Frankie Berger Dog Training

08/26/2024

What has 4 tails, 16 paws, 4 humans, AND their CGC ribbons?? THESE GUYS! 🥳🫶🏻
Skye and Nova passed their CGC July 27th and the boys caught up two days ago on August 24th! Now we've got a house full of good canine citizens and a handful of proud humans! 🐾

These 4 have grown exponentially in the over 2 years that I've known them (Mortis his entire life!) and I could not be more proud of the hard work and determination both the dogs and their humans have put into their training. I'm honored to be a part of their story and excited to see what the future holds for this lovely bunch!

Congratulations Theo, Skye, Nova, and Mortis! 👏🏻🤟🏻💕
Ready to get your pup CGC ready? Visit our website to schedule a consultation!

08/09/2024

"My dog is friendly!" ...but are they? 🤔 Let's talk about it!

In terms of dog friendliness there's a spectrum that dogs will fall on. On one side we have dog aggressive, meaning zero dogs zero percent of the time, and dog friendly, which means all the dogs 100% of the time. Most dogs don't sit squarely on one side or the other but find their temperament somewhere between the two, depending on situation, weather, energy level, and the other dogs themselves.

This grey area of tolerance can also adjust when a dog is actively in a situation. This is exactly why dog parks are generally not a great idea- too many dogs with too many levels of tolerance creates a breeding ground for emergencies.

This spectrum also applies to how dogs feel about us humans! Like with dogs their tolerance can vary and fluctuate based on a number of factors, both internal to the dog and external from the human!

Barrier reactivity can play a role in tolerance as well! Adding a door, leash, fence, or other restraint can push a dogs tolerance to the aggressive side of the spectrum because barriers tend to frustrate dogs.

It's imperative to know your dog's body language cues that will let you know when their tolerance is being tested or when they're above threshold. This will keep you, your pup, and everyone around you happy and safe! 🐕
Ready to kickstart your training journey? Visit our website to schedule a consultation!

04/28/2024

Let's talk about etiquette in dog accessible public spaces! ✨
One of my favorite parts of living in Oregon is how accessible everything is to dog owners. We have beautiful parks, trails, food trucks, and events that are all dog friendly, and many options for all of the above! Like everything, with access comes responsibility, and I don't see enough conversation about what responsible pet ownership in public spaces looks like. Here's a list of helpful things to keep in mind when you're out with your dog!

When you're in a shared space with your dog, it's important to:

•keep your dog on leash and under control

•keep an eye on your dog for signs of stress, discomfort, or reactivity, and be prepared to leave if they're uncomfortable

•maintain a safe distance between your dog and other dogs

•carry waste bags to ensure you can properly dispose of your dog's waste-- don't count on the event or space to provide them!

•pay attention to signage-- there can be spaces that for one reason or another are not accessible to dogs

•be mindful that some folks have dog phobias or allergies that may prevent them from wanting your dog to come right up to them, bringing high value treats or a chew is a great way to keep your pup occupied without interacting

•don't allow your dog to jump onto table tops, counters, planters, or other stationary objects that belong to the space unless it's clearly communicated that they're allowed to do so via signage or an associate/volunteer of the space

Most importantly, if your dog is not prepared to handle large crowds, loud noises, or the space in general, leave them home! There's a lot of training you can do to prepare them for these types of spaces, but flooding them by forcing the dog into a high activity space can create problems where there weren't any to begin with, or make existing problems worse.
What helpful tips do you have? Leave them in the comments below! 👇🏻
Want to get your pup summer ready? Visit our website to schedule a consultation!

04/25/2024

Summer is rapidly approaching, and with that comes the lovely warmth of the season. Where I'm at it's already kicked off...mostly.🤣
With heat comes heat conscious pet ownership and responsibility. Knowing the impact heat can have on your dog can help prevent emergencies altogether! 🐕
Find this helpful? Vote on the poll below!👇🏻
Want to beat the heat and get your pooch ready for a safe summer? Visit our website to schedule a consultation!

04/15/2024

Out of office! ✨
I'll be out exploring the coast as part of some birthday celebrations today, the 15th, and tomorrow, the 16th! I'll be getting back to all inquiries/calls/texts/DMs when I'm back on Wednesday. Thank you for your continued support! 💕

04/10/2024

Let's talk about one of my favorite commands of all time; park it! ✨
Park it, also sometimes called place, go to bed, or spot, is the command that asks a dog to go to a designated location, lay down, and stay in that spot until they're released. This location can be marked by a blanket, towel, bed, or elevated bed, like the one you see in these pics of Nymh, Echo, and Waffles. This is one of my favorite commands because it requires a lot of mental processing to chain together various behaviors (target a location, walk independently to that location, lay down, and stay), and it works their self control muscle as it requires leave it and stay throughout their time on their Park It spot. This can also be seen as an extension of the kennel and can be used for safety while cooking or cleaning, working with other dogs, or running outside to get groceries from the car, among many dozens of other uses. It's a fairly advanced command, but can be a serious life saver when you need it!
What's your favorite command you've trained your dog? 💬👇🏻
Want to teach your dog self control skills? Visit our website to schedule a consultation!

