Down the Leash

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Down the Leash Training, public education, puppy and litter raising, Dog Fit Camp, and we are home to the Lexington
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Down the Leash is dog training, and public education service based in Cynthiana, KY. We offer group training, private training, in-house training (board and train), nutritional counseling,our exclusive Dog Fit Camp, and finally, we are home to the Lexington Barn Hunt Club (LBHC).

22/09/2024

CLARIFYING THE E-COLLAR WARS

If someone is demonizing e-collars, I always ask whether the person on the opposite end of the wire actually has any recent experience with a modern e-collar, and please tell me what brand and model?

Be specific.

Post a picture of the remote, and a picture of the collar on your dog .

Here's a clue: Most folks demonizing e-collars have no experience, or "cannot remember" what make or model, and have no pictures of the equipment in question.

Right.

Theory running on rumor, rather than knowledge running on experience. A common-enough illness.

And to be clear, I ask for e-collar make and model and a picture a *lot* and I have *never* had a demonizer respond.

Not once.

Now here’s the thing: the request is not a heavy lift.

If you actually own an e-collar, you know what make and model, and the collar and remote are in your training tool box next to the leashes, muzzles, slip chains, brushes, nail trimmers, etc.

At over $200 a unit, no one is throwing out a modern e-collar, even if they chose not to use it.

To be clear, there is a *reason* I talk about *modern* e-collars and ask for make and model.

And that reason is that a lot of the low-cost e-collars still sold today are very old, off-patent technology, and were designed over 50 years ago.

Five decades is a very long time in tech.

Your dentist is not using 50-year old amalgams or x-ray machines.

Your car is not using 50-year old fuel injectors or rolling on the type of tire construction used 50 years ago.

You are not reading this missive on a 50-year old computer, or calling on a 50-year old rotary phone.

So what are these low-cost e-collars built on 50-year old tech like?

These collars typically come with six or seven levels of stimulation -- far too few to actually use this type of e-collar as a true training tool.

These low-cost old-tech collars are designed to send a "knock it off" signal to a dog chasing deer or other "trash" animals.

I refer to these as “buster” collars, and they are analogous to an invisible fence containment system, which is also very old tech that sends a strong “buster” signal.

For the record, I have used an invisible fence to contain my dogs for more than 30 years, and it's a terrific system because buster collars work well for the very limited number of things they are designed to do.

But are they a dog *training* collar?

No.

In my opinion, "buster" collars with just 6 or 7 settings are pretty close to worthless for training except, perhaps, for proofing a recall when used at the lowest setting.

But are the modern e-collars with 100 levels of stimulation "buster" collars?

They are not.

I cannot feel an E-collar Technologies collar set on 10 or 11, and my dogs are worked at level 4-8, depending on the weather and the level of distraction.

My dogs don’t yelp when I hit a button — they simply change behavior because they have been trained and conditioned to know what I am asking for.

Modern e-collars are not "shock" collars, but "tap" collars designed to break through canine Attention Deficit Disorder and reinforce basic collar-leash training at a distance, and with perfect timing. They are, truly, a marvel. That said, they are also not commonly sold at pet and discount stores and, when they are, older and cheaper "buster" collars tend to beckon to the first-time dog owner.

Hence the need to "fence up" and "fence out" when talking about e-collars. They are not "all alike," and they do not "all do the same thing”.

Finally, a simple point: the fact that an e-collar advocate has a newer e-collar and a better training technique does not make him or her a genius, or folks on the opposite side of the e-fence lying idiots (though I find many actually are). It simply makes that person up-to-date, and the other side not (yet) fully informed.

The message of ALL sides should, in fact, be the same: Move to NEW tech, not ban ALL tech.

Modern e-collars are a massive step forward in the world of dog training. But if the goal is training, that e-collar has to be a modern training collar, and not an old "buster" collar designed 50 years ago.

E collar advocates need to stress this message.

When debate is engaged, start by asking what make and model the other side is using, and ask for a picture to screen out the liars.

My bet is you will get the same response I get: silence and the end of the conversation.

Perhaps your results will be different.

But I doubt it.

