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Information on Dogs and Training
Do You Know the Steps of ‘The Training Dance’?
!?!?!?! I hear you say. What on earth is a Training Dance?’ Well, it’s not really a dance – but then again, it is. Confused? Read on… It’s a truism that training isn’t something we do TO our dogs, it’s something we do WITH our dogs. In that way, it is like a dance....
Why Train Your Dog? Here are 8 Excellent Reasons…
We’ve all heard that we need to train our dogs. It’s pretty much an accepted fact of dog ownership. But have you ever wondered WHY it’s so important? I mean, plenty of dogs go through life without any formal training whatsoever and most of them seem just fine. So...
Trouble Teaching Your Dog to Focus? Part 2
This is the second part of a two part series on teaching our dogs how to focus on us in interesting places. PART ONE examined the concept of 'focus' from a dog training perspective and looked at how to teach the foundation skill of reorienting to us from...
Trouble Teaching Your Dog to ‘Focus’?
What is 'Focus'? A very frequent comment I hear from dog handlers is that their dog can’t ‘focus’. Their dog is ‘distracted’ by the environment or specific things within it. So, I’d like to take a closer look at this very common problem. This is especially true of...
4 Ways to Undermine Your Dog Training – and How to Avoid Them.
It’s such a common story: get puppy, go to puppy class, go to basic manners class, go to the next class. Give up. Your dog is still an out of control nut job who won’t listen to you outside of class or unless you have food clearly in your hand. What went wrong? You...
Are You a Proactive Or Reactive Trainer? And Why Does it Matter?
This is something that many people new to positive reinforcement (R+) training struggle with. Why does 'fixing' behaviour problems (or any training problem) seem so much harder using positive techniques than using punishment or force? I mean, you're rewarding the...
Is My Dog Dominant… And Should I Be Concerned About It?
Here's a question I get asked frequently: “Is my dog dominant? Is that why he misbehaves all the time?” It’s an interesting question and I’d like to unpack it (excuse the pun!) and take a closer look. Before we start, I’d better lay out what is meant by the terms...
4 Reasons Why On-Lead Greetings Are a No-No!
I often get asked by clients whether they should allow their dog to greet other dogs while either is on a lead. I ALWAYS say “No!” This is sometimes met with surprise but I have good reasons - and it’s not because I’m a kill-joy control freak! (Well, not totally…) So,...
Can You Handle It?
No, the title doesn’t refer to the current heatwave New Zealand is experiencing! I’m asking if you can handle your dog’s body. Can you check ears, eyes, mouth, feet and ‘private bits’? Can you groom, trim or apply minor first aid if needed? If the answer is “Umm, no…”...
The 8 Most Useful Things to Teach a New Puppy
We have a new puppy! Felix the border collie, who came to live with us at 8 weeks, is now 14 weeks old and people have been asking what I’ve taught him so far. Well, the answers might surprise you! First up, things he DOESN'T know: Sit - on...