Mannerly Mutts Dog Training
(207) 361-4395 Robin Rubin, Certified Professional Dog Trainer
(508) 735-8630 Robert Rubin, Sales and Inquiries
37 Paul Street York Beach, Maine 03910
[email protected]
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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

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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.

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Week 8 LaLa's Training Blog: Social Butterfly Week

6/29/2024

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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.

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Week 7 LaLa Training Log and Critter Obsession

6/22/2024

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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.

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Week 6 LaLa Training Blog:

6/14/2024

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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:

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

6/2/2024

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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.

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Week 3 LaLa (Laurel) Training Blog

5/18/2024

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New things we learned about LaLa this week:
  1. She would like to chase cars (and most likely motorcycles and bikes..
  2. Motorcycles and bikes set off barking.
  3. How to start interactive play (for future training) with LaLa.
  4. LaLa does not like when her dog friends leave.
  5. LaLa likes to think about chasing seagulls as well.
  6. Pretty easy to handle on the beach and in public, generally speaking for a dog in training.
  7. Reacts to small critters but not other dogs when out and about.
This is another reason why training is important.  You want to know your dog and not be surprised by their reaction when you are not prepared.

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LaLa Training Blog NOT Week 3 Yet

5/15/2024

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LaLa Training Update:  Last week should have been a full week of LaLa training with me.  However, I was not feeling up to snuff, so we did not get that much training in.  So I am going to count this next week as a continuation of Week 3.  LaLa has been doing well in her training.  

Play training is still a no-go as I try to figure out if I can get LaLa into some interactive play.  I try to get her involved every day, but playing with a toy with some specifically does not seem to be something she is useful.  She does want to hunt critters and fast movements, so I am not giving up.  

One success we had was getting her to start to follow a treat in the hand.  I suspect she was rewarded with treats for sitting mostly, so she was reverting to that (probably thinking that was why the treat was out). It took me a full two weeks plus to start her body in a spin.  Following the hand can be a valuable training tool.



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Laurel Week 1 Training Journal

4/27/2024

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Training my own new dog, Laurel/LaLa, comes with it's own doubts.  This is especially true when you have not had a new dog for 11 years.  Luckily though, I am a dog trainer and do this with client dog's that I am getting to know all the time.  I do have a basic format for my training, although it can change with individual dogs.  On our first week, I did have some time (as I was on vacation for some of it) to do two hour days.   So that is never training two hours in a row (except maybe in the future on walks, as the dog does not really know they are training and are jazzed up to be out).   The longest times are behavioral or calming exercises which generally last for 15-30 minutes plus.  Then obedience exercises may be sprinkled through the day from 5-15 minute sessions, depending on what we are working on.  I include play training as obedience sessions as that is what I am working towards, even if we are not at the obedience part at first. Although, while LaLa likes to play, she is not really interested in balls, frisbees, or flirt poles towards that purpose at the moment.  Maybe she will grow into that.


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Laurel (aka LaLa) our new dog!

4/20/2024

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PictureLaLa not exactly enthused about long place practice, but being a trooper anyway!
It has been 11 years since I selected a dog (a puppy then) for myself.   Also, all the dogs we intentionally sought out, have been Dobermans to date.  Any other breeds that we did have were all client surrenders.   Going into the search, we really were not sure what dog breed we would get.   In my mind, I was more clear on longevity and certain characteristics it would be nice for our dog to have.  We went to Emma's Angels to check out a couple of (possibly) Chihuahua mixes.   Both of them were nice dogs, but they did not have a liking for big dogs.  Being a training facility, we do have big dogs come in, and I thought that kind of disruption might be a little too intense for us at this particular moment in our lives.  In 2021, we lost three beloved dogs all to old age and in different months (Tommy, Boris, and Ziggy).  With Shana, they were a great pack of friends and family mates.   Then in 2023, even though Shana was 10.5 years old, she did die unexpectedly from something I have already forgotten the name of.  It was basically an unexpected death sentence. In my mind, Shana still had years to go according to her health and activity level before this.



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Common Mistakes Dog Owners Can Make with Their New Shelter or Well Bred Adult Dog

11/13/2023

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Your family (maybe just you) has hopefully planned this day for awhile.  Important decisions were made on where to get your new adult dog from.  Breed generalities may have been studied.   Family members have been consulted on what kind of dog they wish to have.   Puppies have been decided against for many valid reasons.  The day has arrived to pick up your new canine companion and future best friend.  I want you to be aware of some common mistakes that may make your lives harder than they need to be.

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    Author, Robin Rubin

    ​Owner and Head Dog Trainer in Maine, Robin Katherine Rubin, started her Maine dog training business in September 2004.  Our dog training facility is located in Southern Maine in York Beach and we help families enjoy their dogs more, making sure they listen reliably and resolving unwanted behaviors.

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Mannerly Mutts Dog Training Services are located near the following communities in Southern Maine and New Hampshire:

Maine: York, York Beach, Cape Neddick, Ogunquit, Eliot, Kittery, Kittery Point, Berwick, South Berwick, North Berwick, Wells, Moody

New Hampshire: Dover, Portsmouth, Newington, Rye, North Hampton, Stratham, Greenland
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