[ ALWAYS LEARNING ]
So Tom and I did a thing....
We were lucky enough to score a working spot at the Michael Ellis School for Dog Trainers Seminar in Melbourne this past weekend.
I was so happy to not only attend and soak up all the great information, constructive conversations and watch everyone else, it was such awesome exposure and heaps of confidence building opportunities for Tommy. Who would have thought this gumby guy from humble beginnings would get this awesome experience....
I literally had to pinch myself he got to play tug with someone so iconic and important in the global world of dog training. I've been watching Michael play around with dogs back in in the VHS days so this was next level for me as a huge fan.
Stoaked to see some great people again and meet some new friends, it's been amazing! A big clap to all the other working dog spots that got up and did their thing.
A big thanks of course to Michael for an amazing few days and 1:1 with Tom. Big props to Refine Your Canine Dog Training for making it all happen, Alex makes it look so easy to get it all done. This opens up so many opportunities and accessibility for other trainers and enthusiasts that really has a huge impact. Big shout out to Pro Dog Training and their team for hosting the event, such an amazing location and great support throughout ๐
Yay!
Teaching kids and dogs clear communication skills can be a game changer for both sides.
Confidence is gained from understanding where the opportunity is for each party involved.
Simple exercises and games are easy to practice, and can be directed and supervised a few times a day to benefit a whole household
Get at it guys! ๐ช
#malinois #kidsanddogs #kidsandpets #dogtraining #markertraining #down #rewardbasedtraining #ilovemydog #malinoisdog #rewards
[ 2 STEPS FORWARD - 2 STEPS BACK ]
Recently Tommy has shown signs of growing pains (aka panosteitis) which is not uncommon in larger breed puppies. Whilst taking precautions with his diet (so he grows slowly), good quality supplementation amongst a range of other preventative measures this self limiting condition has risen its ugly head. It's not anything truly concerning as he will grow out of, it's just a bit painful for him currently which is impacting his tolerance, motivation levels and general comfort. It's also time Tom is hitting the beginning of the teenage period which can get a bit frustrating on its own as their brain is all over the place and structure is important whilst they turn into little gremlins overnight (just add water ๐) SOS!
The physical limitations has been really disruptive to the progress we were steadily making which has knocked the wind out of my sails a bit I wont lie.... luckily it's not my first rodeo and I know this too shall pass. It's relatively out of my control much like most things in life. The one thing I can control is my attitude around it and how I will go about navigating it.
I wanted to share this as I think it's common for everyone to hit these speedbump points where we feel we are going backwards with our dogs. It seems like all the hardwork hasn't even made a dent....
I have full trust in the process with a consistent approach, focussing on the things we can do, we will just keep trudging on and inevitably make our way. This is a video of Tom working for his brekkie with some box feeding.
Here is a gentle reminder that progress is not a linear thing for any of us. As I've learnt more about raising dogs over the years there is precious lessons in flexing and flowing with the dog in front of you - there is no one way you can completly plan out ypur journey ahead of time, it's important to take things as they come. There's no failure if you keep learning together!
Would love to hear about your teenage dog stories
[ THE ULTIMATE DOG TREAT ]
PRIME 100 SPD ROLLS
After such success with this product all around, I've now jumped at the chance to stock Prime 100 spd rolls for my clients and Griffith locals.
These rolls are not only delicious for your doggo combined with a great nutrient profile, they can be cut to suite the size of the training treats you're after. Dogs can consume them easily and quickly, making for dynamic and fun training sessions your dog won't get enough of. These rolls can be fed as a complete diet or just for the training portion of your dog's meals. It's a great way to vary the proteins your dog is consuming as part of a balanced species-appropriate diet. Variety is the spice of life!
Currently in stock in fresh 2kg rolls:
- ๐ฆ ๐ Kangaroo & Pumpkin $25.00
- ๐ฆ ๐ฅ Kangaroo & Potato $25.00
- ๐ฆ ๐ Duck & Sweet Potato $25.00
- ๐ ๐ Wild Bore & Pumpkin $25.00
- ๐ฆ ๐ฑ Turkey & Flaxseed $25.00
Get in touch if you're interested in giving this great product a go. Current F2F students can ask for drop-off to your sessions.
[email protected]
Riverinak9.com.au
[ EXTERIOR SEARCHES ]
Tommy is now crusing along with his scent work by executing exterior searches. We are now doing these out in my yard after expanding from indoor room searches. He is finding these pretty fun!
