Teaching Touch
Teaching your pet a nose-to-hand target offers you distinct opportunities to practice foundational training mechanisms. Commonly called “touch,” this offers your learner an easy win. Once fluent, this is a fun and accessible trick!
Recall Tips
Teaching your dog to come when called, or recall, is a matter of safety and a commonly requested skill. Read on to learn tips to get started teaching your dog to come when called!
The Look At That (LAT) Pattern Game
To help a dog learn to respond more neutrally to distractions, we can teach them the Look At That Pattern Game (LAT). This straightforward pattern helps all involved stay below threshold by assigning clear tasks in the presence of your dog’s triggers.
Muzzle Training: An Introduction
“One of the biggest barriers to muzzle use is stigma. Too often, muzzled dogs are labeled as ‘bad’ or ‘dangerous.’ The truth? A muzzle is a sign of a responsible, caring guardian who is putting their dog’s welfare and public safety first. By normalizing muzzles, we protect dogs from unnecessary judgment and help guardians feel proud of their proactive choice.”
the Up-Down Pattern Game
The Up-Down game is probably the simplest pattern game out there! This easy to learn game teaches our dogs to offer us their attention and has tons of applications.
the Ping Pong Pattern Game
‘Ping Pong’ is a simple and versatile pattern game. You might want to play this game with your dog if you want a joyful recall, more check-ins from your dog, or a safe pattern to help get your dog out of sticky situations. Once taught, Ping Pong can function as a familiar, predictable game for your pet to more easily remember- even when they are feeling excited or unsure about something.
the 1-2-3 Game
The 1-2-3 Game is one of the very easiest things to teach. This simple pattern game can be used as a recall, an interrupter of unwanted behavior, and even in place of a ‘drop’ or ‘leave it’ behavior with enough practice!
What's a Marker?
A marker functions as a ‘secondary reinforcer.’ Things a learner already enjoys, like treats, are called ‘primary reinforcers.’ We can teach our learner that a secondary reinforcer, our marker, cues a primary reinforcer is on the way. Once taught, we can communicate to our learner that we ‘like’ what they did with a well timed marker! This is the foundation of positive reinforcement training.
Loose Leash Walking
Loose leash walking is a complex set of behaviors & conditions. No harness or collar will magically make your dog walk politely on a leash. WE have to teach this behavior!
Dog Body Language & Why it’s Important
Keeping your dog safe and happy starts with understanding their body language. While they may not speak our language, dogs are always trying to communicate through their movements and expressions.
The Two-Step Game
The Two Step pattern game is a great way to teach your dog the value of walking by your side. This game lends itself well to loose leash walking!