The Canine Training Group

25/02/2025

Board and train Everest goes home!

Before I took her home, we went to a pet-friendly store for her last session. This session I knew would be a challenge for her because it combined all the skills she has been working on with me!

The goal:
- Engagement/focus
- Loose leash
- Neutrality with people
- Exposure

At the beginning of the session, she struggled to engage. This was to be expected with all the distractions. So we started in a back corner, where it was quieter. As she spent more time in the store, she became more comfortable.

After I dropped off Everest, I had a lesson with the mini poodle Cali, at the end of the session she wanted to eat all the crumbs from my pocket.

Then I had a lesson with Tango. We’ve been working on the heel position!

14/02/2025

I had a few lessons in Dillon, MT. For all of my Dillon clients I try to make it down there at least once a week!! I even had some new clients with Mini Poodles that are working on some house manners. On the way home, I worked on some exposure with Everest. She is a pretty anxious dog, so I chose to do this session at busier place, but at a distance from all the chaos.

We started with some engagement: Rewarding her for eye contact without asking her for anything. This is how I like to start most sessions.

Then we started working on loose leash in the parking lot!

In the beginning of loose leash training, a little back is to keep your movements unpredictable. Change speed and directions. Slowly your dog will start looking up to you to see what crazy thing you will do next!

11/02/2025

Another recall session with Everest! Today I used an e-collar for the session. My client wanted to make the tone of an e-collar Everest’s recall cue.

Many e-collars have different amounts of pressure (tone, vibrate, and shock) and various levels of that pressure. From the first session and spending a couple of days with her I could tell she was going to be sensitive. So I started at the tone and never needed to go higher than that.

How I start e-collar training for recall:
-Go to an open area with the dog on a long line
-Give the dog your recall cue (tone for Everest)
-If the dog is not actively facing me or coming back to you, add pressure (the amount of pressure you add is based on the dog, I always like to start as low as possible)
-When the dog is facing and moving toward you, remove all of the pressure (this is the most important step in e-collar training)
-When they get back to you. REWARD

08/02/2025

This is the first training session for Everest! As I mentioned she is here to improve her recall, so I like to use this first lesson to see how her recall is before we start working on it together.

During this session, I like to make a mental note if there are things she gets distracted by, if there are moments where she completely ignores me, or if there is anything that freaks her out. These are all things that I will keep in mind when setting up her future sessions.

After Everest finished her walk, I took Ruby and Max out too. I do not like to have my dogs present during the board and train lessons because it is an unnecessary distraction. I may use them later on if there is something we are specifically working on!

07/02/2025

First day with board and train, Everest!
She is a springer spaniel/border collie mix that has come for some work on her recall and to get some exposure…

Everest was pretty nervous when she first arrived at my house. The signs she showed me: consistently pulling away from me on the leash and panting.

I kept her on a leash in the house for a bit. This is a good hack for dogs that are uncomfortable or stressed. Having them on the leash makes their world a little smaller, which helps ease them in.

This is a big reason why I like to keep the first few days light and slow. This schedule allows them to settle into a new routine. Even though I am keeping her first few days light and slow, I do not change my schedule. She still came everywhere with me. On drives, around while we played some games, and cooked dinner. I just made sure I did not ask her for much or expect much from her.

29/01/2025

🌨️

With a new dog I try my best to take treats everywhere with me, you never know when a training opportunity may come up. Recall is something I reward for EVERY TIME when I get a new dog.

12/12/2024

A little dog in a big, big world

Holly is taking it all in 👀 and getting a lot of exposure while doing it!

09/12/2024

05/12/2024

—How to introduce your new puppy to your cat—

A while back I posted about how to introduce your new kitten to your dog. Now we are going to be flipping it and talk about bringing in a new puppy to meet your cat!

This one, in my opinion, is a lot easier because cats are really good about having boundaries and making it known what their boundaries are.

So I typically just let the puppy go and let them meet organically. If the puppy ever gets to be too much for the cat, they either let the puppy know or they just remove themselves from the situation!

04/12/2024

The greatest teacher I know is the job itself
-James Cash Penny

I have learned A LOTTTT (seriously) from other people, but nothing compares to just doing it. Messing something up and figuring out how to fix it myself. The experience is priceless...

28/10/2024

—PLAY—
“[In the wild] engaging in play allows animals to experiment without dangerous consequences. The unwritten code of conduct surrounding play lets them explore many possible outcomes”

-Excerpt from Why Animals Play by Caitlyn O’Connell

26/10/2024

Serotonin: Mood stabilizer that improves sleep, reduces anxiety, and increases happiness☺️

To stimulate YOUR serotonin: Go for a walk outside and get some sunshine

To stimulate YOUR DOG’S serotonin: Let them rest after exercise or play. Either by cuddling up with them on the couch or letting them have some crate time

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🐾