**Building Your Dog's Focus: Understanding the Reasons Why** 👀🐾
One of the biggest challenges we face when training our dogs is capturing and maintaining their attention. Unlike humans, dogs aren't naturally equipped with the same type of focus that we often require during training sessions or everyday situations. Understanding the canine mind and how to cultivate focus can make all the difference in your training efforts. In this blog, we'll explore why dogs need help with focus, the importance of building it, and some effective techniques to help your dog stay on task.
### Why Dogs Don't Naturally Have Human-like Focus 🐶💚
Dogs are wired more for survival instincts than the sustained attention we expect from ourselves. Their focus tends to waver due to various stimuli in their environment, such as smells, sounds, and movements.
This doesn't mean your dog can't learn to concentrate; it just means they need a bit more guidance to hone that ability to fit our human-centric world.
### Why Building Focus is Important 💖🐶
Fostering focus in your dog is paramount for several reasons:
1. **Improved Training**: A dog that can focus is more likely to retain commands and respond to training cues effectively. This helps a dog to listen and respond to our cues.
2. **Safety**: Focus is essential for a dog to stay aware of their surroundings, especially in potentially dangerous situations. A focused dog will be less likely to heed distractions that could lead to accidents.
3. **Enhanced Bonding**: Training sessions that encourage focus can also improve the bond between you and your dog. Spending quality time working together creates trust and improves communication.
Building your dog's focus is not just about training commands; it's about nurturing a connection and enhancing communication between you. Understanding their unique mindset and having patience throughout the process will yield powerful results. With consistent practice and positive re
📣 No excuses, pet parents! It's back to school for your pooch too! 📚🐶🐾 Establish a good training routine with just one minute a day and watch the amazing progress. Our Tribal sausage treats are your best ally—healthy, convenient and oh-so cost-effective.
This is how we portion them out for our German Shepherds. Smaller dog? Double the treats, double the progress.
🏆 Get ready for this month's challenge: Train smart, not hard! Watch your dog thrive with just 60 power-packed seconds of training per day.
🕒 Set your timer and you won't believe the progress your dog will make. 😉🌟
We want YOU to establish a strong routine with your dog, so here is our unbeatable 'back to school' deal on training treats:
🥩1 x 750g sausage (was £6.79) now £5.46
🥩2 x 750g sausages (was £13.58) now £10.92
🥩6 x 750g sausages (was £40.74) now £32.76
Collection from Kidderminster or combine them with your training sessions. Local delivery or postage is also available upon request (UK only).
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Just wanted to share my experience with the Protection Sport Association (PSA).
Having rigorously trained over the past year, I recently took part in my first PSA trial, and it was an amazing experience.
The organization promotes and showcases the training and abilities of protection dogs in a competitive format.
It was incredible to see the bond between the handlers and their dogs, and the level of obedience and protection skills on display was truly impressive.
I’m excited for our next trial and to keep being a part of this amazing community! I’ve met some wonderful individuals and I want to express my gratitude for the support I’ve received from everyone along the way.
I just had to share how amazing Protection Sport Association training has been for my German Shepherd, Mako. It’s truly been a wonderful outlet for him, and it’s incredible to see how happy he is doing what he does best!
Mako has really excelled in the training, and it’s been a great way for us to deepen our bond and for him to channel his energy in a positive way.
👏 I highly recommend PSA training for anyone with a high-energy dog! 👏 Please contact me if you’re interested in participating in PSA or would like to learn more.
Myth buster: Bite work will not make your dog more aggressive.
