Thunder Puppy University

05/13/2024

If you're interested, get on the roster now by calling or emailing. Leave a message if necessary- lots of potential students this session! It's only $300 for the entire set of classes!
3038984238
[email protected]

05/06/2024

Here we go! Back by popular demand, we've got another
🐾Learning to Love Living With Your Dog🐾 session scheduled!

We thought it possible that the last one was going to be THE LAST one, but more people and dogs are looking for help!

If you're interested - despite the fact that we may have talked up to this point - either call or email (info on flyer). You're not officially on the roster until Ann confirms in response. 😍🐶

All breeds and family welcome.
Let's learn our dog psychology and make some canine good citizens!

04/28/2024

Weeeeeeeeeeee!

04/16/2024

04/15/2024

More dog love 💙💛❤️💜

02/01/2024

"Dogs lives are short, too short, but you know that going in. You know the pain is coming, you're going to lose a dog, and there's going to be great anguish, so you live fully in the moment with her, never fail to share her joy or delight in her innocence, because you can't support the illusion that a dog can be your lifelong companion. There's such beauty in the hard honesty of that, in accepting and giving love while always aware that it comes with an unbearable price.
Maybe loving dogs is a way we do penance for all the other illusions we allow ourselves and the mistakes we make because of those illusions." ~Dean Koontz

📸Alain Delon by Benjamin Auger

01/30/2024

Courtesy of The Naughty Dogge

This is good stuff, Canine Friends!

----------

Intrinsic Motivation:

Trainers from the instinct sports know something that other's do not... the value of intrinsic motivation...

While we need to teach with food and toys and praise, these need to be considered teaching tools. Your teaching tools are there to help you clarify the concept that you are trying to communicate, but in no way should be keeping your dog engaged and with you. Your dog needs to be enjoying working with you, and should not be working for his food. While this almost looks the same, there is a ginormous difference.

If you are confused by what I mean, go take all leashes and training equipment off your dog, and empty your pockets, and go and stand still. Is your dog pestering you to do something with them? If yes, all is good. If all you see is a tail and a bum, then when you get your food they are suddenly ever-present, you have some work to do.

I do not want my dogs thinking, "If I do this, I get that". It won't hold when I need them the most.

What we need to instil into our dogs is an inner joy for their work. If they love their work, the work itself becomes the reward.
Rewards quickly steal the play from play and turn it into work. Alternately, focusing on the learning of the work can turn it into play. If you don't believe me, ask some young kids to help you wash your car and observe how they enjoy the sponges and the bubbles, and their finished product. Then the next time pay them $5 for washing your car. Do that twice, and see the difference in their enjoyment as they do it. Rewards stop inherent enjoyment - and instead get us focused on the reward at the end, not the job at hand.

However, there are exceptions where, "If I do this, then I get that," rewards are needed. They have a place when it comes to dull, mundane practise, such as is necessary for any repeated drill like fronts and finishes, that has no purpose to the dog. As Evan Graham says, "Leave something in it for the dog". If the work itself gives the dog nothing, then we need to add it.

Intrinsic Motivation is complex, and will take a while for you to wrap your brain around. Rewards do have a time and place, but the difficulty arises when they are expected. The focus and enjoyment on the challenges of the work lose their value and enjoyment, and rather become a roadblock to their reward. We need to create joyful work, and joyful moments, and find the right balance. Allow work to become enjoyable work, (with a reward at the end) rather than focusing on the reward at the end.

Monique Anstee
Victoria, BC
Author of As a Dog Thinketh

01/24/2024

Cute!

01/20/2024

"Feel and Timing:

A tool is a tool. It doesn't matter the quality of a hammer or drill, it matters the quality of the craftsman.

I can pick up that drill, and do a fairly disastrous job of making kitchen cupboards. But hand that drill over to a skilled craftsman, and they will look great. Is it the drill that was flawed? Should I buy a different brand? No. We must improve the craftsman.

Dog training tools are the same. It doesn't matter if you use a halti, no pull harness, buckle collar, pinch collar, clicker, or whatever you want to use to teach your dog to walk nicely on a leash. If your skills are lacking, so will the end behaviour be.

