Take The Lead Dog Training by Mandi

Wayne saying his goodbyes to Rex and Questa before they go home.

Snow day!

Rex and Questa are here for boarding while their owners enjoy some time away. As you can see I am also in need of a little time off. Can’t even keep track of my own dogs 😂🤣.

Day #3 in the training I worked Arlo with Anna, Sarge, and then Bolt. We’ve also started off leash and Arlo will be ready to go home tomorrow to start 1 of 8 in-home sessions with the owners to teach them how to keep up with the obedience.

Arlo learning “Door Boundary”

Why I feel classroom settings with dogs to start doesn’t set them up for success but instead sets them up to fail. I’ve had multiple clients who went that route and were either kicked out of class, failed an evaluation, or quit because they themselves got frustrated with the lack of progress they were paying for. You’re bringing dogs in to a situation that are already making decisions at home, dogs who have no leadership, and owners who have no influence with their dogs into a room full of other dogs who are already worked up, ready to make decisions, are possibly barking, and some probably being rambunctious. There is chaos and commotion which only adds to the mindset the dog walks in with. Making it very difficult to get the dogs attention with a treat. Honestly think about it….if all those dogs met each other without the owners and without leashes, would treats ever be a thing they would use amongst themselves? Yes with a treat you can get a dogs attention…sometimes…but you never have their respect. I train some very large and very difficult dogs that treats would never work for. That’s why I train from a psychology aspect, which works for every dog no matter the age, breed, or behavioral challenges and never changes their true personality, but rather enhances it. The positive reinforcement I use is physical praise, because dogs are very physical amongst each other and that means more to them than a treat ever would. In this video Arlo isn’t being reactive to my dogs and he just got here at 8am. Why? By me asking a dog to lay down is asking them to be vulnerable. Laying down is the most submissive and vulnerable position a dog can be in. From a down/stay a dog can not be the leader. By having my dogs in down/stays is non threatening to Arlo, so he doesn’t feel the need to be reactive. It creates a calm environment which encourages a calm mindset. Also by me having him hold a down/stay is asking him to trust me that I have his back and will make

Arlo has already received the Wayne stamp of approval! 🐱🐾

Lilo went home today and started her in-home sessions. She held a down/stay on the floor board the entire car ride home. For dogs that will fit on the floor board I teach them to hold a down/stay, because that is a safer place for a dog to ride. They are more protected if you were to happen to get into an accident. When I see dogs bouncing around in the backseat halfway hanging out the window it makes me cringe, because they could so easy go flying out the window if an accident were to occur. Holding a down/stay also helps the dog to relax in the car which has alleviated motion sickness for some of my clients.

Today is only day #4 in the training and Lilo here will be ready to go home tomorrow to start the in-home sessions with her owners to teach them how to now implement the training.

Sarge is usually a grumpy old man and doesn’t engage in play with puppies, but for some reason today he decided that Lilo is the exception to the rule. I wish I would’ve been able to catch it from the beginning because it was the cutest thing ever. 🤗🥰❤️

Today is day #3 in the training and I have started some off leash with Miss Lilo. 💕

First attempt at Lilo doing door boundary off leash.