DIY Doggie Dishes

Check out some homemade recipes over at Breed Expert in my article "DIY Doggie Dishes: Crafting Nutrient-Rich Recipes for Your Pooch." You'll find several good recipes for dinners, treats, and biscuits, including vegetarian options I put together for when you're feeling like cooking at home for your pup.

Note that the Breed Expert website does not represent my opinions or beliefs. My own articles, and only those articles that I have personally authored there, are what I know to be honest and accurate information. The other authors and opinions on the Breed Expert website in no way reflect my own opinions and interpretations. 

My hope is that my writing for Breed Expert will continue to shift opinions to agree with science and common sense that reward-based scientific training is the best and only way to train our dogs.

I support the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior's position statement that only positive, humane, and fear-free methods should be used when educating a dog. Reward-based methods should be used for ALL training, including challenging behavior disorders. 

Tackling Leash Training: Tips for Polite and Enjoyable Walks

 Read my article on Breed Expert: Tackling Leash Training: Tips for Polite and Enjoyable Walks.

Note that the Breed Expert website does not represent my opinions or beliefs. My own articles, and only those articles that I have personally authored there, are what I know to be honest and accurate information. The other authors and opinions on the Breed Expert website in no way reflect my own opinions and interpretations. 

My hope is that my writing for Breed Expert will continue to shift opinions to agree with science and common sense that reward-based scientific training is the best and only way to train our dogs.

I support the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior's position statement that only positive, humane, and fear-free methods should be used when educating a dog. Reward-based methods should be used for ALL training, including challenging behavior disorders. 

Weaves and Serpentines

 Pearls:

• When telling your dog to turn with "Here!" be sure your physical cues and body are turning to direct the dog along her path-- think of using a laser pointer to show Jackie her line of travel
• CUE EARLIER
• When doing serpentines, the handler needs to get themselves turned faster, directing the dog's line of travel
• The lotus ball continues to be a great reinforcer to keep Jackie's focus forward with the weaves
• Independent weaves are great but also learn to get beside Jackie because when you're in a course you're going to need to tell her where to go on the other end of the weaves

Jackie playing serpentines and weaves:

Overcoming Common Training Challenges

Rewards and praise are the best way to train your dog.

The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior's 2021 Position Statement on Humane Dog Training states, "Training methods are most effective when they focus on teaching the animal what to do, rather than punishing them for unwanted behaviors. Common training issues such as jumping barking, and housetraining can be managed by arranging the environment appropriately and reinforcing desirable responses."

Read the article I authored on the Breed Expert website: "Overcoming Common Training Challenges: Advice from the Experts."

Note that the Breed Expert website does not represent my opinions or beliefs. My own articles, and only those articles that I have personally authored there, are what I know to be honest and accurate information. The other authors and opinions on the Breed Expert website in no way reflect my own opinions and interpretations. 

My hope is that my writing for Breed Expert will continue to shift opinions to agree with science and common sense that reward-based scientific training is the best and only way to train our dogs.

I support the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior's position statement that only positive, humane, and fear-free methods should be used when educating a dog. Reward-based methods should be used for ALL training, including challenging behavior disorders such as aggression. 

Breed Expert?

I am writing for an educational website that gives advice to dog owners and folks seeking information before they adopt an adult dog or puppy. It is a source for easy-to-understand articles and a broad range of elementary information about all types of dogs. Check it out at BreedExpert.com. 

My first article "Exciting Toys and Gear for Your Golden Retriever" is about the pinnacle of dogdom, the beloved golden retriever. The second article "Puppy Training 101: Essential Skills for Your New Best Friend" is about teaching puppies basic skills.

Note that the Breed Expert website does not represent my opinions or beliefs. My own articles, and only those articles that I have personally authored there, are what I know to be honest and accurate information. The other authors and opinions on the Breed Expert website in no way reflect my own opinions and interpretations. 

My hope is that my writing for Breed Expert will continue to shift opinions to agree with science and common sense that reward-based scientific training is the best and only way to train our dogs.

I support the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior's position statement that only positive, humane, and fear-free methods should be used when educating a dog. Reward-based methods should be used for ALL training, including challenging behavior disorders such as aggression. 

All domestic animals deserve effective, compassionate, and humane methods of training.

Meet the "expert!"

The Struggle Is Real

Jackie has had a recent step change in her understanding of weaves. Putting weaves and teeters as obstacles on the course is a big deal, and Jackie is doing great. We are at that point in learning any new behavior where there is a bit of struggle to transfer a newly learned behavior into a new environment. 

Jackie has been doing 12 weaves for two days now and is already putting them together on a course. She has done a full height teeter only a handful of times and is doing a great job figuring it out on the field. Everything is challenging just now-- it is a different surface (grass), it is in a sequence instead of a single obstacle, and it is a different physical obstacle outside than inside (different surface, color, and materials) so it is asking a lot to put it all together. 

We are pushing Jackie just enough so that it is challenging but still attainable. Jackie is doing a great job figuring it all out, and she really loves the teeter and is gaining understanding day by day with the weaves.

Jackie figuring out weaves and teeters:

12 Weaves First Time!

Jackie did 12 weaves today for the first time ever! Then we went outside to do 12 weaves on the course, and Jackie did a teeter on the course for the first time ever as well! It was a red letter day!

Jackie playing weaves and teeters:

Independent Weaves

Jackie's independent weaves are stronger than her running alongside weaves. We are training toward strong weaves running with the handler. I am happy with her solid independent weaves.

Jackie weaving alongside and indepent:

Achieving New Heights!

Today we raised the teeter height a few inches and Jackie loved it! We also played a fun course of hoops and jumps.

Pearls:

• Go slowly whenever you're introducing something new, or changing an element such as adding height to the teeter, this helps Jackie gain confidence in each new version of the obstacle
• Especially when playing with distance, be sure to get your verbal cues out early, well ahead of each obstacle
• Keep moving forward, even when playing with distance

Jackie nailing the new teeter height and playing fun courses with the beginning of distance handling:

Independent and Alongside Weaves

Jackie is continuing to do a great job learning weaves. We played both independent and running alongside weaves today, with great success.

Jackie playing weaves today:

A Better Way to Train 2o2o Contacts

 Pearls:

• A better way to train two-on-two-off (2o2o) contact behavior is to set a plank, cue "Feet!" and then play with moving while Jackie waits in 2o2o to be released
• Always reinforce Jackie at a variable rate of reward so that she stays fresh and energetic for the play
• After each repetition, throw a reset cookie for Jackie to go and find well behind the contact plank, this way Jackie becomes more independent in getting into 2o2o position
• To cue a turn out of a tunnel, give the directional cue "Here!" before Jackie enters a "dog cannon" (a straight tunnel that dogs run through at top speed) 

Jackie playing teeters, turns out of a tunnel, and 2o2o: