4 different phases of the retrieve.
Sterling is learning structured retrieving in the step 2.
Step 1 - Learn how to retrieve. ✅️
Step 2 - Have your dog sit then retrieve. ✅️
Step 3 - Sit/stay, throw the item, once it's landed & still, then send to retrieve.
Step 4 - Sit/stay, throw item, get eye contact, then retrieve.
Stay tuned for his progress through steps 3 & 4. ❤️🐾 #trainingisalifestyle #funwithdogs #raisingadog #balanceddogtraining #lifeskillsfordogs #trainingisfun
Leroy & Susie are getting reacquainted. It's been a year since Susie has been here for a visit. You'll see alot more of her in the next month. 🐾❤️#friendsare fun #herdingdogs #lifeskillsfordogs #pnwdogtraining #balanceddogtraining
Sterling is back from his full weekend of a meet and greet event with his rescue Soul 2 Soul Animal Rescue And Sanctuary and spending the weekend with his brother. He is such a smart little guy. I hope his new family realizes how really special this boy is. 🐾❤️ #puppylife #puppytraining #dogtraininglife #raisingadog #balanceddogtraining #trainingisalifestyle #pnwdogtraining #oregondogtrainer
Out for a walk with Coco before it gets dark. I will definitely miss this little morsel when she gets adopted. She fits right in with my pack too well. For dogs that I really like I try to find fault in them so I won't fall in love. It's been super hard with this one! ❤️🐾 Come meet Coco at Mckenzie Feed Store on Saturday from 12-6. Soul 2 Soul Animal Rescue And Sanctuary
Sterling is available for adoption. Can someone I know please scoop him up so I can watch him grow up and see him regularly? Until he's adopted he will continue to learn new skills! Rain or shine! We won't get this day back. Let's make the most of it! ❤️🐾 Soul 2 Soul Animal Rescue And Sanctuary #lifewithdogs #puppylearning #puppylife #raisingadog
Does your dog have a high pack drive?
Here's an example of a dog with a high pack drive.
Introduction to water should be positive especially for puppies. Some sensitive puppies need to experience it on their own terms, maybe in a few different sessions. While others that are a little more confident, like Sterling, thrive on positive encouragement and I knew it would work since he has a high pack drive. Now if he were to start whining and fretting over what seems like a simple task, I would not have encouraged him with my voice like this. I would have gotten another dog that likes water to help him see that it's no big deal and encourage his pack drive to come out more.
Know your dog!❤️🐾 Soul 2 Soul Animal Rescue And Sanctuary #creatingskills #packdrive #lifeskillsfordogs
Look what Sterling is learning. He can retrieve pretty good now. When I'm teaching a fun game like this we keep it positive, mix up the strategy to keep his interest and make sure he wins alot. And if we mix a little impulse control and obedience in there that works too! And I let him win it at the end. His little trot is so cute. He was expecting more. ❤️🐾 Soul 2 Soul Animal Rescue And Sanctuary #itsfuntolearn #funwithdogs #lifeskillsfordogs
Sterling is learning what it means to migrate with a pack of dogs.(Offleash and onleash) He will learn valuable life lessons from my pack, even if it is for a short time that he's here until he finds his forever home. Socializing with the big dogs. ❤️🐾 #lifeskillsfordogs
Teaching movement puzzles for fun and confidence building.
Initially I lure him to each dish by hand w/food so he understands how to get the food, then I stop when I see that he is figuring it out (1:14). I am using the hand closest to the food dish to deliver the food and my cue is "cookie", a word that we don't normally use. It is helpful if the food makes noise when dropped in the dish. Notice he initially sits after eating the food from the dish which is part of our feeding ritual. This is him trying to problem solve to get more food.
By slowly moving the cone out, the dog needs to move around the cone to go to the next dish to get the food. As he learns and is more fluid with his movement, we can gradually move the cone out further and add more obstacles such as poles or planks to walk over, or chairs or a small table to walk under (depending on the size of the dog). Stay tuned for his progress.
How is your dog's recall?
Sterling's recall is coming along nicely for a 12 week old puppy.
I have lost count at the number of recalls we do in a day. #trainingisalifestyle
Whenever he comes to me, he gets rewarded w/affection or food. I keep him guessing w/the reward that he'll get paid with.
At first I was just happy if he came to me at all, now after 5 days and dozens of recalls per day, I am increasing the expectation and asking for a sit when he reaches me. This Come was asked while he was having fun digging in dirt. He is rocking it! ❤️🐾 #amazingpuppy #pitbullsrock #lifewithdogs #lifeskillsfordogs #pnwdogtraining
Sterling's to do list:
Learn how to play nicely✅️
Learn what Enough means✅️
Learn the feeding ritual ✅️
🐾
Not only working on recalls, sits and confidence building but learning to play well with others is super important. Always ending on a positive note. 🐾💋🌞
