Mannerly Mutts Dog Training Blog - Mannerly Mutts Certified #1157 CEC NADOI Dog Trainer in York Maine

Common Question: Will My Dog Grow Out of "IT"?

8/28/2024

The short answer is that it is very unlikely for your dog to simply outgrow unwanted behaviors. Sure your dog will get older, and as age has a way of making us all slow down. However, if there is a behavior that is working for the dog, then that will be unlikely to extinct itself without owner guidance.

Dogs want your attention. If they jump on you and they get attention, negative or positive attention is their goal. Dogs like food, so if snatching something off the counter always results in a treat, then that behavior will also most likely continue. Your dog is not going to know how you would prefer them to act unless you teach and guide them.

LaLa's Training Journal Week 9: A study in how movement and leashes can affect behavioral differences and frustration in dogs while dog training

7/6/2024

At the beginning of Week 9, I made sure to do a lot of videos. I hope to string these together someday, to show the progress that is made over time. Alas, I am a much better dog trainer than "digital creator'. Perhaps some more practice will make perfect. We were mostly inside this week, as I had a lot of client dogs over needing to be trained, and I was pooped by 6 pm. This weekend, we are going to do a lot of "on the road training"m as I have am even busier week coming up next week. LaLa does help out on occasion by being the distraction in a crate for private lessons. In day training, she is a moving distraction.

What Are Markers in Dog Training and How Are Markers Used as Feedback?

7/2/2024

Maine Dog Trainer LaLa Sits Pretty

LaLa sitting pretty for someone else while out on errands with my husband.

Markers and Feedback are used in most of my training. Markers used for feedback give your dog additional information to your tone, body movements, and verbal cues used for commands.

Feedback is information that lets your dog know whether they are on the right track or not, depending on what you are doing with them. It is important that feedback is given at a well-timed point to let them know in that moment if they are performing or working in the direction or task that you want. Ideally you want this feedback to be able to be given with some space in between you once you get going. Rewards and corrections are a type of feedback that is close up. Instead in this article, I am going to talk about equipment, the clicker, and verbal, your voice. LaLa is probably being told she is a "good girl" when sitting pretty for a stranger above. Good is a marker for "Good Job and Keep Going".

Week 8 LaLa's Training Blog: Social Butterfly Week

6/29/2024

Mannerly Mutts Dog Training York Maine

LaLa and Foxie in the penned in yard

This week, LaLa had a lot of both canine and human company around her in the house. So far, she is absolutely turn key with the human company. She just wants to snuggle with them or enthusiastically greet them. My brother in law came for a visit, and our cleaning person is also a favorite of LaLa's.

She likes other dogs, but he it takes her a day or two to get to know them and not be so forward with them. Once she feels comfortable with them, she is great. I don't let her play with everyone, because she can be a bit much (even with us) in that regard. LaLa just keeps getting better and better as time goes on.

How Quality Equipment Will Keep Your Dog Safe on Leash

6/26/2024

At Mannerly Mutts Dog Training, we pick our equipment for quality and safety. Dog equipment does not train the dog, but it can make the training easier for both the human and the dog. Dog equipment's bigger and more important role is to keep your dog safe.

All you need to do is glance at Lost Dog Recovery of Maine's FB page to see a small representative of the problem. Just a couple of months ago Sapphire, a Jack Russell Terrier, in York Maine was lost, and has not been found. A couple of days ago, we saw another two dogs who had slipped their collar and leash on our road and heading through the neighborhood. We could not catch them, but they did make it home. Not all of these end in a happy ending however, with all the dangers around us (autos, predators, and just the amount of land to get lost in). Dogs can move very fast, especially when spooked, and cover long distances. So what makes the equipment we use safest when bringing dogs outside to train?

Week 7 LaLa Training Log and Critter Obsession

6/22/2024

LaLa trying to get at critters under our penned in area deck.

LaLa and I have just about completed our 7th week training. She is remarkably well behaved on leash.

Off leash, she is more than just a little critter obsessed as you can see by the photo to your left. After that photo, I had to work on getting her back into the house by luring with food and having her work for a bit on obedience. LaLa clearly has the terrier gene hard wired in her. I know where critters are in the walls of my house (or were maybe). The critters under the deck clearly don't have the good sense to move their home. Our previous girl, Shana, was prey driven too, but not as much as LaLa, but then again she had at least 9 years of training under her belt and being diverted to other activities.

I am working with LaLa on making other activities as interesting as hunting critters. I am also trying to find a way to make that a motivating factor. We got 5 minute games of interactive play this week with poor Lamby toy (the only toy she will play a little tug with me with some prolonged enthusiasm.

What to Wear When Training a dog

6/21/2024

This is my typical summer dog training and working outfit. I did leave out the convertible leash and sunglasses.

There is something so basic in dog training that I often forget to communicate to my human clients. It ends up being important what you wear to train your dog or puppy. I typically have a basic dress code everyday even with seasoned and trained dogs. A lot of my work requires me being able to get dirty and play with the dogs in different environments as the training progresses. This could be in the woods around wetlands or on a mountain trail.

I have separate clothes for dog training, so I don’t ruin my non-dog training clothes. Do not wear your favorite (dry clean only or hand wash only) clothes while training dogs. Some of this advice may be over the top for just a dog owner trainer, nevertheless, I think they are great tips to keep in mind for either the professional trainer or dog owner:

Week 6 LaLa Training Blog:

6/14/2024

Mannerly Mutts Certified Maine Dog Trainer

Lala and I have been working on what I am calling Week 6 of our training. (technically, it is week 7, but I wasn't feeling too well on Week 6, so that was sub par in my efforts.

We have done some out and about light training (as you can see per the picture). LaLa loves to be out and about and on adventure. Dogs charging at us make us both uneasy, but LaLa does well anyway. I do wish people would obey the after 6 pm leash laws on the beach (and on the roads to the beach) so it could be more enjoyable for everyone. A friendly dog rushing up to your dog, is still a dog you and your dog don't know. I really wish people would be more considerate.

Anyway, LaLa and I have been working, and here are some videos that show some of our progress below:

Four Training Commands That Assist with Come and NOT Jumping

6/5/2024

When I got my second dog, Neptune, I remember not understanding why we could not just work on his reactivity. Why did we need to do this other stuff. Neptune was the first dog that began my introduction into dog training. Truly, he was not that bad at all, but I was that novice of a dog owner. The trainers involved were spot on. I don't know if I fully realized how spot on they were at the time. Neptune managed to have a great life despite my very novice dog owner training skills with him. There is a definite learning curve when you begin training your dog.

Week 5 LaLa Training Blog: More Exposure to Outside Distractions and Dropping the Leash Inside

6/2/2024

As my dog's performance improves or is at least manageable in less distractions, then I start pushing the distractions a bit at a time. I want to challenge my dog but not totally overwhelm them. For me this becomes a judgement call. I can wait for more perfect performance in non distractions. I can also increase their performance in non distractions by pushing them a little bit when I am fairly sure they can handle it. I decide later whether that ended up being a bad idea or a good idea. With LaLa, it was a good idea as she did better than expected around distractions. Her biggest distraction is my husband, Robert, moving in and out of her view BTW. Next biggest distraction would be critters, but they are definitely second place to Robert.