Puppy owners, this one’s for you!
I made these mistakes years ago. Once you know better, do better. Here’s to hoping this helps someone know and do better 🫶
Reasons why dog owners should always have a towel or a roll of paper towels in their car 🙃😅 And why Meadows of Latrobe ice-cream is always a good idea 🤣
Another thing I wish I knew when my oldest dogs were younger.
Lately I’ve been learning how impactful it can be to read your dog during play and adjust your tactics accordingly. Two things that have helped improve my game has been momentum and distance of throws.The short tosses can help build momentum and help build the game. They can also help your dog stay in the game when they’re getting tired, mentally and/or physically. Think of small, easy wins! 🙌🎾🐾
Some of the goodies I’ll have in Ligonier tomorrow from 12-4! Come check it out and get your best friend a new toy or leash! 🐾 🎾
Summer send off swim time with Jake and 4/5 of the crew 🥹💦☀️🐾💞
Don’t let your puppy bully your older dogs.
Caught this clip at the tail end of Rico pestering Cali. They played together beautifully all day, until they didn’t.
And no harm in that… Cali was just tired and over it and Rico was not. Or arguably overly tired. Ha… he was well rested, but rested again shortly after, bc well, puppy life 🤪
There’s a lot of things trainers don’t agree on, but I think one thing most will agree on is the leash being under utilized in most situations. 🐾
Working on channeling the craziness of four dogs out and about still able to have fun.
Things can get pretty crazy pretty quick with 4 dogs that like to play & a small yard. Some focus points in this session were:
🎾 Bera’s “give” command (out/drop). Two of her favorite past times have been possessing the ball and getting love until she melts onto her back for belly rubs and consuming the ball until the little white foam pieces fly 🫣 Working on her bringing back the ball and playing an actual game, not just fetching a few times.
🎾 Equal parts Bera committing to bringing it back and Cali not stealing the ball from Beras mouth 🫠 (or as soon as she drops it).
🎾 Learning name discrimination in a game and getting some throws where only Bera has a chance at getting the ball, not everyone.
🐾 There’s been a lot of work done one on one prior to this, and could still benefit from more one on one time, but when time is tight I hate to not have everyone out enjoying the sunshine.
Working on channeling the crazy of 4 dogs out at the same time and still having fun. 🎾🐾
For all the teachers and students out there 🫣😅
Our Easter Egg hunt was a success. So many smiling pups and owners. Enjoy a quick compilation of everyone that came out. Thanks again to all who showed! 💟🐾
12-2pm today, Hunt some eggs! 🐣 🐰
Most dogs love a challenge. Some more than others… heck, same with people.
If you’ve ever tried something that’s easy chances are you didn’t continue to it long nor did you enjoy it.
If you’ve done something’s that’s so difficult or way above your skill level it probably ended the same way — you didn’t stick with it.
It’s similar to playing with a kid. Think of when you’ve “raced” a little kid… you jog slow at the beginning, but then you pick up speed at the end, and either 1. Let them win or 2. Let them think they can win and speed up to win at just the last second.
Either way — You build their confidence, they have fun, and they want to race/play again.
This is often why our dogs don’t enjoy playing with us. Sometimes it’s too easy or too hard, neither entices them to stick around and stay in the game.
Give them hope. Find the sweet spot where they feel challenged but also like they’re having some success. It’s a balancing act and if you watch someone who really knows what they’re doing it’s a beautiful work of art.
Insisting you must win the toy in a game of tug with your dog is silly and outdated.
Lucy’s excitement to come see me 🤩 …didn’t recall her, didn’t motion for her.. love this dog so much. 💙
Bera had some one on one time with me tonight and it’s safe to say we both very much enjoyed each others company.
There was some walking on a harness, running beside me on & off leash, and freedom to run, sniff, & explore as she’d like off leash.
I didn’t have any treats or her favorite ball with me, nor did she have her ecollar on tonight.
I’m explaining this because there’s a lot of back and forth going on right now in the dog training community… one side of the training methods vs. the other.
I hate to even get into it… but I will say I train with food & treats, I train with toys, I use leash pressure, I teach dogs how to turn off leash pressure, I use a prong collar, i use slip leads, I use a harness, i use long lines, I use an ecollar, and I use a retractable leash.
Everything listed above has been used with Bera. She’s used to be scared of the world dog. The second she heard or saw a car she would shut down and freeze. I couldn’t walk her more than one block for the first 2 years of her life.
Just because I have used a variety of training tools doesn’t mean I use them all for every dog I work with. In Bera’s case using the tools in training has led to building the confidence to walk past cars/loud trucks, etc. and has given her the ultimate freedom of life off leash.
Just because a dog has been trained with some of the said tools doesn’t mean they’re shut down and living in fear. Bera is proof of quote the opposite — she is living her very best life. 💜
*Outings like this I always wish I got more video, but being in the moment with them is so valuable.
A little lifestyle training clip from the gym the other night.
Lucy struggled to keep her composure on place when I was upside down and while people were doing butterfly pull ups.
I addressed each situation as best I could as soon as I could without giving up too much of my workout. It was a win-win.
I slowed my pull ups down over a few sets to strict pull ups ((NOT ideal for the workout)) but then I was able to speed them up again at the end of the workout.
Always good to re-assess from time to time and what can use some more work 🙂
Playing with your dog is one of the best things you can do to improve your relationship.
Unfortunately it’s not as easy as it sounds for some owners and their dogs.
Hopefully these 3 tips will help. I think back to the early days with Duke and I know these would’ve helped me. But keep reading until the very end to learn the very best tip…
3 tips for a better game of fetch:
1️⃣ Start small/short. Don’t make the throws too long at the beginning! Really entice them before you throw, maybe some teasing, or haking the toy around on the ground… make it “come alive!”
2️⃣ Don’t be in a rush to mix on obedience! Once they drop the toy reward them by quickly throwing it again. Save the sits/eats/stays/etc. for after you’ve both established a love for the game. To keep things interesting use a variety of different bounces, directions, and distances when you throw the toy.
3️⃣ Use your body and movement to keep them engaged in the game. If you’re struggling with them bringing the toy back to you, try back pedaling away from your dog, encouraging them to come your way. Be fun and exciting—make them want to be part of the fun you’re having.
A well developed game of fetch is just that.. developed.
Contrary to popular belief, all dogs don’t just inherently play fetch. It’s a game that must be taught.
And keep in mind good teachers use their students interests and strengths to mold and shape their success.
Remember to celebrate the victories, no matter how small. Instead of dwelling on a missed piece of the sequence celebrate the steps they did correctly!
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Keep in mind there are SO many intricate details and differences in play. There’s no way to do it justice through an IG post.
What works for one might not work for another. A lot depends on you and your individual dog.
And if you’ve gotten this far… the single most important tip I learned in my journey isn’t a tip at all.
It was a ha
This is why we train. This has always been the goal. Off leash freedom and voice control.
