The Story of Benji
This is Benji, I know him very well because he attends the training club on Saturdays. He is clever, comical, gives 100% and is friendly with all other dogs and humans 😍. He lives with a wonderful family which includes two horses 🐎 🐎 . Unfortunately, one day when he was out with his mum tending to the horses, he had a frightening experience with one of the horses. It wasn’t serious and Benji bounced back quickly, so the day continued as normal. But the following day, Benji was different, in Benji’s mind the horses were now his arch enemies 👿. As time progressed, little Benji changed from a happy go lucky dog around the horses to a barking, growling, lunging and sometimes snapping dog and his mum decided to call me in to help.
The video below is of how Benji is doing 5 days into training 🤩 and the video in the comments section is of Benji ahead of the consult ☹️. What a difference. This change was all achieved with positive reinforcement – counter conditioning and gradual desensitisation. We work at Benji’s threshold, never purposely pushing him beyond his capabilities or where he is not comfortable❤️.
The horses have been wonderful and gentle during his training journey, which has helped him enormously with his learning. He can even work with the racket going on in the background (a trigger for Benji before). That is Oreo kicking the stable door – Oreo is a dressage horse who quite frankly is a Prima-donna and thinks he is honestly the most important animal on earth, so is busy having a tantrum in the stable because the spotlight is not on him 😏🙄
Cases like this make me realise I was born to be a dog trainer because whenever someone tells you that you cannot change a behaviour without harsh methods, that is untrue, because Benji is proof that you can ❤️🐶❤️
Be The Change!
#bethechange
#positivereinforcementtraining
#borntobeatrainer
#proudofBenji
#proudofowner
#gentlehorses
#Oreoisaprimadonna
Well we’ve been practicing our recall in the forest with this daycare crew and my word how we’ve nailed it!! Little Miss Independent Hattie 🖤 needs reminding what she’s supposed to be doing because she enjoys sabotaging my efforts 😏. So here I give you:
The EPIC 50m Recall 😎
The game is on owners. Goals right here 💪🏼
We practiced our 50m recall today in the forest. Chester aka “The Legend” decided the whistle blow was not quite up to the usual standard first time around and also decided someone of his status and superiority was certainly not going to recall with that rabble.
So waited patiently to be whistled again, so he could recall with full attention and glory on himself 🤣🙄
We have been working on focus in our training club classes and this class is doing so well. Most of these dogs are off leash, focusing on their owners as they cross the training circle.
A proud moment 🤩
It’s jumping over logs day at Ringwood Dogs.
I love how the biggest one takes the easiest route and the littlest one takes the highest route 😍
☔️ 🐾 the Great British Weather didn’t dampen our spirits today. Taking these doodles for a rain-soaked, ramble, hoods up and paws out. There’s a certain calmness when it rains and nothing beats having the forest to ourselves, because no one else is stupid enough to walk their dogs in the rain unless you have a Spaniel 🤣. Poppy had her coat on to keep warm and she trails a long line because she’s got a bit of dementia now and when I whistle …. Sometimes runs in the opposite direction 🤔🤨😂🫣🙄🥺
#RainyDogWalks #BritishWeatherWoes #PawsAndPuddles
Jingling in the Forest
A lovely walk with this lovely crew today. I put bells on the dog’s harnesses when walking in the forest for a few reasons:
🐶 It alerts wildlife that we are on our way. Dogs move surprisingly silently through the forest and wildlife are often familiar with their barking. The unfamiliar sound of bells alert them to their arrival and gives the opportunity for birds, rabbits, squirrels, deer etc to move away.
🐶 It allows me to hear where dogs are if I can’t see them. If you have a dog that likes to go off piste and run through the forest - a bell means you can have confidence that they are enjoying the forest even when you lose sight of them for a moment.
🐶 It indicates to the other dogs where their friends are. So if we turn left and a dog is busy sniffing, he can hear where the pack is heading and catch up.
🐶 It indicates to other dog walkers that we are coming. This gives us both a chance to move away or change direction if needed.
🐶 And lastly with Christmas coming I feel like when walking a herd of Santa’s reindeer and that’s good 🎅🏼
I get these bells from my supplier so if you want one for your dog, let me know.
Happy jingling to you all 😀
Recall
The long awaited 20 metre recall has taken place and this is the result 😁
Slo-Mo recall in the forest today. Love how my whistle sounds like a fog horn 🤣
A very peaceful walk today. I walk at the dogs’ pace, not mine. I whistle for them if I need to, not when I want to. I spend long periods of time not speaking to them - just allowing them to absorb the environment as they mooch along.
It’s their walk. Not mine.
Let them just be…….. 😍
Leading on from out Sit-Stay last week we’ve been practicing and have built up to a group 30m stay 🤩.
Such clever doggies
🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶
