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9/30/2022

Vet Visit Dog Training?

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How does your dog do going to the Veterinarian Hospital? Unfortunately most dogs view going to the vet as a stressful experience, and it makes it difficult for them, dog owners, and the staff at the hospital. In some severe cases it makes it almost impossible for veterinary staff to give the dog the thorough proper checkup they need because of the dog’s behavior. Did you know you can help your dog have a better vet visit? Let’s start by focusing on these changes. 


First and foremost, Say It Once Dog Training offers classes at certain veterinary hospitals throughout Pittsburgh! Be sure to tag your vet, vet techs and see if we can run classes at your veterinary hospital to make dog’s more comfortable going to hospital! 


  1. Watch your dogs arousal levels. Arousal , or excitement” is not good at the vet’s office and often turns into nervousness really quick. Your goal is to keep a calm, happy dog! 
  2. Walk your dog before you go! Get them in the training zone, as well as to keep them calmer for the visit.
  3. If you have a dog that has a bite history, you should be the one putting the muzzle on, not the veterinarian! Also, if the only time you put the muzzle on is for the vet, your dog will eventually put 2 and 2 together and associate muzzle equals bad. This cannot happen! You need to muzzle train frequently, and all dogs would benefit from being able to have a muzzle put on without stress.
  4. Don’t put them  in the car only for the vet. The car shouldn’t come in a negative association or anywhere you go will be stressful for your dog. Same as muzzle, it should equal vet, it should equal a calm place to chill out inside of. More car training in your driveway!
  5. Get to the vet early. When you arrive, open up your car door and let your dog chill out without being able to exit the car for a few minutes. Release your dog from the car and train for 2 minutes. Go through a pattern of behaviors that your dog knows. Heel walk, sit, down, treat etc. Get your dog an early win so they are seeking food. (If your vet has a big grassy area, release your dog from heel and let them investigate the grassy area.
  6. When you go into the vet’s office, stay cool calm and collected, and walk your dog up to the scale that every vet office has in the building. Make sure people don’t go crazy and shower your dog with affection. Remember, we are trying to keep our dog calm and happy, not excited and freaked out. Put them in a sit, and tell them to “place” onto the scale. Reward the dog and repeat. 
  7. Walk over to the waiting station, and put your dog into a down. (You need to be practicing the behaviors at your house, with the leash on. Replicate by walking your dog from place, to the hardwood floor or tile floor of your kitchen and put your dog into a down on the hard floor.) 
  8. Advocate for your dog’s space!!! Do not let any other dog’s intrude into your personal space, and be sure to put your dog in a position they aren’t getting bombarded by people coming in. 
  9. When they bring you back into the room, I personally train. I place my dog on the bench in the office, reward, back onto the scale in the room, reward, and then back into a down. You don’t want to keep them so busy that you are adding more stress than necessary, but I want them to get rewarded enough that they are eager to continue. Don’t use a boring reward here, use the big boy if needed. 
  10. Now the exam begins. This also serves as another reminder to follow @sayitoncerescueleague and to ask/tag your vet below to host Say It Once classes at their office! 
  11. Have you ever thought about giving your dog fake exams at your house? Put your dog on the leash, walk them into your laundry room, and calmly give them a exam and massage. Check your dog’s ears while massaging their head, lift up your dog’s legs, put your finger in their butt (joking, just making sure you are still reading) inspect their teeth and nails! 


Personally, I would take multiple trips to the vet’s office without actually getting an exam. I would ask my vet if it’s okay to come weigh my dog on a non busy hour, practice place on the scale, and downs in the waiting room!


Love your Vet? I’d like to hear any recommendations below ⬇️ 


Thank you!

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9/19/2022

Why I Hate Hand Signals

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Do you want to know why I hate hand signals? 


There is a few reasons why I hate using hand signals in dog training, and I’m going to go over the biggest two. I always get push back from owners on, but my dog listens really well to the hand signal. I know they do! I know they learn faster through using hand signals (also understand them when teaching all behaviors we lure with our hand, and develop a hand signal with every command. However, I do immediately get away from using the hand signal when I feel like the dog has an understanding of the word. Let’s go over why.


