Okanagan Heavenly Dog has not one, but TWO puppy group classes in March!
The first is for the babies that are no older than 16 weeks, and are still vulnerable to the outside world. Our Puppy Start Right Preschool class is sanitized for their safety, and we focus on teaching safe socialization and basic behaviours.
Our second puppy class (Kindergarten) is for puppies who are 4 months and up. This is where we teach a strong foundation of behaviours such as come when called, stay, "leave it", loose leash walking, and many more!
Please check https://www.okheavenlydog.com/ for more information and/or to sign up for group classes!
❤️🐕🐩🦮🐕🦺❤️
I don't know why it has to be said so often, by so many, but please, for dogs' sake, keep your dog on a leash in leash areas.
Yesterday at the park in Oliver, a man let his dog run right up to my clients dog and I. Both interrupting our training and causing my clients dog to rip the leash from my hand- causing my finger to break. In the video you can probably guess by the velocity of the dog when it breaks.
I asked the man why his dog isn't on leash, he said she needed the exercise.
When I told him to put a leash on his dog he said "take it up with animal Control.
When I asked him his name he called me a "dick" (I think he may have been projecting 🤔)
I have to see a plastic surgeon about my hand, and yes I'm upset and annoyed, but I'm the most upset about the dog's training setbacks and the worry that my clients will have about the unpredictability of training out and about.
This video is an important example of why recall is so important. People should be able to practice their dog training in real-life situations safely. And yes, that is a gorgeous half-acre dog park in the background, yet he chose to "exercise" his dog with mine.
There are many excuses people use, but please just think of others. You can literally hurt someone.
People often ask me what is the point of teaching beahviours like a hand target or a chin rest. I just love these behaviours because they're easy and fun for our dogs to learn, plus they are incredibly useful when teaching other behaviours such as co-operative care ☺️
Bandit has had a few lumps on his body develop over the past few years. We have had them all aspirated by the vet and they are benign so far. This video is our consult about surgical removal with the surgeon (who we haven't met before). The goal is to have Bandit comfortable enough to lay his head in my lap while the vet examines his lumps. 👨⚕️🐕
We're just practicing at the clinic in this video, but the thing I am the most proud of is that Bandit didn't bark at the person entering the room! That's huge for us not to have a reaction 🥰
Side note: notice how Ban is shedding quite a bit? That's a sign of stress, and it's important to acknowledge these signs while we're training and not just look at outward behaviours when analyzing our training!
Treats aren't the only reward you can use at the vet clinic. If the appointment requires your dog to fast, there's still a way to reward your dog... by playing with toys! ❤️🧸 I like to heavily give rewards to associate with the vet, especially when dogs are little.
Our dogs will need healthcare their entire lives, why not make it a place of joy instead of fear 🥰
A special thanks to Dr. Fitzgerald at Lindsey Veterinary Hospital for having her Fear Free certification and being so patient with me and my fear of needles (and therefore shooting spray cheese absolutely everywhere when she gave Lilly her shot)🤣
Click for Eye Contact
I love using the clicker to teach eye contact with dogs! You can be really precise. Plus, it really shows you where the dog is looking for information- so if they're looking at your hand a lot, it probably means you're moving your treat hand before you click!
Sometimes filming yourself training can be embarrassing 😅 For example, here you can tell I completely missed an opportunity to capture the correct behaviour (looking away from desired item) and then I clicked late both times after capturing the correct behaviour. Thank God dogs are forgiving 🙃
We are practicing "leave it" with Doug here. He has a habit of being the best death detective in town and then proceeding to eat the deceased 🤢 When he looks/moves away, that's when we mark and heavily reward!
Need to have your coffee in peace?
Try giving your puppy their breakfast folded up in a paper towel roll! It's fun, easy and cheap 🍪🐶❤️
Moose is SO tired from her day training lesson! Poor thing can barely keep her eyes open 😆
Day training is where a teacher comes and spends time with your dog multiple times per week. Benefits include:
📚 A dog who's tired when you come home (mental stimulation is awesome for tiring dogs out!)
📚 Time freed up from not having to train your dog yourself
📚A well behaved, heavenly dog!
Check out our day training option here:
https://www.okheavenlydog.com/day-training.html
You never know what you're going to run into on your hikes! I really don't need to list the benefits of a solid recall, but I will list the critical points of teaching and maintaining a solid come when called behaviour:
🐕- A clear behaviour. What is it you want your dog to do when you call them? Bandit comes quickly, does a duration sit stay in front of me until released.
🐕- A heavy, appropriate reinforcement for coming when called. What is it your dog loves? If you call them and scrub their head saying "good dog!", is that actually rewarding for your dog? Bandit loves high value treats and being released to play and be chased.
🐕- A sacred cue. If you throw out the word "come" or say it over and over all the time, you are not treating your recall word with respect- therefore you defs shouldn't expect your dog to respect it either. I say to my clients to only call your dog when you know they're going to come, and when you have appropriate reinforcement available.
So proud of Bandit coming away from cattle mid-chase. Especially after finding out he's 50% blue heeler! ❤️🐕❤️
Dogs are rewarded by all kinds of things! I used access to Itachi’s favourite sniffing+peeing spot as a reward for coming to me, sitting and eating treats.
Treats are the easiest reinforcer to use, but they certainly aren't your only option! 🦴⚾️🌲
What are your dogs favourite reinforcers?
A lot of people now aren't "winging it" or "letting them sort it out on their own" when introducing new animals to their household. I've had a lot of opportunities to work with multiple different animals this week as I have two dogs visiting- Ruby (doodle) and Ginger (chi).
Tips for positive relationships between animals:
- Multiple short sessions ⏱⏳
- High value treats 🍪
- Prior trained behaviours such as targeting and settling 🐕🦺
- Lots of barriers including multiple baby gates, doors, crates, leashes and muzzles ⛓
-Know your different animals. Cats for example are much less forgiving than dogs and need places to feel safe (such as high platforms). Dogs can feel more defensive/protective if there are objects like bones or toys in the vincinity. 🐶😽
-If possible get help. Having a second pair of hands to help reward the other animal is incredibly beneficial. 👬
Take it slow and calm and you should have success!
Sometimes teaching your dog is as simple as using their meal to reward a place or a behaviour.
Training isn't always simple but we have daily reinforcers that we can use to our advantage to make our lives easier ❤🐕❤
Flynn 🥰
Sometimes dogs need a minute to take in their environment and look at their triggers without being in danger. As dog trainers we're quick to cue a behaviour or get out of dodge to prevent reactions, but your dog may surprise you if you set them up for success and give them a minute to make the right choice!
This is Doreen and her dog Anu working on come when called.
Doreen has some of the best dedication to training I've ever seen and she just turned 90 last week! She likes to let Anu chase the ball and play off-leash, so she's working on a reliable recall.
In the video, Anu is being distracted by a toy and Doreen rewards her for coming, for staying and finally for jumping into her lap where she can put the leash on. I'm so proud of her ability to turn away from distractions so quickly and her enthusiasm when her mom calls her, they've been working super hard! 🐕❤️👏
In-person training can only be done outside, but that gives people some wonderful opportunities to work with distractions! If you'd like to set up some social-distancing training, check out www.okheavenlydog.com
It's important to teach your dog safety behaviors- little Chevy is learning to stay on his mat while the door is being opened. This prevents him from accidentally sneaking out unattended!
Baby Koach learning to come when called (on cue) <3
