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Showing posts from April, 2026

Week 1 Observations, Accomplishments and Videos

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  Pigeon Observations:  Pigeon is a social girl who likes to have fun.  For most of the first week, Pigeon did not show much reactivity at all on leash.  However, she was introduced to the Day Training Group appropriately, so it was not like she was seeing "new dogs" to her when on leash.  I saw a little of her reactivity in excitement to seeing wildlife in our yard through the fenced-in pen area off-leash.    On this Monday, she did show a little excited reactivity when her friend, Chewy, came in.  She loves Chewy, and she wanted to get at him to play and flirt. The basic skills that she came with are better than most dogs.  Therefore, we have been moving pretty quickly in advancing her skills to be used in much more exciting surroundings.  In week one, I have been using outside wildlife and walking in the woods to rein in her impulse control. I am trying to get videos of Pigeon's reaction to the wildlife, but either my phone is not wit...

Week 1 Traditional Heel and Auto Sit

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   Equipment Needed: 6’ Leash, Training Collar (or a slip lead could replace the two).    NOTE 1: IF YOU USE THE SLIP LEAD, THE COLLAR CORRECTION IS NOT AS CLEAN OR PRECISE. IF YOU HAVE AN AMENABLE DOG, THIS PROBABLY WON’T BE A PROBLEM.     NOTE 2: YOU DON’T NEED TO PRACTICE EVERY TIME WHILE HEELING. YOU CAN DO THESE WHILE JUST WALKING WITH YOUR DOG AS WELL.     Explanation and Goal of Exercise: This exercise is the end goal for the molding and interim sit exercises you have been doing. You want to be able to stand up straight now for both the command and the correction (the correction is loose, tight, loose but quickly with the chain training collar, and just a tug with the slip leash) The goal for this week will be to do three sets of four in a row without needing the correction (which means it is very important to use the well-timed correction when it is needed).        STEP 1 :  Heel with your dog, but be sure that ...

Week 1 Sit Stay with Distractions (Circle sit stay to start)

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  Equipment Needed:  6' Leash, Training Collar (or slip leash can be used instead for both)    Explanation and Goal of Exercise:  Great for keeping a dog stationary when doing chores around the house.  Stationing a dog in any human or canine social environment when needed.  To keep the dog from greeting too enthusiastically, learn to wait and greet when allowed.  There are many other uses for this exercise.  The dog is required to perform the position of the command and stay there until the release word is given. This is also the beginning of the dog understanding that when you move, the rules of stay remain the same. The handler/owner will be increasing the duration first, add in distractions, and finally add on distance from the dog to this exercise.   NOTE: AS DISTRACTIONS AND DISTANCE ARE ADDED TO THE EXERCISE, IT IS ENTIRELY PROBABLE THAT YOU WILL NEED TO START AT LESS TIME THAN BEFORE.  GENER...

Week 1 Stay Command (the beginning)

  Equipment Needed: 6' Leash, Training Collar (or a slip lead instead of the leash and collar )       Explanation and Goal of Exercise:  Great for keeping a dog stationary when doing chores around the house.   Stationing a dog in any human or canine social environment when needed.   To keep the dog from greeting too enthusiastically by learning to wait and greet when allowed.   There are many other uses for this exercise.    The dog is required to perform the position of the command, and stay there until the release word is given.   The handler/owner will be increasing the duration first, add in distractions, and finally add on distance from the dog to this exercise.     NOTE ON STAYS:   DO NOT RUSH THROUGH THIS EXERCISE.   IF YOU STOP AT ONE SECTION, BUT DO THE BEST WORK POSSIBLE THAT IS MOST IMPORTANT.   IF YOU CAME HERE MORE ADVANCED, BUT HAVE TROUBLE AT ONE LEVEL, THEN...