Trick Training Demo
Trick training demo with Maya at the Duston Fun Day! 🎉
Fred demonstrates the watch me behaviour for a verbal cue and a hand signal. He has moved past the foundations for this exercise and is now building duration and becoming less reliant on there being food in his human’s hand when he is given the cue. Well done Fred!
[Video Description - a spaniel puppy looks up at his human when given the verbal cue “Watch” and a hand signal, and gets given a treat.]
Reactivity Training - Bear
Bear can be an anxious boy and has struggled with his reactivity towards dogs and people.
In our training sessions, he has built up a strong reinforcement history for making positive choices around his triggers.
Now he can spot another dog and automatically check in, because he knows that good things (snacks) happen when he does!
[Video Description: a chocolate Labrador on a long line spots a few dogs across the park and turns around to check in with his owner.]
Check out superstar multipurpose assistance dog in training Daisymay the Australian Labradoodle! 🌟
Daisymay demonstrates important skills here: self control, polite lead walking, the ability to disengage…
She is doing so well!
[Video Description: clips of a cream Australian Labradoodle assistance dog in training working with her handler in different environments.]
Lead Walking
If you want your dog to engage with you and walk politely without pulling…
First make sure their needs are being properly met!
Your dog should be getting regular opportunities to sniff, run, play and explore. If you aren’t giving your dog sufficient daily physical and mental stimulation, you are making it much more difficult for yourself.
Do you want your dog to pull less? Alongside positive training, make more time for sniffy walks, free runs (off-lead or on a long line), interactive play, puzzle games, and so on. Remember that walks on a short lead are not the only way you can give your dog exercise.
Think about what your dog’s favourite activities are and make the effort to incorporate more of this into your routine.
Follow for more training tips! 🐾
[Video Description: a light coloured Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier trots along on a loose short lead in the first clip. The next clips show the same dog on a longer lead sniffing and exploring nature.]
Training With Fred
Fred is a young Cocker Spaniel learning to support his human as a life-changing assistance dog.
He is still a baby, so his training is focused on building up foundation skills as he learns about the world and develops.
Pet-friendly locations can be great places to socialise puppies or introduce distractions to your training, whether you want your dog to be an assistance dog candidate or a well-balanced pet.
Despite there being a lot going on, Fred was able to offer brilliant attention and focus. What a super boy!
[Video Description: clips of a cocker spaniel working on lead walking and leave it training inside a garden centre.]
Although the evidence tells us that using rewards is the most effective and kind way to teach our dogs, dog training is an unregulated industry, and some will still try to justify the use of force with statements like:
“Treat training may work for easy dogs, but not for dogs that are high drive.”
“But you HAVE to use aversives with Malinois / German Shepherds / [insert breed here].”
“Some dogs just learn best with a heavy hand.”
These are misconceptions - the principles of learning are universal, and can be applied across all species.
Dogs of every breed, and with any issue, all benefit from a compassionate approach. Harsh methods are tied to increased anxiety, aggression and other unpleasant risks.
We strongly believe that training should be fun and enjoyable for both parties, and training should never result in your dog feeling scared, in pain or uncomfortable.
Like & Share this post to spread the message that rewards work - for every dog of every breed!
[Video Description: a sable Belgian Malinois and a white Siberian Husky mix in a sit stay in a field. Above them the text in the video reads “Myth: Some dogs need harsh training and a firm hand because of their breed.” / “Reality: ALL dogs can learn through positive reinforcement!” Both dogs are recalled and run towards the camera.]
Recall With Acorn
Recall - this cue could save your dog’s life!
A strong recall response is an important safety behaviour, even if you don’t intend to let your dog off lead.
Acorn the Cockerpoo is doing very well with his recall training, and is learning to come back even if there are other dogs nearby.
Want advice on teaching recall? We have a blog post that covers recall tips (Do You Recall? – Everyone Loves a Good Comeback).
You can find this at https://thinkdogstraining.co.uk/do-you-recall-everyone-loves-a-good-comeback/
Let your dog ✨ Be A Dog ✨
Remember to regularly give your dog the opportunity to practice natural behaviours.
Structured reward-based training is very valuable, but your dog also needs the chance to sniff, chew, dig, chase, forage, run freely, and just..
✨ Be A Dog ✨
Stay With Food Distraction
Sweet little girl Bonnie working on a sit stay with distraction, and smashing it!
