Brightstar Canine Academy

02/07/2025

There's many conversations in training about a dog needing consequences during training. There are always consequences. A consequence is the animals interpretation of what happened. Will it repeat it, or will they not repeat it. We try to apply consequences even though it's not our decision that matters. I find that leaving the decision to the animal during working session always provides more feedback than applying a consequence.
The applied consequence could encourage the animal to be hesitant to make a choice. I'm not a fan. I'd rather have a dog make a mistake and then try again instead of be wary of making a choice the next time. Food for thought.

02/06/2025

Oh those Zoomies !!!!!⏪⏫⏩⏬
What if you are a "target"?😲
Should you just let them be ?
Can you lessen them ?
Before those questions are answered, it is vital that we ensure all our puppies and dogs needs have been met.
Over tired ?
Under stimulated?....over stimulated ?
Should you do anything about them...yes and no. ✅❌
On the whole the zoomies are natural and normal, BUT when YOU become a target, it can be an issue.
If they are predictable....after baths, after dinner, before bed etc, you can try and lessen them by doing some training games, getting that nose working on finding something and pull out some enrichment puzzles or make them yourself....but it isn't the time for food in a box that they can destroy as that can ramp up that energy again.
Think more along the lines of, a rolled up towel with rewards scattered through, lickimats, snuffle mats and plastic cups so you can play "find".
There is a video in the comments about how to start find...SO helpful to calm a dog and on days when you need to tire them out but it's perhaps pouring with rain.
This dog training graphic is available from https://www.abcdogsnz.com/product-page/abc-dogs-nz-the-zoomies?srsltid=AfmBOopH5SVfasdLy3Pfo5J9CF7Ir0VCJuNDjwpCOo7JAJQ3Zd4GnwNb

02/05/2025

Good morning everyone! Playing with some AI lol. Have fun with your furry friends today!

01/25/2025

Before you start working on problem, it's best to take a moment and think about your plan.

01/18/2025

"Terriers ARE reactive, it is part of their breed"
"Collies ARE velcro dogs, they will panic when you leave them"
"Greyhounds WILL fight other dogs, what did you expect"
Nope, no, nopeity NOPE ❗❌
There is a very big difference between breed traits and behavioural issues.
While breeds can absolutely have inclinations, behavioural issues shouldn't be dismissed as "just what their breed does".
It is completely unfair to let a dog live with serious behavioural issues because people are wrongly told it is "just the way they are".
Unfortunately confirmation bias and unhelpful comments in dog groups can further exacerbate a persons belief their dog is biting visitors because of their breed, is showing separation anxiousness because it is their breed trait and are showing serious behavioural issues because "it is what it is".

This dog training handout is available through abcdogsnz.com

01/17/2025

We love getting reinforcement as much as others. Thank you Michelle!

"Two paws up for Brightstar Canine Academy!

After just one session, I felt like we were on the right track to help our Charlie Brown deal with his reactivity. We just finished our second in-home private session and I'm even more confident we made the right choice for our family's canine training needs.

Todd is so wise, calm and insightful. I'd recommend Brightstar Canine Academy to anyone no matter how much experience they have with dogs. (And BTW, he also helps with non-canine pets, too.)"

01/10/2025

Cats' hearing is approximately four times more sensitive than humans' and they can detect higher frequencies, including ultrasound. However, they struggle with localizing sounds and can be startled by loud noises. To help keep your cat calm, maintain low noise levels, especially in new environments. You can also play soothing music if your cat seems agitated AND speak in a soft, calming voice. For more calming tips, visit https://bit.ly/3dPXKYx.

01/10/2025

As you may know, Karen Pryor passed away early this month.

I met Karen several times at conferences, and I had the great fun of hosting her as an invited speaker for the Art and Science of Animal Training Conference in 2017.

One thing I loved about Karen was that she understood the power of reinforcing approximations, both with animal learners and human learners.

