Leash tension is something I see a lot and it gives your dog mixed or confusing messages. Often people add leash tension when walking and they don’t realize that they are even doing it, usually a habit from trying to hold a dog in place. Leash tension means you are holding your dog back, youContinue reading “Leash Tension”
Tag Archives: puppy training advice
Who’s In Charge?
If we want to effect change with our dogs behaviour, we need to look at who is truly in charge. This isn’t a matter of dominance, rather, it is a matter of who is calling the shots, who is serving who and what messages are we portraying to our dogs. It is not overly commonContinue reading “Who’s In Charge?”
A Little Secret About Dogs
Come here … a little closer. Little bit closer. I want to tell you a secret. A secret about dogs that you may or may not know. A secret that may help you understand your dog better while you are training … or dealing with issues. There are NO perfect dogs. There, I said it. ThereContinue reading “A Little Secret About Dogs”
Holding A Position
Just a quick video about holding positions. Sits, downs, stays and places all apply. You NEED a release word (ok, yes, free, done, break a clicker … banana – whatever you like). Reinforce the position with reward. Teach the dogs that it’s a good thing to hold position. Once your dog is doing well, youContinue reading “Holding A Position”
Who Says it HAS to be That Way?
I am very much a “if it works, do it”, kind of person. I don’t like made up terms for things that have been around forever, I really don’t like inside the box thinking and parameters that you MUST follow in order to gain success. I don’t like naming and creating new problems and pickingContinue reading “Who Says it HAS to be That Way?”
Hand Feeding et al
I’ve been reviewing, in my mind, feeding, and all the specifics that people may tell you to do with it. The typical is; schedule feed, for puppies, three times a day, for adult dogs, once or twice a day. Never free feed. Stick your hand in the bowl while they’re eating (please DON’T DO THIS),Continue reading “Hand Feeding et al”
Whistle Recall Mini Session
As promised, here is a quick video of us getting in a few reps of the short leash recall to clean up the response a bit. I don’t whistle well in the cold. My lips may have frozen at one point. Let’s hope spring comes sooner than later.
Say It Once! Always?
This is something you will hear a lot when training dogs. Only ask the dog once, for a known command, and if they don’t do it, follow through. So, essentially, if I say SIT, and the dog doesn’t sit, it’s either physical placement or a correction that follows. I get the premise behind it. We’dContinue reading “Say It Once! Always?”
Be Responsible and Respectful
There was a dead rotting skunk, 50 meters or so from where we played ball.The ball was more motivating than the skunk … for the time being.But every now and then she’d get a whiff and veer off course.You could see it in the way she scented the air.If that skunk had been alive, IContinue reading “Be Responsible and Respectful”
A Discussion on Place
I like the place command. I teach it, I used it, I do believe it is practical in certain situations. But I use it for seconds or minutes, rather than hours on end. For things like answering the front door, when guests come in, eating a meal, taking boiling water from one side of theContinue reading “A Discussion on Place”
Smart Dogs Canine Training Milton 