Positive reinforcement, reward based pet and performance dog training by Ashton Norris, KPA-CTP.
Specializing in day trains, board and trains, confidence building and sport foundations. AKC Certified Evaluator
Member APDT
UPDog Challenge Certified Judge
We have some openings for board and trains, puppy start right camp, and day training in the next few weeks!
Whether you need help with manners, puppy foundations, behavior modification, confidence building, impulse control, disc skills, general sports foundations and engagement, or something else- We are here to help.
Reach out today to get started on the road to a happier, healthier relationship with your dog.
Do your research when selecting a dog trainer, whether for sports, classes, or individual training. Check and double check a trainer’s certifications, history, continuing education, experience, insurance, required state or local licenses, etc etc. Since there is no universal certification, you may also need to dig a little deeper. Which certification do they have and how long and in-depth was the course? Ask about their methods and toolbox. Compare their experience, skills, and type of education to the type of training your dog needs. Especially for things like behavior modification. Behavior modification by an individual without proper experience and training has the potential to be incredibly dangerous.
Dog training is not unlike any other profession, education and fundamentals matter. Can your trainer explain the actual proven science behind their methods? Do they have examples of past cases they’ve worked with? Have you seen their results? Do they tell you they gaurantee a certain result in a certain amount of time, no matter what? If so on that last one, walk away.
I was in a fortunate position to be able to afford my KPA program and certification when I did, as well as some other things I’m working on. I truly hope that we can figure out a way to make this education more broadly available to everyone with an interest in the career. It could save dog and human lives.
Clients are often blown away when we talk about this. When they realize that they have accidentally been reinforcing their dog’s busy behavior, and start making lifestyle changes and focusing on helping their dog settle, it never fails that they express how much they wish they’d known this sooner/done this with past dogs.
Not every dog is a dog park or patio with your friends’ pups type of dog. That’s okay. We can certainly help with reactivity and positive associations with other dogs, but we can’t force our dog to WANT to be friends with other dogs. Again, that’s okay. Your dog isn’t broken, and you didn’t do anything wrong.
Listen to your dog and love your dog for who they are, while working on finding ways to make you both more comfortable and confident in situations set with realistic expectations!
Let’s talk about….
POISONED CUES!
What is a poisoned cue? Put simply, it is a cue (or a “command” that you give your dog) that has lost all meaning to the dog. Poisoning a cue often happens when a verbal cue (or sometimes a hand signal cue) is introduced, but then we do not fully reinforced the behavior we are asking for, or we do not have correct timing in introducing or marking the behavior. These things cause the dog to not understand clearly what behavior youre asking for. Poisoned cues can also happen if maybe you started out strong with your marking and reinforcing, but you, or others in your home, didn’t stay consistent with this. Over time the behavior often becomes sloppy or unclear. If you regularly find yourself repeating a cue before your dog actually responds, it’s likely your cue has been poisoned!
Here is a real life example: This little pug came to us knowing “sit.” However, what he really knew was “sit… sit, sit, siiiiit… SIT!.. Hey, SIT DOWN!” and even then, he only did it when he wanted to. So we’re beginning our “learning to learn” journey with something simple: Fixing the poisoned sit cue!
Here, I am waiting for him to offer the sit (which may require some luring initially,) marking the sit (there’s a clicker in my hand in my lap,) and rewarding. In our next sessions, if he is reliably offering the sit on his own, I will add in a hand signal for the behavior, since that’s a novel cue for him that has not yet “been poisoned.” Lastly, I’ll had back in the verbal “sit,” once he’s sitting reliably for the hand signal. (Disclaimer: For this guy, I have to stay lower energy at this point, or he gets a little to excited to brain, so excuse what looks like my lack of enthusiasm. You should praise your dog with as much enthusiasm as they can handle without getting too worked up!)
This dude is a smart boy and will do anything for kibbies, so this should only take a few sessions. (However, if I don’t maintain the reinforcement, he could backslide. Consistency in training here is important, as always with dog training!)
Does this all sound familiar to you? What is a cue you think may have unintentionally been poisoned for your dog?
