๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ฃ ๐ป๐ ๐๐ค ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ค....
When given the chance to explore naturally or given more lead length, you'll notice a dog will zig zag or go backwards to check out scents. It's a way for them to gather information about their environment.
It's more than a walk to our dog, it's an expedition fueled by curiosity and driven by instinct. Unlike humans who often walk with purpose, dogs approach their outdoor adventures with a different rhythm, a dance guided by their olfactory senses and innate exploratory nature.
The dog's pace is not hurried; it's deliberate, allowing time for thorough investigation. At times, he may backtrack, retracing his steps to revisit a particularly captivating aroma or to explore a path previously left unexplored.
To the untrained eye, it may seem like random wandering, but to our dog, each turn, each detour, is purposeful, an opportunity to connect with its environment on a deeper level.
Thus, does it seem at all fair that we expect our dogs to walk to heel on a short lead in a straight line for their entire walk? Sometimes expected to do so in the most overstimulating of environments.
Ultimately, our dog's journey is not just about reaching a destination but about embracing the beauty of the journey itself. In its meandering exploration, the dog finds joy, fulfillment, and a profound connection to the natural world, a connection that reminds us all of the simple pleasure of following our instincts and embracing the wonders that surround us.
I would love to see more dogs given the opportunity to walk on a longline or flexi-lead, allowed to weave and follow scents as they hit their nose and only being asked to walk to heel when safety requires it.
Let us know your thoughts below ๐๐ฝ
#futurefocuscanines #dogtraining #dogs #walks #longleads
๐'๐ โ๐ ๐ฅ ๐พ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ธ๐ก๐ก๐๐ช ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐ฃ๐...โ๐๐๐๐ฅ โ๐ ๐จ!
This was tonight, Zara barking incessantly at the air fryer and it seems to be getting worse but what I'm not going to do is jump feet first into a training plan to stop this because there is potentially an element of pain contributing to this behaviour.
She has a tooth (possibly two) that needs to be removed which will be happening in the coming weeks. At the same time she is having scans on her hips, stifles, hocks, elbows and lower back. This is to make sure she hasn't got anything going on under the hood.
Noise sensitivity is usually down to pain and a lot of dogs are barking out of distress. Toothache as we all know is painful and can make noises more pronounced and so if when the air fryer ping went off when we first had it and it potentially caused her discomfort, maybe she remembered this and we have subsequently got an unwanted behaviour on our hands but has come from a place of pain.
Therefore, you cannot put a training plan in place where pain is a potential factor.
When we have eliminated pain as a contributor, then I can put a training plan in place but for now, I'll stop using the air fryer (management) which will stop this for the short term.
Remember, you can't train away pain!
Jen
#futurefocuscanines #painindogs #painmanagement #painbeforetrain #dogshealth #dogtraining #dogtrainer
๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ก๐ฆ๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐
It doesn't matter if you never want or feel confident enough to remove the longline!
E-collars are also not the answer for off-leas freedom if this is the case!
Yeah I said it!
Something we are not told when we get our puppy and we take them to classes, is that, not every dog will have off-lead freedom eventually and that if you use a longline for the rest of that dog's life...that's ok!
It's the same as expecting every child to get straight A's in their exams, it just isn't realistic! Dogs, just like humans, learn at their own individual pace and won't all meet the same end goal! It will look different for every dog!
Unpopular opinion 2...I don't believe any dog should be any further away than a 10-15 metre longline length, even when off lead. If they are too far away or so far away they are out of sight, you do not have control of that dog!
Zara won't be off lead in all instances ever I don't envisage as she has a case of cloth ears and isn't entirely reliable to come when called however she does have other things nailed such as auto-stop at curbs, waiting patiently whilst we eat, rarely pulls on lead and being on a lead for most of her walks in no way hinders her quality of life!
So to conclude, if you are feeling down that you'll never get to the point of removing the longline, just know that this shouldn't be your gauge for a well behaved dog and I bet your dog has other behaviours that they could do with their eyes closed!
Let us know your thoughts below ๐๐ฝ
Jen
#futurefocuscanines #dogtrainer #dogwalker #unpopularopinon
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Terrible quality as I walk her mostly in the dark at the moment but this is her favourite thing to do.
Her wait is coming along nicely, the lock isn't even on here which is a relief as I had my phone in the same hand! ๐
I love watching her point where she knows the treat has fallen, her sense of smell is incredible...a wasted sniffer dog for sure! I try to come up with ways to make it harder to find such as throwing it behind us instead, she always finds it!
๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฆ ๐ป๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ช...
Let it be, to slow down on your walk with your dog and let them weave and sniff!
Let them take it all in without being pulled and rushed along.
Notice the difference in your dog when they are able to enjoy reading their own version of the news โบ๏ธ
I mean who's walk is it anyway? Id say it should be for you both to enjoy but arguably the dog pips it, would you be out walking if it wasn't for them?
Let us know below if you try this today...
Jen
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Last night I upped the anti when it came to sniffing out her treats because she has a super nose on her.
