If you let a dog sniff, will you be teaching your dog to sniff? Are you encouraging your dog to ignore you once you start formal work? I’m a big believer in the value of choice, in particular in dogs that have nervousness or stress issues. I think when dogs...
Take a look at this 10 second video: Do you see how the puppy is paying attention to the handler in a playful fashion for several seconds before moving on? Not following out of a need for security, but genuinely trying to engage? Now watch this short video: This is...
Hello Everyone. Meet my special dog, Fred. Fred is not an ordinary dog. Fred is a truly fantastic guy. He is highly driven to work, motivated by just about everything (including imaginary food), never quits, never falls to temptation or distraction, and will work...
The earlier you add disractions to your training, the better. This video shows Ziva learning to ignore distractions while heeling. At 11 months of age, Ziva’s heeling is pretty good but the reward schedule is quite high. This is the best time to introduce...
Interesting question, so let’s spend a minute thinking about it. I think we can agree that all animals must eat to survive, and that hunger is a driving force in making that happen. But when we talk about food drive, are we really talking about hunger? If yes,...
I am often asked how to teach a retrieve. I train a “structured” retrieve. That is neither a forced retrieve nor a play based retrieve. In a structured retrieve, the retrieve is taught in a systematic manner. This is the same process that is used for most...
There will come a point in your training when your dog will be well trained – the exercises will be reasonably fluent and your dog will be comfortable working in a range of training situations. You’re considering competition, and your instructor is...
There is a relationship between high drive dogs and issues with impulse control, because higher drive dogs care A LOT about getting what they want. From my point of view this is a good problem to have, but sometimes a handler is overfaced; their dog is more...
Here is a video of personal play with a physical, interactive dog – she has strong opposition reflex and likes “hands on” play. This video shows my dog Cisu playing with me; we play a ton in the ring between exercises. The only thing in this video...
She’s a doggy genius! It took Lyra about a week to grasp the basics of scent discrimination. This video shows the steps I took her through: Take the food out of the tins as soon as possible – two days in Lyra’s case. The reason for the food is to...
Here’s Finn, an adult Golden Retriever who already knows how to work in obedience. He is now learning how to choose to work. Note the emphasis on choice. In Finn’s first lesson with me, it took about three minutes before he even glanced at his trainer....
He’s growing up! Belgian Tervuren Gaetz is now three months old; this is his fourth lesson overall and his first on heeling. Gaetz and mom are doing a really nice job. This lesson introduced heeling (handler generated interest), recall from distraction and...
This is Ziva, a 12 week old Australian Cattle Dog. Here are a few clips from her first lesson. She is learning how to stand on a platform, how to retrieve a dumbbell and how to play with a toy (plus give it back!). These are all foundation skills that will serve...
There are many ways to start a puppy or young dog on work. This happens to demonstrate one of my favorites. In this video, puppy Kismet (11 week old Dutch Shepherd) and her mom are having their first lesson on recall away from distractions, a bit of heeling, and...
I’m jealous; here’s my student’s new puppy getting started. I still have to wait a few weeks before mine arrives. Here’s the kind of stuff I’ll do early on in the puppy’s career: This puppy’s lesson is split between tug,...
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