Cued Canines

09/03/2024

Love being part of the Outrun Rescue family 🐾

Why I volunteer for Outrun Rescue:

"In a world where countless dogs yearn for a second chance, volunteering has become my way of making a difference.

These dogs come to Outrun with stories of abandonment, neglect, or loss, but they also come with an incredible capacity for love and resilience.

Each time I welcome a foster dog into my home, I’m not just giving them shelter; I’m offering them a bridge between the life they’ve left behind and the loving future that awaits them.

It’s not always easy; in fact, it can be incredibly challenging. But the moment a once-timid dog looks at you with trust in their eyes, knowing they’re finally safe—that’s when you know it’s all worth it.

Volunteering with Outrun isn’t just about the dogs, though; it’s about being part of a community of people who share the same passion and drive. Together, we celebrate the milestones and support each other through the tough times, always with the goal of giving these dogs the best possible chance at a new life.

When the day comes that a foster dog finds their forever family, there are tears—of joy, of pride, and yes, a little sadness. But knowing that I played a part in their journey to a better life makes every moment worth it. Fostering and volunteering have enriched my life in ways I never imagined, and I’m endlessly grateful for the opportunity to make a difference, one dog at a time. Because every dog deserves a story with a happy ending. ~~ Sarah Kaechele "

Sarah Kaechele is a Certified Dog Trainer (KPA-CTP) and holds a Masters Degree in Animal Science specializing in Behaviour Sciences (M.Sc.). Sarah runs a dog training company out of Alliston, Ontario but donates her time and skills to helping some of our Outrun Dogs.

Together we can build a better tomorrow. We are blessed to have her as part of our team here at Outrun Rescue and Rehabilitation Center.

01/30/2023

Nowadays we have become accustomed to getting instant gratification. A lot of things are accessible with the click of a button. Messages, movies, ebooks, audio books, food delivery, groceries. Most of it gets delivered to our inbox right away or to our doorstep. We also have vacuum robots, meal subscription boxes, kitchen appliances that basically cook by themselves. It doesn't get more convenient than that.

Having this learning history, it can be difficult to accept that teaching your dog new skills and changing behaviour is often a slow, time consuming process that requires ongoing commitment. Realizing that "quick fixes" aren't actually a thing and that slow progress and regression in training are completely normal when dealing with a sentient being. It can be disheartening and frustrating when your expectations and the reality don't align. I get it. I have been there too. We all have.

But learning a new skill takes time. Period. You are not failing if things take longer than expected. Your dog is not stubborn or intentionally giving you a hard time. They just need more practice and support. Maybe in general, maybe just in that particular context, maybe just that day.

The hardest part is to adjust your own expectations. Yes, you will need to spend some time learning how to teach your dog effectively and ethically. And you may want to ask for some guidance from a qualified professional to support you on that journey. Training and learning can und should be fun. For both you and your dog. Even though it will require time and effort, that does not mean it has to be a struggle.

Please reach out to a certified, positive reinforcement trainer if you need help. We all care deeply about you and your wonderful pups. And we all want you to enjoy the time you spend with your canine companions.

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More fun, less drama - that's dog training as it should be.

09/10/2022

We are beyond grateful for the generous support we received from all of you during the nomination phase. We made it to the Top 3 in the category Best Dog Training.
Please vote for us and help us reach #1

You can cast your final vote for Cued Canines until September 12th, 2022.
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

https://www.simcoe.com/readerschoice-alliston/categories/professional-services/subcategories/dog-training

09/10/2022

Dogs have needs. And they constantly communicate those needs to us. Since our pet dogs live in captivity (confined within their guardian's home) they can't really access resources without our help. They depend on us to provide outlets for basic needs like food, water, shelter, social interactions, physical and mental stimulation, and safety.

Dogs will do what works for them to make sure their needs are met. If you only pay attention to your dog's requests when they escalate their behaviour to barking at you, nagging you while on a zoom call, stealing valuable items, or destroying furniture, that's what you'll get.
But if instead you pay attention and listen to all the subtle ways your dog asks for something, there is no need to "shout". Be proactive and provide opportunities for your dog to engage in natural behaviours to meet their needs on a daily basis. And of course, you can always teach your dog alternative behaviours that are more desirable in a given context.

It is important to note that listening doesn't mean we can always honour our dog's requests. Sometimes it's a matter of safety. Sometimes it's simply not practical in that moment. We have needs too and it is ok to compromise.

But whenever you can and it's safe to do so, try to listen to the "whisper". After all, communication is a two-way, reciprocal process.

