Category: Puppies!

Do you want more training TIPS?

Want to watch HOW Poe is trained?

Need to learn some NEW training techniques or GAMES?

Then follow ME on YouTube.

Click the SUBSCRIBE button to get NEW video posting notices!

https://www.youtube.com/c/DebbyQuigley/

Now is your chance! “WATCH POE GROW” will give you that opportunity to watch me train my new puppy, Poe.

In the upcoming videos, Poe and I will be showing you everything I like to do with a puppy or dog to build a great competition partner and a wonderful family member.

Poe will be learning skills that will help create a great foundation needed for future competitions as well as learning how to be a well-adjusted partner and pet.

You will get to spend time with Poe as he experiences new locations, and socializes with new people and dogs. In addition, you’ll learn how I teach various skills, while we build confidence, focus, and enthusiasm.

More importantly, Poe and I will show you how to build desire for focus and engagement through great skills like recalls, tug, bringing back toys, self-control, and much more.

Don’t miss out! While a new puppy offers you a clean slate to build solid foundations, confidence, focus and desire, it is never too late to address issues and clean up foundations with your current dog.

This is the opportunity to teach your new puppy or your current dog everything you want your dog to know.

Poe says to Click LIKE, SUBSCRIBE (to get updates) and SHARE as we “WATCH POE GROW”.

Attention and focus can make or break a performance.

This article ran Feb 18, 2020 USDAA Training Tuesday

It is hard for your dog to learn, perform a skill or exercise correctly, if you do not have his complete attention. When training, insist that your dog pay 100 percent attention to you, and be alert for any breaks in focus that may happen.

Once you begin a training session, be aware of any “down time” that may occur while you are working with your dog. Down time happens when you are getting more treats, setting up jumps, walking a course, etc. During this time, if your dog is allowed to wonder around, sniff or visit with others, he is rehearsing a behavior that you most certainly will frown upon later when competing.

Rehearse good HABITS. Before ever getting your dog out of a crate, make a plan. With a plan in mind, you will be able to set out everything you need for your training session. Being prepared will enable you to move from one skill or exercise to the next without losing your dog’s focus. While you are working with your dog, insist that he give his undivided attention and stays engaged with you.

How do you do this? One way is to randomly reward your dog’s effort to pay attention to you by paying him with treats or a game of tug. WHAT? your dog won’t tug? Play the “KrazyKookie” game with him. This is a great game of having him chase the treat that stays in your hand until he catches the yummy.

Next, teach your dog it is in his best interest to watch you closely. While training, be unpredictable and spontaneous with your movements, or give unexpected commands to discourage him from taking even a single glance away from you. Your ability to praise and reward attention, and to discourage inattentiveness, will have a direct effect on your dog’s performance during training and also in a ring setting.

While training, maintain your dog’s focus in non-audible ways. Here are a few ideas:

• Push and run away, or push and play tug or KrazyKookie with your dog.
• Drop a toy or treat pocket to your dog that is hidden underneath your arm.
• When leaving on a sit or start-line, quickly turn and toss a reward to your dog.

Attention and focus can make or break a performance in any sport. Work to build and maintain your dog’s focus on you during all training sessions that will ensure your success when competing or showing.

Look for Debby’s “Games4Focus,” “Skills, Drills, and Thrills” and “Focus Cram” classes to learn more fun games, drills and techniques to getting and maintaining focus while training and competing.

Debby Quigley been showing and teaching for more than 30 years in many venues including obedience, rally, agility and nose work. She has earned multiple OTCHs, MACHs, PACHs and perfect scores of 200. Debby also owns Dogwood Dog Training in Houston, Texas; she teaches classes there and online at DebbyQuigley.com.

It is hard for your dog to learn and perform a skill or exercise correctly if you do not have his complete attention. Insist that your dog pay 100% attention to you. At the same time, you should give your dog 100% of your attention!

Once you begin a training session, be aware of any “down time” that may occur while you are working with your dog. Down time occurs when you are getting more treats, setting up jumps, putting out gloves/articles, etc.

If your dog has an opportunity for frequent sniff and gaze breaks, it is unlikely that his attention span will increase sufficiently enough to pay attention to you through an entire ring performance.

Rehearse good habits. First, make a training plan before you arrive at the new location. With a plan in mind, you will be able to set out everything that you need for your training session.  That will enable you to move quickly from one skill or exercise to the next. While you are working with your dog, convince him to give you his undivided attention and to stay engaged with you. Randomly reward your dog’s effort to pay attention to you by paying him with treats and toys.

Secondly, reassure your dog it is in his best interest to watch you closely!  While training, be unpredictable and spontaneous with your movements, or give unexpected commands to discourage him of taking even a single glance away from you! Your ability to praise and reward attention and to discourage inattentiveness will have a direct effect on your dog’s performance during training and also in a ring setting.

While training, maintain your dog’s focus in non-audible ways.

