Got Dog Training

18/05/2023

Dogs are super good at picking up on things we don’t even notice. They can sense when we’re feeling scared, nervous, or even just a bit off. And guess what? They can react to that!

Here’s how it works:

Body language: Dogs can tell if we’re acting all stiff, making sudden moves, or seem really tense. When they see that, they might think something’s wrong or dangerous, and they might start barking or growling.
Smells: Dogs have an amazing sense of smell. They can even detect the different smells our bodies give off when we’re feeling worried or stressed. So if we’re feeling anxious, our smell might change a bit, and dogs can sense that. It might make them feel like there’s something bad going on and make them react.
Special chemicals: We release these special chemicals called pheromones when we’re scared or upset. Dogs can actually smell them too! So if we’re feeling scared, our pheromone levels might change, and dogs can pick up on that. It could make them think there’s a reason to be on high alert and act defensively.
Heartbeat: Dogs can even hear changes in our heartbeat. When we’re scared, our heart beats faster. Dogs are really good at noticing these small changes, and it can make them think that something dangerous is happening. So they might get all reactive.
Remember, dogs have different personalities just like people do. Some might get reactive more easily than others, and some might not react at all. But it’s important for us to stay calm and relaxed when we’re around dogs. That way, they’re less likely to feel threatened and react.

If you’re ever unsure about how to behave around a dog or if you have a dog that’s reactive, it’s best to ask a professional dog trainer for help. They can give you the right tips to stay safe and have a good time with dogs!

20/03/2023

0 Likes, 0 Comments - J. Alexander Lewis: Head of the Got Dog Family (.dei.cani) on Instagram: "Let me say this for the folks in the back. Practice, practice, practice. . . . . . . . ..."

08/03/2023

Before you work your dog offleash, work them on leash by just dropping it. It’s best to use a long line in case they decide they want to take off especially if your dog is fast lol.

I’m just building up and layering what he knows already…SIT(implied stay) Heel, and Come…and just tying all of those together. Also notice I’m not doing huge distances, I don’t want too much space between us where he can get distracted midway. Once he gets to me for the heel or the recall I make make sure to reward.

As you see he failed the walk around test…which means I don’t try it again…I take a step back. So often people want to try over and over again the task or command that their dog failed at completing…that’s not what you should do. You should go back a step and reinforce those behavior’s over and over again …so in this case I start with a food lure and use it to hold Ace in place while I walk around him then mark and reward. Then I practice a few more times while holding the leash and end the sessions on a positive note, never end a training session on a fail.

08/03/2023

There are several benefits to using a dog crate, including:

Provides a safe and secure space for your dog: A dog crate can provide a secure and comfortable space for your dog to retreat to when they need to feel safe or want to relax.
Prevents destructive behavior: Dogs may chew on furniture, shoes, or other household items when left alone. A crate can help prevent destructive behavior by keeping your dog confined to a safe space.
Housebreaking: Crate training can aid in housebreaking your dog by teaching them to control their bladder and bowels.
Traveling: A crate can provide a familiar and safe environment for your dog when traveling in a car or airplane.
Vet visits: Your dog may feel more comfortable and less anxious in a crate during vet visits.
Training: Crate training can help with obedience training and prevent problem behaviors like excessive barking or jumping.
Prevents injuries: Keeping your dog in a crate can prevent them from injuring themselves by getting into hazardous situations or ingesting toxic substances

06/03/2023

Stop Allowing Doggy Daycares and Dog Parks to do all the work in Fulfilling your dogs needs.

If your dog always has more fun with other dogs, and your only interaction with them is a boring walk while you text, or snuggles on the couch…of course they are going to react when they see other dogs…other dogs are the only exciting part of their lives.

Most people take their dogs to Doggy Daycare so that their dogs can be tired when they get home from work. And that’s fine…but if you’re not also putting in the time to engage with your dog don’t be shocked when they ignore you out in public.

Dogs, just like people gravitate to whatever is the most intriguing and engaging. But if we leave it up to something or someone else to engage with our dog or our person…they’re going to gravitate towards that.

If your dog sees another dog and it catches its eye, but you bounce a ball and it loves playing ball more…they’ll choose you. If your man is playing video games and you walk by him naked…they’ll choose you(hopefully). If you ask you girl to do something with her whether it be go to Target or Starbucks, or anything engaging….they’ll drop their phones 🤷🏽‍♂️. You’re not getting the attention you want because you left it up to someone or something else to provide engagement….now they’re just not that into you 🤷🏽‍♂️

06/03/2023

Building on those Duration Sit Stays, now we’re releasing from a distance.

Now that he understands to Sit and Stay. I’m teaching him to come to me once he’s released. I do this by making sure I’m worth engaging. I backpedal and offer the reward so that coming to me is of value. Also teaching him to place will be that much easier because he’s already learned the concept of staying until being released.

