Student Appreciation Post: Nikki & Rosie attended their first ever agility trial today. They've been working with me in Fun Agility class for close to a year, and before that they also participated in Trick class at Premier Dog Sports & Event Center, LLC . While it's a big accomplishment to begin trialing (competing), they took it a step further and went 4/4 qualifying runs in Jumpers and Tunnelers, for a perfect first trial day!!! That's absolutely amazing!!! 🐾🤩🐾 Hard work & dedication pays off!! Rosie was a nervous little dog when we first met, and today she handled the trial environment like a pro and ran beautifully. Way to go Team Rosie!!! 🌹💕
Sometimes, taking a step back is all you need. When your dog is struggling with something new, you should ask yourself, "how can I help them to succeed?" Sometimes the answer is going back to the start; if there are holes in the foundation, the end behavior won't be solid.
We are reshaping our "hold" cue because what we started with was not working for the goals I had for Cranberry. After a little patience and refocusing on the fundamentals, we finally accomplished a nice smooth "burrito" trick. While we're working on tricks here, this applies to any area of training.
If at first you don't succeed, go back to the basics, and ensure your foundation is strong before you build on it. It never hurts to brush up on the basics 🐾🐾
As a multi dog household we have to ensure we meet all the dogs energy requirements. I like doing group sessions, but it is also necessary to work with dogs individually; and during this time I work on "stay" with the others not involved. This way all the time spent training is constructive for everyone, regardless of if it's "their" turn.
Short snip it of me working on Cranberry's "burrito" trick, this is a brand new trick for us, but even as she's flailing around all the other dogs stay. Don't mind Storm in the crate with the door closed, she got really muddy outside just before we started or she would have been out staying too 😂
Flynn Ryder was deemed impossible to walk by most of his family. But after completing one session of classes, and making great strides with their homework, Flynn is back for round two to continue his growth. And just look at him go! Not only has Flynn's confidence grown, so have all the members of the household. I love love love when everyone wants to participate in training ❤️
Teaching your dog how to handle having their nails trimmed is just as important as teaching your dog how to sit or stay! Starting young is always a huge advantage. You want to make the grooming experience enjoyable and positive for the dog, this way it's not a life long battle. Even if you don't cut your dog's nail yourself; investing time in desensitizing them to touch on their feet, ears, etc is also essential and your vet/groomer will thank you.
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Tip: a lickimat with some high valued treat like wet food or peanut butter goes a long way in helping teach your pup that nail trims are fun! (Noting I had already clipped the nail, I just went in with the dremel here)
How to make something old into something new. I'd call these some advanced puppy push ups 😂
Can you switch your dog "off" when you need to? Constructive play is important, and a great way to work in some training and still have fun with your dog!
Featured in Cranberry, she's my crazy, always excited, little deaf dog. She has a beautiful off switch and can seamlessly switch from work to play mode with only hand signals. Play with your dog, but make sure they know when play time is over!
The only limitation is your imagination! You can teach your dog to do anything you want! You just have to dedicate the time, be patient and be consistent. Trust your dog and believe in yourself 🐾🐾
My newest trick with Bindi is teaching her to ride a skateboard, and it's been a lot of fun! Want to learn how to teach your dog cool new tricks? Join us at Premier Dog Sports & Event Center, LLC on Thursday evenings. Drop in classes available for $20. Ask for details 🐾🐾
❤️🤍💙 I hope everyone had a fun and safe holiday weekend! ❤️🤍💙
This is Bruce! **He is looking for his owner** after wandering into my yard late on Friday night. He appears to be young dog and has likely had very little training other than "sit." So I thought I would showcase my temporary foster dog learning some new things while he's here. This is only our second short training session and he's already learning down, stay, look and puppy push ups.
Bruce is here to remind you that a little goes a long way 🌟 I find it's easier, especially with younger dogs, to work with them in short 5-10 minute sessions multiple times a day if you're able (at least until you build up your dogs overall attention span).
