Have you ever heard this before? 👇
"You're just throwing cookies at a problem". "Stop giving your dog so many treats". "You're reinforcing bad behaviour with junk food!"
💪 If you have, welcome! You have joined the cookie pushing club and we are STOKED you are here! You know that using food in training is highly effective for teaching new behaviors AND building good vibes between you and your dog.
For those of you ready to level up your cookie tossing skills, here are some of our favorite tips:
🍪 Choose the right food for the scenario. If you are trying to encourage your dog to chase food, using something round, hard, and a different color than the ground is helpful!
🍪 When you are tossing food for your dog, it can be helpful to pass it in front of their line of vision as you're tossing so they can easily follow it!
🍪 Treat placement can help us in our teaching! For example, if you're teaching a down, try giving your dog the treat on the floor rather than delivering it over head. This will make it easier for them to stay down and eat!
🥓🧀 Save this post for your next training session and get fine tuning up your treat delivery skills!
#dogtrainer #cookiepusher #yegdogs #yeggers #yegdogtrainer #reactivedog #dogtrainingjourney #dogmom #dogdad #ilovemydog #dogtraining #positivereinforcementdogtraining #forcefreedogtraining
We die on this hill 💪
Asking dogs who struggle feeling safe and calm around other *things* to sit in one spot is really, really hard and really, really not necessary for training success.
All I'll say is that if you made me sit and watch a parade of clowns going by... nope 🙅♀️
* As always, Instagram lacks nuance and there are many pieces to the reactivity training puzzle. If your dog isn't eating food outside or off the ground there are other pieces to consider and we'd suggest reaching out to a qualified force free trainer to support you both 💕
💌 SAVE for later and try it next time you're out on a walk!
#forcefreedogtraining #yegdogs #yeggers #yegdogtrainer #reactivedog #dogtrainingjourney #dogtrainer #reactivity
The answer is.... 🥁
C) Go do something with him!
⁉️ You're probably thinking "Wait...what? Won't this reinforce the barking behaviour that I don't want"? Perhaps but....
💁♀️ The BETTER way to think about this question is to reframe it entirely. Rather than thinking about barking at us as something annoying (demanding!) to be stopped, start to think about it as important communication about something your dog needs.
Are they hungry? Do they need to go to the bathroom? Are they bored? Do they need a walk?
✨️ When we start to think about barking as communication about what our dog needs, we can start to better understand our dog and anticipate those needs. Perhaps most importantly, understanding that our dogs are family members and that they are allowed to tell us things is really important.
🙌 Here's what I did right after I took that video of Fritz barking:
1) I checked in with myself and realized I had been working on my computer for a few hours. It was also getting to close to Fritz's walk time.
2) I stepped away from my computer and took him for a walk.
3) Once we got back from the walk, he ate a snack and then relaxed and I settled back in to finish up my work.
😩 Real talk - we used to tell people to ignore their dogs barking and *woo boy* do we ever regret giving this advice. This advice is incredibly frustrating for dogs and humans and teaches our dogs that their communication is invalid. Not exactly what we want for our canine buddies!
🐶 If you need some additional ideas of activities to fill your dog's cup, check out our [FREE] Boredom Busters Guide at the link in our bio!
#yegdog #yegdogs #yeggers #forcefreetraining #tdogtraining #dogmom #dogtrainingadvice #yegdogtraining #edmontondogs #ilovemydog #barkingdog #boreddog #dogplay #barking
Y’all know how much we LOVE enrichment around here. We also love a good DIY enrichment activity like Capone chasing the hose around 😂
There are SO many ways to enrich your cat’s life on a daily basis. Enrichment:
✅ is good for their physical, mental, and emotional health.
✅ increase optimism and neuro plasticity.
✅ decrease stress and anxiety.
✅ reduces “bad” behaviours.
✅ gives them opportunities to just be a cat!
✅ and SO much more!!
Drop a comment “CAT” below 👇👇👇 to receive a FREE copy of our feline enrichment chart and discover how fun and rewarding adding enrichment to your cat’s life can be. (Check your DMs for a message from us!)
@mikel.delgado #playwithyourcat #felineenrichment #enrichmentforcats #yegcattrainer #cattrainer #forcefreetraining #forcefreetrainer #ilovemycat
Enrichment doesn't need to be fancy 💰
While we love a new puzzle toy or an elaborate frozen Toppl, sometimes that just isn't in the cards for us humans and we need to meet our own needs and our dogs' needs like... now!
