Hungry Dog Training

Ahri is my youngest German Shepherd, and lately, she’s been dealing with some mystery pain. We’ve seen a few vets already, with more appointments ahead. When it comes to trust and confidence, I like to think of it as a bank account: positive experiences make deposits, while negative ones withdraw. Most of the time, actual vet visits are withdrawals, even with our best efforts to prepare and reduce stress. That’s why it’s important for me to replenish Ahri’s trust bank in between visits. I want her to feel safe, confident, and continue trusting me through this process. If your dog struggles with vet visits, think about what ‘deposits’ you can make to build back their confidence! Share your ideas below or reach out if you need tips. Video description: a series of clips that show a sable German Shepherd looking at a food bowl while I stand next to her and touch and manipulate her. If she stays looking at the bowl, I release her to go eat from it. If she looks away from the bowl, I stop what I’m doing. #CooperativeCare #DogTraining #PositiveReinforcement #VetVisit #CanineHusbandry

Imagine this: A dog who walks calmly by your side, listens when it matters most, and thrives in everyday life. If that sounds like a dream, let’s make it a reality. I’ve got one final spot available in my board and train program before spring, and it might just have your dog’s name on it! Here’s what this means: 
✅ Daily, personalized training to tackle leash pulling, recall, or problem behaviors. 
✅ A home environment to reduce stress and improve learning. 
✅ Tools and guidance to help you carry the progress forward at home. If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to take the leap, this is it. Let’s set your dog up for success—together. 📩 DM me to chat about your dog and see if this last spot is the right fit! #HungryDogTraining #PositiveDogTraining #PositiveReinforcement #DogTraining #ModernDogTraining #RewardBasedTraining #TrainYourDog #SmallBusiness #WomanOwnedBusiness #DogsOfInstagram #DogsOfMaryland #Gaithersburg #Damascus #MocoDogs

Day 25: Play Dead (+ Roll Over) Some fan favorites for sure, these two! 1. Ask your dog to lay down. With a treat lure, guide them to flop onto one hip. This may take several clicks and treats if your dog wants to pop up. So start by marking and rewarding several times for looking over their shoulder first. 2. Once your dog can reliably flop onto one hip, continue the lure so that they flop on their side, marking and rewarding in position. 3. Once they can do this reliably, you can begin to fade the lure and add a verbal cue. 4. Once you can get this behavior from the down position, you can begin to generalize it from a sit or stand. Give your cue, lure them into a down, then into the play dead position. Roll Over: 1. Continue luring further from one side of their head to the other. This step can be tough, so go slow! Be sure to practice on a soft padded surface like carpet over hard floors for comfort. 2. Mark and jackpot reward for flipping all the way over. 3. Repeat, gradually fading out the first treats and only rewarding for the full behavior. 4. Now you can begin to fade your lure and add a verbal cue! Holy cow. How is today the last day of trickmas? Keep an eye out for some blooper reels soon 👀 #HungryDogTraining #PositiveDogTraining #PositiveReinforcement #DogTraining #ModernDogTraining #RewardBasedTraining #TrainYourDog #SmallBusiness #WomanOwnedBusiness #DogsOfInstagram #DogsOfMaryland #Trickmas #HDTTrickmas2024 #TrickDog

Day 1: Sit (+ Out of Motion)

Day 1: Sit (+ Out of Motion) A simple one to start! But can you add the challenge of asking your dog to sit and stay while you keep walking? 1. With a food lure, lure your dog’s nose up and back. 2. Mark and reward when their butt hits the floor. 3. Repeat, gradually fading the lure, and add a verbal cue. Out of Motion: 1. Walk backwards with your dog following you. 2. As you’re moving, say “sit” and lure them back into a sit. 3. Mark and reward when their butt hits the floor. 4. Gradually delay your marker so that you continue walking for a step, then two, etc. before you reward. 5. Transition to walking forward with your dog at your side, pausing after the sit at first. 6. Finally say “sit” and continue walking normally. Let’s see this twist on a simple behavior!

As a professional dog trainer, my goal is to help you truly connect with your dog on a deeper level. Behavior change isn’t just about teaching commands—it’s about addressing the underlying needs and feelings that drive those behaviors. 🌟 I’m here to guide you in understanding what your dog is really communicating and how to meet their emotional and physical needs. By focusing on the root causes, we can achieve lasting, positive change together. And, because I’m teaching you the “why”s and not just the “how”s, you’ll be better prepared to handle whatever challenges your dog throws at you next. Let’s go beyond the basics and build a stronger bond with your dog! Leave a comment or shoot me a DM to find out how ✉️ Video description: a series of clips of me working with my own dogs and client’s dogs on things like cooperative handling, confidence out in the world, socialization to people, muzzle training, and loose leash walking down steps. #HungryDogTraining #PositiveDogTraining #PositiveReinforcement #DogTraining #ModernDogTraining #RewardBasedTraining #TrainYourDog #SmallBusiness #WomanOwnedBusiness #DogsOfInstagram #DogsOfMaryland #Germantown #MocoDogs #NewDogOwner