When we're okay with behaviors sometimes, and then get frustrated about those same behaviors in a different situation:
😵💫 we're sending mixed messages
🫣 we're muddying the water
🥴 we're being unclear
Our dogs need our expectations to be the same through and through! They need consistency on what's okay and not okay, and if there's not, we can't expect them to do differently than what we've allowed for them to do 😮💨
PS - I fully believe allowing your dog to stay in an anxious, reactive, insecure space around common household objects is indeed NOT cute or funny! It's actually more cruel than anything. They don't have to love the vacuum, but teaching how to calmly tolerate things like this puts our dogs in a much healthier space.
Field trips with Huck 😍
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I chose these two trips because of what Huck's owner envisions for her life with him!
Being able to take him out to restaurants or cool hangout spots, and family & friend gatherings are something she's always wanted to do, but Huck's excitement levels have been near impossible to manage! She said it best - there is a THIN line between excitement and anxiety for him in these situations and more than likely Huck was experiencing more of the latter even though the world may have perceived that as "happy."
What Huck NEEDS is neutral, calm exposure to these situations. Basically, being able to do nothing with all of these things going on around him so that he can truly feel at peace and relaxed! He still needs help getting there, especially at the start of a new venture, but he's well on his way to being a great brewery buddy!
It's been my job and will be his owner's job to advocate for his physical AND mental space in these situations 🫶 my fam is big on dogs but I let everyone know to give him some time and i'd let them know when (and if) we could say hello based on Huck's frame of mind, and if his approach to those interactions would HELP or HURT our overall goals for him!
A look into Hela's field trips the past two days 🐾
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We took a trip to a local pet supply store, stopped for some coffee, and spent some time at the park 🥰
These were such a good mix of experiences for her! Riding in the car was a breeze when it used to be tough, the supply store was quiet and had the most respectful staff that set us up for so much success, and the park was full of things that had us working on our confidence, learning to coexist, and handling the nerves!!
Hela goes home tomorrow 🥹🫶
Leave it to the dogs to find all the food you didn't know you dropped - a great chance to practice "out" though 🤪
We had to adjust our plan last night to meet Hela's needs versus what I was wanting for her! I would have loved to spend more time with her out & about, but I would have been ignoring something pivotal if I did.
These seemingly small moments are game changing where you put your dogs' needs above your wants!
Sasha was extremely reactive to dogs coming into her Board & Train!
Even after going home she's had her moments, but with her owners' consistency of developing new perceptions and associations with them and around their home, we see that trending downwards and we're still working together to make sure we're doing all we can to set her up for her best life 💕
What Sasha DOESN'T need is lots of intense play dates with other dogs for the sake of her seeing them as "friends." While it may not look like barking & lunging, intense overdrive play (which Sasha tends to do if left to her own devices) only perpetuates more intense feelings about & around other dogs. While Sasha CAN have a healthy play session with facilitation, we want to prioritize neutral experiences in the presence of other dogs. She will produce more of whatever she practices!
Neutral Interaction Ideas:
🇨🇭Place hangout sessions
🇨🇭Structured side-by-side walk
🇨🇭Low-key mingling
🇨🇭Kenneled in the same room
🇨🇭Holding place or down while other dogs work, play, move
🇨🇭Working around other dogs
*advocate for your dog with appropriate space & distance
*if an owner can't control their dog, it's better to avoid hangouts with them
Not just that they can, but also they should!!
Practicing 'place' as a structured downtime activity everyday benefits you & your dog in more ways than one!
• a safe spot where they aren't getting into things
• a practice in developing independence: not having to be glued to your side!
• becoming a pro at the art of doing nothing, being ok with being bored!
• building up + maintaining impulse control
• a spot they know they CAN & SHOULD relax! there's nothing for you to worry about
• a neutral experience with the world, exposure therapy ✨
Practicing it daily means it's that much easier when you need them to follow through too ☺️
All of the dogs that stay, train, and live here spend at least a couple of hours on place everyday! Usually it's a group activity where all the dogs get to hang out in each other's presence without actually interacting! It's a great way for them to be around each other even when they may not be the best fit for the yard!
