<![CDATA[K9Dreamers Dog Training + Behaviour

<![CDATA[K9Dreamers Dog Training + Behaviour - Dog Blog]]>Sat, 13 Apr 2024 08:07:12 +0000Weebly<![CDATA[Dream Puppy <3]]>Mon, 11 Dec 2023 17:36:08 GMThttp://k9dreamers.co.uk/dog-blog/dream-puppy-lt3A Puppy is for LIFE...Not just for Christmas..!

Most new Dog / Puppy owners I know are very switched on and
ready for this BIG moment...!!
You know that before you get a new Puppy.. it takes research, time and a lot of decision making, with family, deciding on your choice of breed, to fit your lifestyle + know the Breed Specifics of the Type of Dog.
This varies a lot. You know that you are preparing for a huge lifestyle change as you know it.
If you have had a dog before, that's great.
Did you have the dog from a Puppy? If so, how long ago?
So much in the Dog Training / Learning world has evolved and changed over the last 15-20 years.
Years ago it was the 'Alpha Pack' theory, which came from the old belief that the ALPHA Wolf TOOK that position. Now we know after lots of people have lived with Wolf packs, that the Alpha dog, male or female.. is given that position, and the other Wolves willing submit.
So, your new puppy still needs a leader, and it needs to be a relationship of 'Mutual respect'.. which I absolutely love.
Nowadays, we teach + help a Puppy to do the right thing, because we have shown them what to do, created the action or behaviour, given it a name, and rewarded them!!!
Yay thinks the Puppy...I will do that again.. it was fun, happy owner..
cos I got a lot of praise and a yummy reward.

Here below is one part of my 'Puppy Words', I share in my highly recommended 'Trinity Puppy' 1:1 Session, before you start classes.
Trinity stands for 'Calmness Focus and Impulse Control'
So.....
Happy Dog ... Happy Owner... ! Yay !

]]><![CDATA[More.... 'Words I use a lot'...as a Reminder and Prompt following a 1:1 Session :)]]>Tue, 04 Apr 2023 08:48:38 GMThttp://k9dreamers.co.uk/dog-blog/more-words-i-use-a-lotas-a-reminder-and-prompt-following-a-11-session

]]><![CDATA[Words I use all the time in my 1:1s and Classes.]]>Fri, 13 May 2022 10:17:25 GMThttp://k9dreamers.co.uk/dog-blog/words-i-use-all-the-time-in-my-11s-and-classes

]]><![CDATA[Stay or Wait... a Subtle Difference]]>Sun, 03 Oct 2021 15:32:03 GMThttp://k9dreamers.co.uk/dog-blog/stay-or-wait-a-subtle-differenceWhen it comes to words and our communications with our dogs, I am a 'literal' dog trainer. No confusion, no mixed messages. I like to teach a dog with clear, cue words. I call a spade a spade... or a Stay and Stay, or a Wait ... a wait.
Dogs are actually able to learn hundreds of words, to be used in different situations and scenarios, they have they capacity and brain to be able to do this.
'Chaser' A brilliant book by John W. Pilley, a retired University Psychologist, who set out to create an experiment to teach his new Border Collie Puppy Chaser to learn words, reached the amazing 1000 words mark.
He bought toys for the puppy, gave them names, (labelling the toys cos John forgot) and teaching Chaser to go fetch... a named toy.
He describes having a pile of toys in his sitting room, of over 1000 toys. Chaser could 'Go Fetch' any toy.
Now we all know Border Collies are brilliant, but most dogs can learn maybe 20 - 30 different words, and many more, but all dogs are capable of learning.
The more we stretch the dog's brain... the better and stronger it becomes.
So, don't hold back... create learning opportunities.
Use words with visual cues to enhance the dog's response.
This is also relevant with the command 'Leave it'.
In my book 'Leave it' means just that.

So, when teaching your dog to 'Wait', or 'Drop' don't say.. 'Leave it'.
Teach and Train THE SPECIFIC WORD... use many words, be clear, don't confuse your dog, expand their brain.
To Stay or Wait... that is the question... be CLEAR.
See the Info Doc here on the difference between a Stay and a Wait. Have fun!

stay_or_wait-jt.docx
File Size:	168 kb
File Type:	docx

Download File

]]><![CDATA[K9Dreamers 'Trinity of Training'.]]>Thu, 13 May 2021 18:21:45 GMThttp://k9dreamers.co.uk/dog-blog/k9dreamers-trinity-of-trainingFor a long time now, I have found myself talking about these 3 areas when working with dogs and people towards Training or Behaviour.
There is often a cross over, which comes first, Training or Behaviour?
Both..... two sides of the same coin. I hope this visual speaks for itself.
As dog owners we are helping our dogs to grow, develop and mature.
These 3 areas describe my vision and plan to enable this, bringing everything together into a joint perspective.
Yay! Go work with the K9 Dreamers Trinity of Training.

