Canine Capers Dog Training

12/24/2025

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🐾Why Calm Observation Matters When Desensitizing a Dog and Building Confidence🐾

One of the most overlooked yet powerful tools in behavior modification is calm observation. 🚫 Not correction
🚫 Not reassurance
🚫 Not distraction
Simply the ability to observe a dog without emotion, urgency, or interference.

When we rush to “fix” a dog’s reaction, we often miss the most important information they are giving us: how they are processing the world in real time.

Desensitization is not about forcing exposure. It is about allowing a dog to experience a stimulus at a level they can emotionally tolerate. Calm observation is how we determine that threshold.

🐾Dogs Learn Through
Emotional Association, Not
Explanation🐾

Dogs do not rationalize experiences the way humans do. They associate sensations, environments, and stimuli with how their body feels in that moment.

If a dog encounters something new or triggering and feels:
• pressured
• restrained
• rushed
• soothed with anxious energy
• corrected for reacting

the nervous system does not register safety. It registers conflict.

Calm observation allows the dog to investigate without being pulled forward or pulled away.
It tells the dog, “You are allowed to notice. You are allowed to think.”

That freedom to process is the foundation of confidence.

🐾Observation Prevents
Flooding🐾

Flooding occurs when a dog is exposed to too much, too fast, without the ability to disengage. Many well-meaning owners accidentally flood their dogs by assuming “they’ll get used to it.”

When you are calmly observing, you notice:
• subtle weight shifts
• breathing changes
• ear position
• scanning or freezing
• hesitation before approach

These early signals tell you when the dog is nearing their threshold. If you miss them, the dog will escalate because subtle communication was ignored.

Confidence is built when the dog feels heard before they feel overwhelmed.

🐾Your Nervous System Sets
The Tone🐾

Dogs are highly attuned to human energy. When you hover, tense up, talk excessively, or anticipate a reaction, the dog’s nervous system mirrors that state.

Calm observation requires neutrality.

🚫 No cheerleading.
🚫 No bracing for impact.
🚫 No disappointment if they
hesitate.

When your body is relaxed and your presence is steady, the dog receives a clear message: there is no emergency here.

That message matters more than treats, commands, or praise.

🐾Stillness Gives the Dog
Agency🐾

Agency is the ability to choose. A dog that feels trapped cannot build confidence.

Calm observation allows the dog to:
• approach at their own pace
• retreat if needed
• re-engage when ready

Each self-directed choice strengthens the dog’s belief in their ability to cope. That belief is confidence.

We don’t build brave dogs by dragging them through fear. We build brave dogs by allowing them to discover they can handle discomfort without being pushed past it.

🐾Reactivity Often Comes From Not Being Allowed to Observe🐾

Many reactive dogs were never given time to simply look.

They were corrected for staring.
Pulled away too quickly.
Redirected before they could process.

As a result, the dog learns that triggers predict chaos, tension, or loss of control. Calm observation rewires that pattern.

Looking is not reacting.
Noticing is not danger.

When a dog is allowed to observe calmly, the brain has time to shift from survival to assessment.

🐾Confidence Is Built in Quiet
Moments🐾

Progress does not always look dramatic. Sometimes it looks like:
• a dog pausing instead of
panicking
• softer eyes
• a deeper breath
• choosing to disengage on
their own

These moments are easy to miss if you are focused on outcomes instead of awareness.

Calm observation teaches us to value what truly matters: a regulated nervous system.

Final Thought….

Behavior change does not happen because we control the dog. It happens because the dog learns they are safe enough to learn.

Calm observation is not passive. It is intentional restraint. It is leadership without pressure. It is trust without force.

When we slow down enough to truly observe, we stop training reactions and start building confidence.

And that changes everything.
🤗🐾❤️

11/04/2025

11/01/2025

💭 What If It’s Not a Problem… But a Purpose?

When we talk about “problem behaviours” in dogs, we often start from the idea that something is wrong.
That the dog is sick, unbalanced, too much, or needs fixing.