21/09/2024

I HEAR WHAT YOU SAY, BUT SEE WHAT YOU DO

Clive Wynne, who is professor of Psychology at the Arizona State University and the principle behind the Canine Science Collaboratory, has put out a new study entitled “Comparison of the Efficacy and Welfare of Different Training Methods in Stopping Chasing Behavior in Dogs.”

Link here for those who read (and that is certainly not all of you) >>
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/18/2632?

With some amusement I note that Professor Wynne writes in a Facebook post:

“Trainers who claim to believe that positive reinforcement is the best way to effect behavior change completely undermine their case when their first reaction when anyone disagrees with them is to come after that person in the most punitive way possible.”

Bingo.

And to that end, if a certain person posts her same bu****it to this post, she will see the outside of the airlock.

“F**k around and find out” is a core part of good training, and I practice it on this page.

Another note from Professor Wynne: he notes on his page that some have criticized some aspect or another of the study’s methodology.

With amusement, he writes:

“So many of you feel you could easily have done a much better study. That’s wonderful! I look forward to reading those studies in the near future.”

The sound of crickets is sure to follow.

As for me, I know what works fast and gently because I *see* it.

You?

Train however you want, to do whatever you want.

That said, what most dog owners are looking for is how to quickly and reliably stop an unwanted or maladaptive behavior, and how to get a wanted behavior to reliably present when asked.

If you can’t answer both questions in a single word, you probably shouldn’t be taking anyone’s money for training dogs.

18/09/2024

Küt really getting it together and enjoying some freedom playing with our new balls from Treasure State K9! I have high hopes and big plans for this dog.

🖤☠️🖤🔥 (Roach x Maus) 🔥🖤☠️🖤

👇Git Some and go . Use the link below to get 10% off!👇

⭐️ https://treasurestatek9.com/discount/DownTheLeash ⭐️


06/09/2024

Had a bunch of balls whose handles were either completely chewed off or nasty and janky that I was hanging onto because the ball itself still had a lot of life left. Sent them over to Grace at Treasure State K9 and boom! 💥

I’d say they were as good as new, but they’re not—they’re WAY BETTER. Each handle was custom braided to my specs—not only color, but also length and thickness of handle (I’m very picky). I swear she can make anything! 🪢 🐩

Once again, Grace hits it out of the park by not only providing a quality product FAST, but also indulging my every whim and “wouldn’t it be cool if…” all while up-cycling ♻️ my balls for 1/2 the price of new.

👇Git Some and go . Use the link below to get 10% off!👇

⭐️ https://treasurestatek9.com/discount/DownTheLeash ⭐️

04/09/2024

‼ 𝗪𝗘 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗛𝗜𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 ‼
*𝙋𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙡𝙮 𝙫𝙞𝙖 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙠, 𝙬𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙟𝙤𝙗 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙫𝙞𝙖 𝙁𝘽*

𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸: https://wd1.myworkdaysite.com/recruiting/upenn/PennVet/job/Ryan-Veterinary-Hospital/Trainer--Large-Animal-Attendant-C_JR00096160-2
𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: Dog Trainer
𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: onsite at PVWDC
𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲: Monday-Friday, Fulltime

𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: The full-time Trainer will function under the general supervision of the Director of Detection, Search and Rescue and the Training Director and will be a critical member of our training team. This person will perform a variety of duties, serving as a Full Time Dog Trainer while also being responsible for Data Collection of all training activities and protocols, serving as a leader & trainer of interns and volunteers, and maintaining the center and training equipment. This person will collaborate with the Director of Detection, Search and Rescue and Training Director in order to establish and achieve goals within each of the WDC Core Programs and for each assigned dog.

01/09/2024

A Schnauzer Named Schnauzer!

There’s a bit of irony in the fact that when the Standard Schnauzer was first exhibited in 1879, it was as the “Wire Haired Pinscher,” but the dog who made that debut was named “Schnauzer,” the German word for “snout.” Schnauzer, owned by C. Berger from Wurtemburg, waltzed into the record books by entering the show ring of the Third International All Breed Show in Hanover, Germany. Three dogs were entered, but Schnauzer won first prize, the remaining places won by ‘Betti’ and ‘Anni’.