]]><![CDATA[Lockdown Puppies = Lockdown Love?]]>Tue, 23 Feb 2021 15:20:59 GMThttp://k9dreamers.co.uk/dog-blog/lockdown-puppies-lockdown-loveK9Dreamers Dog Training and Behaviour and Lockdown Puppies.
Pandemic Puppy = Lockdown Love... or does it? Yes or No?
Back in March 2020, here in the UK, we faced the thought of being on our own with time on our hands.
And, we thought... yay !! Let’s get a puppy.
So many, many people did, and the Puppy market took off.. beyond what we ever knew before.
Puppies arrived from far and wide, (sources not to be discussed here)
and families took ownership of a new little dog.
Oh my goodness...! Wow!
At first all fantastic cuddles, and gorgeousness, then 3 or 4 months in, reality begins to hit (a bit like having a new baby in the house).
As a new puppy owner, you do some puppy training, have time to google what is best, and enjoy success in early months.
You get advice, talk to friends and do really well, then lockdown eases and the dog is now 6 months to 1 year....! And one problem hits the fan...
Oh my... “I have to return to work”... how will the puppy cope? I will miss her so much... oh no she will miss me!
As a Trainer and Behaviourist... I believe Prevention is better than Cure’.
Even in non-lockdown life... Puppy Training should include some ‘Home Alone’ training and experience, to prepare and build up self-confidence in the pup.
A good saying - 'If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail'.
Practice now putting your pup in a safe place, with a filled Kong, for just
10 mins, and gradually building up the time.
Then, most importantly, being cool and natural when you return, this helps the pup to know it is ok to be alone, and no big deal.
Preparing the puppy for being home-alone is just as important as ‘crate training, toileting, loose lead walking, recall, not jumping up or mouthing’...and is good Dog Ownership.
So, if in doubt... reach out, K9Dreamers is all about owning your Dream Dog, and we all love a well behaved puppy + dog!
If things go haywire, whilst routines change... it is not too late.
I especially have a passion for the ‘Barky Lungy’ teenage adolescent dog who is struggling to live in the environment, hormones zooming around, leading to hyperarousal, as mentioned in the previous Blog... exacerbated maybe by the Lockdown Blues. Reach out... here to help.

.....................................Happy Dog Happy Owner!............................................

]]><![CDATA[Rehabilitating the Rescue or Fearful Dog!. A lesson in reactivity and 'Speaking Dog'!]]>Wed, 30 Dec 2020 13:28:37 GMThttp://k9dreamers.co.uk/dog-blog/rehabilitating-the-rescue-or-fearful-dog-a-lesson-in-reactivity-and-speaking-dogOver the YEARS, either in K9Dreamers Dog School Training classes or 1:1 Behaviour consultations, I have worked with hundreds of dogs of all kinds, different breeds, different temperaments, all shapes and sizes. What a time!
What has amazed and pleased me is the commitment of owners who get in touch, wanting to understand and help their Dog, either with Training and / or Behaviour Management.
Most rewarding is seeing dogs who have been rescued from a life of pain, neglect, abuse, injury or cruelty, gradually come to a place of calmness, and able to live relatively peacefully in their new home and environment.
Whilst most rescue dogs, never 100% get over their trauma, they can certainly make positive steps towards recovery.
This is only achieved with a huge amounts of love, patience, time, through understanding the needs and emotions of the individual dog and working with that.
Can you Visualise a Ladder, where all perceived triggers, good or bad affect the dog.. (That's another Blog) either putting the lead on, walking out the front door, see another dog, people, noise, children, traffic etc, ALL raise your dog higher up the 'Ladder' to Hyperarousal and the 'NOT 'Thinking Dog'. When the accumulated arousals reach the top of the Ladder, then the dog reaches 'Hyperarousal Threshold' in his emotions, and will start to 'react', barking, lunging, backing away, freezing... all emotion driven, due to the Adrenalin causing the Fight, Flight, Freeze, or Fool around activity we see in stressed anxious dogs.
Fight - no dog actually wants to fight... just self protect.
Flight - if the dog is on lead, he is not in control, you are and he cannot do flight.
Freeze - next best option is to freeze, clenched jaw, static pose... hoping the trigger will go away.
Fool around - at hyperarousal some dogs have zoomies, or chase their tail.
On lead Reactivity Especially on lead, whilst the dog knows THEY are not in control YOU are, if this dog communication is not listened to with early 'self-calming signals' (lip licking, yawning, turning head away or sitting down) they escalate the communication to us on the other end of the lead...with a bark, lunge, or worse, saying ..."woof...growl... snarl.. I am uncomfortable here... please help me". !!
We need to read our dogs, understand what they are feeling and so help them.
BE YOUR DOG'S SUPER HERO...! Learn to speak DOG..! They will love you for it!
Good arousals can be putting a lead and collar on, for a rescue dog... this can trigger hyperarousal.. the walk outside of the front door is a fearful event.
Socialisation and habituation (helping the dog to be comfortable in their new home and environment) is a slow, gentle process, at puppy stage, but can take weeks and months for a rescued dog, who generally is living halfway up the arousal Ladder all the time, they have learnt to do so for self protection.
Personally, this is my favourite subject, helping dogs who struggle in their environment, understanding their emotions and subsequent behaviours which are all emotion driven, educating the owner to go really, really slowly with rehabilitation, and to BE MORE DOG.