Mom told me yesterday that he gets so rowdy, she goes to bed early just so she can get away from him and be able to relax…so we want him to have a strong place so he’s not harassing her all the time.

Don’t know if you’ve noticed but he’s been wearing an e collar for days now. She has a big property and wants full control over him. We’re still not using it yet, because we have a few more commands he has to learn, and he needs to understand them fully prior to introducing the e collar. He’s coming along and I hope you all are getting something of value by watching him be trained from beginning to end. I should have made this a series. I might start a series once I start e collar training.

Got.Dog, Got.Family

03/03/2023

If your dog is showing signs of behavioral problems like resource guarding or anxiety…it may be time to change some things around the house.

If your dog has anxiety, especially separation anxiety it’s time to teach them to be secure by themselves. Start by limiting couch time, and bed time. Start place training and crate training your dog when you’re home. Don’t allow your dog to follow you all around the house, and to sleep with you in the bed.

Is your dog resource guarding? Are you leaving food out all day? Do you pet your dog for hrs while you sit on the couch? Does your dog have free roam of the house and gets to jump on the couch whenever they choose, or jump on the bed. Do you constantly leave toys laying around the house?

Don’t be afraid to set boundaries and limitations. Your dog will respect you more, and learn to follow your lead.

But don’t take my word for it, try it yourself

If you Got.Dog, you Got.Family

03/03/2023

We’ve taught him to follow, we’ve taught him marker words, we taught him to engage, and we’ve taught him to engage while following…Now we teach him to Heel.

The only word we’ve incorporated thus far is Yes. This is what I mean by layering. Everything leads into the next.

If you notice he likes to walk and throw his but out especially for the sit. I added on leash pressure to help guide him into the right position, and to get him to sit immediately without throwing dat a*z out.

When teaching heel, imagine there’s an imaginary box or square next to your heel side leg, and it’s your job to keep his front legs in that square. This is where walking in a circle and cutting him off comes in handy it helps put him back into the right position. Also when I’m looking for him to sit and he swings his butt out, I lure him back into the right position, mark and reward. Last but not least I’m using upwards leash pressure to activate the sit motion, and as soon as that butt starts going down I realize pressure. Then I mark and reward as soon as that b***y hits the floor.

01/03/2023

Have you ever wondered why pressure is used in dog training? Well, just like all animals, dogs have the ability to adapt to their environment in order to survive and thrive. Pressure is simply a way to communicate what we want from our furry friends, and they will always do what’s best to better their position in life.

But how do dogs respond to pressure? There are four main responses: fight, flight, freeze, or compliance. And whichever one they give into is what will be reinforced. That’s why it’s so important to use pressure appropriately and with positive reinforcement, so that we can help our dogs learn and grow in a safe and effective way.

So remember, training your dog with pressure is not about being harsh or controlling - it’s about working together to help them become the best version of themselves. With patience, love, and a bit of pressure, you can help your best friend reach their full potential and lead a happy, healthy life.

You Got.Dog, You Got.Family

22/02/2023

Recall training is a critical component of any dog's training, as it can ultimately save their life. A well-trained dog will come when called, no matter the circumstance, which can be a lifesaving ability if they find themselves in danger. For example, if a dog accidentally gets off-leash or wanders away from their owner while hiking or exploring, a strong recall can help the dog return safely and avoid dangerous situations.

Moreover, recall training provides an added level of safety and security for dogs and their owners. If a dog sees something that scares them or encounters a potentially dangerous situation, their owner can call them back immediately and keep them out of harm's way.

On a more practical level, recall training also enhances the bond between a dog and their owner. A dog who comes back to their owner consistently when called shows that they have trust and respect for their owner, and it can make them feel more secure in their relationship. It can also make for a more enjoyable experience for both the dog and their owner, as they can go on more adventures and have more freedom to explore and play.

In conclusion, recall training is not only a matter of convenience but also a critical safety measure that can save a dog's life. A well-trained dog who comes when called demonstrates trust, respect, and a strong bond with their owner. Therefore, investing time and effort into recall training is an essential component of responsible dog ownership.

22/02/2023

Training and structure are essential elements for a dog’s wellbeing and development. While some may view them as restrictive, in reality, they provide a foundation for a dog’s freedom and enrichment. By providing structure, dogs learn what is expected of them, which gives them confidence in their environment. Furthermore, proper training allows dogs to develop good behavior and manners, making them more enjoyable and trustworthy companions.

With proper training and structure, a dog’s world can expand in ways that were previously unimaginable. A well-trained dog can go almost anywhere with their owner and enjoy a variety of experiences. They can visit new places, meet new people, and interact with other dogs, all while staying safe and under control. The more enriched a dog’s life, the happier and healthier they are, and this can ultimately lead to a stronger bond between the dog and their owner. So, investing in training and structure for a dog is not only beneficial for the dog but also for their owner, as it can lead to a more enjoyable and fulfilling relationship.

