Good Dog Gear and Positive Training

11/28/2023

We had SO much fun in tricks class!
CGC class will be starting January 8th in St George
STAR Puppy will begin January 10th in Cedar City. Stay tuned for details.

10/30/2023

10/10/2023

We have a LOT of fun in tricks class. So far we have touch, twist and spin, paws up, dead dog, roll over, kiss, and go to bed toward trick dog Novice. What fun have you had with your dog today?

09/27/2023

I completely forgot to announce that Wednesday evenings in Cedar City we are starting a new session of classes. 5:30 Basic obedience. Please send a message if you are interested in joining, even late.

09/21/2023

Puppies deserve:

-to be exposed gently and with great care to the many things that are new to them

-to be able to explore in their own time, by respecting their fears rather than forcing them too quickly

-to be treated like the “big kids” when it comes to handling, picking them up only when they’re comfortable (or when truly needed)

-for us to understand their developmental stages and what they’re capable of at a particular age

AND ALSO:

Puppies can be so, so hard. If you’re a puppy guardian, YOU deserve to have professional help from trainers who will give you accurate advice to set you up for success.

YOU deserve to have trainers who are on your team and in your corner, who know how hard puppy raising can be and will help you find workable solutions.

YOU deserve trainers who will help you set your puppy up for a lifetime of success rather than rushing through things to get a quick result for a “guarantee.”

08/24/2023

Tags available in 2 sizes - PM to order

08/24/2023

Huge congratulations to Laurie Andrus and Mesa for achieving Trick Dog Novice tonight 🎉🎉🎉

08/17/2023

Good article for those dogs who are anxious around other dogs

Dogs who have issues with other dogs can learn to be calm around other dogs – and maybe even make dog friends.

07/20/2023

HUGE congratulations 🎉 to Farah Baldwin LeFevre and Fawkes for passing CGC evaluation with flying colors tonight. Fawkes is such a smart puppy!!

07/15/2023

Who’s ready for a Trick Dog class?
We will start Wednesdays at 5:30 at IFA in Cedar City beginning July 19. Class is 8 weeks and you are welcome to test for as many levels as your dog can achieve in that time span. CGC knocks your first test down to 5 tricks!
Bring lots of treats and your imagination - we are going to have a LOT of fun!!!
Discount for Red Canyons club members and former students.
Message to RSVP or ask questions.

05/12/2023

Feel Good Friday is nearly here again, help us help the Veterans and dogs at Veterans Reconnect Please consider purchasing an item or two from the Amazon Wish List or donating to the dog food fund below. https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/veteransreconnect?locale.x=en_US

05/04/2023

Excellent read

I recently saw a video of a trainer teaching relaxation, the dog was tethered to the ground, muzzled, and in both a prong and shock collar. The dog was trembling, any experienced dog person would r…

04/20/2023

Buyers beware: a mass of positive online reviews may suggest a company is, in fact, amazing. But a deeper dive might be needed to ensure both that the company will treat your dog humanely and that its trainers are knowledgeable about scientifically-sound dog training principles.

A brand new blog post by Academy grad Kristin Lucey unpacks this: https://www.academyfordogtrainers.com/uncategorized/buyer-beware-and-hush/

04/01/2023

TRIGGER STACKING – WHEN BEHAVIOUR HAPPENS “OUT OF THE BLUE”
We’ve all had those days when nothing seems to go right and one frustrating thing after another happens, leaving us feeling wound up, stressed and ready to explode at the next unsuspecting person who dares to ask us something. This “unsuspecting” person may think we have a serious behaviour problem or need anger management coaching, when the truth is that we’ve just had a really bad day and don’t usually behave like this at all.

Dogs are no different and a behaviour that seems completely out of character or happens “out of the blue” is often caused by “trigger stacking”.

A trigger may be anything that increases a dog’s stress levels and has a negative impact on their emotional, mental or physical state. These may be small things that we may not even notice or seem insignificant to us, but they are all adding to an increasing “stack” of things that may end in a “trigger”.

When stress levels reach a certain point, the next stressful event, however small, may cause a reaction that is completely unexpected.