We can help you fix poisoned cues for your dog, and help you learn how to keep them from happening in the future! Shoot us a message or visit our website to book with us now!
The boys had an excellent UpDog Challenge weekend, and I’m so glad we decided to go!
My goals for a low key, stress free weekend were, first and foremost, for Neville was to repair his confidence in indoor disc and shake off the belief that I was intentionally trying to run him into walls using short, successful throws. And secondly for to keep improving our connection and game with Kudos Michael, with specific focus on outing his disc and limiting his giant outruns and disc shaking after a catch.
Well, we absolutely blew those goals out of the water! Neville never seemed to notice the difference in the indoor field, running down discs like there were no walls at all. He was so confident and on point that I felt good enough (and he felt good enough) to to actually push ourselves, go long, and play competitively, including a KILLER round of Time Warp with Benjamin Sykes on Sunday, and an almost perfect round of Pairs Toss and Fetch for our very first attempt. Kudos Michael’s catch rate continues to improve, he beat several personal bests, his outs were absolutely amazing, and his outruns, while occasionally still there, were much less frequent and much shorts, with no disc killing. He even managed his first (I think?) disc placement! Woot!
We walked away with:
🥉3rd Place Spaced Out(on a three way tie breaker for 1st)- Neville and I
🥉3rd Place Frizgility(with a new PB!)- Neville and I
🥈2nd Place Pairs Throw and Go(on a tie for 1st)- Nev, Ben and myself
🥈2nd Place 7 Up- Kudos(!) and I
🥇1st Place Boom- Neville and I(with a new PB!)
🥇1st Place 4 Way Play- Neville and I
🥇1st Place Timewarp- Neville and Ben
Such a successful weekend with my two best boys, some plastic slinging, and good people! 💜
This is the phrase I say most to my clients. ♥️
🤍📈🤍
🛒 | shopcanineaesthete.com/products/dog-training-is-not-linear-tee
We’re back down to one spot left for in our home pet sitting for the holidays!
Add on training to their stay and make it a two-fer! Have a safe, fun place for your dog to stay while you’re away, and come home to a happy, tired pup with improved behavior. What’s not to like about that plan?!
We recently had a cancelation, so we have a few open spaces left for pet sitting in our home right outside of Greensboro, NC for the Holidays! Shoot over a message and let us spoil your pup(s) while you’re away. 🎄🎁🎊🕎
We recently had a cancelation, so we have a few open spaces left for pet sitting in our home right outside of Greensboro, NC for the Holidays! Shoot over a message and let us spoil your pup(s) while you’re away. 🎄🎁🎊🕎
HOLIDAY SPECIAL!
Need a safe, fun space for your pup for the Holidays? We’ve got you covered with pet sitting in our home! Book 5 nights for any December dates and get 1 night free!
I’m addition, we are offering Camp Kudos (our immersive training add on for pet sitting stays) for stays during the month of a December without our usual 10 day stay limit! Our singular training session packages are also available while your dog is with us. So whether your pup needs work on general manners, behavior modification, puppy foundations, disc skills, confidence building, impulse control, sports foundations or trouble shooting, or anything in between, it’s a great time to take advantage of our services!
No matter if your pup(s) just need a place to stay so they are in a home for the holidays instead of a hectic kennel, or if you have a dog that needs some extra training while you’re away, we’ve got you covered. We are NOW booking for December. As your dog will stay in our home like one of our own during their visit, our space is limited, so contact us NOW via Facebook messenger, or email at [email protected]!
(Shuttle service is available within 45 mins of our residence. Additional fees may apply based on mileage.)
Urgh! Alpha Theory! *cue eye roll* 🙄
This extremely outdated advice is still being given, and it is so incredibly harmful.
Alpha theory holds zero scientific ground!
Not with dogs or wolves.
You don't need to show your dog who's boss or be a pack leader.
Instead, be their friend and guardian. 🐶
We’re settling in to our new place in McLeansville, just outside of Greensboro, NC and are now officially booking Camp Kudos campers!
Camp Kudos Campers will enjoy their stay our own home, with 2.5 acres for outdoor play. They will live just like one of our own dogs when here for their stay- time split between hanging out with other us inside, outdoor play, and structured downtime in a safe indoor crate. Doggy shuttle for pick up and drop off available!
