If you struggle with getting a release off of toys or bite objects, or if you just want a sophisticated look at a dog‘s motivation around toys via fight, possession, prey (chase) behavior, and getting cooperation (release or toy return), watch this video. Obviously,...
I know, I said I'd do a better job keeping up my blog. What can I say? I suck. Anyway, Xen is coming up on his one-year birthday! He's making really nice progress in his training. The following video shows training for "object guard". His job is to prevent me from...
I haven't written on my blog in many months. What happened?! All is well! I stopped running day-to-day operations at FDSA, and that freed up time to do what I am seriously passionate about - education. Free education, for the most part, because I spend a very high...
Thank you!
Thank you so much Denise for explaining this. It is a lot to take in but at the same time how timely with sll this calming and arousal states in the diff dog sports especially as I would try and increase the arousal in my calm girl before agility and get coached to step up the dogs temp so to speak. What you explain makes so much sense. Hooray!!
I’m really glad you found it helpful!
My 3 year old border collie that becomes highly aroused ( unable to learn new things) when we go outside. He will take a toy as reinforcement but that only increases his arousal so walking with in a loose leash ( even a 20’ line) does not seem within our ability to learn. Can you help?
Personally, I cannot help because I no longer do that kind of dog training. But if your question is can your dog be helped, then the answer is yes.
I would suggest that you get involved with the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy. There are classes that can help you. Most important, from there, you’ll want to join the alumni group on Facebook and bring up issues like this. Other students will help you tease apart the issue so that you know how to proceed or what classes to pursue into the future.
Thank you,
Jan
This was so helpful for me. I am a novice handler with a novice agility dog and he’s so low key until a trial, then he’s so excited he tends to run off but he’s clearly having fun, he’s not anxious or upset he’s super joyful (like a kid running into a playground) and I’ve been stuck on thinking it’s a bad thing and it’s not! We have to work on being able to listen and stay connected to find success but it isn’t inherently bad because he is absolutely having fun. So I know this is an old post but it did help me today reframe my mindset.