Lay Lay went to Lowe’s!!! We talk about training a dog to heel reliably without a leash using an e-collar. We demonstrate the dog's ability to hold a perfect heel position, stay in a down-stay even with distractions, and come when called. We also discuss how to properly hold the leash and the importance of generalizing training to different environments.
We're working on training Smokey, an older dog who is new to obedience commands. Despite the cold weather, we're practicing off-leash healing, recall, and stay commands around the house. The dog is doing well, but it's clear he's still learning these new skills. We're patient and encouraging, and know that with more practice, these commands will become easier for him.
In this video, we discuss the process of down stay proofing for a dog who is scared of many things. The goal is to teach the dog that staying put, even when faced with something frightening, is the correct response that will be rewarded. We see the dog initially wanting to run away, but through consistent training and praise for staying, he is learning that remaining calm is the best coping skill. In this video, I discuss the importance of rewarding calm and compliant behavior in dogs, rather than reinforcing anxious or hyperactive states. I explain how petting a dog while they are exhibiting undesirable behaviors can actually encourage more of that behavior. Instead, I recommend using positive reinforcement to teach the dog to remain calm and relaxed, even in situations that may initially cause them fear or stress. By addressing these issues early on, particularly during a dog's fear stage, we can help them develop into well-adjusted, domesticated companions. We discuss the importance of using petting and affection as a reward for good behavior in dogs, rather than as a way to soothe anxiety or fear. We explain that rewarding unwanted behaviors, like jumping or begging, will only reinforce those behaviors. Instead, we should use petting and praise to reward calm, polite behavior. We also talk about how to help a young, skittish dog overcome fears of things like vacuums or trash cans by having them observe and get used to those stimuli in a controlled way, rather than coddling them when they are afraid. We talk about how to help a dog overcome fear and build confidence through exposure therapy and positive reinforcement. The key is to let the dog make choices, provide a sense of safety, and establish the trainer as a leader the dog can trust.
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