We have an add on for fully immersive training for our campers who are staying 1 week or longer (think “board and train,”) as well as options to add on individual 1 hr training sessions while they are staying with us. Each of these training add ons will come with owner support!
We also have Adventure Club add ons for dogs who want or need a little more than playtime in the yard. This includes group or individual hikes and swimming opportunities.
Lastly, Camp Kudos is a great option for sports and performance training! From puppy and beginner sport foundations, to flyball trouble shooting, to disc or freestyle techniques- we’ve got you covered!
Shoot us an email at [email protected] or send us a message for booking, rates, or any questions!
I still feel confused at times as to why there is still such a pushback to using food to train your dog.
“When will I not have to use it anymore?”
“Will I always have to have food on me?”
“Won’t he then become obsessed with all food?”
“I want him to do it because he loves me, not because I have food”
“Using food is cheating”
“Using food means you’re bribing not training”
“Using food will make my dog fat”
“I never had to use food with my last dog.”
These are all just some of the insane things I’ve heard and still hear. And it makes me crazy because I can’t imagine saying these things to my employees.
“When will I not have to pay you anymore?”
“If I pay you are you going to just become obsessed with money?”
“I really want you to work for me because you love me, not because I pay you”
Food is a tool. It is a TOOL. And just like any tool it can be used well or used poorly, but it’s one of the only tools in dog training that I hear more myths about than any other. And that’s unfortunate because when used properly it does so many good things -
Food is a primary reinforcer and for most dogs it’s the most valuable thing they can get. This makes it enormously powerful when trying to teach them how to do something new and/or complicated. That doesn’t mean they don’t appreciate a pet on the head, but they’d rather have the food and there’s NOTHING wrong with that. Just like you’d rather be paid in dollars rather than chocolate bars.
Food is fast. It’s easy to deliver, portable, and also variable in value (kibble vs cheese) so it’s very flexible also depending on your level and stage of training.
Food can help create powerful positive associations for dogs as well as counter condition negative associations they already have because of its value to them. Using food in the presence of other dogs, people and environments helps your dog have a positive association with them and this in and of itself is incredibly powerful. That’s something I don’t think we consider nearly enough when training our dogs even when they’ve past the learning phase.
Food does not have to make your dog a beggar, fat, or totally dependent on it. The context in which you deliver it, the way you ration out the food - treats vs meals and healthy choices - and also the way you cue the dog when training all help alleviate these issues.
I pay my dogs regularly and have no shame in that. As they get better at skills I ask them to work harder or longer for the pay just like as adults we have to work a full week or two before we get our paychecks. I use higher value for harder things - just like you like to get paid time and a half when you work Christmas, and lower value for easy stuff. I watch to make sure my dogs hope for the reward but don’t expect it and don’t take it personally when they’d rather come back to me for cheese instead of a pet. I focus on the fact that they came back.
Getting paid at work is a big reinforcer for us but it’s also not the only reason we go is it? The relationships you have with your coworkers, the pride you have in your job etc are all intricate parts of your motivation, but that takes TIME to build, and at first it’s usually just for the pay. Same with training your dog. At first, yes, it’s for the food, but as you continue and do it right it becomes more about the teamwork, the fun and the relationship, not just the pay. And THAT’S what I wish more people understood. Over time your dog will work often without food for you because he truly enjoys it now, and he’s been reinforced by the relationship and countless reinforcements over time. But you have to put that time and patience in first to get there. And it’s worth it. I promise.
-Helen St. Pierre
We are currently not able to take on new in person clients, as are we are relocating! We ARE still available for virtual lessons and consultations, as well as virtual AKC Trick Dog Title evaluations.
We deeply apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Please stay tuned for more updates soon!
I’M NOT STUBBORN! I’M JUST NOT MOTIVATED….
Not providing enough motivation plays a big role, but there are many other reasons that a dog’s behaviour may look like a dog is just being stubborn.
