Mannerly Mutts Dog Training Blog - Mannerly Mutts Dog Training

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.

Week 3 LaLa (Laurel) Training Blog

5/18/2024

New things we learned about LaLa this week:

She would like to chase cars (and most likely motorcycles and bikes..
Motorcycles and bikes set off barking.
How to start interactive play (for future training) with LaLa.
LaLa does not like when her dog friends leave.
LaLa likes to think about chasing seagulls as well.
Pretty easy to handle on the beach and in public, generally speaking for a dog in training.
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.

LaLa Training Blog NOT Week 3 Yet

5/15/2024

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.

Laurel Week 1 Training Journal

4/27/2024

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.

Bad weather dog games and toys

9/27/2023

Fall is a beautiful season, and winter weather follows in the not too distant future. Many people do not know what to do to keep their dogs active when conditions are not great to do outdoor activities. Luckily, there are things we can do with our dog when stuck inside.

What is it that "play training" can add to your partner and canine team (Part 4 of 4 Play Training Series)

6/15/2023

Our Shana with her "treasure" after a flirt pole training session of send to two places. After this, she fell into a deep sleep.

Why should someone consider adding play training to their dog training routine? I say add, because I am never just play training. For instance, if I am on a busy city street and we have some training to do, I probably am not going to use my flirt pole, frisbee, or ball to start a training session. I may use food as play or just as a standard reward. I may also use to do a subtle form of traditional training or management. So for those reasons, I don't believe you can get away with just play training your dog, although I would not have a problem with it if I could figure out how!

So then the question is, why add play training in?

How Do You Use Play Training for Impulse Control? What is Impulse Control? (Part 3 of 4 Series)

6/7/2023

This is Shana demonstrating some impulse control while we play and food train. Sometimes I use just food reward or just toy reward. In this instance, I am using both food and toy. Shana's impulse is to rip the toy apart right before my eyes OR not give it up at all. Impulse control is when the dog is not doing something that they would like to do in the moment. When you are using play, they are controlling their impulse because they want the game to go on, instead of being corrected in more traditional training methods.

Note: Our next blog will go over what play training provides for you that is different than traditional dog training, and why you might want to use it.

Play Training Mistakes to Avoid With Food or Toys (Part 2 of Play Training Series)

5/29/2023

Play training focuses on the reward of play for engagement, enthusiasm, and motivation of the tasks, obedience, behavioral change, and relationship being formed. It sounds easy, right? The dog does this, and then we go and do that. The knowledge of the impending reward of continuing the game increases the likely hood of the behavior and/or performance that you want. In theory, it is easy. In practice, you can make mistakes that I would rather others avoid if possible.

Play Training: How To Start (Part 1 of Series of Play Training Series)

5/22/2023

In 2011 I came across a YouTube video of a trainer, Mike Ellis, who is a well known sports dog trainer. I hadn't heard of him, as he wasn't a fixture in pet dog training or AKC obedience. What he was doing absolutely blew me away, and he was having a seminar in RI the next week. I paid the very reasonable price to attend with a non working or audit spot (means you don't bring a dog to work and be coached), as all the working spots were filled. The seminar was called "Focus and Drive". This was the beginning of my play training journey. I am going to do a series on play training on this blog for the next few weeks (or more).