09/10/2022

Feeling a bit spicy today. Possibly because I saw one too many posts of people 'correcting' their dog for 'misbehaving' in a situation the dog was clearly not equipped to handle in the first place. That is like blaming a young child for falling down the stairs when it was your responsibility to close the baby gate in the first place. Unfair, unkind, unnecessary.

As mindful teachers, we should always strive to set our learners up for success. To work at their pace and not put them in situations we haven't yet practiced for.

However, I get that life happens. That we sometimes do end up in an overwhelming situation. And that those situations can elicit some strong feelings - frustration, embarrassment, even anger. That is when we manage the best we can, go with it, or - if need be - get the heck out of there. No need to blame anyone. Not yourself and especially not your best friend.

04/08/2022

I am excited to announce that I will be a guest speaker at the local Rotary Club of Alliston this upcoming Monday.

Please join me on Monday, April 11th at 7 pm for the presentation "Good or Bad - Let's Talk Behaviour". It's a virtual meet-up and free to attend for everyone who is interested. So, tell your friends if you'd like. You can sign up using the link below or message me and I will make sure to send you the Zoom invite.

See you on Monday!

Our next presentation is “Good or Bad - Let's Talk Behaviour” with Sarah Kaechele.
Sarah is the founder of Cued Canines - Dog Training & Behaviour, based in Alliston. She is here to help people with dogs better understand and connect with them.
Mark your calendars for April 11 at 7pm. Register today at the link, below.
https://portal.clubrunner.ca/411/Speakers/e9053d16-6415-45f2-a5a4-af273dbf5af1

04/02/2022

Have you ever tried to do something with passion that you did not enjoy? Or tried to study a subject that just didn't interest you? Not fun, eh?

As humans, we sometimes (often) don't have a choice but to push through and get it done (tax season anyone? 🙄🙈😝).

Thankfully, our dogs don't have such obligations. Everything they need to learn can be taught in a fun, engaging, no-pressure, no-deadline, kind and compassionate manner. We can truly work at their pace and make every step of their learning journey a fun one.

It's often societal expectations of how a 'good' dog should behave that pressure us into thinking we need to teach certain skills and that as quickly as possible. We feel embarrassed if our dog is pulling on the leash or jumping up on guests. But how and which skills you teach your dog is entirely up to you. My dog does both - pulling and jumping - and I don't mind it. It works for us and I actually really enjoy her jumpy greetings every time I come home. And she enjoys it too, otherwise, she wouldn't do it.

Focus on HOW you teach your dog. The WHAT is much less relevant.

More fun, less drama - that's dog training as it should be.

03/29/2022

Mistakes and errors will happen. To all of us. Even with careful planning or diligent management. Things will go wrong. And that's ok.

It's what comes after the mistake that counts. What can we do moving forward to prevent this mistake from happening again? This is how we grow

Your dog may need more practice to be able to successfully respond to the cue in that context.

Maybe the situation was a bit too overwhelming for your pup and he just wasn't able to keep his focus on you.

Or maybe your own mechanics were off and you weren't as clear in your communication as you thought.

Regardless of the reason why things didn't work out in a given situation. At the end of the day, mistakes are just information. And we can use that information as a learning opportunity. Reassess, tweak, practice more, break things down. And then, try again.

Don't waste your mistakes. Embrace them, learn from them, and move on.

03/29/2022

Properly socializing your young puppy is critical. Here are some Do's and Don'ts

03/29/2022

It's never too early to start training your new family member. The time and effort you put into training your puppy now will have the biggest impact on your dog’s development into adulthood. Help your puppy grow into a confident and happy companion.

12/11/2021

Holiday Closure Notice
December 20th - January 12th
Cued Canines will be closed for three weeks during the holidays. We look forward to seeing you and your pups in 2022. Enjoy the holidays, take care, and stay safe.

11/15/2021

I said it before and I will say it again. The science is clear. In humane animal training there is no place for aversive training techniques.

These are just snippets of both the AVSABs and the CVMAs position statements. Take a moment to read both in full.

https://avsab.ftlbcdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/AVSAB-Humane-Dog-Training-Position-Statement-2021.pdf

https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/documents/humane-training-of-dogs

If we can train a hyena or lion to do voluntary blood draws with clicker training, we can teach a domesticated dog to walk on a loose leash without the help of aversive tools such as prong or e-collars. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

10/28/2021

Just a quick reminder.

10/28/2021

So proud to announce that Cued Canines has won 1st place for "Best Dog Training" and "Best New Business" in South Simcoe.

