Remember Bruneor?
This bright and eager pup is making serious strides in his training and while he’s off to a great start, those longer durations in the crate is still proving to be a bit of a challenge.
This week, we focused on building his confidence and comfort with extended crate time by working on impulse control and gradually increasing his duration. Bruneor showed us his determination and made some solid strides, proving he’s well on his way to mastering this important skill.
Remember, the crate doesn’t have to be just a spot for them while you’re away. Turning it into a fun and positive space will be a game-changer in the long run.
Keep it up, Bruneor—you’ve got this! Consistency and patience will get you there, one paw at a time. 🐾
Looking for a simple and fun way to entertain your dog? A muffin tin enrichment game is an awesome way to provide mental stimulation and satisfy your dog’s natural foraging instincts.
What You’ll Need:
• A muffin tin
• Tennis balls
• Treats or kibble
How to Set It Up:
1. Place small treats or pieces of kibble in some or all of the muffin tin compartments.
2. Cover each compartment with a tennis ball.
3. Let your dog sniff, paw, and nudge the balls out of the way to find the hidden treats!
Bruneor loved this game and it took him a full 5 mins and 11 seconds. We left one ball without treats, it of course was the last ball in the tin and he completely ignored it the whole time.
Such a SMART BOY 😩 👏
#6weekprogram #puppytraining #enrichmentfordogs
🎉 That’s a Wrap on 2024! Thank You for the Paws-itive Vibes! 🐾
As the year winds down, I just wanted to take a moment to sit (and stay 😉) in gratitude. This year has been nothing short of paw-some, and it’s all thanks to YOU—our loyal clients and your even more loyal (and sometimes overly enthusiastic) dogs.
Whether we’ve helped your pup master the elusive “come when called,” help overcome their fear of the oh so scary crate, walk on the leash like a pro, or simply stop thinking of your neighbor’s dog is the devil, we’ve loved every tail-wagging minute of it.
Let’s be real: some days, your dogs trained us just as much as we trained them. (I’m looking at you, Hamish, with your 25-minute stare-offs into la la land and refusal to sit for pictures.) But that’s what makes my job the best—each pup brings their own quirks, and every success, no matter how small, feels like winning Best in Show.
To all the pet parents who trusted us with their furry family members this year: thank you. You’ve made our business grow faster than a Golden Retriever racing toward a dropped piece of bacon.
As we head into 2025, we’re ready to fetch even bigger goals, teach more tricks, and tackle more training challenges. Until then, we hope your holidays are filled with love, laughter, and dogs who listen (well, at least sometimes).
Cheers to a paws-itively amazing year ahead!
Woofing you all the best,
The crew at Well Mannered Mutts 🐾
#Goodbye2024 #newyearnewgoals
And the winner of the Christmas gift basket is …… 🥁
Jen Dubois 🎉🎉🎉🎉
Congratulations Jen and big thanks to everyone who entered! It was a BIG one this year! 🙌🏻
Impulse control 👀
Yesterday Willy came in for a little “Impulse Control 101” refresher course! Let’s just say, when you’re the life of the party in the stay-and-play program, sometimes your inner chaos gremlin takes the wheel. Despite having a big ol’ brain full of knowledge, Willy occasionally forgets to use it—kind of like when you have a gym membership but “forget” leg day for six months.
It happens to the best of us!
A little practice and routine go a long way to keep those impulses in check ✔️
Here are some activities we worked on in this video to build up that impulse control:
Flirt Pole with Commands - How: Use a flirt pole but pause periodically to ask for commands like “sit/down” “leave it,” or “wait” before resuming play use a release word to let them know they can continue with the activity.
Benefit: Reinforces listening skills during high-energy activities.
Place Training - How: Teach your dog to go to a designated spot (like a mat or bed) and stay there until released.
Benefit: Provides a safe and calm behavior for situations with high distractions (e.g., guests arriving).
Stay Command - How: Teach your dog to stay in one position (sit or down) until released. Gradually increase distance and duration.
Benefit: Builds focus and patience, even in exciting environments.
