NELSON BAY PUPPY SCHOOL
A major goal of our puppy schools is to develop confident puppies, experienced and desensitised to unusual sights, sounds, smells and textures. Take a look at the exposures we set up for the puppies this afternoon, making sure there were plenty of treats to help the puppies enjoy these novel experiences. #puppydesensitisation #confidentpuppy
NELSON BAY PUPPY SCHOOL
Mental enrichment is a daily essential for all dogs and best started during puppyhood. Millie the very clever Border Collie quickly worked out an efficient method to uncover and devour the hidden treats at puppy school this afternoon.
INTERMITTENT REINFORCEMENT
Young Theodore has decided that his current pay rate needs to be one treat for each response from him. His current position is, “No treat, no action”. Here he is learning about intermittent reinforcement with random rate of delivery so that he remains co-operative knowing that somewhere along the way his human will make his effort worth the wait. Just as well they don’t make poker machines for dogs! 🤣 #intermittentreinforcement #phasingoutfoodrewards
ADVANCED GOOD MANNERS GRADUATION: This really was an outstanding group of participants. After only 6 weeks of practice, using lightweight leads it seemed the dogs were begging for a run on the course off lead. The connection between the handlers and their dogs was great to watch. Recalls to place when dogs did stray away were 100% reliable. As you watch this video, remember this was Bill’s first time running the course off lead. ALL of the dogs completed exceptional runs of the course, off lead. We are all so proud!
Take a look at what you can achieve after four weeks at puppy school. Sound on for commentary. #puppysocialisation #puppyschoolgraduate
GARAGE AGILITY
THE ADVENTURES OF CHARLIE: Nothing like an afternoon session of garage agility with one of my favourite humans. Gotta love a dog-whispering kid! #kidsanddogs #agilityathome
ADVANCED GOOD MANNERS: snapshot of one of the skills we are refining at the 5th lesson in our course. Sound on for commentary.
CARD GRAB GAME
One of my favourite training games: dogs claim a card by sitting or lying on it, take it back to their home base and then head out to claim another. Player with the highest face-value total on their hand of cards wins. Great practice in focus and response to handler when around other dogs.
FERN BAY GOOD MANNERS, final lesson. What fun and amazement we experience when at the end of the course we can see so clearly the positive development in each dog (and human). This then enables us to play happy, focused games incorporating the skills we’ve been working on!
REACTIVE REHAB
This morning’s Reactive Rehab lesson: learning to hang out and have fun near other dogs. We like to call it “normalisation” of the dog’s concepts and emotions around other dogs. #reactiverehab #leashreactivity
Another energetic play session at puppy school. All pups interacting in an excited but relaxed and appropriate way. Between short play bursts we engage the puppies in focus and relaxation exercises. Teaching puppies to have an “on/off” switch is such an important skill. #psiloveyou #puppyschoolportstephens
