The leash doesn't have to be a single dimensional thing. It is no different than using the reins on a horse. The dog is more than capable of realizing very subtle differences in pressure mean different things.
The leash should be a tool for communication NOT just corrections or pressure.
Its just what we do when nobody is looking. There is only one way to get there. Travel the right road.
Teaching "stop" or "whoa" on the incline table.
A few reps then I name it and repeat.
Im using food.
Always let gravity work for you if you can. This is a great example
Teaching the "stop" or "whoa" using the incline table.
a small bit of my second session with Sasha learning how to indicate passively.
I teach the indication on its own. Im using cheddar cheese bits here.
Our next piece of the puzzle is to tie an odor with the indication. That will be a few sessions away. For now we have more indication work to do. I will continue to get reps using this same approach until I have the duration of focus we need to continue.
Im kind of focused lately on leash work, old school style, because I am at that point with puppies where I am using it a lot for many of the dogs.
This is a clip from a video I am still working on that follows along as I teach a Dutch Shepherd puppy a hard recall and engagement with just the leash and no food or toys. This puppy will understand duty after we are finished.
Let me know if you are interested in this type of training and I will try to make more videos.
I will post the entire video on youtube when I get done with it.
Brian
What do I train more than anything? CONTROL.... with these dogs if you have no control you are in trouble before you get started.
TRAIN HARD
SUNDAY TRAINERS TIP
Food is wonderful for training our dog. It is not the only way to influence the dogs behavior there are many ways to do that. It should be used , in the context of obedience and behaviors, only to mark behavior. Making it clear for the dog what exactly the directive is indicating.
Use food and be creative ... don't be so dependent on food to train that it boxes you in to needing food in hand to get cooperation with your dog. That isn't training that is feeding.
Im a sucker for budget dog training gear. I ran across these at Wally World and grabbed a few of them for less than 8.00 each. We shouldn't have to have high dollar equipment to train a dog anymore than we need a 60,000 dollar boat to catch a fish.
We were having a discussion today about leash work and leash pressure and instances where it would be best used.
I grabbed this snippet out of a larger video I am editing to demonstrate a place where I would use pressure.
This puppy is drivey and she wants to lead. She is also at the stage of testing her limits. In this instance I want to make her push through the pressure. We have to teach the puppy incrementally how to overcome pressure. Her body language is a good thing to observe here. Her ears her tail and top line exhibit confidence and a want to work with me.
I am tapping the leash at the spot when she is aligned with my knee. We are not actually "heeling" yet we are just getting into the correct position and I will shape it from there.
There has been no food or other reinforcer used in her training thus far. Except to send her out of to fine detail a behavior.
watch close at the end and see her wide mouth yawn...this is stress release ... we dont want to push to much if this is constant it indicates there is an overload of stress and it would be good to end the session. Here she is relieving stress and pushing through because she has good recovery
Training with our dogs is like playing an instrument. We never get very far away from basics. It should be fun for us and the dog or why are we doing it?
Engagement and working angles with some of my crew.
This pressure washer changed my life. Don't ask why I haven't been using them for years. All I could answer is "because Im a dumbass and didn't think about it"...
If you have more than a few dogs a lil pressure washer is worth its weight in gold.
PLUS it gets them CLEAN
I get asked a lot about what kind of prey drive our dogs have. Instead of me describing it. I made a short video to demonstrate it with a 13 week old female.
Intense prey drive, tough, commitment to the pursuit and nice possession. These are the kinds of environmentals we like to see as well. She has no canines or half her upper teeth. Serious dogs for serious tasks
We don't have dogs that focus on equipment. They focus on the man. The equipment is a means to an end and that end is the man.
Always be on point when you are working with serious dogs. OR ...
I was talking to a lady I have been helping on the phone about some ways to nail down heeling. Its so hard to describe something so I said "I will make a video that shows what i am saying"... this is that video...just getting to a casual controlled off leash heel.
Im exagerating my movements especially the hand movements so its easier to see the lures, the fades and arcs I used to get to the point of heeling this way. Lemmy knows all this and is helping me try to make the point. I am telling him to "bump" in the video so you can see where the lure positions are if you slowed it all down he taps my hand.
I achieve heeling in several steps but the two main ones are static and moving. This is obviously the moving stage.
A snippet from my MASTERCLASS ;Puppy Grip Development. "The Bite Box"...This beauty "Mona" is going to Mac K9 in Florida. Im introducing her to the box and we go on to do some grip development and power biting the sleeve later in the video.
This is an important piece of info for all of us who work with protection dogs and doing protection training. A reminder to practice safely and thoughtfully.
This snippet out of my instructional video is a visual representation of the moment the endorphin impacts actual behavior.
The release is triggered by the anticipation for the reward that she knows will be coming.
Her first time to see the crate. I took the door off ... nothing inside. I use a treat or two to get her investigating the inside and then reinforce the goodness with a few treats.
I will let this setup remain until she is spending a considerable amount of time lounging in it. Then I will add the gate and work short to long duration. She will never have an issue with the crate and wont be a spinner.