04/05/2024

Enjoy some goofy photos of my lovely Nymh while we talk about nature versus nurture when it comes to dog behavior! 🐕
When I say nature vs nurture here I'm talking less about the classic debate and more about nature and nurture as separate concepts when applied to dogs. In my experience many of the "undesirable" behaviors I see in my client dogs is actually a genetically sound reaction to a stimulus in the dog's environment. By that same token, I see folks dismiss unwanted behaviors as "just how their dog is" when it's a behavior that has been shaped over time by their handler. Most behaviors are fostered by a combination of the two, as well as the context within which they occur.
Using Nymh as an example, if you've ever met Nymh outside of a working context you know she TALKS. Lots of opinions, that one! As a husky mix I fully expect barking, howling, and whining to be present fairly often, as genetically those are behaviors that lend themselves to her breed. However, through training, I've shaped that into expressing only when she's off duty or not actively working as a service dog because in that context it's not appropriate. Unwanted? Yes. Controlled? Yes. Is she gonna get punished for expressing a genetically appropriate behavior? Depending on the context there may be a consequence, but most of the time no.
This idea of nature (genetics and heritability) and nurture (environment and family) is really important to keep in mind when you're looking for a new puppy or training an already existing dog. Research on breeds doesn't just include grooming habits, exercise needs, and physical traits. It also includes behavioral analysis of the breed and lifestyle assessment on your part. For example, I would never recommend a hound dog of any kind to someone in an apartment specifically for their signature bey, even if the lifestyle of the handler-hopeful fits perfectly for a hound and the dog is highly trainable and intelligent. I would say if you're willing to put in the work and your lifestyle suits it, a Lab or Golden may be a better fit.
What do you think matters more in a dog, nature or nurture? Leave your answer in the poll below! ✨

04/02/2024

Some highlights from our session with Arlo today! ✨
Herding breeds, like aussies, blue heelers, and collies, are very intense and demanding dogs. These guys were bred for working! Genetics play an important role for all breeds of dogs, and herding breeds are hardly an exception. It's incredibly important to understand the instinctual needs your dog may have as a result of their genetics for a couple key reasons; one, those instinctual needs will express regardless of appropriate outlets. A herding dog will always find something to herd-- kiddos, other dogs, and so on. And two, to understand from your perspective as the handler WHY these behaviors happen. Having that understanding of your dog's genetic needs can help prevent issues from forming. It can also give you an edge to avoid an existing issue from expressing and hurting someone or something, like biting, nipping, and jumping.
The best piece of advice I can give a new puppy handler of a herding breed puppy is get into training as soon as humanly possible! Whether you go with a professional or go it alone, get started with some brain stuff and lots and lots of socialization! You'll thank yourself later! 🐕
Have a herding breed puppy and not sure where to go from here? Visit our website to schedule a consultation!

04/02/2024

02/17/2024

Luke is officially a Canine Good Citizen! ✨💕👏🏻
Luke and his humans have been working their tails off getting him ready to take and pass the AKC’s CGC test, and today he passed with flying colors!! I seriously couldn’t be happier with how far he’s come since we first started working together. Congrats, Luke!! 🥳🎉🎊
Ready to get your dog CGC ready? Visit our website or DM to schedule a consultation!

02/06/2024

Dude update! ✨
Dude is at the end of his first session set and I couldn’t be happier with the progress we’ve made so far! In this session we conquered a public park with lots of people, dogs, bikes, and more, and he’s working beautifully with his humans on navigating new spaces!
Dude has a few degenerative illnesses that have caused him to have very low vision and poor dental quality, among other things. Because of this, Dude gets very cagey around people, cars, and other dogs less because he takes issue with them and more because he can’t exactly tell what they are. We’ve been working him towards trusting his humans when they tell him something in a space is okay and allowed, and that has culminated into walking a stretch in a busy park with minimal issues! 🐕
I’m so excited to see how far he’s come and can’t wait to see where he’ll go in the coming weeks!✨
Want to get your dog park-ready? Visit our website or DM to schedule a consultation!

02/04/2024

🤣

02/04/2024

Does your dog listen to what you’re asking them to do? Or do they assume what you want from them next? 👀 Let’s talk about it! 🐕
Waffles is an all around great dog; even tempered, quick to learn, and naturally people social. One thing I’ve noticed in the last couple sessions is she makes a TON of assumptions on what I’m asking next. So why is this bad?
Technically speaking it isn’t! It shows independent thought and confidence in her choices, which I do want to encourage. The only issue I have is it can sometimes prevent a dog from absorbing new info because they’re not slowing down enough to process what’s actually being asked of them. For example, have you ever asked your dog to sit and they immediately go into a down? They’ve made an assumption that sit is always followed by down, so they’ll skip the middle man and get to the point! Maybe down is usually the goal, but you’ll run into some problems when you’re trying to work on sit pretty or sit/stay.
The best way to work on this is timing your rewards extremely accurately and breaking apart commands that your dog is making assumptions on. For example, when I ask for a sit as soon as their butt hits the floor they get a mark and reward. I’ll then avoid asking for a down immediately after a sit to help split those two commands apart! ✨
Ready to work on your dog’s listening skills? Visit our website or DM to schedule a consultation!

