Use of Rewards

Reinforcement can include treats, praise, petting, or a favorite toy or game.

Since most dogs are food motivated, treats can work especially well for training. Next to food and toys, dogs love attention! Instead of, or in addition to using treats and toys during your next training session, reward your dog by providing praise, affection, or applause.  Yes, clapping for your dog.  He will love it!

When your dog performs a skill you have been trying to perfect, tell him “Good Boy!” in a happy, upbeat tone and applaud his efforts. You both will find training much more enjoyable with the extra affection added to your training sessions.

The do’s of using food~

  • A treat should be irresistible to your dog. Experiment a bit to see which treats work best.
  • Treats should be a very small, soft pieces of food, so that your dog will be able to immediately eat the treat and look to you for more. Avoid treats that your dog has to chew or that breaks apart into pieces on the floor.
  • Keep a variety of treats handy so your dog will stay interested in what is coming next. Place all types of tasty treats in a bag that will become a smorgasbord for your dog.
  • Each time you use a food reward, pair it with a verbal praise. Say something like, “Yes!” or “Good” in a positive, upbeat voice.

When to give treats~

When your dog is learning a new behavior, reward him every time he does the desired behavior. Once your dog has learned the skill, switch to random reinforcement. Gradually reduce the number of times he receives a treat for doing the skill. Reward your dog’s best efforts.

At first, reward him with the treat four out of every five times when he does the behavior. As he perfects the skill, reward him three out of five times, then two out of five times, and so on. Use a random reinforcement schedule. Your dog will soon learn that if he keeps responding, eventually he’ll get what he wants.

By understanding the use of reinforcement, you’ll see that you are not forever bound to carry a pocketful of treats. Your dog will soon be working for you because he wants to please you, and knows that occasionally, he’ll get a treat or a game of tug too.

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Heeling Tips & Tricks #12

heeling 12
 
Heeling video 12 –
 
Intro Leash Reining

 
 
Leash Reining Intro

NOTE: Leash Pressure is good to condition BEFORE adding reining to pivots or turns.

Leash Reining is a great tool to use for turns and pivots. I rein my dog to teach and refine position.

  • Pressure n the taught leash is applied from your hand and wrist, NOT your arm.   Taught leash, pressure is back OR forward.
  • Have your dog next to you in heel position.  Sit is NOT recommended.
  • Apply a constant light pressure in the direction you want your dog to go.
  • The pressure is light and constant until your dog moves.
  • Praise and reward your dog for any movement due to the leash pressure.
  • Example: Apply pressure back on the leash until my dog moves backward.
  • Take frequent play breaks to relax your dog and continue to build desire.

Problems?

  • Reining the leash up.  Use pressure with your leash lateral to your dog’s topline when standing.  The correct reining will get the best results.
  • Visible treats. Often treats in your hand will distract your dog and prevent the motion desired.

😉🐶🐶🐶 *****Next video – Progression Heeling 20+ steps

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Heeling Tips & Tricks #11

heeling 11
 
Heeling video 11 –
Adding Tuck Sits to Heeling

 
 
 

Adding Halts to Heeling
Halts are not added to heeling until the dog understands how to do a tuck sit, understands the halt cue footwork, AND the dog understands how to heel and maintain proper alignment aligned with the handler’s body.
All skills are taught and polished independently before integrating them.

  • If your dog understands the TUCK SIT add to short straight line heeling i.e. a few steps 2-4.
  • Heel ONLY 2-4 steps.
  • As your left heel is getting ready to hit the ground (1/2 step)
  • Say SIT
  • Your dog should quickly SIT!
  • Make sure your dog keeps his head up as he is moving forward and into the sit.
  • When working on the tuck sit, you will be taking a few steps forward in a straight line and the dog should sit on your verbal and body cue and NOT AFTER you stop.
  • The goal is that the dog sits BEFORE you actually stop.
  • Release and play with your dog between each sit

😉🐶🐶🐶 *****Next video – Leash Reining

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Heeling Tips & Tricks #10

video 10 heeling adding sit halts
Heeling progression –
Handling Cues –
Adding a HALT Sit

 

 

Heeling video   10 – Handling – Halts

Footwork Timing
Footwork is VERY important when adding halts as this will be your cue that your dog sees first.

Remember:

  • Practice footwork and verbal timing BEFORE adding your dog
  • BEFORE your left heel gets ready to hit the ground,
  • Say “sit” to your dog.
  • Stop as you are tucking your dog’s rear end.
  • Ideally, your dog is in the sit by the time your right foot plants.
  • Keep your training sessions short, fun, and full of energy and play.

😉🐶🐶🐶 *****Next video – Adding Auto Sits – Halts

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CURB THE JUMPER

The first time your puppy jumps on you, it may be cute. However, when he becomes full grown or you are wearing your best cloths his jumping on you may not be so cute anymore!

