PACO
Already bearing an oh-so-Miami namesake, Paco is one loving Latino pup who can’t wait to snuggle the night away with a loving familia. Dog-friendly, housebroken and firm on all the foundations of obedience (sit, stay, please don’t eat that whole rotisserie chicken!), this is one puppy that will easily fit into any home; ApplauseYourPaws.org.
PEBBLES
Although abandoned in a South Florida rock quarry, the way this loving Labrador bounds about you’d think she’d never had a glum day in her life! Eager for obedience with a zesty taste for exploration, Pebbles would be perfect for the active Miami family willing to include a furry friend on any and every outdoor adventure; 100PlusAbandonedDogsOfEvergladesFlorida.org.
TITAN
Don’t let the epic epithet fool you…the only thing giant on this polite pooch is his heart! Abandoned for reasons yet undetermined, this shortcoat American Bulldog would be a fantastic addition to any family. Just as comfortable breaking records at the Miami Marathon as he is watching a movie, Titan is a perfect pet for any animal lover; Paws4You.org.
MANNERS, PLEASE!
How embarrassing! You have an important houseguest come to the door, and before you can offer to take a coat or offer a drink, here comes Fido, everywhere he’s not supposed to be! In order to train your dog not to jump on visitors when they arrive, try using a raised pet cot or platform for training and make it clear to the dog exactly where he is expected to stay. Using treats, spend several days luring your dog into this designated space and rewarding him for going there. You should practice having your dog stay at his space while you go to the door and pretend to let someone inside. If your dog has a hard time staying, put a leash on him so that you can easily lead him back every time he gets away. After several days of rehearsal, going to and staying in “place” with pretend visitors, it’s time to introduce a real guest! The first real guest who arrives may be challenging, so be ready to grab his leash and take him back to home base. Getting to greet a guest is highly rewarding for our furry friends, so you can’t let your dog say hi to the visitor unless he does a great job staying calm and controlled. Don’t forget to offer treats when your dog chooses to stay in his place, and make sure to quickly release him to come say hello as a reward for great behavior. The more guests you have over, the more opportunities you have to practice polite greetings, so this is a great chance for you to increase your social skills as well!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
› Dee Hoult is the CEO of Applause Your Paws, South Florida’s largest privately owned pet dog training company, and Miami’s leading user-rated dog-training company on Yelp.com.
