A structured walk is far more mentally stimulating and beneficial to you and your dog versus a long walk without any leash rules, or just mindless exercise!
You’ll want to first have a strong rapport with your dog when out walking, so if you’re new to the loose leash game, start by trying these few tips:
- Reward “checking in” with you! Always pay your dog for looking at you or acknowledging you in any way.
- Direction switch up. It’s a good opportunity to change direction whenever you feel that your dog is getting too far ahead of you, or if you feel the slightest bit of tension on the leash.
- Vary your speed. Changing your pace can be a game changer in getting your dog to notice you as they will have to adjust their stride to keep up!
- As always, bring your top tier treats with you when you go out walking!
When it comes to keeping your dog fulfilled, never underestimate the value of mental stimulation and brain exercise! Much like people, dogs also need jobs and hobbies, so it’s important that we provide them with different games and activities for their mental outlet. The most convenient way to do this is usually through mealtime, but we also love hand feeding meals for training sessions! ✨
A “kennel-free” daycare may sound appealing to dog owners, but there are many disadvantages that come with these kinds of environments. It is a huge safety concern whenever kennels and confinement are not being used as your dog has no option to decompress and rest. Your dog shouldn’t be totally exhausted after a day at their daycare, as this is usually a sign that they spent their day in an unhealthy state of arousal.
A common theme with sibling housemates is something known as Littermate Syndrome, which is a term used to describe behavioral issues that can develop when 2 puppies are raised together. Littermate Syndrome, or Littermate Dependency, can make it difficult for the puppies to form bonds with you or other people, hinders their coping abilities, and reduces their independence and confidence.
A conditioned relaxation protocol can be monumental in your training journey. When done correctly, a mat exercise is designed to facilitate a state of genuine calmness which can help all dogs, but is especially helpful for dogs who are fearful, anxious, hyper vigilant, or over aroused. While training this can be quite tedious (and can sometimes take weeks to months), it is SO worth it to watch your dog’s baseline in everyday life shift to become more tranquil and well-balanced.
A conditioned relaxation protocol can be monumental in your training journey. When done correctly, a mat exercise is designed to facilitate a state of genuine calmness which can help all dogs, but is especially helpful for dogs who are fearful, anxious, hyper vigilant, or over aroused. While training this can be quite tedious (and can sometimes take weeks to months), it is SO worth it to watch your dog’s baseline in everyday life shift to become more tranquil and well-balanced.
To teach your dog a down, you will need a piece of high value food to guide them into position. You can either lure them from a “sit” to a “down” position or simply lure them from a standing position into a “down” position. Put your treat to their nose and guide the treat straight down to their paws from nose to toes. Once you see that their belly hits the ground, use your marker word“yes-!”and reward them with a treat. Once your dog is following your lure more consistently, you can apply the word “down” before you begin to lure, and begin to pair your release word at the end. If your dog gives up or you see that your dog is getting frustrated, go ahead and reward them halfway for a few times. Try to lure them further each time. When your dog successfully goes down all the way, give your dog a few treats in a row (jackpot). Tips: Down and OFF are two different words. The "OFF" command is used to tell a dog to get its paws off of something. It may be the kitchen counter, your bed, the living room couch, or anything else you don't want your dog on.
The clicker is the scalpel of training tools. It is often used as a conditioned or secondary reinforcer, which predicts a primary reward. The clicker captures a moment in time, such as a correct behavior or action, which helps a dog identify a specific criteria.
A place command is about teaching your dog to remain on a boundary or a specific area, such as their bed. The dog must stay within their boundary no matter what is happening around them and until they are told otherwise. If you have a dog that jumps on your guest, barks at the doorbell, or hovers around you while you cook or eat, perhaps teaching them a place command is probably one of the best things you can teach your dog. The first thing you want to teach your dog is to get on and off the bed by luring them on and off with a treat. Each time you do so, apply your cue “place” as you are luring them on as soon as all 4 paws are on the place bed, drop their reward onto their place. When you are ready to release them, say your release word “free”.
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