When training your puppy, be aware of how you teach him to keep all 4 of his feet on the ground. You may try to push him off. Unfortunately, to your puppy this push can signal the start of a rough play session. The result will be that he does what any normal puppy would do – he jumps with greater enthusiasm to interact and play with you.

If you have a jumper on your hands, there are a several good ways to change your puppy’s behavior.

One way is to simply ignore the behavior and turn you back when your puppy jumps on you. Eventually your puppy will learn that jumping gets him no response or worse, gets no attention. Be patient and very consistent in ignoring your young puppy when he jumps on you. It may take several instances for him to get the message. When all four of his feet are on the ground, praise and reward your puppy with some treats.

A second option of teaching your puppy not to jump on you is giving him a non-compatible behavior. It is as easy as using your “sit” command. Set up some scenarios. Place your puppy in a different room or outside. Have some tasty treats ready.

treatsI have started using these treats recently. They are soft, easy to break apart and good for your puppy or dog. Just click on the image and it will take you to Amazons affil link to the treats.

Open the door and go into the room where your puppy is. As soon as your puppy sees and runs to you, tell him to “sit”. Calmly take his collar with one hand and feed him several treats with the other hand. Praise your puppy calmly. Let go of the collar and walk away from your puppy. As you are walking away, put more treats in one hand. Turn to face your puppy. Again, your puppy will run to you. Take his collar with one hand and feed with the other hand. End you session by placing a leash on your puppy and taking a nice long walk.

Enjoy your time with your puppy, they grow up way too fast!

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Heeling Tips & Tricks #9

heeling tips tricks 9
 
Heeling progression – 1-16 steps
Random Rewarding

 
 
 

Heeling progress – Straight-line Heeling – Increasing the number of steps.

Remember

  • Hold your right hand on 3-6 small treats in your right hand to load left hand as you are heeling and watch delivery of the reinforcement.
  • Review the value building phase once before progressing and break and play.
  • After play, start moving forward at slowly, deliver reinforcement randomly and vary how many steps you take before releasing (sometimes release on the first step, sometimes on the 3rd, sometimes on the 10th, MAKE IT RANDOM, keep the dog guessing).
  • When you have delivered all the treats, release and play with your dog.
  • Resist starting heeling with your dog on a sit.
  • When heeling, make sure your dog is keeping his head up as he eats the treat, this is extremely important. If this is still an issue, go back to the information provided on Week 1 for how to teach your dog to eat a treat with his head up.
  • Energize your dog during training so that your dog maintains his attitude and desire to want to do the skill.
  • Keep sessions short, fun, and full of energy and play.

😉🐶🐶🐶 *****Next video- Handling Cues – Halts

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Heeling Tips & Tricks #8

heeling tips 8
Handling Cues
FOR the Person only

Click Image to take you to YouTube Channel
 
 
 
NEW HANDLER CUES intro

General and Straight-Line Heel work – For your dog to do his part when heeling, you must also do your part.

  • What hand positions are acceptable – On leash vs. off leash
  • Body posture –
    • shoulders straight,
    • look 2-4 feet in front of you,
    • head slightly down,
    • see dog out of periphery vision
  • How to properly walk when heeling –
    • heel-ball-toe,
    • keep your feet in your space and pointing forward,
    • have a ‘rhythm’ for you heeling. Use a metronome, think of a song that has the beat that you need to heel, etc.
  • Make sure you are walking in a straight line!!!
  • When you start heeling, take your first step with your LEFT leg.  To gain momentum for this first step, have your weight on the balls of your feet and push off with your right foot.
  • Practice and video your footwork so you will be consistent and comfortable with your heeling cues.

😉🐶🐶🐶 *****Next video- Heeling Progression

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Heeling Tips & Tricks #7

Heeling tips and tricks # 7

heeling tip tricks 7 
REA – Moving to side

Click Image to take you to YouTube Channel

 

REA Progression dog moving to side

The progression of teaching hindquarter rotation is for your dog to understand the value of placing his front feet on a box, and anticipate going  to the right or the left.
 

REMINDERS

  • The speed in which he runs back to the box tells you the DESIRE your dog has for skill.
  • Place 3-5 treats in one Hand, and with other hand is over the box, with the back of your hand is facing down and your PALM is facing up and your hand slightly higher than the dog’s head.
  • Reward A LOT when your dog first gets on the box.
  • Use delay of reward to get your dog moving more and more.
  • Restart often by tossing away from you
  • Dog runs and puts feet on box with immediate reward.
  • After a few treats, hesitate rewarding to kick in frustration factor.
  • Dog moves, praise and reward, hesitate again.  Feed again for motion.
  • Restart and repeat, feed, hesitate, feed hesitate, restart.
  • Work with both hands and dog moving to either side.
  • Keep training sessions short.
  • Work with dog going to both right or left side
  • Immediately pick up the box after training

GOAL – for your to hurry onto the box and ANTICIPATE going to your side. 