This is the fascinating part of dog training. All come to me needing skills, but many are unwilling to work on themselves. They expect the dog to change, transform, while they stay the same. It doesn't work that way. Your relationship with your dog is just that; a relationship. What you do will affect what he does.

But change is difficult for us. It is stressful. It requires us admitting flaws, and being vulnerable. If we rise to the occasion in training our partners, we will end up better people. However, it really is much easier to either a) stuff more food in the dog's face, or b) scold the dog some more.

Have some people lost the ability to dig deep, to improve themselves?

Some days when I look around, I feel that the art of dogmanship is becoming a lost art. I see my peers, who are veterans in dogs, and they all possess what I speak of. They might all be different from each other in the tools that they use, but they are craftsman. They can take the equivalent of an old, rotten piece of wood and with love, and pride, turn it into something beautiful.

Please remember, it isn't the tool, it is you.

Can you calm your mind? Can you loosen and control your muscles, and control your breath? Do you have the right feel on the leash, for each dog that you work with? Is your boundary clear and consistent? Are you more reactive than they are?

If not, it is time to work on your dogmanship."

Monique Anstee
Author of As a Dog Thinketh. Victoria, BC

01/04/2024

A whole bunch of Heroes.

12/27/2023

Tom Mosser (American artist)
" A golden retriever at the museum " 2023

12/24/2023

Now you gotta look at THIS face!

Another fantastic home visit yesterday with this little cutie, TALLY, and her very cool Coal Creek Canyon parents.
What a great dog!

(Yes, I say that about all the dogs! They're just miracles in fuzzy suits!)
🐕‍🦺🦴🐕🐩🐶🐾

12/18/2023

Look at this face!

Easiest Home Visit on record today with longtime friends and their new girl Luna, adopted from Foothills Animal Shelter. Well done, All!

Great dog for a fabulous family!

11/30/2023

Become more like your dog rather than trying to shove him into your preconceived, human box. ~am
______
"Why are there so many trainers and people that want squashed dogs? We have hundreds of breeds to choose from, so why not pick one that suits your lifestyle? Rupert, my Basset, was born like he was a geriatric. He will happily lie in one spot for five hours, while Harry would find that torture. I could train Harry to do that, but it would have a large cost to his soul.

It breaks my heart when I see these high powered, energetic breeds doing ‘Place’ for an hour plus. I’d rather see them tootling around, getting into occasional mischief, but listening when asked to do something.

If your wants in a dog are active for their walks, and lazy in the house, I suggest a Basset. Rupert is very talented at doing Place.

If you instead choose an energetic high-powered breed, please don’t turn them in to Rupert. They shouldn’t be that way, even with training. They should have a sparkle in their eye and make you laugh with their antics. We must learn to value their sense of humour and cheeky sides, rather than them lying still at our feet for hours, with their souls dissected from them.

Research your breed then learn to live with what you choose. Don’t think you’ve over achieved when your 2 year old Malinois can do a down stay for hours, and acts like he’s fifteen on his walks. It’s a failing to the dog, and will greatly take away from their quality of life.

Place has become the most overused command within the dog training industry. That, and the associated training of making dogs so dull and calm, needs to be reconsidered. Its time to push for a change…. "

~Monique Anstee British Columbia

📷 Thunder Puppy's Wakanda Kenda Kay

11/18/2023

So proud of PACK 923! Six graduated Canine Good Citizens!!!!!!
🐕‍🦺🐕🐾

*One pending: unable to attend today. Not to worry.

These sweet dogs and their hoomans worked hard for 9 weeks, not only training for AKC CGC, but getting their Dog Psychology on as well!

"As Dog Thinkth!"

I firmly believe a good understanding of EXACTLY THAT is key to the long-term success when building a relationship with your dog.
_________
Special shout 📣 out to Liz and Ben for all their help and support with graduation (and beyond)! Super grateful to Margaret and David for bringing JoJo and Roxy to be part of the "crowd" and serving as 'The Other Dog'. Feeling the LOVE y'all. Thanks for coming out! ♥️

Congrats, Pack! Let's talk soon about our nursing home field trip! Enjoy your holidays! 🥳🎉

11/14/2023

PACK 923 graduates this coming Saturday!

Everyone has worked really hard towards becoming Canine Good Citizens. Let's keep our paws crossed that they can all pass the test!

