Your Dog Isn’t Ignoring You

Dog Blog, FSJ Dog Training, Guide 2: TRAINING THEORIES, Training

In my last post, I talk about how often we accidentally teach our dogs behaviors we don’t actually want, or we don’t realize we’ve taught it to them by accident. In this post I’m going to talk about how your dog is not ignoring you, they simply don’t know how to complete the behavior you’re asking for in the context your asking.

Just because a dog can sit, down, stay and roll over in the living room doesn’t mean they’re ready to preform these behaviors in public, in front of distractions.

Distractions and challenges are a BIG part of dog training. If you haven’t taught your dog how to work in distracting and challenging environments then how can you expect them to do it when you need them to?

Dogs don’t generalize well. A great example of this is in training guide dogs. Because guide dogs need to be able to work in very distracting and sometimes very challenging environments and they’re asked to complete complex tasks in this way, then the trainers have to train the dog in each scenario they can think of. For example, when teaching a dog to locate a seat they need to learn that a seat can mean a chair but it also means a bench, a stool, a couch etc. They have to be taught to find the object in all it’s forms. They also have to be taught how to do this when navigating through crowds or in space that it may not be obvious there is a seat nearby.

Likewise, just because your dog comes when called in your fenced back yard, doesn’t mean they understand how to do that when in a crowded park or on a hiking trail when a squirrel runs in front of them, and just because they come when called at the park doesn’t mean they will do it in a busy parking lot.

All training should start small and easy.

Start in an environment that isn’t overly distracting for your dog. A great place would be your living room or similar room in the house that has space to train your dog in and is a common space that they are very used to. Don’t start training something new with a lot of people or other animals around. Start where it is quiet and there are minimal distractions.

You can add your own distractions in many ways, the possibilities are only as endless as your imagination! Some great examples of things you can do while still in the first location (inside your home):

have someone walk past
someone blows a whistle or makes a lot of noise (while ignoring the dog)
work in a more active part of your home
have the TV or a radio on
play sounds of crowded spaces, thunder storms or fireworks (especially great if your dog needs help desensitizing to these sounds)

Distractions are often challenges, but not all challenges are distractions. Here are some ways to add another level of challenge (while you’re still training in a quiet place inside your house).

Many of these exercises are great for learning impulse control, which is a great skill for all dogs to have an an important part of using their obedience skills in public places.

roll a ball past your dog
throw a treat in the opposite direction
have a person run or skip past
have a person approach you and greet you (without acknowledging the dog)
someone pushes something with wheels past (rolling chair or stool, baby stroller, bike, etc)
be sporadic in your own movements; do jumping jacks, sit on the floor, anything that might encourage your dog to get playful or distracted
ignore your dog; sometimes just ignoring the dog can lead them to get bored and wander off, this is a great exercise to work on their impulse control and patience

Once you can comfortably say that your dog is very well trained and responds extremely well in your quiet, indoor environment, you can move locations.

You don’t want to move from your quiet location to a public park right away though. Here is the key to reliable obedience; gradually increase the challenge and spend time in each level until your dog responds as close to 100% as you can get.

When you do change locations, you’re going to want to start back at level 1 and then move through level 2 and 3 when your dog is ready.

The second location should be still within your home but with more challenge. Depending on your house, this might be a more active place in your home or it may be your fenced back yard. If you don’t have a fenced yard then make sure you are using a long line on your dog.

Once your dog is performing well move on to the next location.

The third location should have a lot more challenge and distractions than the 2nd but still within your control. Keep your dog on leash and practice their skills while introducing each level of distractions & challenges.

Once your dog does well you can move on to more public spaces where you have less control over the environment.

The important thing is that every time you change locations you are going back to level 1 challenges and moving through each level in each new location.

When you begin to teach your dog off leash training, you’re going to want to go back to the FIRST location as well as the first level and then proceed to move through each level with each location all over again, but this time you’ll be working on your off leash training with all of the behaviors your dog has already learned and proofed on.

Off leash training isn’t for all dogs, and whether you train your dog off leash or not will need to be at your own discretion.

If you’ve trained with every level in all locations and are still struggling to get your dog to focus on you instead of their surroundings, then it may be something else that is interfering with your training (like your expectations).

“My dog knows this at home but won’t do it outside.”

