Bright Mind Canine

02/03/2025

Workshop is THIS SATURDAY!!!

📣 This workshop is open to dogs of ALL breeds, ages, and experience levels!!

Have you ever seen a dog perform a cute trick and caught yourself thinking “I wish my dog could do that!”? They certainly can be taught! Join us for the Targeting for Tricks workshop and learn the benefits of trick training, how shaping and targeting can help your pup learn virtually any trick, and walk away with skills and a few tricks to wow your friends and family.

🐾 IN THIS WORKSHOP, YOU’LL LEARN:
-How to communicate what you want from your dog in a clear and effective manner.
-How to best motivate your dog and avoid common training mistakes
-The difference between a food lure & targeting
-Why shaping & targets work so well and why it starts with what your dog loves
-4 feet target, 2 feet target (front/rear), paw target (precision), nose target (hand and target stick), chin target
-Tricks using targeting

ABOUT NATALIA:
Natalia is passionate about teaching dogs by building a relationship with them. What a better way to do that than using tricks and a game-like approach?! Natalia is a certified trick dog instructor, canine conditioning fitness coach, and animal actor evaluator with Do More With Your Dog (DMWYD). Besides working with her own two dogs who earned multiple titles with AKC and DMWYD, she volunteers to serve on the DMWYD Advisory Board, serves as a coach in Susan Garrett’s online programs, and contributes trick tutorials to one of them - Wag Nation. She also runs her own trick group on Facebook called A to Z Dog FUNdamentals trying to spread the joy of trick training and playing games. Natalia strongly believes in the power of trick training which has so many benefits for dogs of all breeds and ages.

⚠️WORKSHOP DETAILS & REGISTRATION:
- For dogs 12 weeks and older. All dogs must be up-to-date on their vaccines to attend. Proof of vaccines will be due before the start of workshop
- Workshop will be held indoors and will be limited to 10 dogs
- Cost is $115
- Saturday, Feb 8th. Check-in starts at 9:30. Workshop is from 10am-1pm, with breaks.
- Contact Bright Mind Canine to reserve your spot today! [email protected] or 404-395-4216

*Please Note: This is a R+ event. Dogs must be able to comfortably work around other people and dogs. Dog-reactive or human-reactive dogs are not suitable for this event.

02/03/2025

Certified Trick instructor and animal acting coach Natalia Nizker is teaching this Saturday’s Targeting for Tricks workshop accompanied by her talented dog, Kinna. Kinna has earned many trick titles and has been on the big screen several times. Check out this fun video Natalia made last Labor Day showcasing a just a few of Kinna’s tricks.

Kinna took the holiday Labor Day literally and started working, helping around the house. She’s such a helpful hound!Join us on Facebook for more tricks and ...

01/30/2025

Just a cute cavalier doing some beginner scent work! Good boy Barley!

01/27/2025

Coco is a recently adopted ADORABLE bull terrier mix who enjoys taking family walks but has started becoming increasingly worked up when passing other dogs along the way. She becomes hyper-focused on them and then the barking and lunging begins. I introduced Coco and her mom to the 1-2-3 Pattern Game which is great to help keep you moving when you know the environment or spot you are headed through may be extra challenging.

In this predictable pattern game, dog’s learn that when you start counting, the treat will be delivered on “three.” By saying the numbers out loud, it encourages your dog to look at you and stay engaged when distractions are preset.

Pattern games, created by Leslie McDevitt are great in helping to lower arousal, excitement and anxiety. Dogs often get overwhelmed because triggers and/or the environment are unpredictable. Pattern games are extremely predictable and become muscle memory for dogs who practice them a lot. It feels better to the dog to go into the predictable pattern than to focus on and experience the unpredictability of their triggers and environment.