We have been practicing her Waits too and so I asked her to wait whilst I threw out her treat and then released her to go find it. She gets so much pleasure from doing this and the time flew by.
Next weekend I'm going to take her a herb pot and start her on basic scentwork skills as I'll be working her in the daylight for a change.
She is a super dog, we have so much fun together.
Jen
#futurefocuscanines #dogwalker #dogwalkersofinstagram #coco #scentworktraining #labradorretriever #labradorsofinstagram
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Welcome to the FFC Gloucester family Bella, who is with me for ad-hoc walks. Yesterday was our first together and she was super well behaved and so sweet!
We did some of the following on our route which she really enjoyed;
๐ธFind It - Where she had to snuffle and find her treats in the grass
๐ธReady, Steady...Go - She found this really engaging
๐ธSome silly play and clowning around which again she found really fun with lots of happy tail wags.
We got home to put her back in her cosy snood and her treat stick for when I leave.
What an absolute cutie!
#futurefocuscanines #dogwalker #dogwalkersofinstagram #whippetsofinstagram #positivereinforcement #forcefree
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I have walked Gonzo most days since last weds and I've really noticed a difference in him in a short time.
He is coming out of his shell more and he's now comfortable to do happy rolls in the grass on our walks which tells me he is letting his guard down.
What I've enjoyed the most is troubleshooting and navigating his reactivity, he has a fear of moving cars and so will lunge and bark at them on his lead and also sometimes will bark at other dogs on our walk.
I've started to teach him the benefit of giving automatic check-ins and that watching his triggers calmly and disengaging is more beneficial. You can see he does this beautifully in the first clip.
It proved harder to do around cars though and a few days ago he found a ball in a field which he really enjoyed playing with and then also carried home and I realised that he also didn't react to moving cars. So that night I bought him his own orange (of course) squeaky ball and he absolutely loves it. He has had it every day to carry up and back to the field and look at the difference in his behaviour around cars whilst holding his own version of a stress ball!
He's a lovely boy and I'm enjoying walking and bonding with him ๐งก
Jen
Note: His mum is super on it and he is having pain meds for potential discomfort in his back legs. Always consider having a pain trial if your dogs behaviour changes for the worse.
#dogtrainer #dogwalker #dogtrainer #futurefocuscanines #colliesofinstagram #gonzo #reactivitytraining
โ๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐๐ ๐ฃ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ค๐ โ๐ ๐ฅ ๐ป๐๐ช๐ค
Do your dogs like a variety of healthy treats like berries? Why not try freezing them and giving them to your dog throughout the day (in small portions of say 2-4), these will act as lovely, cooling treats.
Have you got any other tips for helping our dogs in this heatwave? Share below ๐
#dogtrainer #futurefocuscanines #dogtreats #hotweatherโ๏ธ
Scout loves to munch on some tasty blackberries when we're out and about.
Does your dog like picking berries? ๐ซ
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Welcome to the FFC Gloucester family Coco, tonight was our first walk together and she was super well behaved.
Before we left the house she could see I was figuring out her harness and she jumped up, put her head through as if to say, "yep, that's correct". ๐คฃ She had a portion of her dinner before we left and we took the rest out with us for reward.
We then took a 30 min loop along the canal and around a 16th century ruin. I forgot Coco displays coprophagia, a tendency to eat feces, but she quickly reminded me ๐
I played the Ready, Steady, Go game with her to get her attention away from ๐ฉ hunting and she picked it up really quickly and she really engaged with me for the entire walk.
She had a sniffy mooch around the green and ruins, I threw some treats in the grass to help tire her as her guardian had warned beforehand there are planned fireworks at 9pm so we did lots of calm sniffing.
Back at home, I sprayed the lounge area with some @petremedyofficial calming spray which I hope helps with the loud noise later, shut all the windows and put the TV on for her.
Before I left, I gave her a dentastick from her treat jar.
I am very lucky to have the best dog walking clients ๐งก
See you tomorrow Coco ๐พ
Jen
#dogwalking #dogwalker #lovemyjob #chocolatelabradorsofinstagram #futurefocuscanines
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If you have to consider correcting your dog to within an inch of its life because you want a level of control out of this universe and you cannot fathom a world where your dog should, heaven forbid, consider sniffing the grass and not hang off of your every word, then I suggest you get a tamagotchi and not a living, sentient being who needs to be able to make some of their own decisions for the sake of their one mental well-being!
Electric shock collars and the like are NEVER the answer!
Especially if you are using them to punish the dog for simply being a dog and wanting to partake in one their most basic primal needs....to sniff!
If you need help with any aspect of your training please reach out and don't consider taking the 'quick fix' route of aversive tools.
We offer free 15 minute virtual consults to discuss your personalised needs.
Jen
#dogtraining #futurefocuscanines #dogtrainer #letthemsniff
There are lots of reasons why dogs can struggle to follow your cues or behave how you want and it's on us as owners to work on this.
Please get in touch if you're struggling with any elements of your training!
