DogCue

26/10/2021

03/10/2020

Took this guy out for some solid exposure training today. He may be almost 5 (wtf!?), but training is a forever thing. It doesn’t stop once they grow out of that puppy stage. We went to to grab some food. Then we headed into town for a walk in a busy environment and to practice some downstays. Then headed to the river for a quick walk. This guy was awesome 🥰❤️

15/08/2020

Took Kyro to the park to throw his ball today. The dog barking is across the road behind its fence. If you look closely, you’ll also see three little dogs walking past the fence (they’re what the other dog is barking at) Kyro could see all of these dogs. Six months ago, the barking and the dogs in sight would have been a massive trigger for Kyro to bark. The fact he was comfortable enough to lie down and play with his ball, knowing that the dogs were behind him is a massive deal for us 😍😍. Consistency is key with any training. No quick fixes or shortcuts here 👌🏻

10/08/2020

This was week 1 of working with Pippa. I have since done another session with her and she’s improved lots! Pippa’s owner just wants Pippa to walk with some manners instead of pulling. She’s pretty good in this video. The second session we worked on that rushing ahead you see her do at the beginning of the video. This first session (this video) was more teaching her about leash pressure. This dog is a lot of fun to work with 😍

09/08/2020

Had friends from Auckland pass through Nelson today with their pack. Kyro was soooo happy to get out for a run with a pack again 😍. We had a lot of fun. Cassie and Hayden are on instagram if you want to give them a follow. Look at all these good dogs.

04/08/2020

A video from a bit of training in town last week. One of my favourite things to do with a dog is taking them to a busy(ish) environment and getting them to relax. I’ve been doing this with Kyro for quite some time now and he’s pretty good at it. He knows he needs to just chill and take it all in without getting wound up or excited.

I think it’s really important to teach dogs how to do this. If they can relax it makes it so much easier to have them around and involve them in day to day life.

Ky was more tired after this than he is after a run 😂. All that mental stimulation is tiring for them.

02/08/2020

Did some leash work with this pretty girl today 😍😍. Pippa is a lab cross and she’s so cool!

25/07/2020

As promised, a video of some leash training.

Kyro knows how to walk on a leash nicely so this isn't so much teaching him, it's just showing some things that I incorporate into teaching it.

You'll notice I don't use treats in this video. My main tools when teaching this to a dog are my body language, my energy ( I know that sounds a bit hippie, but dogs really do feed off and respond to your energy) and my leash when needed. I do use treats with some dogs, it's dependant on their temperament and circumstances.

I make a point of never holding my leash tightly or wrapping it around my wrist. With Kyro, it generally just rests on my finger. WIth a stronger dog, I would clip the leash to my body when first teaching leash walking. This makes sure the dog is safe and I don't have to hold the leash in a death grip.

This is just a quick summary of some body language stuff mainly. Also showing you that when your dog knows this, they should follow you and your pace - not the other way around. A calm dog is a lot easier to work with in this scenario which is why I get Kyro as calm as possible.

Some of the words on this video flick by a bit quickly so you may want to pause it to read 😊

17/07/2020

Long read, but a good one!

”One of the First questions I ask clients who come to me for advice on behavior or training for obedience is, “Why did you Choose this breed?”
So many times the answer is, “Because they are really cool dogs!”
This, of course, is not a valid reason for choosing one breed over another.
When you see a dog doing what he was bred to do, harkening back to his ancestors whispering into their ears, telling them exactly how they should perform the task....well, it can make you weep.
EVERY dog needs a job, a purpose to validate them. A job that makes them stand proud and causes his tail to wag and his heart to smile.
Dogs were bred to work alongside humans, and they consider that a high calling.....along with educating us.....
And if one does not have sheep for a Collie or rabbits for a Beagle, or rats for a Terrier, there are still other functions for them to perform within their households. Our job is to find that activity, introduce it to the dog, and enjoy the companionship.

There's a woman that jogs with her GSD every day by the Indiana K9 Learning Center. She puts a prong collar on her huge working dog and off they go. We had a nice visit over the fence the other day. I complimented her on her dog's manners. I stood about six feet from her when we initially met and he was relaxed and unconcerned. (And no, I didn't ask if I could pet him). That's when I find out what a mean owner she is.

Her large GSD carries a doggy style backpack with water in it and she's been told that's mean.

She stopped at a yard sale, bought some books, put them in the backpack and she was told that's mean.

She's been chastised for running her dog with her because running a dog is mean.

