Simple Confidence Building Task
A little task you can have your dog do is encouraging them to climb up onto a different textured surface or something on wheels. Working on something challenging together not only helps build confidence but it also helps build your relationship 🙏🏼
TDT is expecting in December which means books will be temporarily CLOSED 😕
🛑TDT will NOT be accepting new clients after Thanksgiving
🔆TDT WILL however be booking February 2025🔥🔥🔥
➡️In the meantime, keep an eye out for Christmas presents for our furry friends😏
Pack Drive
Ever wonder how you hike all these dogs off-leash and not lose them?
PACK DRIVE.
Picture a golden retriever blindly following the old man throughout a park while kids play, squirrels run by, people pass yet the golden doesn't sway from the side of the old man?
This is the epitome of what I think almost everyone aims for in a dog, but how do you train that?
Pack drive is the state at which the dog is in a follower state of mind meaning "you are pack leader; I must pay attention to you and only you".
Believe it or not, a lot of behavioral issues stem from dogs that are unable to switch over to this type of drive.
Prey drive and defense drive are the other drives your dog is most likely in:
-constantly hunting?
-Always attentive to EVERYTHING?
-grumbly/timid/fearful?
-on alert on walks?
-sniffing?
DONT LEASH YOUR DOG WHILE THEYRE EXCITED
One of the biggest mistakes people make as owners is chasing their dog around to leash them after asking "do you want to go for a walk?!"
Here's why:
❌Sets the walk up for way too much energy
❌Dog is less likely to pay attention to you on the walk
❌You fall into the "my dog stops pulling after 20 minutes "
Here's a better way:
✅Stand there and wait for calm energy
✅Allow your dog to offer you a calmer position (such as a sit)
✅ if you go to leash and they get excited, ignore and wait
🔆 your dog will learn what energy gets then access to something they want AND start off your walk calmer
Threshold Boundaries
I wanted to do a little bit of experiments this morning testing kimbers sunroom threshold, while I walked to the end of the carport. I've never done this before with her, so I am not surprised there were a few corrections, but overall she did great! Even dog trainers, need to brush up on skills!
Loose Leash Walking
This couple has gone ABOVE and beyond any expectation I've had for new puppy owners. They got a jumpstart into leash work prior to us starting our basic training, and it seriously shows! Bonnie is extremely respectful and attentive to her mom! So proud😁😁
Feeding Enrichment
Believe it or not, dogs prefer to work for their food as it is more instinctual than being provided in a bowl with no stimulation. Get creative and feed your dog something or in something besides the bowl. Tag TDT on your feeding 😁😁
Puppy Outing with Marigold
Size doesn't matter with TDT as ALL dogs need socialization! Part of the basics package for puppies is getting out in the community to teach your dog how to behave in all settings while advocating for your dog's space. When your dog learns that other people/dogs don't mean anything more than something in the environment, it becomes a lot more fun to take your dog out with you! 😁
Implied Heel?
I get asked all the time how to teach a "heel". In short yes, you can absolutely teach this as a command which Kimber does know if I do ask BUT would you be blown away if I told you that you could teach this as a behavior?
Both Maye and Kimber are in this position as a BEHAVIOR not as a COMMAND
Interested yet? 😏
Basics WITHOUT hand gestures
Dogs catch on extremely quick to hand signals, but a good way to elevate your basic obedience is trying it without the hands!
If you try it, tag me in your video😎
Learning DOWN
Went on a trip and obviously had to do some training with the 11 week old Boxer!😂
Implied Sit
This is what I would call an implied sit. Kimber and I elevated this behavior to having her go into this position. Every time I stop walking rather than utilizing the leash to communicate the sit behavior.
Why?
I prefer implied sits over a verbal command for multiple reasons :
-Establishes a behavior rather than following a verbal cue
-Helps me go out and participate in activities, stop and talk with friends, etc. without having to have my dog focus on me too verbally command them into this position.
This is super handy for :
-ordering a drink at a brewery
-stopping and talking with friends
-ordering coffee
-calm position for approaching someone else with a dog