What looks like stubbornness is often a reaction to something else that is going on, on an emotional, mental, physical, environmental or genetic level. While dogs experience a range of emotions, choosing to be stubborn is not part of that range.
The label of “stubborn” is really not fair. It’s often used as an “acceptable excuse” to explain away a behaviour. It removes any pressure on us to find the root cause because we have labelled it. Just like us, dogs do what works for them and when they’re not doing what we want, there is usually a valid reason.
Perhaps it’s because they associate that behaviour with something aversive, perhaps they don’t understand what we’re wanting, they’re too distracted, over excited, tired, feeling stressed, or in pain. It’s our responsibility as the supposedly more intelligent species to figure out why. Our relationships with our dogs should be based on understanding - a cooperative partnership and not a dictatorship.
Be consistent in always rewarding behaviours you’re looking for with lots of positive reinforcement to build motivation. When a dog knows that a particular behaviour will be rewarding it will result in a dog being motivated instead of "stubborn".
The wellbeing of our dogs will be far better when we stop calling them “stubborn” and learn how to help them be more responsive.
We all have some in built survival instincts, that can become so strong they are overwhelming. Sometimes they keep us safe and sometimes they are extreme and turn into phobias where we feel like we are in serious danger.
It makes sense for animals to exhibit more caution. They have had more predators and dangers for longer. They go through fear periods to support their independent periods in order to keep them safe.
To be attached to something and loosing choice can already create panic. Then to add something they are unsure of must just be overwhelming.
It might feel like we can help a fear by showing them everything is okay, by applying pressure. But this can damage the relationship and leave your dog or puppy no choice but to lash out.
Instead offer space, choice and an escape route. As if the lead were never there. For choice and control builds confidence, as well as having our support when they need it.
It’s true!
Meet our current Camp Kudos guest, Koda! Koda is a lovely cream golden retriever who has a few undesirable behaviors he needs to brush up on, such as pulling on leash and reliable recalls.
Koda is a “covid puppy.” This phrase is widely used for dogs who were acquired as puppies during the pandemic. Most of these dogs missed out on key socialization and training opportunities during that very key time in their development due to quarantine.
Here’s the thing- it’s NOT your fault. It’s not just your dog. And the good news is, enlisting the help of a professional trainer can do wonders for helping you with behavior and training issues with your best friend!
Contact us today for help with your “covid puppy.”
We had a Camp Kudos (board and train) client reschedule for after the holidays, so I have one spot open for a 2-4 week program, starting December 17th.
Please fill out our form here if you are interested:
https://www.kudoscanine.com/trainingrequestform
Current Camp Kudos guest, Pepper, endorses our board and train programs 100%!
We had a Camp Kudos (board and train) client reschedule for after the holidays, so I have one spot open for a 2-4 week program, starting December 17th.
Please fill out our form here if you are interested:
https://www.kudoscanine.com/trainingrequestform
Current Camp Kudos guest, Pepper, endorses our board and train programs 100%!
(Feel free to share this post!)
Namesake resident dog, Kudos, got the opportunity last week to work with our new friends at The Labs & Co. on a photo shoot for a colab of some awesome brands in downtown San Francisco. We had a blast!
Kudos is a great candidate for work like this because he is comfortable and confident in new environments, is not reactive around new people, knows how to settle and bring down his arousal levels, and of course, he knows lots of needed tricks and behaviors! In this shoot we used: sit stay, down stay, chin rest/pout, and duration hold.
We can help you and your dog with all of the things mentioned above, whether your goal is to be under the big lights, or just to be able to take your best friend out and about with solid behavior, or have some cute puppy party tricks up your sleeve!
Reach out to us today!
Happy Hoooowloween from resident dogs, Neville, Nessie, and of course, Kudos!
Be a Snack Leader, not a “pack leader!”
Did you know? Hu***ng is not an “alpha” or dominance behavior….
Is mounting or hu***ng a sign of dominance in dogs?
Hu***ng or mounting is a fixed action pattern (FAP), which are innate behaviours. These are behaviours that are common to all members of a species and require no learning. A Fixed Action Pattern (FAP) is a predictable series and stereotypical sequences of complex actions triggered by a cue - www.simplypsychology.org. www.sciencedirect.com.
