As with each exercise, let’s assume we have established the basic fundamentals ofcommunication.  Click or reward indicates to the dog he/she has performed correctly and a reward delivery is imminent.  The marker “wrong” suggests the dog made a fantastic effort but it’s a Mulligan and to try again (withholding of reward).  Lastly, “ah, ah!” or “no” marking inappropriate, misdemeanor or or felony offenses which will ultimately be followed by a consequence.  Assuming all of the above communication has been established, and assuming you have put in the necessary repetitions, it’s time to introduce leash directions in the context of heeling.

By pairing light leash pops in the direction of the reward, we can clearly communicate to the dog in a controlled environment which direction to move their body, whether it be forward, backward, or laterally.  I am a huge fan of pairing leash stims with high value rewards to create drive activating cues to bring attitude and drive.  Introduced in this manner the leash directionals are not introduced in a traditional “pressure and release” system (escape training), rather we can condition the dog to move tonward the leash pressureIto access the reward.  

The first introduction would be on a flat buckle collar for a high value food  reward (not toy just yet).  

Stay tuned, as I will walk through the process and hope to post videos in the next few days!

Tami McLeod

www.absolutek9solutions.net

Tami provides consulting to clients throughout Nashville, as well as offering “Immersion Canine Camp”, an exclusive training option for busy dog owners who wish to have their canine kiddos fully immersed in training in all aspects of life.

Immersion Canine Camp allows your dog to stay in the trainer’s home.  Traditional kennels offer chain link containment, stressful housing, and limited one on one interaction.  Antiquated kennel warehousing of dogs is out…..one on one immersion training in a comfortable, home environment offering a stress free environment conducive to learning is in!

Whether a client requests private canine lifestyle coaching in the privacy and familiar surroundings of their home, or Immersion Canine Camp, the goal is enhance the canine-human relationship.

Many a dog owner has experienced the image of Fido racing through the house, dodging the grasp of his or her owner with cat like reflexes, momentarily hovering behind various pieces of furniture whilst gleefully carrying some sort of garment as the owner painfully realizes that he/she will once again be late for work.

Others yet have felt the utter embarrassment of sweet Fluffy, normally the epitome of affection, morph into Cujo when encountering another dog during the daily neighborhood walk.

Perhaps your pack of dogs rushes the door when visitors arrive, strangely akin to the Running of the Bulls of Pamplona.   If you are lucky, the wildly enthusiastic canines will refrain from goring, er, um, scratching your guests….or at the very least covering them in dog hair in under five seconds flat until you can grasp their collars and drag them to the back bedroom.

These are every day issues the common dog owner faces.  Yes, it is true that Tami has coached competitors to garner titles in prestigious working dog trials.  Moreover, she has qualified for and competed at national events, placed on regional podiums with her dogs, earned over 75 working dog titles, and even represented the United States at the World Working Dog Championships.  Still, she finds the dynamic of working with pet owners and their dogs the most challenging of all.  The difficulty lies not in the training of the exercises such as teaching a dog to go to a bed and wait, or ring a bell to be let outside, or coming when called off lead.  It lies in teaching the owner how to effectively incorporate the exercises into the ever fluid environment of the home.   Teenage kids coming and going, landscapers arriving unannounced, working late unexpectedly are just some of the every day life issues that affect a dog’s behavior.  Tami teaches dog owners how to manage their dogs and create simple lifestyle changes that significantly impact their dog’s behavior.  The successful recipe of blending a balanced pack order, teaching in a reward based system, and proofing under distraction coupled with an appropriate amount of exercising the dog’s mind and body is Tami’s signature trademark.  Each dog is different, and each household is different, therefore being able to quickly identify and tailor a program to each client’s needs is where Tami’s depth of experience and knowledge gets results.

Tami McLeod of Absolute K9 Solutions can be reached at www.absolutek9solutions.com, or by calling (615) 630-5462.  Email Tmacmal@yahoo.com.