đ Arthurâs first session with the Treat & Train (a machine that dispenses food for the dog to eat. Beep feature is turned on.) - Arthurâs food motivation helped him work through some initial uncertainty about the Treat & Train. By the end of our session, which lasted approx. 4.5 minutes, the puppy went closer to the machine and started licking it in hopes that more food would come out. When Arthur looks away toward the cone, I take that as a great opportunity to dispense more food. This will turn into a larger training picture for this little dude over time. Good job, Arthur!
Welcome back Cricket! This little lady is back for her custom 14-day on-leash board & train program. Hereâs a peek at what weâve been up to. đ Cricketâs family met with Red Dirt for a meet & greet lesson several months ago to get started on their board & train prep homework to jump start their training plan. This puts us in a nice position to start to build on the dogâs foundation training.We help adventurous dogs & their humans be set up for success with support before, during, and after our board & train programs. No cookie cutter dog training over here! đ„
Pro Tips for Puppy Play Dates
Dog-social dogs and puppies can do really well with finding their own play flow. Sometimes, itâs best to hang out on the sidelines and supervise without offering them your human attention or affection.đđ When we step back and observe, we give them the chance to figure out each otherâs play styles, build confidence, and learn those all-important canine social skills.
đ In this clip, Arthur and Tilly are having a blast with their vigorous play style, taking breaks and communicating clearly when play gets a little too rambunctiousâjust how it should be
đŻ Pro Tips for Puppy Play Success
âïž Stick to playdates with familiar, well-matched dogs instead of taking your dog to dog parks with a bunch of unfamiliar (and potentially sketchy) dogs.
â Avoid interactions with strange or unfamiliar dogs to prevent issues.đ Watch for signs itâs time to step inâlike hiding, cowering, dogs continuing to navigate to corners or small spaces, or body language signs that can communicate discomfort (think whale eyes, lip licking, or pinned ears).
Supervised, short, and fair play sessions = Positive experiences for your puppy.
đđŸ And remember, itâs OK if youâd rather not have your dog interact with other dogsâdo what works best for you and your pup! đ¶đ Iâm incredibly selective in what, if any dogs, meet and play with my personal dogs.
If youâre here for your daily dose of Arthur the Border Collie puppy, here you go! Heâs in that fun phase of puppyhood where those ears have a mind of their own and the baby shark teeth are out in full force. đ What a happy, well-rounded pup at almost 11 weeks old.
If youâre here for your daily dose of Arthur the Border Collie puppy, here you go! Heâs in that fun phase of puppyhood where those ears have a mind of their own and the baby shark teeth are out in full force. đ What a happy, well-rounded pup at almost 11 weeks old.
Arthur & The Art of Doing Nothing đŸ
Doing nothing is actually doing something! Arthur is learning that, as he watches the world around him. By settling and gearing down, heâs building impulse control and strengthening his âoff switchâ â a key part of any dogâs training.
This takes time, consistency, and practice, especially with young pups like Arthur. Itâs simple, but thereâs no cheating. You just have to invest in practicing this stuff with your dog.
Arthur is right on track as he enters Week 3 with our pack, learning that he can chill out and be neutral around other dogs, cats, and humans.
Yâall shared your votes to guess our next intro post, and you were so close with your guesses! Welcome Rogue, the 19-week-old Mastiff hybrid.This gentle giant is not only growing into her paws, sheâs also learning all about marker training, loose leash walking, age-appropriate socialization, and more with her fam. Stay tuned for updates on this cutie as she makes her way through our Puppy Success program! đș
Hereâs some #free dog training advice: Crate training is a game-changer for dogs and owners alike! đŸ When dogs are left unsupervised, they canât always make good decisions (hello, trash can disasters!). Using a properly sized crate eliminates risky behaviors while ensuring their safety.
Take Arthur, for example! After a potty break, training session, playtime, and water, all his needs were met. I guided him into his crate in the living room (a more distracting space than our kennel room) to help him prepare for life in his future home and while traveling.
