Dogpoint

Teaching The Down Command: Extended Stay Technique Struggling to get your dog to stay put while in the down position? Here's how I effectively guided my client to teach their dog the "down" command with an extended stay period: → Use treats to guide your dog into the down position. → Reward only when both elbows touch the ground. → To teach "stay," delay giving the reward while your dog maintains the down position. → Gradually increase the time between the command and the reward to lengthen the stay. → Use position commands like "down" instead of "stay" to avoid confusion. → The act of your dog staying should be built into your position commands rather than using a separate "stay" command. By following these steps, you'll help your dog understand and maintain the down position with ease. -Marc Windgassen No Drive... No Joy #DogTraining #ObedienceTraining #TheDownCommand #DogOwnerAdvice

Teaching Your Dog Tricks Stimulates A Well Behaved Dog. You've achieved your dog's obedience goals but now what? Where do you go from here and what can you do to stimulate your dog? Many dedicated dog owners such as Skye's mom face this problem. They've accomplished their obedience goals but still want to do something with them because they simply enjoy spending time with them! → Teaching your dogs tricks like what you see in this video is a win-win. → You get to continually work with your dog, they get their treats (or their preferred reward), and that's what matters. → This is something that's especially achievable with dogs that either have high food or prey drive. Plus, as I've mentioned before, it's simply down right cool! -Marc Windgassen No Drive... No Joy #DogTraining #ObedieneTraining #DogOwnerAdvice #dogtricks #gsd

This Is How I Spend My Nights With Force My Rottweiler Before Bed! I love spending time petting Force before I got to bed because it relaxes me and strengthens my bond with him. Here's why doing this improves our obedience training: → Efficient Training: Spending this quality time with Force means that we both enjoy spending time together no matter the reason which makes training easier. When dogs have a strong bond with you their tendency to comply with your commands, rules, and boundaries skyrockets! → Positive Association: Force associates time with me as a source of joy. This means that he is always eager to work and Train. → We're in Sync more Often: Because of our bond, we're in sync during obedience sessions most of the times which means that less mistakes and made during training on both of our ends. However you specifically bond with your dog, make sure to do it as much as possible to accelerate your training! -Marc Windgassen No Drive... No Joy #DogTraining #Bond #rottweiler #DogOwnerAdvice

Sit, Heel, Down, Recall with Raffa the Dachshund Training a Dachshund isn't always straightforward—they're known for their stubbornness and attitude. But with Raffa, we've made remarkable progress. Here's how his owner and I did it: → Incorporated elements of Schutzhund & IGP Obedience Routines: In simple terms- I trained Raffa to do portions of two advanced German Obedience routines. → Built Trust Over Time: Initially, Raffa was aggressive; during the first three sessions, I couldn't even touch him. Patience and consistency were key to gaining his trust. → Adapted to Breed Traits: Understanding that Dachshunds can be less cooperative, we tailored our approach to suit his unique and feisty personality. → Strengthened Our Bond: Celebrating small victories and rewarding positive behavior has transformed our relationship. It's been a great journey turning Raffa into a more social and obedient Dachshund . With the right approach, even the most headstrong dogs can learn and thrive. -Marc Windgassen No Drive... No Joy #DogTraining #Dachshund #ObedienceTraining #DogBehavior

Teaching the 'Come' Command: Essential Tips for Successful Recall Looking to improve your dog's recall? Here are some effective techniques I taught my client for their dog come ensure they respond every time: → Use Treats Wisely: Hold food in your hand at eye level to lure your dog towards you. Only release the treat when they come close and are calm. → Encourage Close Proximity: Aim for your dog to come as close as possible—ideally with their feet touching yours. If you have to step forward to reach them, they're too far. → Prompt the Sit Gently: As your dog arrives, subtly raise your hand to encourage them to sit, but avoid lifting it too high to prevent jumping. → Consistent Cues: Ensure you only reward the desired behavior. If your dog jumps up or doesn't come close enough, withhold the treat until they perform correctly. → Consistency and clear communication are key to successful training—keep practicing, and your dog will master the 'come' command in no time! NOTE: The timing of the reward is CRUCIAL here. -Marc Windgassen No Drive... No Joy #DogTraining #PetTips #DogBehavior #RecallTraining

