Here I’m coaching two of my clients on “Leave it” with their husky mix, Mazzy. I’m teaching them “Leave it” because Mazzy is very food motivated, as most pups are, and will sometimes dive for questionable food on the street before her parents have even noticed the offending temptation.
I have some toys on the ground and when Mazzy looks at it, her dad tells her to "leave it." When she looks back at him vs going towards the toys, he says, "yes!" to let her know she did what he wanted, and then reinforces that great behavior with a treat. In trainer speak, "yes" is a verbal marker to mark the moment the desired behavior is done. 🤓
I get very excited at the end because coaching my clients to learn how to do the skills themselves takes time. Progress can feel slower but in the long run they will retain the mechanics - movement and timing - of the skill much better. I could train it much faster working with Mazzy alone, but the behavior may not stick if her parents don't really have proficiency.
The cue of "leave it" is a very useful skill that I teach clients when they don’t ever want their pup to get something. That something could be trash on the street, a nice shoe on the floor at home, or even another dog when out on a walk. 🐕
“Leave it” is different from “drop it” because the pup never gets the item. If the pup has gotten to the item, then “drop it” is the cue for the pup to drop whatever is in its mouth. That could be a toy at home or some dog treats that fell on the floor but isn’t intended for the pup right then. 🐩
Often pup parents use “leave it” as a cue to let go of something as well as to avoid it, which can be confusing for the pup. I teach the difference between the two and help my clients maintain that clarity when training their pups. 🐶
#pupparentsuccess #sfdogtrainer #walnutcreekdogtrainer #dogsafetyskills #positivereinforcementdogtraining #pawsitivetrainingwithjung 🐾www.pawsitivetraining.pet 💕
Puppy eating dancing kale
As a dog trainer, I prioritize continuous education by seeking out mentorship, shadowing other professional dog trainers, listening to a variety of podcasts on dog behavior and training, and of course, reading. I'm always looking for ways to improve my knowledge and skills that will inform how I help my clients and their pups.
I'm currently reading "The Forever Dog: Surprising New Science to Help Your Canine Companion Live Younger, Healthier, and Longer," which inspired me to blog about what I've learned about the connection between diet and behavior in our pups. I've also published it as part of my monthly-ish news 🐶
You can read my blog post here: https://lnkd.in/gUEM-MDr
Photo and kale animation by me 📸
#dogtrainer #walnutcreek #sf #dogbehavior #holistichealth #petphotographer #pawsitivetrainingwithjung
Happy National Pup Day!
If we haven't met yet, I'm Jung Fitzpatrick and I'm the Dog Behavior Consultant and Trainer behind Pawsitive Training with Jung. I adore working with pups of all ages and especially enjoy supporting dog parents of new arrivals - whether you have brought home your first EVER pup or have decided to bring another pooch home to join your family.
I love helping pup parents SET their fur babies up for success with Socialization, Enrichment, and Training at all stages of development. From the basics of introducing your young pup to a variety of new stimuli and house/crate/alone time training to building confidence with a shyer, more fearful older pup or helping manage a very energetic adolescent.
Here I'm taking a play break with Luke, one of the first puppies I trained while getting my certification as a Dog Behavior Consultant and Trainer. Luke loved to play and as we developed our relationship, I learned that he also loved to snuggle! Play is actually an important part of training because it makes the work of training rewarding and fun. Whether I'm coaching you to train your pup or I'm training your fluff nugget for you, I make training fun for all involved.
#chipoolove #puppylove #dogtrainer #walnutcreekdogs #sfdogparents #pawsitivetrainingwithjung www.pawsitivetraining.pet
