Happy Dawgs Obedience Training

13/02/2025

Update on Vincent the Lagotto pup: He and Tia Steele MacMillan have been working really well together; he's checking in much more often, and he's been responding better when unexpected situations come up during the walk.

The other day, Vincent had a setback in which he was faced with a trigger and instead of trusting Tia to guide him, he redirected onto her. She's okay - thankfully - but the incident was a clear signal that it's time to add a new tool to her toolbox: the muzzle.

Along with wearing a muzzle for his walks (he will be properly conditioned to it first, of course), I'm bringing Miss Glimmer out of retirement. She can help Vincent where we humans can't (because we're humans, not dogs). Glimmer is a veteran in reactive-dog assistance; in fact, there was a time when she used to help another trainer who sometimes needed the calm energy she naturally radiates around reactive dogs. Glimmer is also a fantastic communicator; she knows exactly what to do, when to do it, and how to do it.

Weather permitting, we'll be starting this weekend. This is the next step in Vincent's journey towards peace and harmony in his own life, and with his family. I'm really looking forward to watching this family continue to make progress. :)

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11/02/2025

Current temperature in Calgary: -14ºC, wind chill of -16ºC. Forecast daytime high: -15ºC, wind chill near -26ºC.

For the safety and well-being of your dogs, outdoor classes will be moved indoors or postponed until temperatures rise to safer levels.

07/02/2025

Six weeks ago, I met a Lagotto Romagnolo pup named Vincent. Deeply fearful of the world and everything in it, highly reactive (to the point of sometimes redirecting onto his owners), unable to be still for even a moment (no "off" switch), lacking confidence, and having zero trust or respect for his (or any) humans, I knew this was going to be a very big challenge for me, for Vincent, and for the whole family.

It took four weeks for me to earn his trust. He came to me quite unexpectedly, placed his head in my hand, and stood calmly and quietly while I slowly petted him. That show of trust literally made me cry.

Two weeks later, Tia Steele MacMillan, Todd, and I felt our jaws hit the floor when Vincent came to me, placed his head in my hand, and then leaned his entire body into me as if spooning me. It was one of the most profoundly moving moments of my life, and I will never forget it.

These past 6 weeks have flown by, and though we know Vincent still has a long way to go, the progress he's made in this time has been nothing less than extraordinary. Tia and Todd have worked incredibly hard with him, and I could not be more proud of them.

06/02/2025

I have the great privilege of working with sweet boy Vincent the Lagotto today. He and his family have made a lot of progress over these past 6 weeks, and I am so incredibly proud of all of them for not giving up. It's been a really hard journey so far, but Tia Steele MacMillan and the family have been staying the course and giving their all to Vincent - and it shows. Vincent is improving slowly but steadily; he's looking to his handlers for direction; he's developing that critical "off switch" and learning to redirect his stress onto one of his toys instead of his sister, his mother, or his humans; he's still learning to let his humans deal with his triggers, but he's made big strides in that, too. He is very different from when I first met him 6 weeks ago.

Today, we're working indoors. The current temperature is -11ºC (13ºF), but the wind chill is -21ºC (-6ºF), and that is just too cold for outside work.

Have a great day, everyone, and remember to stay calm and lead on.

04/02/2025

Open Letter to Struggling Dog Owners

Please stop being so hard on yourself. You are doing the very best you can under the circumstances. There is no shame in reaching out for help; indeed, in these kinds of situations, the problem is that we are just too close to the situation to see things as clearly as we need to - which is why we're here for you. We can give you those extra set of eyes that will help you help your dog. So please don't be so hard on yourself. Please don't let anyone try to make you believe you're a failure just because your dog is having problems.

Give yourself credit for having the strength and the courage to do right by your dog by seeking help! Reaching out takes a great deal of courage. It also speaks volumes about how much you value, love, and care about your dog's well-being and happiness. WE SEE YOU, and we believe in you. YOU'VE GOT THIS! ♥

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03/02/2025

Reactive dogs are special, because they show us very clearly who we are. They're a kind of "slow your roll, or else!" catalyst that demands immediate change in us. But, they can also be scary for owners, especially if their intensity is completely off the rails and you don't know how to deal with it or even where to start. I hope these tips will provide at least some help to you - and if you're still struggling, please don't hesitate to reach out to a trainer to help you and your dog.

A Few Tips for Reactive-dog Owners

1. Identify Triggers
Whether it's other dogs, people, cars, or specific sounds, keeping a journal of incidents can help you spot patterns.

2. Slow Your Exposure
Gradually expose your dog to their triggers in controlled situations, consistently rewarding calm behavior with treats, toys, or praise. Over time, this can help change their emotional response.

3. Create a Safe Space
Provide a safe, quiet area in your home where your dog can retreat when feeling overwhelmed. A cozy bed and some favorite toys can work wonders.

4. Use Proper Gear
Use a collar and leash that gives you good control without causing you or your dog discomfort. When properly conditioned to them, muzzles can also be helpful for safety. And, if necessary, don't be afraid to learn how to properly and ethically use a prong collar; it's a last-resort tool, but for some dogs, it's a true life-saver.

