How Leader Dogs are trained
Here is a substantial story about the two-year training program that the Leader Dog organization uses to get dog’s ready for service to seeing-impaired people.
Can a demonstration help the dog learn
Dogs are body-language communicators. They are really good at it. They will expect us to tell them what we want them to do with body signals. That’s where consistent footwork in heeling is essential for effective training. That’s where consistent hand signals also help speed the dog’s learning and responsiveness. In dog training — actions […]
Build exercise equipment for your dog
If you’re handy with tools here are two ideas for creating exercise opportunities for your dog in your own backyard. This site includes the list for shopping and tools you will need and and step-by-step instructions with photos on how to build your dog’s own agility course. And here are instructions for building the doghouse with […]
Another job for therapy dogs
Ease traveler anxiety. Therapy dogs now serve at 20 airports nationwide to ease the anxiety travelers feel. There appears to be lots of anxiety to ease among air travelers according to this article that reported that 90 percent of passengers surveyed reported travel more difficult this year than last. The story was published by WCTV […]
Herd the balls
No need for sheep in this herding game. It’s also something like canine soccer. The formal name for the game is Treibbell – or ball herding. Dogs need to push balls toward a goal in a timed exercise. The balls vary in size depending on the size of the dog from teacups to vary large […]
Walk the dog
Here’s a new illustration of that assignment. The exercise does meet the training objectives with the dog — pay attention, comply, stay on task and have fun in the process. It is another illustration how teaching the dogs tricks can actually advance one’s training goals. Ruben (left) and Bones showing off in our 2013 holiday program […]
Put your dog’s nose to work
When your dog gets ‘in trouble’ at home, it is often because the dog doesn’t have enough real work to do and is trying to keep herself/himself occupied. One can curb lots of this ‘nuisance’ behavior by giving your dog a job to do. In this example, Ace is assigned the task of finding his […]
Training Tips & Techniques
There are four strategic training questions. Is your dog – 1) Paying attention; 2) Doing as you say; 3) Staying on task; and 4) Having fun — and are you? If the answer is “no” to one or more of those questions, you, as the dog’s teacher, need to change your approach to training. Here are some tips:
Come eagerly when called
The core of having your dog come to you when you call is to help your dog feel as if he wants to come. Initially, you should make the ‘come’ exercise a game the dog enjoys. While you teaching that, you must never call you dog and correct him or her for something because you […]
Don’t hold the dog in place in training
To help your dog learn to pay attention to you and do as you want him or her to do, give your dog the opportunity to make choices early in training. Use a loose lead — no pressure on the collar. The picture at the left shows Charlie sitting with a loose lead. He could […]