I was browsing my copy of “Lads Before the Wind,” which Karen Pryor wrote in 1975, and I came across this quote in the shaping chapter:

“The art of shaping, the game of it, is in thinking up what to shape and figuring out how to get there. …

The path to the desired end point can take any direction; there are probably as many ways to shape a given behavior as there are trainers to train it.”

I first came across the idea of shaping after reading Karen Pryor’s Don’t Shoot the Dog in 2008.

As I experimented with shaping, I found it fascinating to try and find the right approximations to communicate with my animal learners.

I also realized that positive reinforcement and shaping gave me so many more possibilities for how to teach a behavior. I was limited only by my creativity.

As well, I found this to be a lot more fun than the traditional training I was doing at the time — a lot more fun for both me and the animal.

So, I started trying to learn all I could about positive reinforcement and the science of behavior, and I didn’t look back.

Thank you, Karen Pryor.

01/09/2025

Not always a subject we like to talk about - but a very important one when it comes to our furry friends. An upchuck can mean many things from something common and relatively harmless as a bile secretion to something far more sinister.
PTSD Dogs Australia suggests we should always take note of the look of the vomit and be aware of signs that your pooch is not well. Take a photo of it and use when discussing issues with your vet. The colour is often the key to the reasons your dog is ill.
As loving dog owners we should be observant and diligent to these signs. Hopefully it will always be something minor.
www.ptsddogs.org.au

01/09/2025

01/09/2025

🍗 🍿 My dogs have all been trained using food as rewards (and I'm not stingy when it comes to handing out the good stuff) and NONE of my dogs beg at the table or hassle me when I'm eating popcorn on the couch.

🤔 One thing to remember is that it is not what you feed it is how you feed it.

👉🏻 If you toss Staring Stella some bits of steak while you are eating at the table, she is likely to come back for more. If you hand Watchful W***y your pizza crust while you are watching a movie on the couch, he is likely to come back for more. If you keep giving Grateful Greta bits of food each time, she comes back over to you she has learned that the table and movie night are a source of good stuff and she will keep looking for them. You have trained your dog to do this... a behavior you don't want.

❗️ Now... if you use bits of food to reward your dog for things like coming when called or walkig politely on leash, your puppy will continue to these things... the behaviors you want and are trying to train.

✅ Train on!

01/08/2025

Love this and we teach this. Everything that helps an animal adjust and acclimate it's about choice. I can choose to bark,I can choose to walk away. Provide agency, and you will see change.

I was in Colombia a few weeks ago, and the dogs there were very different indeed. They had the freedom to roam and play. They joined us for hikes, then went home afterwards. They were not so much possessions as companions; their social skills were incredible.

I'm certain that (at least partly) this was because they were able to make healthy choices over their own lives.

01/03/2025

This is a scale from Grisha Stewart, and very well designed. The idea shows how much your dog is able to handle during stress situations and their responsiveness to your requests to respond. Anything past the red dotted line and you will see your dog having issues. This is where creating distance from the stress and a high value resource will help in getting your dog back to responding to you.

01/03/2025

There is a "dirty little secret" some trainers keep suggesting.....and it is entirely unfair and an underhanded tactic.
Social media is full of "5 minute fixes".
"Obedience" will cure reactivity. Great ! Let's make a dog sit in front of a trigger ❌
The reality is reactivity is hard work, and if you have a reactive dog you know this!
It doesn't mean you can't make vast improvements and for some dogs they really CAN kiss their reactive days goodbye.
BUT, it takes time.
It takes dedication.
I have always said if reactivity was as "simple" as a sit, down or stay....there would be NO reactive dogs, none.
There are NO five minute fixes for reactivity.
Are there hints and tips and ways to look at things differently to make big improvements ? ABSOLUTELY !
I love working with reactive dogs, while there is never one way to help every reactive dog (as it is uniquely individual) there are things you can do to make a huge improvement. Videos are in the comments if you feel you are banging your head against the wall trying to help your dogs reactivity.
This handout is available abcdogsnz.com

01/02/2025

We have added some new services to the website. We have always worked with animals other dogs. Now, you can choose when you visit!

12/27/2024