Bespoke 1-to-1 Dog Coaching
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Merry belated Christmas and Happy New Year from the PokéDog Team 🫶 apologies for being really quiet on this page this year. Life has been so so busy but I’m really grateful for the challenges and breakthroughs experienced over the last few months. We will be back with more updates! 😘
🚨 New PokéTrainer Alert! 🚨
We are so excited to officially announce Vivian joining the PokéDog Training team 🫶 Vivian started out as one of my students back in 2021 and is now a certified Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA CTP).
Vivian will be offering both in-person and virtual training services specialising in puppy training and reactivity. She will head our signature Private Day Training program as well.
Here’s what some of our clients have said about her (you can check out our Google reviews!):
“I engaged Clara and Vivian to learn more about dog ownership and how to be a better dog owner, and my time with them has been nothing short of phenomenal.”
“Vivian demonstrated a remarkable ability to convey instructions clearly. Her positive approach in correcting our mistakes made the learning process constrictive rather than intimidating. We never felt shy to attempt the training ourselves, knowing that Vivian would provide guidance and encouragement every step of the way.”
“Clara and Vivian provided us with valuable training videos, enabling us to continue the training in our own time. Their guidance and expertise made a significant difference in our dogs’ behaviour and we are pleased with the results.”
If you have been thinking about working on your training struggles with your dog in 2024, look no further. Drop us a DM if you would like to explore working with us 😉
✨.journey UPDATE ✨
This little project really took off and I have grown so much with my baby girl over the last 2 weeks. I have changed my mind to gift this privilege of knowledge to all dog owners I have crossed paths with. If we have ever trained together and if you would like to continue to follow us on our journey, I would love to make this information easily accessible to you.
Subscription will now be free and follow requests are automatically accepted for teams that I have previously worked with. A refund will be provided for this group who previously subscribed. Please give me some time to look through all the requests and DM me if I have missed you out!
For those who are based overseas and would like to subscribe via other supportive means, drop me a DM as well!
In less than 24hrs, I will be flying over from Singapore 🇸🇬 to Brisbane 🇦🇺 to meet my first border collie, Misty, and bring her home after the new year.
Subscribe to .journey to gain exclusive access to personal stories of how it all started, our first week together in 🇦🇺 and training adventures. Catch us live in action every week and join in for a fun Q&A session where we can all discuss, learn and grow together. From basic foundations and puppy socialisation to preventing/managing reactivity - I hope this page will benefit any dog owner living with a high-drive working/sporting breed in a small, busy city.
To support my content creating endeavours, I will be collecting a small subscription fee of $5/month. This fee is non-refundable and will be charged on an annual basis. ✨50% off if you subscribe by 25 Dec 2022 23:59 today!✨
Sneak previews begin 26 Dec 2022 🔥 Drop me a DM to subscribe!
© 2022 - 2023 POKÉDOG TRAINING
It’s almost go time 🥹 I can’t wait to finally meet you, Misty! Forever grateful for and for raising her into a happy, confident and gorgeous lady she is growing to be. The stars truly aligned this time and I cannot believe how lucky I am to be your human 💖
Swipe ➡️ to see her transformation between 1 to 3 months old ✨
This morning, I was reminded of a heartbreaking eulogy I wrote for my first love, my first childhood dog.
Here goes.
ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴍʏ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴛʀᴜᴇ. ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴅʀᴀᴡɪɴɢ ɪ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ɪɴ ᴍʏ ᴄʜɪʟᴅʜᴏᴏᴅ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ʜᴀᴅ ᴀ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴡʜɪᴛᴇ ᴅᴏɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ʀᴇᴅ ᴄᴏʟʟᴀʀ ɪɴ ɪᴛ.
ɪ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴛᴀᴜɢʜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀɴʏ ꜰᴀɴᴄʏ ᴛʀɪᴄᴋꜱ, ʙᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴇᴡ ʜᴏᴡ ᴛᴏ ꜱᴛᴀɴᴅ ᴏɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʜɪɴᴅ ʟᴇɢꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ʙᴇɢ ɪɴ ᴀ ᴛʀᴀᴅɪᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ɢᴏɴɢ xɪ ꜰᴀ ᴄᴀɪ ꜰᴀꜱʜɪᴏɴ. ɪ ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ʟᴇᴀʀɴᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ꜰʀᴏᴍ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴀɴᴛɪᴄ ᴡᴏɴ ʏᴏᴜ ꜱᴏ ᴍᴀɴʏ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʀᴇᴀᴛꜱ. ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ꜰᴏʀ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ꜱᴜᴄʜ ᴀ ꜱᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟ ᴅᴏɢ.
