Getting out in the world for some good socialization is already paying off for puppy, Max. Watch as we encounter a big inflatable Santa in downtown Senoia during our last day training session🎅 Good boy, Max!!
One of the most fascinating aspects of scent work is witnessing how each dog approaches problem solving to find the target odor. Every dog has its own unique strategy, showcasing their individual personalities and instincts. It’s really cool to watch them apply & develop their abilities & enjoy the thrill of the search.
Watch as 11yr old Niko the Ibizan hound problem solves to get to source 🤩
🦮 Emergency U-Turn with Murphy ↩️
Emergency U-turns are great if you ever need to quickly get your dog away from a trigger or a dangerous situation.
We’re working with Murphy on his leash reactivity towards other dogs and the goal is to create a more positive association with them so walks aren’t so stressful & chaotic. A part of reactivity work is learning skills to get dogs out of sticky situations and more. Good boy Murph!
🤩 Shepherd Spotlight! 🤩
🤩 Shepherd Spotlight! 🤩
Kinna & Rinna rocked their first day of vehicle searches on primary (food) in Saturday’s scent work classes! Vehicles can be a challenge because odor travels to different parts of the vehicle. We have to teach the dogs to wrap around the vehicle in order to find the source. Great job teams!
**Fun Fact:** DOG ZOOMIES, scientifically known as Frenetic Random Activity Periods (FRAPS), are those moments when your dog seems to burst with energy! They often involve running in circles, darting back and forth, and generally appearing as a tornado of fur! 🌪️
Zoomies can be your dog’s way of expressing pure joy or releasing pent-up energy. They also help your pup blow off steam after a stressful situation, allowing them to feel more relaxed. While excessive zoomies may indicate a larger behavioral issue, they are typically nothing to worry about. Just remember to clear the area of breakables and enjoy the show! 🍿
Now, enjoy this video of a few of the daycare dogs of Barks & Recreation as they celebrated field trip day yesterday with plenty of zooms around my yard! Starring Violet, Eden, and the zoom queen herself, Lily! 🥳
Here’s a few of our amazing scent work students who have just completed Level 1! Over the past six weeks, they've been learning to play this fun game while building their security, motivation, and focus. Now, they're ready to advance to Level 2, where they'll explore searching in all four environments: indoors, outdoors, containers, and vehicles.
As the dogs develop their skills, their owners will also learn how to be exceptional handlers while continuing to learn to read their furry partners. I’m so excited to have more sniffy fun & see how these teams will progress in the coming weeks!
Next Scent Work Foundations class starts THIS UPCOMING WED, the 23rd at 6:30pm at Barks & Recreation! More details coming tomorrow!
Like many dogs, Roscoe had a habit of jumping up to greet people. While this behavior is normal for dogs, it’s not usually appreciated by humans.
In this video, you’ll see Roscoe’s owner move forward to approach him while he has all four paws on the ground. The moment he jumps up, she stops and steps back. She tosses a treat away to see if he can return without jumping. When Roscoe stays grounded and comes back to her, she enters through the gate. Once inside, she rewards him with a treat for his good behavior.
Had he jumped up, she would have retreated to the other side of the gate to make it clear that jumping isn’t an effective way to keep her close. As she bends down to pet him—an exciting moment that often leads to jumping—Roscoe impressively remains calm and even offers a sit. Good boy, Roscoe!
You can easily replicate this exercise at home by using a baby gate or tethering your dog’s leash to a doorknob.
🐾 Scent Work- Week 3!
🐾 Scent Work- Week 3!
This week, our fantastic scent work students focused on searching thresholds and perimeters! Our goal is to ensure that our dogs master the art of thoroughly covering an entire search area, starting from the moment they enter a room. Great job sniffy pups! 🤩
👀 CHECKING IN! 👀
👀 CHECKING IN! 👀
Teaching your dog to check in with you periodically on their own can be a game changer, especially in distracting environments where your dog may struggle to focus. Many dogs get overexcited just by entering a new environment and seem to lose their brain entirely!
While out and about, I want my dog, Helix to explore his environment while still staying connected to me. As a young and easily distracted dog, I don’t want to feel like I'm constantly nagging for his attention.
By teaching your dog auto check in, they learn that engaging with you is both rewarding and beneficial. It not only helps to keep your dog close but also enhances their ability to respond to your cues.
Yesterday was week 2 of Saturday’s scent work class and all the dogs rocked it yet again!! We changed up the picture, putting the boxes in a “messy” formation and expanded the search area. All the dogs entered the room for their first search and got RIGHT to work while just completely ignoring me like I was chopped liver 🤣(it’s okay, it’s a good thing!!). It was little Violet’s first day and she did awesome with the straight line of boxes and has a great little sniffer! Way to go sniffy pups!!
A little behind the scenes of last field trip day with the daycare dogs of Barks & Recreation . They got to come in pairs to my house and in typical Lily (the lab) fashion, she got to do lots of zoomies while doing all the things in her own special way 🤣 She is one funny chick
You can’t help but smile watching Roscoe in Manners 101 class. He loves learning, he loves his mom, he even loves working on door manners lol. That happy tail of his never stops 🥰 #thegoodestboy
