Bob Minchella's dog owner counseling

12/17/2024

12/13/2024

😂😂

12/13/2024

😂

12/13/2024

E- gift cards available in any amount!

'Tis the season!!

12/04/2024

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silent night

12/04/2024

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delivery

11/21/2024

Great idea!

11/21/2024

Yesssss!!

"My dog only listens when I have treats" .
I hear this from frustrated owners all the time. But here's the thing - if your dog only responds when they see treats, that's not actually a problem with treat training.
.
It's a problem with HOW the treats are being used.
Here is the important distinction: Treats should be a reward that comes AFTER your dog responds to a cue. They should never be part of what *signals* your dog to perform the behavior.
So when you ask your dog to sit, what should happen?
Correct order: You give a cue (verbal or hand signal) → Dog sits → You mark and give the treat ✅
Incorrect order: You show the treat → You give the cue → Dog sits → You give the treat ❌
.
See the difference? In the second scenario, you've accidentally made the treat part of the cue itself. And this happens SO often…
People hold treats in their hand, wave them over their dog's head for a sit, or flash them to get attention.
When you do this, your dog learns that the complete cue for "sit" is actually "human says sit AND has visible treats."
No visible treats? Well, that's not the same cue anymore! 🤷🏻‍♀️
(The same goes for using treats to e.g. make your dog come when called by shaking the treat bag).
The good news? This is totally fixable.
If you have made treats a part of your cue, here is how you can reverse this:
Show your dog a treat, put it in your pocket and ask for a cue. Mark & reward from your pocket when they respond!
Next, show a treat, put it on a table or shelf next to you, ask for a cue - mark & reward.
After that - show a treat, put it on a table next to you, take a few steps away and cue - mark & reward.
Over time, we can fade out the “showing of the treat” as part of the cue this way without changing the picture so drastically that our dog doesn’t understand what’s going on.
(I will post a video in the comments that illustrates this!)
This small change in your training mechanics can make a huge difference in how well your dog responds - with or without visible treats.
Remember: Treats are consequences, not cues.
Keep them that way, and you'll see much better results without having to “show what you got” before your dog responds to you.
Have you caught yourself doing the "treat wave" before? What changed in your training when you started keeping treats hidden until AFTER your dog responded?

11/21/2024

You might know that humans have enjoyed tea 🫖 for millennia, but did you know it’s also a magnificent (and budget-friendly) way to share the medicinal benefits of plants with your pets 🐾?

While pets can’t have caffeine, there are a multitude of tea options for dogs🐶 and cats🐱. Decaf green and black tea provide theaflavins, antioxidants that relieve stress. Herbs 🌿and edible flowers 🌸 can support digestion, brain health, detoxification, sleep, and more.

Use tea as a polyphenol-rich meal topper, as the fluid base for broth, or freeze for a frosty treat.🧊

In the Teas section of The Forever Dog LIFE you’ll find a long list of herbs and plants (from the market or your garden) as well as pre-packaged tea varieties that make terrific additions to your pet’s bowl. You’ll also find tea recipes to address your dog’s (or cat’s) specific needs, including a Calming Tonic to a Tummy Tea. Now available online or at your local bookstore.

11/21/2024

Facts...