Instead of just focusing on a particular behaviour and seeing it as a problem that needs to be prevented, take a step backwards, look at the bigger picture, look at events, circumstances or environmental factors that may have played a role in causing that particular behaviour.

Being aware of potential stressors and allowing your dog time to decompress, relax and unwind can often make all the difference between “normal behaviour” and a behaviour that seems completely out of character.

03/22/2023

Leather AirTag fob for collars, harnesses, or whatever. Can customize with symbols, name, or whatever.
Also can be made as a permanent feature of collars and harnesses I make.

03/20/2023

St George basic obedience class starting Monday April 3rd at 5:45 Focus, sit, down, stay, loose leash walking, general socialization with people and other dogs, touch, and one trick.
If your dog is currently ready for CGC , CGCA, CGCU, or trick dog, let’s schedule a time for the test. Text or PM for details.

03/19/2023

Cedar City basic obedience class starting Wednesday March 29 at 5:15 Focus, sit, down, stay, loose leash walking, general socialization with people and other dogs, touch, and one trick.
If your dog is currently ready for CGC , CGCA, CGCU, or trick dog, let’s schedule a time for the test. Text or PM for details.

03/07/2023

You cannot “train out” behaviors that are mainly a symptom of a dog who is under enriched and under stimulated.

If you are not meeting your dog’s physical, social, and mental needs, and they are “demand” barking, jumping up, destroying things, barking out the window, chewing inappropriately, or any other “problem behavior”, no amount of training will help until you can get more mental and physical stimulation on board.

It’s like taking a human child, never giving them the opportunity to play outside or go to the park to see their friends, and sitting them down in front of math problems in an effort to “calm them down”. They can't do the math problems until they've had their needs met! And your dog can't learn from "training" until they've had THEIR needs met!

So, if you’re dealing with a lot of “behavior problems”, ask yourself if you are really meeting your dog’s needs, or if there is something else you could be doing to enrich your dog’s life. It’s not always easy, but it will be worth it!

Not sure where to start? Check out these books for some good info:
- Canine Enrichment for the Real World: https://amzn.to/3mwF4oj
- Canine Enrichment for the Real World workbook: https://amzn.to/3muAozk
- Canine Enrichment: The Book Your Dog Needs You To Read: https://amzn.to/3SWguJO

02/16/2023

Not exactly gear, more of an accessory but fun to make

02/16/2023

Not really gear, more of an accessory. A truly fun make.

02/10/2023

If you have worked with me I can almost guarantee you will have heard me say...

𝙎𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣
You're not out for a route march or to squeeze the maximum amount of steps into the shortest amount of time. You're just spending some quality time outdoors with your pal. Slow down. Be present.

𝙐𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣
A longer lead allows for more freedom of movement, more natural movement, allows you to see more clearly where your dog chooses to be and results in less time under tension.

𝙇𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙨𝙣𝙞𝙛𝙛
We are visual creatures. Our dogs are olfactory creatures. They make sense of the world around them through smell. They obtain information via scent in ways we can't even conceive...who has passed by? how long ago? were they humans? dogs? rabbits? mice? Were they boys? girls? what's their reproductive status? old? young? healthy? ill? relaxed? stressed? Taking a dog for a walk and not allowing them to sniff is like asking a person to walk round the park blindfolded.

I say these things to new puppy owners, to the owners of dogs who pull on the lead, whose dogs are reactive or frustrated or overexcited or anxious.

I say it to almost everyone because these three simple things can make a 𝙝𝙪𝙜𝙚 difference to your dog's experience and, so, to their behaviour. It can settle dogs who are overwhelmed or overexcited by the world. It can help busy, frantic dogs drop down a gear or two. It can help a dog gather information abut the world around them which can build confidence.

Try these three things the next time you are out with your dog and see how it changes the experience for both of you

02/09/2023

It might sound odd to say a dog trainer won’t train your dog but it’s true. The only person who can do that is you.

You are the person your dog spends the vast majority of their time with. You are the person they have most interaction with. Who sets the boundaries, who has the opportunity to consistently reinforce behaviours, who chooses the environments your dog is exposed to, who has control over your dog's day to day life & experiences.

