Play is a huge opportunity to build and strengthen the bond you have with your dog.
There is a misconception amongst some that playing tug with your dog will increase or cause aggression, nothing could be further from the truth. When us humans play sport or any kind of game there are rules and if we choose not to follow them the games over. Apply this same principle with your dogs and the learning opportunities that can benefit dog and handler in everyday life are almost endless.
A good friend, trainer and mentor of mine uses the analogy of a manual gearbox when teaching tug. Start in neutral and slowly work your way up through the gears returning to neutral before shifting up into the next gear. This slowly teaches the dog to control its impulses gradually over time as you increase your energy.
This boy stayed with me recently and here we are teaching a solid ‘Out’ and here’s the most important thing , the dog is learning and having fun. 🐾
One thing I am always particular about is working around thresholds be it doorways, gates or getting in and out of cars. This is not only a great opportunity to install manners and work on impulse control but it might just save your dogs life.
When I first met this boy he was very pushy and would try mouthing to get out of the vehicle. It’s taken some time but today he nailed it.
Good job Mav 🐾
Say Gidday to Parker 🐾
I have posted videos on my page before showing how I won Parker’s trust and cut his nails the last time he stayed.
He is a dog that had a bad reaction to having his paws handled and as a result had to be sedated at the vets to have his nails clipped.
He is back and his owners have asked me to cut his nails again but this time I’m trying a different approach using play. This is day 2 and there’s lots of work to be done, look at his ears, he leans back and turns his face away however he can walk away at any point if he so wishes. It’s a fine line as I don’t want to undo the trust between us but I’m confident he will let me continue as planned. Watching back the video I can see what I suspected at the time, I need to calm down the play a notch or two. This is why it’s a great idea to record your training sessions as you spot the mistakes you make.
Today I set out to work my dogs plus one more who is currently staying with us around stock.
More on this later….
You can’t always control everything in the environment and out of nowhere appeared a helicopter. One of these dogs particularly can be noise sensitive so I grabbed the opportunity when it arose. As a handler it’s easy to become a bit wary or anxious especially when your dog has a history of reacting but by avoiding the situation or turning away you will never move on or help your dog. Your dog will be looking to you for guidance so……
Keep Calm and Carry On 🐾
🔥 HEAT ALERT 🔥
Might seem obvious but I’ve seen dogs panting as they are walked in the middle of the day !
🐾 Proofing a recall 🐾
When teaching your dog any kind of a skill such as walking on a loose leash, holding a position, recall etc many people go wrong because they don’t proof the skill. They start out in the home or the garden and once the dog has mastered the skill they go straight out into the big wide world and fail because they have been set up to fail. I’m always being told “my dog turns off his/her ears”.
How do you get round that ??? Well firstly you need to practice and practice in lots of different locations slowly adding distractions. In the dog training world this is called proofing. So for example you don’t go from the garden straight to a busy beach with heaps of other dogs, people and loads of other new distractions. Secondly and here’s the real secret you need to build a true bond and relationship with your dog. You need to be the most exciting thing in your dogs eyes, more interesting than any other distraction they may encounter. Of course there’s a balance but if you let your dog go and seek engagement with every other unfamiliar dog and person they encounter, guess what they are unlikely to choose you when it counts. How do you do this ? Spend quality time with your dog, in my opinion the most under used tool that we all have at our disposal is PLAY. Dogs are no different to kids, you can buy them fancy toys but all they really want is our time. Spend 5 mins once or twice a day playing with your dog and the difference it can make is insane. Set up some rules around the game and you can work on impulse control and incorporate training at the same time and the dog gets to have a blast.
In this video I’m proofing Wallace recall and as you can see he blows me off on one occasion when that smell or whatever distracted him was of more value in his eyes than coming back to me. So we need to keep working on this but he is making good progress without the need any longer to reinforce/pay him with food or treats.
Remember, train
Got that Friday feeling…
How about a game of hide and seek 🐾
Teach your dogs to hold a position, work on impulse control, add distance and duration and teach them a release cue. This is not about control it’s about setting them up for success with clear consistent boundaries and structure. I want my dogs to live their best lives but I also want them to remain safe at all times.
I use several different methods to teach loose leash walking and more often than not a combination of them all.
In this video I’m using one that I particularly enjoy because the dog has to figure it out for itself . It takes a degree of patience whilst the dogs cogs spin, but once they get it it’s pretty powerful and you can actually see learning take place. Of course you can add a little pressure to the lead to help, this method is great with new puppies too, and in conjunction with a solid marker it’s a great way to teach them about pressure and release.
I always start off with a regular leash before moving on to a long line.
in the video I meant to say “when he pulls I stop” 🙄
🐾 “Can’t teach an old dog new tricks… “ 🐾
This old wife’s tale couldn't be further from the truth, in fact teaching your senior dog something new provides them with mental stimulation and helps strengthen your bond all whilst keeping their brains active
Sadly over 25% of dogs aged 11 to 12 have some form of Canine Dementia and this increases to over 65% once they reach 15.
Canine Dementia can also affect younger dogs too, so get out there and exercise their minds.
Here I'm teaching Jazzie "Place". We have not long started out and I help her by walking with her to each mat to ensue she is successfully. I'm not interested in her performing this exercise perfectly this is just all about keeping her mind occupied and celebrating with her. 🐾
🐾 Chill & Train 🐾
Out on our morning walk and up pops a rather large seal 🦭
Even with their dogs on a lead some people may tend to panic and rush in the opposite direction or head back to their vehicle. What do you think this teaches your dogs ??? Your dogs will sense you are uneasy particularly if they are prone to be reactive around wildlife or stock. This will only reinforce and confirm the picture they have created around the stimulus.
So seize the opportunity, position yourself at a safe distance and with your dogs under control just relax, take a seat and let them just sit and observe. If they see you are not bothered they won't be. Reward and praise them for remaining calm and just watch for a while. Do this enough and it will help alter their mindset and their response to the stimulus.
Setting your dog up for success 
