Super easy, super free enrichment idea: use grass as a sunfflemat
This is as easy as scattering some kibble or dog treats in the grass and then letting your dog sniff them out.
This is a great way to get your dog to engage their nose and therefore their brain while gently moving their body.
This can help calm your dog down and tire them out at the same time.
I recommend sprinkling more than a few at a time so that way your dog has to use their nose and not just their eyes to really find all the pieces.
You can even use your hands to push the snacks deeper into the grass to make it a bit more challenging for your dog.
What does your dog like sniffing for?
#RewardingDogTraining #ForceFreeDogTraining #ForceFree #ForceFreeTraining #SnuffleMats #SnuffleMat #CanineEnrichment #Enrichment #FreeEnrichment #FreeDogToy #BrainGame #DogBrainGame #CanineBrainGame
Using a hand target is a great way to teach a really enthusiastic recall!
If your dog has a very clear way to win, why wouldn't they do what you're asking?
By using a hand target, your dog knows exactly what to do when you say come. They come touch your hand.
There is no wondering of do they just need to come near you or if they need to sit or something else.
Just a clear, visual sign of exactly what you're asking of them.
Kirby is dragging a long leash here so he is effectively off leash in terms of what he's able to do but there is still a safety component while he's still practicing.
If he keeps rocking these recalls he will be fully off leash in no time!
[VD: a white dog with dark ears is walking through a cemetery dragging a bright yellow long leash. After the human says "come", the dog quickly pivots and does a happy run back to touch the hand.]
#RewardingDogTraining #RewardBasedTraining #PositiveReinforcement #PositiveDogTraining #ForceFree #ForceFreeDogTraining #ForceFreeRecall #Recall #ComingWhenCalled #OffLeash #OffLeashDog #HikingDog #LongLeash #LongLine #HandTarget #HandTargeting #ColoradoDog #DogsOfColorado #BoulderDog #DogsOfBoulder
Working with 2 dogs can seem daunting but it doesnāt have to be.
While sometimes it is helpful to practice with each dog separately, working with multiple dogs at the same time can create an opportunity for your dogs to really cement their learning.
Seeing as most skills we teach we want our dogs to know them even when other dogs are around, this is a great opportunity to help your dog generalize that other dogs being there means they can still do the skill and get reinforcement.
But you have to make sure to structure your training session so that all dogs are actually learning and benefiting from it.
When practicing something like hand targeting with multiple dogs, make sure to alternate who is practicing to build engagement.
You want to make sure that each dog has the opportunity to practice without checking out from the training session because they arenāt getting any attention or reinforcement.
This will help your dog learn that hand targeting pays no matter who or what is around.
And remember, keep your initial distance low (see my last post for more info). You are working with more distractions.
Need help training multiple dogs at the same time? Reach out today!
[#Accessibility ID: Black pit mix lays on light brown floor with white text that says āHand targeting working with multiple dogsā. The video transitions to a woman with black pants and a red flannel putting her hand out. A black dog and a brown dog take turns touching the hand with their noses. The text says āAlternate who is practicing to build engagementā A brown dog lays on light brown floor with white text that says āFollow for moreā]
#RewardingDogTraining #RewardBasedTraining #PositiveReinforcement #PositiveDogTraining #ForceFreeTraining #ForceFree #DogTraining #HandTargeting #BasicSkills #BasicManners #MultiDog #MultiDogHouse #MultiDogTraining #DogTrainingTip #DogTrainingTips #ColoradoDogs #DogsOfColorado #RescueDog #FosterDog
When introducing two dogs for a potential adoption, here is what to focus on: calm near each other.
You do not have to make sure the dogs āgreetā each other.
If the dogs want to play, go for it!
But if they arenāt playing, that doesnāt mean that the introduction isnāt going well.
I prefer to focus on calm, coexistence so that all dogs feel safe.
If you feel safe, thatās a great start to a relationship. The same is true for our dogs.
One of the easiest ways to help everyone feel safe is by respecting boundaries from the very beginning. Boundaries can be as simple as not feeling ready for play right away.
