Happy Hounds Dog Training

Happy Hounds Dog Training Easy-to-follow tutorials with UNTRAINED dogs! The results you want with methods your dog will love🐶

Q&A: I got a fantastic question from a 9 year old viewer (yep, 9). While it's hard for me to give specific advice withou...
03/20/2025

Q&A: I got a fantastic question from a 9 year old viewer (yep, 9). While it's hard for me to give specific advice without knowing the dog, situation, history, etc I tried to give the framework of how I'd think about & work through this behaviour. I thought I'd share it with you too!

QUESTION: I have a border collie named Jesse who is almost 3. I have worked really hard to train her properly and she knows lots of commands and tricks. I'm writing to you because I am having trouble training her to listen when we receive amazon deliveries. We live on a farm and often have deliveries from amazon when their white vans pull up. Jesse goes crazy barking, chasing, jumping up on the vehicle, she even bites the packages and I'm scared she will bite the driver if she gets the chance. She doesn't do this with any other visitor on the farm.
I'm finding it difficult to train her because we never know when the deliveries are coming. Can you help provide any tips or tricks to help me and Jesse.

MY ANSWER: It’s great to hear that you’ve been working so much with Jesse!
About your question on her reactivity to Amazon, I’ll break it down into 3 parts to help with behaviour change:

1. Figure out what's causing the reaction
We need to understand what exactly is making Jesse react. You mentioned she doesn’t act this way with other visitors, so what’s different about Amazon? Has she had a bad experience with delivery drivers before? Do they look or dress differently? You mentioned their white van—how does she react to other white vehicles? Once we figure out what’s different about Amazon, we can focus on training for that specific trigger.

2. Management is key!
This means preventing Jesse from practicing the unwanted behaviour. For now, you can keep her inside or in a fenced area so she can’t chase or jump on Amazon while you’re working on the training.

3. Train new, desirable behaviours
Instead of focusing on what you don’t like about her behaviour, think about what you DO want her to do when she sees Amazon. I’m guessing you want her to stay calm when she spots Amazon? The best way to do this is to reward her (with super high value treats) for staying calm when she sees Amazon. But a few things to keep in mind:

-Don’t train when she’s already over threshold: If she’s barking or chasing, she’s already too worked up to learn properly. Make sure to start at a level where she can stay calm. I encourage you to watch this video to understand dog threshold: https://youtu.be/G1UVxRIBMEs because it's crucial for proper behavioural change.
-Reward calm behaviour: Start training Jesse as far away from Amazon as you can to help manage her threshold. With enough distance she should be able to spot the delivery vehicle, but stay calm. Mark and reward her the second you see her glance towards Amazon without reacting. Extra tip: if it’s hard to train Jesse with Amazon because you don’t know when they’ll arrive, perhaps you can set-up mock training scenarios. For example, with my clients that react that way to other dogs, I’ll often starting by using stuffed dogs to help them practice so that we can choose the distance carefully. If you’ve identified that Jesse “knows” it’s Amazon because it’s a van, or because the vehicle is white, you can enlist family or friends that have similar vehicles to show up at scheduled times for you to practice with.
Hope this helps! Good luck with the training!

►🙋‍♀️COMPLETE DOG TRAINING SOLUTIONS: •❓🤨 STRUGGLING WITH LEASH TRAINING? 👇 ✅ 6 Weeks to Dream Walks: Step-By-Step Leash Training Program: https://e...

When working on behaviours like aggression or leash reactivity, one of the most effective ways to manage your dog's thre...
03/14/2025

When working on behaviours like aggression or leash reactivity, one of the most effective ways to manage your dog's threshold and prevent reactions is by keeping an appropriate distance from their trigger.

Training at a level that your dog can actually handle leads to better results and makes the process much more enjoyable for both you and your dog.

How exactly do you maintain that proper distance from your dog's trigger, though, when there are things out of your control on walks?

Blind corners are particularly risky because you have to get close before you can see what's coming.

In this video, I bring you along on a training walk with my client Kiki and show two methods that I personally use to keep her a safe distance from her triggers!

Handling Blind Corners with a Reactive Dog – Here's How!

🙋‍♀️COMPLETE DOG TRAINING SOLUTIONS: •❓🤨 STRUGGLING WITH LEASH TRAINING? 👇 ✅ 6 Weeks to Dream Walks: Step-By-Step Leash Training Program: https://ha...

A quick, fun video explaining what a marker word is and why I suggest using one!
02/28/2025

A quick, fun video explaining what a marker word is and why I suggest using one!

🙋‍♀️COMPLETE DOG TRAINING SOLUTIONS: •❓🤨 STRUGGLING WITH LEASH TRAINING? 👇 ✅ 6 Weeks to Dream Walks: Step-By-Step Leash Training Program: https://ha...

🎉NEW FAVOURITE TOY!I bought Neirah “The Clam” toy ~3 months ago and she’s still obsessed with it. And clearly she’s not ...
02/26/2025

🎉NEW FAVOURITE TOY!
I bought Neirah “The Clam” toy ~3 months ago and she’s still obsessed with it.
And clearly she’s not the only dog that loves it: it has 580 reviews giving it 5 stars! ⭐️

Why is it so great? It has a velcro fastening which keeps treats safely nestled inside until your dog works to get them out. It’s PERFECT for safely satisfying the “dissection + consumption” aspect of dog prey drive.

