Training Walk with 'O' 🤗
🐶 Took ‘O’ out for her first training walk!
Since she’s a little unsure around new people, my main focus was building trust and strengthening our bond rather than asking too much of her.
She absolutely loved her treats 😍, and we made great progress with engagement and disengagement from things that made her a bit nervous.
A strong relationship is everything—especially for nervous dogs. Without trust, there’s nothing to build on. Connection comes first, and everything else follows ❤️
Ive had a few messages asking how i teach the nudge command for a medical alert (this isnt paired with the scent as yet).
So heres a little video for you :)
Enjoy watching 🤗
Medical Alert - The Nudge
🐾 Teaching My Dog the "Nudge" Command for Medical Alerts! 🐶💡
Today, I’ve been working on the "nudge" command! This simple but powerful gesture will help them to alert their handler to a medical issue by gently nudging when needed.
(I''m only teaching an alert command here and isnt paired with a medical scent)
Why is this so important? In moments when the handler isnt feeling good, whether it’s a drop in blood sugar or another health concern, their furry friend will be right there, ready to help. 🐕💖
It's amazing how dogs can be trained to understand commands that not only provide companionship but also contribute to our health and safety 🐾
🤔 Does anyone have a medical alert dog?
#ServiceDogTraining #MedicalAlertDog #DogTraining #NudgeCommand #DogLovers #HealthAndWellness #FurryFamily #DogBond #PositiveTraining
Obedience
In last weeks obedience class we were, learning back up and then sending to bed 😊.
Its so important to show how the inbetween stuff looks like and not just the final outcome.
'M' Has made a great start ❤️
Teaching my dog how to cross paws 😍.
We got this far in just one session 😁
I videoed the whole session so you can see how to teach it from scratch.
👋Does anyone want to know how i did this?
Teaching my dog how to cross paws 😍.
We got this far in just one session 😁
I videoed the whole session so you can see how to teach it from scratch.
👋Does anyone want to know how i did this?
Bribery v Reinforcement
🐶 Briebery: ( First part of my video)
A dog refuses to come when called. You pull out a treat, wave it around, and call, “Here, look what I’ve got!” The dog only comes because they see the treat.
This is bribery because the treat is used to entice the dog before they perform the behaviour. Over time, the dog may ignore your calls unless they see a reward upfront.
🐶 Reinforcement: (Second Part of my video)
The dog recalls on command, and then you reward.
The dog associates the behaviour with positive outcomes, making it more likely to repeat the behavior in the future, even without a visible reward.
❓Why This Matters:
Bribery creates dependency on external cues (like treats being visible) and can undermine the handler's commands. Dont get me wrong, bribery has a time and place, such as learning new behvaiours to shape the dogs behaviour and knowledge.
Reinforcement builds understanding and motivation, fostering trust and reliability between the handler and the dog.
🔑 The key difference between bribery and reinforcement lies in the timing and intent of the reward.
Focusing on reinforcement ensures the dog is learning and responding because of the bond and understanding, not just the presence of a reward.
Www.ruskiesdogtraining.co.uk
Bribery v Reinforcement
Bribery v Reinforcement
🐶 Briebery: ( First part of my video)
A dog refuses to come when called. You pull out a treat, wave it around, and call, “Here, look what I’ve got!” The dog only comes because they see the treat.
This is bribery because the treat is used to entice the dog before they perform the behaviour. Over time, the dog may ignore your calls unless they see a reward upfront.
🐶 Reinforcement: (Second Part of my video)
The dog recalls on command, and then you reward.
The dog associates the behaviour with positive outcomes, making it more likely to repeat the behavior in the future, even without a visible reward.
❓Why This Matters:
Bribery creates dependency on external cues (like treats being visible) and can undermine the handler's commands. Dont get me wrong, bribery has a time and place, such as learning new behvaiours to shape the dogs behaviour and knowledge.
Reinforcement builds understanding and motivation, fostering trust and reliability between the handler and the dog.
🔑 The key difference between bribery and reinforcement lies in the timing and intent of the reward.
Focusing on reinforcement ensures the dog is learning and responding because of the bond and understanding, not just the presence of a reward.
Www.ruskiesdogtraining.co.uk
Boundaries isnt about being mean, its about creating crystal clear communication.
Breed Traits.
Although Two dogs are of the same breed, their behaviour traits are slightly.
They both have strong prey drive and both point. However they search for things slightly different.
Thor, zig zag runs. Has his nose on the ground most of the time looking for scent trails. He prefers birds, not bothered by rabbits.
Loki, is much more tactile. Hes steady, quiet, uses his nose, eyes and ears. Although he deos use his nose on the ground, he does a lot of air sniffing.
So although they are the same breed, they have different bloodlines, and different characters which ia influenced by lota of things such as their upbringing and past experiences.
Its so important to choose your breed wisely, but not only this, its important to go by their individual character and how the Breeders have brought them up.
🐏 Understanding your dog's natural instincts is key to making sense of their behaviors. Most breeds have been developed for specific tasks, like herding, retrieving, guarding, or hunting. These instincts can shape how they act in our homes and on walks.
🐶 For example, a Border Collie may try to herd other pets or even children because of their herding drive. A Retriever might instinctively pick up objects to carry around, while a Terrier may love to dig and chase due to their hunting background.
💭By recognizing these natural behaviors, we can work with our dogs rather than against them—channeling their instincts through training, enrichment, and appropriate activities.
🤗 Understanding their nature helps us build stronger relationships and manage behaviors in a positive and productive way.
Www.ruskiesdogtraining.co.uk
Qualified Dog Trainer & Behaviourist