As the dogs are all feeling safe and calm, the distance between them can slowly close. This can be a great opportunity to walk the dogs together to their forever home!
Reach out if you want to help your dog set up a successful introduction for a friendship or for an adoption!
[#Accessibility: Two black dogs are on long leashes in a field. Both are sniffing and are about 20 feet apart. The text reads: āIntroducing dogs for an adoption. What to focus on. Focus on calm near each other, not on the greeting. You do not need play at this point.ā The second clip shows the dogs walking next to each other away from the camera. Text reads: āPretty soon, the dogs will be able to walk together to their forever home. You are focusing on the long term relationship, not just the hello.ā]
#RewardingDogTraining #RewardBasedTraining #PositiveReinforcement #PositiveDogTraining #ForceFreeTraining #ForceFree #DogTraining #RescueDog #BlackDog #RescueIsMyFavoriteBreed #DogIntro #DogDogIntro #DogMeeting #DogAdoption #ColoradoDogs #DogsOfColorado
Congrats to my latest basic manners group class for all their amazing progress! In just 6 weeks they learned over 15 new behaviors and had so much fun every single class.
There are no photos of this group because they were nonstop fun and movement. But who needs photos when you have puppy play videos? I can't wait to see the amazing dogs they continue to become with the diligent work of their families.
Congrats again to Frannie, Gus, and Meka!
Reach out if you want to join my email list so you know as soon as new group classes are scheduled! Or sign up at www.rewardingdogtraining.com
VD: a black and white husky puppy, a tan and white bernedoodle puppy, and a bernese mountain dog puppy all keep jumping on top of each other while on leash. The text reads: when you try and end the last basic manners group class but no one is ready to stop playing yet.
#RewardingDogTraining #RewardBasedTraining #PositiveReinforcement #PositiveDogTraining #ForceFree #ForceFreeDogTraining #BasicManners #GroupClass #PuppyClass #PuppyPlayTime #PuppyPlay #Puppies #Husky #HuskyPuppy #Bernedoodle #BernedoodlePuppy #Berner #BernerPuppy #ColoradoDogs #DogsOfColorado
Happy birthday Kona! I hope you enjoy your peanut butter and pumpkin pupcake to celebrate! It sure looks like you did. Here's to you being 5 and acting like every day is your birthday!
Watch till the end if you like satisfying dog chewing clips.
Does your dog savor every bite/lick of goodies or do they chomp everything down in 1 bite?
[#Accessibility VD: black pitbull mix in a rainbow collar stands over a small white plate with a frosted cupcake. She slowly licks all the frosting off and then eats the cake in 2 bites and licks her lips]
#RewardingDogTraining #RewardBasedTraining #PositiveReinforcement #ForceFree #DogBirthday #DogCupcake #DogCake #Pupcake #PitMix #PitbullMix #DogASMR #ColoradoDogs #DogsOfColorado #BoulderDog
Long leashes are an amazing tool but did you know that you can get a waterproof one!?
It helps completely eliminate a lot of the gross factor of the leash picking up every nasty thing while it drags on the ground. I just got a new one this weekend and loved using it. It was super helpful with how muddy and snowy the trail was today and I'm sure it'll be great in the summer when Kona likes to wade into water. Cleaning it is as easy as just wiping it down with a towel.
I decided to get my leash in bright yellow because in addition to it being my favorite color, it's really great for visibility so other people can clearly see that my dog is on leash, even when she is 33 feet (10 meters) away.
Do you think a waterproof long leash would be helpful for you?
[#Accessibility VD - Black pitbull mix is 30 feet ahead on a blue harness and neon yellow long leash. She walks along a dirt trail and there is snow and ice to the sides]
#RewardingDogTraining #RewardBasedTraining #PositiveReinforcement #PositiveDogTraining #ForceFree #DogTraining #ColoradoDogs #DogsOfColorado #RescueDog #BoulderDog #LongLeash #WaterproofLeash #DecompressionWalk #HikingWithDogs #DogHike
In honor of the #PuppyBowl today, here is some great puppy play!