Hu***ng or mounting is NOT:
Dominance
Controlling you or another dog
Alpha behaviour
Only seen in unsterilised dogs
Only seen in males
Only seen in younger dogs
To cause you embarrassment
To get your attention or get back at you
Hu***ng or mounting by male or female dogs of any age CAN be due to:
Excitement
Sexual rehearsal
Burning off pent up energy
General stimulation...yippee, something’s happening!
Stress/Anxiety/Displacement behaviour
Play
Hyperarousal
A medical issue
Boredom
Frustration
Burning of excessive energy (like zoomies)
Ambivalence about a situation or a dog
Unease
Tiredness
If you are worried:
Make a note of how many times a day this is happening.
Take your dog for a medical check up.
Contact a up to date science-based behaviour consultant to identify the triggers and the emotions to be able to develope a modification plan to improve the emotional state and hence the behaviour.
What to do in the moment - if the dog underneath seems uncomfortable and stressed then please interrupt. It may mean that the 'top dog' is unable to read the body language of the other one. Rather redirect that energy to a toy or chew as opposed to saying off. Give him something mentally stimulating to do instead. If they are having turns and alternating this behaviour with other behaviours like chasing, tumbling, play bows, etc., then leave them be.
Be careful of your dog doing it to random dogs in a park that he does not know. The unknown dog could become aggressive due to not wanting the behaviour.
Note - many Google searches for this behaviour will bring up the word dominance. The behaviour is not due to such a simplistic, misunderstood term. Dogs do it to pillows, toys or furniture - do you think that they are trying to dominate those inanimate objects? Every dog is an individual with unique emotions. The feelings and motivations for the behaviour will differ from dog to dog but it is certainly not about dominance. Don't believe everything you read on Google and check your trainer's/behaviourist's credentials. Let's not label every behaviour beyond our understanding as dominant 🙂
Most guardians rush to sterilize their dogs when this happens...it may not make a difference.
👏 👏 👏
Theories are just that. Just an idea until they are proven true. And like many ideas, this trend has been out of style for decades.
While backyard trainers will try to spin what your dog does into flashy terms like "alpha" and "asserting dominance", your dog is not built with this software.
While it makes sense to us because we live in a "top down" system, dogs are just doing what works for them and they don't function in this hierarchy.
By claiming this theory, they can attempt to justify the use of fear, intimidation, corrections and pain to "fix" the problem... they have no choice but to try to take back "leadership".
These out of control trainers are using smoke and mirrors to justify their inability to work with and understand your dog.
Even the scientists who considered this to be true quickly realized that they were wrong when wolves, who were (and still inaccurately are) the justification for this blueprint were realized to be living in family groups instead of being ruled by an alpha.
Come join us in the 2000’s where it’s uncool to train this way!
We love training loops!
We couldn’t have said it better!
THE CHOICE TO CHOOSE
WHY DOGS SHOULD BE ALLOWED CHOICE
Imagine that every little detail of your life is controlled - what and when you eat, where you sleep, when you’re allowed inside or outside, when you’re allowed to go out for a walk and if you’re allowed to stop and explore, who you’re allowed or forced to interact with, what activities (if any) you’re allowed to participate in, when you’re shown affection or receive attention, where you’re allowed to be touched etc., etc.…. This situation would create stress and anxiety, a feeling of helplessness, apathy, a lack of confidence and many other negative emotions. The same is true for dogs.
Dogs live in a world where just about everything is controlled by us. Allowing choice, no matter how simple that choice may be, provides many benefits. The context in which we allow choice is obviously relevant. Safety, boundaries, environmental factors, other people or animals always need to be taken into account.
Dogs that are allowed some control over their environment and how they respond to situations are more confident, more emotionally balanced, better able to cope with stressful situations, less anxious, less stressed and have fewer behaviour problems.
Allowing simple choices like which direction to take on a walk, which tree to wee on, how long to sniff that fascinating blade of grass or which toy to play with, which treat to choose, what game to play or allowing your dog to choose to interact or be touched by someone are all simple ways that we can provide choice for our dogs and help them to cope in a world that controls them.
