This dog constantly makes me laugh. When I tell Banjo "back" it means go backwards. This is my first time telling him this cue from a down position. Since he's use to doing "back" by walking backwards, I figured he'd stand and walk backwards.... he does that from a sit position...
But then again, it is Banjo and I should've known he'd do this....
I mean, he's not wrongđ
My goofy smart boyâ€ïžđ¶
Useful cues to teach your dog when you're in publicđ¶â€ïž
Tatorstraining.com
952-594-9380
My husband and I rescued this pup when he was 10 months old⊠he was not a fan of vacuums (just like most dogs). We worked hard on creating neutrality and it sure does pay off!
P.s we recently moved and learned during this process our dog loves to sleep in boxes with cozy blankets (earned the new name of âbanjo in a box!â). Even if his dog bed, kennel, and raised bed are within 5 feet of him.âŠ.đ¶đ
Tator
Let me introduce a piece of my heart and the inspiration behind Tator's Training ... Mr. Tator.
Sticking Your Tongue Out Cue
Training isn't always about obedience and manners. It's about having fun, trying new fun party tricks, and seeing what you're capable of doing as a team. All dogs train differently. However, all dogs are capable of learning regardless of age, gender, breed, etc., IF you give them the opportunity to learn, clear communication, and figure out what motivates them.
Dogs communicate constantly during play. It's key to a successful and happy pup relationship. Play increases arousal levels which can lead to a one-sided playtime or cause unwanted behaviors to escalate. It's important for us dog parents to know what appropriate play looks like.
Always make sure the play isn't one-sided, know when it's time to step in for a break, and try to pair your dog with a partner of similar play style and size.
Stress Pant Vs Happy or Tired Pant
Can you tell the difference of a Stress Pant Vs. A Happy (or tired) Pant? Often times dogs will pant to help ease anxiety, reduce stress, and to self-regulate into a calmer state.
A spatulate tongue (as I call it a spatula shape) is when a tongue is larger at the tip of the tongue compared to the middle of the tongue. It's shaped like a spatula... you have the long skinny handle piece (middle tongue) and the bigger end to flip food or to mix with (tip of the tongue).
Fetch and Impulse Control
Did you know fetch can add to behavioral problems in your dog?
Impulse Control
You throw the ball, dog chases ball, dog retrieves ball, repeat. Your dog looks at you waiting to chase down the ball again, and again, and again. This creates a dog who lacks impulse control and by nature dogs are opportunists. So, unintentionally you are teaching a dog to chase after an opportunity with no structure in place. Whether that opportunity stems from a place of wanting to say hi to a person/dog OR that opportunity means lunging on a leash, wanting to chase everything, jumping up for something it wants, etc. Add in structure to fetch like I show in this video. Maybe a sit, down, wait, release cue, THEN use the ball as a reward on your cue.
Cue: Go Sniff
How to deal with your sniffing obsessed dogâŠ
Backstory:
This is Banjo. My husband and I rescued him on January 23rd 2022. He was about 10 months old. According to his DNA test, he is a Bluetick Coonhound, German Shorthaired Pointer, Pitbull, and Corgi (⊠Iâm just as confused as you are). & let me tell you, the hound in him is STRONG.
I struggled with Banjoâs sniffing needs⊠a lot. He would lose all focus from me, he would yank my arm out of its socket, he wouldnât be able to relax if he caught a whiff of something, he would SCREAM if I didnât let him smell somethingâŠ
Not only was it awful to have a dog lose all focus & become unglued at the smell of literally anything, but he was becoming beyond stressed from it as well.
So, I put my treat pouch on, grabbed my clicker, and started teaching the cue go sniff.
This is a very short clip of his cue. But, as you can see the first time I said, âgo sniffâ he barely sniffed the ground and automatically came back to me. So, why did he do this?
Well, when you allow a dog to fulfill their intrinsic needs instead of reprimanding them, they learn they donât have to be in conflict with their environment and owner. Instead, they learn their owner is the keeper of all things great & if I stick with my owner really fun things happen!
Banjo knows Iâll give him an opportunity to sniff when it is appropriate. He isnât in conflict anymore with his hound needs, wanting to explore the world, and what I ask of him.
Why the cue is SO greatâŠ
I used lots of treats in the beginning. However, once he understood what I was asking from him I stopped giving food as a reward. The great thing about teaching this cue is, it is reinforcing as is. Banjo loves to sniff so I reward his good walking behavior with allowing him to take a break & enjoy some smells!
