Bogey is a great example of a dog who is super eager to work and has just been waiting for someone to properly train him. I love his energy and he gives so much back in return.
Initial leash work is crucial and sets the stage for long line work and moving to off leash. Because if it ain’t happening on leash, it’s not gonna happen reliably off leash. The Ecollar is a great tool, but I typically don’t start using it until the end of the first week. I don’t attempt to give a command without the leash on until the dog has shown me frequent compliance and understanding. In this clip, you’ll see Mabel moving through her commands and Bogey breaking place a couple times which I am correcting through the prong collar and leash. Seamus is doing his thing, relaxing, and minding his own business.
Seamus has a history of not greeting people the right way and we want to use place for a period of time so that he can take a backseat to all the action when guests arrive to the home. I want his owner, age 93, to have every option of getting him there, whether it be up close, from a distance, sitting or standing.
Seamus is into his fourth week of training and is looking fantastic. This guy came in ramped up, reactive, aggressive, and quite resistant to direction. While training is never a destination, but a journey - he’s on the right path to head back home at the end of the week and continue to put his best paw forward.
Free time in the early stages of training is just that – free time. There’s still supervision, but no commands or real expectations other than polite behavior. It’s a time to let the dogs relax, unwind, and receive affection.
What can be accomplished with a small, untrained dog in just 9 days??
Even though Dutch has been retired for the last couple years, he’s still a great help with dogs that are unsure or reactive. Charlie’s owner has stated that he is highly reactive to all dogs on walks. Keep in mind that reactivity does not equal aggression, but it can grow from there. Dutch plays it cool and neutral and even shows Charlie what area of the yard he should poop.
Work. Play. Work. Repeat 🔁
A solid day of work deserves some downtime to just be yourself and get a little weird😜