Man, what a journey.
Cyrus, you have taught me a lot. He has been the most extreme fear case I’ve worked with to date, and at times I really struggled to see the light at the end of the tunnel. At points, I thought, “There is no way I can get this dog to play with me; it just isn’t happening.” I even questioned if I was ever going to be able to get him to lie down in public or deal with me clapping (as the first time I clapped, he literally—not metaphorically—pooped himself and the moment you go to a new location he would often poo himself ).
I have learned to trust the journey, and sometimes things just take longer than we had expected (10 weeks).
With me, I have got him to a very livable place. I know his limits, and he trusts me not to push them too often. He won’t ever be a take-to-the-city-for-a-street-walk sort of dog and will always have a flight reflex in certain contexts, so a degree of management will always be needed. But, we can live a really cool life, and he can have plenty of joyful moments.
While the hard part is not done, we now have to try to transfer this to Mum and Dad, which will take some time as there is a lot of trust and leadership that has to be rebuilt. But for now, I’m just enjoying reflecting on the journey.
#dogs #dogtraining #labrador #canines #pets #pet #playheals
I don’t post really any videos of my dogs’ training, as when I train my dogs, it is really for me and them. It’s something super special that we do together. But I want to encourage you to train with your dog; it’s about collaborating, growing, and working together.
Have fun, train something, and make sure it taps into your dog’s genetic desires. Dedicating time to work together to build something fun and cool is priceless and done right is just fun for all involved.
This is my young dog Janet, we muck around with a few different things.
#labrador #retriever #canines #goldenretriever #dogs #pets #canines #dogsofinstagram
This is a clip from Nova’s first heeling/loose leash walking session.
It looks pretty different from how most teach it 😉
No sticking to the driveway, going left, going right until the dog is so bored out of their brains that they don't even want to go on a walk anymore…
Some struggle to get their dogs to walk with them, others can easily get their dogs to walk with them but then their dogs lose the confidence to be away from their handler (we call this a sticky dog, and it is often created via handler error)
Good training should be able to give you both.
A dog that can work and be free away from you without conflict and a dog who can calmly be with you without conflict.
I would rather see a dog who doesn't walk on a loose leash than a dog who is stuck behind you unable to leave even you were to tell them it was ok to leave.
But ultimately, with smart training, the right tools and techniques we really can easily have both.
And that is what we always are aiming for. Confidence when independent, and confidence when in behaviour (heeling)
A lot of this boils down to clarity and how predictable the human is holding the leash.
Watch this space and we will uploading more videos in a few weeks when we have her heeling down to a T 😉
The evolution of my training.
Over the years, my training has evolved so much. One of the big changes over the last few years is the strive to have a dog, that can make good decisions absent the need to be in a behaviour.
The goal is true clarity. Often, I see dogs that are reliant on the structured heel or behehaviours to make good decisions. My goal is to teach the dogs to make good decisions absent obedience.
Of course, we teach them to heel, down etc. But I don’t want any confusion. If they are getting reprimanded for trying to eat another dog, I want them to associate that with trying to eat another dog. Not for them to think, “Crap, I came out of heel; I better get back into position so we can move on.”
This is a subtle difference, but it has made a huge difference in our training.
Training is an evolving art, but you also need a good coach. Doing the TWC course has made me make very subtle changes to my training plans, yet those subtle changes have changed so much.
I highly recommend this course for any serious dog trainers out there @trainlikeivan
#dogs #dogtraining #canines #germanshepherd #dogsofinstagram #gsd
Rocky kicks off the year as the first dog in for boarding school. In this video he is just pissed that he can't get to the chickens.
He has come in to work on his dog-to-dog issues and a lot of craziness around birds and cats.
Rocky has a strong, dominant/self-assured personality. 🐕💪 It’s crucial to understand and respect his nature – with dogs he will never be the happy-go-lucky type or thrive in situations with unfamiliar dogs. With that being said, he absolutely adores people, but you have to be careful not to make him feel like you are entering into a battle with him, as if you do, he isn’t going to back down from that. You have to be smart about it as respect has to be earned; it can’t be demanded.
A pivotable part of training is focusing on the bird and cat issue. When your dog is walking down the street hunting for cats and birds, they are in a very different headspace mentally compared to a dog just going for a nice walk with you.
Then what happens when a dog pops out? They kick off so much more intensely as they are already in a heightened prey state of mind. So as we work hard on the prey, we get a lot of leverage for every other issue.
With any training, we are looking to drastically decrease the frequency of the problem behavior(s); it’s not always possible to completely get rid of them. In many cases, that would mean asking the dog not to be a dog.
So, I’m confident we can see some great progress with this boy, but he will still be who he is, and that will forever require a degree of management.