  1. Hand signals are only reliable when your dog is looking at you. Do you I think I’m going to have a hard time getting my dog to listen if I have their 100 percent attention? No. Your verbal cue needs to be strong because you are going to rely on this in almost all scenarios, whether your dog is looking at you or not, whether your hands are full or not, or whether you are looking at your dog or not. Hand signals can only be done in one of those scenarios. That’s not good enough.
  2. Humans lack the ability to separate word from hand sign. Your word should always come first. Always. When teaching your dog sit, down anything, before you offer a hand signal, you must say the word for your dog to understand. Think of this. If I where to punch you in the face and say purple at the same time, and repeat this process three times, the fourth time that I say purple without punching you in the face you're gonna have no idea what's going to happen next because you never had time to process the purple man punch in the face. You were too worried about the physical feeling of punch in the face instead of listening to the word purple. However if I said purple, delayed a half a second and punched you, repeated a second time, on the third attempt that I say purple you would be ducking out of the way like you're in the movie the matrix. This is also how do you have to train your dog. You need to incorporate the verbal cue before there is any movement from your body.




If you don't believe me, I want you to try training your dog on all of their commands this week without moving your body at all. Film yourself, and watch. See if your dog can listen to only with your verbal cue, and see if they listen quickly. If they're not, we need to go back to the basics. I want you to tag yourself while training your dog with the #Sayitoncehandsfree Tag me in it, and let’s see how you train without your hand signals!






P.S. I teach all of my dogs and my clients dogs on hand signals, the dog understands and very quickly, but I get away from them immediately because I want to focus more on my verbal cue. That doesn't mean I will never use a hand signal, it just means that I need to put more emphasis type my words need power.

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9/11/2022

Dogs, NFL, and Guests!

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Dogs and NFL Sundays!
If you like to have people over for Sunday Football, or guests in general, you are going to want to read the three main points of this quick blog. Having a game-plan (pun intended) is the easiest way to enjoy your guests while having a well behaved dog. 


Work your dog before the guests come over. This one almost seems like a no brainer, but let me add to it. A dog that has had a walk and a few training sessions is much easier to control than a dog that has been caged up all day. Have a good play session in the morning, still practicing your sit, down, stay obedience training during the session. Run them hard and test their impulse control harder. Afterwards, take your dog for a 30 heel session an hour or two before your guests come over, practicing chaining directions and having your dog focus on you. The goal is not to run and get your dog wound up, but instead, calm and in control. Immediately after your walk, place your dog on their dog bed for a cold down period.

The leash is your biggest help, and never forget it! Leave your leash on after your walk, and use it wisely while your guests are coming over. How do we use it? To direct our dog to where they should be (whether you want them on place or by your side), to correct our dog for jumping on guests, or bring our dog with us when we need control. The leash is a communication and control tool. Use it to tell your dog what you want them to be doing, not just what they shouldn’t be doing!

​NFL parties, guests coming over, and holidays means lots of alcohol and lots of food. Unfortunately we can’t train all of our guest not to drop chicken wings on the ground, to lock the garbage can, or not to leave food items on the coffee table. However, we should set up our dog up with scenarios this morning, and the next few weeks, to make sure our dog understands “Leave it” command. You should be challenging your dog, with the leash on, while dropping food items on the ground, putting plates on the edge of the table, all while you still can keep an eye on your dog. With enough good repetitions, you won’t have to keep your eye on them forever!


Bonus: Take your dog to a group class to really tire them out before your guests come over. Your dog needs to have a good time on the weekends too. Try to have your guests not acknowledge your dog for the first 5 minutes while they come in. Walking in and parading all over your dog is only going to overexcite them. An excited dog, is a jumping and barking dog. 

When you bring your guests over, it's always best to either be holding the leash, or have your dog in stay on their place/crate. Once the guests arrives you want them to 
immediately to head to the kitchen table or counter, and not to the couch. The couch is too inviting, and your dog will have an easier time calming down if the guests are sitting higher up without the ability of your dog to crowd their space. 


If you have any questions, or would like to sign up for a training session or follow up session, reach out to me personally and I will get it taken care of. Thank you!

Vinnie 
sayitoncedt@gmail.com

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    Vinnie Somma

    I Train dogs well. Spelling is questionable

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Say It Once Dog Training

Dogs meet our needs with their unconditional love everyday.  Return the favor, call today to learn how to become not just a dog lover, but a knowledgeable dog owner! Your dog will thank you for it.


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  • Home
  • OUR TRAINING
  • Sign Up!
  • Select an Appointment
  • Group Class Sign Ups
    • Pittsburgh PA
    • Nashville TN
  • Seminar Series
    • Tampa
    • Miami
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    • Charlotte
    • Boston
    • Washington DC
  • MERCH
  • Virtual Training
  • Say It Once Rescue League
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    • @ The Dog House
    • South Hills w/ Erin
  • THE DOG HOUSE
  • Blog
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