Marvin and Wilma had a great trip to Home Depot today practicing being social and building confidence. It is so fun to watch them open up!
Jojo and Henry love their new fenced in back yard!!! Look at them go!! I know their owner is very excited about it as well!
Look at Krissy (human) and Kona (dog) practicing their loose leash walking skills at Home Depot 🤩 They are practicing for their Canine Good Citizen test! This team works so hard!
Look at Kathy and Josie practicing Josie walking nicely on her harness!!
The ultimate goal here is NOT that Josie walks right at Kathy’s side (although there is a place for that 😊) The goal is for Josie to have more leash to explore and sniff while still choosing to check in with her mom frequently and not pull.
Check out Kona practicing a down stay for her Canine Good Citizen test! She is such a smart, fun, loving dog with an amazing family!!
In the video down below, you will see two border collies playing, along with some commentary on their body language. Just because you see teeth during play, doesn’t mean that it’s inappropriate play. Some dogs play more with their mouths than others, especially herding dogs. It is however important to watch your dog’s play behaviors and body language to make sure that both dogs are still having a good time and are taking breaks as needed.
Every dog has a different style of play. Some dogs won’t play well together and that’s okay. Your dog may be a play barker or use their paws a lot. It’s important to look at your dog’s language to see if they are comfortable. If they are really tight, ears back or snapping, your dog is probably uncomfortable. If your dog’s body is loose, they are play bowing, and taking turns playing, your dog is comfortable. Dogs should naturally take breaks while playing to take a breath, get a drink, and continue if they wish. Some dogs need a little help taking a break which might mean a 5 minute rest session in their crate.
Knowing what your dog’s body is saying is very important when they are playing. There is a wonderful book by Lili Chin called “Doggie Language” as well as some great illustrations done by her!
We recommend that dogs not meet while on leash as there can be more tension with the leash and it’s harder for the dog to get out of an uncomfortable situation. Instead we recommend dogs meet in a controlled environment with long leashes on. If you’re unsure or nervous about how your dog is going to act around another dog, ask for advice from a certified trainer in your area.
Digging is a normal dog behavior and not something dogs should be deprived of. That being said, you don’t want your dog just digging random holes in your backyard.
Some dogs find digging really calming and is of course a great way to get energy out.
This video shares an example of a digging box.
You can build your own, buy a sandbox at a store, or even use a kitty pool and fill it with sand/pea gravel. If you’re worried about cats getting into it, then I recommend a lid.
You have a designated digging spot, now how do you get your dog to go to it?
-every time you catch your dog digging, bring him/her to the dig box and reward your dog
-bury bones, treats, and toys in the box to encourage your dog to dig there
They will learn that digging here is far more rewarding than digging elsewhere.
Be persistent!!!
We don’t expect our clients to be perfect. Dog training sessions, even for certified trainers are never perfect. We often want to post the most “perfect” example of practicing a behavior. And sometimes it is important to post clear, clean videos. Here is some reality.
Now I didn’t just jump into practicing this with so many distractions present right off the bat although these distractions were not planned. When I’m initially practicing a new behavior, I start in a quiet, low distraction environment with low value treats.
I am practicing “Zen Hand” with Marvel. ”Zen Hand” is a game for your dog to practice self control around food. This is also a great exercise to help your dog take treats more gently.
How to start:
1) Treats in treat pouch, easily accessible to you
2) Treats in closed hand
3) Sit near your dog or on a chair if need be
4) Dog sees your hand/smells treats
5) When your dog looks or moves away from your hand or chooses to look at you instead, mark with a “yes” and reward your dog from your treat pouch.
As your dog progresses:
1) Start opening your hand with the treats. If your dog moves towards your hand, the hand closes. When you are able to open your hand, mark with a “yes” and reward with a treat from your hand.
2) The next progression points are lowering your open hand, adding higher value treats, and letting your dog see you add treats to your open hand.
If your dog is mouthing your hand, then the game is too hard and will need to be changed up a bit to fit your dog’s needs. Move at your dog’s pace!
One Way To Prevent Resource Guarding In Puppies
Resource guarding myths:
-Touch your dog or their food while they are eating
-Switch out their food bowls back and forth
While your dog is eating, every 10 seconds or so add a higher value treat such as chicken or cheese to their bowl of kibble.
When your dog is finished, toss some treats to the side and pick up the bowl so there are no hurt feelings.
Puppy learns that hands near the food bowl = yummy treats
If your dog or puppy is struggling with resource guarding, they may need more intense training.
Trick Tuesday!! Teaching Your Dog To Spin 🐶🌀
Introducing your puppy to a clicker!! #marveltrainingcomics
When I introduce a puppy to a clicker, I pick a really easy behavior such as the puppy looking at me or offering to sit. In this video, I am clicking and rewarding Marvel for making eye contact with me. Marvel was a bit unsure of the sound of my box clicker, so I am using a quieter clicker here. You want your puppy to associate the clicker with good, positive things! I am using lots of verbal praise and keeping the session short and sweet!! I will continue to use the clicker in future sessions to capture behaviors that I want and am looking for.
