You know what speed wobbles are? It is a term for when a vehicle goes so fast, that it starts to wobble and lose control. And here’s the thing…… ALL vehicles will get them IF you go fast enough. So…. a sound piece of advice may be “Avoid going so fast that you get speed wobbles.” That said….. If you …
“Tug” For Rehab
Yep…. I don’t just use tug to biologically fulfill dogs, develop skills, language, and relationship….. I also use it to teach them to CHOOSE us over distraction. These dogs are not punished into not looking. They are choosing the game with their owner OVER the other dog. And make no mistake…. Both of these dogs were very reactive to the …
Why You Should Study Pickpocketing
Today….. I told someone that they should get good at picking pockets. Yeah. That’s the kind of advice you get from me. See……. We took their dog on an “Out & About” training session. It was on a busy walking trail in Amesbury, Mass. There were walkers. Bikes. Kids. Kids in strollers. And dogs……. Several dogs. Dogs stopped on the …
Conditioned Relaxation Is NOT Massage.
OK……. Conditioned Relaxation is one of those hot topics going around. And, in case you’ve been living under a rock for the last 6 months…… you’ve seen it. Or, at least heard it described. The typical view of CR goes like this: “CR is using massage to get a dog relaxed.” Massaging a dog until they relax IS NOT putting …
Extinction Burst
You walk up to the elevator. Push the button…… Wait. Push the button…… Wait. Push the button…… Wait. “One more fucking time, and I’m taking the stairs” you say. Push the button…… PUSH THAT STUPID PIECE OF SHIT BUTTON 55 GOD DAMN TIMES!!!!!! Quit, and take the stairs. That’s the extinction burst. It’s the burst or “trying” that happens just …
Sometimes…. It Works Out
Walking 2 of our dogs through the woods, and in the middle of a good conversation (aka not paying attention to the pups) we hear screaming and sounds of dog blowing up from around the corner on the trail. Yeah….. The same trail that Jax had just run down. I have the dogs on remote collars for recall, but…. no …
Why “Break Sticks” Are Shit.
If you’re a dog trainer with an interest in rehabbing dog aggression…… Please. Throw the “Break Stick” away. Look, I know why you have them. It’s a logical mistake to make. You want to break up a fight that involves at least one committed dog. (a concern you NEED to address if you work in rehab). Well….. Who has the …
Those “Graduation” Moments
This is Firkin. She used to be super reactive. If anyone listens to the Podcast…. She’s the one that snapped the long line and went Zombie style on the door I narrowly exited. But that was then……. THIS. Is now. This was outside a Starbucks in a strip mall. There’s a grocery store, a pet store, and a children’s bus …
Another Second Chance Dog
http://youtu.be/02I4u4zQAPw
“Pack Structure”
I’ve been wanting to write this for a while but……. Every time I try, I feel like my head will explode. Giving it another shot: Pack structure. When, I got into dog training it was to help troubled dogs. To that end everyone was talking about various ways to enforce what many times is referred to as “Pack Structure”. There …