What do horses have to do with dog training?

Horses are big, strong animals and they provide a great illustration of the importance of using the right equipment for the right job.

When we want them to have maximum strength to pull something heavy, we use a harness, to put the resistance across the strongest part of the animal - their chest.

When we want to have maximum control and lead them, we use a halter, because the the head is the easiest part to move, and where the head goes, the body follows.

It's exactly the same with our dogs! There seems to be a bit of a trend towards using harnesses on dogs - almost all of our clients had one. Apparently the reason for their promotion is to reduce the risk of discomfort or injury from the dog pulling on their collar for the whole walk. The other solution to that issue (and the one we advocate for) is to train the dog not to pull on the lead, so that they aren’t putting strain on any part of their body. Harnesses that go across the dog’s shoulders in particular can cause damage through interfering with the natural gait while the dog’s pulling, so are not really an answer to the injury problem either!

Halters are awesome for dogs big and small, as they make it much easier to get their attention when they're distracted, and enable us to teach them how to walk nicely on a loose lead. This is why we provide halters as part of all of our dog training programmes, whether we're training Chihuahuas or Rottweilers (sadly it's a bit too tricky to use them on bulldogs, so we have to still use collars on the flat nosed breeds! We still train them to walk nicely on a loose lead though, so it still fixes the overall issue.)

This trick to getting fussy dogs to eat might seem counter-intuitive..but it works!

If your dog is a fussy eater, and picks and chooses when to eat, you probably leave their food down all day in an attempt to get them to eat more of it. You might be surprised to know that this is the opposite of what you should be doing..

If you leave your dog’s food bowl down all day, you’re teaching them that the food is always there. This means there’s no urgency to eat the food, encouraging them to have a very nonchalant approach to eating.

To train your dog to make the most of meal time, create a set time, put the food bowl down for 20 minutes, and then take it away until the next meal time. Even if they haven’t touched it.

This creates a sense of urgency around food, as your dog will learn that they have to make the most of it (i.e. eat it!) while it’s there, as if they don’t it will disappear again, and they will (temporarily) go hungry.

Make this a part of your routine and they will soon catch on, even if they go hungry for a day or two first.

P.S. Before you do this, make sure you talk to your vet and rule out any health issues that may be causing loss of appetite, or that may mean your dog can’t go without eating for a day or two. If your dog goes from having a healthy appetite to being very fussy, or stops eating altogether, it’s highly likely there’s a health issue behind that, rather than a behavioural one.

The COVID-19 lock down and your dog

The four week lock down for COVID-19 means most families are going to be home a lot more than normal.

For most dogs, all their Christmas’s will have come at once, with more company and walks that they could have ever wished for! However, we need to be mindful of setting ourselves up for success when the lock down finished and routines return to normal.

This means making sure your dog still spends some “alone time” outside - even if they’d rather be with you. This way, when you do go back to work, it won’t come a massive shock to your dog, which could potentially lead to issues with separation anxiety, especially if your dog is already prone to this! If normal routines (walk time, feed time etc) have gone out the window, make sure you phase them back in to normal towards the end of the lock down, so you’re not suddenly turning the “new normal” on its head when you go back to work, and potentially seriously stressing out your dog.

If you have kids, your dog is probably also going to love the extra playtime and excitement that comes with them being home all day. Like anyone though, it’s also important that dogs have access to some “alone time” to decompress and relax. Make sure there is a place where your dog can go to relax (like their bed or crate), where the kids know they are not allowed to touch them. The last thing you want is your dog getting so overwhelmed that they feel like they have to growl or snap to get the kids to leave them alone, as this can be a slippery slope!

Lastly, make the most of the extra time by using it to train them - teach your dog some new tricks, or work on their obedience training. Of course, if your dog’s lack of manners and training means they’re driving you a little nuts during the lock down, it’s also a perfect time to get in touch with us about how we can get you sorted once the lock down’s over!

Teaching a Reliable Recall

A reliable recall is top of the training list for most dog owners.

A reliable recall is high on most dog owners’ wish lists, for good reason. A dog that will return when you call them is much easier to take places without it ending in frustration. Here are a few tips for teaching the all-important ‘come’ command:

Build a foundation of manners and obedience in other areas too – practicing obedience commands like sit, down, heel and staying put under distraction teaches them to focus on, and listen to you even when they’d rather do something else. This sets a good precedent for learning to return back to you, even when something more exciting is on offer.

Make the recall exciting – say the command long, loud, and happy! Praise as soon as they begin to come and make a big fuss of them when they return.

Be consistent – “come” should mean return back to my feet, as soon as I say the word – not return in five minutes, come within ten metres and disappear again, or shoot straight past me at 100 miles an hour! If you accept less than them immediately returning to your feet, they’ll realise they can push the boundaries, and will be more inclined to try pushing them even further next time.

Run in the opposite direction. This works really well for puppies, but is often surprisingly effective for adult dogs too – their natural instinct is to chase after you, and you’re also making it more exciting.

Don’t just call them for something they don’t like (like when you’re about to leave the park) - mix it up and call them randomly, praise and release them again.

Don’t give the command when you can’t reinforce it until you are pretty positive that they will listen to you, or they will learn that listening is optional. Attaching a long rope to their collar during practice sessions means you can retain control while practicing recalls from a distance.

If you would like to know more about teaching obedience under distraction, or addressing behavioural issues, these are both covered in our Dog and Puppy Training Programmes.

Reliable Stays from a Distance - a quick tip.

A quick tip for teaching your dog a reliable 'Stay'.

When your dog is in a 'Sit' or 'Down', wait until you are back at their side to give their release command, rather than calling or releasing them from a distance. This means they will tend to settle down and wait for your return, rather than jumping at every little noise and move you make, hoping it's that magic release word. A dog's hearing tends to be very optimistic when it's a word they want to hear!

Teaching a reliable ‘stay’, especially under distraction, is great for improving your dog’s self control and reliability in different situations. It’s also useful for getting cute photos!

Rose and Soot showing off their staying power