|
Buster knows how to Sit (inconsistently) but not much else, so we worked on reinforcing
that. We also taught him Down which is usually a little difficult for small dogs, but he did really well. Emmett's owner reports that his reaction towards strange men has greatly improved,
which is awesome news. Tonight we taught him Wait and Stay, and worked on some other issues such has jumping and counter surfing. We had a great day with Cooper, as he greeted me with no aggression, barking, or lunging, and we taught him how to heel and walk nicely on a leash. We also took advantage of a 4-legged visitor and showed Cooper how to greet another dog calmly and play nicely.
Today we worked on Mya's recall. I would call it a success since we were able to call her
out of a retrieve multiple times! We also did more work on door greetings, and also introduced her to the Protocol for Relaxation.  "Dogs have a way of finding the people who need them and filling an emptiness we didn't even know we had."
- Thom Jones Jumper lived up to his name tonight, but he sits really well when asked. We just have to
convince him that sitting instead of jumping is the better option! We also taught him Down in a snap, and also how to Stay. He's a smart boy!  TIP #1: HARNESS THE ENERGY
We know that choke or prong collars can cause injury to a dog, but so can a regular flat collar if your dog is a puller or who periodically lunges at squirrels, rabbits, etc. Of course we want to teach him to walk nicely on a leash, and using a harness during the training process will eliminate the potential for injury. TIP #2: SMALL CHANGE MEANS BIG DIVIDENDS When teaching a behavior watch for even the slightest changes in your dog and reinforce them. This encourages your dog to learn and problem solve! Mya and Cooper are separate cases from opposite ends of the spectrum, yet both can benefit from the same training. Mya is a dynamo of Labrador energy, so we taught her the impulse control exercises of Stay and Leave It. Cooper, on the other hand, has fear and anxiety issues. We also taught him Stay and Leave It for impulse control, but also to help build self confidence. Both dogs, and their guardians, did great.
 "When I look into the eyes of an animal I do not see an animal. I see a living being. I see a friend. I feel a soul."
- A. D. Williams Buster is a 3-year old Yorkshire Terrier and Maltese mix. This cute little guy needs some
help with his manners as well as feeling comfortable with strangers, especially kids. We will also be working on desensitizing and counterconditioning him to trucks and grooming! |
AuthorJeff Dentler, CPDT-KA, IAABC-ADT, FFCP, CTDI Archives
December 2024
Categories |
RSS Feed