Mission Impawsible Dog Training, LLC

02/04/2024

Training Tip Tuesday: Socialization!
Another fun collaboration we did with Doggie Drawings by Lili Chin! Socialization is one of the best investments we can make to help our puppies grow into resilient adult dogs. Remember that exposure alone isn't socialization, puppies should be having positive experiences with new things!

If you need help socializing your puppy, Paws Abilities has lots of opportunities to meet the needs of different schedules and budgets!

🐶 Puppy Class: For puppies 7-20 weeks of age. At only $40 for 4 weeks, puppy class is a steal of a deal. Puppies get to play, explore new surfaces, make friends, and get a head start on training. Each week has a different theme: at home, at the vet, at the groomer, at the pet store, etc.
💙 Oronoco: https://paws4u.dogbizpro.com/public/registration/index.aspx?cls=103
💛 Inver Grove Heights: https://paws4u.dogbizpro.com/public/registration/index.aspx?cls=104

⭐ AKC STAR Puppy: For puppies under 1 year of age. This 6 week class is more in depth at covering the basics of puppy ownership. Puppies still get playtime, with more structured training. It's the perfect step between Puppy Class and Beginning Obedience.
💛 Inver Grove Heights: https://paws4u.dogbizpro.com/public/registration/index.aspx?cls=329

🐢 Teenage Transformations: For 5-24 month old puppies. This class is for puppies who missed out on important socialization and are timid or overly excited in new places
💙 Oronoco: https://paws4u.dogbizpro.com/public/registration/index.aspx?cls=348
💛 Inver Grove Heights: https://paws4u.dogbizpro.com/public/registration/index.aspx?cls=275

⛺Puppy Camp: For puppies under 6 months old. Puppies are dropped off once a week to work with a professional trainer. The trainer socializes them to various surfaces, sounds, objects, and handling. The trainer also takes them on field trips and supervises puppy play time
https://pawsabilitiesmn.com/puppy-camp/

💼 Canine to Five: Open to all ages. 3 times a week, a professional trainer comes to your home to work with your puppy 1:1. The trainer will also work with the family once a week to make sure they understand how to maintain the training. We offer specific packages for socialization as well as obedience and specialty behavior packages.
https://pawsabilitiesmn.com/canine-to-five/

01/03/2024

25/01/2024

NOW BOOKING!

Do you have a puppy or dog that could use some manners? Send them to us! Boarding and training is the quickest and most intensive training program we offer.

Everyday your dog will get the care and attention they require to learn their new skills. This consistency of training provides a structure for success, as the cues can be reinforced during multiple training sessions per day to benefit the dog.

Your dog will have fun while they play, exercise AND, learn. With hands-on training sessions and loads of enrichment each day, your dog will have the best learning environment to thrive as they work to meet their training goals.

13/01/2024

😂

09/01/2024

Just a photo dump! 🙂

29/12/2023

If a dog is repeatedly not following a cue, it's important we don't decide they are being 'stubborn'. Dogs are not stubborn because they choose to be.

It may be that they haven't actually learned the cue properly.

They may be feeling unwell.

There may be distractions in the environment that mean they can't concentrate and respond to the cue.

The reward on offer might not be motivating enough for them in that moment.

Look at the environment for distractions, look at the coaching history to see if the cue has been fully established and proofed in the wider world, and look at the value of the rewards you are offering.

03/11/2023

Do you have a naughty dog? Lets put your pup on the nice list this year. We currently have openings for our Board & Train Program. Please message or call us for details. (304) 988-5599

Providing pain-free & science-based training methods. We do not use any physical corrections.

13/05/2023

22/03/2023

Awesome outlook on food reinforcers!

I still feel confused at times as to why there is still such a pushback to using food to train your dog.
“When will I not have to use it anymore?”
“Will I always have to have food on me?”
“Won’t he then become obsessed with all food?”
“I want him to do it because he loves me, not because I have food”
“Using food is cheating”
“Using food means you’re bribing not training”
“Using food will make my dog fat”
“I never had to use food with my last dog.”

These are all just some of the insane things I’ve heard and still hear. And it makes me crazy because I can’t imagine saying these things to my employees.
“When will I not have to pay you anymore?”
“If I pay you are you going to just become obsessed with money?”
“I really want you to work for me because you love me, not because I pay you”

Food is a tool. It is a TOOL. And just like any tool it can be used well or used poorly, but it’s one of the only tools in dog training that I hear more myths about than any other. And that’s unfortunate because when used properly it does so many good things -

Food is a primary reinforcer and for most dogs it’s the most valuable thing they can get. This makes it enormously powerful when trying to teach them how to do something new and/or complicated. That doesn’t mean they don’t appreciate a pet on the head, but they’d rather have the food and there’s NOTHING wrong with that. Just like you’d rather be paid in dollars rather than chocolate bars.

