Update: Alan has been adopted! Yay!! ❤🥰🤗
This little guy's name is Alan and he is an adoptable puppy at the Oconto Area Humane Society. He is here for some training to help keep him occupied while waiting for his forever home! He is an incredible 3 month old puppy! He is super smart and so willing to learn all he can! He is very food motivated, so I've been taking that opportunity to use his breakfast/lunch/and dinner during sessions. The video is of today's lunch session. I always run him through some sits and downs with distractions. Along with come and teaching him a leave-it command. I like to teach all my dogs, that meals and food come from me and to eat by permission.
He tries so hard to be good!
Charlie did super well during his 5 days of training. His parents have done previous training with him and their goal is for him to be a Therapy dog. During his boarding visit, they asked if I could help with his stays, recall, and get him ready for Therapy training.
Charlie and I worked on:
🐶 strengthening his stays with distractions
🐶 heeling closer and consistently with me
🐶 recalling (both distracted and controlled) on a 15 foot leash
🐶 going into a down on first command
🐶 calming down after getting riled up
🐶 calmly laying down with back against me or my daughter while we read to him
🐶 strengthening his "leave-it" command
🐶 "go say hi" politely to someone sitting in a chair
🐶 "head down" to rest his head on the lap
I used the Therapy Dog International testing pamphlet to practice with Charlie on what he'd need to learn to pass their certification. He has a long training journey, but his parents do a marvelous job with him!
Roxy's morning "push-up" exercise, that was taken yesterday. This was only her 2nd session in luring into a down and up to a sit. Her owners' prefer the command "lay", so I am making sure that the commands are consistent with their lifestyle.
When first teaching a dog to go into a down or a sit, it is beneficial that the command comes right before the lure. For the lure, I like to use small freezer-dried treats, soft chewy treats, or part of their meal-time kibble. The lure should go slow, methodically, and in the direction of the desired command (ex. up towards the sky for a sit, down to the ground for a down).
"Marking" your dog's behavior, by saying "good" or "no" signals the dog that they are doing the behavior right or wrong.
In the video, you will hear me tell her "good" when her elbows are fully on the ground. I am informing her that she performed the desired position and a reward will be given to her.
You will also hear me tell her "no", as she is breaking the lay command. I am informing her that the act of coming out of the down, without a given command, is a wrong behavior.
I am introducing some small distractions, such as kissy noises-saying hi-ect, so I can teach her how to remain while distractions are happening around her. If she succeeds in remaining, I tell her "good" and reward her. By rewarding her for choosing to remain, I am building confidence, duration, and reliability in that command.
If she fails to remain, I tell her "no" and I do apply an appropriate level correction. After the correction, I re-command the desired position and start the process again. Applying an appropriate-level correction gives the dog a consequence for choosing the wrong behavior. By re-commanding the position, you are reminding them of what you were expecting. By starting the process over, it gives a dog the chance to succeed.
For Roxy's correction, I am using the remote collar stimulus. She has been responding/feeling a level 10 on her E-Collar Technologie
Houston sure does love the treadmill! 😊
Abby, a 5 month old German Shorthair Pointer, used to scream and freak out during nail trimming. During her 24 day training program, we have been working hard on her staying calm and relaxed during nail trimming. I normally have a dog either sit for front paws and stand for back paws, or lay on their sides during nail trimming. However, in the beginning both ways made Abby nervous, so I tried it with craddling her in my lap and starting with her back feet. She felt safe and secure this way and absolutely loved that each small clip got her a treat. This is her stress free way of doing her nails 😁💗 She is just so adorable!! 😍😍
Lady has been making some remarkable progress! As soon as you would attempt to sit or open a door, she would bolt up and take off. She used to pinch your arm while walking or petting her, now she keeps her teeth to herself.
She still has a ways to go, but I can already see her brain calming down and learning to stay relaxed 🤗
Milo has been being an absolute gem staying on his climb, while distractions are going on around him. He tries so hard to be a good puppy!
Don't mind my oversized slippers 🤣 my feet were super cold in my tennis shoes!
A little Sunday training with Ari and Esme :)
Esme has been struggling to stay on a climb with high distractions, so figured Ari would be the perfect distraction ;)
Ari sometimes overthinks his commands.. you will see it when I give him the 1st down command. He was thinking so hard! 😂
Both are so adorable 😍
Lakewood, WI had their annual Mardi Gras parade today and since Rudy is going home tonight, I figured this would be the perfect opportunity for one last big session with him. He used to be reactive to people walking, dogs passing, etc. This is him today. He is still a little stimulated, but he is making wonderful decisions!
He got many compliments on what a good boy he was and how handsome he is 😉😁😍🤗
Lakewood, WI had their Annual Mardi Gras today. Mr. Rudy, who used to be very reactive, got to go see it. He goes home today, so it was the perfect opportunity to see how he would do with a ton of commotion. He is still very stimulated, but is making all good decisions.
I thought the school band did a wonderful job!
Mr. Rudy is doing a wonderful job relaxing while other dogs are present. He used to lunge and bark at the dogs in the play yard. He is becoming more confident and sure of what to do in the situations that make in nervous 🤗😍🐕🐶
Lincoln's morning session. He is a fabulous student! He went from being super puppy, easily excitable to Mr. Serious. He now over analyzes everything... he still gets playful and goofy, but he has figured out how to calm himself down when it gets to high :)
I LOVE him to PIECES!! ❤😍
Awww Copper at the park 🤗
