Did anyone else meet Toby yesterday at the Funfest - PAVED Festival?!
Foster puppy Georgie, the only dog in the world socialised with dinosaurs 😂 I was so proud of how he handled the busy environment and very weird sights and sounds! His eye surgery is next week and then he’ll be up for adoption (😭)
Impulse control is a vital skill that should be taught from a young age! Here’s my foster pup learning to wait for his Kong Wobbler! This is based on Its Yer Choice created by Susan Garrett. #puppytraining #impulsecontrol #impulsecontroltraining #melbournedogs #dandenongranges #kongcompany #kongwobbler
Success!
Nikki the German Shepherd used to bark, lunge and growl when she met another dog. We first started working together late last year and today was our fifth session - we had a lovely walk around the local park with my Finley Whippet.
What we did:
🐶 Trained Nikki how to play the Engage/Disengage game using high value treats (Goodo dog food from the supermarket!)
🐶 Using a two point harness to give the handler control if needed, without using aversive control (link in comments)
🐶 Understanding the motivation behind the behaviour - she has a play style that is intimidating to many dogs and people 😬
🐶 Not hanging out in the middle ground - either approach for a quick sniff or move away, not letting Nikki build up frustration
🐶 Practicing short greetings with fake dogs, so Nikki could learn that leash pressure = follow me
Today we got to practice what to do when passing other dogs who don’t want to say hello, and dealing with off leash dogs with no recall 🙄
Super proud of Nikki and her handler, and excited to hear about their future walks with friends. They’ve been walking solo for a year now - having a reactive dog can be very isolating! ❤️🩹
Check the comments for a link to my Reactive Dog seminar coming up in September at RSPCA Victoria
How do I choose a dog trainer?
A good dog trainer should possess several important qualities to be effective in their role. Here are some key characteristics that make a good dog trainer:
Knowledge and Experience: A good dog trainer should have a strong understanding of dog behavior, learning theory, and training techniques. They should also have experience working with a variety of breeds and temperaments.
Patience and Empathy: Training a dog can be challenging and frustrating, so a good trainer should be patient and empathetic with both the dog and the owner. They should be able to understand the dog's needs and communicate effectively with the owner.
Clear Communication: A good trainer should have excellent communication skills and be able to explain training concepts clearly to the owner. They should also be able to demonstrate techniques and provide feedback effectively.
Positive Reinforcement: A good trainer should focus on using positive reinforcement techniques to reward good behavior rather than punishment or negative reinforcement. This creates a positive training environment and strengthens the bond between the dog and the owner.
Flexibility and Adaptability: A good trainer should be able to adapt their training games to meet the individual needs of each dog and owner. They should also be able to offer different force-free options if a particular technique isn't working.
Professionalism: A good trainer should be professional and ethical in their behavior and interactions with clients and dogs. They should also have a genuine love and respect for dogs.
Ultimately, a good dog trainer should have a passion for helping dogs and their owners, as well as the knowledge and skills to provide effective training that improves the quality of life for both.
Ask A Trainer
Reactive dog help is here!
🎁 I made you a present 🎁
Having the right motivation for your dog makes a HUGE difference to your progress in dog training so I put together this free guide to help you find what works best for your dog!
This guide includes
🦴 How to put together the ultimate treat bag, starting with your dog's kibble
🦴 Dog treat recipe that has been tried and tested - dogs unanimously love it!
🦴 Discuss your fair concerns about your dog getting fat or not being food motivated
🦴 Non-food rewards to use beyond praise, fetch and tug
🦴 Worksheet for you to fill in for YOUR DOG - gotta make it personalised!
🦴 How and where to buy healthy dog treats that are cheaper and better value
Get your copy on my website 👇
https://www.jaricastle.com.au/Snack-Size-Motivation
#canineenrichment #dogtrainingadvice #dogtrainer #melbournepetservices #melbournedogs #dogtrainingsuccess #dogtrainersofinstagram #followformore #rescuedog #rescuedismyfavoritebreed #bluey #newpuppy #dogtrainingtips #bestfurryfriend #furkid #furkiddos #helpfordogs #bordercolliesoftheworld #beagle #doglife #germanshepherdpuppy #germanshepherdlovers #chihuahua #reactivedogtraining #reactivedogsaregooddogstoo #aggressivedog #reactivedogsofinstagram #reactivedogsuccess #aggressivedogrehabilitation #aggressivedogtrainer
Dog struggles to drop/lay down and stay there? Try this :)
Today’s dose of cute comes from Cooper running around!
Little mister likes to find things he shouldn’t to eat in the garden, so we were working on teaching give and recall. BUT, today I worked out he has learned that when he has something good that he should run away so it doesn’t get taken from him 😩
So now his humans are tasked with walking past Cooper when he has a pig ear or similar, and dropping a bit of cheese/bacon/chicken. Don’t even take the pig ear! Cooper needs to learn that humans approach to GIVE, not take away ❤️ Once Cooper is looking excited about his mum coming close, and not trying to dash away, then we can work on trading items.
See you in a month pupper! Stay safe, don’t eat any more bull ants 🐜 😬
You missed it! The first Pet Dog Manners class is fully booked by Early Birds on my email list!