I'm not sure why someone would feel that a 100 pound working breed isn't capable of carrying 10 pounds of books but someone did. I'd say that person has never looked up what a GSD was bred for. It's bred for work!

I know a Canadian that has huge herds of sheep free ranging on hundreds of acres. He has two border collies that he sends out as a team to round them up and bring them in to be counted. They'd go out before the sun was up and by mid afternoon they'd have them gathered in a large pen for him. He'd do a head count, open the gate and off they'd go. Imagine the intelligence and duration those dogs have to do that seven days a week! Now take those dogs and put them in an apartment. Yowza!

How about the frustrated woman who brought her German Short Haired Pointer in for classes...AKC's website said the breed is "easy to train" so she got one. She's a white collar wife with a young son who lives in a suburban neighborhood. That breed may be easy to train for a hunter or someone that is experienced with independent, strong willed breeds but she was really struggling with him. His energy level, strong personality and tenacity is a requirement for the job he was bred to do but a typical owner will really struggle with this breed.

Can we all agree on something right here, right now? Every dog that is in a home, in a shelter, in the show ring, or anywhere else comes from someone that was breeding dogs for a purpose. It may be way back in the dog's pedigree but it's there. Hunting, fighting, chasing, pulling, retrieving, protecting, patrolling, killing...your dog laying at your feet right now has ancestors that did at least one of those tasks very, very well. Those instincts don't disappear when they walk through your front door and become your family pet.

There's a reason terriers are tough! Because you have to be a tenacious little s**t to go down a hole after a rodent bigger than you knowing you're likely to get bitten.

There's a reason you can't get your beagle's nose off the ground during agility classes. Watch a youtube video of beagles in the field!

There's a reason your whippet wants to chase every squirrel in the yard. Watch a youtube video of sighthounds lure coursing!

There's a reason that cattle dogs go in low and nip anything moving. Watch a youtube video of them working cattle!

Here's the kicker...a cattle dog that goes in low and nips is probably the result of someone's responsible breeding. Same with the beagle, the whippet and the border collie. Those are desirable behaviors in each breed.

Understanding the propensity of certain behaviors in breeds and mixes will help owners understand where the behavior is coming from. It doesn't mean the dog gets a free pass for the behavior, but someone looking for an agility dog may not want to go with a bloodhound "because I just love their ears" or a herding breed "because I want a dog to lay around all weekend with."

All of us in the dog industry, including shelters and rescues, have a responsibility to the dogs we're in charge of and the people that want to add them to their family. We're responsible to educate the uneducated.”

- Michelle Steigmeyer, Indiana K9 Learning Center

Book reference: Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds by Caroline Coile, PHD.

11/07/2020

👌🏻🙌🏻

If you’ve got “that” dog; the one who recalls every time, walks without a care, and who is an all around polite lady or gentleman...rejoice.

If you don’t need the structure, the rules, the tools, and the leadership I constantly write and talk about...rejoice.

But remember, a singular experience — yours — doesn’t equate to a universal one.

There are many out there who don’t have “that” dog. Many who are struggling, terribly. Whether it’s with the anxiety/stress/fear of getting through another walk/vet visit/guest arrival/dog fight — or it’s the hope of even keeping their dog in the home, or alive — there are many not so lucky.

So if you find yourself looking down your nose at those with all the gear, and all the rules, and all the other “unnecessary” stuff, be sure to pause. When you have it good, judgement comes easy.

But it’s those with limited empathy and imagination...and inflated ego and accomplishment, who do so.

I’ve had “both” dogs. I’ve had a dog killer, and I’ve had a dream dog. I needed different rules, different structure, different management, and yes, different tools for each.

Having been on both sides, I don’t confuse luck with skill and accomplishment, or failure and shame.

Both of these dogs came to me like that.

Remember that next time you judge another for using the tools, rules, and leadership you find so unnecessary.

Perhaps next time you won’t be so lucky.

26/06/2020

If you’ve been here a while, you’ll know that Kyro has a wee issue with barking at other dogs while out walking. Lockdown gave us the perfect opportunity to work on this with so many people out walking their dogs and having to keep their distance. He’s soooooo much better now and hardly barks at all 🙌🏻. We went for a walk today and a little off lead dog came chasing after us barking. Then it’s sibling followed suit. Kyro looked back to see what all the noise was about but very quickly whipped back around to look up at me 😍😍. This new reaction to seeing dogs has taken a lot of reinforcement and good timing.

