is teasing you with a $100 bill, right? From the other person’s perspective (teacher), he’s just holding the money in his hand while asking you to “sit.” 🙂

When in doubt, stop and video record your dog training sessions. When re-watching the video, ask yourself if you’re clearly communicating with your dog. If not, take a moment and think through your plan. Better yet, ask a certified dog trainer for tips. They can help jump-start your training sessions.

Still Think You Have a Food Obsessed Dog?

High-pitched, rapidly repeating sounds coupled with fast movements are exciting for your dog. Add a dash of confusion into the mix, and your dog is bouncing around like a ping-pong ball. Ninety percent of the time, a dog will sit still around food when pet owners remove these exciting and distracting factors. As for the other 10%, these dogs will relax quickly after earning and consuming a high value reward a few times. If a dog still leaps into the air for baked chicken, it’s time to reward impulse control games.

The Role Of Management In Dog Training

January 9, 2017 by Fanna Easter

Using Management to Prevent Dog Behavior

Dog Behavior Management — Klynn84/iStock

As a professional dog trainer, it’s my job to help both dog and pet parent change inappropriate dog behavior. Depending on the situation, management protocols and tools are suggested first before jumping in and changing a behavior. When I mention management tools, many pet owners smirk and give me a side eye because they’re skeptical the tools will work. However, dog behavior management is an essential component of dog training and it can prevent inappropriate behavior from happening. To be completely effective, management must be paired with behavior protocols.

What is Management?

In a nutshell, management means organizing and controlling situations and things. Within the dog training world, management means controlling your dog’s environment to stop your dog’s behavior from happening. Think about management this way: It prevents dogs from engaging in inappropriate behavior.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Think of behavior like a muscle; the more the behavior is exercised, the stronger it becomes.[/perfectpullquote]

When dogs practice behaviors (e.g. barking at the front door, digging in the trashcan, fence fighting, etc.), they get better at it. Think of behavior like a muscle; the more the behavior is exercised, the stronger it becomes.

Management stops certain behaviors from happening, but it doesn’t really teach your dog anything. Stopping the behavior from happening is the key to changing your dog’s behavior. Once your dog stops barking, digging or chewing, it’s time to teach your dog what to do instead.

How Does Management Work?

Management works well in many situations. Remember, management is controlling the environment, so your dog stops the inappropriate behavior. Here are a few examples.

Behavior: Dog barks out front windows.
Solution: Prevent dog from entering room with front windows by placing a baby gate to block access.

Behavior: Dog digs in trash.
Solution: Purchase a trashcan with a heavy lid.

Behavior: Dog runs away from you.
Solution: Keep dog leashed at all times.

Behavior: Dog chews furniture when you’re away.
Solution: Crate dog when you leave.

Behavior: Dog barks at outside noises.
Solution: Play soft music to drown out noises.

How to Use Management in Dog Training

Sometimes, if you’re really lucky, management will stop a behavior immediately. Usually, this happens when management is introduced early, so the behavior isn’t that strong. For example, if a pet owner prevents a barking dog from running over and barking out windows quickly by installing a baby gate in the doorway, the behavior will go away because the dog is unable to run over and bark out the window.

Management can prevent behaviors from happening too. Purchasing a heavy lidded trash can will prevent a dog from dumpster diving. For persistent trash digging dogs, placing a trashcan inside a cabinet works amazingly well too.

Management Isn’t Foolproof

This is very true. Management will stop or prevent a behavior from happening, but it’s not 100% effective. Usually, management breaks down due to human error. We forget to close a baby gate, close the trash can lid and so forth. It takes only one successful opportunity for your dog to start digging in the trash or barking intensely at the window again.

Additionally, if a dog has practiced a behavior for a long time, it might take some time for management to help. Management should be used to prevent inappropriate behavior from happening while pet owners should train dogs on what they should do instead. For example, keeping your dog on a short leash will prevent him from jumping up on guests. Asking your dog to sit (and rewarding him lavishly) when greeting guests teaches your dog that sitting works best.

Conclusion

Management is the first step in changing dog behavior, and it should be followed thoroughly. Furthermore, management shouldn’t be the only option. It’s important to teach your dog how to react differently. When in doubt, reach out to a professional positive reinforcement dog trainer for advice.

UP NEXT: Should a Beginner Dog Trainer Take Aggression Cases?

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