]]><![CDATA[A Dog's "Choice + Time to Think it Out".]]>Mon, 09 Nov 2020 16:26:36 GMThttp://k9dreamers.co.uk/dog-blog/a-dogs-choice-time-to-think-it-out How often do we allow our Dogs a CHOICE? And Time To THINK?
Choice is empowering, to not have choice is demoralising and humiliating.
Choices in our human lives provide us with a feeling of security and control, the same happens when we allow our dog to choose.
Choice helps a dog to be able to ‘DO THE RIGHT THING’, without it being forced.
Choice and giving the dog TIME to THINK is where the learning really happens.
When I am running a Puppy Training class, I talk a lot about Choice, and allowing your dog to ‘Think it Out’, especially in the following areas:

Loose Lead Walking.
Having a Meet and Greet with another puppy + having the ‘Right to walk away or go closer’
If your dog is anxious, shy or fearful., the 'Distance Threshold' I need space!
Food Manners and the ‘Wait’. 'I will get it....when I wait'. Impulse control

When the dog is a little older and is actually ‘beginning to get it’.... allowing your dog TIME to think things out for themselves, to remember the process that resulted with the reward.
If you say “Sit”... wait 15 secs and give them time to choose to do the right thing. (Researched)
No point saying Sit, Sit SIT......SIT....!!! in an ever-increasing commanding voice.
If the dog doesn’t sit.... just go back to basics... to refresh the learning.
Invariably they do Sit. I love that, I love to wait, and let the dog think it out for themselves, to be empowered.
On your walks, having a mixture of ‘Structure and Freedom’, structure means some close lead work, walking to heel, practicing positions of sit, down, stand, some ‘waits’ then Freedom is off lead or longline work, some sniffing or mooching. Mixing it up, lead on / Structure then lead off again, keeps your dog engaged on you.
Training actually happens OUT THERE... IN the environment..!
Positively allowing your dog to CHOOSE to ‘obey, practice and achieve’. All good..!

Kindergarten - During the first weeks of your new puppy being at your home, it is the Kindergarten of learning, a safe place to start learning, never too early...
Training Classes are the Nursery, and as you progress, both in classes and in the environment, the Junior school, College and University, where your dog will have many choices, the ability to make its own decisions resulting in Maturity, and an all- round, happy adult dog.

Maturity of strength, of independence, of self-awareness, having a mutually respectful relationship with those around me.
A dog is not to be dominated, restricted by a lack of choice, of when to get up, what to eat, where to go.
My dogs respect me for the choices I allow them to have, and giving them TIME to think and respond to me.
A relationship of Mutual Understanding + Respect. The Best Kind.

