Bruno the Lab puppy learning to lay down!
Learning an off switch is so important for pups!
We teach this by paying the calm down, and releasing with a release cue when we want them to break the down.
This creates a solid position and understanding.
Bruno picked the calm aspect of this up very quickly and was quite happy to lay there awaiting food π
Teaching drop is SO important!
Don't wait until your puppy has stolen something though! π
ββοΈ
If you only practice when your puppy steals things, your not teaching drop...
You are β¨ negotiating β¨
While that is most certainly better than shouting at your puppy, or chasing them ( don't make it a game!)
It's teaching them to steal first, and then they'll get a treat for dropping.
Instead practice drop with toys, and day to day items as a regular game.
If you only practice drop when your puppy has something hiiigh value, and then they lose access to their thing ( your slippers perhaps!)
You may find they don't want to drop anymore.
Make drop engaging and something you regularly do!
Little Chaney the Westie learning scentwork at Puppy Power π€©
We love low pressure activities in puppy classes, not everything is about self control.
Here we have Chaney searching out a treat hidden underneath the cones.
This gets her brain working!
Getting pups brains working with scentwork mentally tires them and helps them to problem solve too.
Lead pressure creates reactions ββ
Lead pressure can add to the physical pressure of most dogs when stressed or excited, it begins to fuel those big feelings.
You can see here that something has caught Lina's eye and she's herself put pressure on the lead.
Then watch as her owner steps closer, creating more slack.
Never into her space, but just gently takes pressure off.
As a result Lina didn't react π₯³
Lina has been working with me for group classes since puppyhood as well as 121 for Reactivity.
Lina is making great strides thanks to her owners hard work & commitment π
#TeamRuby were acing there work on leave it and walk away at Practice Makes Perfect π
The initial goal was to simply be able to cue leave it, and step away from those tasty treats, as in real life you don't just want your proximity to the dog to be the cue for them to continue leaving.
But Ruby did so well her owner was able to walk away, sit down AND face away from Ruby!
Excellent work!
Walks can be a challenge, right?
Some dogs pull, some react and some are just shy.π
But what if we can take the edge off some of that energy before we go out?
Hide and seek with treats can be a great option to mentally tire your dog before your dog goes out , probably physically too if your dog is faster than Arkle π
Simply take some treats, or a toy, and hide them somewhere your dog can't see. Release them with a cue you don't use for anything else, such as "search" , then watch them use that nose!
Playing hide and seek games , whether with a toy or treats can get your dog in the right mindset before you even go out.
Meaning your walks are more likely to start calmly, and your dog will be more likely to relax!
He lives such a miserable life does Arkle πππ
You'll have to do better than that with your trolling though Stevey π€·ββοΈπ
A big welcome to the newest Puppy Power crew π
Phoebe, Honey, Bill & Bella π€©
They were all chilled and enjoyed learning about offering eye contact, touch and the hugely important skill of being chilled around other pups.
An excellent start to the course, well done everybody!
I recommend enrichment activities alot! β
Why?
There's a million reasons! π―
Just one is on a day like today it's perfect. The sun has suddenly come out, and for a lot of young dogs this will be a shock to their system. βοΈ
They may struggle with their normal levels of exercise; or maybe their owners will struggle with their health in sudden change of temps.
Using enrichment activities is about using your dogs brain.
There's LOADS of ways you can do that.
Lickimats. Snuffle Mats. Puzzle balls. π
You could hide a toy for them to find or some tasty treats as a treasure hunt. π₯
They could have a frozen hoof stuffed with yogurt or wet food.
The important part is your dog is using their brain for good- not evil!
Enrichment Activities help to mentally tire your dog and can help dogs to decompress.
This means it can relax them. Helping them to rest more. π€
It also makes dogs feel happier solving problems.
Very often I prescribe an increase in enrichment to nervous or reactive dogs to help boost their confidence as they'll feel better after solving problems and having an outlet.
Finding that motivator for your dog can make a big difference!
I wish id found this toy sooner!
It's rabbit skin which Arkle LOVES!
And can be used for searching for it, rewarding good behaviours and Tuggy.
The more rewards you have for training, the more likely your dog is too listen to you!
I'm not an affiliate or anything like this, I just think this toy is great!
Arkle plays Tuggy properly when not in pain, he's not feeling 100% hence feeble Tuggy play π
https://www.pawstrading.co.uk/paws-made--rabbit-pawspocket--paws-pocket-petal-agility-dog-training-ball-15471-p.asp
How cute is Evie the cockapoo puppy?