5. Get Professional Help
If you're not sure what to do, or if you're nervous and feeling like you need support, consult a professional. They will offer tailored advice and techniques to help you and your dog.

6. Stay Calm and Consistent
It can be scary when your dog has an intense reaction to a trigger. But it's very important that you do your very best to remain calm; remember that dogs pick up on our energy and body language, so try to maintain a calm demeanor.

7. Be Patient
Remember, progress might be slow, and setbacks can and probably will happen. Be patient and celebrate every step forward, no matter how small - and don't forget to celebrate even the tiniest victories.

Supporting your reactive dog will take time, but with patience and persistence, they can learn to handle their triggers more effectively, and you will start to feel more confident in your ability to lead them. :)

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03/02/2025

Let's talk for a moment about prong and e-collars. It’s important to note that both of these tools require proper training and handling to be effective and humane. Here are a few key considerations:

Education:
Owners and trainers should educate themselves on the correct usage of these tools. Many manufacturers provide instructional materials, and professional trainers can offer guidance.

Positive Reinforcement:
These tools are used in conjunction with positive reinforcement techniques, such as treats, praise, and play. The goal is to create a balanced training approach that encourages desired behaviors while correcting undesired ones.

Every Dog is Different:
Not all dogs respond the same way to training tools. What works for one may not work for another. It’s essential to assess each dog’s temperament, behavior, and training needs to determine the most appropriate and humane approach.

The bottom line is, prong collars and e-collars can be valuable tools in dog training when used responsibly and ethically. They offer precision, control, and versatility, making them effective for addressing specific behavioral issues and providing clear, reliable communication between dogs and their owners. When combined with responsible training practices and a commitment to the dog’s well-being, owners and their dogs can build and maintain strong bonds of mutual trust and respect that will last a lifetime.

Have a great day, and remember to stay calm and lead on.

01/02/2025

As a rule, I strive to avoid the drama constantly going on among R+, force-free, and balanced trainers. I work very hard to keep this page focused on the dogs and owners I'm working with, and their progress. And, I bite my tongue when posts show up in my feed that are highly inflammatory and dishonest. But, there are occasions when I feel I need to speak up. This is one of those occasions.

There is a lot of dangerous and blatantly untruthful misinformation being spread about common sense training (aka balanced training) by some social media influencers. The accusations range from the use of "pain, fear, and intimidation" to outright abuse. In fact, very recently, one social media influencer actually equated balanced methods to domestic violence. Not only is this shocking accusation highly inflammatory and an outright lie, it is incredibly disrespectful - not to mention mentally and emotionally harmful - to survivors of domestic violence.

Common sense training is about teaching our dogs how to live successfully and thrive in our human world. We teach them through implementing and enforcing (when necessary) rules, boundaries, and limitations. We don't allow our children to just do whatever they want, whenever they want, however they want; no, we set out clear rules for them that they are expected to follow. If they follow them, they get a reward; if they don't, they receive a consequence. Why on earth wouldn't we do the same for our dogs?

Common-sense methods work. They provide clear communication between dogs and owners, they provide consistent feedback to the dog through rewards and consequences, and they build confidence and trust in both dogs and owners.

Contrary to what some social media influencers are recently trying to push, common-sense methods do *not* use "pain, fear, and/or intimidation", nor are they abusive in any way, shape, or form. Life is full of aversives; it's LIFE. Life is inherently aversive in how it teaches us what not to do. This is an undeniable fact. Therefore, to suggest that dogs should never be told no, should never be given any kind of correction when they make a mistake, should never be restricted in any way... It's foolish, to say the least.

"Show your work" is a big demand being made by some social media influencers. Truth be told, though, there's no point in doing that, because no matter how often we do show what we do, it will never be enough. It will never satisfy the influencers who are trying to force our compliance to using their methods. So, how about we all just stay in our own lanes, do what we do how we do it, stay focused on the dogs and owners in front of us, and carry on.
(Video: 2024, Echo's first time on a prong collar, and it made an incredible difference for him)

31/01/2025

MAJOR PROGRESS WITH VINCENT! 🥰
I had Tia Steele MacMillan bring Vincent to my home yesterday for our session. He's so familiar with his home environment that he anticipates triggers and tends to react even when nothing is going on. Bringing him to an unfamiliar environment would get his nose engaged and help him look to us (the only familiar things in the environment) for encouragement, direction, and guidance.

As I had hoped, Vincent's genetics were at full throttle as soon as he was out of his car. We put him on a 10-foot long lead, and for close to 20 minutes, he frantically sniffed everywhere he could reach. He was so focused on sniffing that he completely missed several of his triggers when they appeared: people walking by, dogs barking, a car going by, an Amazon driver getting out of his truck and walking up to a house about four doors down from us.... It. Was. Awesome!

