We had lots of fun with this game tonight in our Games Class! Why teach the two toy / switch game?
🎾 It’s a great foundation skill for building a nice “drop it” or “out”!
🎾 It gives you a way to prevent over-arousal during tug
🎾 It is a good foundation skill for your dog to have if you want to use toys as reinforcers in training!
🎾 It’s natural for dogs to want to possess their toys, but doing so is often not conducive to cooperative play with us. By arranging the interaction such that the dog’s always “winning,” we make the interaction with us reinforcing in and of itself as opposed to the reinforcement being exclusively about possessing the toy.
Playing with your dog should be fun! But by advancing their skills around toy play, we make the interactions more controlled and less likely to involve conflict.
Here is another game you can play when introducing dogs to each other. In this game we are applying the sits/downs that we reviewed in the last video. We are encouraging the dogs into a relaxed position and teaching turn taking. This exercise teaches them to be patient and polite around food, even if another dog is present.
Introducing a new dog to your current dogs can be difficult initially. It is a really big adjustment on every dog’s part. It can be very helpful to take things slowly and build short, positive experiences with each other, allowing them lots of time to relax in separate spaces initially. There are lots of different activities that can help the dogs bond and ease into getting to know each other. Below is an example. Start by having each dog on leash with their own handler. Start at a comfortable distance for the dogs that is far enough apart that your dog is not barking at, pulling toward or too distracted by the other dog. Then just work on the basics. Review sit, down and eye contact. Be sure to also reward your dog for calmly watching the other dog. As they get comfortable you can gradually move closer to each other. This game teaches the dogs to be calm in each other’s presence and demonstrates that they are capable of performing known behaviors while around each other.
Why train tricks? Well, for starters, it’s EXTREMELY fun for both you and your dog! More than that, though, it does WONDERS for your dog’s confidence, body awareness, and your relationship with them! For so many dogs, their favorite form of enrichment is quality time spent working with you. Our Novice and Intermediate Trick Classes are starting soon! Come join the fun!
Having fun during the cold weather learning new and useful things. We started this skill with the basket directly in front of me and are now gradually moving it to its intended location.
Poppie is having so much fun learning new tricks. She has gained so much confidence and built engagement with her mom all while having a blast. It is so neat to see this little girl problem solve and excel! #caninebodyandmind #trickdogs #positivedogtraining
A key piece of our Games Class is getting our dog accustomed to receiving food reinforcement in a variety of ways, some of which encourage calmness and stillness, while others encourage higher levels of excitement. Here, Lindsay is explaining “Zen Hand” which is a useful exercise for many of the games introduced later on in the class!
If you’re looking for a fun and easy game to keep your dog occupied this week during the frigid temperatures, Lindsay & Anya have just the game for you!
Can a dog voluntarily choose to receive vaccines? Absolutely! Receiving vaccines does not have to be scary if you train for it. Here Scout is getting two of his annual shots and is CHOOSING to lay on the mat. He is not restrained, he is free to get up if he feels like it, he has never been punished for getting up. Does he like being poked with sharp things? No (look at his face). I don’t know anyone who does. Is he willing to do it for the promise of a piece of hot dog? Yes. Was this stressful for him? No. He opted to stay in the game for a second shot. #positivedogtraining #caninebodyandmind #veterinary
Thank you to everyone who came out to our 2024 Christmas Pet Photo Event! It was so much fun! Here are some highlights from Saturday. #dog #puppy #Christmas #petphotography
Scout’s AKC Advanced Trick Dog Video. He LOVES learning tricks!
Practicing around LOTS of distractions. This down settle looks completely different than last season. Mr. Scout did a beautiful job!
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