crate work
This morning, I did some crate training with Rooke. During our session, I made sure he wasn't allowed to leave the crate, even with the door open, until I used his release word, "OK."
This training technique is essential for a few reasons. Firstly, it teaches Rooke impulse control and discipline, helping him learn that he needs to wait for a cue before he takes action. By reinforcing the idea that he can only leave the crate when given the release word, "OK," you're helping him understand boundaries and build trust in your commands. This practice not only keeps Rooke safe by preventing him from bolting out of the crate unexpectedly but also strengthens your overall training foundation, making him more responsive and well-behaved in various situations.
Let's talk about what socializing your dog truly means and what it doesn't. This is an area where many dog owners make mistakes, and the consequences of improper socialization can be significant later on.
Socialization is about gradually exposing your dog to different environments, people, and other dogs in a controlled manner, helping them become neutral and confident in various situations. With Rooke, who is only 14 weeks old, we aim to ensure he remains completely neutral in all environments and around other people and dogs.
What socialization is not: It's not about letting your dog meet and play with as many dogs as possible, nor is it about allowing everyone to touch or interact with your dog.
The consequences of over-socializing a dog:
- Over-Excitement: A dog that is constantly exposed to uncontrolled play with other dogs may become overly excitable, always seeking out other dogs for play. This can make it difficult to maintain their focus in situations where calmness is required.
- Attention-Seeking: If your dog is used to receiving attention from every person they meet, they may start to expect it and become anxious or frustrated when they don't get it. This can lead to undesirable behaviors like jumping, barking, or pulling on the leash.
- Lack of Control: An over-socialized dog may struggle with self-control, making it challenging to manage them in public spaces. They may also become overwhelmed or overstimulated in busy environments, leading to anxiety or reactive behavior.
- Increased Aggression: In some cases, overexposure to other dogs without proper boundaries can lead to aggression, especially if the dog feels threatened or overstimulated.
Proper socialization is about creating a balanced, well-behaved dog that can remain calm and neutral in any situation. By focusing on controlled exposure and teaching your dog to ignore distractions unless given permission, you're setting them up for success in a wide range of environments.
Training a protection dog to seek is a crucial aspect of their overall development, providing them with essential skills that enhance their effectiveness in various protection scenarios. Seeking involves teaching the dog to follow a scent or locate a specific person or object, which is particularly useful in situations where the dog needs to identify or track down a potential threat.
Benefits of Seeking Training for Protection Dogs
1. Enhanced Threat Detection: A dog trained to seek can identify and locate an intruder or hidden threat more effectively. This ability is invaluable for protection dogs tasked with guarding property or ensuring the safety of their handler.
2. Increased Focus and Determination: Seeking exercises require a dog to concentrate on a specific task, ignoring distractions until the goal is achieved. This focus is essential in protection work, where distractions can be plentiful and dangerous.
3. Stronger Handler-Dog Relationship: Teaching a dog to seek fosters a deeper connection between the handler and the dog. The dog learns to trust and rely on the handler's cues, which is critical for effective teamwork in protection situations.
4. Improved Problem-Solving Abilities: Seeking tasks challenge a dog to think critically and navigate obstacles independently. This skill is important for protection dogs that may need to assess situations and make quick decisions.
5. Versatility in Protection Work: A dog trained in seeking is more versatile and capable of handling a variety of protection tasks, from searching for an intruder in a building to locating a hidden object that might pose a threat.
Training Process
1. Foundation in Obedience: Before starting seeking training, the dog should have a strong foundation in obedience. Commands like sit, stay, and recall are essential for maintaining control during seeking tasks.
2. Introducing the Seek Command: Begin by associating a specific scent, like a piece of clothing or an object, with the seek
Working on Rooke's Impulse Control
Impulse control is so important for dogs—they need to understand that they can't always act on their impulses and do whatever they want. We noticed during our recent holiday that Rooke struggles with this, so we've been focusing on helping him improve his self-control.
We've been using toys and food to work on this together. Here are a few things we've been doing:
1. Leave It: Whether it's a toy, a treat, or something interesting on the ground during our walks, we're teaching Rooke to respond to "leave it." When he resists the urge to grab something, he gets a reward. This one is a game-changer!
2. Controlled Play: Playtime is on our terms. We start and stop the game when Rooke is calm and focused, teaching him that fun comes with a bit of patience.
We’re also working with an implied "wait," teaching Rooke to pause and look to us before taking action. This helps reinforce that he needs to control his impulses and wait for our cue before doing something.
"When we started training Rooke, we didn’t focus on teaching him
to walk on a loose lead right away. Instead, our primary approach involved hand-feeding, working on recall, and exposing him to various environments. Through this method, Rooke naturally learned that being near me results in positive experiences, which has helped him stay close and attentive without needing specific lead training.
This approach emphasizes building a strong bond and trust between you and your pup. By associating yourself with good things—like treats, fun activities, and safety—your dog becomes more inclined to stay by your side.
If you’re finding it challenging to train your puppy, especially with lead walking or any other aspect, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re more than happy to share tips and strategies to help you and your pup
Boundaries are crucial, especially during the early stages of training. At 14 weeks old, Rooke is already mastering the "place" command. In this video, I’m opening and closing the back door as a distraction, and he remains focused and in place despite the commotion. If you're looking to achieve similar results with your puppy or need help with training, feel free to reach out!
The ability for a dog to settle in any environment is crucial, as it reflects their adaptability and comfort in various situations. This ability helps reduce anxiety, stress, and behavioral issues, making life easier for both the dog and the owner. It allows the dog to feel secure and confident, whether they are at home, in a new place, or around unfamiliar people and animals. Training, socialization, and creating positive associations with different environments are key to developing this skill in dogs.
Drop us a message if you would like to learn how to develop this skill.
Away for the next 4 days if you have sent any inquiries for training I will get back to you then
Have a grate weekend people
We build strong confident dogs here
Rook 12 weeks old doing what he loves
I've had a lot of conversations about e-collars recently, along with some criticisms, which I don't mind discussing. Here's a short video demonstrating how we use e-collars for recall one of the many ways these tools can be utilized.
In this video, you'll notice that I don't use any voice commands or gestures to get the dog to come back to me. We've conditioned the e-collar to mean something specific; think of it as a language the dog needs to learn and understand. For example, when I press the button on the e-collar, the dog feels a gentle stimulation, and I immediately provide a treat or reward. Over many repetitions, the dog learns that feeling the stimulation leads to a positive outcome.
It's important to emphasize that we do not shock dogs into obedience. Instead, we use the e-collar as a means of communication, ensuring the dog associates it with positive reinforcement.
If you're considering e-collar training, feel free to get in touch with us. We offer a comprehensive course tailored to you and your dog's needs, covering all the basics.
This dogs first time on the sleeve
Very impressed
Meet Ruben, our talented gun dog in training! 🐾
Today marked a big milestone for Ruben as he successfully completed his first blind retrieve. Watching him navigate with such focus and determination was truly impressive. It was amazing to see him put his skills to the test and come out on top.
Ruben's journey is just beginning, but this achievement shows just how far he's come. We're incredibly proud of his hard work and can't wait to see what he accomplishes next.
Way to go, Ruben! 🐶💪 #GunDogInTraining #ProudMoment #RubenTheRetriever
Your dog should be able to do this no matter the environment
Saw Military K9 Training & Behaviour today doing some solid work as usual
