George: "Do I eat the whole thing... or?"
Food is always going to be tricky for Maggie. She has a deep innate desire to scavenge and such an intense food drive.
We've worked hard on "Leave It" but that obviously only works if we can cue it in time. However what it has done is create a small window of hesitation, which luckily Maggie is so expressive if I notice that hesitation I'll generally cue "leave it" just to be safe.
I didn't even see this biscuit on our first pass, but watch Maggie notice it, her face has subtitles 😅
Miley did really well navigating the roos calmly, until an unexpected hare darted past us and got the better of her 😅
Puppy biting!
It's doesn't need to be a big deal! There is a moment here where Baudie would like nothing more than to chew on my hands. I simple make that an unappealing choice, I become boring, I position my hands in ways that are difficult for his little mouth to find purchase and then I wait and reward a better choice with my tone and restarting play.
If he was to keep pushing I could disengage more (by standing or calmly removing my hands) and then helping him find a toy if needed.
If he kept pushing after that it's very likely he was becoming overstimulated or overtired so I'd end play and help him settle instead.
Puppy 101 lessons! "How a leash works" and more importantly "How to knock over a camera!"
From a puppy's perspective, leashes are such a weird concept! "Why am I tethered to this boring slow-moving biped?!"
It's so common to see fustrated puppies fighting against their leash. Here we are working on Baudie feeling a small amount of pressure from the leash and then helping him move in that direction, to loosen the pressure by having him follow a treat lure. So rather than getting frustrated and fighty when he hits the end of the leash he knows how to move to keep it all feeling nice and loose 😊
(videos are also, as always, great to review, me forgetting how tiny puppies are! 😅 I could have helped him a bit more by holding that lead a bit lower in line with his neck.)
Maggie has no idea what she is finding 🧐 but she's gonna find it!
Miley showing off her Auto-recall when seeing kangaroos!
Miley use to get very over excited and was unable to disconnect when she could hear, see or smell wildlife. She also wouldn't eat treats in suitations like this.
We've used Predation Substitute Training and Tattle Training techniques to build new habits, emotional states and auto responses for Miley when she senses wildlife.
🏡 We're embarking on a new adventure! Starting a fresh chapter as we settle into our homestead in Braidwood.🌳
🐾 But don't worry, the business is staying put in Canberra! 🐾
🌟 Introducing our new identity: "Let Them Sniff"! 🐶 We're dedicated to outdoor adventures and specialised training sessions tailored to your dogs' needs. 🌿
🌟 Our philosophy remains the same: We believe that dogs who have their biological needs met regularly are better able to access relaxation, and that calm, fulfilled dogs are better placed to learn and retain new things. 💪
💼 What's New? 💼
🌟 We're now focusing on weekday adventure and training sessions designed to cultivate calm, content, and confident dogs. Availability for house visits/holiday care may be limited.
🌐 Explore our revamped website at www.letthemsniff.com.au for details! 🎉
📍 Catch us in Canberra every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, ready for an adventure and to help your pups sniff out new skills! 🚀
✨️ Play should be a conversation not a set of rules ✨️
Laska loves tug and toys but shows some hesitancy when it comes to sharing them. One of my favourite ways to work on this is to flirt with "I'm gonna get your toy!" but not actually grabbing it.
This builds her trust in me as a fair and fun play partner.
What I'm looking to develop is her ability to offer the toy for tug, which she does for the first time ever during this video!
Play is complex and nuanced. It can be great for a dog's emotional heath and assist with all sorts of training goals.
This year I'm aiming to refine and expand my play skills, with filming and critiquing play sessions being part of that. Laska is quite sensitive with her personal space, she interacts more fluidly when I crouch instead of bend over and the shakeoff she does is due to the lead touching her foot in a way she didn't expect. In future sessions with her I'm aiming to play from the side or lower and be more conscious of my lead handling.
We love a check-in, Miley, but don't hurt your neck 😅
Maggie is the master of "Rev it up, rev it down!" A game that helps regulate emotional intensity, she's always been quick to go up, but this video is a good demo of how easily she can now come down (or at least screw her head back on) when she hears her name.