We love quick and dirty enrichment ideas like shredded cheese in the grass for a fun sniffy activity that our dogs love and literally takes 5 seconds to do.
What's your favorite quick and dirty enrichment activity for those days where you just can't?
Comment below and let us know your go to!
#yegdogs #forcefreedogtraining #yegdogtrainer #yeggers #yegdog #enrichment #sniff #cheese #dogtraining #forcefreedogtrainer #ilovemydog #sniffari #positivereinforcementtraining
🐿 LET'S TALK SCAVENGING
Scavenging is a normal, natural, and species-appropriate behaviour for dogs. Although it can be worrisome sometimes for us as dog guardians, the fact that your dog has their nose to the ground and they're eating tasty crumbs is normal.
❗️This post us NOT talking about dogs who may have pica, have a history of ingesting dangerous items, or engage in stress-related behavours on walks like frantic sniffing or gulping of non-food items. If this describes your dog please reach out to a force-free professional ❗️
This reel is for those of us who's dogs engage in typical scavenging behaviour. Sometimes this can be stressful if we think our dog is picking up items that might be dangerous to them. Sometimes we may have a puppy who we're extra worried is a mouthy lil dinosaur. Sometimes we're just grossed out by the stuff our dogs find on the street.
Generally, our guidelines are if our dogs are engaged in scavenging behaviour around safe objects, great. Go nuts! If we are worried about our dogs scavenging, there are couple things to consider putting into place:
- providing more outlets for scavenging during the day (snuffle mats, tossing food in the grass, etc)
- working on a strong orientation cue which can function as a leave it
- practicing trading your pup for found items
- not sweating the small stuff if your pup eats something gross but overall, harmless
Scavenging is a big topic that has a lot of nuance! If you're wondering about your pup's scavenging behaviour and want to chat, reach out!
📧 Email us at [email protected]
💻 Check out our contact form on our website at www.littleweirdos.ca
👋 DM us
#yegdogs #yegdog #yeggers #yycdogs #forcefreedogtraining #yeg #yegdogtraining #letthemsniff #canineenrichment
These 2 caught us a little off guard when we came around the corner and after an initial burst of excitement and wanting to chase, Lexi was able to calm down enough to go into engage / disengage mode. Ideally we would have started far enough away to watch them calmly but since that wasn’t the case, Lexi hopped right into a pattern game she knows and has practiced about one million times.
Having a variety of techniques and skills can allow us to better support our dogs depending on the situation.
If your dog is struggling with triggers that exist in the outside world (humans, other dogs, cars, geese, rabbits, etc) we’d love to help! Email or dm us for more info!
@predation_substitute_training #predationsubstitutetraining #dogsofinstagram #yegdogs #yegdogtrainer #forcefreedogtraining #positivereinforcementdogtraining #canadageese
Walks can be whatever you and your dog want them to be! They don't have to look like what society thinks they "should" look like.
This is Gary's favorite spot to go for an adventure and will run here if we're nearby. Most days, this is what we end up doing! Meandering in circles for a while and then heading back home 👍
#yegdogs #yegdogtrainer #forcefreedogtraining #letthemsniff #forcefreedogs #yeggers
What an incredible enrichment activity!! Luna is one busy girl who just wanted to play her naked little heart out the entire time I was there! Her incredible mom (who is also mom to 3 other amazing cats) has done such a wonderful job at providing Luna and her siblings with a wide variety of toys and enrichment activities. I LOVE seeing all the fun and interesting items that become cat toys. Does your cat like to play with anything weird or unusual??
#catsofinstagram #sphynxcat #felineenrichment #enrichmentforcats #cattrainer #yegcats #yegsphynx #yegcattrainer
✨️ YOU ARE NOT TO BLAME FOR YOUR DOGS SEPARATION ANXIETY ✨️
Nothing gets me raging more than incredible, dedicated, loving guardians feeling guilt or shame because their dog struggles with alone time.
It's not your fault. You're doing an amazing job whatever you're doing because you're doing your best in a hard situation. That's all we can ever expect for any of us.
Separation anxiety is flipping hard. It's hard on dogs. It's hard on humans. It's hard to explain to others.
We got you. We believe in you and your dog and we respect the heck out of your commitment to them 💕
You're not alone. We can help. Reach out if you need support if your dog struggles with alone time.