Thank you to every one of you for voting for Cued Canines and for the support and encouragement I received from all my wonderful clients. Working with all of you and your amazing dogs throughout the year has been a long-time dream come true.

Having only started my business at the beginning of 2021, in the midst of a pandemic with lockdowns and stay-at-home orders, this is a tremendous honour. I'm thrilled and humbled by my client's curiosity for R+, science-based training techniques. This win shows how much our community values the well-being of our canine companions and that modern and ethical dog training doesn't need to rely on force, fear, intimidation or other outdated training techniques to achieve positive behaviour change.

https://www.simcoe.com/readerschoice-alliston/business/cued-canines

09/16/2021

We truly appreciate all the support we have received so far. If you haven't cast your vote yet, you can still do so until September 19th.
https://www.simcoe.com/readerschoice-alliston/business/cued-canines

08/25/2021

We are beyond grateful for the generous support we received from all of you during the nomination phase. We made it to the Top 3 in two categories.

Please vote for us and help us reach #1

You can cast your final vote for Cued Canines until September 19th, 2021.
https://www.simcoe.com/readerschoice-alliston/business/cued-canines

08/11/2021

I have some exciting news to share 🥁 so happy to announce that I am now an approved Separation Anxiety Pro Trainer 🥳

As a dog trainer I want to help dogs and their people overcome behaviour challenges and live a happy, fulfilled life together. Despite my experience and my qualifications in the animal science field and as a certified dog trainer, I did not feel sufficiently qualified to take on separation anxiety cases. When the opportunity presented itself to me to take part in SA Pro Trainer program, I didn't hesitate to continue my educational journey. After successfully completing the program, I am thrilled to add a separation anxiety program to my list of services.

08/11/2021

All of this

It’s not just about “The Science”

For many years those of us with educational qualifications in the field of training and behaviour have been using “science” as an argument to persuade people to switch over to positive reinforcement and abandon aversive training methods. While I still believe that there is plenty of evidence for the efficacy of positive reinforcement and the potential harms of punitive training methods, I am starting to think that we may have been using the wrong strategy by simply telling people to “follow the science”.

The reality is that there is also evidence that punishment works. You can alter behaviour using aversive training tools (albeit with unpleasant fallout) and plenty of people stick with such training methods because they see results. After all, the theory of operant conditioning involves 3 types of learning in addition to positive reinforcement: removing something a dog wants to reduce behaviour (negative punishment), adding something unpleasant to reduce behaviour (positive punishment) or removing something unpleasant to increase behaviour (negative reinforcement). While we understand that there are unpleasant emotional consequences for dogs attached to all three of these types of learning, this does not mean that they don’t change behaviour – they do.

So, what is the real crux of the matter? What are we really striving for by trying to persuade people to use positive reinforcement rather than those types of learning which carry unpleasant emotional consequences? Are we just wanting to change behaviour in the way that we think is most effective? I don’t think so. The true difference between someone who strives to use positive reinforcement and avoids using both positive and negative punishment and negative reinforcement, is that we care about the emotional experience and wellbeing of dogs. Yes, there are lots of things we can do to dogs to change behaviour, but the question is about whether they are ethical or not.

At the end of the day, people have different views on the subject. Some people simply do not believe that animals are emotional beings or that their feelings and experiences matter much. For them, the ends justify the means. Others feel that they have a right as humans to get results as quickly and conveniently as possible and animals have no real rights, so whatever works is acceptable. Some believe that our dogs must be subordinate to us, so some sort of force and intimidation is necessary to create a “dominant-subordinate” relationship. Then there are those of us who recognise that all animals have complex emotions and that we have a duty of care to avoid causing suffering and to promote good feelings in our interactions with them.

While a fair amount of ignorance exists around the rich emotional lives of animals and many people have been influenced by outdated pop dog psychology, at some point, no matter how much information a person has, the choice becomes an ethical one. In the end people have to decide whether it is okay to cause fear, pain, frustration and discomfort to get what you want from a dog. Each person has to ask themselves if it is okay for humans to make dogs feel bad to get our way or whether, because the means exist to train and manage behaviour in ways that contribute to positive emotional experiences for dogs, ethics requires us to make a choice for positive reinforcement.

It is not just about the science or about what “works” – it is about how we view dogs, their emotional capacity and their right to lead happy, fulfilled lives that are free from pain and fear. If you believe it is wrong to hurt or frighten an animal to get them to comply with what you want, you will not need science to convince you of that!