ɪ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛ ɪ ꜰɪʀꜱᴛ ꜱᴇᴛ ᴍʏ ᴇʏᴇꜱ ᴏɴ ʏᴏᴜ. ɪ ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ʜᴏᴡ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴇꜱᴄʀɪʙᴇ ɪᴛ, ʙᴜᴛ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀꜱ ʟɪᴋᴇ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴠᴀᴛᴀʀ ᴍᴏᴠɪᴇ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀɴ ᴜɴʙʀᴇᴀᴋᴀʙʟᴇ ʙᴏɴᴅ ɪꜱ ꜰᴏʀᴍᴇᴅ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ᴀ ɴᴀ'ᴠɪ ᴀɴᴅ ɪᴋʀᴀɴ...ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴍʏ ᴛᴏʀᴜᴋ.
ᴡᴇ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴍᴇ ᴘʀᴇᴛᴛʏ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ɪɴꜱᴇᴘᴀʀᴀʙʟᴇ ꜱɪɴᴄᴇ ᴛʜᴇɴ. ɪɴ ꜰᴀᴄᴛ, ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴅ ꜱᴏ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ꜱᴇᴘᴀʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀɴxɪᴇᴛʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅɴ'ᴛ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ʟᴇᴛ ᴍᴇ ɢᴏ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏꜰ ꜱɪɢʜᴛ ꜰᴏʀ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴀ ꜱᴇᴄᴏɴᴅ. ɪ ᴡɪʟʟ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ꜰᴏʀɢᴇᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ʙʀᴏᴋᴇ ꜰʀᴇᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴍʏ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅꜱ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇ ᴡʜᴇɴ ɪ ᴡᴀꜱ ɪɴ ᴀ ᴍɪᴅᴅʟᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴀ ꜰʀɪꜱʙᴇᴇ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʟᴍᴏꜱᴛ ɢᴏᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀꜱᴇʟꜰ ʜᴜʀᴛ, ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ɪ ʀᴜꜱʜᴇᴅ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ꜱᴄᴏᴏᴘ ʏᴏᴜ ᴜᴘ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴏᴍᴇ ʙᴏᴢᴏ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ʀᴇᴀʟɪꜱᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴀᴍᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴅɪꜱʀᴜᴘᴛᴇᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴀᴍᴍᴇᴅ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴍᴇ ɪɴꜱᴛᴇᴀᴅ. ᴍʏ ᴛᴇᴀᴍᴍᴀᴛᴇꜱ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴇᴇɴʏ ᴡᴇᴇɴʏ ᴍᴀʀꜱʜᴍᴀʟʟᴏᴡ ᴡʜᴏ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ʙᴜʟʟɪᴇᴅ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴅᴏɢꜱ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴅᴏᴜʙʟᴇ ᴏʀ ᴛʀɪᴘʟᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ꜱɪᴢᴇ. ᴏɴᴄᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ᴍᴇ ꜱʜʀɪᴇᴋ ɪɴ ꜰʀɪɢʜᴛ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴀ ʙɪɢ ᴍᴏɴɢʀᴇʟ ᴛʀɪᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴏɴ. ᴏʀ ʀᴏʟʟ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ɪɴ ʟᴀᴜɢʜᴛᴇʀ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄʜᴀꜱᴇᴅ ᴀ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴀ ʙɪɢ ꜰɪᴇʟᴅ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ʜᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ʜᴏʟᴅɪɴɢ ᴀ ᴅᴇʟɪᴄɪᴏᴜꜱ-ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴍᴇʟʟɪɴɢ ᴄʜɪᴄᴋᴇɴ ᴡɪɴɢ. ᴏᴛʜᴇʀᴡɪꜱᴇ, ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴘʀᴇᴛᴛʏ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ᴇᴍʙᴀʀʀᴀꜱꜱᴇᴅ ᴍᴇ ɪɴ ꜰʀᴏɴᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴏɴᴇ ɪ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜʀ ɴᴏɴꜱᴇɴꜱɪᴄᴀʟ ʏᴏᴡʟɪɴɢ. ʙᴜᴛ ɪ ꜱᴇᴄʀᴇᴛʟʏ ʟᴏᴠᴇᴅ ɪᴛ, ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ɪ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ᴀꜱ ᴄʟɪɴɢʏ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀꜱ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇ ᴛᴏᴏ.
ᴀʟᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ʟɪᴋᴇᴅ ᴄʀᴀᴡʟɪɴɢ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴍʏ ʟᴜɢɢᴀɢᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱɪᴛᴛɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴇᴡ ᴄʟᴏᴛʜᴇꜱ ɪ ʟᴀɪᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰʟᴏᴏʀ ɪɴ ꜱᴏꜰᴛ ᴘʀᴏᴛᴇꜱᴛ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ꜱᴇᴇᴍᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ꜰᴏʟʟᴏᴡ ᴍᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅɴ'ᴛ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ᴏᴅᴅʟʏ ᴄᴀʟᴍ ᴡʜᴇɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ɪ ʟᴇᴀᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴏᴜꜱᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ꜱʜᴏᴡꜱ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʀᴜꜱᴛ ɪ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ, ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ.
ɪ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ꜰᴏʀᴡᴀʀᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴏꜰ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴄʟᴜᴍꜱʏ, ꜱᴄʀᴀᴍʙʟɪɴɢ ᴘᴀᴡꜱ (ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ʏᴏᴡʟɪɴɢ, ɪꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴛᴀɪʀꜱ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴏʙꜱᴛʀᴜᴄᴛᴇᴅ) ᴡʜᴇɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ɪ ɢᴏᴛ ʜᴏᴍᴇ. ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴛɪᴍᴇꜱ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇ ᴀꜱʟᴇᴇᴘ ɪɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ꜰᴀᴠᴏᴜʀɪᴛᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀʀᴛᴍᴇɴᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴍʏ ᴡᴀʀᴅʀᴏʙᴇ. ᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʀᴀɴᴅᴏᴍʟʏ ᴘᴜʟʟ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏɴᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴍʏ ᴄʟᴏᴛʜᴇꜱ ᴛᴏ ʟɪᴇ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰʟᴏᴏʀ ᴏɴ ᴡᴀʀᴍᴇʀ ɴɪɢʜᴛꜱ. ɪ ʟᴏᴠᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴜᴛᴇ ᴡᴀʏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴋɪꜱꜱ ᴍʏ ᴄᴀʟᴠᴇꜱ ʟɪɢʜᴛʟʏ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴡᴇᴛ ɴᴏꜱᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ʙɪᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴛᴏɴɢᴜᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴡᴇʟᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴍᴇ ʜᴏᴍᴇ. ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴏᴡ ɪ ᴛᴀᴜɢʜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ʀᴜɴ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴏɴᴇ ᴀᴘᴀʀᴛᴍᴇɴᴛ ᴜɴɪᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ ᴜꜱᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʟɪᴠᴇ ɴᴇxᴛ ᴅᴏᴏʀ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴀ ʙɪᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴀɴ ᴇxᴘʟᴏʀᴇʀ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ᴋɴᴇᴡ ʜᴏᴡ ᴛᴏ ᴡɪɢɢʟᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴛɪɴʏ ʙᴏᴅʏ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴀᴛᴇ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴇᴡ ʜᴏᴡ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴍᴏꜱᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴏɴᴄᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅɪꜱᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀᴇᴅ ꜰᴏʀ ʜᴀʟꜰ ᴀ ᴅᴀʏ ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ꜱᴇʀɪᴏᴜꜱʟʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ꜱᴇᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ.
ɴᴏ ᴍᴀᴛᴛᴇʀ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ᴀ ꜱᴛʀᴏɴɢ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ꜰɪɢʜᴛᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ᴋɴᴇᴡ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴛᴜʀɴ ᴏᴜᴛ ꜰɪɴᴇ, ᴇxᴄᴇᴘᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ɴᴏᴛ. ᴀ ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴍᴇ ᴅɪᴇᴅ ᴡʜᴇɴ ɪ ᴡᴀꜱ ꜰᴏʀᴄᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʟᴇᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ɢᴏ..
ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ꜰᴏʀ ɢʀᴏᴡɪɴɢ ᴜᴘ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴍᴇ ꜰᴏʀ 15 ᴡᴏɴᴅᴇʀꜰᴜʟ ʏᴇᴀʀꜱ, ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ʟɪᴠᴇ ᴏɴ ɪɴ ᴍʏ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ. ɪ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪ ᴄᴀᴍᴇ ᴄʟᴏꜱᴇ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴡɴᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴇꜱᴇʀᴠᴇ, ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ɪ ꜱᴜʀᴇʟʏ ᴅɪᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ᴅᴇꜱᴇʀᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜ. ɪ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ꜰᴏʀᴇᴠᴇʀ, ᴍʏ ᴘʀᴇᴄɪᴏᴜꜱ ᴏɴᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴏɴʟʏ ʙᴀʙʏ, ꜱᴋɪᴘᴘʏ. ɪ'ʟʟ ꜱᴇᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴅᴀʏ.
Forgive me for being a little quiet on IG lately - been really busy and overseas but I just wanted to give one of my lovely teams a huge shoutout after following up with them again in person this morning.
