Two by Four Dog Training

09/14/2024

https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/animal-emotions/202409/is-balanced-training-fair-to-dogs-or-is-it-a-cop-out?fbclid=IwY2xjawFS5DlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHZBs1rRM1KcBNRiOw9tjktR4RsETEXv9lj5ITkFZDxPeZUgkpMZYtG8OXA_aem_RhmJSaCyaShx_0dxiTRJOw

Balanced dog training using positive reinforcement (rewards-based) methods and aversives (physical punishment) is no better than simply using force-free positive methods and love.

04/10/2024

300 eggs and lots of happy dogs! Each spring I host the Egg Hunt, an opportunity for dogs to practice their nose work skills with some enrichment thrown in. It is a ton of fun, even with the wind, snow and sun we had last weekend. Grateful to work with such great dogs and their people.

04/07/2024

A windy, cold, some snow, some sun and lots of fun first day of Egg Hunt 2024!

10/21/2023

10/21/2023

Another fun Harvest Hunt!

06/30/2023

A little relaxing around our fire pit, practice approaching a food table, yummy snacks, an enriched Rally course and S'mores scavenger hunt! Forest Cafe, Camping Edition, was a great socialization activity and super fun for dogs and their people.

06/07/2023

Forest Café is back for limited sessions this summer!
Forest Café is an opportunity to practice your dog's skills needed to visit a coffee shop, brewery, a friend's backyard BBQ or just an a safe environment to hang out with your dog! Dogs practice learning to settle around other dogs with opportunities to practice being approached by servers, loose leash walking through tables, and more. Each session is themed with various socialization opportunities and we have one specifically for our Reactive Rovers! There are treats for humans and dogs as part of the experience.

Friday, June 30th - 9am - Theme will be camping! Sit around a "fire" pit(no fire will be lit), check out a tent and other camping equipment.

Tues, July 11th - 5pm - Reactive Rover session or 6pm for dogs able to be in closer proximity to dogs/humans - Theme will be Summer Fun! An ice cream bar for humans and canines, some pool time, bubbles and more.

Contact me to register. Basic obedience skills will help your dog be successful in these sessions.

12/06/2022

The Look at That Game by Leslie McDevitt is a foundational one that I think every dog should know. It's a conversation you can have with you dog throughout their life.

here is a webinar on one of the most popular Control Unleashed "games," LAT, for free just for you, I hope it will answer any questions you have and help you...

12/05/2022

Love our annual downtown walks! So much to see, smell, walk on, and hear.

07/31/2022

The summer is winding down and there are only 2 more Forest Cafe sessions left! Come out to the beach party and practice you skills, enjoy some great food and enrichment!
Fri, Aug 5th - 6pm
Mon, Aug 8th - 9am
Have you wanted to teach your dog how to relax in a restaurant or brewery setting? Want a dog that can hang out and settle when you have guests over or go to someone's house for a BBQ? Maybe you never want to go to an actual restaurant, but want to be able to hang out with your dog in a safe setting. Forest Cafe training sessions are for you! Practice having servers approach your table, walking with your dog up to the counter to order, and teaching your dog to settle. Each session will be held outside.

07/25/2022

07/12/2022

https://thezebra.org/2022/07/04/why-you-should-talk-to-your-dog/?fs=e&s=cl&fbclid=IwAR1CIvsi_9ohx_KnRBjF5nOpXPnadzgquAJGZmQr6n4WtLHIXaoA9A2_j0A&mibextid=v9XM1L

Alexandria, VA - My pup Georgie and I were happily walking through Founder’s Park when something mysterious stopped him in his tracks: a flying kite. His

07/08/2022

More Forest Cafe sessions coming up! July will be a beach party theme with themed food for humans, a puppy pool, and doggy ice cream.
Have you wanted to teach your dog how to relax in a restaurant or brewery setting? Want a dog that can hang out and settle when you have guests over or go to someone's house for a BBQ? Maybe you never want to go to an actual restaurant, but want to be able to hang out with your dog in a safe setting. Forest Cafe training sessions are for you! Practice having servers approach your table, walking with your dog up to the counter to order, and teaching your dog to settle. Each session will be outside and have fun drinks and snacks for the humans to enjoy as well!
Upcoming Sessions: Mon, July 18th at 9am
Contact me to register! Some basic training skills needed to be successful in these sessions.

06/12/2022

Nose Work Drop-In Session this Wed, 6pm. Whether just for fun or a nose work competitor, this session is customized to the dog teams. Nose Work is great for reactive dogs and dogs of all ages and abilities!
Contact me to sign up!

06/09/2022

Tis the season!
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Watch out for those pesky grass seed awns! Those teeny, tiny awns can cause a whole lot of damage!

06/09/2022

Summer is here and it's a great time to work on teaching your dog to relax in social situations!
Have you wanted to teach your dog how to relax in a restaurant or brewery setting? Want a dog that can hang out and settle when you have guests over or go to someone's house for a BBQ? Maybe you never want to go to an actual restaurant, but want to be able to hang out with your dog in a safe setting. Forest Cafe training sessions are for you! Practice having servers approach your table, walking with your dog up to the counter to order, and teaching your dog to settle. Each session will be outside and have fun drinks and snacks for the humans to enjoy as well!
Upcoming Sessions: Fri, June 17th - 6pm, Wed, June 22nd, 8:30am, Fri, July 15th - 6pm, Mon, July 18th - 9:00am
Contact me to register! Some basic training skills needed to be successful in these sessions.

03/25/2022

Shake it…shake it off…

A recent study by two researchers in France looked at sniffing, pulse rate, and leash length on walks. Sixty-one dogs were taken on three separate walks, five minutes each walk, once with a 1.5m leash, once with a 5m leash, and once without a leash at all (walk order was randomized for each dog). Off-leash dogs sniffed the most, more than 3x as long as the dogs on short leashes. Dogs on long leashes spent nearly as much time as unleashed dogs sniffing, almost 3x as long as dogs on short leashes.

This study also found that sniffing resulted in lowered pulse rates, and the more intensely they sniffed, the more their pulse rates lowered. Pulse rate was also lowered when dogs “shook off” during walks on all leash lengths. The “shake off” behavior was often seen when the dog’s pulse rate was particularly high.

Read more about it below!
http://www.dogfieldstudy.com/node/1

https://thebark.com/content/dog-walks-sniffing-shaking-and-pulse-rate

What else can we learn about dogs from their walking behavior? Take your best friend on a Sniffari and see what you observe!