Rufus story time ✨
Are we (maybe unintentionally) reinforcing behaviors in our dog to make things feel better in the moment, or are we acting on behalf of their healthiest future selves?
Rufus had SEVEN YEARS to practice and engrain a habit of barking at guests until he's given the attention he feels he deserves 😬 that is a deeply rooted behavior that hasn't been all fun and games to address! Every time he got the attention following the barking, that behavior was reinforced and strengthened. Undoing and rebuilding those thought processes, is a process.
In the hard moments we still have (but that are trending down!!), it may FEEL better in the moment to just let a guest say hi and have my peace & quiet back. But I know in the long run I'm prolonging everyone's suffering if I do that, and wouldn't be acting with his best in mind. I'm intervening on his behalf by NOT allowing Rufus to feed his addiction. Im working him through it to reach more peace. I'm smarter & know better than him than he knows for himself, and I want to see him live the second half of his life in a much healthier, calmer, settled headspace.
Want better for your dog. Want better for you too!
These two could have their head in the game all day long if it was drill after drill after drill all day long... but that's not what REAL life looks like.
A lot of dogs know how to go into training mode. And they know how to perform (especially for treats)! But what happens when they come off the stage? What's the other 23 hours and a half hours of their day look like?
I want a dog to know their commands in a way we use them in our actual day to day. But if all I ever had them practicing was moving & grooving, it'd be hard to settle into any of those before they wanted to head to the next thing!
Thats where we have to work on having our head straight in all the hours we aren't in that extreme work, reward focused mindset. That looks like a lot of PRACTICING calm downtime. They did not just get here on their own! They had to be taught how to settle for longer amounts of time (and then TRULY settle beyond that).
Structured downtime is an intentional practice, just like obedience repetitions. My dogs spend hours, yes HOURS, on place everyday. They practice long downstays. They spend ample amount of time being calm in their kennel throughout the day too!
Which do you need to practice more in this season?
Lilah's first field trip!
Our time was spent creating an overall more comfortable mindset for Lilah around some tough stuff! She gets our leadership on how to respond to being nervous or unsure, and in turn learns that there's really nothing to be concerned about! She gets to see that she didn't have to flee or bark or protest in order to for it to be okay! She walked calmly and laid down, and all was still well ❤️ these are the new thought patterns we are building, experience to experience!
Catch Lilah at this Saturday's PACK WALK!! 11 AM at Conestee Park in Mauldin! All Be Heeled Grads are welcome 🫶
Lilah leveling up her walk, without even being on a walk! 😉
The skills, mindset, & behavior that you want to experience from your dog, allllll start in & around the home! Lilah had a nice follow command going before a structured heel. She did driveway drills before hitting the road. She took solo walks before adding in other dogs! And she did a wholeeeeee lot of calming work in between.
We meshed all of that together this week by doing driveway drills with & around Linc! Lilah has worked around Lincoln inside & while he's been walked by someone else, interacted calmly & playfully with him, and has had a lot of neutrality practice, but I knew asking her to focus on heel with him right by her side would be a new challenge! That's why I spent intentional time before our stroll making sure it was something we were ready for!
And if it hadn't been, that's ok! If your walk is quite a full walk yet, that's ok! This morning I had every intention of taking Blue for his first formal walk, but we spent doing 20 minutes of driveway work instead 🫶
We aren't trying to train with our ego here. We're training with what our dog can offer, in a way that challenges but doesn't completely derail them either!
Where are you at in your "walk?"
Do you view your e-collar as just a way to correct your dog, or as an all around way to COMMUNICATE with them?