]]><![CDATA[Being Prepared....."Let's get a dog"..!]]>Mon, 12 Oct 2020 15:48:00 GMThttp://k9dreamers.co.uk/dog-blog/being-preparedlets-get-a-dog"I think we should get a dog".. ! Yes... Great idea why not?" ... oh yes, I have thought this and said this. My own journey of dog ownership began not long after I was married. I already bought into this family my student days, crazy ginger gorgeous tom-cat called Muggins, and Muggins was the boss, when we soon got our first Dog, a black + white Border Collie called Hollie. And the journey started.
We then had Megan, another BC, who proved to be Diabetic needing Insulin, living a shortened life.
Followed by our current 2 dogs, Red Merle Border Collies, sisters of the same parenting, 2 years apart.
Oh joy, fun, and my dog training and behaviour now REALLY began..!!!
My journey of DOG OWNERSHIP and 'doing things properly this time' started for real.
In a nutshell... I realised what I missed, in years gone by. I had not really known, understood or communicated with our previous dogs.
But....I wish I had known then what I know now..!!!
We live and learn, for me 'Doing things properly'... was a momentous turning point in my relationships and understanding of dogs.
ALL DOGS, puppy, young, adolescent, aged, stressed, worried, fearful, abused, neglected, untrained and trained ! There is always something more to know + understand.
More connection, truthfulness, honesty, learning, knowledge, advise, partnership, and every other word you need to add here:
Walk the dog's walk, live the dog's life.
Make it happen. Be informed, do the right thing, educated informed engaged.
I believe in educating and informing all dog owners. :)
Both my 2 Dogs have passed the GCDS Gold Award... and Eira loves posing ;)

]]><![CDATA[Training Loose Lead Walking to Heel]]>Sat, 01 Aug 2020 14:04:15 GMThttp://k9dreamers.co.uk/dog-blog/training-loose-lead-walking-to-heelTeaching Loose Lead walking with your dog

Hardest thing to teach, takes time.
At first, choose a non stimulating environment, garden or quiet field.
Do it in stages, to learn properly.
Holding the lead, have your hands at your waist... no tension on the lead
Do 'Drunk walking' – ie Walk 5 steps in any direction, change direction, sideways, circle, diagonal, backwards, continue.
If lead is slack, say 'Good' or a happy 'YES'! + reward with food to dog’s mouth.
Don’t put any cue word in yet, like ‘Heel or ‘Let’s go’, dog doesn’t understand what this means.

The 4 components of Dog Learning

Dogs learn by connecting their body Action, with the Hand movement (which eventually becomes the hand signal, the Verbal cue + the Reward
ACTION by dog / HAND Signal by human / + Reward for dog + Verbal Cue word = LEARNING.
Introduce the Command word WITH the Action.

Initially

Don’t have food in the hand as a lure for a loose lead.
The behaviour, loose lead should make me say 'Good or 'Yes' and then feed the dog
Walking with me is the cue for a slack lead
This is classical conditioning....the dog learns that slack lead means ‘a verbal Good’ and gets rewarded.
Once this is imbedded, we move to operant conditioning

Move on to:

When walking and lead goes slack, don’t immediately say Good, wait till dog looks at me, then say Good and reinforce with reward. The checking in with me gets rewarded.
Deliver consequences for behaviour.
The dog is LEARNING’ the behaviour AND checking in...brings reward. Learning.
So, dog is learning that when on the move, and I look at owner, I get rewarded
Dog can’t look and pull at the same time

Add Distance, Duration + Distraction.

Add more Distance before we turn
Add more Duration when eyes connect and us saying good
Practice in a Distracting environment – initially up and down the pavement outside your house.
Work towards not needing food, but that he checks in to you as his reward.
Reward early and often.
Use your voice to bridge the gap between distraction and reward, with ‘hey, treat, yes’ type words.
Put a ‘Let’s Go’ command in as the cue word to walk.
If dog pulls in front, stand still, + wait for her to come back to heel, or change direction.

Why might your dog ignore you?
1. Environment – dog starts to pull as soon as you go out the door. Start in house or garden. So, break things down for them so they achieve some success. up and down the pavement, Get a win and end that session.
2. Lead tension, don’t reward if tight, let it hang down in a ‘smile shape’. Lots of little adjustments are better than a big fix.
3. Manage your pace, not too slow, move purposely and deliberately, dog will be less distracted. Make turns.
4. Inconsistency. Keep up the training and be consistent.
5. Poor ‘Value’ and frequency of reward. Have a great food reward the dog loves and as frequently as necessary.

Equipment Choices
A normal collar and lead, not a retracting lead.
A Harness with 2 attachments, one on the back, one in the front, (or on the collar).
A head collar - Halti, Gencon often helps, but not if the dog pulls against it.

Jill Timms BCCSDip.Adv.DogBhv – Canine Behaviourist and Dog Trainer.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/K9DreamersDogTraining/]]>