It's always a blessing to work with dedicated owners like .corgi because they remind me of my purpose and keep me going strong 🔥 thank you for trusting the process and following all the training protocols religiously from day 1. I also appreciate receiving frequent training updates even before I asked for them. Humane behaviour modification is a hell lot of hard work and life is going to throw you a lot of curve balls. But thank you for choosing to train consistently without force, fear and pain even when it's not the most convenient to.
It fills my heart to see transformed relationships. Thank you for choosing me to guide you on your journey - I can only ever be so lucky that my job lets me meet people like you! 🥰
“𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞 - 𝐈 𝐠𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭.” - 𝐊𝐨𝐛𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐭
3+ years into this industry and I have never felt more alive. My passion for dog training and behaviour runs deep and I have never hustled harder for anything else in my life.
I’ve got the energy and fire to keep going 🔥 who’s in with me?
What a sweet way to kickstart the weekend by swapping an old fashioned choke chain for a ✨swanky new harness✨ for a lovely new student of mine!
Here at PokéDog, we prefer clickers, treat pouches, high-value treats, toys, Y-shaped harnesses and biothane long lines.
Non-sponsored post but here are our favourites:
Clickers
Treat pouches
Treats
Toys
Harness
Biothane lines
Drop us a DM if you want to train with maximum comfort, function and fashion 😎
I had a couple of fun shaping sessions with this afternoon to teach Kobe a chin rest as a start button for cooperative care.
Stationing behaviours, such as chin rests and lying down on a mat, are very useful in helping dogs communicate their readiness to be handled. What does this mean? If Kobe lies down, it means “Yes, I’m ready to participate!” And if he attempts to move away, it means “Please pause/slow down, I’m not comfortable with this.” Empowering our dogs with the ability to control the pace of the session is incredibly effective in reducing their anxiety surrounding the handling procedure.
This training session was inspired by PokéTrainer Marianne and her awesome teamwork with 🐶
Join ‘s birthday challenge to stand a sure-win chance on their amazing courses! 🌟
To anyone who needs to be uplifted today: you and your dog are doing better than you think. Keep going ❤️
Good afternoon to everyone except self-entitled strangers who attempt to pet my dog, or lead their dog(s) up to mine without permission.
Advocate for your dog. Resist the urge to be “polite” at the expense of your dog’s welfare. Speak up for them so that they never need to!
P.S. We all know who puts on the fangs in this relationship 🙂
I’m so proud of how well Alfie has been doing around his triggers. His wonderful hoomum and helper have been very dedicated to his training and it really shows! Here’s a little snippet of him acing his LAT exercise this morning 🥰
When working with reactivity, it is extremely crucial to set your dog up for success. Learning can only occur when your dog is kept under threshold. It is a common misconception to “make your dog react” so that “you can correct him”. Instead, you should be seeing a calm dog offering polite cut-off signals (e.g. sniffing, looking/moving away) and/or looking back at the handler in the presence of a trigger.
It is also really important to recognise when it is a training or management situation, how to set it up, avoid unprecedented accidents/training pitfalls and the mechanical skills needed to execute that.
Over here, I am gradually exposing Alfie to his environmental triggers (cars, motorbikes, people, dogs…everything 🤯) from a safe distance. We have progressed to the point where I could stand back and wait for him to disengage on his own.
Good job Alfie! 🥳 We still have a long way to go, but you know I’ve got your back!
Can dog training ever be “purely positive”? Honestly, no. Our dogs will get frustrated by the things we do, or not let them do sometimes.
However, there is a HUGE difference between using management (e.g. crates, playpens, leashes) and using physical compulsion and/or psychological intimidation (e.g. electric/prong/choke collars, invisible fences) to control and prevent our dogs from getting into trouble.
The first one denies the dog’s access to certain things and may lead to occasional frustration, but prevents the rehearsal of undesirable behaviour. The second suppresses the dog’s outward behaviour (e.g. barking, lunging, running away) and forces them to comply to avoid receiving an aversive stimulus. The latter is problematic because it leaves a cloud of dread hanging over their heads. This can lead to learnt helplessness and impact future learning.
Raise your hand if you’ve ever been told these things:
🚩 “Reward the dog when he behaves; correct him when he doesn’t.”
🚩 “Good e-collar training with fearful dogs works wonders…”
🚩 “Positive reinforcement does not work on some dogs.”
What if I told you that these myths have been debunked a long time ago?
What if I could show you that it is possible to achieve effective and sustainable behaviour change without compromising on our dogs’ welfare?
💚 Training with positive reinforcement does not mean we become permissive. You can prevent your dog from getting into trouble ~99% of the time by implementing good management strategies. You want to avoid using a mixture of rewards and punishments because that can poison your training cues!
