Dog trainer for over 10 years, teaching good manners and dogs that haven't had the best start in lif
Well, Fiona out smarted Bolt for his check up and is the first vet that hasn't gotten their face licked! She was sitting on the stool, Bolt's nose was busy locating where the treats were stored, so she took the opportunity to listen to his heart & lungs while he was standing in front of her! And yes, Bolt did locate the treat container!!
Puppy classes start this Thurs 25th July 6.30pm at the Rochester Vet. I still have a couple of spots available. To reserve your spot, please call 54842255.
I think I made the vet nurse/receptionists day when I phone up to book Bolt in for his "annual lick the vets face" appointment! They had a chuckle, but they haven't found a vet yet with long enough arms to listen to Bolt's chest with their face out of his reach!! A couple of the vets have tried different techniques, but so far Bolt has always managed to get his lick (or multiple licks) in 😝😝
Taking the opportunity tonight for a bit more training with Bolt. Lit the bonfire just before dusk when all the roos come past. He was alert, but didn't move as they all hopped by. Lots of praise, a few treats. At dusk, we are usually inside, so doesn't get to experience/practice not chasing all those things that move around at this time.
Why teach your dog to go to a place/mat? When I'm cooking, I teach my dogs to stay away out of the kitchen for everyone's safety. Boiling water etc doesn't go well with a dog underfoot. Bolt isn't on the mat here as he has been taught to stay behind the step down into the lounge (if he was on his bed, that would be OK too).
In my class, I will talk about keeping the stay & recall separate while the dog is learning the excerizes. If you always call your dog to you dog from a stay, they then anticipate that you are going to call them to you and will come even when they aren't asked. The below video is a good example of how quickly dogs will anticipate what you are going to do. This is a drop on recall, but the principle is the same.
This was the first time I asked Bolt to drop after I had called him to me. As you can see, the second time I call him, he starts to come and then drops almost immediately - anticipating that I am going to tell him to do so, even though that it not what I have asked for.
Your dog has a brain that THINKS & figures things out. A follows by B follows by C etc. ... perfect example is putting on the walking shoes, picking up car keys or the lead.... this tells the dog it is time to go somewhere exciting, a walk etc & they get exited in the anticipation of this happening!
For stays & recalls, this is why it is important to keep them separate - just in case it is in a situation where it is unsafe for your dog to move or you need to call your dog to keep them safe.
Making a few tug toys for the toy basket at the local dog club.
The next classes are starting soon! Puppies 8-14 weeks start Thurs 23rd May. Older Puppies (4-8 months) & Teen Terrors (8-15 months) on Sat 25th May. If interested, contact Rochester Vet Clinic on 5484 2255 to book your place.
Bolt & Buddy busy reacquainting themselves after months apart. I'm in for a fun filled Easter! This is a good video showing some nice play body language. Reciprocal play (Bolt laying down & later Buddy), natural breaks in play that ask for consent to continue. Some really nice balanced play is happening between the two of them.
Training you dog should be fun. Whilst I train mine for dog sport competition, even the competing should be fun for you & the dog. And it's not always about the competition! Bolt has had heaps of fun this weekend competing in Obedience and agility (with him doing a choose you own adventure type corse sometimes!), but some of our biggest achievements were away from the competition. These include:
Staying in a house with other dogs
Politely greeting and asking lots of stranger dogs if they wanted to interact/play
Calmly approaching people/children when off lead at the beach
All of these are skills which will assist with being calm and a well behaved member of the community.
There is good in every dog.
Got an energetic puppy or dog? Stinking hot days like today where a walk or run in the park is out of the question, get them using their brains! Here's a couple I've just done with Bolt and he's still checking the room to make sure he found all the food!
If anyone is having trouble with a recall, I can recommend this free seminar series. Absolute Dogs have great games to get that great recall happening!
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Training Goals – Living in the Penthouse Suite!
It is important to have training goals for you & your dog. What does the view from your Penthouse look like? Competing in dog sports, a dog that doesn’t jump on your visitors or something else entirely? Everyone’s “perfect view” is different, but how we get there is the same - we take the stairs. As much as we would all love to use the express lift to get straight there, we need to take the stairs step by step so our dogs learn and understand each step along the way to build the knowledge. Skip too many stairs and learning an understanding is lost.
Here’s an example – child learns 1+1=2, next time we ask them to do algebra (we’ve taken the express lift to the Penthouse) – the child is missing the skills and understanding to do the algebra.
In training – we ask our puppy to come from 1m away = success, but the next time we call it from the far side of the oval (we’ve taken the express lift to the Penthouse again)…. The puppy has no understanding or the skills needed to come from such a large distance.
Thus to build that understanding we do lots of short recalls (1-2m), then 2-3m, slowly building the distance (and with increased distance comes added distractions to come past) – we’re taking the stairs. Sometimes we also go “downstairs” – add in a distraction such as being out on the street is a step up, so we can go a step down and do lots of little short recalls again.
