When I'm teaching my dogs a new behaviour, I want to make sure I've set them up to be successful. What this means is, setting up the environment in such a way that it is super easy for them to perform the behaviour I am looking for and then rewarding that behaviour.
In this example, I’m teaching my dog to drop a ball into a box. As a foundation, she already knows to bring a ball to me and drop it in my hand or in my lap so to transition that into dropping into a box, I’ve placed the box right in front of me so it’s easy for her to run up to the box on her return.
As she approaches and drops the ball, I mark YES! And then as her reward, I pick the ball up and toss it for her again.
But what happens when I change the picture? When I shift the box away from me a few inches, she comes up and places her feet into the box instead and drops the ball outside of the box.
This is a really important note in how we set up our learners. When I move the box away, the behaviour changes – I haven’t set her up for success especially since she hasn’t fully learned the behaviour that I want yet. To help her be successful, I simply go back to the place she was successful and practice again and when she’s ready, we’ll increase the difficulty.
#PositiveReinforcement #DogTraining #TrainWithoutPain #HappyPuppy #TheLearnerIsNeverWrong
Come learn the “trick or treat” trick for treats!!
This trick involves multiple parts so we’ve broken this video into three parts. Next week I’ll show you how to finish the trick!
For this trick, I used a bag of chips but when you’re starting, you might want to start with a toy or other item that your dog is not likely to burst open 🤣
🎃 Start by placing the item out in front of your dog. Mark (verbal yes or clicker) and reward any interaction with the item - they can look at, touch or pick up the item. In this video, my puppy is nose smashing the bag but I’m rewarding anyway. If your dog is new to shaping, you can pick up the item or interact with it to make it exciting and entice your dog to play with it.
🎃 Once they are interacting with the item, encourage them to pick it up. It’s ok if they pick it up and drop it right away! Once they are consistently pick the item up, ask them to “Drop it!” right before they let go.
🎃 Next, toss the item a short distance and encourage your dog to pick it up and bring it to you, asking them to “Drop it” as they get to you.
This is the first half of this trick. Take a few days to work on these parts and come back next week for how to learn the finishing touches of this multi-part trick. At the end, you’ll have an Advanced level trick to show off!
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[Reel description:
Stone City Canine Howl-o-ween ”Trick or Treat” Trick for Treats
The reel shows the step-by-step interactions of working on this trick. I am sitting on the floor with my two Springer Spaniels. The liver and white pup is interacting with the chip bag and getting rewarded while the black and white girl lays off the side and gets rewarded for staying. Then they switch roles - the black and white Springer picks up the bag and hands it to me while the liver and white Springer watches to the side. In the last third, I toss the chip bag about two feet away and encourage the liver and white Springer to get the bag and
When I train my dogs on the treadmill (or any other activity, really), I want them to have the opportunity to tell me how they are feeling about the activity.
When we started training, I used positive reinforcement to build gradual good feelings about the treadmill. We started at a very low speed so that each was comfortable with the movement of the belt. They were never tethered to the machine - I always wanted them to feel safe stepping off if they needed to (also why we stayed at a low speed). Without a tether, I can watch my dogs' body language unencumbered by something that is holding their body in place - when observing their movements, I am looking for stress signals like lip licking, yawning, a low tucked tail, stiffness or tense body muscles, a furrowed brow, and even taking treats roughly. If at any time they appear stressed, we decrease the speed and/or stop the activity. Controlling the speed for them in this way ensures we don't get into a heightened state of arousal where they feel frenzied or frustrated. We also stop well before exhaustion.
For Elphaba I've started incorporating consent to start/stop and also requests to move faster or slower using hand touches. This first requires teaching the hand touch cue. Then we started with touch, a verbal "Start!" and then starting up the treadmill. From there we added on "stop" and then adding in speeds - right hand touches mean slower and left hand touches mean go faster.
This is an enrichment activity for the girls, not an all out sprint session. They should feel good and perhaps a bit tired but not exhausted. You can exercise your dogs without pushing them to their limits and always make sure they are enjoying it! 🖤💚🐾
Video description: Elphaba walking on the treadmill, using hand touches to indicate her speed preferences. Little sister Gamora makes a cameo.
Have you ever noticed that when you get stressed, your breathing gets faster and more shallow but if you just stop for a moment take a slow deep breath (or two or three 😅), you can feel your heart rate start to decrease and often your tense muscles begin to relax. And your mind begins to refocus too.