You’ve probably jumped to the next location or level too quickly, or maybe even skipped a level. Take your time exploring different distractions and challenges until your dog is performing successfully at all levels before moving on to the next location.

“My dog only listens when I have treats.”

This is a separate (albeit, common) problem. Treats need to be removed gradually, while increasing other forms of reward (like physical and verbal praise). After the dog really knows something well in all levels and locations, you should begin rewarding treats very randomly. If your dog doesn’t know WHEN a treat is coming then they’re more likely to listen with the expectation that it could be this time.

“My dog did this perfectly yesterday but not today.”

Dogs are not robots and aren’t going to perform the same every day. Just like people, they can have off days as well. When your dog is having an off day, take a step back in their training. Focus on tasks you know they can complete easily and give lots of rewards for those simple behaviors performed. This will help build your dogs confidence and reinforce the good behavior without punishing the bad (because you know they know this, they’re just having an off day).

“My dog listens well except when…”

Whatever that “except when” thing might be (maybe it’s people approaching, maybe it’s other dogs or maybe it’s wildlife) that is the thing you need to take a step back on and keep practicing at easier levels before trying to move on again.

If your dog isn’t listening when you think they know it, then it means they haven’t learned to apply it to all levels of challenges yet.

Give Your Dogs Name Purpose

Dog Blog, FSJ Dog Training, GUIDE 5: DOG TRAINING, Training

In week three of my Basic Obedience Workshop we talk about focus and reliability. Something I often talk about but don’t always see used by my students is teaching your dog to look at you when you say their name.

Linking a behavior to your dogs name is like a little life hack for training your dog. If you have your dogs focus before you give them the command they are much more likely to actually follow the command.

HOW TO TRAIN IT

To pair your dogs name with the behavior to look at you is simple repetition, repetition.

Say your dogs name; if they don’t look at you right away that’s okay. You can use their favorite treat to lure from their nose up to your eyes.

Give a reward when they look to your face.

Give a *Jackpot Reward* when they make eye contact.

Give an extra *Special Jackpot Reward* if they make eye contact or even look to your face without a lure.

HOW TO SHAPE IT

Shaping = praising your dog when they naturally perform the behavior you desire. You can then fine-tune it by withholding the treat for “more” from the behavior (dogs usually start guessing or adding in some flair to try to figure out what you want that will get the reward), and then rewarding them when they show a behavior that is or is closer to the behavior you desire.

You can naturally shape the behavior to look at you when you’re walking or playing with your dog and they naturally just look at you. Instantly praise “YES”. You can even start pairing it with their name “Yes, Fido!”. Even if you’re not trying to pair the behavior with their name (although I highly recommenced it) just rewarding for “checking in” with you will build good habits for off-leash work later on.

JACKPOT!

If you’re not sure what a “Jackpot Reward” is; it is when you give several small rewards in a row that your dog will count as a really big reward. Jackpot rewards are usually reserved for when your dog does something really well. Maybe something you’ve even been trying to get them to do for a while, or something they’ve been struggling to understand.

To a dog, several small treats in a row is a way bigger reward than the same amount of treats given in one pile. So make sure you’re giving those jackpot rewards one after another and not all at once.

You can also reserve very special rewards as jackpot rewards; this way you’re using less treats but they still hold higher value. Something very smelly and tasty that your dog loves.

REAL WORLD IMPLEMENTATION

The most common problem I see is dogs who don’t come when they’re called. Teach your dog to look to you out of habit every time you say their name and you can shout their name first before giving the recall command. That way your dog is much more likely to actually follow through and come when called because you got their attention first. They’re listening and it is the opportunity to call them once. “FIDO!” – dog looks to you – “COME!”. If your dog doesn’t listen, then it’s time to focus on recall drills and exercises.

Don’t over-use it: train and drill focus with their name and lots of jackpot rewards before you ever use it in a real-life scenario. You want it to become a second-nature habit before you ever actually need to use it.

Keep Your Dog Safe This Halloween

Dog Blog, Real Life Training

Halloween is my absolute favorite holiday. It is all about having fun getting scared and eating candy, which are pretty much my two favorite things (other than dogs, of course). I love decorating my house all spooky for the month, taking the kids trick-or-treating, and watching horror movies with my husband.

It’s often easy to overlook our pets during the holidays when we are busy and our routines are disrupted. However, it’s important to take the time to make sure our furry buddies are feeling safe during the holidays as well.

