The Balanced Lab

Chance is the perfect example of a dog that was given too many privileges / too many freedoms which resulted in an unhealthy power dynamic between dog and human. Chance’s owner is a first time dog owner so I’m really glad she reached out for help while Chance was young before things got even worse. These 2 have a lot of work to do to repair their relationship but I’m confident they now have the tools and techniques to get there 🥰

Exposure to your environment is soooo important when you get a puppy. I know alot of people are told by their vets to isolate their puppies until they have all their shots, but from a behavioural perspective, that’s not a good idea. When your puppy is super young (between 8-12 weeks) you will want to avoid high traffic dog areas & pick your puppy up and carry them if you are worried about unsanitary environments, but you still want them to see the world as soon as possible. The 1 year old dogs I get in for training that grew up downtown Toronto are some of the most relaxed dogs in busy environments. They got exposure to all the loud sights and sounds/ people/ dogs/ honking/ construction etc everyday for their entire puppyhood and you can tell how much it doesn’t bother them. Make sure your puppy sees alllll the things when they are young. Their imprint period is between 8-11 weeks old so you want to build positive associations to things during this time and avoid traumatic events. Busy roads, parks with kids screaming, construction sites, inside a hardware store (you can even put them in your shopping cart) are all good places to get your puppy exposed to.

Grooming is such an important skill puppies need to learn! I would start this skill as soon as your puppy comes home at 8 weeks old, in fact, a lot of good breeders will start this before you take your puppy home. This is an ESPECIALLY important skill to teach if you own a dog with a long or curly coat as they are prone to matting. Side note: your groomer will love you if you keep your dogs coat thoroughly brushed/combed before an appointment.

Crate training puppies can take years off your life (lol kidding but sort of true). Their cries can be really tough to get through especially the first 2 weeks you have them home. My advice is to stick it out!!! Get ear plugs and a sound machine & just accept the fact that it’s a temporary phase. Teaching your small puppy to be alone (you can have their crate next to your bed for an easier transition) is a very important skill!!! Separation anxiety is one of the toughest behaviours to reverse in an adult dog so prevention is key! Crate training enables your small puppy to practice being alone for short periods at a time, while also giving them a safe “den” to sleep. I have heard of small puppies being accidentally killed because they were left alone in the kitchen/ living room etc and swallowed something they shouldn’t have or chewed a wire or even got their head stuck in something and suffocated 😫. It is up to us as their human protectors to do the responsible thing and crate train their pups. On top of safety, puppies NEED quality sleep for healthy brain development, the crate (especially if you cover it) offers a place for them to get uninterrupted sleep. Overtired puppies can be little land sharks (if you know you know) so sleep is a must. Something I want all puppies to learn is how to go into their crate on command (via leash pressure & food reward). Trapping them in the crate and forcing the door closed is only going to create tension towards the crate. You can lose trust with your puppy if he/she thinks you’re going to catch and trap him. Make it a game multiple times a day where you guide your puppy into the crate, reward them, invite them back out & repeat until it looks like Mr. Billy in the video. Happy crate training friends! #Cratetraining #puppies #puppytraining #dogtraining

To kick off a mini series I’m calling “puppy tips” I want to start with one of the most important skills you can teach a small dog: leash pressure! Most dogs nowadays (especially puppies) are on harnesses right from the start. I believe a harness can have its benefits (exploring in the forest on a flexi leash, or pulling you on rollerblades/ bike ride) for example… but IMO, it is not the best tool for teaching leash pressure. A simple slip lead comfortably fitted to your puppies upper neck will teach them from a young ago how to “turn off” that pressure instead of pulling against it, preventing a freight train puller in the future! I think puppies should get used to wearing collars from the second you get them home and then I generally start slip lead work around 4 months old. Start inside, grab a handful of your puppies food and start gently putting pressure on the leash and call them to you at the same time, once they come to you, reward with food. Repeat over and over. When I transition this new skill outside, I stay on the same portion of the sidewalk and I will walk puppy back and forth on the same portion until it becomes easy. Each day I will increase the distance and after a couple weeks, puppy is a pro at responding to leash pressure! Remember to always bring puppies food on your walks to reward them for engagement and to redirect them when needed. There are SO many tools you can use on your dog nowadays, multiple types of harnesses, martingale collars, halti/gentle leaders, choke or pinch collars, flat collars… but a basic slip lead at the top of the dogs neck has to be my favourite choice! #puppy #puppytips #leashtraining #dogtraining

Now this is some good content 😆👌 The kennel room gets a deep cleaning after every round of dogs which includes; switching out crates, dusting everything, vacuuming like a maniac, non toxic disinfectant on every surface/ walls, changing out filter in the air purifier & finishing with a steam mop. Enjoy this chaotic/ ASMR (sort of) cleaning video lol Feat. Zoe who insisted on getting in my way & knocking the camera over multiple times.