So we try to suppress.
To quiet.
To stop.
To control.
To prevent them from rehearsing the very behaviours that make them who they are.

But let’s take a step back for a moment.
Dogs were not created to be pets. They were designed to be partners.
Every breed, every type, was intentionally crafted by humans for a purpose — a job that served us.

The herder that gathered the flock.
The terrier that cleared the home of vermin.
The gundog that retrieved our game.
The guardian that protected our homes.

Their instincts, their energy, their passion — all of it was by design.
It wasn’t a flaw to be fixed. It was a purpose to be fulfilled.

But as society evolved, those jobs disappeared — or were replaced.
The flocks that once needed gathering are now moved by quad bike.
Homes that needed guarding are now protected by alarms and cameras.
Vermin that once required a tenacious terrier are now kept in check with chemicals and pest control companies.

The dogs, though… haven’t changed.
They still carry their purpose — in every cell, in every line of their DNA.

Now, imagine this.
Think about the thing that gives you purpose.
The thing that makes you feel alive.

Maybe it’s helping others.
Maybe it’s teaching, creating, caring, running, building, painting, singing.
That thing that fills your heart and gives your life meaning.

Now imagine being told you can never do it again.
You can’t sing.
You can’t paint.
You can’t help.
You can’t move.
You can’t express who you are.

How would that feel?
Frustrating? Empty? Sad?
Would it affect your mental health? Your self-esteem? Your sense of worth?

That’s what it’s like for a dog who’s been bred for a purpose — but has nowhere to put it.
It’s not a behavioural “problem.”
It’s a purpose left unfulfilled.

Our job isn’t to suppress that drive.
It’s to honour it.
To find healthy, meaningful ways to let it shine.

That’s why I talk about the Five E’s — the daily ingredients for a fulfilled dog:
💚 Enrichment – mental challenges that engage their instincts.
💚 Exercise – movement that satisfies their drive and energy.
💚 Entertainment – fun and play that builds connection.
💚 Emotional Stability – safety, predictability, and trust.
💚 Education – learning that gives structure and purpose.

When we invest in these, we’re not “fixing” dogs — we’re allowing them to become who they were meant to be.
We’re not managing a problem.
We’re meeting a purpose.

So maybe the next time you see your dog display that unstoppable drive, that intensity, that passion — instead of asking “How do I stop it?”, try asking…
“How can I fulfil it?”

Because when we meet dogs where they are — not where we wish they’d be — something magical happens:
Calm.
Confidence.
Connection.
And a life that feels right.

Maybe it’s time we stop seeing behaviour as a symptom to cure…
and start seeing it as a story waiting to be understood. 🐾

💬 Now I’d love to hear from you:
Does your dog have a purpose that’s being fulfilled?
How do you help them live it every day?
Share your ideas below — you might just inspire someone else to see their dog through a whole new lens. 💚

09/10/2025

Good Boy classes start tonight

09/09/2025

I run this fun workshop a couple times a year. You will come away with a dog who will have the skills for basic searches. If you wish to continue in scent detection this workshop is a prerequisite for classes and drop ins. Scent detection is my passion. I teach it, compete in it, judge it and run a fun league. Check out Draco Scent Detection Legacy Start your journey in the wonderful world of scent detection It is for ALL dogs

We are having our very popular Introduction to Scent Detection Workshop on September 27. Contact Sterling 403-526-6779. This one always fills up fast.

08/05/2025

Why I am fine with my dogs not liking many other dogs!

Where your dog gets their reinforcement is where they will seek future reinforcement. If your dog gets most of their physical and emotional needs from playing with other dogs, you will find your relationship strained.

We see dogs in classes all of the time who can barely function, let alone learn, because they are so focused on the other dogs in class. We can immediately tell the dogs that have been conditioned to get over-stimulated at the sight of another dog.