I’m so proud of him and had to share this awesome little moment we had today 🥰. This photo was taken just before it happened ❤️

16/06/2020

Aw Hunter 🥰.

Hunter was one of the dogs I took out on pack walks in Auckland (if you scroll down a bit, there’s a video of me walking his yellow lab brother, Lui too). Hunter was a big puller for his owners so it was really cool to get him walking like this to make their lives a bit easier!

Would anyone be interested if I posted a video about loose leash walking and a quick explanation on how to teach it?

05/06/2020

Genetics in breeds are very much a thing!

If your Labrador likes running around with random things in his mouth, he's a good dog. If your Jack Russell loves to chase small animals she's a good girl. If your cattledog likes nipping the heels of any fast moving creature that’s a fine example of its class. If your husky pulls like a draft horse while connected to a harness, SENSATIONAL!!
If your German shepherd guards your property with great vigilance, give that dog a bone 🦴 .... or do you have a Beagle that ignores you when it catches a whiff of something novel on the ground? Well that's just lovely!

Before dogs became family pets, they were selectively bred for a plethora of different jobs and purposes; Retrieve ducks, round up livestock, bail up lions, guard properties and pull sleds.

The behaviours mentioned above shouldn’t just be written off as ‘behavioural’ issues, they should be celebrated as genetic gifts.
Instead of trying to suppress your dogs natural desires or instincts, consider embracing these traits and harnessing them into positive outlets.

It’s the reason we acquired a Belgian Malinois for bite work, Springer Spaniels for scent work and an Aussie Shepherd for trick work.

Find an appropriate hobby that gives your dog a positive genetic outlet and makes them feel GOOD about themselves as well as addressing that ‘problem’ behaviour.
📸 -

01/06/2020

I’ve decided to start crating Kyro at night again. He sleeps in my room and is moving from his bed to my spare pillows to my bed in a loop and it’s getting annoying! He seems to do this every couple of years 🤷🏼‍♀️.

He hasn’t been in a crate since we moved to Nelson, I didn’t pack his one to bring so I haven’t had one. Today I bit the bullet and bought one.

Kyro was crate trained as a puppy and slept in one until he was about 10 months old. He was crated when we went out during the day until he was about 18 months. So because of that, he takes pretty easily to a crate when I reintroduce it to him. This is him, about 10 minutes after I set it up. Keep in mind he hasn’t seen one in over a year. This is because of all the work I did when he was a puppy. He’s pretty happy in there.

I set it up today and got him going in it and lying down. When he did, I rewarded him. Then I closed the door and rewarded him - you get the idea. Within minutes he was happy to just chill in there (while I played crash bandicoot 😂). I’m so stoked with him 😍.

The point of this is to show how handy proper crate training can be through a dogs life. It’s so good to know that if I need to crate him, I can.

31/05/2020

Recall training with Kyro dog today!

I have been so slack with this lately and it has shown 😅. Today we chucked our WildDog longline on (the best longline I have ever used fyi, super lightweight and easy to clean), chucked a pouch full of possyum dogroll on and headed to the park. This wee guy did awesome and had so much fun.

Just a reminder to get out and train your dog, they love it 😍. And it makes life so much easier if done consistently!

31/05/2020

Love this 🙌🏻

15/05/2020

But please always ask before patting other people’s dogs!! You never know if a dog is afraid of strangers etc. don’t just wander up and pat dogs. Ever. My dog isn’t that keen on strangers so I know exactly what it’s like to not want people touching your dog.

We can pat other people's dogs again but wash your hands after, Bloomfield says.

08/05/2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8FOH4rnCoA

Super cool video from BalancedK9 on how to teach a reliable recall. Check these guys out :)

All products hand made by my wife. https://wilddog.co.nz Get yourself a Long-line 👌🏿 https://wilddog.co.nz/collections/long-lines Flat buckle that'll last yo...

06/05/2020

Keep your walks with your dog interesting.

Today, we headed into town for a bit of structure around more distractions. Kyro did super well considering the construction that was going on!

On our way home we stopped at the park, chucked the longline on him and threw the ball around while people and dogs walked past. He did really well with that too!

Sometimes we just walk around the block which is completely fine. We just don’t do the same loop every day otherwise it becomes boring.

I like to change it up to keep my dog interested and engaged. Today’s adventure means that tomorrow will probably just be a 10 minute walk around the block - if we do anything at all.