01/22/2025

📣 TRY DAY TRAINING WITH ME!! 📣

Day Training client Max got to experience a couple stores for the first time the other day. Since Max is still a puppy, getting out in the world for some proper socialization is one of our top training goals for him. He got to experience all the sights, sounds and smells of Home Depot including different people, dogs, flat bed carts carrying lumber & other supplies, various machine sounds, forklifts, ladders, a busy parking lot and more. We also worked on the skills Touch, Auto Check-In (periodic offered eye contact/attention), walking on a loose leash (no pulling) and Relaxing/Settling in public. Max did so well and even made some new friends!

My Day Training service is where I come train your dog for you, either in your home or out in the real world. Sessions last 1hr 15mins and afterwards you’ll receive pictures and video clips of what your dog worked on so that you can watch the training process and continue working on the skills at home.

This service is great for anyone, but especially for busy families, puppies who need to get out for some proper, safe socialization, and for people who want to get a kickstart on their dog’s training so they can maintain their skills at home!

01/21/2025

📣 This workshop is open to dogs of ALL breeds, ages, and experience levels!!

Have you ever seen a dog perform a cute trick and caught yourself thinking “I wish my dog could do that!”? They certainly can be taught! Join us for the Targeting for Tricks workshop and learn the benefits of trick training, how shaping and targeting can help your pup learn virtually any trick, and walk away with skills and a few tricks to wow your friends and family.

🐾 IN THIS WORKSHOP, YOU’LL LEARN:
-How to communicate what you want from your dog in a clear and effective manner.
-How to best motivate your dog and avoid common training mistakes
-The difference between a food lure & targeting
-Why shaping & targets work so well and why it starts with what your dog loves
-4 feet target, 2 feet target (front/rear), paw target (precision), nose target (hand and target stick), chin target
-Tricks using targeting

ABOUT NATALIA:
Natalia is passionate about teaching dogs by building a relationship with them. What a better way to do that than using tricks and a game-like approach?! Natalia is a certified trick dog instructor, canine conditioning fitness coach, and animal actor evaluator with Do More With Your Dog (DMWYD). Besides working with her own two dogs who earned multiple titles with AKC and DMWYD, she volunteers to serve on the DMWYD Advisory Board, serves as a coach in Susan Garrett’s online programs, and contributes trick tutorials to one of them - Wag Nation. She also runs her own trick group on Facebook called A to Z Dog FUNdamentals trying to spread the joy of trick training and playing games. Natalia strongly believes in the power of trick training which has so many benefits for dogs of all breeds and ages.

⚠️WORKSHOP DETAILS & REGISTRATION:
- For dogs 12 weeks and older. All dogs must be up-to-date on their vaccines to attend. Proof of vaccines will be due before the start of workshop
- Workshop will be held indoors and will be limited to 10 dogs
- Cost is $115
- Saturday, Feb 8th. Check-in starts at 9:30. Workshop is from 10am-1pm, with breaks.
- Contact Bright Mind Canine to reserve your spot today! [email protected] or 404-395-4216

*Please Note: This is a R+ event. Dogs must be able to comfortably work around other people and dogs. Dog-reactive or human-reactive dogs are not suitable for this event.

01/16/2025

Our intro to odor students learned all about scent work by hunting for food in foundation class so last week we introduced them to the concept of searching for their first novel target odor- BIRCH! Scented q-tips are halved and placed in a small tin for the dogs to sniff out.

Since birch is just another scent out there, we need to teach dogs that birch is valuable, and worth searching for. We do this using a method called “pairing” where we put food on top of the birch tins. So where there’s birch, there’s food. We want dogs to understand that birch actually pays!! Cha ching!! 💲💰🧀

01/10/2025

Hope everyone had a fun snow day!❄️ Now show us your snow dogs in the comments!! 🐶☃️

01/08/2025

Scent work peeps! Who wants to join me at this? Dana Zinn is awesome!

Save the dates March 1-2, 2025 for a Nose Work Weekend with Dana Zinn, CPDT-KA!

From low-cost audit spots to working spots and even private lessons, we have an option for all skill levels and price points! Start your new year off with some new skills to take your competitive nose work journey to the next level!!