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#dogs #dogtraining #canines #germanshepherd #pets #germanshepherd #dogtrainerslife #boardingschool
Who else is absolutely thrilled to be a dog owner in New Zealand?
🐾 We're truly blessed with a doggy paradise here. Unlike many countries, we can freely swim, hike, and walk our dogs without the worry of dangerous predators or parasites like snakes, spiders, crocs, bears, wolves, lions, leeches, and more. 🌳🦮
Our biggest danger? politicians and councilors!
Until the bureaucrats destroy it, cheers to the Kiwi life with our dogs!!
Working on this little guys “reactivity” aka barking at other dogs. This is the 5th session, and for the first few session we didn’t even touch the reactivity. The thing is. If you get the mechanics right, get the foundations right and then bring it all together. You are far more likely to have success. I mean look what happened in this session when we bought 5wks of training all together ?! If you’re having problems with your dog’s behaviour, never hit it head on. Always address the issues away from the big problem, and then come back to it. Stoked with how they are tracking, but months more training to do! #dogtraining #corgi #reactivity #reactivitytraining #canines #pets #pet #dogs #dog #dogsofinstagram
Lol, orange at the end “ill just take that thank you!”
No matter what tools you use, the concepts are always the same. If you control the motivation, we control the dog (s) a distraction is simply something that is more motivating to the dog than you.
But in many cases we can change that, with smart training and a good rapport.
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#dogs #dogtraining #dog #dogsofinstagram #canines #pets #canine #advenutre #fun
He is a lot cute.
Don’t forget, the most important time to get your puppy out and about is 8-16 weeks old. We can be sensible about this, but you must get them out. Let them see the world; they don’t have to interact with it. It is about quality interactions, and for goodness sake, do not take your puppy to a dog park.
They don’t need to play with lots of dogs; they need to learn to build a rapport with you, not with random dogs.
Seeking professional help to get your puppy started on the right track can rep the rewards later on in their life. So if you have a new puppy or are getting one. Reach out!
To book your puppy in for some training, either contact us @trainingschoolfordogs or email @petadventuresnz directly :)
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#puppy #puppydevelopment #training #cannes #pets #pet #puppytraining #earlylearning #rottweiler
We are excited that Ripley will be going to a home for a trial. She is such a cool dog and we hope she can bring her future owner as much joy as she has for me.
She has even taught me a few things along this journey which will make me a better trainer.
We have done so much with this dog training wise. But Here is a little clip of her first day assessing what commands she knows / doesn't and now :)
Riley has been working with us on her fear-induced barking. Previously, she would wind herself up, entering a really distressed state. And just would not snap out of it, which is super stressful and can frankly be incredibly irritating for an owner to have to live with.
Our goal isn’t merely to stop the barking (other trainers have attempted that already). Instead, our focus lies in altering Riley’s emotional state. By changing how she feels, the fear-induced barking gradually becomes less and less frequent.
I intentionally use ‘less frequent’ because complete elimination isn’t always achievable. Even if surprised or caught off guard, her instinct to bark remains. However, consistent guidance and training shorten her recovery time to mere seconds.
I’m stocked with where we are at with her training. But, things can backwards in days with a dog like this. You have to be on it.
#dogs #training #canines #adventures #dogtraining #riley #pets #boardingschool #boardandtrain #queenstowndog
There is a lot of work that needs to be done with this lady.
This is pretty much how all our play sessions go at the moment.
Sometimes she makes me work harder than other times, that is all part of it☺️ meet the dog where they're at.
Find something that lights up the dogs world, and then bring that into the environments that they struggle in. This is how you start to change how the dog feels towards these environments!
Don’t have anything that lights up your dogs world? Then you potentially have much bigger problems than you realise.
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#dogs #germanshepherd #pets #canines #dog #dogsofinstagram
As a second video to Riley's, the next stage tends to start to look like this, far from the end goal. But you have to start to make the player. No one is born with the skills of the Williams sisters; even the Williams sisters had to learn and be guided into becoming the players they are today.
Put in the hours to turn your dog into a player.
If you're going to invest in one video for teaching your dog to play, this is the one ->
This is the one -> https://academy.trainingwithoutconflict.com/chase-catch-2-0
#dogs #rescue #dogsofinstagram #dogtraining #canines #dog
Often this is how play sessions start, sometimes you have to just keep giving the dog more than they’re giving you.
Sometimes you just have to look silly. It’s as simple as that hahahaa
Eventually, it does happen.
#dogs #germanshepherd #CanineCompanions #canines #dogtraining #dog #dogwalking #dogsofaucklandnz #doglover #doglover #dogsofinstagram
Here is a little clip from a 20min play and train session, learning to move into the heel position.