#dogtraining #dogtrainer #dogbehaviour #dogbehaviourist
If you're having trouble engaging your dog in training or they don't seem to be able to manage their usual cues at any point, it can be because they are struggling with a big surge of emotion. For some dogs this is excitement at the start of a walk but it happens in all sorts of scenarios and can be because your dog is feeling anxious, stressed, overwhelmed, fearful or over aroused.
Just how we find it hard to focus when we have an exciting day ahead of us or were nervous about a big presentation dogs will find it hard to override their emotions in order to work with us.
The first step in behaviour training is to address WHY a dog is behaving in a certain way and then look at reducing that emotional trigger, the presenting behaviour will likely reduce then anyway, and then can also be worked on when your dog is in a calm and engaging frame of mind.
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Management in dog training is under-rated. Management plays a crucial role in creating a positive environment for our dogs and setting them up for success.
1๏ธโฃ Safety First: Proper management ensures the safety of both your dog and others around them. By implementing measures like leash-walking, secure fences, and controlled environments, you can prevent potential accidents and keep your dog out of harm's way. Safety always comes first!
2๏ธโฃ Setting Clear Boundaries: Management helps establish boundaries and teaches your dog what is expected of them. Whether it's using baby gates to restrict access to certain areas or like we are doing here, using food/toys to keep your dog with you to check coast is clear. Management creates structure and promotes desirable behaviours. No force required!
3๏ธโฃ Preventing Problem Behaviours: Management techniques enable you to nip problematic behaviours in the bud. By identifying triggers and implementing strategies like redirection, environmental enrichment, and supervised interactions, you can proactively address and prevent unwanted habits from developing.
4๏ธโฃ Building Confidence: Management allows you to gradually expose your dog to new experiences and situations, helping them build confidence and overcome fears. By controlling the environment and providing positive reinforcement, you can help your dog feel secure and brave in the face of new challenges.
5๏ธโฃ Fostering Training Success: Management goes hand in hand with training. By managing your dog's environment, distractions can be minimised, allowing for better focus during training sessions. This increases the likelihood of successful learning, making training more efficient and enjoyable for you both!
Remember, management is not meant to be a long-term solution, but rather a temporary aid to facilitate learning. It should always be accompanied by positive r
Lots of dogs love chasing balls but finding a way to let them enjoy this in moderation is important.
For us using the ball as a reward works great. If she has recalled away from something particularly distracting, like another dog with a ball, then I will do a few throws and plays. Then she is getting the same fun and reinforcement from me as she would if she had ignored me and ran off to play.
#dogtraining #dogtrainer #dogbehaviour #dogbehaviourist #dog
๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐, ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐, ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐, ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฅ!
After Hugo's walk, Zara and I went off for some LLW practice which we haven't done for a few weeks.
At the start, you could tell we hadn't worked on this for a while as she was hyper-aroused by the environment and not giving me any attention. This is where consistency is key! But that's a topic for another day.
10 mins into the walk though, she was offering lovely loose lead as you can see in this video.
But, do you know the most lucrative time to give the reward?
Well demonstrated here, it's best delivered 2-3 seconds after you have given the marker and the dog has given the desired behaviour for a few seconds and then you reward.
How I have timed this is by counting (although I don't usually do this out loud, of course), it started off as 1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi and so on but tonight we went for Stafford's instead.
You want to;
๐ธMark for the moment = letting your dog know exactly what she did right at the exact moment when she did it. So, using a clicker or a word such as 'yes'.
๐ธReward for the behaviour = following up the marker with food or a toy etc as payment.
When you reward you want to wait a couple of seconds before you give payment for a couple of reasons;
๐ธIts cementing the behaviour for your dog and really embedding what you are asking of them.
๐ธIt helps stop you reaching for the treat bag or toy at the same time as marking. You want to avoid doing this so that you reaching for the treat pouch isn't an indicator to the dog that food or toys are coming and that is what they are doing the behaviour asked i.e. bribery. It's important they do the behaviour on verbal / visual cue and the treats are produced AFTER they have successfully offered what you asked for.
Here you can see I mark Zara for offering loose lead and she is rewarded after a few seconds of giving the exact behaviour I
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One of our life skills we teach at FFC is an off-lead heel cue. The cue I use for Hugo is 'here', that relays to him that I want him to walk either next to me or behind but not in front.
Why?
Its more of a safety cue, I use it when we are walking quiet down lanes like this, approaching a corner or a brow of a hill and I can't see what is on the other side or going through gates on our country walks etc.
Here you can see he has learnt to keep at my pace and stop when I stop with no other cues.
I reward when he offers the behaviour, when we reward dogs for offering a behaviour we want, it cements it within their brain.
We use both food treats and the environment as a reward too, we have a release cue 'ok', which means when he hears that word, he can be free to engage with the environment ahead however he would like, which is a reward in itself.
This isn't a cue that you can abuse though, for instance I don't use the cue in the following environments but instead use a lead;
๐ธAround livestock
๐ธAround unknown dogs
๐ธAround busy roads
๐ธAround areas with lots of people and children
Always read the environment and use a lead where it is needed.
Jen
