Station training with 4-month old Pepper! Last week we free-shaped "go to mat" with marker training (we are using the verbal marker "YUP!"). Today we transferred that to a different "station"-- her new platform bed. She had been reluctant to get on the "scary thing", but now it's her Place!
Pepper loves the Training Game. She learned a hand target and "Down" quickly and with joy because she never gets a "NO" or "Eh-Eh!" as she tests out the rules of the game. If she was briefly confused, I simply made it clearer for her so she could succeed. It took only a few reps before I could add the cue "Place" and now she leaps on and is reluctant to leave!
Next, we can train Stay easily, with no frustration.
Her owners Jim and Gerda are doing a great job helping her become a confident, curious, happy companion! Coming up: Loose-lead Sniffy Walks and Urban Cafe Dog!
I love my job, and my clients, and their pets!
Flashback to my beautiful Banu (Turkish Kangal Dog) in 2018. I put up her raccoon because she was starting to gut it. Sad girl. But I gave it back later and let her destroy it.
This is why I buy old toys at yard sales and Goodwill...
Double-dog TUG!
Just takes a few minutes, and everybody's happy. [turn on the sound if you wanna)
How's your Recall/Come cue? [turn Sound ON]
Walking with my dogs on the greenway after a rain. No people or dogs in sight, so a good time to practice recalls with "critter distractions". Good boys! When they didn't immediately respond, I ducked down in a squat (hence the sudden change in camera angle)--that always "concerns" them and they come running. Works indoors and out, and it's fun!
I recommend *always* carrying good food rewards when you walk your dogs, on-leash or off, so you can reinforce recalls and voluntary eye-contact "check-ins". It pays off, for them and for you!
[turn on the sound for the pity party]
I don’t know about your dogs, but mine have a very precise gut clock. And they do not like the DST “fall back” one bit.
(turn on the sound)
I do a lot of work in my garden, and sometimes I forget to close the gate to my back yard. Doh! Since I have a dog door to the house... my boys get out and run around the neighborhood looking for squirrels and bunnies.
It’s a quiet cul de sac and they don’t range far, but this is when I am SO glad I trained them that WHOOOP! means, “Come running, I have special treats!”
I hid all of Sagan’s balls so I could get some chores done. But he’s very persistent.
Training “sniffy walk” at Lowes with the brilliant little Teddy and his awesome parents. (Unmute if needed.)
I placed some treats along the lumber aisle so we could practice the human “mechanics”--hands, posture, gestures, cues. Teddy’s learning to engage, give eye contact, and wait for the cue “OK! Go SNIFF!” instead of pulling the leash to get to pee-mail and other lovely smells along his street. :^)
Having a good recall is handy! Could also be life-saving. I can help you teach your dog to come when called, happily. Even when there are interesting smells and critters around.
Got a dog that seems indifferent to their food, or that gobbles it way too fast? Here’s how to make a simple, quality snuffle mat. Your dog will have a blast sniffing and hunting for his food!
I see a lot of them on the internet that are needlessly complicated, with crinkle-plastic and squeakers and such. Then buyers complain that their dog chewed it up and destroyed it.
Well, DUH. Snuffle mats are a kind of enrichment puzzle but they are not chew toys--they’re for mealtimes only. Then for heaven’s sake, put it UP until the next meal!