Did you know the same thing can help your dog too, if they learn how to "take a breath"? Check out these two pups in the video - can you see them taking a breath? This method is from Dr. Karen Overall's Relaxation Protocol and is an important skill to have in your toolkit. We are working on this protocol in our Etiquette School but it's helpful beyond just settling at home! You can use this protocol for working dogs or dog sports to help focus before doing a task like scenting or agility.
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[Video description: the video alternates between a black and white English Springer Spaniel and a liver and white English Springer Spaniel who are breathing in through their noses on cue in response to their human taking an intentionally deep breath.]
✨We are offering our Happy Handling class again starting July 25!✨
Grooming and vet care doesn't need to be a struggle - enter cooperative care training!
Our Happy Handling class can teach your dog (or cat or rat) to be an active, willing participant in care procedures like brushing, nail clipping and body handling.
In this course, you will learn valuable skills to broaden your two-way communication with your pet and build trust into your relationship and create better experiences for everyone involved.
This course will cover:
✅ Body language awareness
✅ Body handling skills
✅ Stationing behaviours
✅ Start button behaviours
✅ Choice and consent
✅ Force-free medication administration
✅ Tricks to help your pet at the vet's office
The course is open to Canadian residents, starts July 25 at 7 pm, delivered via Zoom and runs for six weeks. The course cost is $150.
Questions? I'm only a DM away!
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#kingstonpets #kingstoncanada #kingstonontario #ygkdogs #fearfree #cooperativecare #cookiepushers #ygklocal #ygk #ygkbiz #kingstonsmallbusiness #ontariosmallbusiness #loyalisttownship #gananoque #amherstviewontario #kingston_ontario #supportsmallbusiness #ygkdogs #trainwithoutpain #forcefreedogtraining #consentissexy #kingstondogs #dogsofontario #dogsofcanada #petsofontario
Loose leash walking seems easy IN THEORY, right? At a basic level, you're just walking with your dog... but it's often one of the hardest to execute for many. Why?
Lack of a proper training plan. Practicing in an over-booked training hall where your dog is distracted and overwhelmed as you walk in circles makes it difficult to get engagement and attention, leaving many handlers and pet parents feeling frustrated and overwhelmed themselves. It doesn't set anyone up for success.
Moving from one high distraction area to another (training hall to a city street, suburban neighbourhood or busy trail full of smells) when a dog doesn't have a solid foundation only results in more frustration at both ends of the leash.
That's why I created The League of Extraordinary Leash Walkers. I want to see pet parents feeling good about their foundational skills and for dogs to be excited and enthusiastic to walk WITH their humans and to see them being rewarded for making good choices.
If your walks leave you feeling frustrated and pulled in many directions or you just want to have better communication with your dog outside, join The League!
Course starts May 27 at 7 pm. Six weekly classes are delivered by Zoom and it's open to all Canadian pet parents.
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[Video description: a black and white English Springer Spaniel walking on a nice loose leash and performing an automatic sit when stopped, then moving with her handler again.]
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#kingstonpets #kingstoncanada #kingston_on #kingston_ontario #kingstonontario #ygkbiz #ygklove #lovekingston #ygkdogs #ygk #gananoque #southfrontenac #loyalisttownship #kingstondogs #kingstondogtraining #trainwithoutpain #forcefreedogtraining #sciencebasedtraining
#dogsofontario #dogsofcanada
✨ NEW MASTERCLASS - The League of Extraordinary Leash Walkers ✨
Stone City Canine Coaching is launching a new online masterclass - six weeks to better loose leash walking skills.
You will learn how to communicate better with your dog through force-free, science-based methods that won't just teach you leash walking skills - you'll also have FUN through games and weekly challenges.
The details:
- The course is six weeks, starting May 27 (Thursdays at 7 pm)
- One hour live Zoom class to learn the skills you need to practice (recorded and put into the private group)
- Access to a closed access group where you can post your homework, get feedback and ask questions
- Participate in weekly challenges for a chance to win prizes
- The cost is $150 for 6 weeks
Stone City Canine Introduction
Using a spray bottle, usually vinegar and water (something unpleasant) is outdated training. Instead, try managing the situation by blocking access to the stimulus and changing your dog's emotional response to the cause of their barking. #addressdontsuppress
On the bright side, a vinegar and water mixture is amazing for cleaning nose prints off windows! 👌🏻
