My husband and I recently returned from a trip overseas. Over 9 days we visited the Netherlands, Germany, France & Switzerland. It was a long overdue and very enjoyable vacation for us.
Despite my best efforts to not think about "work" while on holiday, I could not help but notice all the dogs we saw. ๐
I didn't want to creep on people, but I shot this one quick video of a dog "doing nothing." I knew when I got home that I'd want to share an example of the dog behavior we had observed time and time again.
What's special about a dog doing nothing?... well, this was in a super crowded space with other dogs nearby. This very neutral, take it in stride behavior was so common that it really stood out to me. So I started to pay close attention to the owners to see what detectable behavior changes on their part were obvious compared to what I typically see in the US.
The mature dogs behaved pretty much as the one in this video...just hanging out with little interaction needed from the owner.
The younger dogs were much more revealing. Their owners where demonstrating the secret sauce used to achieve this exemplary public behavior.
Here are a few of the key behaviors that were common:
1. Leash pops being used as needed to stop a dog from sniffing other people, or attempting to lift their leg to pee on posts, garbage cans etc.
2. Effective use of the leash and body blocking used to teach the dog to walk politely. Not a single person allowed their dog to drag them around or forge forward because "he/she just wants to say hi!"
3. Verbal reprimands of Uh-Ah, or No along with consistent follow through of what was not going to be allowed. I saw one women work her young, possibly Akita mix(?), for a solid 3 minutes to prove to him he was not allowed to drag her to a lamp post to sniff and mark it.
I wanted to give that woman a blue ribbon!! ๐
I also saw exactly ONE retractible leash. It was attached to a Pomeranian pup that was being allowed to potty in a cor
Here is a clip from a recent Ecademy course (for professional dog trainers). My goal was to improve the trainer's ability to use the ecollar to help teach heel position to the dog.
We're using a retractible leash and it is turned upside down to prevent using the brake.
There is a reason for this madness. ๐
It is to improve the trainers timing, footwork and ability to strategize how to help the dog get correct when faced with distractions.
As you can see the trainer nailed it, which means the dog does too!
If you have friends that believe ecollars can only be used as punishment or as a tool of last resort, please educate them.
It is pretty obvious this dog is having a great time learning.
(Note: Pet training, not competition heel)
"You can't teach with an Ecollar. You can only enforce known commands"
Another one of those statements made by people that don't know as much as they think they do.
Yes, you can teach with an Ecollar, but it requires you understand how to do it.
Certainly you can pre-teach the behavior first and then use the Ecollar to reinforce it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with approaching the tool that way, but it isn't a MUST as some would have you believe.
Particularly for simple skills like a recall. If you can use a long line (leash pressure) and body language, combined with positive reinforcement to teach a recall, then of course you can use Ecollar pressure combined with positive reinforcement to teach a recall.
The non-logic of some of the things people say really astounds me. But... it doesn't leave me speechless. ๐ That's why I'm sharing this short clip of a young Weim on day 3 of his board and train time with me. He's five months old in this video and had no prior training. A typical 5 month old goofy, bird dog.
One of the goals the owner had was to be able to give him more freedom to "dog" as soon as possible. So we started Ecollar work right away.
In this short clip I applied Ecollar pressure twice. Once for the recall (at the end of the clip) and once, when the pup came across an animal carcass.
If I'm teaching with the tool, I combine the verbal cue with the physical cue and use any form of "help" (leash tension, body language, encouragement) as needed so the dog can be successful quickly. I wean back on the help portion and the physical cue as the dog demonstrates readiness.
This is the result of 2 prior days of training so that on day 3 we're on the trail with a drag line. By day 6 I fully trusted this boy to be free of the drag line (he didn't need the help) when we hiked together. There is just no faster way to freedom if that's a goal you have for your dog.
Perhaps it's just be my opinion...but I think the speed and efficiency i
Terrier doing terrier stuff. This is what determination looks like. ๐๐ถ
Tonight we finish up the final class of the 7 week, Ecollar: Beyond the Basics course.
In the past weeks we've been discussing that we don't build dependency on the tool. One of the homework assignments was to send footage where no tactile prompts are used, only voice or hand signals.
Here is a recent clip. It is really nice work from a pet owner that has been very dedicated to improving the relationship and responsiveness with his dog.
I'm so proud of my students. ๐
Nail maintenance can be a nightmare for many dog owners.
This was several months in the making but worth every bit of the effort to achieve. It is a chain of 3 behaviors:
Through โก๏ธ Wait โก๏ธ Foot
Through gets him into position, Wait instructs him to hold steady in one spot, Foot informs him I will pick up and hold his foot.
Turning off the dremel (absence of the sound) is a terminal marker. He knows when it shuts off he gets his cookie.
In the early training it was one toe at a time. Now we are at the final target behavior, all nails on the foot before the dremel stops.
fwiw, I realize this standing position may not be for everyone...I prefer to trim the nails like this because I get a clear view of the quick and can easily see how far back I want to go. For smaller dogs I stand them on a table and switch sides as needed.
This may ruffle a few feathers...but it is truth.
The video is a moment from one of the lectures at a recent Ecademy course. I was discussing the value of incorporating ecollar training into behavioral cases.
If you don't understand how an ecollar can be used to help dogs that are fearful, anxious, hesitant, etc...you simply don't understand the true value of how a tactile cueing system can be used to put a dog at ease, build confidence and enhance trust in the handler.
If you want to understand what I'm talking about...DM for registration details for the final 2024 Ecademy course that will be happening in Northern KY at Pawlished Dog Training LLC Oct 17 - 21
When more people understand, more dogs and their owners can start living a fuller life together. ๐
A quick < 5 min workout while waiting for a client to show up for our appointment. There is always time to train the dog. :-)
#beyourdogshero
Teaching a dog to walk in heel position is one of the things that challenges many pet owners. It is a skill that takes a lot of practice!
Knowing "how to practice" is a big part of the equation for success. It is important to effectively communicate the defined area that you want the dog to remain in.
For my pet training clients, I teach that the dogs head should be in alinement with my left leg. I will accept a bit of lagging (12 - 15 inches) since that isn't going to get most dogs in trouble (because if they are slightly behind me, they aren't pulling OR in a position to make bad choices with eye contact). But I don't allow forging.
Once you allow "some" forging...it turns into a little more and a little more...pretty soon the dog is so far in front of you, they have no concept that you are even part of the partnership anymore.
One of my go-to practice routines is to work on a set of stairs. The pattern of vertical ascent and the visual set up of a stairway helps many dogs make the connection that I want them matching my pace and remaining next to the left leg as it leads the way.
This is the 2nd and 3rd try at it. The first time, I stopped/paused on EACH step. I'm using an ecollar to draw attention to my stopping ( I stop because he started to forge) and use a slight bit of tension on the leash, as needed, to help him get it right.
You can see the progress just between the two attempts. The second time around I only had to stop once for forging. The rest of the trip he nailed it!
I start my next virtual ecollar training course tomorrow night so I'm glad I grabbed this footage today...it will be one of the upcoming homework assignments for the group. ๐ค
Lazy human...training from the porch swing...๐
In the category of adorable tricks...my daughter and grand pup are too cute! ๐ฅฐ
When was the last time you saw a Malinois doing what a Malinois was actually bred to do?
This is so fun to see!
From one of my clients that recently completed the Ecollar: Beyond the Basic course. His newest pup is showing great natural skill and he is honing it nicely.