Here are a few ideas;
• Push and run, or push and play.
• Release up in heel position for treat or toy.
• Release with a toy, pocket, or treat thrown over your head down to heel position.
• Drop a toy, or pocket to your dog that is held underneath your left arm.

Attention and focus will make or break a performance in any sport.  Work to build and maintain your dog’s focus on you during all training sessions and you ensure your success when showing.

Look for my class “Crate2Gate” to learn more fun games and techniques to getting and maintaining focus while training OR showing!

https://debbyquigley.com/classes/

Don’t know about y’all during the summer months but it gets really HOT here in Texas. During this time of year, I need to plan my dog’s training sessions and conditioning so that we can get the most “bang for our bucks” yet not over heat our dogs.

I know you ask yourself “what is there to do to keep my dogs busy and keep them in shape during the long, hot, dry weather”?  YES, you want to have something up your sleeve to keep your four-legged friends busy, in condition, and out of trouble.

The first thing on my list to do during the hot summer months is to review foundations with my dogs. These are skills that are needed for the venue in which we are getting ready to or are currently showing. For instance, if I am showing in agility, we will review our contact behavior on a board or the stairs. We can work on start-line stays or simple jump drill skills with one to three jumps. If we are showing in obedience or rally, we will review pivots which are the foundation of all heeling turns. We can do “Get It” Games to improve any going out and coming back skills such as a dumbbell retrieve or the turn for go-outs. We can review all the foundation skills that I have used to train my dog. Take a few minutes and remember where your dog’s training started. Write a list of all the foundation skills you used with your dog. If you are having issues when showing, NOW is a great time to brush up on those important skills.

I love to teach my dogs Tricks in the summertime! Why? Because Tricks are a great way to exercise my dog’s body and mind. Tricks such as spin or twirl can help with my dog’s flexibility.  Sitting up and begging can improve my dog’s core strength.

Walking backwards can improve rear end awareness. Picking up toys or dog bowls will improve my retrieves. Whatever you decide to teach your dog will benefit you in some way. Get out your bag of ideas and tricks and train away. Besides, tricks are a super way to impress visitors, kids, any anyone who will watch. Furthermore, they are fun and your dog will enjoy them.
Another area I look at is ways to Exercise my dogs. Keeping fit during the off months is very important and will help prevent injuries in the future. Also, exercises improve balance, endurance, and body awareness. Get pods or foam pads for your dog to stand on for balance. A dog treadmill is great for staying cool while working on endurance and conditioning.

Ladder work teaches your dog how to use his feet. If so inclined, you can work on your balance too.

Let your dog have time off to just be a dog. This is important for your dog’s mental health as well as his physical health. Just like humans, it is good to take a vacation from training and work. Hahahaha. Just take time to let your “hair or ears” down. Activities such as swimming, hiking, going to the beach or just plain “ole” lying around with your feet up in the air make great breaks from training. Find activities that both you and your dog will enjoy and just “DO IT”!

Any of the above suggestions can be built upon and ideas added. Look on the Internet, or buy a book for more ideas. There are LOADS of ways to keep you dog busy and in condition through-out the HOT summer months!

Do you have a training question? AskDebbyQ

DebbyQ’s Picks

Before you begin to train, consider exactly what you want to train.

What do you want to accomplish?
For example if you’re training your dog to sit, consider the following questions:

• How will you cue the command? Will you give your dog a verbal or physical cue or both?
• How long should your dog sit? Should he just sit and then stand up, or should he remain in the sit until given a release word?
• What does sit mean to you?
• Do you want the dog to sit in front of you?  Or just to sit where he is, no matter where you are, or what you are doing?
• What will you do if your dog sits slowly or not at all?

All these questions are important, because you need to be able to be pro-active in your training. Being able to respond quickly and be prepared for what might happen, will give you the upper hand with your training and help you become consistent with your cues and criteria.

Posted in the BCSA Borderlines Magazine.

The problem ~
When showing, your dog is leaving to sniff or go visit?

There might be several problems or a combination of issues contributing to the sniffing.

1) Stress of environment. i.e. New places/shows seem to create stress. Is the trainer going to “new” locations to train on a regular basis? This doesn’t mean other training facilities. The new place doesn’t have to have ring gates or rally signs to be effective. Examples could be store fronts, outside dog park fences, business centers on the weekends, etc. It is the “new” that is getting the dog. When going to a show, you are going to a “new” location. Even if you train at that facility on a regular basis the environment is a new one when you go there to show. Why? Different dogs, people, and new atmosphere add to a heightened level of excitement and stress.

2) Stress of inconsistency. i.e. what does the criteria of a skill really mean? This refers to the trainer not asking their dog for skills to be performed the same way anytime or anywhere. For example, is the skill “sit” always performed the same? At home, in the ring, out running and playing with other dogs, or chasing a squirrel etc. When asked to “sit” does the dog sit the same way and speed every time? If the dog is expected to sit in 3 seconds, then the sit should always be 3 seconds. In order for a dog to know how to perform a command/skill in the ring and under stress, the skill/command should be performed to the same criteria every time no matter where or when.

