Pawsitive Training NL

07/08/2025

Drop in nosework - Wednesday 5:30-6:30. Location TBD. Who wants to sniff?

07/07/2025

Basic obedience class tonight! Some loose leash walking and recalls outdoors. And exposure to new sensations, sit, down, stand and stay with some distractions. Also talked about what to do and what not to do when the doorbell rings! Next class starting in 2 weeks! Message for details!

07/06/2025

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1188817633280053&id=100064554828455

Happy Friday! As we head into our final full week of the Speedy Glass Corner Brook, Speedy Glass Stephenville , NL West SPCA Business Challenge. We are thankful to all of the donors who have joined in so far. We would like to get at least halfway to our goal over the next week. Your donation will help us with another week of getting animals the care they need while we work to find them new homes. Thank you for your support! Donations can be made by e-transfer to [email protected]. You can also email us to find out more. Thank you!

07/05/2025

A reminder
🌊 Beach days can be dangerous… but not in the way you might think.
If your dog loves chasing waves, drinking saltwater, or playing fetch in the ocean—they’re at risk of water intoxication.
💧What is it?
When dogs swallow too much water (especially saltwater), it can throw off their sodium levels. This causes cells to swell—including in the brain. It can lead to vomiting, weakness, confusion, seizures, or worse.
👀 Watch for signs after beach play:
• Lethargy or wobbliness
• Bloating or vomiting
• Glazed eyes or drooling
🐾 Limit water play time, offer fresh water breaks, and never let them gulp saltwater. If something seems off—call your vet immediately.

07/05/2025

Drop in Agility, Sunday 1:30pm at the SPCA. Who wants to play?

07/04/2025

Puppy Class with Jenna and Steve

Tonight’s classes went excellent. All the dogs are progressing wonderfully.

Worked on sit, down and stand.
Practiced stay with distance and duration. Introduced a cooling rack as this weeks prop. And played some of the “leave it game” with the puppies.

Next week we’ll be introducing muzzles to everyone.

Thanks and have a good weekend!!

07/02/2025

Drop in Nosework - Wednesday July 2, 6:30 pm,
9 Gilbert St.
Who wants to sniff?

06/30/2025

10 WAYS TO GET YOUR DOG TO LISTEN (WITHOUT LOSING YOUR MIND OR YOUR VOICE)

An honest guide for dog owners and trainers who want better results and a stronger connection

Let’s be honest, getting your dog to respond consistently can sometimes feel like shouting into the void. You call their name, ask for a sit, cue a recall, and you’re met with… nothing. Not even a flick of an ear. And no, they’re not being deliberately “disobedient.” The truth is, if your dog isn’t listening, there’s always a reason, usually one that points back to us, not them.

This guide isn’t about gimmicks or one-size-fits-all solutions. It’s about shifting your mindset, upping your value, and understanding what your dog actually needs from you. So here are 10 practical, down-to-earth ways to help your dog become more responsive and to help you become the kind of human they want to listen to.

1. Talk Less, Move More

If your dog’s ignoring your words, it’s not because they’ve suddenly gone deaf, it’s more likely they’ve tuned you out. Dogs quickly learn that human chatter is often meaningless. “Sit, sit, sit, SIT, oh for goodness’ sake, SIT!” becomes just background noise.

Rather than rabbiting on, ask yourself:
• Do they actually understand what you’re asking?
• Are you cueing in a moment where they can reasonably respond, or are they over-threshold?
• Is your body language conflicting with your voice?

Sometimes a simple shift in your body position, walking away, or a purposeful hand gesture can cut through more clearly than any verbal command.

2. Play More – On Their Terms

Here’s a hard truth: you might not be as exciting to your dog as the squirrel, the fox poo, or the dog over the road. But the more you become the source of fun, the more they’ll choose you.

And no, playing only in the lounge doesn’t count. If you only ever engage with your dog indoors, don’t be shocked when they ignore you outdoors. Learn what kind of play your dog enjoys, tug, chase, search games and bring that energy to your walks.

Become their teammate, not their taxi driver.

3. Stop Nagging

Saying it louder, saying it again, and saying it with more frustration doesn’t suddenly make it clearer for your dog. Repetition without clarity just teaches them to ignore you faster.

If they didn’t respond the first time, repeating it won’t fix the problem, diagnosing it will.

Ask yourself:
• Was the environment too distracting?
• Have you overused the cue?
• Did you teach it properly in the first place?

Smart dogs aren’t being stubborn. And if the behaviour isn’t repeating, it likely wasn’t reinforced, or wasn’t taught in a way that made sense to the dog. That’s on us.

