I am so proud of this girl’s progress…
Puja was a pushy and anxious dog. She was unsure of what to do and when to do it. Now, not only does she understand her commands, she also understands when she’s working, and she happily takes direction. Holding a dog accountable does not mean taking away their joy. It means defining work time and play time and letting them experience both of those things. And many breeds are working dogs and thrive when they work and have a purpose.
Tunnel of Love…
During the last pack walk we practiced the “Tunnel of Love”. The handler walking down the middle has the dog focus on them. The people on the side try and distract the dog walking down the middle while keeping their dogs calm on the sidelines. Everyone did well here, dog going down the center, people on the side and their dogs. Special shout out to Cerri for getting everyone to turn it up a notch.
Coming out of her shell…
It is so much fun to see Sasha come out of her shell. She started a few weeks ago terrified of everything. Through confidence building, desensitization, and exposure to scary things, she is starting to move through life less scared and more engaged with people and dogs. She is starting to love her best life!
More confidence building….
After @canineprofessionals
I am super motivated after attending the @canineprofessionals conference to be a better mom to my dogs. So often, the focus is on the client dogs, and I like to carve out time for my dogs. Here I am playing with one of my dogs, while the other two have to remain in place. Each dog got their playtime with their preferred method of play, either fetch or tug. They all did great.
How to help a dog get over their fear - Desensitization
Desensitization is defined as a treatment or process that diminishes emotional responsiveness to a negative, aversive, or positive stimulus after repeated exposure.
By slowly exposing the dog to their fear, you can help them get over it.
Dogs walking calmly past one another…
At our last pack walk, we worked on dogs passing by one another calmly and focused on the owner. These guys did an amazing job. All proceeds from this walk went to @ucspca
Impulse control…
Tina, this year old chocolate lab is used to going towards whatever she wants. We are working on her impulse control by asking her to follow me around dogs. She does great and even avoids the poodle with just a warning sound. I am so proud of the progress she is making.
Do dogs make decisions? Do they have choices…
Of course they do. And like people, there are good choices and bad choices. It is up to owners and trainers to teach their dogs how to make good decisions. Here Pearl makes an excellent choice. You can see her wanting to go for the hot dogs but ultimately staying in place. There was no prompting by me in any way. I wanted to see what she would do. Her good choice was rewarded with not only the hot dogs on the ground, but others and some affection. Great job Pearl!!!
Back in school!!
I am so excited to be back with Nelson and his team @thehappyk9training_official . It is like a board and train for trainers. I get to shadow one of the best trainers out there and I always come away with great new tools and drills that help me and my clients. Thank you Happy K-9 team!
Thresholds…
Does your pup understand that even if the door is open, they are not allowed out? This skill can not be underestimated. Here, Charlie is relaxing in down-stay until he is given permission to exit (with a tie back for extra safety). A shout out to Good Wellesley Dog Training for posting great videos and how to guides on this topic!
Dog Training Woodstock Style
Charlie had some issues with anxiety and excitement. So we went into the town of Woodstock and hung out at the drum circle. There was lots of people, noise, and movement and Charlie was a champ. He showed off his down-stay and impressed bystanders and others with dogs who were less than calm. For some of the best training opportunities you need to get creative. Great job Charlie!
Calm around goats
Charlie showed off on the rail trail by chilling in a down-stay around people, dogs, and goats (yes, I said goats). At one point they put out some new hay and all the goats went crazy and Charlie remained in his down-stay. He is on his final week here and I am really going to miss this goofy boy!
Lesson 1 with Charlie’s mom
We had our first lesson with Charlie’s mom. Charlie has been with me for 2 weeks and has one more week to go. He is making such great progress as mom saw during our lesson. After reading “Love Them by Leading Them - Volume 2” by @thegooddogtraining owner Sean O’Shea, she has a great foundation to build their relationship once Charlie goes home. I am so excited by the progress this boy has made in 2 weeks. He went from constant anxiety and unable to be walked to a calm loose leash walking master! Great job boy!
Impulse Control
When Charlie first arrived, he really struggled with impulse control. He could not sit still and if he was still, he was extremely anxious and usually panting. Here he is demonstrating his calm as we sat at the entrance of the Woodstock Flea Market with people and dogs passing by. He even fell asleep for a few minutes. Good job Charlie!
First Meal Outing
Charlie is on his first meal outing @yumyumnoodlebar . This place is great for well behaved dogs. It is outdoors and the staff is super dog friendly. Charlie is doing well learning to just relax, no matter what is going on around him.
Real World Dog Training
When training, we put dogs in the situation they would face every day. Teaching a dog to stay in place is one thing, teaching a dog to hold place with new people, lots of distractions, and food, is another. We focus on putting dogs in situations where they would really struggle at home to teach them how to be calm. Charlie is doing a great job is in place while several people he has never met, eat dinner and socialize.
Socialization
I have said it several times but it is worth repeating, walking dogs is the best type of socialization. Here they interact just by being next to one another. Their goal is to move forward by my side and stay calm. Dogs do not need to go crazy with one another to socialize. In fact, that can turn dangerous in a flash. Walking is safe and by paying attention to me they are exercising the bodies and brains.
Loose Leash Walking…
Hazel (left) came to us for leash reactivity. She would pull as well as chase and bark at cars. Her parents recognized the severity of the issue. After a few lessons she is walking like a champ with her mom and sister. Nice job!
Loose Leash Walking…
Last weekend we had all sorts of dogs join us on our initial rail trail walk. Maple was the youngest of the group and she was showing off her skills with @k9lifeline leash (also known as Heather’s Heroes sidekick). Great job Mom, dad, and Maple!
Our rail trail walks are available to current and former clients.