🙋‍♀️The Clam comes in 2 versions:
- With a bungee handle: https://www.tug-e-nuff.co.uk/products/bungee-clam?ref=happyhoundsdogtraining&variant=29787373142113
- No handle: https://www.tug-e-nuff.co.uk/products/the-clam?ref=happyhoundsdogtraining&variant=31850896621665

I’ve long recommended this brand of toys because I use them so frequently during training. The discount code “HAPPYHOUNDSDOGTRAINING” will get you 10% off your order.

📧In my newsletter this week I’m going to be sharing tips on how I use functional rewards like these during training & sharing 2 of my other favourite toys. You can sign up for my free newsletter here: https://happyhounds.myflodesk.com/newsletter

(DISCLAIMER: Links included might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product with the links that I provide, I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! Thank you for supporting Happy Hounds so I can continue to provide you with free content!)

I recently sat down with five other dog trainers to discuss alllllll things puppy. There are 3 important puppy training ...
02/22/2025

I recently sat down with five other dog trainers to discuss alllllll things puppy. There are 3 important puppy training reminders from our discussion that I want to share:

1) Puppies are ALWAYS learning
2) Pay attention to what you LIKE
3) Socialization is NOT just “socializing”

To learn more about all 3, read the linked blog!

https://happyhoundsdogtraining.ca/3-important-puppy-training-tips-you-need-to-know/

🙋‍♀️Note: my email subscribers got these tips straight to their inbox. Want to receive exclusive tips, training insights, and all the latest updates straight to your inbox? 🐾 👉 Sign up for my free newsletter here: https://happyhounds.myflodesk.com/newsletter

If you want a happy, well-trained puppy, keep these three important puppy training tips in mind with your puppy!

Want a happy, well trained puppy? This video should help!I recently joined five other dog experts (see list below) for a...
02/21/2025

Want a happy, well trained puppy? This video should help!

I recently joined five other dog experts (see list below) for a live, virtual discussion about all things puppy including socialization, grooming, common training mistakes, sleep schedules, and much more.

What stood out to me most about this discussion was that each trainer brought their unique perspective to each question, which resulted in a fascinatingly diverse set of answers.

Whether you're a new puppy guardian or a seasoned dog expert I'm confident that you'll discover some tips tricks and insights in this conversation!

Speakers:
- Stephanie Rombough from Happy Hounds Dog Training
- Kelly Fahey from PupScouts of Hunterdon
- Jessica Power from Proud Paws Dog Training
- Ashley Devine from Mannered Misfits
- Emma Cook from The Funky Foxhound
- Lucy Anderson from Confident Canines

Want a happy, well trained puppy? This roundtable discussion will give you lots of tips for raising a puppy properly!►🙋‍♀️COMPLETE DOG TRAINING SOLUTIONS: ...

2025 content is going to be amazing 😍Now that my 7 month old baby is sleeping through the night (yay!), I’m feeling a bi...
02/19/2025

2025 content is going to be amazing 😍

Now that my 7 month old baby is sleeping through the night (yay!), I’m feeling a bit more human again 😂 That means I’m getting back to a more regular work schedule!

I’m going to edit and share content I filmed prior, including FINALLY sharing the remainder of the Louie reactivity series (& explaining why that got paused).

I’ve even started filming a few NEW tutorials, such as a reactivity one with Kiki (shown in the photo) today.

My planned content includes lots of tutorials & tips for:

Leash reactivity
Window reactivity
Leash training
Dog-dog aggression
Resource guarding
Puppy training
Fun activities with your dog
& more

🙋‍♀️What are you working on with your dog?! What topic are you most excited to see?

Do dog harnesses REALLY cause pulling on leash? Let’s myth bust this! (YouTube version linked in comments if preferred)
02/15/2025

Do dog harnesses REALLY cause pulling on leash? Let’s myth bust this! (YouTube version linked in comments if preferred)

Do dog harnesses REALLY cause pulling on leash? Let's debunk this common myth and talk about how training tools actually work.

I received a Youtube comment stating that I’m a “low quality dog trainer” since I recommend a tool that causes pulling (...
02/14/2025

I received a Youtube comment stating that I’m a “low quality dog trainer” since I recommend a tool that causes pulling (IE a harness). I frequently hear that dog harnesses cause pulling, so I thought I’d myth bust this in a way I hope you won’t forget! 😂 Blooper reel included.

•►🙋‍♀️COMPLETE DOG TRAINING SOLUTIONS: •❓🤨 STRUGGLING WITH LEASH TRAINING? 👇 ✅ 6 Weeks to Dream Walks: Step-By-Step Leash Training Program: https://...