[Video Description: a fluffy Shih Tzu x Poodle sits and waits while a treat is held out ahead of her. Text on the video reads:
“Bonnie the Shih-Poo
Sir stay with food distraction
Well done, Bonnie!”]
It’s not about being a “pack leader”.
If someone says that your dog doesn’t “respect you” as a “pack leader”, that is a red flag! 🚩
This is a sign of old-school thinking based on misconceptions around dominance theory, and speaks to a misunderstanding about how dogs work.
Positive behaviour change doesn’t come from “pack leadership” - it comes from a good understanding of motivation and an approach that accounts for the animal’s needs.
My dogs don’t see me as an authoritarian force, and I wouldn’t want them to. The time we have with our dogs is far too short as it is, I want them to feel safe snd happy.
If you want to find out how to encourage good habits from your dog using a kind and cooperative approach, get in touch today!
[Video Description: Jasper feeds treats to two dogs - a sable Belgian Malinois and a white Husky cross. Text on the video reads: “It’s not about being a “pack leader”. It’s about:
Having compassion
Showing empathy
Understanding motivation
Meeting emotional needs
Promoting positive wellbeing
Share if you agree!”]
Rewards that your dog can lick at can be a great way to build duration and encourage focus.
Ophie did very well working on a down in a dog-friendly cafe with lots of distractions.
Some ideas for squeezy/lick-able rewards that you can try with your dog:
🐾 Liver paste
🐾 Primula squeezy cheese
🐾 Baby food sachets
🐾 Wet/raw food in a reusable tube
What’s your dog’s favourite reward?
Training with Adrian
Adrian worked very hard in his recent training session. We have been working on building confidence around retrieving objects for one of his assistance dog tasks, and he also had the chance to brush up on some public access skills.
As you can see, Adrian is a very well behaved boy who loves to work. He successfully maintained a loose lead walking past merchandise on the shelves at Tesco.
He also practiced stays in public - a helpful skill for all dogs, but one that is especially crucial for assistance dogs who must be highly-trained and able to focus on their handler in a range of environments.
This partnership is doing brilliantly. Well done! 👏
[Video Description: a red Labrador Retriever wearing an assistance dog vest walks through a shop with his handler. In the next clip he performs a sit stay in front of some shelves.]
Young assistance dog in training Coco showing brilliant focus as he crosses the road. Well done Coco!#dogtraining #dogtrainer
Fred is a gorgeous puppy who did great working on puppy foundations and socialisation in his one to one session. Here he is learning to lay down for a food lure, as you can see he did great!
In her last training session before Christmas, Lyra worked on her stays in Primark. She had a lot of distractions to navigate as she was working, with many people doing their holiday shopping.
Lyra is becoming an expert at ignoring strangers in crowds (even though she would love to say hi and give them a “boop”) and is also doing very well with her impulse control skills for food on the floor, which is an especially big temptation for a Labrador!
A huge well done to this team for all their hard work and everything they have achieved in 2023. 👏👏
Lyra being a super star 🌟 in her training session on Public Access skills.
Lyra is now 1 year old and is doing phenomenally with her handler. I have had the privilege of working with this partnership from day one, having assessed her for her suitability for an Assistance Dog role as a young puppy.
She is now starting to learn about focusing on her handler in non-pet friendly public places, and did brilliantly navigating Rushden Lakes on a busy wekeend. Lyra is doing great as they work through the challenges of adolescence.
Well done team! All your hard work is paying off. 👏
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#Accessibility - VD: Lyra the pale yellow Labrador practicing loose lead walking alongside her handler in a wheelchair inside a shop.
Lyra absolutely smashed her training session at HobbyCraft last week - she practiced public access skills, task training and worked on confidence around using the lift.
She is still young, but making incredible progress all the time and it’s been a privilege to support this partnership with their journey.
Well done team! 👏
#Accessibility - VD: a light yellow Labrador in a blue AD jacket works alongside her handler who is a wheelchair user, practicing different skills inside HobbyCraft.
Join #assistancedogintraining Mars for a session on Public Access in Exeter!
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#Accessibility - VD: a series clips of a brown and white Bully practicing PA training and tricks.
Join #assistancedogintraining Mars for a session on Public Access in Exeter! - #Accessibility - VD: a series clips of a brown and white Bully practicing PA training and tricks. #dogtraining #assistancedog #dogtrainer