The entire session was devoted to engaging Vincent's nose and brain, and removing as much pressure from him as possible. The only time we spoke to him was to either reward him or redirect him. The rest of the time, we just allowed him to do his own thing and experience the world in a whole different way. :)

As shown in the video, Vincent has made incredible progress. He only had a couple of reactive incidents - and his recovery from them was lightning quick. The family has clearly been working very hard with him, and I am so, so proud of all of them. ♥

WELL DONE, Team Vincent! YOU ALL ROCK!! ♥

29/01/2025

No behavior can be changed with the same thinking that created it... Be prepared to do the same amount of growth as you are asking from your dog.
~ Monique Anstee, "As A Dog Thinketh"

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27/01/2025

Good morning to everyone. It's going to take me a little bit longer to bring you the videos mentioned in the previous post. I've been fighting a Chinook migraine for three days, now; anyone who deals with migraine understands the fogginess and pain that entails... Anyway, I *will* get the work here for you. I'm just asking that you please be patient a little bit longer. Thank you, have a great day, and remember to stay calm and lead on.

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24/01/2025

THIS is the correct way to teach "leave it".

24/01/2025

This is beautiful. It hit me right in the deep feels.

22/01/2025

Check out Parts 1 and 2, as well. I made the mistake very early on in Glimmer's life to "socialize" her at a dog park. It was one of the worst things I've ever done, and for the past 11 years, I've been working to help her work through her fear around other dogs. Most of the time, Glimmer is able to cope and she's able to handle being around other dogs. But there are still times when she just gets too overwhelmed and she just can't cope.

Expose your dogs to other people and other animals to teach them to be neutral in those situations. But do NOT take them inside a dog park and expect everything to be just fine with strange dogs and strange people.

21/01/2025

There are too many internet "trainers" and social media influencers out there who are teaching things backwards, which either confuses the dogs, or the dogs learn something entirely different from the goal. So, in the interests of clarity - and, because I'm frustrated with the misinformation being propagated - I'm going to make some "how to" videos with my girl Glimmer that will show you how to correctly teach your dog their basics.

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20/01/2025

Good morning. It's 9:07am here in Calgary. Current temperature is -20ºC, with a wind chill of -27ºC. Environment Canada is calling for an 18-degree temperature shift to bring today's high to -1ºC, but we Calgarians know how wrong EC can be in their forecasts. So, today, all classes are cancelled due to extreme and dangerous cold. Have a great day, stay calm and lead on, and play some fun indoor games with your dogs.

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17/01/2025

Absolutely amazing session yesterday with Vincent the Lagotto and his owner. ♥ Vincent did become a little reactive when he first saw me - but his recovery was lightning fast: only a couple of medium-volume barks, and then he was back to sniffing the ground while Tia walked slow and calm. At the house, we got two opportunities to help Vincent: the first came when a person walked by; the second came when a vehicle pulled into a driveway just across the road.

Vincent did bark at the person walking by, but again, his recovery time was astoundingly quick. A slight bit of leash pressure and a recall, and he came to me for a treat. This is a HUGE deal; prior to this, Vincent has been too stressed to take food rewards when we're outside dealing with his triggers. So, YAY VINCENT and TIA! :)

The second trigger (the vehicle) took a bit longer for him to cope with, but with a little bit of leash pressure, as well as taking a few steps backwards, we were able to bring him around and back to us. He was rewarded with food, and praised with lots of calm but very happy "good boy!"s and "good job buddy"s. :)

The weather had taken a nasty turn for the worse, forcing us to get indoors. Inside, Vincent did another really big thing: When his sister and mother started barking from the other room, for the first time since we started working together, **Vincent did not respond in kind.** Instead, he looked to Tia for direction, and though he was very clearly amped up, he followed her lead and remained quiet. It was AWESOME! ♥

To start encouraging some real engagement between Vincent and Tia, I introduced Tia to some fun, mentally stimulating games:

Over/Under/Around/Through
Paws on/Paws off
Around
Focus
Leave it
These games engage Vincent's brain while teaching him to focus on his person. They are also fantastic confidence-builders.

Vincent surprised me not once but twice: He came to me, gave me very soft eye contact, and used his body to invite me to pet him. The first time, he put his head against my hand; the second time, I was sitting on the lower step of the staircase going upstairs, and he came to me, leaned his entire body against my leg, and put his head against my hand. Honestly, I almost started crying; gaining this boy's trust has been.... Well, let's just say he has definitely been making me work for it.

I am so incredibly proud of how far Tia and Vincent have come in just four sessions. Considering where we started, Vincent's ability to cope with and recover from his triggers is beyond astonishing. Tia has been working so hard with him, and in the process, she has also started to show more confidence. It makes my heart so very happy to see this transformation happening... I just can't say enough how incredibly proud of her I am. Way to go, Team Vincent! ♥
Tia Steele MacMillan

17/01/2025

Tia Steele MacMillan I hope this helps. :)

May 30, 2021 - Teaching your dog to focus on you regardless of distractions. For this video, I enlisted my dog, Glimmer, to demonstrate the "focus game".