I like to mix it up. A 10 minute walk, a 5k walk, a bush walk, a short walk to the park to throw the ball around, a walk in town etc. Have a think about different walks you can take your dog on!

How cute is Kyro 😍

28/04/2020

My dog tattoo 😍. These wee dog ears are my 4th tattoo and one of my favourites. I wanted something to represent my love of dogs and came across a design very similar to this. I just changed the ears to look more like collie ears as border collies are my breed. My nephew pointed at it yesterday and asked why I had a dog head on my ankle 😂. Thought I’d share it here 😊.

26/04/2020

Littermate syndrome.

Buying or adopting littermates is something that myself and a whole lot of other trainers advice against doing.

Raising littermates together beyond that 8-9 week mark can cause lots of issues and is a lot harder than having one dog or dogs a year or so apart. To put it simply, when you bring littermates home they tend to bond very closely to each other which makes it hard for you to bond with each dog.

If you’ve already brought littermates home, then make sure you do things with them individually. Put them in separate crates, take them on separate walks, put them in separate puppy classes etc. Doing things with them individually can make such a big difference. The last thing you want is for them to become really dependent on each other and unable to function while the other dog isn’t around.

Bonus pic of Kyro and one of his littermates that was taken a few years ago when we got them together for a play. They were about 6 months old I think. Fun fact, his brother (Sid) is almost double Ky’s size 😂.

24/04/2020

Quite a good little article! I believe that the word 'socialisation' when it comes to dogs and dog training can be quite confusing and therefore the word 'exposure' is a better fit. The below quote from the article is a good example of that. Exposing a fearful puppy to a stranger from a distance and nice and slowly will work better than just forcing them into a strangers arms.

“the socialization process itself is often misunderstood. Forcing a worried puppy into a stranger’s arms can backfire and teach him that strangers are to be feared, regardless of whether he is still within the sensitive period.”

You can still help your new puppy or dog to navigate the world during COVID-19.

16/04/2020

Thought we’d give this wee challenge a go! He managed to clear it at two rows higher than I thought he would be able to 😳. Maybe we should try agility 😂

10/04/2020

Autumn neighborhood walks. I looooove autumn 😍😍

05/04/2020

Neighborhood walks with this guy. Appreciating sunny Nelson more than ever at the moment ❤️

31/03/2020

Finally got this on video!
This is Kyro seeing a man and his dog walking on the other side of the road (you’ll notice his walk turn into more of a trot when he sees them). His reaction used to be barking. Now his reaction is looking up at me (most of the time) 🙌🏻🙌🏻. When the camera goes all weird. I’m tossing him a treat 😂.
So proud!

30/03/2020

Just playing around with Kyro and his tricks. A quick wee video of some recall, stays and some fun tricks he knows. This is purely just for fun and to get his brain working. Enjoy 😊

29/03/2020

Hey team! Sorry for the lack of content. Just adjusting to the new “normal” for a bit. I’m going to try and video a bit of Kyro and I doing some work tomorrow though. For now, here’s something that makes me laugh so I’m hoping it’ll make you laugh too 😂😂.

22/03/2020

Not just puppies, good idea for all dogs 😊

14/03/2020

Kyro’s ‘off lead’ walks are generally done with a long line at the moment. This is our reality at the moment. And that’s totally okay!

Ky naturally doesn’t go too far from me and his recall is pretty good. So the longline isn’t really used to train recall with him.

I just use it as a back up so I can give him space from what might trigger his barking. I generally don’t have to touch the lead now as he has made soooo much progress and I’m so happy with him! The majority of the time he can walk past dogs with no issue. I feel like he is ready to be completely off lead again but when I feel like that I always wait about a month longer. If I let him off too early and he barks, it’ll set us back in our training. He generally walks beside me with the longline dragging and when he sees something that used to cause him to bark he will look up at me (it’s taken a lot of work to get to this point) but sometimes if a dog is high energy or quite big (what Kyro struggles with the most) I will grab the lead and walk Kyro off to the side to give him some space. I’m able to work him a lot closer to his triggers now without him reacting which is amazing 🙌🏻. But having that lead means I know I can get Ky away from a dog who he may bark at. If I didn’t have the lead, Kyro could get himself so worked up barking that I can’t get through to him - that hasn’t happened for a looong time but it was our reality for a while - and would have to try and grab his collar and pull him away. The lead gives me heaps of time to get Kyro away.

The longline is an amazing tool and Kyro still gets a whole heap of freedom but it just gives me that little bit more control when I need it.

I’m so stoked with him 😍