The good news: You can secure your place in line on the waitlist NOW 🏃♀️
I am securing the venue to run a second class on the same dates, and spots in this class will be offered in order of registration. If you are hoping to bring your dog, register their details here 👉 https://forms.gle/KaTnfepJi47Mr15S6
When: 10:45am Oct 16, 23, 30, Nov 13, 20
Where: Selby Community House
Who: Dogs who need some help being the best Pet Dog they can be, but don't lunge and bark when on lead. Six dogs maximum per class.
Cost: $295
Send or comment any questions you have and I hope to meet you and your dog soon 🙌❤️
#dogtrainingclassesinmelbourne #dogtrainingclasses #dogtrainer #dogtrainersofinstagram #melbournepets #melbournepetservices #melbournedogs
Here’s a very dull video of a five month old puppy NOT:
❌ chasing the cats
❌ chewing the furniture
❌ getting into the bin
❌ nipping the children
If you want a dog to stop doing something, teach or find something they *can* do 😉
Thanks to my client for sharing the video of Doug and congrats on ditching the food bowl 😍
#Kong #kongdogtoys #groodle
Finley loves the squeaky pig from Aldi!! $4.99 😍 #ALDIFinds #aldi #whippetlife #dogtrainer #whippetsofinstagram #melbournewhippet #funnyvideosclips #happydogs #happydog #happydogshappylife
Call your dog *before* they run 🏃♂️
Learn your dog’s alert body language and work on your dogs recall at that moment rather than waiting for the dog to run before you activate your recall cue!
For Finley, his head goes up and his ears perk up too. It doesn’t matter if I can see what he has spotted or not, I know that he may want to dash off to say hello. Those ears up are MY cue to get FINLEY’S attention and call him back to me. Then I can suss out what he had spotted and if it is safe for him to go check it out.
To work on this without your dog giving you the finger as they tear off into the distance, start noticing their alert signs when they are on leash. Call their name or use other sounds (whistle, clap, etc) and reward them for looking away from the thing and back to you.
Focus point: keep the lead LOOSE, do not use it to pull on the dog to get their attention. You won’t be able to do that when they are off leash, so don’t make it part of the behaviour pattern or cue.
Finley is very used to this behaviour pattern so when he sees something he will tend to stick around me thanks to a strong reinforcement history for this. If he is allowed to go off, I’ll tell him “okay” and away he goes 🙂
Hope this helps and wishing you a warm week!
Oh man, I *wish* I had a video of Benji at the beginning of our session! He didn’t look like this 😅
Today was all about leash skills and manners - walking without pulling, how to train Benji to heel, and how to reward Benji in different ways. In this video I have Finley Whippet with me as Benji finds other dogs super distracting. We found that marking (“Yes”) his attention and then tossing the food reward ahead of Benji helped keep his momentum going so that he kept walking close to his human and not getting sidetracked by the Very Fun Dog.
Next week we head into Emerald Main Street to add another layer of distraction and tweak his owners leash handling in those busy spaces. Drop some encouragement for them in the comments!
Thank you weather gods for not raining on us this morning 🌧
The Marker word!
Some people use Yes, some people use Good - which is better and why does it matter?
The marker word is there to provide crystal clear communication to our dogs on the behaviour that we like, and which word we choose can help or hinder that goal. Check out the video and let me know your thoughts in the comments! 👇
Puppies and older dogs love to play - but the toys are expensive, right? Why not use food to entertain your dog? In this video, I show you how to do 'hide and seek' with your dog’s snacks or meals. It's easy, quick, cheap, and gives both you and your pooch lots of joy. It’s insanely simple but dogs love it…try it at home!
There are lots of benefits of scent work, here are just a few:
✅ Confidence building - they have a go, and get rewarded!
✅ Creative thinking
✅ Independence building - great for Velcro dogs that follow you from room to room
✅ Sniffing is exhausting as it takes a lot of brain power to process all the scent particles their nose picks up
✅ Suitable for dogs of all ages and physical abilities. This game is a wonderful way to engage your older dog, wear out a puppy or stimulate your dog with limited mobility.
✅ Sniffing also releases endorphins and dopamine - sniffing makes your dog happy and relaxed!
As well as these fantastic outcomes, hunting for food also helps your dog be their best self - a dog. Most dogs will happily sniff out their food while ignoring it in a bowl. They are scavengers after all. Giving your dog a way to tap into this DNA helps them have a full life.
Finally, the mental workout for your dog is just as important and beneficial as a physical work out. Taking your dog for longer and longer walks turns them into canine endurance athletes, and extended sessions of fetch creates twitchy adrenaline junkies that are prone to arthritis. Mix up the type of “workout” they get through the week for a happy and well-rounded dog.
To get more great content to make your and your dog’s life better, hit follow/like/subscribe. Sharing with your friends would also be very reinforcing for me, and your friends’ dogs’ will love you for it 😉
Dog barking when visitors arrive? Here are some tips!
Give it a consistent go and let me know what happens after a week 😉
Feel free to PM me for more help or advice! 🐶
