In addition to possessing a vast knowledge of training dogs and understanding breed traits, PUPS is extremely proud of the expertise offered in problem areas:
PUPS Dog Obedience Training welcomes all types of aggression including but not limited to dominance, social aggression, food aggression, dog aggression and fear aggression. PUPS’ track record with improving aggressive behavior through behavior modification and/or the Basic Obedience Class is second to none!! PUPS is referred by many vets, shelters and rescue organizations from many Maryland counties and surrounding areas.
Any dog that was bred to work in any capacity (which includes most dogs) is considered a working breed. Working breeds possess a strong work ethic and generally are more dominant, which they need to be suitable to do jobs they were bred to do. Working breeds generally have a lot of adrenaline. The combination of strong work ethic, dominance and adrenaline add up to a “high drive” dog. An example of a high drive dog is a Labrador Retriever who bounds about, jumping on everyone in sight, knocking down kids to lick them or get a ball is a high drive dog. A Border Collie, fixating that mesmerizing stare and then trying to herd everything that moves is a high drive dog. PUPS specialized obedience training channels the dog productively while still appreciating breed traits and building confidence. This allows the dog to be a calmer dog and to transition with greater ease from situation to situation.
In addition to the expertise in working with high-drive working breeds, PUPS has become equally sought after for working with small, working and non-working breeds as well. Small working breeds, such as terriers, possess a strong work ethic and can be dominant dogs with a lot of adrenaline. They are very intelligent and absolutely need physical and mental exercise to be the best dog they can be. PUPS understands that small, non-working breeds are highly intelligent and often have finely tuned nervous systems and adrenaline systems that need to be channeled productively. Small dogs can also possess big temperament problems. The biggest mistake owners of small non-working breeds make is treating their dog like a cat. They tend to think the dog is too small or frail to go outside in the world. They try to teach the dog to use a litter box or “wee wee” pads instead of going outside, resulting in a dog that is never housebroken. (Most small dogs are given up to rescues and shelters for housebreaking issues.) Not getting the dog out and about in the world also tends to lead to an unsocialized dog resulting in fear aggression and anxiety. Owners tend to baby these breeds as puppies. They tend to hold them all the time, especially when they are out of their home environment or when the dog is uncomfortable with any situation and displays unwanted behavior. This perpetuates the undesired behavior by teaching the dog that it can avoid everything by being held if it displays the unwanted behavior which often is frenzied barking and fear aggression or dominance aggression. The owner of a 90 lb. Rottweiler would never tolerate the dog snapping at “Dad” when he comes near “Mom,” but for some reason the owners of a Maltese will often not only overlook that behavior but often find it cute or endearing and perpetuate it until the dog bites someone! PUPS has had great success with small, non-working breeds in all problem areas including but not limited to: dominance, low confidence/shyness, fear aggression, and housebreaking.
PUPS Puppy PackagePUPS offers puppy sessions for puppies between the ages of 10 weeks – approximately 18 weeks (at which time they are then ready for PUPS Basic Obedience Course). The puppy training is designed to get you moving in the right direction and set your puppy up for success within your home in all facets of puppyhood! For more detailed information on our Puppy Sessions, please refer to the PUPS Puppy Section!
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UPS Dog Obedience Training has long understood the unselfish, dedicated, endless work of animal rescue organizations and shelters. We at PUPS have great respect and admiration for all involved in rescues from the officers of the organizations, to the fosters, to the volunteers who work in various capacities. These organizations are non-profit organizations that operate solely on donations and blood, sweat and tears. They rescue unwanted, abused, neglected domestic animals and take care of their medical needs, foster them, rehabilitate, screen meticulously for the right home, and place them in forever homes.
We love to help them in any way we can. We offer free training for foster dogs and various discounts for dogs that are adopted from rescues as well as help with assessments and behavior issues. We also founded the annual Howard County Pet Expo, which benefits rescues of all types (not just canine rescues). We are constantly amazed at the wonderful dogs that are in rescues. Many of them have behavior issues that wouldn’t have been issues at all if the original owner had just trained their dog! Many of them have issues that are genetic or environmental or both such as low confidence, fear aggression, anxiety, dog aggression, dominance, etc.
Whether genetic or environmental or both, the reformation of these dogs is AMAZING!!! When given the opportunity in a loving home with people willing to put some time into training and channeling the dog productively, these dogs prove over and over again, to be fabulous, loving, devoted companions and family members.
Please, if you are considering a dog, consider a rescue dog! There are wonderful mixed breeds available and if you want a purebred dog but are under the impression that there aren’t any good ones in rescues, you may be mistaken. We can tell you that over and over again we have had the good fortune to work with purebred dogs from rescues that are exceptional prototypes of the breed. Many times, people spend a lot of money with a very good breeder, get a puppy of exceptional genetics, and then that adorable puppy gets big and partakes in normal young dog behavior and that owner decides it’s “too much work” and “not cute anymore,” so they discard them, giving them up to a rescue or shelter. Again, so many of these dogs are diamonds in the “ruff.”
With love and proper channeling, rescue dogs prove over and over again to be extraordinary family members. They give back 1000% what you put in to them. We have listed just a few links below of reputable rescues we work closely with or know of and will be updating this list continuously. Also, don’t forget your local shelter! You can help rescue organizations and shelters in many different ways. They are in need of monetary donations as well as items (food, beds, toys, leashes, etc.). Some offer sponsorships of certain animals. Rescues are also ALWAYS IN NEED OF GOOD FOSTER HOMES. Look on rescue web sites for specific information regarding the many ways you can help! Please, whatever you do, DO NOT buy a dog or cat from a pet store as they come from puppy mills and brokers which buy from puppy mills!! Help put puppy mills out of business. Click the two following links to learn more about puppy mills: www.puppymillrescue.com and www.prisonersofgreed.org.