Food is fast. It’s easy to deliver, portable, and also variable in value (kibble vs cheese) so it’s very flexible also depending on your level and stage of training.

Food can help create powerful positive associations for dogs as well as counter condition negative associations they already have because of its value to them. Using food in the presence of other dogs, people and environments helps your dog have a positive association with them and this in and of itself is incredibly powerful. That’s something I don’t think we consider nearly enough when training our dogs even when they’ve past the learning phase.

Food does not have to make your dog a beggar, fat, or totally dependent on it. The context in which you deliver it, the way you ration out the food - treats vs meals and healthy choices - and also the way you cue the dog when training all help alleviate these issues.

I pay my dogs regularly and have no shame in that. As they get better at skills I ask them to work harder or longer for the pay just like as adults we have to work a full week or two before we get our paychecks. I use higher value for harder things - just like you like to get paid time and a half when you work Christmas, and lower value for easy stuff. I watch to make sure my dogs hope for the reward but don’t expect it and don’t take it personally when they’d rather come back to me for cheese instead of a pet. I focus on the fact that they came back.

Getting paid at work is a big reinforcer for us but it’s also not the only reason we go is it? The relationships you have with your coworkers, the pride you have in your job etc are all intricate parts of your motivation, but that takes TIME to build, and at first it’s usually just for the pay. Same with training your dog. At first, yes, it’s for the food, but as you continue and do it right it becomes more about the teamwork, the fun and the relationship, not just the pay. And THAT’S what I wish more people understood. Over time your dog will work often without food for you because he truly enjoys it now, and he’s been reinforced by the relationship and countless reinforcements over time. But you have to put that time and patience in first to get there. And it’s worth it. I promise.
-Helen St. Pierre

02/10/2022

A little rain couldn’t stop us from loose lead walking.

10/09/2022

Don’t Use Plastic Bowls! ❌

Plastic pet food bowls are no. 4 of the top 10 germiest items in kitchens of homes with pets, and can leach endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can affect adrenal and thyroid function. Today’s free pet health article is all about choosing healthier pet bowls (link in comments).

More about healthy bowls here: https://bit.ly/3CTD0wU

07/09/2022

Paco is becoming a well mannered pup! He and his owners have worked hard on his basic obedience.

07/09/2022

The Dogo Argentino is a pack-hunting dog bred for the pursuit of big-game such as wild boar and puma. They possess the strength, intelligence and quick responsiveness of a serious athlete.

Why do you love the breed?

03/08/2022

Let’s make this super clear… “Correction Collars shouldn’t be used because of the welfare of the animal” is very much an opinion.

But it’s an opinion based on the scientific literature that says the risk of using correction collars and aversive methods is higher than any reward one may get from using them. The scientific literature has a growing body of evidence that proves aversive collars are NOT more effective than positive methods and that aversive methods have a higher risk of emotional and physical harm to the dogs than positive methods.

That’s why evidence-based trainers will not use aversive collars. It’s not that we think they “don’t work.” In fact, those collars have data proving they do accomplish a guardian’s intended goal.

The reason evidence-based trainers don’t use those tools is because in addition to accomplishing a specific behavior outcome, you also run a major risk of emotionally and/or physically damaging the welfare of the dog. And anyone willing to run that risk when there’s clearly an equally effective (if not more effective) method available is not working out of integrity.

When you have literature that basically says, These two techniques are equally effective at accomplishing their intended goal. BUT Option B has a higher risk for emotional and physical harm… You go with Option A cuz it doesn’t have those risks.

Want the sources and scientific review of everything in this post?

I really, really, really want you to head to my bio right now and check out the video on “Purely Positive Dog Training.”

It’s one of my most popular videos; and in it, I go over the comprehensive scientific research which has examined the efficacy and safety of correction collars versus so-called “positive” methods.

I know you’ll love getting nerdy with me as I explain the position of evidence-based trainers and the researchers who educate us.

24/07/2022

Did you know our trainer is certified? He’s held to strict standards to make sure your pups have the best trainer possible. For all of your training needs please call Mission Impawsible Dog Training.

18/07/2022

Facts. Its much more complicated than it seems.

04/07/2022

Shoutout to Jaxx and his people! He’s no longer jumping on people. He also knows all of his basic cues. He’s becoming a well mannered member of the family!