💚 It is unnecessary and unethical to attempt to make your fearful dog’s world “bigger” by suppressing his reactions with an e-collar. What your dog needs is decompression time and the ability to make good choices in a safe environment.
💚 Positive reinforcement works across all species, not just dogs. There could be a number of reasons why your dog is not responding to you. A qualified and experienced trainer can troubleshoot and work through these issues with you.
Are you struggling to train your dog? Book a consultation with me today to see how I can help! Link in bio✨
If you have a dog that seems “fearful”, “reactive” or “out of control”, you might been told many times that he needs more “structure” in his training in order to fix his behaviour.
But here’s the issue… What does “structure” even mean, and how does that resolve your dog’s behavior problem?
Does your dog have to heel directly beside you during walks?
Does your dog have to sit whenever you stop walking?
Does your dog have to wait to be released to eat their meals?
Does your dog have to remain in “place” for as long as you command them to do so?
The list goes on.
Getting your dog to adhere to such arbitrary rules can be extremely damaging. It not only suppresses the behaviour (hence not resolving it), it will also likely exacerbate the problem further (i.e. retaliation) or lead to learnt helplessness (i.e. shutting down).
So what does your dog need instead?
Your dog needs more predictability in his life.
Your dog needs to understand that he has a choice over his actions.
Your dog needs to know that his actions will always lead to safe and positive consequences.
Your dog needs to know how to access these reinforcers from you.
Your dog needs to know that he can always count on you to keep him safe.
Save and share this post if you found it helpful ✨
When it comes to walking our dogs, you have to remember:
👉 Dogs move faster than us (especially if they are excited)
👉Sniffing encourages relaxation - so let them SNIFF
👉 Dogs notice more things than we do in a new environment
What should you do instead?
🐾Walk in bigger, quieter and cleaner spaces
🐾 Use a longer leash to allow more room for sniffing and exploration
🐾 Capture check-ins with high-value treats
Your dog will appreciate you for this decision!
Share this tip with another dog owner ✨
Enrichment is more than just providing your dog a long lasting frozen treat.
Enrichment is all about providing your dog with activities that stimulate their minds and meet their innate needs.
✨It doesn’t always have to be difficult but it provides some sort of challenge for your dog to use their problem solving skills.
✨It encourages the dog to engage in natural behaviours such as chasing, digging, sniffing, or shredding.
✨It is actually fun for your dog to participate in!
When a behaviour problem comes up with our dogs, we often want to fix the problem quickly.
But I want you to know that dog training is not always about fixing the "problem".
It's about defining the root of the behavior, assessing the overall situation, and coming up with ways to either overcome or cope with your dog's behavior.
Stopping or suppressing a behaviour via an aversive stimulus may seem to “fix” your dog quickly, but it does not mean that your problem has gone away and there is a risk of it getting worse over time.
Are you having any training difficulties with your dog? Here at PokeDog Training, we will create customized training plans that are suitable for you and your dog’s needs. Schedule a consultation call with us today ✨
Being a reactive dog owner can be extremely stressful, and it can quickly erode the relationship you have with your dog.
The first step to reducing reactivity is to manage their environment. By keeping their walks as trigger-free as possible, that is when you can start to build trust with your dog and train to set them up for success. A lot of behavioral issues in dogs tend to melt away once their emotional needs are met, including getting rid of triggering encounters!
Share this post to your story if it was helpful ✨
Puppy nipping is a normal yet painful behaviour problem every dog parent deals with.
Puppies bite because:
👉 They explore and learn about the world with their mouths
👉 They are going through a teething phase
👉 It is how they play with other puppies and dogs
The best way to manage those sharp little teeth is to provide ample mental stimulation and redirect them to another appropriate activity whenever it happens.
Make sure their needs are met: i.e. your puppy could be nippy because they are tired and need to nap.
✨ Remember you do not need to use force to punish them! There are always force free alternative solutions to your training struggles.
Whether you are looking for guidance on training your new puppy or to resolve a more serious behavior problem with your dog, choosing the right dog trainer can be a very difficult decision.
Do your research, and make sure you find out these things before hiring a trainer:
✨Qualifications: Look for qualified pet professionals that have invested the time and effort in getting certified. The certifications that they hold and memberships that they belong to should require continuing education for them to renew.
✨Transparency: While you cannot expect to receive a detailed training plan upon enquiry, ethical professionals will be more than happy to share their training philosophy, methods and equipment used.
✨Training Plan: Is the trainer able to articulate this clearly to you during the initial consultation and does it meet you and your dog’s needs?
Most importantly, what does your gut feeling tell you about this trainer? Are your training goals and expectations aligned? Do you feel like you can trust them?