This morning Tom had to contend with the other dogs eating juicy raw meaty bones in the background while he focussed on his search. No small thing for a hungry pup! The hide was stuck on the back of a rear leg of our outdoor couch. It was a quick and dynamic search with a big pay-off! ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฒ
Every second or third morning he works for his breakfast this way. On alternate days he is working other ways while we focus on various behaviours and skills in other areas aligned with training goals.
He keeps suprising me with how well he is doing with his odour work being a young lad. I'm excited to keep our training going and having fun together ๐พโจ๏ธ
#puppyscentwork #puppynose #malinoispuppy #puppytraining #odourrecognition #odorpays #dogtraininggriffith #nosework #puppycognition #puppy
[ SCENT GAMES ]
๐ฅ I'm having a blast working with Tommy within his odour training. So far, we have worked through a few foundational levels and are now getting into the fun stuff and seeing the fruits of the initial groundwork. Here is a short preview of a suprise session I sprung on him last night.
๐ I am getting asked a lot why I selected a dog of this breeding and I'm happy to share. I had high hopes I could work him on odour and see how things progress....
๐ง ๐The whole process absolutely fascinates me and over the years has turned into a bit of a special interest, which im excited to keep exploring bith as a trainer and a handler. I think it's amazing if you can work as a team with your dog on an activity they are genetically well built for and you enjoy the training also. That intrinsic motivation alone will see you achieve great things because you're super consistent!
๐บ Back when I first did my formal dog training accreditation, I completed an additional scent detection elective (amongst others) where I focussed in on harnessing the naturally high hunting drive my husky Cleo had. I still recite if you can train a husky at a reliable skill level... you can train just about any dog.
๐ To this day, she loves her scent games as it's an amazing outlet even older dogs can do throughout their lives which is massively mentally stimulating and FUN! I've intermittently shared footage of Cleo working area searches in the past but will share some more soon so you can see a 12 year old doggo enjoying this activity.
๐น Tommy has a wonderful natural hunting drive, which is building day by day. Now we are at the point where he is searching full areas. I feel he is doing very well for a 4 month old pup and shows great promise in this area. We'll just keep having fun and refining things as we go. At the end of the day, your root motives have to be bonding and having fun learning with your dog. It's no exception for me
I'll be showing more of Tommy's
[ EMPOWERING KIDS & DOGS ]
This is a great example of a child and a dog doing a simple targeting exercise ๐
This is a 4 year old child and a 4 month old puppy
The child is able to communicate what to do, and the dog is willing and able to execute (even with distractions present of dogs playing nearby)...
By supporting simple games and exercises where both sides are working on clarity, so much can be achieved and we can work on great behaviour and learning on both sides around each other.
This is where the magic begins โจ๏ธ and valuable lessons are learnt ๐
โ
๏ธ kids and dogs learn by doing
โ
๏ธ kids and dogs learn through play and games
โ
๏ธ kids and dogs learn quickly (with good support)
Nurture willing and happy participants and provide a level of valuable education to our children, the next generation of pet owners.
[ THE BENEFITS OF CRATE TRAINING ]
I'm very pro-crate!
I'm also happy to promote this to all of my clients for a multitude of reasons that set a dog up for success throughout their life. Appropriate and ethical use of a crate in the home can literally be a game changer for some dogs in terms of their behaviour as well. I've witnessed some miracles in my time that have kept dogs in homes where they would be otherwise rehomed or in certain cases, possibly euthanized.
I don't regret a single second of the crate training I have done with Tommy over the last month to set him him up well for the future and also as part of his daily structure. I'm going to be completely transparent in letting you know he hated the crate and anything surrounding it at first sight. Being a free-range pup I kind of expected this and just consistently rolled on as you do with spirited pups like this lad.
All my older dogs were crate trained early in life too and it's not really that it's now in play for them everyday however they have a safe and quiet place to retreat to, I can transport them easily and safely and if they require medical care where crating is involved it's no biggee. These are a few of a whole heap of benefits...
In reality, Im of the opinion having a positive association with the crate in the broader scheme of things opens up a whole heap of freedoms for our dogs now and into the future....
Tommy had a small procedure yesterday which means I have to keep him a bit more stationary for the next week or so. Check out my stories for more of a rundown and also my setup today. You will see Tommy also has a room downstairs of his own with another larger crate for day sleeps and overnight.
I'll specify that it's not that he has to be kept in a crate for any particular reason daily, but more so that I'm setting him up for future scenarios and adventures where this structure will be important and expected.