One of the most well-loved Halloween traditions is, of course, dressing up! The first thing to consider is whether your dog will spook over someone in a costume or not. Dogs don’t understand the concept of Halloween or dressing up and it can be very easy to frighten them when everyone is suddenly covered in these strange clothes and makeup. The smells alone of the makeup and plastic can be unfamiliar and unsettling to a dog.

If you plan to dress your dog up, make sure to choose a costume that isn’t too constricting, too flashy or big that may startle your dog, and make sure it is sized appropriately. Once you have your costume selected you will need to teach your dog how to wear it. Don’t wait until October 31st to put the costume on your dog. You will want to try it on them well in advance and get them used to wearing it. If your dog has never worn a costume before, or if they spook easily, you are going to start with very small baby steps to teach them to wear it.

Start by letting them sniff it and reward for close proximity or interest in the garment. Use your dogs favorite treats to make it extra enjoyable. Do short sessions of this and gradually move the costume closer and begin to touch your dog with it. Depending on how the costume goes on, you may want to touch their feet and legs with it, brush it over their back or even place it on top of their head. Gradually move the costume more and more onto their body. Always rewarding for calm, accepting behavior. Once you can fasten the costume onto your dog you can try to get them to walk around with it. Some dogs may feel constricted, like they can’t move even if the costume is loose on them. Be patient and give them time to adjust, always rewarding for calm behavior. If your dog seems stressed, always take it a step back and try again later.

As your dog gets used to it, you can try leaving the costume on them for longer periods. Practice taking it on and off multiple times, giving lots of praise and rewards every time you do.

Of course dogs love treats! But not all treats are safe for dogs. Chocolate is a BIG no-no for dogs and can make them very sick and can even kill them in large amounts (bakers chocolate being the most toxic to them). Keep all candy far out of your dogs reach.

If you wish to include them in the special event, you can opt for dog-safe treats. Our local Ouellette’s Building Supplies has a great selection of dog treats, bones and chews!

Giving your dog a good hardy chew is a great way to keep them quiet, safe and feeling happy during the commotion of trick-or-treaters.

If you wish to take your dog with you trick-or-treating then my best advice is this: know your dog. If your dog is prone to shyness, spooks easily, gets nervous or has any sort of anxiety in public spaces, around people or around strange things then DO NOT TAKE THEM WITH YOU. They are MUCH better off at home, in a safe space where it’s quiet and they can try to relax.

If you have a “bomb proof dog”; meaning they are pretty unphased by crowds, other animals, traffic, etc. then taking them with you while you trick-or-treat can be a great way to further socialize and desensitize them and work on your training in these situations. Make sure to add some lights to their collar, harness or leash to make them easy to see in the dark, and keep them by your side at all times. Some children (and even some adults) may pet them unexpectedly and this is something you will need to know beforehand if your dog can handle that kind of uninvited touch.

Stay safe, keep your dog safe and Happy Halloween!

Spring Update

Dog Blog, Dogs and Children, FSJ ACT, Monthly Update

Spring time came and hit so fast I feel like I could blink and miss it. My April was incredibly busy; between my daughters year-end dance performance, group classes and one-on-one training sessions my month was jam-packed. I was able to put on two training classes for April and have two more for May. My busy schedule was also due thanks to my husband being home for breakup. This has helped me open my schedule for a lot more dog training.

With spring time always comes “puppy season”. I had a few puppies for 1:1 sessions and those are always a blast. I absolutely love training puppies; so if you acquired yourself a puppy this spring and would like to know how to get the best start on training send me a message!

One puppy came to me for trick training, to help them reach their goal of earning their Novice Trick Dog title through Do More With Your Dog. I absolutely love trick training, and this is a personal goal of mine for my own dog.

Myself and some fellow dog enthusiasts are mulling over the idea of putting together a trick training club. If this is something that sounds up your alley, let me know! The more people we have interested in it, the more likely we will do it.

Registration for my next class has ended, but you can READ HERE more information and to add yourself to the wait list for the next class.

Running group obedience classes was always the goal but one that took me a while to check off my list. It took me a while to have the confidence to run a class, and it only came after my experience with running Pack in the Park.