Details on working requirements and prices can be found on our website, which is linked below! These limited spots are expected to fill quickly, so be sure to read all the details now and be ready this Wednesday 1/8/25 at 7PM EST when registration opens!

https://www.pawsitivefutures.com/events

01/07/2025

DOG REFUSE TREATS AT TIMES?

😣 If you are trying to work with your dog there are a few things that can indicate your dog is what we call "over threshold" - in which your dog's stress levels are too high to properly learn, listen or think properly.

‼️ Thresholds are important in training because they can make or break your success.

There are several indicators that your dog is over threshold. (Not an exhaustive list!)
👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼

1️⃣ Refusing food

2️⃣ Spitting out food

3️⃣ Barking/lunging

4️⃣ Appearing to "not listen"

5️⃣ Heavy panting

⏱ If your dog frequently goes over threshold and you aren't sure what to do, or if what you're doing isn't working, it's time to start a behavior modification program to get it under control!

🦸🏼 Get in touch with the proper professional for optimal results.

📸 The attached handout/image (click to enlarge) is from Grisha Stewart's BAT protocol (Behavior Adjustment Training) and shows stress on a very lovely illustrated, easy-to-understand scale. Illustrated by Doggie Drawings by Lili Chin

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Stacy Greer, CPDT-KA
🐕🐩🐕‍🦺🦮

COPYRIGHT NOTICE
© 2024 Stacy Greer
All rights reserved. Feel free to share via the “Share” link to the original post. Downloading for redistribution online or in print form is strictly prohibited.

01/05/2025

🙌🏻

💪🏼 8 WAYS TO BUILD CONFIDENCE IN YOUR DOG‼️
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Building confidence can be trying for dog owners of anxious dogs, but it can be done and the payoff is huge when the results are noticeable!
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1️⃣ CREATE PREDICTABILITY
Scenarios where your dog is anxious should have a pattern.

Example 👉🏼 Greeting people causes your dog some stress.
Each person that greets the dog should learn a behavior to perform or ask for such as scattering food or asking for a target to a hand or foot instead of reaching to pet the dog.

If this becomes the norm for greetings the dog will gain confidence in greetings not being so stressful because she will know what is going to happen during those greetings.

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2️⃣ USE MANAGEMENT EFFICIENTLY
Management can be a tool that helps in areas where training can't take place, shouldn't or makes the specific situation easier on all involved.

Example 👉🏼 Your dog stresses when people come into your home.
Put your dog in a place in your home where he feels safe & isn't exposed to people entering until that is something you can work through with training & other skills.

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3️⃣ GIVE SNIFFING THE UPPER HAND
Exercise is perfect when done properly & the correct exercise is chosen for each specific dog & case. Sniff walks are something all dogs can do & while walking!

Example 👉🏼 You want to exercise your dog but going around the block isn't do-able at the moment.
Put your dog on a long line, walk in front of your home & toss a handful of your dog's food or yummy treats in the grass for him to sniff out. Sniffing is calming for dogs & this can help while also allowing you to do some walking. You can also walk short distances while allowing your dog to sniff all the things, you know be a dog!

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4️⃣ PROPER PLAY
Play is a great stress release & is hugely beneficial to our social companions. Learning proper play will build your relationship & build confidence.

Example 👉🏼 Teach your dog to play tug with you, drop it on cue & start when you say. Let her win some & lose some, but lots of wins. Throwing a ball over & over isn't great play as it builds arousal so there are lots of other types of play we can do with our dogs.

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5️⃣ TEACH USEFUL CUES & UTILIZE POSITIVE TRAINING
Using positive training & teaching your dog to respond to different cues will benefit you & him in all sorts of areas of life.

When your dog knows cues, responds & gets rewarded, his confidence will go up. It will also help in situations so you both know what to do & how to respond.

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6️⃣ PROPER SLEEP
Sleep is just important for all living beings! Dogs should sleep at 12-18 hours a day, depending on age. This includes day & night. So your dog should get a lot of sleep throughout the daytime for proper brain rest & lower stress levels.