Are you struggling with your dog’s behaviour issues? Drop me a DM today to see if we are a right fit to work with each other!
I was listening to a webinar this morning and this statement struck a chord in me. What is R+/FF training, and how is it different from what we used to do, or might still resort to, when handling our dogs? In a nutshell, it is all about building communication and trust. But effective communication has to be a two-way street. To get your dog to listen to you, you have to listen to their POV as well.
Before trying to change your dog’s behaviour, do consider these first:
👉 Why is your dog behaving in that manner?
👉 What are the triggers or does it stem from an unmet need?
👉 How can you help to meet those needs better?
👉 How can you help make your dog’s life safer and more predictable?
👉 How can you help your dog learn to make better choices?
✨Are you struggling to connect with your dog? Book a consultation with PokéDog today and see how we can create a personalized training plan just for you. Link is in the bio!
Asking for a dog to focus or settle outside is much harder than you think!
It takes a lot of mental processing for the dog to ignore its environment, such as at a store or coffee shop.
The best way to gradually get your dog to listen to you outside is to train as frequently as you can in low-distraction environments first. You will have a much higher chance of success getting them to generalise these skills in a more distracting place if they have practised these enough beforehand!
Cooperative veterinary care can be a little tedious and frustrating at first, but the effort is worth it! An anxious dog that resists handling will create barriers to proper hygiene and veterinary care. You can avoid getting trapped in this vicious cycle by teaching your dog to accept low-stress handling as early and as gradually as you can.
✨When’s the last time you practised cooperative care with your pup?
It is amazing how a simple 1, 2, 3 pattern game can be incorporated into so many aspects of my work with dogs. Whether it is as basic as teaching a puppy to pay attention, or managing reactivity around triggers - this powerful little game WORKS.
In this video (taken ~3 weeks ago), I am building Kobe’s focus and confidence on a treadmill by playing pattern games. The treadmill tether was never used on him because I wanted his participation to be fully voluntary. Empowering him with control over his choices has been a significant reinforcer in gaining his cooperation in training. He is free to hop off or opt out (i.e. by not getting on) of the treadmill exercise whenever he wanted.
Kobe was previously apprehensive towards the moving treadmill, and would scramble and hop off even at the lowest speed. This suddenly gave me the idea to help him focus staying on the treadmill by reciting a “1, 2, 3” rhythm. In the beginning, I made the mistake of counting too fast because I wanted to keep the rate of reinforcement high. This caused Kobe to walk a little bit too fast and step on the stationary edge of the platform; causing more instability. We’ve gotten a lot better since then. Kobe is now able to trot at higher speeds + inclination with a decent amount of duration, and I am getting better at reciting at the correct tempo!
Thank you Chris and Karen from for being so wonderful throughout Kobe’s rehabilitation journey 🥰
Due to the media, people can have unrealistic expectations on how dog training is supposed to look like.
To be honest, successful dog training and behaviour modification is often BORING 🤯
Thi is because we are often working on different ways for the dog to relax and remain calm.
We refrain from putting them in stressful situations and work in small increments to build the desired behaviours.
It may not look like much, but small and frequent sessions is key to consistent training✨
When it comes to dog training, I love making it fun with high energy games 🤩
Teaching your dog to catch a toy or treat is great for exercise, bonding and boosting their focus.
Here’s a quick training tip:
Not all dogs are born catchers! Start with bowling your dog’s treats on the floor to teach them to track fast moving objects, before encouraging them to catch easy tosses in the future!
Can you think of any other games that involves “catch”? Share in the comments below 👇
A high energy dog does not have to be a problem dog!
What do you need to do if you have an energetic dog?
Give them a job and make them work!
Focus on activities that require:
-problem solving
-sniffing
-chasing
-catching
Meet their needs and provide them with different outlets to release all their pent up energy!
Need extra guidance? Start working with a certified dog trainer. Schedule a consultation call with PokeDog Training today ✨
Ever wondered why your dog’s reactive outbursts seem unpredictable sometimes? This could be due to trigger stacking.
👉 When a sequence of triggering events occur too closely to one another, these can stack up and cause your dog to go over-threshold “suddenly”. Every dog has their own set of triggers so it is important to learn about them.
Reactive outbursts are involuntary emotional responses. Dogs never react “out of the blue”. Let’s help our dogs feel better about their triggers.
Ever wondered why your dog’s reactive outbursts seem unpredictable sometimes? This could be due to trigger stacking.
When a sequence of triggering events occur too closely to one another, these can stack up and cause your dog to go over-threshold “suddenly”. Every dog has their own set of triggers so it is important to learn about them.
Reactive outbursts are involuntary emotional responses. Dogs never react “out of the blue”. Let’s help our dogs feel better about their triggers.