Tug-and-Release Game - How: Play tug with your dog, then pause and ask for a release command (“drop it/out”). Resume the game as a reward.
Benefit: Teaches your dog to switch between excitement and calmness on cue.
Controlled Fetch - How: Ask your dog to “sit” or “wait” before throwing a toy and only release them to fetch when you give the command.
Benefit: Combines excitement with restraint, reinforcing self-control.
Tips for Success: Be patient; building impulse control takes time. Use high-value treats or rewards to keep your dog motivated.
Gradually increase the difficulty by adding distractions or extending the duration.
K
I think it’s safe to say, everyone was pumped about this weather we were blessed with today! #sunshinestateofmind #blessed #winterwonderland
With summer behind us, it’s the perfect time to focus on indoor activities with your dog. If your pup is like Briggs and thrives on working, here are some creative ways to build their confidence and keep them engaged during the colder months:
1. Scent Work
Hide treats or toys around the house and let your dog sniff them out. Start with easy spots, then increase the difficulty to challenge their nose and brain. Or find a trainer near you to enroll in classes!
2. DIY Obstacle Course
Use items like chairs, pillows, or broomsticks to create an indoor agility course. Teach them to jump over, crawl under, or weave through obstacles for a fun, confidence-building workout.
3. Puzzle Games
Invest in or make your own interactive puzzles that reward your dog with treats. These activities stimulate their problem-solving skills and keep their mind sharp.
You could use snuffle mats, puzzle toys, PVC pipe feeders etc.
4. Shaping Activities
Use a clicker or verbal marker to reward small steps toward learning a new behavior. For example, teach them to nudge a ball, open a box, or pick up specific items.
5. Trick Training
Build confidence by teaching fun, simple tricks like spinning, waving, or bowing. Start small and celebrate their progress to keep it positive and rewarding. Or do what we did and find a random red bucket 😉
Stay creative, and you’ll both enjoy the season while sharpening your dog’s skills!
#themoreyouknowthemoreyougrow #workingdogs #sharpeningskills #confidencebuilding
Are you interested in group training but worried it might be overstimulating for you or your dog? Do you want the benefits of distractions for practice but without the overwhelming chaos of large classes? We’ve got you covered!
Training in a small, intimate group setting strikes the perfect balance between personalized attention and real-world preparation.
Here’s why it works:
• Tailored Support: A smaller group means more one-on-one attention from your trainer, allowing them to address your dog’s specific needs and challenges. This personalized approach ensures you receive customized guidance, helping both you and your dog progress effectively and confidently in your training journey.
• Calm Environment: A smaller class size ensures a relaxed and less overwhelming atmosphere, allowing your dog to feel comfortable and focused. This calm setting minimizes stress and distractions, helping your dog stay attentive and better absorb training.
• Real-World Practice: Life is full of distractions which are often beyond our control. However, we can recreate these distractions in a controlled setting, allowing you and your dog to work through them with guidance.
• Socialization Opportunities: Small-group training provides the perfect environment for your dog to learn polite interactions with another dog in a structured, supportive setting. Under your trainer’s guidance, your dog can practice appropriate social behaviors, helping them become more confident and well-mannered.
Whether you’re working on building confidence, mastering basic obedience, working on social skills or strengthening your bond with your dog, small-group training provides an effective, enjoyable way to reach your goals!
Let us help you and your dog thrive in a positive, stress-free environment! Message for more details!
Off-Leash Boundaries: Why Recall Training is Essential 🐾
One of the most important things you can teach your dog is recall or off-leash reliability. Why? Because life is full of unexpected situations that require a quick and reliable response.
What if your dog escapes because a guest or your kids accidentally leave the door open? What if the mailman or utility worker forgets to close the gate? Or what if your dog spots something exciting you don’t notice before they dash out of the car? Not to mention the wildlife encounters that can happen during off-leash walks, especially in areas like ours.
The last thing you want is for your dog to get lost or hurt while out in the elements unsupervised.