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7️⃣ AUTONOMY & CHOICES
This would be where you listen to your dog & respect what they are "telling" you while also allowing her to make safe choices about what is comfortable for her.

Example 👉🏼 Your dog doesn't like sitting next to you while you pet him. Let him move to a spot he wants to or just don't pet him at all if he's showing signs he doesn't want that in that moment.

Example 👉🏼 Your dog starts to show signs of not really wanting to be on a walk with you, then don't go on that walk or head straight home if you're already out.

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8️⃣ CONSISTENCY!
All of the above things won't matter if you cannot be consistent. In fact it could be more harmful in the long run if you do somethings one way one day and differently on another day. That will negate #1 and cause unpredictability!
🔑 So consistency is key!

——

——
Stacy Greer, CPDT-KA
🐕🐩🐕‍🦺🦮

COPYRIGHT NOTICE
© 2024 Stacy Greer

All rights reserved. Feel free to share via the “Share” link to the original post. Downloading for redistribution online or in print form is strictly prohibited.

01/02/2025

🐾CHEAP AND EASY DELISH DOG TREATS!🐟

Cheap & easy are two of my favorite words lol. Can you believe I made 560 HIGH VALUE, healthy dog treats in less than 30 mins?? There’s plenty of homemade dog treat recipes on the internet, I just thought I’d share one of my go-to’s. Mix 3 cans of tuna (with the water), 2 eggs and 1 1/3 cups of flour. Bake at 350 degrees for 27 minutes. If you don’t have a silicone mold mat, you can follow this recipe I like: https://youtu.be/-OIFy4kFHy4?si=wYVaQpkDht2GbGuI

12/26/2024

📣 SCENT WORK FOUNDATION CLASS- Starts Sat, 1/4 @ 12:30 and Wed, 1/8 @ 6:30 🐾

Scent work is an exciting activity you do with your dog that involves them using their amazing sense of smell. This can be used for competition or just for a fun, enriching activity for your dog!

🐶 Scent work is fun AND has COUNTLESS benefits, such as:
- Working your dog’s brain and will tire them out just as much (or more!) than physical exercise. It gives dogs a job and can reduce attention-seeking or boredom-related behaviors.
- Great for building confidence in shy or timid dogs and a great way to exercise high-drive or excitable dogs, too!
- Lowers heartrate and is naturally relaxing. Studies show regular nosework activities make dogs happier and less stressed.
- Great for nervous or reactive dogs!

🐕‍🦺 Scent work is one of the fastest growing dog sports! Dogs are trained to locate a scent and alert their handler that they have found it. Q-tips are infused with essential oils like birch, anise or clove and hidden in indoor spaces, exterior spaces, on vehicles and in various containers.
Scent work is based on the work of bomb and drug detection dogs in an environment that is accessible for dogs of ALL ages, sizes and breeds! There are NO previous training requirements!!

⚠️Class details and registration:
-For dogs 12 weeks and older. All dogs must be up-to-date on their vaccines to attend. Proof of vaccines will be due before the start of class.
- Class is held indoors and limited to 4 spots.
- Cost is $115 for 4 weeks. Each class is 1hr & 15mins once a week.
- Contact Barks & Recreation to reserve your spot today! [email protected] 678-870-9010
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📣 INTRO TO ODOR CLASS- Starts Sat, 1/4 @ 10 and Tues, 1/7 @ 6:30 🐾

You’ve graduated from Scent Work Foundation class and are ready to introduce your dog to the concept of searching for the novel target odors, Birch, Anise and Clove! In this 4 week course, we will discuss how odor works differently than food and teams will start with concentrating on searching interior and container search areas. We will rely heavily on an approach called pairing, which will ensure your dog understands exactly what the rewardable behavior is: finding the hide! Get ready to take your searching to the next level!

