Welcome Diesel 💪🏻 & Quill 🪶 - the boxer siblings- same litter and all, to the Golden ☀️ pack.
This brother/sister duo are only 9 MONTHS! I almost didn’t believe it due to big man’s size 😳. But this is their second lesson ever with me (they had attended a previous puppy class but unfortunately the owners didn’t feel like anything that was taught stuck, and they were still struggling to manage to their puppy behaviors and strength, specifically on leash).
First lesson, we learned and taught the fundamentals of leash pressure without the command, now this is crucial, especially for puppies for them being able to understand and learn for: control, attention, safety, self-adjustment, stress management and when it’s appropriate for any outside interaction on leash per the handlers denial or approval. After learning the basics of leash pressure is when we attribute a command AFTER the physical act is done ‘ex. Conduct leash pressure to properly ask for the dog to sit, when in sit, then you add “yes! Good sit (name)!” *reward*’. Now here on our second lesson, with help of tools, as balanced trainers know when it is appropriate and beneficial for the dog to use them (THEY ARE PULLERS, even have pulled their owner to the GROUND) after proper conditioning - this is the first time EVER both separately and together they have walked in a loose leash heel, they are not in the heel command, but now they have been taught the foundations of everything needed to fully understand the leash and collar, thus no longer fighting against it and working with it.
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They did OUTSTANDING, they’re incredibly loving, enthusiastic and intelligent dogs; and it shows! So glad to have you both apart of the pack, and I look forward continuing to work with you both and watch you shine! ✨
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Here is just some snippets of the session, although I wish I could have captured all the very exceptional moments they had throughout the lesson! 🤩
🐾 Meet JAKE 🐺 this was his FIRST session, he is an around 6 month old Shepard/Rotti, and having some fear based reactions - notice I didn’t say REACTIVITY. Because it’s very circumstancial. We don’t know everything about his history, but it’s fairly easy to see he was pulled from his mother/siblings too young, he never got enough socialization during the crucial window of puppyhood, and from what I evaluated, the experiences he did have, atleast with humans, probably were less than idea. So here, in this video, is why I say he is simply reacting to what is a core memory of being a threat (strange humans walking towards him and near him uninvited and unexpectedly). I worked him through it, now this is the first time I’ve walked with him in general, but for him to continue to take the lure, and listen to the command and following through to “Jake, come” is not only amazing, but says he is far beyond capable of overcoming this. Now this is just an excerpt of him and what we will work on; but truly, for his background at such a young age, his ability to work through it, and his willingness to learn is the sign my heart beats for. He will work through this, and the next challenge. His bounce back is far stronger than his fallbacks.
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📍To walk you through the what, why and how, here: (we did work on leash pressure prior to this walk with the slip lead) we started the walk, and he saw this small group of people, and immediately as he noticed them and their space between them and him, he created a big loud voice to communicate to them how uncomfortable he was, instead of me allowing him to what I like to say “sit in his $h*t”, I worked him through and past it - each time he was able to stop engaging and moved forward he was immediately rewarded verbally and with a treat. (at this stage we need to use high value treats to keep him engaged to complete the task we’re trying to accomplish) As you watch, you see the barking lessen, the stops become s
I know I am so guilty of constantly forgetting to upload videos and content, so I apologize for the sudden video and picture dump! 😅 Buuut, please enjoy this video of how amazing Moose has held her training - and check out that impulse control while in a ‘place’ 😍 nothing can usually stop her from her love of tennis balls but she’s become so strong in her commands and obedience she doesn’t break it until I gave her the release. So proud of you Moo Moo 💕 **I do not own rights to this music**
🫶🏻🐕 **I do not own rights to this music**
