Did your dogs behavior get WORSE when you started training?! 😖😫🤯
It’s not uncommon!
Here’s why it’s happening and what you can do to help.
And no, the answer isn’t to stop training haha.
Do you guys think that sometimes it could be an extinction event? Let me know if you think yes or no!
#dogtraining #dogowner #enrichment #dogjumping #dogbarking
5 fundamental principles for faster dog training.
Master these 5 things (these are called my “5 Pillars of Dog Training)
If you want more information and intricate detail on the 5 Pillars of Dog Training - I have a free dog training resource for you in my bio
OR you can…
👉🏽Comment “5 pillars”
And my little robot will send the pdf to you for free 🤖
#DogTraining #fundamentals #principles #basicdogtraining #classicalconditioning #operantconditioning #dogbehavior #fastdogtraining #dogtrainingtips #beginnerdogtraining
This works better for me and my mind - doesn’t have to work for yours.
It’s better mental conceptualizing for myself and many of my dog training clients, students and consulting clients.
Boxes🚫
Spectrum✅
#operantconditioning #dogtraining #dogpsychology #dogbehavior #dogscience
Quite literally many dog problem behaviors could be mitigated or even outright resolved ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
You see it’s not just more clear and concise to the dog what it is that you want or are trying to guide or teach them what to do
The byproduct is that it forces you to pay more attention to your dog.
A lot of dogs have become “iPad” dogs (video for another time) and then we are shocked when dogs behave the way dogs behave.
Be more present. Be intentional. Provide effort.
Did you do any tether training with your dog?
I also have free book I wrote called “Tethered Decompression: From Chaos to Calm”
👉🏽💫 Comment the word “CHAOS” on this post and my little robot will DM you the link to my free step by step ebook!🤖📚
Lots of trainers talk about corrections - but dont give you more than that.
So let’s talk about it!
Consistent tension on the leash without teaching the dog to yield to the pressure = tug of war (leads to leash pulling and sometimes reactivity)
Consistent tension on the leash with teaching the dog to yield to pressure = tactile directional luring
Leash corrections require:
- the dog understanding how to be correct (ie: you’ve used +R/-R to first teach the behavior and the dog can do the behavior 8/10)
- it first requires slack in the leash (if not youre back to fighting/restraining)
- corrections shouldnt be done in cases where the dog is behaving maladaptivly due to fear or aggression*
For me, if my clients are going to implement corrections - i want them to understand the differences and for me to demonstrate on them and for them to practice on me first as timing and direction are important.
#leash #dog #leashtraining #correction #leashwalking #dogleash #dogwalking #looseleash
If no one has told you 💫you are capable💫
A lot of you guys know the steps and the action that you need to take🫶🏼
And yeah it’s a little different when it comes to more complex things like integrating training tools or severe behavior modification for your dog
However, for the most part many of you dog owners are well educated by the time you come to me.
You’ve done your research, you’ve been doing basic training and working with marker words and food and leash guidance.
So I want you to know you’re capable and it’s still ok if you want or need validation on your journey 🥰🙌🏽💫✨♥️
Oop. Im calling you out!
Sometimes our coping mechanisms in life manifest with how we treat our dog.
Contantly rushing to their aid and “helping” them before they’ve even tried or attempted to solve the inconvenience on their own.
Now im talking about the equivalent of let’s say an 8 year old struggling a bit cutting their slice of pizza.
Rushing in with fork and knife to cut it for them before they can have success and figure it out ORRRRR discover the fun of just picking the entire thing up and eating it the fun way!
Im NOT talking about your dog being obviously scared and frightened and you just throwing your hands up saying “figure it out”
This instant almost compulsive desire to step in before your dog can experience any challenge or difficulty is often a byproduct of a deep seated fear that your dog wont love you anymore if they experience frustration.
Or sometimes it’s the humans desire to feel wanted or needed or in control.
It’s a good practice in our own emotional and mental growth to give the dogs we love the OPPORTUNITY to solve problems and gain wins that make them feel good.
Because when youre more capable you’re more compenent and when you’re more competent you’re more confident.
How do you allow your dog to practice critical thinking?
The language we use, even to ourselves, matters.
The stories we tell ourself through passive judgements or thoughts can set us up for failure or success.
Using absolute language like “never” will subconsciously condition you to close yourself off to options before you consciously realize it.
In situations where it can impact not only your quality of life but the quality of life of your dog - it’s important to have a growth mindset.
Typically, “absolutes” and this type of thinking/language comes from a lack of education or knowledge.
Because you can know a lot about something and be deeply educated and can STILL acknowledge when something may not be FOR YOU.
Have you found yourself doing this or have people in your life that do this?
Who is the “default” pet parent in your home?🙋🏻♀️
Some homes have a true equal distribution of labor when it comes to the dog.
Others do not due to incompatible schedules from work or other reasons.
However, across the board a theme arises.
The Default Dog Parent will be clear and consistent in what needs to be done/not done with the dog.
These tasks, methods, techniques and rules are communicated to the Non-Default Dog Parent.
And then….they aren’t adhered to 🫣😐
It leads to a lot of confusion on the dogs part and we see a regression in dog training efforts.
It leads to a lot of resentment and frustration for the default parent as it feels like their efforts are for nothing and their desires are not worth anything to the other parent.
So what helps?!
👉🏽 Education vs Telling: educate on the WHY it is important. HOW it makes an impact.
👉🏽 Include them in the process: this can be challenging when real life of career, kids, social and more get in the way - but including the non-default parent into the process so they too know how to do the “minutia” of training goes a long way. They feel tied to the end outcome.
What about for you?
Are you the default parent? Is it 50/50? Are you the non-default parent?
A truth you might not want to hear:
You can’t angrily guilt and shame people into long term and lasting change that’s productive.
Just because YOU know better and YOU strive to do better doesn’t necessarily mean that others know how to do better and so they can do better.
The thing about it is, unsolicited advice doesn’t come off as advice.
It comes off as criticism.
It was hard for me, personally, when I first started to get into dogs where I felt like I knew it all and I knew what was best for all dogs and owners in all situations (the was before I was a dog trainer)
I felt like I had a moral right to tell people my opinions (posed as facts) - as to what they should or should not do.
It took a lot of self growth and development to realize being angry and commenting or DMing people would not give the result I was looking for.
I think some people with low critical thinking will read this and say “oh, she’s saying to be a bystander and never say anything or speak up about potentially dangerous things people are doing”
Nope. Never said that.
Literally, point blank and spelled out easily, what I am saying is:
If you see someone doing something that you wouldn’t do, and you have a productive and nice way to say it and in a way that’s educational - THEN open up that communication.
However, too many times I see people hiding behind keyboards and being “brutally honest”
What happened to empathetic honesty? Kind honesty?
You don’t have to be brutal. You can be educational, nice, kind or polite.
When you know better. You can do better.
Professional Dog Training and Education for dog owners and dog trainers.