⚠️Class details and registration:
-For dogs 12 weeks and older. All dogs must be up-to-date on their vaccines to attend. Proof of vaccines will be due before the start of class.
- Class is held indoors and limited to 4 spots.
- Cost is $125 for 4 weeks. Each class is 1hr & 15mins once a week.
- Contact Barks & Recreation to reserve your spot today! [email protected] 678-870-9010
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📣 MANNERS 101 CLASS (Loose leash walking (no pulling) & Politely greeting people)- Starts Thurs, Jan 9th at 6:30pm! 🐾

Could your furry companion use a little polishing in the manners department? Does your dog pull on leash or jump all over guests? Do they blow you off when you try and get their attention?

Through positive reinforcement training methods, you and your pup will build a stronger bond while learning together. You’ll learn how to communicate with your dog in a clear, effective, kind manner, and teach them skills that will help them thrive in our human world.

Skills covered in this class include building engagement and focus, loose leash walking & politely greeting people.

⚠️Class Details & Registration:
- For dogs 6 months and older. All dogs must be up-to-date on their vaccines to attend. Proof of vaccines will be due before the start of class
- Class is held indoors and limited to 5 spots
- Cost is $125 for 4 weeks. Each class is 1 hr, once a week
- Contact Barks & Recreation to reserve your spot today! [email protected] 678-870-9010

**Dogs should be people friendly & not reactive to other dogs**

12/18/2024

Congrats to our latest Manners 101 class grads!! 🐶🎓🥳

12/17/2024

A couple of awesome Manners 101 class pups working on the skill “leave-it” around some tempting food!

12/12/2024

Just two awesome Aussie brothers, Zion & Trek finishing up their first & last scent work class of 2024!! New classes starting in January- Stay tuned for all the deets! 📣📣📣

Join us for some sniffy fun!! It's a blast and open to ALL dogs! It's one of the best things you can do for your dog, l always say! Not to mention, they will LOVE it! ❤️🐶

12/12/2024

This is something that those of us who work as trainers or behaviour consultants encounter a lot. A client will come to us because there is a behaviour or group of behaviours that they want to stop happening.

This is fine for some behaviours. Destructive chewing can result in injury to the dog, either damage to their teeth or, in some cases, swallowing inedible items that can cause an emergency and require surgery. Chasing cars out on a walk could result in a dog managing to get into the road and run over. Pulling on the lead can make walks difficult and potentially painful for dog and human (particularly dangerous for dogs walking using collars around then neck as there are many delicate and important structures in their throats just as in ours).

The essential first step in working with any behaviour is to think about why it may be happening.

Is the dog chewing because they are young and teething? Give them something appropriate to chew and redirect them to that if they start to chew something else.

Are they destroying things when they are left home alone? They could have separation related issues, in which case it's important to work with a qualified and experienced force free trainer to reduce their anxiety.

Are they given enough opportunities to chew on a regular basis? Chewing is a natural behaviour (as is digging) and it's vital we give them plenty of opportunities to carry out natural behaviours.

Are they chasing cars because they are scared? Or is it because they are a breed that reacts to fast moving objects, like herding dogs, sight hounds, or terriers? In each case here, working with a force free trainer will help, as will finding out activities we can do with our dogs to let them chase appropriate items or control movement as they have been bred to do.

Pulling on the lead is perhaps one of the simplest (and most common) of issues and one very simple reason it happens is that dogs generally move faster than humans, and they need to be taught to match our pace. Switch to a harness to keep their neck safe and reward them when they are in the right position. Again, working with a force free trainer is a great idea as they can show the best way to mark and reward when the dog is in position and how to keep the lead loose.

Another thing that helps greatly with this is to use a longer lead and let them have more length to explore when it is safe to do so, so they can sniff and investigate their surroundings - sniffing is another natural behaviour and probably the one that is easiest for us to let them do, as we can simply let them sniff while we are out walking together.

For any behaviour that humans can find problematic, before anything else, we need to understand why it is happening and, if it is a natural behaviour, our responsibility as caregiver to make sure our dogs are able to do these things safely.

12/11/2024

If you hear dog training advice based on the Dominance Theory, it’s time to rethink that approach. I’m diving deep into what you need to know about dog train...