😉🐶🐶🐶 *****Next video- Handling Tips

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Heeling Tips & Tricks #6

video 6
Heeling Progression – Increasing the number of steps & new location. (1-6 steps slowly)

Click Image to take you to YouTube Channel

Add in Training new low distracting locations

Points to Remember

  • Start your heeling with dog in stand or going into heeling from play (i.e. while in motion).
  • Make sure you are playing 3xs more play than work.
  • Energize your dog during training so that your dog maintains his attitude and desire to want to do the skill.
  • Keep sessions short, fun, and full of energy and play.

In this video – Heeling Progression Increasing the number of steps & new location. (1-6 steps )

  • Have small, soft, very high value treats, toy under left arm.
  • Review the value building phase before starting to add motion.
  • Resist starting heeling with your dog in a sit, this is demotivating!
  • Start moving forward at slow pace, deliver reinforcement, add 1-6 steps randomly rewarding different steps.
  • Play between each reps – 1 second work = 3 seconds of play.
  • Pay close attention to your delivery of the reinforcement when moving.

😉🐶🐶🐶 *****Next video- REA Progression

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Taking Breaks

relaxWe hear stories about a handler’s dedication to their sport, the hours upon hours of practice, and the conditioning and training for them and their dogs.

We are led to believe that they not only eat, drink, and sleep their sport, but also their sport is on their mind every waking minute.  This leads us to believe that any minute not participating, practicing, or thinking about the sport is time that is wasted.  Additionally, we are told that our more devoted competitors are passing us up.  Thus, when we take a break from training we are lead to believe that it is a lack of commitment on our part. But is it really?

Does Your Dog need Breaks from his regular activity and training?

Participating in just one type of exercise over and over can be physically and mentally harmful to your dog and to you. This type of constant exercise can wear and strain both you and your dog’s muscles. Worse yet it can enhance the risk of major injuries or worse “burn-out”.  Cross-training and participating in other dog sports can often eliminates these issues

Have you considered cross-training with your dog? This simply means engaging him in a variety of different activities to ensure that all his muscle groups get worked. It’s a great way to increase his fitness while reducing the risk of injury.

Dogs, like humans, become conditioned to the same exercise routines. With cross-training, you can keep both you and your dog physically and mentally engaged by incorporating different activities into his fitness routine.

Sometimes our own inactivity can limit our imagination to what we can do with our dogs. However, with some imagination, you can find many types of cross-training exercises.

Here are a few simple suggestions.

  • Swimming.  A great low impact exercise to keep you and your dog physically fit.
  • Balance Ball or disk.  This impact-free workout will improve your dog’s core strength, balance and increase his range of motion. It also helps improve your core strength, balance and range of motion.
  • Core and Balance Work.  There are loads of conditioning drills that are low impact yet very effective for overall conditioning for your dog. Sit up and beg is a great example.
  • Use a dog pack when going on walks. Adding light weight to a dog’s backpack is a great way to intensify your dog’s strengthening workout.
  • Stairs.  Climbing stairs is a great way to work your dog’s leg, shoulder, hip and lower back muscles.  Additionally, stair climbing helps your dog with coordination and agility. Have you ever thought of having your dog go up the stairs backward?
  • Hike.  Wooded or beach areas provide a natural cross-training environment for both you and your dog.
  • Different dog sports. There are many other dog sports available that you and your dog can enjoy. Some of these actives include Obedience, Agility, Nose Work or Tracking, Barn hunt, etc…

Be sure your dog always has a proper warm up and cool down before and after exercising.  Check with your veterinarian before starting any new exercise regime for your dog.

Next, is having your dog take Mental Breaks.  When it comes to dog training it seems that less is more. Research has shown that dogs learn faster when given regular mental breaks during training.

The following training ideas can help you get more out of your training sessions AND give your dog a much needed mental break.

  • Set aside a specific training time.  A few minutes of quality time can go far.
  • Take brief breaks if you are working through a problem. If you are working through a hard scenario with your dog, give him play breaks throughout the session to help relieve stress and keep him motivated to train.
  • Don’t OVER train. When your dog does well, owners are often tempted to push their dog to do more. Resist the temptation and always end your session with your dog wanting more. 
  • Use everyday life situations to get in extra training. Use time you are with your dog to get in some extra training. Sit stays at doors, while vacuuming or watering plants. Recall practice when your dog is in the back yard chasing that squirrel or playing with another dog. Use your imagination!
  • Give play breaks. Give your dog a chance to blow off some steam when he has been working hard. Let him just be a dog so play tug with him, have him chase a ball, etc.
  • Don’t work when frustrated. There are times when dogs struggle with a new skill. It can become frustrating when your dog just isn’t catching on. If this happens, or you’re just having a bad day – take a break for yourself. Go get a drink of water, look at the mail, etc. and come back when your head is clear. Your dog will appreciate the break and the skill will be there when you are in the proper frame of mind to train.

When training your dog keep in mind his mental and physical state. Give the two of you breaks to prevent burn-out and injuries. Try something new that looks interesting and fun. In other words enjoy being with your dog and “enjoy the journey”.

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