A nice walk in the woods today. The smells were strong. I think a fox 🦊, or maybe a cat, but I think fox, had walked along at some point since our last time out. Tilly brought her ball so worked her brain a few different times when she had to retrace her steps and search for it. Recalls were on point and a good time was had by all.
Love to capture me some check ins! I think it is such a strong behavior to reward that can really make a difference in your dog’s off leash freedom.
Even if your dog isn’t trusted off leash, Tilly certainly has her seasons, checking in is wonderful to have.
#besseyspositivepaws #offleashdogs #dogs #positivedogtrainer
A run around the field today to stretch the legs and a little recall work. We practice daily but we don’t necessarily drill it daily.
Why does my dog pull on leash?
There are so many reasons but a few and the simplest of reasons is because we let them pull.
Our dog pulls on the leash and we follow them where they want to go.
The environment is more rewarding than we are. There are things to smell, animals, or leaves to chase and so much more.
If you want it to stop, we need to be more rewarding than the environment. This will consist of rewarding our dog for doing what we want, such as walking by our side. We also need to reward the dog for checking in and being connected with us.
To teach loose leash walking, we need to break it down into steps that don’t even involve walking. Shocking, I know. Less walking results in better walking in the long run.
Want to be on your way to enjoying walks with your dog this summer? Schedule a complimentary discovery call to chat about your goals and where you are currently at with your dog.
www.besseyspositivepaws.com/scheduling
Why teach silly tricks? 🤪
For starters they are fun.
Have you ever noticed your dog’s tricks are some of their better behaviors? Shake, roll over, play dead?
You want to know why that is? Because it’s fun for the dog and it’s fun for you.
When we get upset, angry, or frustrated 😣 that a dog doesn’t do something like stay, walk on leash or come when called all the fun is gone.
If it’s not fun why work on it? Your dog is more likely to disengage and be a less willing participant. And you’re probably not going to be super motivated to work on it either.
When our dog doesn’t understand a trick, we shrug it off, keep trying or take a break and come back to it. Typically we keep it light hearted. We laugh. 😆 And that keeps our dog engaged and having fun.
I like to work on silly tricks because not only do we both enjoy it but it is helping me and my dog connect and spend quality time together. This can transfer over into other areas of your training.
This is me and Tilly working on our kick line for the second or third time.
Want your dog to engage more with you in and out of the house? When I work with clients we implement training exercises in the form of games. If you feel like you could use some help send me a DM or use the link in the comments to schedule a discovery call.
Is your recall one sided?
Does your dog only come when you call but if you don’t call them you don’t see them?
Most of my walks with my dogs, and what I work on with clients, isn’t so much on calling them to me but working on them making awesome choices.
Choices like wanting to stick around even if they have off leash freedom.
Imagine what that can look like. Your dog accidentally gets loose in a parking lot. Instead of having the “wahoo! I’m free, must make the most of it” mentality your dog turns to check in and see what’s next.
Can you imagine?!
What if your dog didn’t need a come when called cue? It’s still valuable to teach, don’t get me wrong. BUT when I take walks with my dogs I use it for practice not because I actually need them to come.When we walk I focus on all three tips: 1.checking in, 2. staying close by And 3. using a leash to help get those behaviors (ESPECIALLY if we’re in a new place)When I do that, I don’t use it really need a recall. Don’t forget to go back and watch Tips #1 and #2 and save them to refer back to when you’re feeling stuck.
Tired of your dog not listening? 😫
Figuring out what motivates our dog is the trick to getting them to engage with us.
If you are using kibble as the main reward for your dog, kibble which your dog gets twice a day, it might be worth considering a different reward. Play around with the motivator and see if you notice change.
This is a stepping stone. This isn’t the be all to end all. It is one change in many that can achieve the goal of a cooperative companion.
Shoot me a DM if you feel like you are struggling to find engagement with your dog around distractions. We can talk about ways that I can help you if we are a good fit.
A mistake I see many people make when they want their dog to focus 👀is not giving them time to take in their surroundings.
🛑When you want your dog to pay attention to you in public or around distractions we need to stop walking.
When we stop movement and focus on fun, engaging games our dog will learn how to “work” in the presence of distractions.
Once we get engagement then we can start to bring movement back.
This tip will help limit the frustrations you feel when your dog isn’t paying attention and can start making ways enjoyable again.
#dogtrainingtips #besseyspositivepaws #positivereinforcement #training #trainwithoutpain #eastcoastdogs
Leash walking. Everyone struggles with it at some point. 😣
🐾Want to know what I tell 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 client starting out…forget about having a destination. 😮 Work on moving with your dog until you really feel connected. He moves when you move in unspoken communication. 💃 🕺
Walking isn’t going to be about about making it X miles or to the end of the street.
It’s about the 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 of time spent on leash.
20 minutes loose leash movement > 20 minutes long distance, tight, sometimes loose, leash movement.
Let make leash walking enjoyable again for both you and the dog!
I’m here to help. 👋
Let’s work together so you don’t have to worry about your dog pulling you over or lunging to the end of the leash.
Instead, imagine feeling confident 😀 in knowing your dog will listen when you speak to them.
You actually 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑡 to take them for a walk out and about because you no longer worry about your dog embarrassing you 🙈. It is doable.
Send me a message if you feel like you have tried everything but your dog still pulls. Let’s chat about what leash walking looks like for you and your dog, right now.
Don’t forget to 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 if you feel like this was helpful.
Successful leash walking, what you need to know!
In order for our dogs to walk nicely on leash we need to keep it interesting for them. We are very slow 🐌 and boring when we have our dogs on leash.
Just watch your dog in a safe environment where they can move naturally. They don’t do anything in a straight line ➿〰️. They are zigging, they’re zagging, they move forwards and backwards, their pace changes.
It is no wonder it’s a struggle when we hook them on a leash. 😵💫
Try mixing it up for your dog.
Be unpredictable, in a good way.
Find a nice quiet, empty parking lot and do lots of direction changes with your dog on leash. Every 2 to 3 steps change direction and reward your dog for moving WITH you.
For now, avoid walking with a destination in mind. No more point A to point B until you and your dog are more connected on leash.
Follow for more tips and don’t forget to share with someone who needs to hear this!
Family friendly dog training for all ages! Erin Bessey started dog training in 2005 and has since become a Certified Professional Dog Trainer.