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I had a couple of fun shaping sessions with this afternoon to teach Kobe a chin rest as a start button for cooperative care. Stationing behaviours, such as chin rests and lying down on a mat, are very useful in helping dogs communicate their readiness to be handled. What does this mean? If Kobe lies down, it means “Yes, I’m ready to participate!” And if he attempts to move away, it means “Please pause/slow down, I’m not comfortable with this.” Empowering our dogs with the ability to control the pace of the session is incredibly effective in reducing their anxiety surrounding the handling procedure. This training session was inspired by PokéTrainer Marianne and her awesome teamwork with @everywherehugoes 🐶 Join @tromplo ‘s birthday challenge to stand a sure-win chance on their amazing courses! 🌟 . . . #pokedogtips #cooperativecare #positivereinforcement #forcefreedogtraining #forcefreedogtrainer #tromplobday
I’m so proud of how well Alfie has been doing around his triggers. His wonderful hoomum and helper have been very dedicated to his training and it really shows! Here’s a little snippet of him acing his LAT exercise this morning 🥰 When working with reactivity, it is extremely crucial to set your dog up for success. Learning can only occur when your dog is kept under threshold. It is a common misconception to “make your dog react” so that “you can correct him”. Instead, you should be seeing a calm dog offering polite cut-off signals (e.g. sniffing, looking/moving away) and/or looking back at the handler in the presence of a trigger. It is also really important to recognise when it is a training or management situation, how to set it up, avoid unprecedented accidents/training pitfalls and the mechanical skills needed to execute that. Over here, I am gradually exposing Alfie to his environmental triggers (cars, motorbikes, people, dogs…everything 🤯) from a safe distance. We have progressed to the point where I could stand back and wait for him to disengage on his own. Good job Alfie! 🥳 We still have a long way to go, but you know I’ve got your back!
It is amazing how a simple 1, 2, 3 pattern game can be incorporated into so many aspects of my work with dogs. Whether it is as basic as teaching a puppy to pay attention, or managing reactivity around triggers - this powerful little game WORKS. In this video (taken ~3 weeks ago), I am building Kobe’s focus and confidence on a treadmill by playing pattern games. The treadmill tether was never used on him because I wanted his participation to be fully voluntary. Empowering him with control over his choices has been a significant reinforcer in gaining his cooperation in training. He is free to hop off or opt out (i.e. by not getting on) of the treadmill exercise whenever he wanted. Kobe was previously apprehensive towards the moving treadmill, and would scramble and hop off even at the lowest speed. This suddenly gave me the idea to help him focus staying on the treadmill by reciting a “1, 2, 3” rhythm. In the beginning, I made the mistake of counting too fast because I wanted to keep the rate of reinforcement high. This caused Kobe to walk a little bit too fast and step on the stationary edge of the platform; causing more instability. We’ve gotten a lot better since then. Kobe is now able to trot at higher speeds + inclination with a decent amount of duration, and I am getting better at reciting at the correct tempo! Thank you Chris and Karen from @gaiawholistic for being so wonderful throughout Kobe’s rehabilitation journey 🥰
Lovely graduation reel created by @thegoodestbailey 💖 Reactivity work can be extremely stressful- especially in a busy urban city like Singapore 🤯🤯🤯 It’s only through a process of understanding your dog, managing their environment and working on essential target behaviours that we can start to help them cope better with these stressors. Super proud of how far this team has come! Let’s remember that no dog ever needs to be dealt with a heavy hand. Focus on changing the emotion, and then the behaviour will start to change 😊
Happy birthday, my love. How is it 5 years already? You are the core of my being, and I count my blessings every day that I have a companion like you 💖
The last one really gets me… 🤦♀️😂 Feeling a little feisty 🔥 today… but here’s how I would respond: “𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞?” ➡️ Yes, I very well can. But that’s not the point because your dog’s present behaviour is based on its current circumstances, and future behaviour change is dependent on how you maintain it. So the real question is - can I train you? “𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬?” ➡️ Food reinforcers are one of the easiest and most effective ways to motivate your dog to work with you. Be honest - will you continue to do your job well (or at all) if your boss stops paying your salary? Or tries to reduce it? “𝐌𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐛𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧…” ➡️ If you keep trying the same method and failing, who is the stubborn one here? Would you be open to learning what actually works for your dog? :) “𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐂𝐞𝐬𝐚𝐫 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐧?” ➡️ Sorry, I think you meant that as a compliment but I can speak for all the other R+ professionals out there that we prefer not to be associated with him. We want to be a lot more like these people instead: @bravodogtraining @dogminded @jwdogtraining @life.with.jacks @thedomesticateddog @perfectpals_dogtraining @believeinyourdog @ok2train @dogtorlinlin @dog_atheart Sorry, too many to tag…!!! Please leave a comment if you’re another lovely R+/FF advocate so that we can connect with each other! ❤️