Check out my online crate training program anyone can get into anywher
[ BODY AWARENESS & PROPRIOCEPTION]
๐ฉ Pups becoming aware of their bodies is kind of a big deal....
With young puppies or those with physical limitations we are looking to improve their 'proprioception'. Imbalances or defects may be occurring due to injury, disease, chronic conditions or where a puppy is just learning how to move their body during a high growth period - that 'goofy' stage. In essence proprioception is a key factor within body awareness so you understand the distinction.
โ๏ธ Proprioception refers to a dog's brain knowing where their limbs, head and trunk are in space as a means of making sure the dog is stable, adjusting themselves as required. In fact good proprioception is key to avoiding injury in many cases.
With healthy adult dogs we generally can refer to such exercises centered around improving general body awareness based in coordination as they more than often have pretty good proprioception to already work with.
If you're working towards some precise skills or behaviours with your dog, make this area a central part of your training regime. If your dog has certain limitation or is just getting on in age these goals can be amazing to elevate their quality of life and lower the risk of future injuries dramatically.
You can adapt appropriate exercises for pups, adults or senior doggos. Rear end awareness exercises in particular are great to incorporate into your training regardless of your dog's age.
๐ค Did you know a lot of dogs don't realise they have back feet because their always pretty much in front wheel drive majority of their life...
๐ Here's some simple stuff I did with Tommy over the weekend. You can see the goal of each exercise is to support his rear end working somewhat independently and developing a feel for his back end moving more of less leading the way instead of his front.
๐ฏ There are some skills I'm working towards with Tommy later on in life that will require him to be able to move his rear end quick
Introducing my puppy to the slat mill for the first time.
All together a very short and successful session โ๏ธ
Give Tom a ๐ or a โค๏ธ for adding some cuteness to your day
[ PUPPY LIFE ]
Here's a snapshot of a few things I got up to the other day with my pup.
To be honest each day looks a bit different. Being a working mum with many commitments on my plate, I roll with what is realistic and sustainable across the board.
Tommy's days are structured in similar ways to my kids - brain on time, chill out communal (doggy) time, sleep/recharge time, independant (alone) time, adventure & playtime. These all feed into each other of course - I feel a good balance is the sweet spot
In reality puppies only have so much bandwidth so the activities I do fit in with what is realistic to his stage of development and the key priorities which are all based around simple foundations, fun, building positive associations and relationship building for now. Our day consists of very small sessions, windows of opportunity and structured down time appropriate to his needs.
This is just my approach, of course everyone may have different pups, lifestyle and thoughts on puppy raising.
[ LEARN TO EARN ]
๐ฒ I start to introduce the learn to earn rule when my dogs are pups by allocating some of their food towards the activities we will be doing through the day or some alone time dog jobs to encourage down time.
๐๐ฃโ๏ธ๐ฆThis helps not only build their food drive but also can be great to use in collaboration with play when out on the road developing a positive world view, whilst building an understanding good stuff the pup values comes through me. As my dogs get older, this obviously evolves, however this is where it all begins.
๐บ This is not a situation where it is 'if' or 'whether' my dog will eat, it is actually a case of 'how' and 'when' which I have found in real world settings has so much power. In my opinion this is not cruel at all as dogs are not designed to graze on food all day long. Back in the day all dogs 'worked' for their food in one way or another. Freebie bowl feeding only really became a thing when mass-produced commercial food came into the picture over 70 years ago. This is a speck in the ocean in terms of timeframe compared to how long domesticated dogs have been tracked back in history over 18,000 years ago.
๐โ๐ฆบ Use your pups food to your advantage and give them appropriate outlets to interact and work with you. Reward the behaviours you like and help your pup along with a positive worldview using strategic rewards and things your pup enjoys.
โ๏ธ This video explains simple portioning and how you might adapt this with your doggo. In my opinion, dogs are so much happier put to work. This may look different for each dog and human. Just putting this out there as some food for thought - literally ๐
P.s stay tuned to meet our new puppy very soon!
When your little little sister steals the limelight from you...
Watch and wait for it ๐
#englishbullterrier #bullterrier #canineexercise #caninefitness #ilovemydog #inharness #huskylife #huskylovers
[ FRIDAY FEELZ ]
I'm so pumped to have a fun weekend ahead of me with some new and continuing students.
I guess sometimes I forget how much ground I can cover over a 48-hour period ๐
This weekend, I'm providing support around:
๐ Puppy development
๐ Toilet training
๐ Agility foundations
๐ Conditioning & exposure therapy
๐ Manners in the home & life skills
๐ Obedience foundations & basic impulse control
๐ Intermediate Obedience skills
๐ Behaviour assessments
I am also meeting a few dogs and their humans for the first time to conduct 'meet & greets' looking at the best way to support them on their journey. Certain behaviours can sometimes require an evaluation and assessment process to provide the most targeted advice and best direction.