Last spring I approached the United Church about using the space for group classes. I remember there being group obedience classes there that I took my puppy to when I was about 15. I remember at the time thinking “wow, I want to do this. I want to run a class like this”, so to think back on that and realize that I not only have reached that goal I set so long ago but I’m doing it in the same space where I first set the goal is really quite bittersweet. However, last spring my group class turned into a 1:1 when I only had one person sign up for it. This made me a bit hesitant to put on classes again, but I gave it a shot and was blown away at the response I received. Not only could I put on one but TWO classes with an additional 2 more the following month. I’m not really sure what the difference between last spring and this spring is, but I’ll take it. I’m just happy to see so many people training their dogs!

Group 1 was my “Girlies”. This was a class full of women and their female dogs. It had a great vibe, despite two reactive dogs in the class, and everyone has progressed and learned so much in those 4 weeks. We have our last class tonight and then that is a wrap on Group 1.

Group 2 was a bit more challenging with many dogs and owners at varying levels. We had some owners who just needed the added level of distraction for their dogs to work in and we had others who were puppies just learning with their first-time puppy owners. This made for an interesting dynamic in class. Everyone learned in different ways and rates but everyone kept up with the same curriculum. Group 2 graduated first, as Group 1 had the Easter holiday push their classes back by a week.

As I prepare for Groups 3 and 4 I am using everything I learned from teaching Groups 1 and 2 to make the class even better. I plan to always revise it in this way, ever fine-tuning it to be more efficient and effective.

The most important thing to me is creating and supporting a safe, relaxed environment that is easy to learn in. I will keep offering this class as long as there are people who want to take it.

This month Fort St. James Dog Training, sponsored by the Fort St. James Animal Care Team Society (FSJ ACTS), is bringing the Be A Tree dog bite prevention program to the community’s children. We are starting with our local Girl Guides. Myself along with volunteer April Dimond will be presenting the Be a Tree information, along with some added tweaks to make the program better to understand and remember for children of a variety of ages. This program helps teach children what to do when encountering a strange dog and what types of behavior/body language they can observe and interpret to help them understand whether a dog is safe to pet or not. This information is vital for preventing dog bites in children.

This is a goal I’ve been working towards for a long time. I’m very thankful for FSJ ACTS part in helping me achieve this goal. I’m also incredibly thankful to April, for her insight into teaching children has been absolutely vital, and I’m very grateful for all the hands-on work she’s done to help me bring this program together.

Next Pack in the Park Date: May 7, 2025
Time: 11:00am
Location: Goodwin Park

Pack in the Park is a FREE event for all dog owners of all skill-levels to attend. It is great for reactive dogs to learn to work within their comfort zone (you may need to add more space between your dog and others until you reach that comfort zone). This is an owner-lead event; which means you plan the type of training you would like to do with your dog. This is NOT an obedience class.

Be aware: there are dogs behind fences that bark and sometimes there are loose dogs that wander by this park. If your dog is not ready for that level of distraction then you may want to work in a quieter environment still until your dog is ready.

Rules:
1. All dogs must be on leash (NO retractable leashes)
2. Dogs must NOT meet face-to-face; this is not a play date
3. All owners must pick up after their dogs!
This is a public park and if we wish to continue to bring our dogs to public spaces we must be respectful.

Wrapping Up 2024

Dog Blog, FSJ ACT, FSJ ACT, FSJ Dog Training, update, Zelda

As the end of the year gradually races towards us, I find myself reflecting on the past year and considering the year ahead. Last year, dog training was a whirlwind of client after client. This year was a slow business year. I think a part of it is that this is a small town and eventually clientele will slow down no matter what, but also I think a lot of it has to do with my own time management.

We started FSJ ACTS in February/March this year and we hit the ground running. I could probably write an entire blog on just this year with ACT. I am constantly feeling pulled between my family, my jobs and my volunteer hours. I love all of it, but I don’t really have time for all of it. I’m so exhausted all the time that I don’t push myself as hard I could to make my dog training career more successful. I keep telling myself it will come with time as my kids get older.

That being said, when I look back on this year and everything I’ve done and learned I realize it’s been a pretty big year too. Just in more subtle ways. I did my first group class in June, which flopped as a group class but I met one wonderful person and her spunky hound dog pup and we still connect and stay in touch. My ideal client is one who shows up on time, does the work with their dog and stays in touch to let me know how it goes in the long-run. I don’t want to ever have a client tell me their training didn’t work out (or worse, hear it from someone else) when I could have been there to help guide them in a different direction. Dog training is kind of a mix between science and art, it isn’t always so black and white. Some things will work with some dogs but not others. Sometimes it takes a bit of trial and error to find what does work.

