Gentle Touch Dog Training

07/11/2025

Ah yes! However, he also gave a treat for a behavior chain.

COME ...

"There's a little Hugo in all of us”

07/11/2025

Good summary!

If you are waiting for the dog to complete the entire thing* before reinforcing you might be missing valuable times to reinforce the behaviors and may inadvertently be adding in errors and punishment.

Break it down.

They don't need to complete the entire thing* today.

What is this thing*?
It could be any goal that you have, jump in the car, walk down the driveway on a loose leash, walk by the neighbor's dog without barking, an agility obstacle, a retrieve, recall when it is time to go inside, hang out on a mat while the door is open.

If you only see one time to reinforce the goal behavior, stop! Break this down and then break it down some more if need be.

🐕The dog is learning what you practice, not what you want unless these are the same.

Practice makes perfect. Don't like the behavior? Stop the practice!

There are many points to reinforce, don't skip over them or they might go away.

Waiting to reinforce only at the very end of the behavior:
⭐ May miss critically important steps to reinforce.
⭐ The dog may not understand how to start the behavior and will need to make something up.
⭐ May inadvertently reinforce unwanted steps.
⭐ May confuse or frustrate the dog and the human.
⭐ The training may only focus on the end, but skip the vitally important beginning and middle parts of the goal.

Don't be shocked when the same thing happens again and again. After all, it may be what you've been practicing.

Break it down.
Unsure how to do that? This is where a skilled trainer can help coach you.

07/11/2025

Dogs need about 1oz of water per pound of body weight ... hotter, more exercise they need more water.

💧 July is National Pet Hydration Awareness Month! 🐶☀️

Staying hydrated is just as important for dogs as it is for humans—especially during the summer. Even a short walk in the heat can leave your pup needing double their usual water intake.

Use this handy guide to make sure your dog’s getting enough to drink based on their weight, and remember:
🐾 Active pups need more
🐾 Fresh water should always be available
🐾 Watch for signs of dehydration like lethargy, dry gums, and excessive panting

At Ridgeside K9, we don’t just train dogs—we help you build healthy, safe routines for every season.

Call or Text us today at 571-271-5595
Visit us online: www.RidgesideK9.com

07/11/2025

Sustained nose/muzzle targeting

07/11/2025

Trigger stacking explained.

07/04/2025

Show me some pups celebrating the 4th of July...

07/02/2025

STAR puppy class members doing check offs of behaviors... nice job!!

In STAR PUPPY class the required control postures are Sit and Down. These can be lured. However, in order to progress to verbal only cues a third posture is ...

06/26/2025

Good article

Balanced dog training is anything but as negative reinforcement can heavily outweigh any positive reinforcement in a dog's mind.

06/26/2025

Good info! "The best way to greet a dog?
Well...you don't really.
Sounds harsh but it really is a great way to help a dog relax."

"What ?.... Lick our lips around dogs?
As crazy as it sounds, yes.

We are mimicking those all important calming signals they can give.
Calming signals can help dogs decipher our intent.

Especially important for nervous or anxious dogs.

✅Don't crowd them, give them space
✅Be mindful how you move, but.....there is a fine line between slow deliberate moving and totally unnatural "stalking" movements.

Limiting eye contact is also important.
Staring for many dogs can be interpreted as "threatening" or "rude".

Watch those feet movements.
Walk lightly and softly.
Big steps with heavy footwear can be scary.

Many people are a bit "taken back" when people that work with dogs just "ignore" their dog.
It isn't because we are being rude.
We want to make a great first impression on them and gain their trust quickly.

The best way to greet?

"What ?.... Lick our lips around dogs?
As crazy as it sounds, yes.
We are mimicking those all important calming signals they can give.
Calming signals can help dogs decipher our intent.
Especially important for nervous or anxious dogs.

✅Don't crowd them, give them space
✅Be mindful how you move, but.....there is a fine line between slow deliberate moving and totally unnatural "stalking" movements.

Limiting eye contact is also important.
Staring for many dogs can be interpreted as "threatening" or "rude".

Watch those feet movements.
Walk lightly and softly.
Big steps with heavy footwear can be scary.

Many people are a bit "taken back" when people that work with dogs just "ignore" their dog.
It isn't because we are being rude.
We want to make a great first impression on them and gain their trust quickly.

The best way to greet?
Well...you don't really.

Sounds harsh but it really is a great way to help a dog relax.

06/25/2025

So you Wished to train your Dog...then what? WOOP this approach comes from G. Oettingen, a psychology professor & acclaimed author.

In short, you have a Wish, you desire an Outcome... and here's the crucial part:

You identify the most likely Obstacle you will encounter, and create a Plan for when it happens.

This last part is what most miss, and it just so happens to be the most essential part of goal setting or sticking with a habit you wish to maintain. 1. Wish - write it down, be clear/specific about the 2. Outcome. How will it look, what will you and your dog be able to do? 3. What is/are the most likely Obstacle(s) to getting your wish to happen. 4. Make a Plan for each likely obstacle - what will you do/change/adjust/celebrate.

06/18/2025

What if your dog or cat or horse likes somebody else more than they seem to like YOU? This can be really disheartening...animals do have preferences. But can you win their hearts if they've connected to somebody else?

Mostly, I think you can, but sometimes it takes having the 'other' person really step out of the picture (ignore them, not react to them, or not be around).

As a trainer I need to become liked by the animal as quickly as possible so they are willing to work with me, try things, and do stuff. But I don't want to be their one-person. I want to avoid being scary to them or being a target of any aggression or causing too much frustration. This means I'm very aware of their body language (I don't stare at them because I don't want to be threatening), and I let them tell me how much I can do with them...I want them to invite me. Then, seeing inviting or somewhat-inviting body language and knowing what most dogs, cats and horses like I offer that and see how they react.

How does this translate if you're supposed to be their one, but aren't? 1) Are you repeatedly doing something they dislike? Grabbing them, hugging them, petting at the wrong time/wrong place, dragging them away from things, constant tension on their collar, always wanting their attention when they are busy doing something else, interrupting their rest or meals? Using angry tones or threats to get them to do something?

Some of the most common disliked things are: 1) petting your dog, cat, horse on the head when you like what they just did, but they don't like being petted on their head...so they leave or quit doing whatever you were working on getting them to do. For people who do this, it's often an automatic reflex...so it's hard for them to even realize what they did. Video yourself! 2) calling your dog to you and then putting them in their kennel (if you haven't made their kennel a good place -by playing games or feeding inside it- they may consider it a punishment for coming to you). Whenever you call your dog, cat, horse to you think about whether what comes next is a 'good' thing as far as they are concerned or a 'bad' one. 3) suddenly stopping or starting to move or changing direction and dragging/pulling your dog's neck, , horse's mouth (it's one thing if you're playing a game of quick movements, it's another if you've just surprised them).

Do you know what they like best? 1) specific types of food 2) specific types of games 3) specific ways/places to be petted. The answer of my dog likes everything...means you don't really know your dog. And you need to if you're not the ONE person and you want to be.

06/17/2025

Upcoming classes at Gentle Touch: FUNdamental Agility starts Thur Aug 7th at 6pm for 6 sessions $120, Canine Good Citizen Prep and Test starts Wed. July 30th at 6:30pm, for 8 sessions $240 and STAR Puppy starts Tues. Aug 12th at 6:30pm for 6 sessions, $200. Classes are always reward-based, small and fun.