4. Drop the Grumpy Routine

Constant commands barked out like drill orders are more likely to cause shutdown than success. A dog responding out of fear or pressure might “obey” in the short term, but it won’t last, and it won’t feel good.

Respect doesn’t grow out of grumpiness. It grows from clarity, consistency, and connection. Dogs don’t follow miserable leaders, they follow engaging ones.

Tone down the scolding and focus on making it worth their while to respond.

5. Celebrate Small Wins

Your dog came back to you instead of chasing that pigeon? That’s a win. They chose to check in with you instead of barking at the dog across the park? Win.

To us, these moments may feel minor. But to your dog, they’re massive. Think of it like rewiring their instincts, something that takes time, reinforcement, and acknowledgement.

If they do something right, even halfway right, let them know. Praise, play, treat, engage. Build that behaviour like it’s gold, because it is.

6. Think Intonation, Not Vocabulary

Dogs aren’t linguists. They don’t care about the dictionary definition of “Come.” What they do care about is how you say it.

Be consistent with the tone and rhythm of your cues. If “Come here!” sounds like “Come heeeere?!” on Tuesday and “COOOOME HEEEERE!” on Thursday, don’t expect a consistent response.

The emotional energy behind your words matters more than the words themselves.

And if you’ve ever tried to understand someone from a different part of the UK, you’ll understand this perfectly. (Try deciphering a thick coastal Scots accent when you’re from Essex. You’ll get it.)

7. Manage First, Train Second

Letting a dog off lead before their recall is reliable and then complaining they don’t come back is like handing over your car keys to someone who’s never driven before and expecting them to merge onto the M25.

Use your lead, long line, or management tools while you’re building the skill.

Training happens in controlled conditions. Management prevents rehearsing the wrong behaviour. Get that the wrong way round and you’ll just keep repeating mistakes.

8. Train at Home, Then Take It on Tour

If your dog can’t do a behaviour in the living room, they won’t do it in the middle of a busy park. Start at home. Then the garden. Then the quiet field. Then the car park. Then the café.

Think of it like education:
• Home = primary school
• Garden = secondary school
• Quiet public area = college
• Busy area = university
• High-stakes environments = postgraduate

Stop throwing your dog into “exam conditions” before they’ve even passed Year 6.

9. Reinforce,? Don’t Just Reward

Not all rewards are created equal. Just because you think you’re rewarding your dog doesn’t mean they felt rewarded.

Would you clean a festival toilet for a fiver? Probably not. Now imagine your dog being asked to return from a high-speed chase for a dry biscuit. Not happening.

A true reinforcer is something your dog will work to earn again. It needs to be valuable to them, not just convenient to you. Know your dog’s hierarchy, whether it’s food, toys, praise, or freedom and use it wisely.

10. Let Them Be the Dog They Were Born to Be

You can’t bring a working dog into your home and expect them to be a Netflix-and-chill housemate without offering them anything to do.

Dogs have biological needs rooted in their breed’s history. Herding, chasing, scenting, retrieving, guarding, these aren’t faults, they’re features.

If you want a dog who listens to you, first give them an outlet for what they were designed to do. Find constructive ways to meet those needs through training, enrichment, structured play, and outlets that mimic their natural behaviours.

When needs are met, obedience becomes a by-product, not a battle.

Final Thoughts

If your dog isn’t listening, don’t assume they’re being wilfully defiant. Dogs do what works, what feels good, and what’s reinforced. Our job is to make sure that listening to us ticks all three of those boxes.

Responsiveness isn’t just about obedience. It’s about relationship, understanding, and communication. And when you get it right, the results speak for themselves.

The goal isn’t just to have a dog that obeys. It’s to have a dog that wants to.

www.k9manhuntscotland.co.uk

06/29/2025

It’s easy to get caught up in pressure — from peers, trainers, or even our own expectations. But young dogs don’t need to prove anything. They need to learn. They need to build confidence. And sometimes, they need us to say, “Not today.”

I’ve seen promising young dogs lose confidence, become avoidant, or even shut down completely because someone pushed them too far, too fast — all while their handler stayed silent out of fear of “being difficult” or “slowing down the group.”

Here’s the truth:
Advocating for your dog isn’t weakness. It’s leadership.

If something feels wrong — say something. Slow it down. Walk away if needed. You only get one chance to raise this dog right, and protecting their progress is more important than anyone’s opinion.

Be your dog’s voice. Always.

