I had a call to help this gorgeous 11 month old Great Dane with pulling on the lead and his recent reactivity toward dogs out on his walks.
This was our first session together.
We reassessed the tools being used and saw an improvement in communication as soon as we put the martingale collar on. From this place we were able to start communicating effectively with as little conflict as possible. The key is we are safely teaching him to pay attention to us, any leash pressure can be avoided. We are fair in this as well, we start the learning process in a familiar and calm environment and we signal incoming pressure to the dog, giving them the opportunity to make a choice.
We had already done a few reps before this video was filmed. You get to see the wonderful moment where he makes a conscious choice to turn back to me.
Note: in the beginning when teaching loose leash walking this way it can be very helpful reinforcing with food once they reach you. In this example I’m the reward as he’s been desperate to get attention from me, we used treats in earlier reps.
.
#aaadogday #dogtraining #dogtrainer #looseleashwalking #makeitfun #negativereinforcement #greatdane #bigdog
If you happen to have upper body limitations or injuries and you can’t take any sudden movement from your dog when holding a lead consider getting a waist lead on a belt. You can still hold onto the lead in order to communicate with your dog but if they move quickly or unexpectedly you can drop the lead and and take the shock in your hips and legs.
I’m currently recovering from a rib cage injury and this method means my dog gets to have a walk now and I don’t have to scream in pain anytime he hits the end of the lead.
(You could always add a bungee lead in the mix to really ease any shock)
There’s every chance I may never change Dude’s feelings about certain things like… everyone he doesn’t know, however I can teach him to behave when he is feeling those feelings.
.
#aaadogday #dogtraining #dogtrainer #dogsthatbite #rescuedog #bullybreed #cratetraining #operantconditioning #reactivedog
What are some of your daily routines with your dog? Did you know you can use these as teachable moments?
I feed Dude most mornings by throwing a cup of kibble into the backyard. Originally this was an enrichment exercise (he’s super scent driven) however recently I have started to use the excitement and motivation to strengthen his WAIT command, strengthen his GOOD DOG bridging marker and also charge up his GET IT away marker.
Now this simple daily routine has become a mini super charged training session and enrichment exercise. If you’d like to know more, shoot me a DM.
.
#aaadogday #dogtraining #dogtrainer #impulsecontrol #premackprinciple #dogbehaviour #rescuedogsofinstagram #bullybreed #cynopraxicdogtraining #classicalconditioning
This is a very special moment in Dude’s and my journey together and the result of hours and hours spent building a genuine trust through clear communication, understanding the intricacies of canine behaviour in order to respect the animal in front of me and advocating for him with patience and concern for his well being.
Owning a reactive and dangerous dog is a difficult and challenging road to walk. There’s social stigma, conflicting advice from internet dog trainers, there’s often trauma involved and of course a lot of isolation. Help is out there though, go with your gut, interview trainers on the phone to see if you’re on the same page, be open to listening but know where your personal boundaries lie. Once you find the right advice that suits you follow through. Do the work, set small goals and even if you don’t “get there” you will definitely be better off than where you started.
Anyway, congratulations to Dude on his first public off lead walk in 3 years, even if we waited until an enormous storm to clear the beach! 🤣
.
#cynopraxicdogtraining #limadogtraining #reallifedogtraining #offleadadventures #reactivedog #nepopo
Practice makes perfect! To achieve big things you need to achieve the little things first.
Anxiety is tough to work through, desensitisation and counter conditioning work but only if done at the right pace for each case.
There’s no time limit, you can never take it too slow, let progress dictate the pace.
.
#aaadogday #dogtraining #dogtrainer #reactivedog #rescuedog #desensitization #desensitisation #counterconditioning #counterconditioninganddesensitization #limatraining
I’m not a fan of baby talk but this dog makes me say some really stoopid stuff and he really loves it… ok maybe I do a bit too.
.
#aaadogtraining #dogtrainer #dogtraining #babytalk
I tried to make a video for a client showing how to teach loose leash walking. Dude is too good at it though!
.
#aaadogday #dogtraining #dogtrainer #looseleashwalking #looseleashtraining
We never end up using any of Dude’s tricks in the real world as we are always far more focused on his emotional state and potential triggers.
That said, the time we spend learning little tricks and the fun of it give us a solid bond and shared learning language that lends itself to the big stuff out in the real world.
.
#aaadogday #dogtraining #dogtrainer #tacticalheel #rescuedog #bullybreed
This kind of dinner time behaviour didn’t take long to establish but it’s the result of consistent messages/cues to the dogs, individual training, group training games and understanding the dog’s relationships with each other.
Do you have a multi dog house? Does it get a little chaotic/challenging? I can help with that if you’re in the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie or Central Coast areas.
Call me for a free phone consultation.
.
#aaadogday #dogtraining #dogtrainer #dogtrainingadvice #multipledoghousehold #beaglier #bullybreed
‘Twas a fabulous day for Dude on Monday.
Dude is the cortisol king and takes a while to meet dogs and people. He also has a bite history so he only gets to meet one person at a time over many introductions.
Here he is finally trusting and working with my daughter’s boyfriend. We had done about 3-4 gentle intros starting in an open park, front yard then back yard. There were a few lunges and little kerfuffles in the beginning but with a really solid training foundation and calm structured intros we’ve now reached a place where Dude is comfortable with another new person in his life.
Here’s to many more!
.
#aaadogday #dogtrainer #dogtraining #reactivedog #rescuedog #bullarabmix #bullybreed
Dude very rarely watches, let alone reacts to tv.
@davidattenborough must just have the kind of voice that draws everyone in!
SOUND UP FOR FULL CUTENESS!
.
#aaadogday #rescuedog #rescuedogsofinstagram #bullybreed #dogtrainer #dogtraining