Here she is learning the Touch game, this is learning to target a hand with her nose! π―
Why do we teach touch?
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We can use it for recall
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It teaches pups a calm way to interact with hands ( no biting!)
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It can be used to help stop jumping up
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It's simple to teach
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It's fun!
This game can lead to lots of other learning later and really helps these pups get started on the right paw!
Puppy taining shouldn't just be about sitting, staying and self control ! πΎ
"Take the jumper off and take it for a walk"
No.
I don't walk Arkle.
Ever.
He doesn't leave the house in fact.
If you think you've ever seen Arkle in public, your wrong.
It was in fact AI.
Enjoy AI Arkle retrieving a rabbit skin ball in PJs.
The real Arkle is only allowed to use his scratch board day to day. π ππ
I love being educated and sharing knowledge π«
So I thought you would all enjoy all the things I learned from posting Arkle the Whippet and his scratch board.
Things I did not know before I posted about Arkles scratch board. π«Ά
β‘οΈ Dogs have back feet
β‘οΈ Dogs need walking
β‘οΈ You should throw a ball across concrete to file down their nails
β‘οΈ That scratch boards are equivalent in evilness to harnesses
β‘οΈ Also harnesses are a scourge on our society
β‘οΈ Dogs should just get over stuff
β‘οΈ Scratching at a board will make your dog dig up the floor for treats
β‘οΈ Dogs who need scratch boards don't trust their owners
I can't wait to see what people can teach me next ;)
Here is Arkle holding a treat before being released to eat it. ( Okay tells him he can eat)
I'm excited to see what lessons people will teach me on this one !! π π€
Does your dog HATE having their nails clipped?! π¬
Arkle was fine, then one day..
Nope! Spontaneous fear developed π
Now I *could* spend alot of time reacquainting him with the process.
But honestly, there's so much to train with Arkle, I'm just not convinced it's worth our time when we remember! π
I taught my previous whippets to use a homemade scratch board, but I recently discovered you can buy them ready made!
This has been a game changer! π₯³
He simply paws at the box to get his treats out.
The box is covered to file those nails when he does!
It's a fun way to get those nails down. π
I highly recommend this approach to get some wear down from your dogs nails!
Keep sessions short and use high value treats!
Note- if your dog is sensitive to movement hold the board by an edge so it doesn't rock around.
Training isn't always easy!
After all, we are teaching another species of animal to do things that they probably normally wouldn't.
But it's all about having fun and working out what's working and what's not.
There's under 5 mins between the start and end here.
Arkle already knows hold. And lay flat.
But together π€―
So we started from a sphinx down and it became clear he was guessing and confused ( we do downs to sits alot!)
So once I saw a glimmer of success in a hip roll down , we started there and within 5 repetitions - we were there.
Just because your dog doesn't immediately get something, doesn't mean you have to give up.
Its about learning to read what does work, and having fun.
And before anyone says "what's the point in teaching that ?! π€·π€·"
I got dogs to have fun with, this is our fun.
You don't have to do it.
But the more we have fun in any training, the easier learning and processing skills becomes!
It was fab to catch up with Otto at the weekend. π€©
Like some dogs do, Otto found classes just a little bit much.
So we switched to 121 sessions and started work on slowing down to let him process the world around him.
Otto's busy brain means he often makes silly puppy choices when walking on pavements up close to distractions- after all, he's only a baby still in that big body!
So we just gave him the opportunity to observe exciting things at a distance to help him learn he can see things going on, and it's not a big deal.
Here he is watching people, without interruption, then getting his yes and treat for looking back calmly.
Otto also enjoyed exploring on a long line rather than fighting the frustration of a short lead.
Im looking forward to seeing him again very soon!
Don't gave up on the tricky dogs. π«Ά
Progress takes time, behaviour change takes time.
This might not look a big deal, but for a dog like Arkle to ask me to train him and play games when we are out is a massive deal.
He is in a new environment and normally that would cause him to be on edge, but instead he felt relaxed enough to ask to play games. π
This hasn't taken months, it's taken longer.
But from a dog who had panic attacks out in public and would shut down, this is brilliant.
Suki the cocker Spaniel spinning π«
Spin is a great behaviour to teach your dogs.
It's simple, it's fun and it's a great confidence booster.
If all the training you do with your dogs is self control, you will find that your dog will get bored.
All work and no play makes Fido a cranky dog π¦΄
Fun games help to create a stronger connection and ensure that your dog finds training enjoyable. π