06/29/2025

Dog Training in a Modern World: Why Boundaries and Leadership Still Matter

In today’s world, there’s a growing reluctance to say “no” to children, to pets, even to ourselves. The idea is often well-meaning: we want to nurture confidence, encourage independence, and avoid confrontation. But when it comes to raising dogs, just like raising children, a lack of boundaries can lead to uncertainty, frustration, and even serious behavioural problems.

In this article, we’ll explore why structure, rules, and calm, consistent leadership are essential in modern dog training. Because saying “no” isn’t cruel, it’s kind, necessary, and often the very thing that allows our dogs to feel safe, secure, and content.

The Modern Misstep: When Saying “Yes” Goes Too Far

We live in a society that increasingly leans toward permissiveness. We’re told to avoid confrontation, not to upset the apple cart, and to treat our dogs as equal members of the family. And while there’s nothing wrong with love and affection in fact, it’s crucial, problems arise when rules are abandoned altogether.

Dogs without boundaries don’t feel free, they feel lost.

Without guidance, dogs can become:
• Anxious, because they don’t know what’s expected.
• Overstimulated, because no one is helping them regulate themselves.
• Reactive or even aggressive, because they’ve been left to make decisions they’re not equipped to handle.

Dogs Are Social Animals, But They Need Someone to Lead

Dogs are hardwired for structure. Descended from wolves and shaped by centuries of working alongside humans, they instinctively seek out hierarchy and clarity. In any social group, canine or human, someone has to be in charge. If that leadership is missing, a dog will either fill the vacuum (often poorly), or become stressed trying to figure things out alone.

Leadership doesn’t mean being dominant, forceful, or harsh. It simply means being consistent, calm, and reliable, someone your dog can trust to make the decisions so they don’t have to.

Creating a Culture of Calm Structure

Boundaries aren’t about control. They’re about communication, clarity, and comfort. Dogs thrive when they know what’s expected and they feel secure when someone else is confidently guiding the ship.

Here’s how to set your dog up for success:

1. Be Consistent

Dogs don’t do well with grey areas. If they’re allowed on the sofa one day and scolded the next, they won’t understand the rules, they’ll just feel confused. Make sure everyone in the household agrees on the boundaries, routines, and commands. Mixed messages lead to muddled minds.

2. Reward the Good

Positive reinforcement builds confidence. Praise, treats, and affection help your dog understand what they should do, not just what they shouldn’t. Every time your dog makes a good choice, let them know, this builds strong behaviour patterns over time.

3. Define the Rules

Boundaries might include where your dog sleeps, when they’re fed, how they greet visitors, or whether they’re allowed to beg at the table. Rules aren’t restrictions,? they’re the scaffolding that holds a well-mannered dog’s world together.

4. Lead with Confidence, Not Force

You don’t need to shout, shove, or intimidate. Leadership is about presence. Stand tall, move with purpose, and give clear, confident instructions. Your energy sets the tone. If you’re calm and sure of yourself, your dog will mirror that.

5. Structure Their World

Dogs benefit from a rhythm to their day: regular walks, meals, rest periods, and play. A structured routine helps lower stress, improve behaviour, and create a calmer home environment.

6. Mindful Socialisation

Letting your dog meet every person or dog they see isn’t the same as socialising. Teach your dog to calmly observe, politely greet, and disengage when needed. Socialisation should be structured, not chaotic.

Why Boundaries Make Happier Dogs (and Humans)

Still not convinced? Here’s what you gain when you set firm, fair boundaries for your dog:
• A Calmer Dog – With clear leadership, your dog doesn’t have to make all the decisions. They can switch off and relax.
• Fewer Behaviour Problems – Barking, lunging, jumping, pulling, these often stem from stress, confusion, or lack of direction. Boundaries help prevent all of it.
• A Better Bond – When your dog trusts you to lead, the relationship deepens. You’re not just a food dispenser or walk provider, you become someone they genuinely want to follow.
• A Safer World – Dogs with boundaries are easier to take in public, less likely to react unpredictably, and more reliable around others.
• More Freedom – Ironically, the more structured your training, the more freedom your dog can enjoy. A well-behaved dog earns privileges, off-lead walks, and more enjoyable outings.

Conclusion: Don’t Be Afraid to Say “No”

Modern society may tell us that boundaries are outdated. But in the world of dogs, they’re not just useful, they’re essential. Boundaries give your dog the clarity they crave and the security they need. Leadership isn’t about dominance, it’s about direction.

So don’t feel guilty about setting rules. Embrace them. Be your dog’s guide, their anchor, their calm in the storm.

Because when your dog knows where the line is, they can finally stop worrying and start living.
www.k9manhuntscotland.co.uk