Training

Could someone mistake your dog for your shadow? If a super attentive pooch likes to trail behind your toes, this behavior isn't a good idea if you both take a trip to a new environment. It's important to have pets adjust to a new space no matter the length of the trip.
I asked Cesar Millan for his tips for helping a dog get acclimated to new surroundings and he explained the best technique for an enjoyable experience for both of you. Cesar said:

A main thing when a dog comes into a new environment is how does he feel about the environment. Step one, I would tell him where he would feel safe. I will bring his pillow from my house and then choose an area away from the humans where he can stay. Where people can use the command to stay. I want him to feel safe in the environment without me being there or otherwise he becomes co-dependent. That's when separation anxiety gets built and then you don't get to enjoy the party cause the dog is right there on your heels. You don't want that for the dog, you don't want that for yourself, you don't want that for the environment. So that would be the best way. Obviously, I always suggest exercise before you tell a dog to stay. So you take him on a nice good walk, you tire him out and then you bring him inside the house and tell him where he's going to stay.

I can't wait to try this out when we go visit pals later this month!

I got the chance to chat with Cesar Millan when he was in San Francisco before the holidays promoting his new book Cesar's Rules (and the Swiffer/ Macy's Holiday Pet Adoption Windows) and asked him all about entertaining with dogs at home. Since better behavior is a year-round New Year's resolution for many pet owners, learn his tips that you can try next time you have guests come knocking.

PetSugar: Why does my dog want to jump on new people that come in?
Cesar Millan: Every time something changes with a dog, an object or a human, they become curious. When the new humans come into the environment of the dog, if they don't know how to behave, then that triggers the excitement. The scent and the energy are two different things. The scent creates curiosity 'Who are you? How should I feel about you?' If the human is nervous, excited, tense or unsure, that triggers excitement in a dog.

Learn how to stop this and how to deal with more anxious dogs when you read more

FitSugar reader the13thmile shared these tips for Winter running in the RunningSugar community group.

I can’t even believe I’m writing this — but it’s not as bad as you’d think. Yesterday, with one too many Christmas cookies weighing on my conscience, I laced up my running shoes after the East Coast media-dubbed “Christmas Blizzard of 2010" and went out for a near five-mile run. What I learned? With the right gear to keep you warm, running in snow is actually quite fun.

With caution to avoid ice patches, running on shoveled sidewalks or packed snow were the safest terrain options. I would compare the packed snow of the sidewalk to the feeling of running on wet sand in the summer.

See three tips on how to run in the snow when you read more

The saying goes "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" — which isn't true, BTW — but what about the cats? One of my favorite techniques to teach both creatures is to take something they already know and reward it. For example, if your cat sits on her haunches when you raise her favorite toy in the air, begin saying "up" (or using your command word of choice) before this behavior. When she still does it, lavish her with praise and maybe even a treat. After she successfully completes the trick, try getting her to perform without the toy or treat involved.

Curious about the best time to train a cat? Find out and read more

Sugar user fizzymartini is perplexed by the whole notion of training for a race and posted her query in the RunningSugar group.

I must admit to being entirely puzzled by the concept of training for races, and the preparation that takes you up to the final days before a big race.

Before my first 10K, I scoured the websites and researched preparation thoroughly. I tapered my runs following a plan I found online, did interval training, hydrated zealously in the days prior and "carbo-loaded" the day before. And the race was fine, I was able to run a decent time and was pleased that the prep had clearly paid off.

For my next 10K about half a year later, I was much worse prepared. I didn't train as frequently in the run-up, had a complete lack of plan and didn't eat particularly well beforehand. Yet the race was fine, I beat my previous time and didn't even feel as tired as the time before.

My next race was one year later - a half-marathon - and I managed to kick it up a gear in the complete dopey unpreparedness. Not on purpose, mind . . . as far as I was aware, I had no plans at all and hadn't run for at least five months prior. I had taken a break from running (merely down to laziness, admittedly) and had gone on holiday, where I proceeded to do no physical exercise, consumed copious amounts of alcohol and amp; "bad" food and very late nights. Then right on my return home, a friend handed me her place in a half-marathon, taking place in two days' time. Now I'd never run more than 10K . . . has anyone ever watched the episode of How I Met Your Mother, where Barney just wakes up and runs a marathon? (Quote: "Step one, you start running. There is no step two.”) - I literally did that! Yet not only did I (miraculously!) manage to finish and feel fine, but I also managed a faster time than my extremely fit friend, who had been training for months on end (and was teetotal for weeks before).

Which leads me to question the validity of training? Does it actually counteractively exhaust you? Or is it a mental boost? What does everyone think, and has anyone ever really seen a vast difference between training and not before a race?

Always on the run? Then join and post on RunningSugar where the conversation just jogs along.

Is your pet a leaping lizard, errrr, dog? My lil guy loves hopping up for stranger kisses, and it's something we're constantly working on since he doesn't do this to me. If I have company over, my friends all know the training method I use:

• Grabbing his paws! When a dog jumps up, gently grasp his paws and hold them firmly in place. While at first most pups won't care, when you don't let go, chances are they'll get more uncomfortable, struggle, and try to get away. When this happens, say "off" or "down" (depending on the word you favor) and let go. Immediately follow this by asking him to sit and rewarding when he follows through. Repeat this process every time your dog jumps up.

Learn two more commonly accepted methods to limit jumping when you read more

Sure, my dog isn't going back to school this September but let's use the season to brush up on our best training practices. I'll pass along bits of wisdom throughout the month — like my just (don't) say no tip — but I want to hear any training tricks you've picked up along the way to help life with kitties or doggies go just that much more smoothly. Share one, share all, in the comments below!

He's spoiled . . . but not that spoiled! What I mean is that I don't use the word "no" to reprimand my pooch. I always worried that it sounded too much like his name (North) and didn't want him to get confused when I was teaching that.

Even for dogs whose names don't include an N or an O, many trainers recommend teaching the concept by using different words instead! Since no one rewards no, it's harder for a pup to learn it, so a success-focused approach will work much better. Try using a word that directs your pooch to what you want him to do (off, leave it, wait, etc.) followed by a positive command (come, sit, etc.) and words of praise (good boy) and see how it works at your home.

Do you use the word no?

It's early in the morning, and Jeff Galloway is pumped to go running, but before hitting the pavement with his wife of 30-plus years, the running coach takes a bit of time to talk training with me. It's no surprise that runDisney asked Jeff, veteran of 153 marathons and counting, to be the official training consultant for its race series. Galloway wants to get America onto the streets and he has a plan to make it happen: the run walk philosophy. Walking breaks are inserted into every training run to prevent overtiring; this not only means you can run for longer, but walk breaks should also help keep injuries at bay.

Jeff has been running for more than half a century and explains, "I started a little over 51 years ago as fat kid when I was forced to choose some form of physical activity after school." After doing some reconnaissance with the other self-described "lazy kids," Jeff was told the cross country coach was lenient and it was easy to goof off in the woods instead of logging miles. But he "got hooked [on running] because of the camaraderie of the other kids. We joked and told gossip about teachers and I wanted to stay up with the latest gossip so stayed with the pack."

He went from "getting hooked" to creating a career out of running and coaching. Learn more about the tried and true Galloway method when you read more