In this video, you’ll see four amazing dogs: Marley, Will, Hamish, and Buddy. Each of them has been trained by WMM, with recall work as part of their training. As you’ll notice, I didn’t need to call them back—they naturally check in with me or stop at a certain distance. We used a 30ft longline during their training, which gave them more freedom while still allowing me to manage their behavior. I don’t hover over them; I let them sniff and explore like dogs do, and I always mark “good” when they do what’s expected. This communicates to them that their behavior is what I want, and it becomes a standard going forward.
Marley, being a guardian breed, checks in more frequently—she has an intense instinct to keep an eye on her people at all times, which I absolutely love!
Take a moment to count how many times Marley comes back in this short, but extremely sped up video🤣🥰🙌🏻
#offleashreliability #recalltraining #offleashfreedom
This was Bowsers last training day with WMM. I cant say enough of how proud we are of how far he had come in such a short period of time! Cheers to you Buddy! 🍻 Miss you already! #dogtraining #agility #engagement #reactivity #focus #drive #implusecontrol #doingdogstuff #fyp #foryoupageofficial
What is your feeding routine with your dogs?
For us, we feed our dogs and visiting dogs in their crates! Feeding dogs in their crates can offer several benefits, both for their behavior and their overall well-being:
1. Creates Positive Association: Crates should be a safe, comfortable space for dogs, and feeding them in their crates helps them associate the crate with something positive, like food. This can reduce anxiety and make the crate a more appealing place for rest and relaxation.
2.Prevents Resource Guarding: Feeding in a crate can help prevent resource guarding behaviors (aggression or possessiveness over food) by limiting access to the food, reducing the chances of conflicts with other pets or family members during mealtime.
3.Reduces Distractions: Eating in a quiet, enclosed space can help dogs focus on their meal without the distractions of other pets, people, or environmental stimuli. This can promote a calmer and more focused eating routine.
4.Prevents Food Stealing: If you have multiple pets, feeding a dog in its crate can prevent others from stealing food or causing stress around mealtime.
5.Training and Routine: Crate feeding can help establish a regular routine, which is important for dogs, as they thrive on structure. It also teaches the dog to stay in the crate calmly while eating, which can help with crate training in general.
6.Health and Digestive Benefits: For dogs with digestive issues or picky eating habits, feeding in the crate can encourage them to eat at a steady pace, which may reduce the likelihood of eating too quickly or overeating.
Overall, feeding in the crate can help promote a sense of security, structure, and focus during mealtime while supporting good behavior and health.
#themoreyouknowthemoreyougrow #dogtrainingtips
Training & Engagement with Your Dog vs. Dog Parks: Which Is Best?
When it comes to exercising and socializing your dog, both personal engagement and dog parks offer unique benefits.
Engagement with Your Dog:
One-on-one activities like training, walks, or playtime strengthen your bond and allow for focused attention. This controlled environment is ideal for working on behaviours and providing tailored mental and physical stimulation.
Pros: Strengthens bond, personalized attention, controlled environment.
Cons: some find it to be time-consuming, lacks dog-to-dog socialization.
Dog Parks:
Dog parks let your dog interact with others, burn energy, and enjoy free play. However, they can be overwhelming or risky, with potential for conflicts or exposure to illness.
Pros: Can be good for socialization and exercise
Cons: Risk of negative interactions, stressful for some dogs, uncontrolled environment
So which Is best?
It really depends on the dog. Some dogs thrive in the high-energy environment of a dog park, while others do better with quieter, one-on-one interactions. I’ve witnessed dogs who excel in dog park settings, while others have regressed, developing undesirable social habits and triggers.
As with all things related to dogs, it’s important to use your best judgment and choose what suits your dog’s personality and needs. However, if I could offer one piece of advice, it would be to ensure the following:
A. Your dog has strong recall training established.
B. Your dog is social and has a tolerance for various energies and sizes.
C. Avoid bringing toys or food, as they can cause unnecessary conflicts.”
I personally choose not to use dog parks for my dogs, as I find the environment to be unpredictable and the energy levels too high. This often leads to my dogs becoming frustrated. However, as I mentioned earlier, every dog is different, and what works for one may not work for another!
Here’s a video of Lady and I using the agility park next to the