#psak9official #psak9 #workingdogs #k9 #protectionsportsassociation #germanshepherdsofig #workingdogtraining #prouddogmom #firstwin #personalprotectiondog #germanshepherds #sablegsd #sable #sablegermanshepherd #sablegermanshepherds
⛔️An EMERGENCY STOP command can potentially save your dog's life.⛔️ It can also be used when you urgently need your dog to stop chasing something they shouldn't be chasing. This training is quite advanced, so it's important to ensure that your dog responds well to basic cues first.Pre-requisites: Able to down your dog at distance, a reliable recall. 1️⃣ STEP 1: Call your dog’s name. As they come towards you, say 'stop' and use a stop signal (flat hand held up above your head) at the same time. Then immediately throw a treat BEHIND your dog (aim for their tail or further beyond their tail) and praise them well.Ideally, have someone call your dog away from the area so that you can practice the exercise until the dog responds well to each cue, ensuring they are enjoying the game. 💡PRO TIP: It's not a good idea to call your dog using their recall cue, such as 'come,' and then ask them to 'stop.' This can be confusing for the dog. Instead, try getting their attention by saying their name, moving backwards, or using an open arm gesture. 2️⃣ STEP 2: Once you notice that your dog understands not to move forward when you say 'stop' and almost anticipates you throwing a treat behind them, we recommend adding a 'down' command at a distance at this stage. After saying ‘stop’ and making a hand gesture, immediately ask your dog to 'down'. Once they lie down, mark and reward them with several treats by walking to them and feeding them on the floor between their paws. This will help them understand the value of staying in the down position. *️⃣ IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Never recall your dog from an emergency down. This will ensure it remains reliable and can keep your dog safe in the event of an emergency. 3️⃣ STEP 3: We recommend standing next to your dog, ensuring it stays in the down position. Then ask for 'sit' or 'heel'. From a seated position, your dog can be released by saying 'ok' or 'off you go', for example. ✅ Teach your dog to stop on co
Our training session was briefly interrupted by these adorable guys 😍. We made sure they were safely guided back towards the lake. 🦆 #cute #duckling #happymoment
🐾🐶 Did you know that teaching my dog to pivot and increasing his rear-end awareness will help you teach a dog to walk nicely on the lead?
Pivoting and rear-end awareness exercises are not only fun, but they also positively build your relationship with your dog, practice attention, self-control, and even body awareness.
This is especially good for clumsy or over-exuberant dogs because it teaches them spatial awareness and, to be, more careful where they place their paws.
Pivoting exercises can spice up lead walking training, which can get boring for dogs. You can teach a dog pivoting exercises both on or off the lead. It’s a great way to bond with your dog and keep them mentally and physically stimulated.
Pro tip: When training your dog, don’t hesitate to use the lead to support their position. In this video, I am demonstrating how to use food lure to get your dog onto a platform and then pivot left while providing support to prevent your dog from moving to its left.
It takes some patience and practice, but the end result is so rewarding!
Give it a try, and let me know how it goes! Your experiences and comments are valuable to our community. 🐾🐶
# dogtraining # petcare # puppylove # tricktraining # bondingwithpets #heel #looseleadwalking #dog #puppy #training #LooseLeadTraining #DogTraining #dogschool #lifeofadogtrainer #dogowner #confidencebuilding #puppytrainingclass #outdoordogs #trainyourdog #looseleashwalking #looseleashtrainig
Have you tried Scentwork? It's a fun and stimulating activity that can benefit your dog in many ways. Scentwork involves teaching your dog to use its natural sense of smell to locate specific scents. Look at Arthur here air scenting and how his nose is working to focus on scent particles carried by the wind.
Did you know that dogs have an incredible sense of smell? They have over 300 million olfactory receptors in their noses, compared to our measly 6 million! Here are some fun facts about dogs' sense of smell that you may not know:
- A dog's sense of smell is up to 100,000 times better than a human's.
- Dogs can detect odours up to one million times weaker than humans can smell.
- Some dog breeds, like Bloodhounds and Basset Hounds, have a better sense of smell than other breeds.
- Dogs can even use their sense of smell to detect changes in our bodies, like detecting low blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.
So, if you're looking for a fun and rewarding activity with your dog, consider trying Scentwork. Not only will your dog love it, but it's also a great way to strengthen your bond and give it extra mental stimulation.
Contact The Confident K9 on 07557 301161 to learn more about Scentwork.