They are so focused on the other dogs, they are often completely unaware of the handler on the other end of the leash. If you can't get your dog to redirect focus back to you and their whole world is about nothing but the other dog, you're success in training will be limited and your relationship with your dog could be one of frustration rather than joy.

My 4 Rules of Dog Play

1. I MUST KNOW AND TRUST THE OTHER DOG
My dogs are part of my family and my sports partners. I adore my dogs and I also put a lot of time and effort into my dogs - with hundreds of hours of training, daily care, health care, mental stimulation, etc.

I work hard to provide my dogs with everything they need to be well-rounded, upstanding canine citizens. I'm NEVER going to willingly take a chance that a random encounter with a dog I don't know undoes any or all of that work. It's simply not worth the risk to me.

2. THE OTHER DOG MUST BE FRIENDLY

This seems obvious, right? Who would allow their dogs to play with dogs who aren't friendly?
Most people will agree with this rule, but how do you know if you don't know the dog very well? Random dogs on the street may appear friendly until they don't. Countless times, I've heard well-meaning people give bad advice about socializing aggressive dogs at the local off leash park.

It's a commonly suggested tactic - if he's aggressive, allow him to work it out by throwing him into play with other dogs. First, this is definitely NOT the way to solve aggression issues. Second, I'm sure none of us want our dogs to be the brunt of such an experiment.

I must feel confident that those dogs I let mine interact with are going to be safe companions for mine. No questions.

3. THEY MUST MATCH MY DOG'S PLAY STYLE

Some dogs like to wrestle, some run like the wind and others like to body slam. Mismatched play styles at running speeds can cause injury quickly.

Imagine a dog running as fast as possible and body slamming another dog. Imagine a dog who loves to wrestle trying to pin a dog who prefers to run and be chased. Mismatched play styles can cause injury, frustration or fights quickly in the right conditions.

This should also include shapes and sizes of dogs. A small dog can ignite prey drive in a larger dog and that can spell disaster. Even without that danger, a misplaced paw from a Great Dane can accidentally kill a toy breed. Caution should always be taken when dealing with the extremes in dog sizes. As cute as it may be to watch a Mastiff playing with a Yorkie, the inherent risks are much higher.

4. THEY MUST BE UNDER GOOD VOICE CONTROL

This, I consider an absolute must. Outside of a Puppy Class during the critical socialization period, I don't allow any play with dogs who can't be stopped or called out of play immediately by voice alone.

Situations can change quickly when dogs are playing. If one dog is starting to get overstimulated or frutstrated, it's very important to be able to quickly recognize that and stop the play immediately with your voice. Then you can make the dogs take a break to calm the stimulation down. That could be the difference between a great play session and one that ends in a fight.

Remembering that play and exposure are very different things, once your dog is over the critical socialization period, there is NO TRUE NEED FOR THEM TO PLAY WITH OTHER DOGS, but there are some benefits. Good exercise and fun are among those benefits, but you must consider all things when deciding about dog play.

With a few rules and some caution, you can reap the benefits of play without the dangers.

07/29/2025

“Don’t Do That!”, But What Can the Dog Do?
Why Saying ‘No’ Isn’t Enough in Dog Training

Let’s be honest, most of us are experts at telling our dogs what not to do.

“Don’t jump!”
“Stop barking!”
“Leave that!”
“Oi! Get off the sofa!”
“Don’t pull!”
“Don’t eat that poo!”

Sound familiar?

It’s like we’ve become the party-poopers at the canine carnival, constantly shouting “No!” as if that word alone will unlock some divine understanding of what we actually want our dogs to do. But here’s the rub: dogs aren’t mind readers. (If they were, the fridge would have been emptied and the postman permanently traumatised years ago.)

And herein lies the problem.

We’re incredibly skilled at identifying and reacting to behaviours we don’t like, but far less proficient at clearly communicating what we do want instead. This creates an information void. And in that void? Confusion, frustration, conflict… and eventually, a poisoned “No.”