When you go to a weekly training class or have a weekly session your trainer isn’t really teaching your dog….they are teaching 𝘺𝘰𝘶 how to teach your dog. And your success will be determined by whether you take what you learn and implement it on a daily basis. Because even if you see your trainer or attend your class religiously every single week, week in week out, that still amounts to a tiny proportion of your dog's life ( just 0.6% of their week if the training session lasts 1 hour).

Your trainer's job is to give you the understanding, skills and confidence that will allow you to effectively teach your dog and to support and guide you through the process.

Your job is to put what you learn into practice.

02/05/2023

Two reasons (the only two reasons) your dog doesn't respond to you or do what you want.

1. They do not understand
2. They are not motivated to do so (or are motivated to do something else)

Ask me in Swahili to do something, I'll not understand. We often assume dogs understand more than they do.

Ask me to drink coffee, I'll understand what you are asking, I'll just not want to (I hate coffee).

Address either or both of these issues and see how your dog's behaviour changes.

02/04/2023

Too many people have been taught that the goal of Dog training is to achieve obedience, here’s some truth: The goal of Dog training is to learn how to be a better learners, better teammates, better at communicating together and to enjoy being a Dog, and sharing our lives with Dogs.
Guide, nurture, and shape, problem-solving flexible thinking Dogs.

01/31/2023

I've been saying this for years, sniffari's are the way forward ❤️🐾❤️🐾❤️🐾❤️

01/30/2023

Attachment! What is it? 🤔

Attachment was first researched in relation to human children/infants, and how they were treated in the first two years of their life affected their emotional bonds later in life. Children whose parents were unresponsive or dismissive to their needs, were irregular with their care, or were outright abusive to the children all developed insecure (avoidant, anxious, disorganised) attachment styles. Whereas children whose parents were responsive and caring to their child developed a secure attachment. This attachment meant the child felt more comfortable exploring and interacting with the world as they saw their caregiver as a secure base who would be there if anything ever were to happen. More recent studies have shown a similar development in dogs, that securely attached dogs will fair better in the environment than insecurely attached dogs.

So what can we do to ensure our dog has a secure attachment to us? Here are some ideas...

🐶 Don't have your dog 'cry it out' as a puppy! This was a large part of the studies with children and ignoring their emotional distress contributed to insecure attachment.

🐶 Make sure you train your dog with positive reinforcement, rather than any kind of punishment. Punishing your dog with certain tools or actions will not make you a safe space for your dog, and can create a confusing hot/cold dynamic for them.

🐶 Be understanding of their needs as a dog. Remember your dog has their own doggie needs and wants, make sure you are attentive to them and give them outlets for these behaviours rather than getting frustrated and simply shutting them down.

🐶 Listen to your dog's body language and react kindly. If your dog is uncomfortable in a situation, get them out of there rather than force them to continue with it. A dog that communicates their needs is not a bad or difficult dog.

It really is vitally important that our dogs feel safe and secure around us, we are their lifeline to the outside world and most things in their life. If they don't feel safe with us, where does that truly leave them?

You can check out the research review mentioned in the graphic for yourself here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4348122/?fbclid=IwAR2xOi1d8fVlsLVYiXlEUVOjSYjr-SevQXMufHvX4IN7HeuyTQMl142ShXk -prbm-8-071

01/12/2023

MYTHBUSTING MONDAY: It's not dominance. Seriously, it's not. There is no dominant breed. You don't have a dominant dog. Your dog's behavior is not a "dominance thing."

Now, I realize those statements might be causing some hardcore cognitive dissonance right now. Because from the moment you even became aware of dogs, you have been told that dogs are pack animals and a bunch of dominance stuff based on that assumption.

From the Merck Veterinary Manual:

"The dog’s social structure has been referred to as a pack hierarchy, but this does not accurately or entirely describe the relationship of dogs with other dogs or with people."

"The term dominance...is a relative term established by the value of the resource to each individual and the cumulative effects of learning."

For example, Animal A might challenge Animal B for a mate. Animal B might defer. But does that make Animal A the dominant animal?