Sometimes taking the stairs means that the steps forward in training are so small we don’t even notice the progression. If you feel like you are “getting nowhere”, stop & think about the following: with this exercise, where were we 1 week ago, 1 month ago etc? 1 month ago puppy came reliably from 3m away, now it is 20m. Checking in like this occasionally shows us that yes – we are progressing rather than viewing it from the Penthouse & feeling like we are failing because we are not there yet.
Whatever your training goals and view from the Penthouse is, always remember to take the stairs
When training your dog, you don't need lots of time. Bolt's session tonight in this video he was earning his dinner. We did a few things he knows, then as I'm teaching him to crawl forward at the moment I lured him with the food and had no word for it, but marked what I liked with yes. The word will come later once he is crawling right. Then we did a few more things he knows well. Short sessions can be more effective than a longer session. Mental work through training can be just as exhausting as a big walk or run - very useful for hot summer days or those really wet ones.
Merry Christmas. School will be back at Rochy Vets from 11th Jan. Enjoy the silly season however you are spending it.
Now Summer is on it's way and mum is pumping from the dam, it's time to start playing with the fire hose when mum waters the garden 😀 Bolt much prefers the hose to sprinklers. Sprinklers "fight" back by hitting you with water!!
I took this video about 10 years ago. The little kelpie pup is about 6-7 weeks old that I had found dumped out bush a couple of weeks prior. The pup is trying to interact with the elderly cat in the only way it knows how - bouncing and asking to play. If you listen carefully, Kelie gives multiple verbal warnings to the pup that what it is doing is not acceptable. It is a good video showing how young puppies start to learn their manners and how to behave/interact with other dogs (well, in this case the cat). No puppy was harmed in this video. Mog was very good at keeping dogs in line without requiring the use of claws.
Sometimes our dogs out smart us all 🤣🤣🤣
Looks like I'll need a new strategy for games of fetch... the second ball was being used to convince Bolt into dropping the first....
Only 3 spots left in this puppy class at Rochester Vets.
This country boy had a morning in the city 😊 Bolt got a "choose your own adventure" in the centre of town. This sort of walk we go where he takes me. It does mean that we circle, back track and cross where we've already walked. It gives him the choice of where to explore next rather than me telling him we're going this direction when there's something of interest in another.
Bolt took me Into Rosalind Park with a zig, zag & circle, up between the schools, QEO & tower (wasn't interested in going up the stairs), back into the park & along the waterfalls, out to View St by the art gallery, down to Pall Mall, took the time to check out the Bendigo sign and bark at a statue by the Soldiers Memorial before going back into Rosalind Park, conservatory garden and back to the car!! Happy, bouncy & tail wagging the whole way. I think he was rather pleased with himself 😁
For those in Rochester & surrounds, I'm holding a raffle with two lucky winners getting a one on one training session with me. Info on how to enter is below.
Coming into grass seed season, are you prepared? Is your dog happy/comfortable with you handling feet/ears or checking their feathers on their legs? Depending on your dogs coat & where they live or go for walks you may need to check daily or even multiple times a day. Even short coated dogs get grass seeds & so many varieties can burrow under the skin and cause bigger issues. Every grass seed you find & remove means one less chance of a potential expensive trip to the vets.
If your dog is uncomfortable with you touching feet (or other spots), make it worth their while. Reward for touching. Reward could be treats or even pats in their favourite spot. One of my previous dogs, checking for grass seeds in the feet involved a belly rub with one hand & gently checking feet with the other while also giving verbal praise.
Next time you are giving your dog a pat & they're relaxed, check their feet as well.
So who has this problem?!
Another puppy class graduation tonight at Rochy Vets. A squeaky toy got all dogs attention....except Billy the lab who was more interested in the treat mum was holding 🤣🤣🤣
Bolt says - No...I don't want to give up my ball. Getting your dog to give you something they have can be easy. Be it a ball or something else that they shouldn't have. Over the years, I've found the easiest way it using food. In this instance if I was teaching Bolt I'd hold a treat in front of his nose. When he lets go of the ball to get the treat, I would say my word to drop something & give the treat (for Bolt it's mine, but give, ta & drop are also commonly used words). Through repetition they learn the word & will drop things when told.
Something that is NOT offered in any of my classes, but something most of us deal with every day 😆
It's very easy to accumulate dog toys & puzzles. I didn't realise I had so many puzzles until I decided Bolt could have a puzzle night working for his dinner! After 20 mins of his brain (& waggy tail) busy working he ended up with a full tummy.
With today's crappy weather, maybe it was perfect timing I did some rainy day (or 40 degree day) activities with my classes the other week. If our dogs, especially young or very active breeds don't get an outlet for their energy, they find their own job of digging, ripping beds up etc (guaranteed it will be something you don't want them to do). Brain games can be just as tiring as a good walk or free run. Brain games can be doing some training, getting the dog to search for dinner/treats by throwing in the grass or hiding inside, making use of puzzle games available from shops or treats hidden in simple things like the cardboard roll from the paper hand towel or an improvised snuffle mat using an old towel.