**If you know who this guy belongs to, please don't hesitate to contact me (716) 201-2092**
We haven't posted a fun trick video in awhile! Here's one of the newest things we've been working on in an effort to incorporate more props into our trick training; introducing the Barrel Roll with Bindi! We will be teaching all levels of tricks from beginner to advanced at Premier Dog Sports & Event Center, LLC starting June 17th!
⭐ Dog training is a family affair ⭐
The more involved everyone is with the dog, the better! Whether you live with a roommate, partner, or children it's ideal to have everyone take part in training to some degree. It will not only strengthen the bond between said person and the dog, but it will help shape a well rounded dog who accepts commands from anyone. When you have multiple people under one roof it's even more important to make sure everyone is on the same page; I always encourage anyone willing to participate in class to join us, adults and children alike!
Featured is Coco the golden retriever puppy with the young and talented, Lilly. Just goes to show that you're never to young to get involved!
⭐ Crate training is essential ⭐
But that doesn't mean it has to be boring! The crate doesn't have to used solely for bedtime and/or when you leave the house. Crate games are a fun and engaging way to incorporate crate training into your dogs routine. We even feed the dogs in their crates, not just because some of them eat slow, but because it adds a positive association to the crate as well.
Featured is Cranberry, my 1 year old deaf pit/cattle dog mix. We added some distance to our game this time. Can you spot the hand signals we use? ✊ A fist for "sit", ☝️index finger for "stay", and🤚flat hand parallel with the ground for "down" and 👍 for "yes" or "good job"
Is walking your dog outside difficult? Is your dog easily distracted? Do you struggle to maintain their attention when you're outside?
If you struggle to maintain focus outside, try doing it indoors to start! There are many distractions outside between various sights and smells, and without some focus, the chances of success dwindle. Try leashing your dog and working on that heel inside where there are less foreign distractions. While your dog might look at you with a confused expression at the idea of being walked in the house, usually a pocketful of treats will get them moving! Of course you're not going to walk for miles indoors, but you can set the criteria you want to follow outside. I like to focus on lots of eye contact, an auto sit when I pause, and a tight heel. You can choose the criteria you wish to follow, but I highly recommend teaching a heel position where the dog walks at your side. As always, be consistent with whatever criteria you set for the dog.
Bonus, if you're a multi dog household you can try and keep your other dogs on "place" while you work with another. It's a nice way to incorporate everyone, while working on patience with the bystanders. Here's a clip of Bindi and I are working on our off leash heel; we added the additional distractions of my boys; Beau, Hank, and Sky on "place" and apparently Oscar the cat decided he'd hang out too!
How does your dog handle people entering the home? Will they still accept commands? Can they control their impulse to jump?
Door etiquette is essential whether you have one dog or seven. Dogs should not be permitted to bombard or jump on people entering the home. One of the best ways to deter jumping is by making your dog wait until they are told they can get up.
While the dogs are waiting, I engage in a quick exchange of words with Luke, a simple "hi, how was your day?" This is something anyone would do with someone who comes over, we greet them. This typically requires us to take our eyes off the dog(s) while we converse, and as you can see with Pearl, some dogs will take this as an opportunity to break prematurely. The dog should promptly be redirected into their original position before carrying on. We do not want our dog to become accustomed to breaking early and getting away with it.
This can be a tricky stay as it requires a fair amount of impulse control and a strong comprehension of the "stay" command, but if you spend the time making it a habit for your dog, the end result is something that will instantly impress all your guests.
Pro tip: start with people the dog(s) know, people that are "less" exciting. I wouldn't recommend trying to start this on Thanksgiving when you have a multitude of fresh new or uncommon faces coming over. Consistency is key, make it a habit for the dog.
Puppy Training on Place & Stay
Featured Pup Beau: Rollover
Easter Egg Hunt: Dog Edition