The e-collar provides us one way to be more crystal clear with our dog on what's in their best interest, because we're speaking a language they naturally pick up on! Going through a proper conditioning process (which all of our training dogs are doing!!) allows us to fairly correct a dog moving forwards because everyone understands each other on what's okay and not okay, and we've set certain standards to live by!
Even when we move to a fully corrective level with a dog - AKA they know their commands on remote & can be corrected for noncompliance - we aren't doing it for the sake of "you better listen to me," but out of "hey, listen to me because I know what's better for you than you know for yourself." The e-collar is one tool in your toolbox that allows you to be an effective & fair leader to your dog 🫶
Blue and Lilah are textbook examples of dogs who NEED more forms of communication on their level!
Taking this cover photo is the hardest thing I've made Delilah do because ya girl loves food 🤪
Utilizing food in training is popular, and has its place, but it's not a necessity, and sometimes it's actually a hindrance!
Food with delilah was super helpful the first couple of days with her for things like building engagement and the initial phase of learning some new vocabulary!
Now that she's demonstrating a better understanding of commands like "here", rewarding with food is actually causing the repetitions to be more spazzy and giving her a chance to practice her more fast paced behavior.
By removing food in this situation, Lilah was at a healthier energy level (even though it was a slight change!!) & is still motivated to work! There may be a time and place that food comes back into play with obedience, like adding distractions or changing environments, but for right now while we work on solidifying the basics and have a HUGE GOAL of slowing this girl down, we'll leave the food to meal time!
Ask yourself if using food is helping or hindering your dog on the way to your true goals!!
➡️ does it make them break command
➡️ does it make their energy skyrocket
➡️ does it cause unreliable obedience
➡️ does your dog really need another treat 👀 (we use a dog's daily kibble 9/10 times when using food-based rewards!)
PAST CLIENTS! This is an important one for you! Refresh ya self ✨
With holidays comes added excitement and energy in and around and outside of the house, so maybe you'll be pulling all of your communication tools together to make sure things go smoothly with your dog! Here's a friendly reminder on your 3-collar set up for best practice & safety 🤗
Collar set up: think e-collar sandwich! Prong on top, e-collar in the middle, flat buckle in the back!
Safety reminders:
- use a caribiner from the O ring on your prong collar to clip it to the ring on your flat buckle collar
- switch the side your receiver box is on every 3-4 hours on average
- do NOT attach your leash to the e-collar strap!!!
- remove prong collar & flat buckle collars when playing, & supervise all play!
- remove all collars when crated
Your collar set up matters if you want to be set up for success!
Maybe they're just calm, and happy 💞
Bullet keeping up with those doodle legs!
Thanks for still coming out on a rainy cold Saturday 🤗 Keep an eye out for date + time + location of a December Pack Walk!
Next Graduate event is Saturday, November 25th at 10 AM!!! It's a Pack Workout that includes a workout for both you AND your dog! Location: Rachael's house! Email [email protected] to let us know you're coming & for more detail 🤗
A field trip is more than just the final destination! It's the entire journey before + during + after where you make a real impression with your dog ✨
Watch for a recap on what led up to our adventure in Lowe's and for a pro tip that will help you protect & advocate for your dog's space 🤗
Getting to a better place with your dog is as much about your perspective as it is their formal training 💯
After your formal training there are still GOING TO BE obstacles - known & unknown, constant and sudden, big & small - that you're going to come up against with your dog.
You have two ways to look at them!
Use them as an excuse - for not reinforcing their new skills, for not putting it to practice, for not bettering yourself with your dog, for keeping both of your worlds small... and so on.
OR you can view those same obstacles as an OPPORTUNITY!
✨ to use what you & your dog have learned
✨ to better & improve those skills
✨ to grow confidence in yourself & your dog
✨ to build trust & your relationship with them
✨ to live a bigger life with them!
✨ to discover something you enjoy with your dog!