What are you and your dog getting up to this weekend? ๐ค
[ TRAINING YOUR DOG ]
Two questions I regularly get asked are:
๐ค How long should my training sessions be with my dog?
๐ค How often should I do a training session with my dog?
Short training sessions are best, keeping your dog's motivation high. For beginners, this might be somewhere starting at 2-3 minutes and for those well versed a little bit longer. It's important to avoid overdoing it and turning what was fun into a chore for your dog. Always try and end on a high which will reinforce their performance and motivation next time round.
Sporadic training sessions spread out through the day are great. Days off here and there are definitely okay too. Everyone's schedules will allow different intervals. Making sure your dog is willing to work and earn are key to these intervals in terms of food or play motivation.
Short, sharp and targeted sessions work best in my opinion.
This is me working with my 12 year old husky Cleo. On weekends I don't have a lot of time due to work and commitments with my three young kids. That being said, I make a priority of setting aside 10 minutes here and there amongst my jobs to enjoy some time where we are brushing up on foundations and charging markers to keep her keen and sharp.
โซ๏ธ๏ธ BLACK FRIDAY SALE โซ๏ธ
Enjoy a huge 35% off our programs from friday till Sunday only! (24th - 26th November)
Use code: BF35OFF at checkout
https://www.riverinak9academy.com.au/
#dogtraining #dog #happydog #trainyourdog #accreditedtrainer #blackfridaysale2023 #puppytraining #puppy #obediencetraining #obedience #Riverina #canineenrichment #canineenrichmentideas #cratetraining #muzzletraining #muzzle #dogslife #basicobedience #basicobediencetraining #puppydevelopment #puppyraising #dogtrainingadvice #dogtraining101 #dogbehaviour #puppybehavior
[ NOISE SENSITIVITY ]
๐ Did you know dogs have a much larger spectrum of sounds they are able to hear than us....
Coming from a preditorial background in terms of evolution, this makes total sense. However, these days in busy homes, noisey backyards, and bustling cities, this amplification can work against our furry friends in major ways.
๐Dogs can hear much higher pitched sounds at a range of up to 65,000 Hz, in comparison with a human that hears up to around 20,000 Hz. Do you can imagine anything like lawn mowers, vacuums, power tools, blenders, coffee machines and even thunderstorms are all noises that our dogs can become sensitive towards for obvious reasons.
๐๐ฅจ It's critical to appropriately expose our puppies to a range of noises and soundscapes early on to develop positive associations and neutrality. Its just as important to support an older dog as they age with simple counter conditioning exercises.
๐๐ถ Pair an activity that your dog enjoys, like toy play or an enrichment task, with the sound or sound + stimulus (sound maker) overlaying. It's important to work at a level (distance, duration, volume, intensity) that your dog can remain engaged and happy participating in their activity, noticing the 'noise' is occurring but not showing signs of discomfort.
๐โโ๏ธ As always, don't hesitate to reach out to an accredited and qualified professional trainer or behavioural consultant for support if you need some help.
https://riverinak9.com.au/contact-us/
Learn more about how our dogs hear the world around them and better yet, how you can enrich your dog's auditory super powers in my 'Enriched K9' mini-course
https://www.riverinak9academy.com.au/courses/the-enriched-k9
๐ง
#counterconditioning #dogconditioning #sound #enrichmentfordogs #enrichment #canineenrichment #caninecompanions #ilovemydog #enrichmentprogram #stuffedkong #Kong #foodenrichment
[ BEHIND THE SCENES ]
Here's a quick trip behind the scenes of me finishing up a virtual training session with a client.
Virtual sessions are great if I'm a big distance away from my clients or for whatever reason remote sessions fit best with their dogs' comforts at the time.
I've met so many amazing people and dogs this way, since the limitations of COVID forced a big shift in how I operated my biz.
It also means whilst providing access to quality support and guidance for others, my kids can be there to cheer me on. Some days to cover all bases, I have a cheeky little audience in the background like today ๐
#dogmum #virtualdogtraining #privatedogtraining #trainathome #remotework #dogtrainer #workingmum #workingmums #onlinedogtraining #riverinak9academy #youdowhatyougottado #distanceeducation #dogskills #dogtraining #dogtrainingisfun #ilovemydog #husky #huskylife
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