The word itself, “schnauzer,” first appeared in 1842 when Jeremias Gotthelf used it as a synonym for the Wired-haired Pinscher, and as long as we’re on the subject, the word should be pronounced “sh-now-tser” with the German “z” sounding like “ts,” as in Mozart which is spoken as “Motsart.”

What a difference a few years make. After a breed standard was written up, the first specialty show was held a little over a decade later, and ninety three dogs were listed as entry candidates that year.

The first Standard Schnauzer registered in the United States was a dog named “Norwood Victor” out of Schnauzer x Schnauzerl from the Norwod kennels of Philadelphia. There were also unconfirmed reports of the breed being shown in the Miscellaneous Class at Westminster as well as other shows in the late 1800s, but “Victor” is credited as the first Schnauzer registered. As for imported Schnauzers, the first reported import was a dog named “Fingel,” brought to the U.S. in 1905 by Mr. B. Leisching of Rochester NY. Fingel was a dog out of the line bred by G. Goller of Stuttgart, Germany.

Image: Schnauzer of medium size from W. E. Mason’s work Dogs of All Nations (1915) prepared for the Panama–Pacific International Exposition/Wikipedia

Legit some of the nicest equipment I have is from Grace at Treasure State K9! I swear she can make anything! 🪢 🐩 👇Git So...
30/08/2024

Legit some of the nicest equipment I have is from Grace at Treasure State K9! I swear she can make anything! 🪢 🐩

👇Git Some and go . And, while you’re at it, get 10% off using the discount code below!👇

⭐️ https://treasurestatek9.com/discount/DownTheLeash ⭐️

👾 Build a leash 👾

I have two "Build a leash" products on the website allowing you to fully customize the leash you want! You pick the length and colors. Choose any of the clasps I have, or a ring for the "dog" end of the leash. The "human" end can have a knot, ring, handle, or a handle with a ring. You can also add a stopper and a floating ring to further expand the functionality. The opportunities are endless! What kind of leash do you prefer?

New stickers! 🖤
27/08/2024

New stickers! 🖤

Küt enjoying the cool morning temps to get in some   action with his favorite   ball before things heat up. ☀️ Küt loves...
27/08/2024

Küt enjoying the cool morning temps to get in some action with his favorite ball before things heat up. ☀️

Küt loves it because it’s a ball (any ball), but I absolutely LOVE these thick braided handles. They are sooooo much easier on my hands.

If you need some balls, Treasure State K9’s got plenty. Coupon code gets you 10% off!

https://treasurestatek9.com/discount/DownTheLeash

(Roach x Maus)

🖤☠️🖤🔥🖤☠️🖤

Wurd! ✌️
20/08/2024

Wurd! ✌️

18/08/2024

🔥Rules and procedure for the inaugural WMU C-CAL🔥

This brand new WMU title is meant to test the Cane Corso protection potential, natural instincts, and temperament. Modeled after the Italian CAL2, but not required to be judged by an Italian FCI judge.
This title tests natural ability, so no formal training is needed!!
The 2024 Working Cane Corso IGP National Championship has something for everyone, not just IGP dogs! Come participate even if your Corso isn’t trained for IGP! And don’t forget about the conformation show!

Judge Joel Monroe will judge all IGP phases along with the C-CAL, fastest recall, hardest hitting, and driviest puppy.

🚨🚨ALL BREEDS MAY PARTICIPATE IN THE C-CAL🚨🚨

04/08/2024

That’s cute that your dog can jump like 10,000 feet, but are you even really dock “diving“ if your dog doesn’t swim under water? 🦈

(Roach x Maus)
🖤☠️🖤🔥🖤☠️🖤

03/08/2024

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Down the Leash, LLC

Down the Leash is dog training, and public education service based in Central Kentucky. We offer group and private instruction as well as in-house training (board and train) in a variety of areas including, but not limited to, obedience (for both competitors in all venues and everyday dogs), Rally, TEAM, tracking, rat hunting, and scent work. Leigh is certified to teach and evaluate AKC STAR Puppy, CGC, CGCA, CGCU, Farm Dog, Trick Dog, and UKC SPOT. We also offer programs that provide conditioning and fitness , and much much more!

Give us a call, or come check us out!