Bitey face is a very common way for dogs to play and is great for puppies to learn bite inhibition. Plus these big guys were pretty pooped from chasing each other around earlier but weren't ready to give up playtime yet.
It can certainly look intense at times but these puppies did a great job of taking turns and taking quick breaks to make sure play was still consensual.
Not sure if the dogs are playing too rough? It doesn't hurt to briefly ask the dogs to take a break. If they both are trying to go right back at it then they are likely both still having fun and can continue playing.
#RewardingDogTraining #RewardBasedTraining #PositiveReinforcement #ForceFreeDogTraining #PuppyPlayTime #PuppyPlayDate #PuppyPlay #DogPlay #LargeBreedPuppy #BerneseMountainDog #Berner #BernerPuppy #Bullmastiff #BullmastiffPuppy #ColoradoDogs #DogsOfColorado #BoulderDog
Dog Brain Games
It's easy to make new brain games by just combining things you already have. Plus your dog actually gets to solve novel puzzles because they've never seen the combination before.
I saw the holes in this box for the recycling and knew it would make for interesting smells/taste pockets. By adding a bully stick, it made it more challenging than several smaller treats that would just fall through the holes.
It's so interesting to watch how our dogs problem solve. It's never quite how I expect it to go but they clearly have a method they're going through. For example, once Kona gets the bully stick loose from inside the box, she uses her nose to track it instead of sight or sound the way us humans might do.
You will never look at your recycling the same way once you catch the enrichment bug!
#rewardingdogtraining #braingames #dogbraingames #enrichment #dogenrichment #canineenrichment #problemsolving #dogtraining #coloradodogs #dogsofcolorado #boulderdog
Robot cat on a robot vacuum! It's hard to mimic cats moving and movement is often the biggest trigger that engages dog's prey drive so I wanted to have a safe way to test a cat "moving around".
Note that I had to acclimate Sawyer to the robot vacuum first before I tried combining my robots to make a weird dog trainer's version of a mega-robot.
Sawyer continues to do really well with each test and is definitely confused but happy to redirect and eat treats instead!
#rewardingdogtraining #rewardbasedtraining
#positivereinforcement #positivedogtraining #fosterdog #fostertails #cattest #robotcat #robocat #robotvacuum #adopt #adoptme #rescuedog #rescuedogsofcolorado #coloradorescuedogs
Cat testing the foster dog with a robot cat! I don't have a cat but want to know if Sawyer could potentially live in a home with a cat. I know it's not the same as a real cat but it's a much safer first test. Plus Sawyer has done well when we see cats out on our walks which is another small data point that makes it more likely he could successfully live with one.
Kona definitely would not be allowed to progress to meeting a real cat after her behavior today. Though she definitely was afraid of the robo cat and it was not a prey thing. Good thing she never has to live with one since she's stuck living with me!
#rewardingdogtraining #rewardbasedtraining #positivereinforcement #positivedogtraining #fosterdog #fostertails #cattest #robotcat #robocat #adopt #adoptme #rescuedogsofcolorado #coloradorescuedogs
I think he might be starting to get the whole concept of loose leash walking! I recently found out that cheese is a very high value reinforcer for Sawyer and I'm definitely using that to my advantage in the high distraction environment of being outside.
Keep in mind that this nice loose leash and frequent eye contact only is happening at the end of our #imperfectwalk after he's gotten some energy out and smelled lots of smells. I'm not expecting perfection, just hoping to slowly see more and more of my preferred behaviors.
If you're getting stuck training any behavior, play around with different reinforcers to figure out what your dog loves and actually wants to work for!
#rewardingdogtraining #rewardbasedtraining #positivereinforcement #positivedogtraining
#dogwalking #looseleashwalking
#looseleash #cheese #rescuedogsofcolorado #fosterdog #coloradorescuedogs #coloradodogs #dogsofcolorado #adoptme