The Problem with “No” on Repeat

Let’s break it down. Imagine you’ve just started a new job. You’re sat at your desk, trying to figure out what’s expected of you. You send an email, your manager barks, “Don’t do that!” So you try making a phone call, “No, not that either!” You open a spreadsheet, “Definitely not that!” And all the while, you’re sitting there wondering, Well what the hell am I supposed to be doing then?

That’s how your dog feels.

If every interaction is a correction without direction, your dog becomes unsure, hesitant, and possibly anxious. They might test other behaviours to try and please you, or they might shut down altogether. And over time, “No” stops being a useful interrupter and starts being interpreted as, “You’re always wrong.”

The “No” Becomes Poisoned

In the early stages of training, “No” should simply mark an unwanted behaviour, not punish the dog, not shame them, and certainly not scare them. But if it’s used constantly, without follow-up guidance or a clear alternative, it becomes a sound the dog associates with negativity… or worse, with you. They learn to tune it out or brace themselves for conflict. Either way, the communication between human and dog starts to fray.

Dogs thrive on clarity, structure, and understanding. Without those, they don’t see you as a reliable leader, they see you as unpredictable, inconsistent, and hard to please.

So What Should We Do Instead?

Here’s the golden rule:

Don’t just tell the dog what not to do, show them what to do instead.
And make it worth their while.

We’re not saying “No” is bad. It’s essential that dogs learn boundaries and that there are certain behaviours that aren’t acceptable. But unless we balance that with clear, consistent alternatives, the dog is left to guess. And they’re usually wrong. (Sorry, Fido.)

Examples:
• Don’t pull on the lead?
Great. But have you shown your dog where you want them to walk, what pace you expect, and rewarded them heavily when they get it right?
• Don’t jump on people?
Super. But have you taught a reliable ‘sit to greet’ behaviour and consistently reinforced calm greetings with praise or treats?
• Don’t steal from the worktop?
Fine. But have you provided a solid “Place” command, or redirected their nosey habits with food puzzles and structured activities?
• Don’t chew the sofa?
Fair. But have you given them an outlet for that need to gnaw, such as a frozen Kong, a beef tendon, or something more constructive than the arm of your IKEA furniture?

Think in Pairs: “You Can’t Do That, But You Can Do This”

Here’s a handy little mental exercise: every time you correct or interrupt your dog, ask yourself, “What can I offer instead?”

Let’s turn your “No” into a two-part sentence:
• “No, you can’t jump on visitors. But yes, you can sit nicely and get a biscuit.”
• “No, you can’t bark out the window all day. But yes, you can lie on your mat and chew your toy.”
• “No, you can’t pull ahead. But yes, you can walk beside me and sniff when I cue you to do so.”

Dogs aren’t trying to wind you up. They’re simply navigating a human world with canine instincts. If we give them nothing but barriers, they’ll eventually stop trying to engage. But if we offer structure, direction, and positive reinforcement, they’ll not only get it, they’ll want to do it.

Communication, Not Condemnation

Training is a conversation, not a lecture. It’s about back-and-forth understanding. The clearer we are, the more confident our dogs become. And confident dogs? They’re calmer, more focused, and much more fun to live with.

So next time your instinct is to shout “No!”, take a breath and ask yourself:
• “Have I taught the dog what I actually want?”
• “Have I practised it enough in a low-distraction environment?”
• “Have I made that behaviour rewarding enough to make it worth their effort?”

If the answer’s “No,” then maybe it’s not the dog that needs correcting. Maybe it’s the plan.

Final Thoughts

If dogs could talk, some of them would probably say,
“Look, mate, I’m not being naughty, I’m just winging it because no one gave me a flipping manual.”

So, let’s stop making “No!” our first, middle, and final training tool. Let’s start showing our dogs what they can do, not just what they can’t. Clarity builds confidence. Confidence builds reliability. And a confident, reliable dog? That’s a joy to live with.

Now off you pop, go teach your dog something useful… like how not to photobomb your Zoom meetings.
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