Charnley
Charnley is heading home on Friday ready to experience all the off leash running, sniffing and exploring while her owner can feel safe and confident while out and about with her.
We have an open spot for our July Board & Train so feel free to reach out if you’re interested or find more info on our website
Charnley Off Leash
First time hiking with 10 month old Charnley who is here for a 2 week Board & Train.
This is exactly the main goal of her owner…being able to safely go hiking off leash with Charnley.
At 10 months, being a curious dog that heavily engages with her nose (aka can’t hear the owner) havign a tool to communicate with her, like low level ecollar training, is super helpful. She’s also still learning how far is okay to go etc.
The ecollar allows us to continuously communicate with her at a distance so she can learn not only to always come back when called, but with repetition also learn to keep checking in with her owners and keeping a distance that allows her owner to feel comfortable and in control
We are now taking applications for our July board and train spots. We only have two spots available and more information on our website.
Ryker’s First Off Leash Hike
Ryker’s first time off leash hiking with Taz. He’s not only learning to have great recall but also to be not over bearing towards other dogs
One of our goals of the Board & Train program is to get your dog to a level where you can safely and confidently include them into your active life style
Now taking applications for our mid June Board & Train program. Only 2 spots available!
Jack Rocking His Leash Walking
One of the biggest concerns of Jack’s owner was his not so very nice leash walking. He was a VERY strong puller on his harness and his owner really would like to enjoy her walks with him.
We learned very quickly that his issue is really about his mindset, and the way he starts the walk. He is a very fast learner, and if he’s in the right mindset, he’s extremely easy to teach.
So now we make sure that every walk starts in the right mindset, so that we are continuously able to communicate with him, and when he stays there, he is so very receptive to what you ask from him.
Look at how nice he’s walking for his owner now!!
Jack On Track To A Lifetime Of Freedom
Jack’s first off leash hike with Taz practicing his recall. He did fabulous and I know this will allow his owner so much more freedome with him.
We have space in our 2 or 3 week Board & Train in April if you’d like to get your dog adventure ready for this Spring/Summer and really their entire lifetime 😉
Jack
Jack learning his basics, and being introduced to e-card so he can soon runoff leash, and his owners have more control over him, especially when he gets over excited and any life situation. Nothing fancy…he’s a happy little guy 😊
Taking applications now for our April 6-26 board and train spots. If you’re interested, check out our website.
Dennis Update with a Picture Perfect Recall
Just got an update on little Dennis who completed one of our off leash programs last year 😊
This little dude tends to be insecure and his owner wanted to make sure that, if she’s riding on a horse and can’t always go and grab him right away if someone/something’s up the trail, has full control and can call him back next to the horse where he will wait so he doesn’t get himself in any trouble or bolt.
She has done such a fantastic job! 🙌
Our initial work was without the horse and simply focus on a picture perfect recall when everybodies feet are on the ground. From there, she kept working with Dennis slowly introducing him to the horse, and step by step working towards getting him to recall to exactly where she needs him and always considering his personality and going at his speed.
I’m so excited for them to go trail riding together with confidence 😃🐴🐕
Reach out if you’re interested in having a Picture Perfect Recall
Today was Daphne’s turn to go on a hike with Taz to proof her off leash mannerism and recall and I can say she passed with flying colors too 😄
Bobbi, in the last week of her Board & Train, is enjoying a longer off leash hike today.
Her owners didn’t contact me because all they want is to go hiking safely (althought that’s one reason) but because of Bobbi’s over active mind in certain situations which makes taking her any new places, yes even just a hike, rather chaotic.
They generally have a quiet household for most of their life, however that doesn’t mean it provides Bobbi a quiet mind.
Bobbi is the kind of dog that has a mind that’s ON a lot. And while in new situations, or when strangers enter the home, it looks like complete chaos, on a day-to-day basis this looks like her following her owners around the house all the time, having to be in the middle of everything all the time and being demanding and pushy, wanting a lot of attention and aknowledgment at all the times.
So one thing we had discussed as part of Bobbi’s recovery journey from an overactive mind, is biologically fulfilling, calming activities, such as off leash hiking in nature in addition to creating more designated rest times in the home where she is not allowed to just follow around all the time as well as clear structure on what is appropriate interaction and what is not.
Obedience training/commands is just one piece of the training cake for success, but also understanding your dog, how they function, and what they need at their core to be successful in the life situations where you want them included in is a major piece of that. And while Bobbi has learned some helpful obedience skills during her stay, a big part was really letting her show her true personality where we can observe her and transfer what we saw to the owner and advising them of the real skills and knowledge that they need for the long run.
We have open Board & Train spots for December. Feel free to inquire through our website if you’re interested
Slow introductions for the win. By not leaving nervous Bobbi to her own devices around Daphne, giving her ways to have interaction time outs chosen by her and simply advocating for her the first half of her Board & Train she now LOVES to play with Daphne.
We still have open Board & Train spots available between December 8-29. Feel free to inquire 😊 these are our LAST BOARD & TRAIN SPOTS UNTIL AT LEAST MARCH
Socializing dogs with respect to their personality and needs…listen to the video as I explain what approach I’m taking with Bobbi and Daphne together and why
Animal Aromatherapy Session/Selection Of Oils for Bobbi:
When I work with dogs that may experience anxiety or physical health issues, I like to incorporate essential oils into their protocol for a more complete holisitic approach.