📧 Email us at [email protected]
💻 Fill out our contact form at www.littleweirdos.ca
👋 DM us
#yegdog #yegdogs #separationanxiety ##yegdogtraining ##separationanxietytraining #forcefree #forcefreedogtraining
🤦🏻♀️😂 don’t even have words for this. #catsofinstagram #yegcats #catssittingonthings #yegcattrainer #cattrainer #ilovemycats
🤠DOG AND CAT TRAINING IS THE WILD WEST
So much respect for guardians trying to navigate their training journey. Its so hard and confusing and tiring trying to do your best in an unregulated industry. You're doing a great job, no matter what stage you're at!!
#yegcat #yegdogs #yegdogtrainer yegdog #yegcattraining #yegcats
The reveal! We were doing Nosework!! Yes, for cats!!! Although a cat’s sense of smell isn’t quite as good as a dog’s, it’s still incredibly advanced, especially compared to us humans! Dogs have 300 million odour receptors in their nose, cats have 200 million, us humans have less than 400 🤯
Nosework can be a wonderful enrichment activity to provide for cats, too! We must adjust our set up and how we progress for how cats learn but look how well Capone does at our first session together! Did I mention he’s 12?? @noseworkcats
#noseworkforcats #scentwork #scentworktraining #felineenrichment #enrichmentforcats #cattraining #cattrainer #yegcats #yegcattrainer #forcefreetraining #positivereinforcementtraining
Last night’s dinner was fed sniffari style. Capone even got in on some of it 🥰
#sniffari #acefreework #canineenrichment #enrichmentfordogs #yegdogs #yegdogtrainer #forcefreedogtraining #forcefreetraining #positivereinforcementtraining #itscoldoutside #ilovemydog
In today’s snuffle bag: a rolled up and lightly knotted towel, some paper towel tubes, and kibble sprinkled in over everything!
Snuffle bags are one of the most easily modified enrichment activities! Have you ever made one before? What did you put in it? Share your ideas in the comments below 😃
#enrichmentfordogs #canineenrichment #dogsofinstagram #rescuedogsofinstagram #itscoldoutside #yegdogs #yegdogtrainer #forcefreedogtraining #forcefreetrainer #positivereinforcementtraining
We have a new morning ritual where I share my pancake with her. I love creating small moments of connection and friendship with all of our animals. All this one costs me is a few bites of pancake. It makes me happy to share with her and give her what she is so adorably asking for. What happy little rituals do you have with your dog, cat, or other animal family member? #sharingiscaring #dogsofinstagram #rescuedogsofinstagram #yegdogs #ilovemydog #yegdogtrainer #forcefreedogtrainer #snackleader
Walks have the opportunity to be incredibly enriching for our dogs. Sometimes this means purposefully choosing walking spots with their unique preferences, needs, and personalities in mind. #itstheirwalk #sniffariwalk #sniffari #reactivedog #reactivedogsunite #forcefreedogtraining #yegdogtrainer #dogtraining #positivereinforcementtraining #letthemsniff
SHE SNIFFED A BUM 🔥🙌👏😆
Little Luna absolutely blew all of us away with how amazing she did at our session the other day!! Previously, we were working at a distance and working with a few techniques to support her feeling comfortable and safe when other dogs are present.
This was only our second session working on building a relationship with sweet Fozzie. Luna was interested in him but able to sniff, check in, attend to other stimuli in the environment, and her attempts to close distance with Fozzie looked healthy and appropriate. By the end of our session she SNIFFED HIS BUM THROUGH THE FENCE not once, but three times!!! And each butt sniff looked calm, comfortable, and appropriate.
Huge congratulations to Luna and her dedicated mom for this amazing milestone. And a big thank you to @magstothemac for attending these sessions with sweet Fozzie ❤️
#reactivedog #reactivedogsunite #yegdogs #dogsofinstagram #yegdogtrainer #dogtrainer #dogtrainingdoneproperly #forcefreedogtraining #positivereinforcementdogtraining #letthemsniff #givedogschoices #jackrussellterrier #jackrussellsofinstagram
The Gary-venture Lives On
Starting off the new year with a good old Gary-venture. A walk where Gary leads the way, we discover hidden snacks under the snow, and it takes as long as it takes ❤️
Gary is an old man and this venture is made possible by a combo of medications including monthly Librella injections, daily pain management, and behavioral medicational support.
#yegdogs #yegdogtrainer #yeggers #yegdog #olddog #seniordog
You’re welcome. #catsofinstagram #catscatscats #catpurr #catpurring #ilovecats #yegcats #yegcattrainer #cattrainer