Gatsby the wild child & Daisy the nervous nelly are LIVING in the midst of an obstacle day in & day out. As one of the first residents of a new neighborhood, they have constant construction all around them. MANY owners would write off going on walks in their situation but their owner is determined to get out there, put their skills to good use, and help them learn to be comfortable in an environment that would set a lot of dogs off! Gatsby gets the benefit of practicing a calmer state of mind around a lot of excitement and Daisy gets the gift of learning the world - even when it's loud & machines are big - really isn't so scary!
Today's successful field trip brought to you by spending a lot of time on place & holding a down in and around the home!!
You reap what you sow and all that jazz is seen in full affect with your dogs. We can't ask or expect our dogs to be calm out in public if we aren't enforcing and practicing it at home.
We've been sowing a lot of seeds of slowing down Luci's brain, getting to a healthier mental space, and being okay with doing "nothing" a lot of time during the past two weeks! Luci truly didn't know how to not be constantly on the go when she wasn't in her kennel. Today, Luci easily found herself in a relaxed down because, well, it's what she does A LOT of day in & day out. It's habit ✨
And yes, Luci does still get to be active! It's just that Luci's active time has been spent always doing something productive *with* me so that her physical needs are met, while also maintaining a good state of mind.
While this field trip was more active overall, it was made possible by all of the foundational "do nothing" type of work. Without it, the active portions of going out to the park would have just looked a bit chaotic with no direction & spending substantial time just being probably wouldn't have happened!
Don't get me wrong!! Most of the time I am incrementally increasing the challenge of what I'm asking a dog to do in a methodical way because i'm aware of where the dog is in their journey, what may stretch them to better them, and what may be a little "too much" to handle at the time.
Butttt I've also seen the benefit of asking a dog to go beyond what they may be deemed "ready for." As long as I stay adaptable, set realistic goals, and don't give up (AKA let the dog "get out of it") once we enter into that space.
And sometimes I find myself there on accident, but when I do, I work through it with the dog. Daisy had all the skills & relationship she needed to conquer this cart and I had the best tools to help her get there + the higher knowledge that this was absolutely something she could do, even if she didn't believe in herself!
I originally thought I'd have Daisy hopping up & hanging out on the cart relatively effortlessly, but quickly realized we were going to have to change the game plan. So at first I just asked her to hop up and over, I allowed her to choose in which direction she wanted to get on at times, and I helped clear up my expectation of stopping on the cart by using my own body to set a physical boundary!
Once we conquered the concrete cart, we headed over to an empty cart and I set up my phone with the full intention of capturing another messy moment. But Daisy found this to be a BREEZE after facing bigger concerns in her life 🤪 but I'd bet good money if this was the first cart I'd asked her to get on, even without the bags, we would have had a more complex time here and then we'd still have to work through concrete cart fears too!
More than anything, I think you need to know what YOU are ready to work through with your dog, and be okay with a little mess ✨
➡️ If you need help on that journey and someone by your side to help you & your dog get to a better, healthier, more confident and secure place, reach out!
📨 Contact beheeled
"Can I give my dog a toy / bone on place?"
A question we get often! And yes, they can! We just want to make sure it's not the onlyyy reason they'll stay on place & that it's not getting them all riled up when place is meant to be a calm command.
Using place on a rainy day is a NECESSITY in our minds!!
☔️ an appropriate spot for them to dry off (no rolling in the carpet or rubbing all over furniture)!
☔️ no muddy paws all over the house
☔️ maintaining those general calm household expectations
☔️ enjoying the chill vibes meant for rainy days, not a dog pestering you because it "has to" be exhausted in order to be chill
☔️ more likelihood you WON'T have a potty accident inside (bc we all know no one wants to poop in the rain 🙃)
Add a healthy chance to chew to the mix for
🦴 a good dental hygiene practice
🦴 mental & physical stimulation
🦴 promotes tooth growth / eases discomfort!
🦴 gives us a chance to utilize an "out" command when it's time to stop (no resource guarding allowed)!
And all the people who know the beauty of the place command said "AMEN!" 🥰