Things are starting to happen for Ripley. Don’t forget she is still available for adoption.
Via Boxers and Bullies -> https://myhooman.com/animals/profile/1617
She will make someone very happy so please tell your friends to get in-touch.
A little glimpse of our weekend maintenance walk from last weekend! 🌿🌞 We had a great walk today, even though it meant missing the second half of the All Blacks playing! 🏉 We made a commitment to turn up, Sunday after Sunday to support the owners who are also willing to make that commitment. So giving up Sunday mornings is a worthy sacrifice. Remember, training your dog is a lifestyle not a phase.To top it off how great to hear that the ABs pulled through!💕 #Dogs #Walking #Training #AllBlacks #dogtraining #caninwa #rwc #support #community #dogtraining #uptheABs
🐾 **Training Insights: The Importance of Feedback!** 🗣️✋Communication with our furry friends is key to a strong, healthy bond. Just like us, dogs need feedback - both in words and touch. 🐶❤️✅ **Praise for the Right Thing:** When your pup does something right, let them know! Positive reinforcement, whether it’s verbal praise or gentle pets, tells them they’re on the right track. It’s a way of saying, “Good job, buddy!”⏸️ **Permission to Stop:** Dogs thrive on clarity. If they’re engaged in an activity, they appreciate knowing when it’s okay to stop. Whether it’s playtime, a command, or a task, clear cues help your pup understand when they can take a breather.❌ **Correction for the Wrong Thing:** Feedback isn’t just about praise; it’s also about correction when needed. Gentle guidance or redirection helps your dog understand what’s not acceptable behavior or what simply what is wrong. It’s about teaching and setting boundaries.If you just ignore them when they do something wrong, there is literally no way for them to know that it was in fact wrong.Remember, our dogs are constantly learning from us, and feedback is their language. Let’s speak it fluently, nurturing a stronger connection with our furry companions. 🐾🐕 #DogTrainingTips #FeedbackMatters #PositiveReinforcement #ClearCommunication #HappyPups #TrainingTogether 🐶❤️ #dogtraining #dogs #rescuedog #rescue
🐾 Training Insights: Relying on the Pack - Why We Cringe at “Pack Rehabilitation” as a primary method of training🤝When it comes to training dogs, I prefer not to rely too heavily on pack dynamics. In fact, I limit pack work because it can sometimes provide misleading results and a false sense of accomplishment. This is why we cringe at the concept of “pack rehabilitation.” and trainers who this term.🚫 The False Positive Trap: Working with a group of dogs can create an illusion of success, making it seem like a nervous or anxious dog is doing better than they actually are. It can be tempting to think, “We’re making progress!” when, in reality, the issues remain unresolved.🐾 The Role of Staple Dogs: In certain cases, we introduce a well-adjusted, “staple” dog to assist a nervous companion. This can provide comfort and a sense of security for the anxious dog, helping them get started on their training journey. However, it’s crucial not to rely on this support exclusively.📜 The Importance of a Training Plan: While we’ve brought in two of our incredibly stable and environmentally-proof dogs to help Stella start her training, it’s essential to emphasize that this is just the beginning. We want her to feel secure, but it’s not a long-term solution.🦮 Guard Against Over-Reliance: Relying too heavily on pack support can lead to dependency issues and hinder the development of a tailored training plan for the individual dog.Our goal is to empower Stella to grow and thrive independently, so while the support of her peers is helpful, it’s not the end game. Stay tuned as we share updates on Stella’s journey towards becoming a confident and happy pup! 🌟🐶❤️ #TrainingInsights #DogTraining #PackDynamics #StellaThePup #SupportAndIndependence #TrainingJourney #PackRehabilitation 🐾🐕 #pitbull #dogs #training #rescuedog #rescue
🐾 Meet Stella: A Brave Pup on a Journey! 🌟Today, we want to introduce you to Stella, Max's sister, who's currently in for some training. In the video, you can see that she's feeling pretty petrified right now. 😔Training can be a transformative experience, but it requires the right mindset. When a pup is overwhelmed and anxious, like Stella, it's essential to take things slow. 💤This is just the beginning—a preliminary assessment. To be honest, Stella's initial state is more challenging than we anticipated. But here's the thing: every pup has the potential to learn and grow, and Stella is no exception. 🐶💪We're here to provide the patience, guidance, and support she needs on this journey. 🤝 Stay tuned as we share updates on Stella's progress #StellaThePup #TrainingJourney #PatienceIsKey #PuppyLove #DogTraining #ProgressInProgress 🐕🐾...#pitty #dogs #training #rescue #dogtraining #dog
