Mavi’s third session with the e-collar on go and come. Mavi is wearing an EZ educator 900 collar, and her working level here rests around an 8/100.
Do you use an e-collar? What for?
Here’s a couple reasons why I LOVE the e-collar as a tool to enhance communication
⭐️ They increase freedom for your dog! This model of e-collar has a range of 1/2 a mile. Bet you can’t find a leash that long, and if you could it would be at risk of injuring you, your dog, or others with all that length to play with at leisure.
⭐️ They’re SAFE. Once you have recall taught and proofed, e-collar use ensures your dog will recall to you even under dire situations (think chasing a deer into traffic, taking off towards another dog or human, bolting out the door etc.) without additional harm to you or your dog from hitting the end of a long line.
⭐️ They can be used to teach almost any behavior! Recall, place command, retrieves, obedience, loose leash walking, heeling, eye contact, emergency downs and more. The sky is the limit with proper and appropriate conditioning and use.
⭐️ There are 100 levels of stimulation with the EZ educator! That means 0-100 levels of finesse to tailor to each dog’s comfort. Less is often more and with such fine degrees of stimulation, the e-collar is perfect for adhering to LIMA (least intrusive, minimally aversive) policy. Some models have even more levels.
⭐️ They take away the personal element when used for any necessary corrections, which for sensitive dogs in particular can make or break a handler-dog relationship. Why resort to physically reprimanding your dog (often done in states of heightened emotion 👎🏻) when you can disrupt their train of thought humanely (see last bullet) with the touch of a button?
Stay tuned to see how Mavi progresses in her training- look at her being a superstar already!
Nail care prep
Say no to stress and YES to success!
Ever had a dog that absolutely hates mani-pedi day? Don’t simply book the vet or groomer to tackle these issues. Start desensitizing at home in short, successful sessions to help your puppy or dog learn to love spa day, the vet, the groomer, and more.
Below you’ll find Arrio working through the first steps of desensitizing nail trims- simply holding the paw and then individual toes (as if I were going to trim the nail) without him trying to take it away, lick, or nibble my hand. If he is neutral the the sensation, I click, and reward.
Does your dog play keep away? Is leashing them up at the end of a hike a total nightmare for you but oh such fun for them as they make the most of their freedom? Do they bolt out the door, after the neighborhood cat, or over to any dogs or people they see?? Your dog may be lacking in the recall department if you can relate to any of these situations. But don’t worry, it’s not too late to change!
A reliable, hesitation-free recall might just be the most important and practical skill in your dog’s toolbox. Many dangerous or stressful situations can be avoided with a simple recall, so it’s best to make it a priority to keep your dog and you safe no matter what comes your way.
Arrio’s rocket recall in the making…watch that little pup go!
Noises and textures and movement oh my!
As we touched on last post, exposure starts in the home. This means that with some creativity you have ample opportunity to start your puppy off on the right paw- all from the comfort of your home.
One of the easiest ways to introduce new stimuli to your puppy is with food. The first test is can your puppy eat off of a new object? How about eating from a small space that constricts your sensitive whiskers? Off of something that makes noise while you eat? Something clear, tin, soft, moving etc.
While it seems simple, when your adult dog turns up their nose at food served in something out of the norm you’ll wish you did this easy exercise. Not to mention, this can help your dog recover from a negative reaction to something like a skateboard, clippers, or an object falling over. Send them on over to eat off of it and help steer the reaction over to the positive side!
Watch as Arrio navigates eating at the puppy picnic. In this short clip, you can see he hesitates at the muffin tin, seeking direction from me, but figures out the technique on his own. He goes on to finish every last piece of kibble- despite the screeching and moving tin. Wahoo!
Head to the comments for the full original set up with more textures.
Exposure to new objects, sights, sounds, feelings (touch), animals and people during your puppy’s imprinting phase is incredibly important in raising them to be the balanced and adaptable adult you always dreamed of. Having your puppy experience these things in a positive manner when they’re young can cut your work in half later on.
