The Canine Training Group

17/04/2024

My favorite environment to train recall is on a hike! There are always realistic distractions, if I am specifically working on the recall I’ll keep that my focus. I’ll set a mental clock and recall them about every five minutes or so…

11/04/2024

Stop by! This will be such a great event!

Here it is! Grace Pauley Photography LLC and Four Legs Rehab, LLC present to you the 2nd Annual Swing into Spring!

🌷We have FREE Raffles for everyone who comes
🌷Food trucks all day
🌷Over 50 local vendors!
🌷Equine Education from several great speakers going from 10-4

We are so excited to see everyone April 20th at the Beaverhead County Fairgrounds!

03/04/2024

Introducing Puppy Preschool for the Dillon and surrounding area!

12/02/2024

The more you enjoy solitude, the simpler life becomes🐾

13/10/2023

-Puppy biting at your clothes and shoes-

I understand it can be frustrating in these moments, but instead of raising your voice or telling your puppy "no", try redirecting your puppy instead.

Redirect your puppy on to a toy or a bone, anything that is appropriate for them to chew on. I find redirection to be better because it is natural for dogs, especially puppies to want to chew on things. So we don't want to punish them for it. By redirecting, we are providing them with things that are okay to be chewed.

Other things to try if the behavior continues is to make a loud noise like a clap or hitting a table to interrupt the behavior to let the puppy know you do not want them to continue that behavior!

26/09/2023

Life as a dog trainer is always so boring…

11/09/2023

Modeling is a great way to present something new to your dog!

If you have a solid bond and relationship with your dog, they will follow you. Show them how, by doing it yourself first.

12/06/2023

Play is a a great skill to master for trainers and yes I do believe it is a skill.

Being able to find the type of play that engages and motivates your dog is a process. It takes a lot of observation and trial and error.

Play doesn’t always mean there is a toy involved sometimes just body movement and tone of voice is considered play for dogs.

I love to watch dogs interact with people they know are fun to play with, they always seem so interested in what that person will do next. The dog wants to be a part of whatever activity they are doing. I love to watch that

07/06/2023

One of my favorite things about training dogs is that there is no one, right way of doing things. There are so many different ways to reach an end goal.

I love seeing and learning from the different methods trainers and my clients use to get to the same end product!

And I love switching up my own training methods to match the motivation the dog is showing me.

I can always suggest steps that have been successful in the past for me, but it doesn’t mean it will work for your dog.

07/06/2023

Training in new locations in any aspect of dog training is important. With new locations comes new smells, obstacles, distractions, terrain, wildlife, etc. All of these things are novel to your dog, so when bringing them to a new location expect that they will not perform the same as they would in a place that they frequently train in.

You can plan for this by going back to the basics. Some examples can include:
- If you are wanting to work on recall and you normally train off leash, use a long line in a new environment
- If you are working obedience and do not normally use rewards such as treats or toys, use them in new environments

This clip is an example of that, we are in a new location and have been working on more complex training scenarios such as road crossings, longer ages, adding length and turns. But because I knew this was a novel environment for Max, I set up a straight forward track where I knew she would be successful. Next time when we come back to this spot, I will increase difficulty!

14/03/2023

The best way to socialize and expose your dog, is to live your life and bring them along EVERYWHERE! (except where they are not allowed)

Anything can be a training opportunity, even if they are tied up and just watching.

08/03/2023

Working with your dog everyday is how you truly love your dog.

Spending time with them and providing them with challenges is how you can show them love 💪

24/02/2023

Change can be scary, but ultimately it is necessary for your dog to progress and improve.

The art of change comes from knowing when to change and when not to change up your training.

If your dog is consistently being successful, this is a sign that they are ready for a change in their training. It is time to make it more difficult or introduce something new.

If your dog is consistently not successful, this is also a sign to change your training. But this time you will need to make it easier for your dog or set it up in a different way for them to succeed.

Do not change your training when your dog is continuously progressing and making small improvements. This is a good sign that your dog is being appropriately challenged.

24/01/2023

No one is really a 'natural' naturals have just done the work an unnatural amount.

The key- Find something that doesn't feel like work. Then, work harder than everyone else.

23/01/2023

Here’s how I set up my first couple of tracks with Spark! Before these tracks, I like to make sure I find a toy that the dog loves and then do some drive building.

If you have some extra time and some grass, try it out☺️
pt. 2 coming tomorrow

11/01/2023

It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop...