How long should a training session be when teaching my dog something? Although a class might be up to 1hr long, this is so the trainer can take you and teach you a number of excersizes to practice at home. At home, training sessions should be a lot shorter. A quick 2 or 3 min sessions multiple times a day will keep your dog interested and engaged (listening to you) better than a single long session.
For those that are old school & watch free to air tv, a the add breaks are perfect! For coffee drinkers...while the kettle boils or machine makes your coffee!!
The aim is to keep them a suitable length so when you finish, your dog wants MORE! If they want more, it shows that they are enjoying learning and find it fun. Two important things for the relationship so they 1. Listen to you and 2. Want to do what they're told when needed (eg. Come when called)
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Taking the opportunity tonight for a bit more training with Bolt. Lit the bonfire just before dusk when all the roos come past. He was alert, but didn't move as they all hopped by. Lots of praise, a few treats. At dusk, we are usually inside, so doesn't get to experience/practice not chasing all those things that move around at this time.
In my class, I will talk about keeping the stay & recall separate while the dog is learning the excerizes. If you always call your dog to you dog from a stay, they then anticipate that you are going to call them to you and will come even when they aren't asked. The below video is a good example of how quickly dogs will anticipate what you are going to do. This is a drop on recall, but the principle is the same. This was the first time I asked Bolt to drop after I had called him to me. As you can see, the second time I call him, he starts to come and then drops almost immediately - anticipating that I am going to tell him to do so, even though that it not what I have asked for. Your dog has a brain that THINKS & figures things out. A follows by B follows by C etc. ... perfect example is putting on the walking shoes, picking up car keys or the lead.... this tells the dog it is time to go somewhere exciting, a walk etc & they get exited in the anticipation of this happening! For stays & recalls, this is why it is important to keep them separate - just in case it is in a situation where it is unsafe for your dog to move or you need to call your dog to keep them safe.
Bolt & Buddy busy reacquainting themselves after months apart. I'm in for a fun filled Easter! This is a good video showing some nice play body language. Reciprocal play (Bolt laying down & later Buddy), natural breaks in play that ask for consent to continue. Some really nice balanced play is happening between the two of them.
Got an energetic puppy or dog? Stinking hot days like today where a walk or run in the park is out of the question, get them using their brains! Here's a couple I've just done with Bolt and he's still checking the room to make sure he found all the food!
When training your dog, you don't need lots of time. Bolt's session tonight in this video he was earning his dinner. We did a few things he knows, then as I'm teaching him to crawl forward at the moment I lured him with the food and had no word for it, but marked what I liked with yes. The word will come later once he is crawling right. Then we did a few more things he knows well. Short sessions can be more effective than a longer session. Mental work through training can be just as exhausting as a big walk or run - very useful for hot summer days or those really wet ones.
Now Summer is on it's way and mum is pumping from the dam, it's time to start playing with the fire hose when mum waters the garden 😀 Bolt much prefers the hose to sprinklers. Sprinklers "fight" back by hitting you with water!!
I took this video about 10 years ago. The little kelpie pup is about 6-7 weeks old that I had found dumped out bush a couple of weeks prior. The pup is trying to interact with the elderly cat in the only way it knows how - bouncing and asking to play. If you listen carefully, Kelie gives multiple verbal warnings to the pup that what it is doing is not acceptable. It is a good video showing how young puppies start to learn their manners and how to behave/interact with other dogs (well, in this case the cat). No puppy was harmed in this video. Mog was very good at keeping dogs in line without requiring the use of claws.
A very poor video quality, but shows how a change in what the exersise looks like can make a difference in how the dog understands the cue given. I asked Bolt to go "out" which is going out and around what I'm pointing at. Previously we have practiced this using witches hats and it was the first time I'd used a tree. First one - easy, second one didn't look right and so he jumped through the middle. Changing what the "picture" looks like to the dog effects their understanding. The more pictures we create with the same exersise, the better understanding our dogs have. Eg. Sit means the same action at home, at the beach, in the park, on lead, off lead etc
Training isn't always about telling our dogs what to do. I had some of Bolt's dinner and let him decide what to offer me. He moved back away from where the food was - acceptable to me so I rewarded. I waited to see what else he would offer. Given some thinking time, he moved back again as it worked previously. Reward and guess what, Bolt is teaching himself that crawling backwards away from the food works!
Socialisation of your puppy/dog is something that never really ends. Even a new toy with a different squeak can be a new experience. It took Bolt about 2 days to be totally comfortable with the rubber chicken. Now it's his favourite and he can't get enough!
I was out late and missed the last of the daylight to give Bolt his evening run in the paddock. How do you keep an eye of a dog in the dark? Give him his own headlamp to hang round his neck of course!!
At various points during Covid lockdowns, I did a few short training videos for the local obedience club to give the members some training tips and activities. This is one of them - the Collar Grab game teaching our dogs that reaching out for their collar is a great thing and nothing to be avoided (because going on lead after a play date can be very disappointing for the dog!).
How to have a quiet night in....make the dogs work for their dinner!
The joys of having a new puppy in the house.....not only is it about training a new pup, but also having a 10 year old trained dog behaving like a puppy again!!
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