Take advantage of your pup’s innate curiosity and encourage them to be brave, strong, and explore the world. Don’t forget to take into consideration your puppy’s natural sensitivity to either sound, sight, or touch when choosing interactions to target. Start slow, and make it exciting and rewarding to be brave!
Check out Arrio working around some novel sights, sounds, and textures foraging for a portion of his lunch in a DIY puppy ball pit. This is a great, cheap in-home exposure activity that is perfect for snow days like we’ve had lately, and mimics the movement and sounds of things you might come across in the home, on the street, or out and about (recycling bin toppling over on a windy day for example).
Pro tip: for safety be sure to cut the little plastic rings below the caps off your bottles, and keep caps on. Plastic only please!
Bonus round!
Now that your crate training is becoming a success inside the house- time to add and think outside the box.
Can your pup remain calm, cool, and collected with distraction? How about with guests over? Other dogs in the house? Cats, children, construction noises, new people, vacuuming, maybe even at a new location??
Check out Arrio’s very first trip to the car wash. It’s a great way to introduce new sounds and sights to your puppy without having to plan an entire trip or wait for appropriate vaccinations. The wash is loud, the spray and rags hit the car and make vibrations and shadows- it can be scary!
Notice how initially Arrio shows signs of being nervous; licking his lips, not settling, his tail is flatter than normal, looking around in reaction to the unfamiliar noises. He then quickly becomes comfortable, lifts his tail and settles into a down where he gets treats for being a superstar.
Go Arrio, go!
The clicker is an amazing tool in dog training, and is a great way to mark exactly which behavior is being rewarded. It is manufactured to be precise and consistent in tone, pitch, and duration which can help give your dog the clarity they crave when teaching new behaviors. Replacing your verbals (yes, good etc.) with the clicker can help bring neutrality, precision and consistency to your shaping markers, even when you are at distance from your dog. The options are endless!
But alas, your pup doesn’t come into the world knowing that the sound of a clicker means that they are an absolute genius. You first must do something called loading the clicker to create the Pavlovian response to it.
Simply click, feed, repeat! Do so in short, successful sessions that leaves your dog wanting more. Once you’ve properly loaded and conditioned the clicker noise, your dog will associate the sound with the event of receiving a treat. Eventually, you’ll click and your pup will look around expecting a treat to appear. Then you can incorporate it into training of all levels- basic and beyond.
Check out Arrio learning about the clicker below. What behavior should he learn first with it? 🧐
Pup To It!
Ah the crate.
While it may not be love at first sight for your puppy, there are so many reasons to learn to LOVE the crate! Here are just a handful of reasons why the crate is an absolute must for any dog owner.
- safe haven for your pooch when unattended
- promotes an adaptable dog
- used at the vet/groomer
- creates structure
- car crates make travel safe and easy
- gives your dog somewhere to relax and reset
- post surgery rest requirements will be a breeze
- helps keep the house clean
- great tool for house training
- can be brought anywhere (bring your crate on vacation!)
Truly, the list goes on.…
Below you'll find part of a 30 minute video (sped up 5x) to show Arrio working on crate training and manners. Every time he gives the behavior I like-- quiet, relaxed, down-- I label and reward.
In the meantime, I'm doing computer work and simply walk over or toss a treat every time I see the preferred behavior, and ignore the rest as he starts to figure out what the “answer” is. Practice this when you’re having your coffee, on lunch, winding down at home watching tv etc. and your dog can learn to love the crate too!
Pro tip: set yourself and your pup up for success and do this after a walk or play session when they are tired and naturally going to settle more quickly.
What nail trims should look like every time! Quick, easy, and stress-free.
TBT to this noodle head at just 3 months old 🐶❤️ glow up pictures coming soon!
The Belgian Malinois is an incredibly driven, intelligent, and athletic dog breed- making them perfect for police work, protection work, and.....the circus?
Happy Monday morning from Kev the conure!
