Couple days ago we had one of those real life situations that put our training to the test!
I didn't realize Zeno was stealing a ball from the building, so I tell him to drop the ball. As it's rolling down, I checked for cars, saw none, and I told him to get it.
As he's heading towards it, I see headlights. I call him off, tell him down once.
I get the ball and he gets it back.
This is one of, if not the most important skills we can teach our dogs. Recall and a solid down stay could save so many pups from tragedy!
Whether it's a car, a moose, a bear, or a rabbit, having a solid recall can keep our pets out of all sorts of sticky situations.
And if they aren't quite there just yet with their training, set them up for success, leashes are a fantastic tool to use to keep them safe!
Super job, Zeno!
Happy New Year!
Quick dog trainer tip for pups who are scared of fireworks.
Now is the time to start preparing for the next holiday season.
This is a video of my 7 dogs relaxing during loud fireworks, completely unbothered.
I don't coincidentally have 7 naturally calm dogs. They're so used to me playing crazy sounds over speakers, knocking, making crazy noises, getting dogs to bark around them. This is just another Tuesday to them, no big deal. Noise is normal to them and doesn't mean anything bad.
Many owners are tempted to avoid all loud sounds if their pet has a negative reaction, or coddle and hide with them, but that's the WORST thing you can do for your dog.
Dogs are creatures of habit, if you cater to their reactions and suddenly start acting weird, they will think that's what they should be doing too.
Instead, desensitize. Slowly and calmly expose them to more loud sounds, so they can realize it's normal and okay.
You can play firework sounds over a speaker at a low volume for an hour or so a few times per week. Do not react to these sounds or your dog's reaction if possible, act completely normal. Dogs take a lot of emotional cues from us, so if you're calm and confident, they often will be too.
I always suggest offering chews, treats, puzzles, kongs, and other fun, relaxing activities during and after desensitization sessions. You can also play if they prefer toys over treats.
If they're really not snapping out of it, you can run around the house with them or play chase games for toys or high value food.
Slowly increase the volume until you're at max and the dog is unbothered. Ideally, the dog should not be overly stressed during this time, if they do seem stressed, reduce the volume and have patience.
Next year, I guarantee your dog will handle the fireworks 100× better!
Sable the Lab pup gets super excited and leaps all over people. Most puppies will behave this way as youngsters, this is completely natural and normal. This is so important to start teaching now, I'm sure we've all met a dog who clearly never got this lesson. It's not so cute at 50+lbs!
This is called free shaping, one of my favorite methods to teach. Notice I give zero commands, and the pup is off leash. I give the dog the freedom to choose her behavior. Bad choices are boring, good choices fun! Puppies do things for a reason, jumping for examole usually gets attention (whether good or bad, it's attention all the same.)
During this session she can jump all over, sniff, explore, bark, but it won't get her anything. Sitting, eye contact, heeling, laying down, those behaviors will all get her attention, play, and treats. You can see even at this young age she's really figuring the game out!
Megan working with Bandit at FYZ Academy.
I just love Cattle Dogs. Such speedy, smart, sassy dogs! Herders are so intelligent and energetic, but they definitely need lots of training!
Fancy, prancey Pippie's day training session.
Megan boarded Pippie for a few weeks, and has been working with her at daycare for a few months.
Megan and Pepper Jack! 🌶
PJ has been coming to us for day training, group classes, and boarding. He's a very smart, spicy little guy!
Who has the faster down:
Lucky
Or
Raven?
Pickles was a sweet boy to have
We worked on his recalls and he did soo good with that, recalling off other dogs in the middle of playing even!
Bed stays, heeling, ignoring distractions.
He's a good boy who was so thrilled to see his mom and dad 💜
How's your dog's bed stay?
This is one of the many skills our daycare dogs master!
Jet recently finished his board & train with Megan. Here he's showing off his heeling and bed stays!
Jet had some anxiety and confidence issues we've been working through, and of course we're always doing obedience!
Jet's sister Aspen also did boarding with Leah, which can be a great way to take a break and get a "reset" at home. These two pups are very energetic, so training is a fantastic outlet for all their energy, and makes life a lot easier in the longrun!