3) Stress of emotions. i.e. mom is nervous when in the environment (the ring) and so the environment must be a bad place. Making sure the ring is “fun” is important for a dog to learn in order to perform in a confident relaxed manner. How? It is important for the trainer to be able to control emotions when in the ring. How do you do this? 2 ways – first, the handler should practice mental toughness training (there are loads of resources out there and I feel truly a must, for anyone doing competition of any kind). Second, confidence in what the dog has been taught. My question to students often is “will you bet me $100 that your dog will perform all the skills needed for the ring if you enter?” If not, then your dog might need more training and proofing before he is ready to show.

4) Stress of lack of reinforcement. Have you gone to the next step in training or randomizing your reinforcement? It is important in training to wean off giving your dog a reward every time he does a skill. Once your dog knows a skill, it is time to pick the best efforts and reinforce only those worth the reward. Examples, if you ask your dog to sit five times, pick the best 2-3 sits to reward. Too many times trainers get in the “habit” of always giving a reward for every repetition the dog gives. The result then becomes your dog will not work if not getting a reward. In the ring your dog must be able to chain a number of skills together to create the performance. Randomizing your reward in training will help accomplish this goal.

5) Stress of poor rapport. The one main thing you take into the ring with you, besides your dog, it the relationship you two have. Good rapport and steady consistent leadership will be clear whether you win or qualify. You and your dog will look like a team. This relates mainly to everyday life with your dog. Does he work for affection? Treats? To go outside or to play ball? How many times during your daily walks have you trained your dog? It is easy to incorporate training into everyday life. Ask your dog to do a skill or two before getting his meal. When out for a walk, ask your dog to do a trick or come to front. When playing ball, ask for a drop or a sit while the dog is running to the ball or coming back to you. It is easy and once you have established the habit of training 24/7 your dog will find time with you reinforcing and fun.

The issues above are easy ones to fix. Take your time and consider how you can add and or adjust training and everyday life with your dog to benefit showing.

Do you have a training question? AskDebbyQ

DebbyQ’s Picks

Published in the BCSA Borderlines Magazine.

Most of us want and even strive for a dog that exudes enjoyment when training and showing. What many of us ultimately look for is a partner that shows willingness and precision along with drive and desire. How do we achieve that balance between speed and yet keep the accuracy?

Back in the old days, training methods were designed for precision without much care for motivating the dog. Although some dogs performed well with this technique, many dogs didn’t appear to enjoy the work itself. Dog training is all about balancing between two ends of a scale.

Drive vs Precision
Training is all about learning how to balance building desire yet maintain an adequate amount of self-control to be accurate when performing skills. In general it is important for a training method to take into account the dog’s willingness and “want” for learning skills. Temperament often plays a role in how a trainer structures training sessions. Dogs that show a high work drive are typically easier to motivate but many times need more training in self-control skills. On the other hand, dogs that show lower drive often need more motivation and shorter sessions while training. With these dogs it might be more important to build the drive and desire before actual training of skills begins. The key in training is motivating your dog during sessions to build the drive you want. Regardless of the level of working desire your dog has, building or maintaining the drive and desire is an important component to take into consideration before you start working with your dog.

TOO MUCH DESIRE
Dogs motivated beyond their threshold or capability become dogs that have a hard time focusing on a task. Some people call this “happy” and “high drive” – others call it frantic and stressed. Many times dogs like this seem to have a hard time remaining calm or unable to think while training.

What to do with a highly excitable dog:
• Work on “rev/settle” games. Anytime your dog sees or hears excitement, have him turn to you for treats or a game of tug.  After, have him lay down and settle emotionally. Reward periodically while he is in a down and in a calm state. If your dog notices an exciting event either reward for your dog looking back to you or release off the down and play.  Over time this game teaches your dog to focus on you during exciting events.
• Feed your dog half his meal before the training session and use low value treats such as kibble for food rewards during training.
• Keep praise low-key and brief and all petting should be calm and slow.

TOO MUCH PRECISION
What happens when you have too much work and do not get enough time for fun? You as a person become sad, overworked and depressed. When you train without reward or motivation, your dog doesn’t have joy in the work. Often dogs trained in this manner are ones who quit trying altogether or go into a “shut down” mode. Other dogs become overly stressed and get completely hectic and scattered commonly sniffing or looking for enjoyment visiting other people. Either way, you tend to get a dog who responds only when he “has to” and who avoids tasks at all other times.

What to do to get more joy and drive:
• Lighten up when you train!
• Enjoy the time and the journey with your dog!
• Motivate your dog using games and reward with food and toys your dog really enjoys.
• Backing away from your dog helps build drive coming towards you.
• If in doubt go back to foundations. Reviews of foundations often find holes in your dogs training or understanding.
• Train in shorter training sessions. Keep it short and sweet.

Achieving the balance between precision and desire is possible. It takes time and planning along with rewards and motivation. YES, you too can have a dog that shows willingness and precision along with drive and desire.

Do you have a training question? AskDebbyQ

DebbyQ’s Picks