Misfit Canines

This is everything. 🤯 It’s hard to even put into words how incredible this walk felt - it was literal perfection. Melo *could not deal* with Lakey before… and now they can enjoy long, stress free walks together multiple times a day, when he is here for boarding. The right tools and prior training play a huge role in making this possible, as does my energy and expectations. The work is worth it when you have the privilege of witnessing how life changing this can be, for both the humans and dogs. On our walks, both dogs wear an e-collar, a prong collar and a muzzle - but none of these were “used”, not even once. Without request both dogs walked in a beautiful heel position, just like this, for well over an hour. Success looked like: ✔️ having slack on their leashes 100% of the time ✔️ not resisting their proximity to one another ✔️ no growling, nipping or lunging from melo ✔️ zero corrections for either dog ✔️ smelling the same spots nose to nose ✔️ relaxed body language ✔️ not attempting to remove their muzzles To an outsider, the tools they wear may look intimidating and their ability to walk together may seem like nothing out of the ordinary.. but all of this was worked for and all of this is necessary, at this point, for both safety and continued progress. #dogtraining #balanceddogtraining #prongcollar #ecollar #germanshepherd #cockapoo #reactivity #muzzle

Proper Integration 👈🏼 Winston became a permanent addition to our pack yesterday, after his family decided they could no longer support his needs with the continued health scares of a family member. To set all of the dogs up for success, we slowly and intentionally (re)integrated him into our household by: - Keeping the dogs separate to start through the use of crates/gates/doors (seeing/smelling before meeting) - Allowing the new dog to smell/explore the areas they will interact with daily, on a leash and without expectations (go at their pace on a loose leash) - Introducing one dog at a time through a controlled means (crates/leashes) in an open and neutral space if possible (gives dogs an opportunity to create distance if they desire + you can deter unwanted behaviours) - Separating all dogs at meal times (crating other dogs; one inside, one outside, one on “place”, etc.) - Keeping all toys, bones and possessive items hidden away (reintroduction may be possible) - Crate/“place” for 15 minutes minimum right after walks/outdoor play to assist in lowering indoor energy levels - Limiting the amount of time they have to roam around together or alone (too much freedom too soon = failure) All of the above are optional but are strongly recommend, especially if you do not know the temperament of the new dog and/or how your dog(s) will react. In some instances it may take days or weeks to introduce dogs to one another - there is NO RUSH. If you want to do it right, do it slow. Welcome (back) to your forever home Winston. 💛 #dogtraining #standardpoodle #poodle #germanshepherd #gsd #dogpack #packlife

how to wear a slip lead 101 ✔️ slip leads are one of my most recommended tools for the dogs and clients I work with, BUT most people don’t know there is a right and a wrong way to put them on. one way supports even pressure around the dogs neck, the other digs into their trachea. remember: the leash and collar need to make a flat line over the back of their neck, regardless of which side you walk them on. *this is not a slip lead, this is a dominant dog collar, but it works for explanation purposes all the same.* #dogtraining #sliplead #leashpressure #leashcorrection

Conditioning 👌🏻 An often overlooked but key part of your canine’s experience of the world is proper introductions and conditioning. Car rides, crates, muzzles, harnesses, nail clippers, grooming, ear cleaning, etc… the list of things most adult dogs can be averse to is seemingly endless. While the goal is to properly expose a dog to (most) everything in life as a puppy, this is often missed, forgotten about or simply not an option until it’s too late… and becomes a problem. While true socialization isn’t possible in adult dogs, behavioural modification combined with new experiences that build confidence and trust can support a new way of being, for both you and your canine. Take this muzzle for example. Lakey doesn’t need a muzzle, but we work with a dog that is muzzled and has triggered her to react in the past, so for safety’s sake I’m choosing to muzzle her during these sessions moving forward. The *best* way to make her comfortable with wearing with muzzle, is to expose her gradually, reward along the way and go at HER pace, not mine. If you want your dog to be comfortable with something old or new, break it down into the smallest possible pieces and work your way towards the ultimate goal. This was our third session on muzzle conditioning. - In our first session I allowed Lakey to smell, touch, and lick the muzzle, allowing her to get comfortable with this new object. - In the second session I popped a treat in the bottom and let her find it on her own, praising her for choosing to put her face in it. - In this third session I introduced the command “muzzle”, popped a treat in and praised/reaffirmed her with “good + girl/her name/the command”. There will be several sessions just like this before I will strap the muzzle on. The goal here is never to force her. If I didn’t take the time to conditioner her to it and popped it on right away, she would likely have a negative association and it would amp

After a week of work and tuning.. it’s clear that Lakey’s work drive isn’t what it used to be. Her obedience skills have diminished and she’s not inclined to work very hard to clean them up anymore. At 6 years old Lakey has levelled out with her drive and energy. Most people think of the puppy stage as being over by 2… but large breeds only become true adults between the ages of 4 and 6. This is when they begin to plateau. She is a working breed, but she didn’t come from a high drive line (police, protection, schutzhund work) - she was bred to be a family dog. If you know me, you know that I love working dogs and as much as I love Lakey, she’s become a bit boring and too easy. 😋 I can get 4 good retrievals out of her and then she’s content to relax in the shade. This is our new reality…

this is our reality. Lakey isn’t perfect and I always share this with my clients. This may look impressive to some, but for her this is pretty rusty - we haven’t “worked” in months. You shouldn’t compare a dog that *can* do this to how your dog acts at home or out on a walk. Don’t be fooled - a dog that performs obedience at a high(er) level can be awful in everyday situations too. Lakey can still be reactive on leash…. it’s always a work in progress. Above all else, I make time for two things daily and I recommend my clients do the same: 1. We walk and she gets to be a dog - I let her enjoy the sights and smells of our neighbourhood. Sometimes I work on her leash manners, and sometimes she just roams around on a long line. It’s give and take. 2. I hold her to a high standard on our property. I make the rules and she follows them. I enter and exit doors first, she eats last, she goes to her “place” whenever someone comes to the door, she must be invited onto the couch/bed and she doesn’t beg or whine or bark for any duration of time without correction. Period. That’s it. So simple and yet so hard at times. These two things are foundational for a solid relationship built on trust and respect. Fancy tricks come and go, but how your dog behaves in your home is everything. I’ll be making time daily this week to tune her up and will post an updated obedience video next Sunday. ☺️ #gsd #germanshepherd #dogtraining #obedience #obediencetraining

🍂 Possibility = Progress Not all dogs are going to hit it off - LJ and Jazzy certainly didn’t. Jazzy is skittish and fearful of large dogs, and LJ plays off of this energy, often asserting her dominance if given the chance. Today we had the opportunity to walk solo with Jazzy for the first time and this was the result, 30 minutes in - slack on their leashes, ignoring the other, and walking on their respective sides. We believe in what is possible for every dog - pushing the boundaries for their benefit when it’s safe and logical to do so, while respecting their individual needs. Every dog, its owner and their combined history make for unique introductions. We believe that with smart socialization, every interaction is an opportunity for success - a win is a win no matter how small. #smartsocialization

Every morning for the last 30+ days we’ve ventured out around Newmarket with Jax. His parents have been ill so they reached out for support, and we fit him in without hesitation! ——— Some days these two have their act together and decide to walk nicely, other days they get all silly and we have to work the basics. Every dog, no matter their age and history, is always a work in progress. The key is consistency! 🤗