-Confucius

04/01/2023

Why are some dog's protective?
-They've been encouraged or rewarded for it in the past (even if it was subconscious)
-It's genetic
-They are scared, nervous, or anxious and you are their safe place

21/12/2022

Drive v. Instincts

DRIVE: Motivation. Strong, compelling, almost irresistible urge that spurs a dog to perform an action.
INSTINCTS: Ability. Natural abilities a dog is born with that allows it to perform a task without having to learn how to.

Learning to incorporate and understand both will benefit your training!

14/12/2022

Does a wagging trail mean a happy dog?

Not necessarily…
To a dog a wagging tail is just a form of communication. It can mean they are excited, happy, anxious, threatened, or submissive.

So if you are walking past a dog with it’s tail wagging, it is not an invitation to pet it. Always ask the owner before you pet and always read the rest of their body language!

08/12/2022

Our dogs may not be able to talk about the places they've been or what they've experienced, but their confidence and behavior show it.

15/11/2022

-What to do when your puppy keeps biting you-

1. Redirect the puppy onto a toy. This way you are offering your puppy something that is appropriate for them to bite and chew on.
2. Make a noise as though their bite really hurt you, you can use "ow" or "ah".
This is how puppies communicate with their littermates, by yipping. This is a good way for us to tell our puppies they were taking it too far. When doing this, do not be afraid to over exaggerate.

It is important that you don't yell or raise your voice at your dog when they are trying to bite you. It may work in the moment, but you may be causing fear and defensiveness in your puppy. This could make the biting problem even worse.

11/11/2022

My goal in these videos is to build Nick’s drive!

What is drive? Prey drive is a dog’s instinct to hunt and capture their prey. The toy signifies their prey. So when I am trying to build a puppies drive I will connect the toy (I try to start with a toy that is softer on their teeth) to a long line or a leash, this is so that the toy becomes more prey like. The line also helps to ensure that I remain part of the fun instead the puppy trying to play keep away from me! Later the toy on the long line will become a toy on a rope and so on.

It is important to keep a session like this short, one of the goals of this is to build their drive and playing for too long can cause them to lose interest altogether!

10/11/2022

Does your dog know/respond to their name?

If not there may be a few reasons why:

1. They may not know their name!
* Most of the time when we get a pet, we name them and sooner or later they catch on. But there is a more reliable why we can teach a dog their name.
* You can do this by saying their name, waiting for eye contact and reward. As always start really close to each other and gradually make it harder. I would do this with an older shelter dog too just to be safe!
2. You may be saying their name too much.
* When repeat yourself in training scenarios or real life scenarios, you are watering down whatever word you are repeating. This includes sit, down, and even their name. If you repeatedly say it and your dog only responds the tenth time, their name is losing value.
* Try only saying things once and waiting for the desired behavior. If they don’t listen, don’t reward and move on to something else!

08/11/2022

How do you let your dog out of the crate?

A common mistake I see is people approaching their crated or kenneled dog with a lot of excitement
BUT, I encourage you to try approaching this situation with a very neutral, calm attitude.

We want to teach our dogs that being in the crate and being separated is just part of life. By coming up to them with high energy, we are showing them the opposite.

We also want them to see their crate as a safe, calm place for them to rest in. When approaching their crate in a neutral way, they are more likely to match your demeanor.

03/11/2022

Decide that wherever you are, is the best place there is

Dogs are the best models of living in the moment and being present. They have the ability to only be concerned with what’s happening right now. It makes it very easy for me to be present when I’m around them!

24/10/2022

Kids are a great way to socialize your puppy!

Kids are quick and sudden with their movements which can cause loud noises and chaos. They also are less gentle when it comes to handling.

All of these things are great for exposure, especially for young puppies and especially if you plan on having children or plan on being around children.

01/10/2022

What is one lesson your dog has taught you ?

Share something you dog has taught you down below!! Dogs have taught me a lot, but one that sticks out is to live in the moment and not take things too seriously. It does not matter if you fail, learn from it and try again...

13/09/2022

Are you a do-it-yourself kind of person or a take it to the groomer kind of person?

26/08/2022

SNEAK PEEK of the Loose Leash Online Course!

If your dog is really interested in smelling the grass (or snow) while you are working on a loose leash, try training it on a hard surface first. Then blend in the grass (or snow) by weaving on and off the hard surface. Gradually build duration of time spent on the grass!

For more information on the Loose Leash, check out the online course🦮🦮