How To Keep Your Sanity While Raising A Balanced Puppy

In a word, structure, structure, structure, structure.

Your life is going to revolve around a schedule broken into one hour and two hour segments from am to pm for proper puppy training.  If you don't have a life that lends itself to that kind of attention, then don't get a puppy.  Harsh, I know.  But real.  Sure, there's ways of jury rigging potty training and feeding so we can earn a living, that's not what I'm talking about.  Having the awareness that you need to figure out how to accomodate a puppy's needs is half the battle.  There are a million creative solutions.  But that those time based needs, need to be met, is non-negotiable.

Tags: Dog Training | Housebreaking | puppy training | Training Dogs

"Yes is the Key" 

One of the core tools used here at the ranch is the Marker System, the use of the word "yes" or "good" to mark a correct behavior, followed by a treat reward in the early stages to create incentive to learn and positive association with the word "yes".  Markers allow dogs to understand the precise behavior that we are trying to get them to capture, whether a simple sit, or a find in search and rescue.  Over and over again, dogs come into training with vast zones of confusion as to what is expected of them, and what we are really asking them to do. 

Tags: behavior modification | behavioral training | clicker training | dog behavior | dog clicker training | Dog Obedience Training

A Product of Kinaesthetics for Animals

This article is one in a series of articles designed to introduce key concepts from the world of bodywork as they are applied to the dog world.  The author and founder of the Kinaesthetics system of therapy has worked with humans and animals for over 20 years.  Her animal clients have included World Champion performance horses in a multitude of disciplines, dogs of innumerable breeds, and a variety of other animals.

Tags: Canine Kinaesthetics | Dog Training | Kinaesthetics | Training Dogs

The Moment!

The doorbell rang and the young male Dobie in his crate began a furious barking.  “It’s OK, Buddy, it’s OK.  Good dog, good dog.” his owner cooed in an attempt to reassure Buddy dog, as the barking continued.  “Don’t praise him for being bad!” I tactlessly hollered from the other room, continuing with a bellowed, “Quiet!” for good measure.  Startled, the pup stopped barking for a moment, and finally, I managed to do the right thing and praise him when he quieted.

What had we both done wrong?  As we shape behavior with a dog, especially in the first year of its life with us, whether as a young pup or a 6 year old rescue, there are key instants when you have the opportunity to imprint or “mark” your dog’s correct response to a situation or command. Those moments should be considered rare and valuable treasures and we should wait and watch for them like a gourmand searching for truffles in the French woods.  I call it the teachable moment, and our response to that moment makes all the difference in the world to whether a dog learns and reinforces calm, balanced behavior or obnoxious habits that will come back to haunt us.

Tags: dog behavior | Dog Obedience Training | Dog Training | Sit and Stay | Training Dogs