What if Animal B waits until Animal A is distracted and mates with that female at another time? Is dominance even relevant at this point? I would argue that learning is far more pertinent than hierarchy.

The problem is that people tend to think of hierarchies in dogs just like hierarchies in humans. Governments, militaries, churches, schools, corporations all have linear hierarchical structures.

However, when it comes to dogs, it's not that simple.

"Hierarchy in dogs is neither static nor linear, because the motivation to obtain and retain a specific resource, together with previous learning, defines the relationship between two individuals for each encounter."

In other words, if you push me out of the way to get the last chocolate truffle, and I walk away...but I don't actually like chocolate truffles (I don't), you're not actually establishing dominance. I didn't want the resource, anyway. Or maybe I learned that, by walking away, I will be given the key to the room full of caramels. Mmmmm. Caramels.

What about aggression?

"A 'dominant' animal is not the one engaged in the most fighting and combat. Most high-ranking animals seldom have to contest their right of access to a resource. Instead, high-ranking animals are usually better identified by the character and frequency of deferential behaviors exhibited by others in their social group and by their ability to respond appropriately to a variety of social and environmental circumstances."

So, it is not the "dominant" dog who growls over a bone or fights with other dogs at the dog park. When your dogs are fighting at home, identifying the alpha is about as productive as a snipe hunt.

Why does it matter? Because if you are told that your dog's behavior is the result of dominance, the solution is almost always some form of rank reduction. Everything from making the dog sit for every bit of affection to methods that are too disturbing to detail. And it's all called "leadership."

Trying to change a dog's rank in an imaginary hierarchy only serves to delay behavior modification. In many cases, it makes the situation much worse.

If we want to change behavior, we need to explore the dog's health, environment, and learning history, as well as identify triggers and consequences for the behavior. From there, we can develop a complete plan that addresses the needs of the individual dog, reducing their stress, increasing tolerance, and reinforcing desirable responses.

Next time someone tells you that if your dog jumps, pulls on the leash, leans on you, sits on your foot, sleeps on top of the couch, barks, mounts/humps, doesn't listen, or anything else that isn't obedience or cowering in the corner, it's dominance, what they're really saying is that they don't understand dog behavior and are probably not someone you want to take advice from....let alone pay for that advice!

Relax. It's not dominance. Now we've got that out of the way, let's focus on changing behavior!

See more:
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/behavior/normal-social-behavior-and-behavioral-problems-of-domestic-animals/social-behavior-of-dogs
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©2017 Lisa Mullinax. All rights reserved. Feel free to share, but downloading for redistribution in any form, for any reason is a copyright violation. Thanks!

01/08/2023

Our dogs are contextual learners, meaning the slightest change can throw them off.

The way our body moves, scent, treat pouch on or off, the colour of our shoes, handler, environment.

When we teach a dog what we want, we need to teach them with many different changes. Be prepared to guide them from the beginning each time.

That’s how we provide clarity and predictability in our cues.
The world around them can change but what we are asking remains the same.

So one of the things we can do if our dogs aren’t responding is play spot the difference, and help them understand what we want again.

01/01/2023

❄️❄️❄️Class was to begin tonight but has to be postponed because I am snowed in. See you on the 6th!!! The snow drifts are just too high for my little car.
To ring in the new year I will be offering Trick Dog, CGC, and CGCA evaluations in St George starting at 5:45 on January 9, 16, and 23rd for twenty five per dog per test. For those who would like an 8 week class, CGC prep will begin January 30 at 5:45 in St George. Please text my cell or PM for more information or to reserve a time- Happy Training 😊

01/01/2023

Cedar City basic obedience class starting Wednesday January 11 at 6:15. Focus, sit, down, stay, loose leash walking, general socialization with people and other dogs, touch, and one trick.
If your dog is currently ready for CGC , CGCA, CGCU, or trick dog, let’s schedule a time for the test. Text or PM for details.

01/01/2023

Formerly known as Athos Leathercraft and Good Dog Positive Dog Training. Due to some unfortunate events, we are locked out of these accounts so have combined and will begin again. Happy New Year 🎉