(Drone footage by )

20/02/2023

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Co0LzY6ph89/?igshid=MjkzY2Y1YTY=

42 Likes, 7 Comments - J. Alexander Lewis: Head of the Got Dog Family (.dei.cani) on Instagram: "Let your dog get acclimated to wearing your E Collar before you start pressing buttons. Let them become acclimated to how it feels. If you let them wear it for a while before using it, once you star...

19/02/2023

🐺A clicker is a small handheld device that makes a distinct clicking sound when pressed. It is often used as a marker in dog training to signal to the dog that they have performed a desired behavior, and that a reward is on its way. Clickers are often used in positive reinforcement training, where the dog is rewarded for good behavior.

🐶 A remote E collar is a device used to communicate with dogs at a distance, which can also be equipped with features such as vibration or an audible tone to signal to the dog. It uses a mild form of electronic stimulation, sometimes called "stim," to get the dog's attention or to reinforce a desired behavior. In combination with positive reinforcement training, it can be a valuable tool for improving a dog's behavior.

♠️ A slip leash, also known as a slip lead, is a type of leash that adds pressure to the dog's neck when tension is applied to the leash. It is often used for training purposes, such as teaching a dog to comply with commands using the "pressure on, pressure off" technique. This involves applying pressure to the leash to signal a command, and then releasing the pressure when the dog complies. By using the slip leash in this way, the dog learns to associate the pressure with the desired behavior, and learns to respond to the command more reliably.

🐕 A prong collar, also known as a pinch collar, is a type of collar that uses prongs to add pressure to the dog's neck when tension is applied to the leash. It is often used as a corrective training tool for dogs that pull or exhibit other unwanted behaviors. The prongs on the collar help to distribute the pressure more evenly, which can help to use less force to apply pressure compared to a traditional flat collar. Additionally, the prong collar can be controlled more easily, allowing for more precise and effective corrections when used correctly.

🐩 Food is often used in dog training as a reward, and it can also be used as a lure to teach a dog basic obedience commands, such as sit or down. Using food as a lure involves holding a piece of food in front of the dog's nose and guiding the dog into the desired position. The food is then used as a reward once the dog has successfully performed the behavior.

17/02/2023

♠️Dog trainers set these guidelines and these rules so often, with no real purpose other than “we said so” and you “your dog needs structure” and of course “you are the pack leader”…

🐺But there’s more to it. These little tiny things, help the bigger picture. It’s really not just all about, “controlling your dog”…but yet it’s more about giving your dog the mental tools to be able to thrive in todays society. Of course teaching your dog not to run out the door will help keep it from getting hit by a car(an example dog trainers always use”…but it will also help teach your dog not to give in to their urges.

♠️This is how to teach your dog will power! Do you think Obi Wan can’t smell his food, just because he stopped looking at it, do you think he’s not drooling, do you think he doesn’t want to eat his food…immediately! Of course he does…now replace the food with a squirrel, replace the food with another dog or a person….when you teach your dog to stop chasing squirrels…that innate response to want to chase the squirrel doesn’t go away. Yet we can teach them…hey…just cuz you want to doesn’t mean you should or you have to!

🐺I don’t have to tell Obi to not eat his food, he just knows that if I put food down…he needs to wait until he’s told to eat. If I open a crate door he knows he’s supposed to wait, if I open a door he knows he’s supposed to wait…soo if he sees another dog guess what he does…looks at me to see if he has permission to engage.

♠️So when you find a dog trainer and they tell you…make sure they sit at the doors, make sure they wait when you open the crate, make them sit for their food…it’s not just to practice sitting, and it’s not just so your dog won’t run out the house. It’s because your pup ultimately needs to understand…you can just do everything you want to, just cause you want to.

But don’t take my word for it, try it yourself.

You Got Dog, You Got Family
It’s 1:59 now…sorry for the rant goodnight

16/02/2023

When you call your dogs to come

9 Likes, 12 Comments - J. Alexander Lewis: Head of the Got Dog Family (.dei.cani) on Instagram: "At some point in dog Ownership life, we’ve all been there. 😂😂😂 This is why recall is so important, and why have a great bond and relationship is even more important. Even when playing or ...

03/02/2023

Working with Fearful Dogs

J. Alexander Lewis: Head of the Got Dog Family shared a post on Instagram: "This is actually after a couple of days. All previous days I had to sit in a chair while hand feeding her, today is the first day she ate her whole meal with me standing up. We’re trying to keep Lola in her foster/adopters...

02/11/2022

Welcome Willow to the Family.