In the videos below, you can watch our program staff working on loose-leash walking with dogs of a variety of ages. As you will see, loose-leash walking requires a great deal of focus from the dog, but it also requires the handler to be equally focused on the dog. Nice walking is a team sport! Walking With A Puppy Walking With a Tween Dog Walking With a Teen/Adult Dog These are examples of normal training situations. If you are experiencing any barking, lunging, fixating, etc., please reach out to Puppy Program staff for guidance on how to address those situations. …
When working with a dog on leash, it is important that they respect the boundary and connection to the handler while maintaining slack in the leash (loose leash). If a dog adds tension to the leash, they must learn how to respond and focus back on the handler as well as return to a loose leash. There are different ways to achieve this behavior. When first starting to work on loose-leash walking, it is best to start with a shorter leash, as that way, they can get a solid framework of what is expected: loose leash with no tension, focus …
Puppy getting overly aroused and biting? Just like children, some puppies don’t always know when to take a break. Although they may protest being in their crate a bit at first, you’ll likely find that they will be napping soon after you send them there. Dog pawing or barking at you for attention? You can send a very clear message to the dog that unwanted behaviors result in a timeout. They have a chance to make better choices each time they come out of the crate. Puppy fascinated by outside sights and smells and not focusing on “get busy” outings? …
From a Lesson: Trainer: What day is it? Student: Uhh, Sunday? Trainer: What day is it? Student: … the 21st? Trainer: What day is it? Student: … ??? Trainer: See? I kept asking you the same question, and you gave me the right answer, but I didn’t accept it as such. So you changed your answer and got frustrated and confused. When you don’t thank your dog for giving you the right answer, he/she does the same. Clarity is important, and dogs need to be rewarded for their efforts. Before a training session, think about the possible steps that may …
Merriam-Webster provides us with the following definitions: Train – An orderly succession. A series of parts or elements that together constitute a system for producing a result and especially for carrying on a process automatically. Practice – To do or perform often, customarily, or habitually. To perform or work at repeatedly so as to become proficient. Training – Introduction to Performance When we first introduce a cue such as “park,” we break it down into smaller behaviors that we can mark with a “yes” and reward. We don’t expect that the dog will be able to perform this more complicated task with proficiency until …
Indoor activities for training and enrichment. Body Handling – Assistance dogs need to be handled by people a LOT! Getting the dog comfortable with handling, and then rehearsing those skills will set them on a path to success. Grooming & Care – Grooming and handling go hand in paw! Establishing a grooming routine helps to ensure the dog’s overall health and well-being. Join our Training Manager, Shenna Lemche, for a video review of our Grooming Basics. Brain Games – Trainer Tip: Mental exercise does more to wear out a pup than physical exercise. (You all know how they tend to crash out after …
An automatic leave it means that the dog doesn’t need a cue to leave something alone and instead learns to look to the handler when there is a distraction. Dogs respond more appropriately when they understand what they are expected to do. We introduce an automatic leave it using Puppy Zen! Here is our Puppy Zen Guide that covers how to introduce this simple but effective game. This is a great activity to practice with your dog as you sit in front of the TV! Dog gives you eye contact, cookie! You can also work on eye contact in all areas of …
Dogs aren’t born with the ability to generalize behaviors in a variety of different environments or under novel distractions- it takes time and experience. In the following video, Autumn’s excitement to get on the other side of the fence hijacks her ability to perform basic cues. In contrast, she can perform all of these cues easily in the less exciting environment of her living room. (Trainer insight: it is likely that she has had a high rate of reinforcement for performing these cues in her living room – which increases the odds of correct performance). If you’ve hosted for any length …
Outside Guidelines General rule of thumb: If it’s too cold for you, it’s too cold for them. Dogs can get frostbite too. Please keep them indoors during inclement weather conditions. Keep walks short, but try to provide them more frequently so they still get proper exercise. See if there are indoor tracks or facilities near you where you could walk the dog for exercise. Musher’s Secret is a good option to use on the dog’s pads for cold-weather walking. If you’ve walked the dog on surfaces that have been salted for ice, wipe their paws and in between toes upon …
Managing Prey Drive and the Predatory Motor Sequence Training: Positive reinforcement training can help redirect prey drive into more appropriate behaviors. Rewarding your dog for responding to cues can be effective in breaking their fixation on a target. Common cues such as nudge, find it, and come, can be useful. Visit the Puppy Program Volunteer Portal to learn about our full list of cues. Supervision: Always supervise your dog when they are outside to ensure they do not chase or harm wildlife, and keep them on a leash or in a securely fenced area. If a dog displays high prey drive, they may need …