Explaining the Release Command: Achieving Clarity with Your Dog Training your dog to release objects on command is crucial for safety and obedience. Here's how I taught the 'Aus' command during engagement sessions to my client during a recent online consultation: → Engage your dog in a game of tug-of-war to build excitement. → Introduce the 'Aus' command to signal release; make the tug/toy go limp. → Praise your dog with a "Yes!" when they release, and reanimate the toy to keep them engaged. → Be cautious when retrieving the toy without the command, as your dog may become possessive. → It's fine to be possessive when it's the right time for them to be! You want to encourage that natural instinct. → However, when you give the out command, they're supposed to know that it's no longer their's until you return it to them and give the "Yes" reward marker. → After a successful release, reward your dog by allowing them to enjoy the toy again. Consistent practice is essential to achieving this. Try this with your dog and feel free to send me videos of you doing this via my DMs! NOTE: You can use the "out" command in whatever your preferred training language is. -Marc Windgassen No Drive... No Joy #DogTraining #ObedienceTraining #DogSafety #ResponsibleDogOwnership #rottweiler

Achieving Pack Harmony Among Dominant Dogs Achieving peaceful coexistence among dominant dogs is no small feat. Here's how I worked towards having my client's Rottweilers and Mastiff peacefully lying down together in front of a human without incident: → Understanding Dog Dominance: Managing dominant breeds like Rottweilers and Mastiffs requires keen insight into their resepctive behaviors and pack hierarchy. → Preventing Redirection: Recognizing that the leashed Rottweiler could become a target for redirected behavior was crucial in my approach. → Creating a Peaceful Environment: My goal was to have all the dogs calmly resting in close proximity to humans, fostering stability, trust, and reducing tension. → Training with Patience: Through consistent training and patience, I guided them towards harmony, proving that even strong-willed dogs can coexist peacefully. I apologize for sounding monotonous but it was very humid and hot! NOTE: DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS WITHOUT THE GUIDANCE OF AN EXPERIENCED TRAINER. Things can go horribly wrong if you try it and cannot effectively perceive their body language. -Marc Windgassen No Drive... No Joy #DogTraining #PackHarmony #CanineBehavior #DominantDogs

I LOVE teach dogs tricks. This is one of my longest students, Raffa. Though we've completed his obedience, his owner loves bringing him to class for his mental and physical stimulation. I have a running joke in my class that he's the Tax Collector because all he wants is sausage!!! He'll do anything for you once you have his currency! Training dogs like this brings me so much joy and I always look forward to spending time with Raffa. You can also teach your dogs tricks like this too and it's a cool show during things like small house gatherings. Remember, you should always fond ways to incorporate fun into your training regime! - Marc Windgassen No Drive... No Joy #dogtraining #dogbehavior #dogtricks #obediencetraining

Get Your Dog to Stay Down: Effective Techniques for a Lasting Down Struggling to get your dog to maintain the 'down' position? Here's how I taught Jarrod Best-Mitchell's dog to stay down until released: → Command and Reward: Use the 'Down' command to guide your dog into position. Reward them immediately when they comply to positively reinforce the behavior. → Introduce Duration: Once your dog is down, wait a few seconds before giving the treat. During this time, calmly repeat "Good down" to encourage them. → Gradually Increase Waiting Time: Slowly extend the time between the command and the reward, teaching your dog to stay down longer each time. → Silent Reinforcement: If your dog stays down without additional prompts, reward them without saying anything further to reinforce their independent compliance. → Gentle Corrections: If they get up prematurely, give a gentle correction and guide them back down, but avoid rewarding immediately after a correction. With patience and consistency, your dog will learn to stay down until released, strengthening their obedience. -Marc Windgassen No Drive... No Joy #DogTraining #ObedienceTraining #PetTraining #TrainingTips

Tweety: The 7 Second Laurel

Revving Up with Tweety: A Day at the Drag Strip Taking a break from our usual dog training tips at Dogpoint, my son and I spent a fun-filled day at the Frankie Boodram International Raceway. We caught up with my longtime friend, Gordon Rooks , and got an inside look at his incredible drag car, "Tweety." Here are some highlights from our day: → Seeing Tweety: A Nissan Laurel powered by a 565 cubic inch big block Chevy V8 engine. This V8 produces around 1,050 horsepower naturally aspirated and can produce up to an additional 1,000 horsepower with nitrous oxide. → A Family Affair: Gordon's son, Jeremy Rooks, not only helped build the engine but now drives Tweety, continuing the family's racing legacy. → Record Speeds: The team has achieved impressive times, with Gordon running a 7.74-second quarter-mile at 170 mph, and Jeremy running a 7.90 and aims to beat his dad's record. → Return to Racing: After a five-year hiatus, Gordon and Jeremy are back on the track, looking to push Tweety's performance even further. It was a fantastic day showcasing what we at Dogpoint enjoy during our downtime. All sponsors featured on Tweety and in the video support the drag racing team of Tweety, Gordon Rooks, and Jeremy Rooks, and are not affiliated with Dogpoint LLC in any way. -Marc Windgassen No Drive No Joy #DragRacing #FamilyLegacy #DogpointAdventures #TweetyTheDragCar