Just as people, animals’ nervous system benefit from essential oils/aromatherapy (must be pet safe brand). Animals intuitively chose what oil they need simply by identifying the smell/plant and so can you! Note how some oils may smell better one day to you than another day, it’s your body telling you what it needs. Bobbi chosing her oils here
If you have an animal and wonder if it could benefit from aroma therapy and want to know all the “how to’s”, check the complete online course and info for physical and emotional support by yours truly (a Vet Certified Animal Aromatherapy Specialist)
https://www.k9possible.com/essentialoils
Rain is cause for improvisation…it’s day 1 of training and usually this exercise, where the dogs are requiered to learn to stay on their beds is reserved for later in the first week of training…well this time it starts today! After having some basic sessions of leash walking and some obedience commands we’re working on the skill of relaxation and minding their own business 😃
Bobbi thinks this is perfect that she doesn’t have to worry about Daphne, but Daphne would rather check things out.
Fact is, with clear, consistent, mindful communication and clear prompt guidance/interferance when the dogs are trying to do the opposite what you want from them, dogs learn VERY fast. Even though this is day 1 it’s not a magic trick and doesn’t require any form of force or harshness, just a person paying attention and communicating.
Mabel’s first time off leash hiking with Taz (Zoey’s turn is tomorrow) after having a couple solo hikes to proof her off leash skills on her own.
High drive/energy dogs like her need a balance of environments where calm behavior is required to help them turn their brain off as wells as freedom to roam and sniff and go at the speed of their brain without boundaries. That means NOT going to a dog park where they are just bombarded with other dogs that instigate high adrenalization whether it’s through uncontrolled play or having to constantly worry about dogs may want to bully you (for those dogs that rather do their own thing) BUT INSTEAD going into a natural environment without the limited boundaries of a fence and that is filled with lots of natural smells that help them regulate their system.
But too much of either, ie. too much down time where they don’t get enough stimulation or too much stimulation by providing mostly high intensity exercise and play hoping to “tire the dog out” will create the same result…a dog that struggles with regulating their emotions.
It’s a life style!
Having dogs that are well crate trained, meaning they actually enjoy their crates and see them as a resting place is so nice.
Both these girls were well crate trained before they came here (it’s one of our requirements for board & trains).
These two have beeing going to their crates after outside time without any discussion all week long knowing they’ll get a treat when they get there.
Also the routine helps too. With this nice weather, all their free and training time is outside and when we go back inside, it’s rest time and they picked up on this routine after a few days and no more guidance is needed.
Off they go, after waiting nicely at the door, to get their treats and a nap 😊 …i have to say, these two are two peas in a pot and I don’t think I’ve ever had two dogs going together back to the dog area smooth like this so this is a real treat for me ha!
The first week of Board & Train is all about getting to know each other, setting the tone for relationship and expectations and building foundation for the basic of all needed commands for each dog so that afterwards can slowly be integrated into more life situations.
Here’s a non perfect video with lots of redirection for the dogs, at least one of them, because that’s exactly how training looks like. A lot of trainers make it look easy, but there is a lot of work and falls, and it’s exact same work that we ask owners to do a lot of repetition redirection, doing it over and over again.
Whenever I have 2 board & trains I will socialize them ONLY it they are a fit.
In fact when it comes to my own dog Taz, he only closely meets training dogs for on leash walks or off leash hikes as he’s not comfortable with them in the confinement of a yard or lose in the house.
Respecting dogs and their comfort level and ensuring that they can count on you to keep them safe and comfortable in multi dog situations is super important.
Zoey really wanted to play with Mabel at the beginning but was quickly overwhelmed by the intensity of Mable and now is unsure of her. And Mable herself, goes from 0 - 100 so quickly that the intensity is not healthy and is rather a frantic act of “I don’t know what to do with myself” rather than playing and she actually seems to prefer to just hang around the yard without much hustle and bustle with Zoey for now.
So respecting both dogs state of mind and giving them time to adjust to each other so that eventually they may want to engage in play if they feel like it is top priority and teaches them proper dog skills.
Coyote Crossing The Trail Right Before This
🐕Next Board & Train availability is in November
🐕Or find our Canine Foundations online coures on our website it in the online course section
Bella is in her last week of her Board & Train stay and the 3rd week is always all about real life application.
Before expecting your dog to respond to you in different environments outside of the home, or in different contexts, the foundation needs to built for basic understanding of commands/language.
The next step is generalization to different environments for the dog to transfer their skills into real life. That means going into different environments as much as possible with the conscious intention and prepardness to use it as a training opportunity rather than expectations for a dog to just listen.
The more you can generalize over time, the more confident and consistent your dog will be in new environments.
We are already await our next set of trainees in early September and next availability is November 4-24. If you are interested in our board and train for November, feel free to reach out for more information.
Once a basic foundation has been built, training can easily be integrated into daily life and actually should be, because real life is where you want it to work so incorporate real life into training.
Don’t have time doing your chores AND training a dog? Think again…
as your dog is learning maybe your chores will take a little while longer because you may have to stop and reward them in between for a job being continued to be well done or correct as needed just like when Bella walked off in this video.
This video is a simple demonstration plus it was super beneficial for Bella to learn better impulse control.
Bella loves water and the last time I tried watering my plants I had a barking Bella yelling at me to point the hose at her and get inbetween.
This was a great way to challenge her by requiring her to stay on Place while I’m watering plants. Teaching her impulse control through an exercise like this will over timr transfer also towards impulse control in other situations such as when visitors come over for example.
Need help? Our next available board & train spot is in November. Book ahead if you’re interested :)