At first, Arthur whined and barked a bit, so I covered his crate with a lightweight blanket to reduce the visual stimulation. Ten minutes later, he settled and fell asleep. đ€ This is all part of the processâconsistent crate time throughout the day and overnight has been key to his progress.
Crate training helps dogs build calmness, practice impulse control, and learn self-soothingâall essential skills for a happy, well-rested pup. Itâs especially beneficial to start young, but dogs of all ages can thrive with consistency and crate training!
Do you crate train your dog? Share your experiences below! đ¶
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#CrateTraining #DogTrainingTips #ArthurThePuppy
Did you get the herding dog memo? We sure did! In this video clip, 9-week-old Arthur the Border Collie puppy is learning how to bring down his level of excitement around another dog in a play scenario just a tad. Our dog Wren is a neutral dude with excellent play etiquette. This makes him a great match for Arthur in this interaction.
A few quick notes about puppy play & interactions with other dogs:
đ Play with puppies and other dogs should always be supervised, IMHO.
đ¶ Avoid letting puppies meet random, unknown dogs, especially during their critical learning period. Too many things could go wrong.
đŸ Advocate for all dogs involved in the scenario. If you notice dogs hiding, cowering, making wide whale eyes, ears pinned back, tight jaws and/or lips, or any dogs getting too rowdy, it is best to intervene and give everyone a break. Or you can end the play session/interaction.
While this may sound like management, thatâs because it is. Your young little puppy is still very much figuring out how to make good choices and decisions. Yes, puppies should have the opportunity to have fun and enjoy free time. However, we want to keep these interactions and scenarios as fun, safe, and positive as possible for all the dogs & humans involved!
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Puppyâs first dremel session! Arthur was a little wiggly, but overall, this boy rocked his introduction to having his nails dremeled. NOW is the time to introduce and safely expose this young Border Collie puppy to nail trims, daily brushing, cooperative handling exercises, and other husbandry-related care.Dog nail care is SO important, but it can often be overlooked. Depending on the needs of your individual dog, I recommend a nail trim schedule thatâs weekly or bi-weekly. This keeps the dogâs nails (and nail trim sessions) short & healthy!đ
Nails that are too long & overgrown can:đŸ Break or tear. This can result in painful injuries and discomfort for your canine companion. đŸđ¶ Be very uncomfortable for your dogâs leg and foot structure when they walk. đ© Lead to potentially unwanted changes in your dogâs posture.đ BONUS tip: I love using a diamond bit attachment with the dremel for a smooth and clean nail trim for your canine companion. They can be found on a variety of online shops.
Did you see our recent updates?! This weekend, the RDDT Pack welcomed an 8-week-old male Border Collie for our NEW Puppy Raise & Train Program! Weâve decided to name the little guy Arthur. In his first 48 hours with our pack, and building on the awesome work put in by his breeder to introduce him to a variety of sounds, sights, and obstacles, Arthur is learning all about: *Crate training & lots of naps to make sure he gets adequate rest *Wearing a leash & collar *Short training sessions to charge up Arthurâs terminal marker utilizing hand feeding & movement to tap into this boyâs energy & enthusiasm *Short play sessions to provide him with a safe outlet for all of that puppy energy & develop his love for play *Nail trims, grooming, cooperative handling, and name & explain protocols to set him up for success for husbandry-related care, vet visits, and more *Pottying outside and throwing him a party for his successes đ„ł (No accidents so far!) *Dragging a leash around outside & in the house so that we can decrease chances for puppy mischief ⊠Free roaming & puppies often donât mix well. đ If youâre interested in learning more about the new Puppy Raise & Train Program, including pricing and placement details, email [email protected].
This little 8-week-old Border Collie boy has a great attitude and he picked up on hand feeding right away! Here, we are starting to charge up his marker.
Red Dirt Dog Training offers dog training services for dogs of all ages & sizes in Corvallis, OR.
