Do you NEED Engagement Training?

by | Apr 8, 2018 | Generic training advice

Engagement training is the very specific training process where responsibility for starting and pushing for work is transferred from the human to the dog.  That is different than having an “engaged dog, which could happen with no specific training at all. Do you...

Proofing Scent Discrimination

by | Dec 22, 2013 | Brito, Lyra

This blog isn’t about teaching scent discrimination.  There are plenty of ways to teach scent work that are kind and effective; pick one or blend a few and find a plan that works for you.  Here is how I taught Lyra if you want some...

Meet Fred

by | May 7, 2013 | Most Viewed Posts, Training Videos - not my dogs

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...

Lyra’s Focus on Dogs and Movement

by | Sep 20, 2012 | Lyra

I’m happy with Lyra’s work at home.  She’s cute, engaged and learning well.  We’re at that fabulous point where I train her several times a day, simply because it’s so much fun for us.  As often as not, “training” is sitting...

Lyra – Beginning Ring Prep

by | Aug 14, 2012 | Lyra

A few people asked for more ideas for ring preparation. In this video, Lyra is working through some early steps of ring preparation – I’m beginning to take the toys off of my body. Prerequisite skills for this work include: 1) Your dog can work with...

Lyra – 6.5 months – Scent work and Distractions

by | Feb 17, 2012 | Lyra

A week ago I posted a video of Lyra working on heeling with significant distractions on the field.  I allow her to find the distractions and to discover for herself that working with me is endlessly more fun than self rewarding.  She worked, wandered, sniffed, and...

Lyra 6 months – distraction training

by | Feb 13, 2012 | Lyra

I do not consider distraction training to be a unique stage of training; it is part of the overall process.  Distraction training starts from the day I bring a puppy home, whether I wish to work on distractions or not. Regardless, there are periods in training where I...

Lyra 4.75 months: my good dog is back – today anyway

by | Jan 2, 2012 | Lyra

Today I took Lyra for training with a few other trainers, and she was brilliant. She wasn’t afraid of anything.  She wasn’t hyper attracted to the other people and dogs present.  She needed very little sightseeing time before asking to work.  Her interest...

Lyra – 14 weeks – re-evaluating my plan

by | Nov 14, 2011 | Lyra

Here are a few things I’ve learned or changed  in the past few weeks. I’m using more food.  What can I say…it works.  When I call her into the house, she now gets a cookie about 1/3 of the time.  That’s up quite a bit from what I had hoped for....

Finn – choosing to work

by | Oct 4, 2011 | Training Videos - not my dogs

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....