I’m laughing so hard while editing this video 🤦‍♀️ This may be a topic you already know about, but I'm hoping to explain...
02/13/2025

I’m laughing so hard while editing this video 🤦‍♀️ This may be a topic you already know about, but I'm hoping to explain it in a way you won't forget! Blooper reel included 😂

"Stop Blaming the Harness! Why Dogs Pull On Leash & How to Fix It" video drops at 8am MST tomorrow.
I hope you laugh too 😂

Does your dog stop walking and refuse to move? This step-by-step method is how I address that with my clients who stall ...
02/10/2025

Does your dog stop walking and refuse to move? This step-by-step method is how I address that with my clients who stall on walks!

If your dog stops walking and refuses to move, try this step-by-step rewards-based method to solve stalling on dog walks.

🎉It’s my birthday today, and I’m making an uncharacteristic request for a favour! 🙏As a one-person company, one of my bi...
02/09/2025

🎉It’s my birthday today, and I’m making an uncharacteristic request for a favour! 🙏

As a one-person company, one of my biggest challenges is simply getting my content seen. I put sooo much time and effort into my tutorials because I REALLY want them to help change how dogs are treated (while also helping guardians get the results they want). The tutorials can only do that if people know the videos exist 😂

My birthday request is this: If you have a favourite video of mine, can you please share it to your social media? 🙏It’ll help me get more eyeballs on my content, and therefore hopefully expand the impact my content has on dog’s lives!

Thank you thank you! ❤️

Does your dog stop walking and refuse to move? So did Kiki and Fynn, two of my clients. In this quick video I demonstrat...
02/07/2025

Does your dog stop walking and refuse to move? So did Kiki and Fynn, two of my clients.

In this quick video I demonstrate the 3-phase reward-based training method I used to fix their stalling on walks, plus share two training mistakes you should avoid.

►🙋‍♀️COMPLETE DOG TRAINING SOLUTIONS: •❓🤨 STRUGGLING WITH LEASH TRAINING? 👇 ✅ 6 Weeks to Dream Walks: Step-By-Step Leash Training Program: https://h...

PUPPY TRAINING QUESTION: I was asked what order I typically train "obedience skills" in for young puppies that have had ...
02/05/2025

PUPPY TRAINING QUESTION: I was asked what order I typically train "obedience skills" in for young puppies that have had no prior training. I don’t think there’s any one “right” order, but I tend to teach puppies:
1. A marker word first because I use it for all other training (What Is a Marker Word & Why Do You Need One? https://youtu.be/I476s7YAvgw)
2. "Sit" and "Down" next because they’re fun and quick to teach! I sort of think of these skills as a training warm-up for the puppy because they're an intro to lure training and forming a training bond with the guardian (Step-By-Step Tutorial: Train Your Puppy to Sit: https://youtu.be/hD_1QJdehak and Train Your Puppy to Lie Down: Complete Beginner's Guide: https://youtu.be/GtcFGuODTOw)
3. "Leave it" next (How to Train Your Dog to LEAVE IT: Complete Beginner's Guide: https://youtu.be/umt0jF9MHeI) because it's both a crucial skill for safety and because I later use it as a foundational skill for things like solving animal chasing (STOP Animal Chasing: Complete Dog Prey Drive Tutorial: https://youtu.be/A7D9tE40xoE) and food stealing (Dog Steals Food? Try THIS Method to Fix COUNTER SURFING: https://youtu.be/qJ-FGREOlrQ)
4. After that, there's more variety in the order of what I teach based on what that puppy needs most. Typically next would be either "Drop it" (How to Train Your Dog to DROP It: Step-by-Step Tutorial: https://youtu.be/4sDCPXcZkEM) or "Stay" (How to Train Your Dog to Stay: Complete Beginner’s Guide: https://youtu.be/hbs7yyqF2Ro).
5. I also then add in a fun engagement game as a precursor for leash training (The ONE Dog Training Game I Play With *Almost* Every Client: https://youtu.be/dQWeDSMxrOU)

Hope that helps!!

Neirah’s been cleared by the surgeon to increase her activity 😁 Over the next 4-6 weeks, as long as she doesn’t start li...
02/01/2025

Neirah’s been cleared by the surgeon to increase her activity 😁 Over the next 4-6 weeks, as long as she doesn’t start limping, I’m to increase the length of her walks to what she was doing pre-injury. She’s going to be SO happy!!! 🥰

New on the blog! 🙋‍♀️ 3 important reminders about successful leash training
02/01/2025

New on the blog! 🙋‍♀️ 3 important reminders about successful leash training

Regardless of whether I'm training a young puppy or a dog that's been pulling for years, the training principles that I use are the same!

As a dog trainer, I've helped countless dogs of all ages learn to walk nicely on leash with rewards based training. Whet...
01/31/2025

As a dog trainer, I've helped countless dogs of all ages learn to walk nicely on leash with rewards based training. Whether it’s working with a playful puppy or an adult dog who's been pulling for years, the core training principles that I use stay the same.

Recently, I had the chance to sit down with Kelly Fahey for a discussion about leash training and other related skills. I hope this interview helps change how we think about and approach leash training! 😊

What are the key principles for force free leash training success? We discuss them in depth in this video interview!To sign-up for the FREE conference: https...

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