Help! I need a name for this backing up behavior! It cannot be reverse, back up, beep beep or crawl! I've run out of ideas!
Anyway, try this with your dog and share in the comments. What command would you put to it??
I set up a small rally course for a client tonight. Dex did pretty good except for at the last sign. In his defense, we had already done this several times. Less is more for him. Still happy with it though!
Want to give rally a try? Let me know!
Dex is getting better at the boxes! He's not stomping on them anymore! He does still like to give me false alerts because he's just in it for the food though. 😆
Dex has a little bit of a sore shoulder, so I worked on some flexion and extension. Doing anything like this with him is typically a struggle. He actually cooperated quite nicely for a change. He also got a shoulder and neck massage and an attempt at skin rolling. Work with your dogs when they're young, it makes stuff like this so much easier as they age.
Working on heel position and a bit of heeling. The first 10 seconds I was just confusing him and I'm not even sure of what I was attempting to do. Oops! Cleaned it up after that. I'd really like a nicer heel from him and am considering signing up for a Fenzi webinar. If anyone has any other suggestions for classes, I'm open.
Another thing in this video is a whiteboard that Blue Sky Dogs suggested. I wrote down the things we're working on. I can easily add and erase as needed!
Another enrichment idea! With the holidays here and lots of online ordering happening, boxes aren't in short supply. I tossed in some kibble with the paper what was in it, closed the flaps up - because he deserved a challenge tonight - and let him go to town.
Also, me the green blob 😂, struggling to open the picture frame that came in said box....
Middle is still a work in progress. I need to make a list because I forget what I've been working on a lot of the time. I feel like we should be farther along, but this is where we're at right now and that's ok.
Some rear end targeting. Obviously this is not Dex's first time doing this. You can see he tries to get both feet on the board and then on the bowl. Rear end targeting helps with awareness of where their body is. This can help in sports like agility and obedience and can also help navigate obstacles in every day life.
Does your pup know where their back legs are?? 👀
Something I talk to a lot of my clients about is how close their dog sits in front of them. Typically this is in relation to recall - they want their dog to recall and sit in front of them. Maybe they need to put a leash on, maybe they need to go in the house, maybe there's another dog coming. Whatever the reason is, if your dog is not sitting close enough to reach down and get ahold of their collar, chances are your dog is going to take off again. Also get them used to you reaching for their collar. I do this a couple times in this video.
The very last rep, I don't think Dex is close enough, so I move my body - not my feet - and my treat hand to get him to move closer. A couple reps he even has his foot on mine, that's OK, that's how close I want him.
Try this with your dog, how close do they sit? Is it easy to get ahold of their collar? Let me know!
Leash walking with Dandy. Working on not pulling. It takes time and patience. He'd be a good candidate for a prong collar. So I might try that next time. In addition to helping with pulling, they can help with some of the anxiety that is causing the pulling. He has anxiety because he doesn't get out unless I am there, his owners are elderly. I'm trying to do the best by him that I can. He will likely outlive his owners and I want Dandy's transition to a new home to be as easy as it can be for him when the time comes.
We got snow! How does your dog feel about winter and the snow?? Dex doesn't mind!
And another easy idea. Take your dogs breakfast or dinner and hide it around your house. Start with obvious spots and work up up to making it harder. This makes them use their nose and work for their meal. This isn't something I normally do for Dex as he eats raw and I'm not putting that on the floor. 😂 So just a few kibbles in each spot for him. This will take a lot longer with a whole or even half a meal. #braingamesfordogs #enrichmentfordogs #canineenrichment #mentalstimulationfordogs #englishspringerspaniel #stimulation #trainyourdog #dogtraining #dogenrichment