**I do not own rights to this music** #dogtrainer #dogsofinstagram #balancedtraining #lovewhatyoudo #dowhatyoulove #nobaddogs 🫶🏻
A little bit of week 1 summarized of Griffin and Honor. **back story at end of post for those who are confused 🙂. The beginning is the hardest, they have been through IMMENSE change, in every sense of the word. They’re scared, unsure and trying to understand the things we can’t just simply speak and explain to them. But, what we can do is be consistent, patient, mindful, understanding, and even something (sleeping in a bed, accepting a new human to bring them outside, asking for affection or attention, etc.) is HUGE. They have a long way to go, we will continue to move at their pace, stop far before they hit their threshold in regards to anything and protect their peace. We will continue to show them the same faces and gentle hands, and we will continue to do everything with the understanding that we can ONLY imagine what they’ve been through and how hard change is, but it’s our goal to eventually reach the point that they fully know it was for the best for them,
to give them a chance many dogs aren’t given at life. They deserve it, all dogs do. These two are special, and I’m so grateful for Kaytlin Sinclair and her facility Woof Woof - Windham, NH for everything they are doing to be the other half of healing them from the inside out 🫶🏻
***To touch on this for those who don’t know,
The SPCA of CT, had been in for closure and the time had come where the bank was seizing and auctioning off the property; the two final dogs left were Griffin and Honor - both residents at this shelter for 7 and 5 YEARS. I won’t post my personal opinion of the living conditions but if you research, it’s not hard to find the answers. I
adopted Honor and Kaytlin opened her doors,
heart and help to have Griffin come there (as he had nowhere) and also Honor as we begin the healing and new beginnings for both of them. None of this possible without the help of the amazing volunteers at the SPCA and also Amanda Vecchio Armstrong from Army’s Legacy Animal Rescue And
My favorite part of training: confidence building 🌟
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Why? Because,
- It is FUN
- It builds a stronger bond with their human
- It manifests a strong level of trust with handler
- It desensitizes in a way that isn’t stressful for them, it shows them that the scary things in this world, aren’t infact that scary
- It counter-conditions with positive rewarding by providing exposure to stimuli they’d normally react to, and changes their future response to that stimuli
- It opens a new world of things your dog is willing to do with you
- It’s mind enriching, it builds a stronger relationship and most importantly trust in their human, leading to willingness to try new things and so much more!
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Here is Hulk with owner Ally doing things he had never done before, absolutely crushing these new challenges with eagerness and LOVING IT.
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SO PROUD of the progress they’ve made, this is just a glimpse of some of the tasks we engage in but this is so fun to watch! Great job guys! 👏🏻
After Oakleys first session where we worked on leash pressure and also introduced ‘place’ -
His wonderful moms’ sent me this today of Mr. Cutie Pants - and he gets 10/10 from me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Owners engagement and continuing what I’ve taught is key to success; this is a perfect example of everything you SHOULD do to really build a strong foundation for every command or behavior you’re implementing/changing. Oakley now has full understanding of the command, they have not only done what I’ve taught but expanded it to new ‘place’ locations, distances and amounts of time he holds it for - this is amazing and tests how much he actually understands what’s being asked of him; not to mention this builds a stronger bond, communication and fuller relationship between both you and your dog.
Welcome Oaks to the Golden Pack, you’re a little rockstar 🤩
Duke’s first heel training 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Oh my Ruegaloo! I am SO proud. Rueger and I go way back to when he first came to Tristen, as a rescue and I would engage with him nearly daily, bring him to work with me. But I’ve never implemented any thorough training with him. So today, while excercising him while his dad works, I decided to start implementing these new commands and guided him to my expectations and he did NOT let me down.
**Please note that he does have training basics and fundamentals already down - but even his owner Tristen will tell you that NEVER have we been able to do this. This is the FIRST TIME using an educator e-collar today and I only corrected him TWICE, out of the 2 hrs I was with him (also note he IS conditioned to an e collar, just not the one I use and this prove very affective and positive for him). Rueger is such a happpy boy and he just wants to share his excitement and love with everyone, and that results in ya know, some jumping, pushy, he likes wiggle real cute when he knows he’s not listening. But I’ll tell ya, he picked this up so quick… from off leash loose heel, to auto sit when I stop, learning place, ‘come’ command to a sit in front of me patiently. All that IMPULSE CONTROL - how do you not see this ?! He couldn’t sit still for 2 seconds before. Walking with his herm was a dream, we loose leash heeled, and continued to walk and work through triggers as if they weren’t there. Way to go Rueg! 😍🐾
**un edited video, some commands or corrections are hard to hear 👂