I have a feeling that most- if not all - will put the finishing touches on this week and come ready and able!

I have really enjoyed teaching this group. You'll remember it was slated for small and small-friendly dogs, something I have never done before.

Not a Husky in the bunch! Howl Out Loud. 🐺

Push it a few more days, Pack. Let's do this!

10/28/2023

PACK 923 continues to reign above and beyond!

Today's play group was absolutely perfect.

Can't believe we'll be graduating in 2 weeks... 😭

10/14/2023

Pack 923 is so far ahead of the game! We did our pack walk today during the solar eclipse and had our first playgroup at the end of the session.

We're already halfway through!

Next week: dominance and coming when called. These people (when I say people, I really mean dogs) are fantastic.

I'm going to be sad when this group is over.

09/23/2023

Super excited to welcome Pack 923!

Curated for the small/medium dog (and large 'small friendly'), I've never done this before in my lengthy career.

Maybe I should have, 'cuz look at how calm everyone is in this huge space! And we hadn't even got started yet!

This is going to be a great Pack!

American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizens ahead!

09/16/2023

Starting soon and a few spots left! Call, leave a message, email- I’ll get back to you!

Thunder Puppy University has an 8-week class that will not only build your relationship with your dog, but give them a chance at being an AKC Canine Good Citizen! Our program gives you an in-depth look into dog psychology and gets the results you are hoping for, but you’ll need to put in the work Now, to achieve and enjoy the rest of your lives together!

There simply is no substitute for in-person sharing of Energy and hands-on participation.

Space is limited so get on the roster. Info is on the flyer or reach out. You're not registered until Ann confirms you, so take the plunge and make a commitment. You and your dog will be happy you did and enjoying a great partnership before you know it!

Please note that this session will be geared toward the smaller to medium sized dog and/or large dogs that live with smalls. No anti-social canines or humans, please. Aggression will not be tolerated in class as it needs it's own training set.

Looking forward to a fun and productive session this year (just like last Fall!).

*If you and I have spoken, but you haven’t received a welcome email- don’t panic! I went on vacation and left my precious notepad in the hotel. Oops! Email ME at [email protected] or show up on the 23rd regardless. We’ll catch up!

Puppy Love,
Ann and The Pack

09/14/2023

Surf's Up!

08/29/2023

Whatever your goal(s), you gotta put in the time and work. It doesn't have to be intense (or the intensity doesn't have to be forever), but you can't just "wishful think" your doggos into good behavior.

Fortunately, Thunder Puppy University has a 8 week class that can not only build your relationship with your dog, but give them a chance at being a Canine Good Citizen! Our program gives you an in-depth look into dog psychology and gets the results you are hoping for... IF you do your part.

In this day and age of apps and online "communication" there simply is no substitute for in-person sharing of Energy and hands on participation.

Space is limited so get on the roster now. Info is on the flyer or reach out. You're not registered until Ann confirms you, so take the plunge and make a commitment. You and your dog will be happy you did and enjoying a great partnership before Thanksgiving!

08/12/2023

Mountain Fest today, which means it's time to register and get ready for the Thunder Puppy University FALL CLASS! Details are on the flyer.

Please note that this session will be geared toward the smaller to medium sized dog and/or large dogs that live with smalls. No anti-social canines or humans, please. Aggression will not be tolerated in class as it needs it's own training set.

Looking forward to a fun and productive session this year (just like last Fall!). We will fill up fast, so if your interested, get on the roster sooner than later!

Cost is $300 and includes all 8 weeks, plus Canine Good Citizen testing.

07/14/2023

“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace.” ~Milan Kundera

Photo: Diamond Blue/Thunder Puppy Pro Photo

06/08/2023

🐶

05/31/2023

"She argues that we should think about how to be better pet parents rather than just about how to make our pets better. Puppies, and young dogs, need a rich environment: they need to run, they need to walk, they need to play...."

A new book explores how dogs and people grow up together.

05/25/2023

You both can come stay at our place. 😄

05/13/2023

That's a wrap for Pack 323!!! Those two months flew by!

📷 Here are a few of our Top Dogs!

I am so lucky to meet and teach such lovely people and brilliant canines!

Have a great Summer! 🏖
See ya next Fall! 🍂

XOXO,
🥰🐶
Ann and The Pack