2024 also taught me how important Pack in the Park is, and it breaks my heart that I haven’t been able to host one in months. I’m currently putting together a new Host training program, so if you’re local to Fort St. James and would like to try to host a Pack in the Park let, me know! I wish I could be there myself, but I just can’t at this time in my life. So I’m hoping to find one or two more individuals who’d like to host it.

I took on a foster puppy for the first time since I was involved with the humane society in 2008-2012. It was extremely challenging. I underestimated how chaotic our house would feel with one more young being in it. Boss was such a great foster pup, the best I could have asked for. So chill, calm, and happy to please. But even with all those wonderful traits it made my house feel more chaotic. I’ve learned that if I do take on a foster dog it has to be limited to the summer when I can utilize my outdoor kennel more. I don’t know if my family will even be ready for another foster dog by next summer, though. Saying goodbye to Boss was really hard. Luckily, he is with a really wonderful family and I still get to see him on occasion when he comes for play dates with Zelda. Boss taught me it’s possible and completely okay to love a dog that isn’t part of your family.

I helped spearhead the Art for Animals Gallery Fundraiser and we learned so much from that. It wasn’t just about the money, it turned into this amazing opportunity to connect with the public about what ACT does. We reached a lot of people and taught them who we are and what we do. We had students come through the gallery and learn about art and our cause. For the amount of work and time it took, it wasn’t exactly the most profitable fundraiser but it turned out to be so much more than a fundraiser. I’m really proud of this one.

Last Sunday we had the first Annual Santa Photos fundraiser; which was so much more than just Santa Photos! We also had a little Christmas pet shop, nail trims by Katie, Dog Training Consultations by me and live music by Natile, as well as a few cool door prizes! We raised $790 and had a total blast meeting everyone and their furry family members. I think with more time to plan it next year we will bring it back next December, even better!

At our last ACT meeting we established the roles we would all like to play. I am now the Humane Education Coordinator. I joined Doggone Safe and am currently enrolled in a course so that I can be certified to teach dog bite prevention. I’m about halfway through it, as I write this, and I’ve learned so much already. It’s a very thorough course and I highly recommend it to any dog enthusiasts or anyone who works with dogs. I have plans to upgrade my education with more than just bite prevention as well. With these upgrades, I can’t wait to bring more humane education programs to Fort St. James in 2025.

I will be closed from December 19, 2024 until January 7, 2025. Happy Holidays!

FSJ ACTS will be closed from December 21, 2024 until January 2, 2025.

Boundary Training

Dog Blog, FSJ Dog Training, Training Workshop

Boundary training is the process of training your dog to stay within a defined space. This may be your unfenced yard or to not bolt through open gates or doors.

DISCLAIMER: Boundary training is not for dogs with behavior problems such as aggression (towards dogs or people), high prey drive or for females in heat. Boundary training is also not a way to contain your dog and should only be implemented under supervision.

WHY BOUNDARY TRAIN YOUR DOG?

– keep your dog from bolting through open doors or gates
– lessens the chances of your dog slipping out and escaping
– teaches your dog self-control around distractions such as people or other dogs walking by
– your dog can learn to wait their turn to go through a doorway or gate
– you can work in your yard with peace of mind
– you can eat your meals in peace (includes a bonus piece about teaching your dog to stay out of a room)
– strengthens your bond with your dog

I recognize that people (and dogs!) don’t all learn new things the same way. Some people learn best by reading, some learn best by watching and listening and some learn best by doing. It’s with this understanding that I’m offering three ways to learn about boundary training; a 10 page PDF document, a 15:39 minute long video or a one-hour in-person training session. Both video file and training session come with the 10 page document. When it comes to boundary training, it’s best if the training is done in your home which makes a group training workshop impossible. However, I think with the combination of PDF document, video and in-person training anyone can learn to boundary train their dogs themselves.

Select which part of the workshop you’d like:

A NOTE ON THE IN-PERSON TRAINING SESSION:

My current availability to come to your house for a training session is Tuesdays between 10am and 2pm. I understand that this is not ideal for a lot of people, and I apologize for the inconvenience. It is just my current circumstances.

In-person training sessions are only available in Fort St. James.

Shara Walsh

Master Dog Trainer

puppy