When the water is full of dangerous algae, we improvise! Swim Club becomes Park Club! Cali and Gravity had a great time running and playing on dry land, as well as working on recalls and appropriate play!
Not every dog is a brewery dog.
Just like us, our dogs are individuals with their own preferences, abilities, and innate personalities. Just like people some dogs are social and outgoing, and some are more reserved and suspicious. Some of this will be dictated by genetic predisposition of breed or type and some of this will be determined by early experiences and exposure. Either way, it is important to recognize and acknowledge our dogs for the individuals they are.
For some of us, bringing a dog into our life is a way to make more social connections. We want a buddy that can go on adventures with us and meet new people. We want a dog who can accompany us to pubs, farmer’s markets, cafes, and all the places where humans regularly socialize. But it’s important to understand and recognize that not every dog is going to enjoy or even be capable of doing these activities.
One question we always encourage our clients to ask themselves: “Is my dog enjoying this experience?”
Does my dog enjoy being at a crowded brewery with kids coming up, strangers petting, people staring, and other dogs in their space?
Some dogs love this. Some dogs hate this. Some dogs may enjoy it when they are young but grow to dislike it as the reach social maturity.
Every dog has their own personal threshold for social interaction. What is a threshold? It’s the limit of interaction they are willing and able to tolerate before the experiences becomes an unpleasant one. This threshold is different for every dog, and it can even shift within a dog’s lifetime.
It is so important to recognize your dog’s social limitations and respect their boundaries, because failing to do so can lead to some very disastrous and unpleasant situations.
Even with the most social of dogs, busy social gatherings can be a challenge and it will take time, practice, and thoughtful training to prepare them for these types of events.
If we take an unprepared or ill-suited dog to a crowded brewery or café, things can go bad very quickly, and this can have lasting effects on your long-term training goals.
We always need to be aware of what our dog is experiencing:
1.) Are they getting overwhelmed or overstimulated?
2.) Are they apprehensive or fearful?
3.) Is their prey drive kicking in when they see children running and kicking soccer balls?
Think about your goals and be realistic with what your dog is capable of. You may be able to work through these problems, but be aware that some of these things can be inherent to your dog’s temperament and cannot be changed through training. And if that’s the case, please be fair to your dog and find other activities that they’ll enjoy.
Some dogs are introverts. Some dogs are home bodies. And that’s okay!
Greensboro, NC
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Let’s talk about…. POISONED CUES! What is a poisoned cue? Put simply, it is a cue (or a “command” that you give your dog) that has lost all meaning to the dog. Poisoning a cue often happens when a verbal cue (or sometimes a hand signal cue) is introduced, but then we do not fully reinforced the behavior we are asking for, or we do not have correct timing in introducing or marking the behavior. These things cause the dog to not understand clearly what behavior youre asking for. Poisoned cues can also happen if maybe you started out strong with your marking and reinforcing, but you, or others in your home, didn’t stay consistent with this. Over time the behavior often becomes sloppy or unclear. If you regularly find yourself repeating a cue before your dog actually responds, it’s likely your cue has been poisoned! Here is a real life example: This little pug came to us knowing “sit.” However, what he really knew was “sit… sit, sit, siiiiit… SIT!.. Hey, SIT DOWN!” and even then, he only did it when he wanted to. So we’re beginning our “learning to learn” journey with something simple: Fixing the poisoned sit cue! Here, I am waiting for him to offer the sit (which may require some luring initially,) marking the sit (there’s a clicker in my hand in my lap,) and rewarding. In our next sessions, if he is reliably offering the sit on his own, I will add in a hand signal for the behavior, since that’s a novel cue for him that has not yet “been poisoned.” Lastly, I’ll had back in the verbal “sit,” once he’s sitting reliably for the hand signal. (Disclaimer: For this guy, I have to stay lower energy at this point, or he gets a little to excited to brain, so excuse what looks like my lack of enthusiasm. You should praise your dog with as much enthusiasm as they can handle without getting too worked up!) This dude is a smart boy and will do anything for kibbies, so this should only take a few sessions. (However, if I don’t m