#scentwork #dogsenses #airscents #funfacts #doglovers #petlife #workingdog #traineddog #training #k9 #workingk9 #puppy #doglife #tactical #tacticalgear #furmissle #handler #dogtraining #scentwork #detection #detectionk9 #sniffari #snifferdog #fun #happydog #graduation #class #enrichment #smells
🌟Foundations for Shaping a Flashy and Confident Heel.🌟
Do you ever envy dogs who heel perfectly, often looking up at their handlers with admiration? Do you wish you could train your dog to do that too? Perhaps your dog enjoys the pivot platform, but you need help with how to transition to a finished heel position without any handler 'help'.
My favorite method to teach heeling is through shaping. Since heeling consists of numerous skills such as head position, gait, and rear-end awareness, I prefer to teach each skill separately and then combine them to achieve confident heeling.
Pro Tip 📣:
Begin your heeling training by shaping your dog's rear movement on a pivot platform. This exercise is designed to teach your dog how to make snappy turns, maintain a straight heeling position, and assist in finishing positions.
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Did you know that scentwork can be a great activity for dogs?
Scentwork training not only provides mental stimulation and exercise for dogs but also helps them develop an increased ability to use their sense of smell. This can lead to improved concentration, increased confidence, and reduced anxiety.
Dogs can be taught to use their sense of smell to locate specific scents and find hidden objects, which is a great way to channel their natural behaviour.
Studies have also shown that scentwork can help to reduce stress levels in dogs, and can be a useful tool in managing behavioral issues. Overall, scentwork provides an effective and enjoyable way to keep dogs mentally and physically engaged, while also improving their overall well-being.
Give it a try and see the benefits for yourself! 🐾👃 For more information on scentwork sessions please call 07557 301161.
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Did you know that you can use BEHAVIOURS as REINFORCEMENT when training your dog?
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🥩🎾If you have a dog that isn't particularly motivated by food or toys, think of what behaviours or actions you could use instead.
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😍🐾Arthur here loves to catch and therefore we used catching as part of his reward for coming back to a whistle.
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🥇🐕 Using catching with Arthur was a gamechanger and he became much more engaged and willing to work with us. It's important to always work WITH your dog and discover what they find FUN.
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Share your dog's unique motivators in the comments! What do you think could drive your dog to learn? 🤔💡
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#DogTrainingTips #PlayfulPups #WhistleWhileTheyWork #springerspaniel #englishspringerspaniel #springerspanielsofinstagram #springerspaniels #englishspringerspanielpuppy #springerspanielpuppy #springerspaniellovers #springerspanielworld #springerspaniellove #englishspringerspanielpuppies #englishspringerspaniellove #englishspringerspanielsofig #englishspringerspaniellovers
Teaching a dog 🎯directional control👉 can be extremely useful. This means your dog can follow your instructions even when they are not close to you.
Here, we are practising the 'send away' around a hide/blind, which, when taught, can be extremely useful for moving a dog in the opposite direction to something you don't want it to see or simply as a training challenge.
Can your dog figure out what you are pointing at and complete the task of getting around it?
Turn the 'send away' into a recall powerhouse, rewarding speedy returns for a faster, fitter dog.
You can spice up your training routine and add many layers to this exercise as you progress. For example, can you send your dog away to a marker and down them at a distance? 📍🐕 Or use this exercise to test how good your recall is with distractions nearby.
Reliable obedience takes dedication, but with patience and practice, it’s within your dog's reach. Let's train smarter, not harder! 👍
#dailymotivation #IGP #workingdog #dogtraining #germanshepherd #gsd #dogsofinstagram #dog #gsdofinstagram #dogs #puppy #germanshepherdsofinstagram #germanshepherddog #gsdlove #gsdpuppy #k9 #dedication #willpower #hardwork #dogtrainer #discipline #consistency #determination #hundesport
When productivity meets puppy eyes👀! 🐾 My German shepherd has officially declared my work hours as 'mandatory cuddle sessions'. Send help... or just more hands to pet this cuteness overload. 🤣🤣🤣🤣...#DogCuddles #GermanShepherdGaze #germanshepherd #germanshepherds #germanshepard #germanshepherdpuppy #germanshepherddog #germanshepherdsofinstagram #cute #puppy
