Freeform Dog Training

04/18/2025

03/15/2025

Something trainers see often is owners adding more dogs before they are ready. Getting a second or third dog isn't going to magically make everything better. It's just going to add more work.

Your dog doesn't need a buddy, it needs an owner that is attentive to their training needs. All the doggie daycare and playdates in the world won't make up for an owner who's unwilling to step it up.

Why do I say this? I see it happen over and over again. Typically it ends up with one of the dogs being rehomed.

Focus on training your current dog(s). Make them great, then consider getting another dog. Remember; adding more pack members will change the dynamic. Whether it's a foster, a dog you're watching for a friend or a dog you're adopting for yourself. It's important that there is clear communication with every single dog so that when you add more, everything doesn't go haywire.

I've also seen a trend in people acquiring animals in order to avoid dealing with personal issues. I recommend reflecting on if this is you or not.

You gotta heal first before you can help. It's part of self care.

03/14/2025

Love this for any situation

This girl is learning to respect the Place command regardless of the activity going on in the house…there are children in the house and there have been incidents.

Small children are scary to dogs. They have explosive behaviour, they run and jump and shriek. It’s all part of being a kid. We try our best to keep kids safe and informed but sometimes dogs get in the middle of things and they can knock kids down unintentionally or they can nip at them or worse- they can bite.

When a dog gets aroused or reactive by this type of activity, it’s extremely important to have strong control.

You don’t just punish a dog into listening and expect the dog to be truly changed.

You must build trust through repeat exposure to the heightened energy. We do this by training them to ignore that energy and to understand their position in thr home when the busyness begins. We send them to Place and there they shall remain until we release them from that “job.”

Make Place sacred and safe. Make it the most valuable place to be.

If your dog is too crazy in the house, start there. If you need help, reach out.

🐾❤️👊

03/14/2025

The winters nearly over going to miss hiding the treats in the snow, not the cold hands but the fun of watching them find some of their own breakfast. The weather is getting better and time to get everything freshened up

02/28/2025

After a rough winter (it’s not over yet) things have kind of let slide ( entirely my fault i hate winter) it’s showing in many ways lots of little cracks appearing in their training and behaviours. So today marks a return to what weve done before time to wind it back right to the beginning, it’s great practice for me anyway.

02/28/2025

Sometimes you want them to bark

02/25/2025

Out on the lake a foot of ice means we could walk miles, but it was time for a roll and scratch. Ice huts out behind the dogs it’s like a little village in winter

02/21/2025

Minus 20 outside so we are having some down time watching you tube doggywood channel, this is the only time my dogs ever take any notice of the tv

02/21/2025

Success she is a princess and sometimes it’s hard for her to get over certain obstacles, but a bit of coaching then play and she’s up, queen of the snow hill and an extremely happy little girl.

02/09/2025

Recall recall recall practice practice practice, different reward than normal he loves for me to kick the snow, it’s not all about treats and it was just a bit of fun to warm our feet up

02/06/2025

When you know the new toy is doomed, how do they know how to dissect the stitches with a surgeon’s precision, another dog enigma

02/04/2025

Slowing it all down to set the tone when I take them both. Practice what I preach when I have them both the start of the walk can be a frantic pull fest (particularly for the lab) they’ve already done time sat while I lock the front door and checked for p**p bags etc. Either one on their own we don’t have to do this, though we do just to make it a normal part of the walk. Not a perfect heel to start but all I ask for at this point is no pulling and follow the leash until we get on the road.

01/23/2025

We’ve been doing this the last couple of days, set up a small agility run in the living room, wont replace the walks or park but it helps keep them engaged

01/20/2025

When someone else pays the mortgage and bills, freeloader but love her to bits

12/30/2024

Playtime in the snow until it’s time to stop, ends as fast as it started

12/26/2024

They are so peaceful this evening even Bane the grinch seems to be in Christmas cheer mode tonight.