02/01/2024

Zuko update! ✨
Last week Zuko completed his second training set and we got started on ecollar training with the amazing mini educator. We’re using the ecollar to give him the freedom to greet people coming into their house and work some off leash skills while also maintaining the ability to communicate boundaries. Zuko is one of the sweetest and funniest dogs I’ve worked with; by that same token he’s also one of the most rambunctious. 🤣 We spent 6 weeks introducing key concepts like marker training, leash manners, cafe manners, and other self control skills without tool intervention. By the midway point of the second set it was clear we’d need a different communication style if we were going to prevent Zuko from bulldozing everyone in the house. After 2 sessions with the mini educator I’m extremely pleased with the progress he’s made and can’t wait to start digging in to off leash work! 🙌🏻✨
Please note that ecollar training is incredibly nuanced and it’s imperative to seek experienced professional guidance when considering the ecollar as a tool in your toolbox!

01/29/2024

Off leash training with Echo and Nymh this misty January morning! ✨
Off leash work is a process, and a complicated one at that. Echo is one of those dogs that defaults to humans, so his preference has always been to listen to the humans in off leash spaces. This makes it very easy to work him with just a ball; no long line, treats, or other training aids. To contrast that with Nymh, it took me several years to get Nymh’s recall and off leash reliability to a point where I only used a ball. For the first 2-3 years of her life she had treats, a ball, an ecollar, and sometimes a long line helping guide her in the correct direction. Through practice and patience she can now be trusted off leash in a non service work capacity…most of the time. 🤣
The point that I’m making is it’s a journey. Work the dog that’s in front of you; see what makes them engage with you and build their strength from there. If your puppy doesn’t come to you with the innate ability to be off leash, that’s okay! With practice and patience you and your dog will reach your off leash goals. 🐕✨
Ready to work your dog off leash? DM to schedule a consultation!

01/26/2024

Hi! 👋🏻
Sooooo I’m still working on the website rebuild and this weekend is quickly filling up. 🤣 I’m grateful for the work! But I have no time to train, post, interact, edit, film, AND build the website. So I’m going to be taking this weekend to disengage from socials to get the website back up and running, and I’m hopingggg I’ll be back with everything completed by Tuesday with another blog post Tuesday! 🙌🏻
If you do have questions in the mean time, please reach out via DMs! I will still be answering inquiries and Q’s that way. See y’all soon! ✨

01/24/2024

Over the years I’ve heard so many clients share with me how pressured in the moment they felt by often complete strangers to compromise their beliefs and actions surrounding their dogs behaviour.

And many times we can succumb to ‘correcting” our dogs to ease the social pressure from others. Friends and family members may be making hurtful comments, so you prioritize their feelings over what your dog needs from you in that moment.

I don’t share this to shame you.

I share this to empower you.

My father made a comment the last time I visited “Your dog can’t come before people”. I responded, “Yes she can!” I love my dad, don’t get me wrong but he comes from a different time and things have changed.

You certainly can put your dog first.

Don’t allow the prospect of hurting someone’s feelings allow you to compromise what your dog needs.

01/22/2024

Does tug cause aggression? 🤔 Let’s talk about it!
It’s a common misconception that playing tug with your dog or allowing your dog to play tug with another dog causes aggression. This belief stems from the idea that dogs displaying aggressive coded behaviors, like growling, lunging, or barking, is ALWAYS a bad thing. The truth is it’s more nuanced than that!
Every behavior needs to be put into the appropriate context for us to extrapolate any meaning. In context of tug, I would expect to see some growling, maybe barking, definitely some head shakes and assertive body language. In context of play, this set of behaviors tells me that the dogs are communicating to each other affectively! When a dog is playing they’ll demonstrate a potentially offensive behavior, like growling, accompanied by or shortly followed by a deescalation behavior. This would look like sneezing, pausing briefly, sniffing each other’s muzzles, and disengaging with the toy to shake off to release tension. This is also true if you play tug with your dog. All of the above behaviors are behaviors I’d expect to see for a dog playing cooperatively and burning off energy and frustration!
By that same token, it’s important to remember context can change very quickly, and it’s your job as the human to read the context clues your dog or the dogs playing together are giving you. For example if I have two dogs in my care playing tug but I’m noticing one dog building in frustration, that might look like prolonged eye contact, a dog pausing and stiffening their body, dropping the toy and growling over the toy, etc. I’ll intervene by removing the toy for a few minutes or giving them their own independent toys and separating the dogs to avoid a confrontation. Looking for stress clusters will help differentiate when your dog is playing versus when it’s being taken too far!🐕
Want some hands on learning about boundaries in playing with your dog? Visit our website or DM to schedule a consultation!