Expectations vs Reality 😂 Videos on youtube make dog training seem easy but there is a lot underneath the surface these “pro dog trainers” may not have discussed in depth. These could be things like developing clean training mechanics and shaping skills. Just like any other skill, YouTube is a great place to START researching but nothing beats working with a qualified professional who can personally guide you through the learning process. Here at PokéDog Training, each client starts their journey with a consultation. This allows us to create and personalize the best training strategy for them. Schedule yours today through the link in my bio ✨ . . . #pokedog #puppytraining #dogenrichment #singaporedog #sgdogs #singaporedogs #dogstagram #singapore #sgpets #sgdoglover #singapawrean #dogsofsingapore #ilovemydog #dogsofsg #dogsg #singaporespecial #sgdoglovers #sgpoodle #singapaw #singaporedogstagram #positivedogtraining #fearfree #forcefreetraining #dogreels #funnyreels
Oh dear, the dancing has begun 🤪😂 Share this to your story if you think it’s sexy when you see someone… 🔥train with treats 🔥talk to their dogs in a cute voice 🔥let their dogs sniff on walks 🔥advocate for their dogs . . . #dogreels #reelsofinstagram #instareels #fyp #pokedog #singapore #sgdogs #forcefreedogtrainer #forcefreetrainer #positivedogtrainer #dogtrainersofig #singapawrean #singaporedogs #sgdogslife #sgdogstagram #sgdoglover #puppy #puppyworld #newpuppy #puppiesofinstagram #ilovemydog #sgdogs #funnyreels #dogstagram #dogadvocate #trainforcefree #dogwalks #dogtrainersofinstagram #romantic #dogtreats
𝙊𝙪𝙧 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙨 𝙩𝙤𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙤𝙖𝙙 𝙖𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙖𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙄 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙬𝙚’𝙧𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙖 𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙎𝙚𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢, 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙤𝙖𝙙 𝙖𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙒𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙚’𝙡𝙡 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣 . . . #ndp2021 #ndp #nationalday #singapawrean #pokedog #forcefree #puppylife #positivetraining #dogtrainers #dogtrainersofinstagram #puppytrainer #trainyourdog #positivereinforcementtraining #puppytips #singaporepuppy #sgdogsofinstagram #singaporedog #dogsinsingapore #sgpawfriends #sgpuppies #sgpups #puppytrainingtips #forcefreetraining #positivedogtraining #dogtrainingtips
Unpopular opinion: Leash greetings suck ☠️ Just don't do it. Here are 4 reasons why: ❌ Not all dogs want to be friends. Your dog has no choice to move away from unwelcome company when on leash. ❌ Even if he wanted to meet, your dog (and the other) has no room to freely communicate their body language. Social dogs typically prefer to make brief nose contact and curve to each other's rear ends. Improper and excitable leash greetings often causes the dogs to meet head-on - which kind of gives off a confrontational vibe and we know how important first impressions are.. ❌ There is also no room to display displacement signals essential in alleviating stress. After the initial awkward greeting, are they supposed to stand around and stare at each other? Or try to run and play and get corrected for pulling the leash? Sure looks like an interaction doomed for failure. ❌ It reinforces SO MANY bad behaviors and throws your dog's lovely leash manners out of the window. What you should do instead: ✅ Meet off-leash in a big, secure fenced area ✅ Parallel walks on nice enrichment trails to keep the dogs busy and tensions low Struggling with leash reactivity issues with your dog? Drop me a DM to find out how we can work on this together! ✌️
Debunking doggy training and behavior myths PART II 🤓 💯 ft. PokéTrainer Marianne (@chingerzzz) & PokéDog Hugo (@everywherehugoes)
What every new puppy owner goes through with me 😂 thanks @3nang for being such a great sport!!
Creating reels with your dog is a mad test of cueing speed and creativity! 🤓 Thoughts 💭 that went through my head: How do I follow the beat? What do I want my dog to do with me? Where should he start? Which hand should I use and which direction should I turn?!?! This song is fast…..no time to eat in between reps. So toys? 🐥🐻 Also better get this sh*t right in as few takes as possible - my dog will lose engagement and become sluggish in his movements if I dare try again and again!! So practise without him first. 🤔 Thank you @modernmalinois for the inspiration! 🤩
Well this was super fun! This was inspired by my lovely friend @life.with.jacks 🥳 follow her for more awesome content! 💯 Now does anyone else wanna join in the challenge?! Don't forget to tag us!!
Playful Paws PuppyKinder & Dog Learning Centr
Kallang Riverside Park
