Tails of Success Dog Training

Josie and Jack are learning to hang out in their place while dinner is being prepped instead of jumping on counters and barking. Teaching polite manners for the win!

Encouraging dogs to sniff on walks is not only natural and instinctual for them but also has many benefits for their physical and mental well-being.

Sniffing provides mental stimulation for dogs, which is important for their overall mental health.

A good sniff also helps them to learn about their environment, identify scents, and understand the world around them. Through sniffing they can also release pent-up energy, which can help to reduce behavioural problems.

Additionally, sniffing can help to alleviate stress and anxiety in dogs, making them feel more relaxed and comfortable on walks.

🐾 Meet Esther, our 5-month-old Aussie who's mastering the basics like a pro! 🌟 From sit to stay, this little one is full of energy and eager to learn. 🐶💪 uppy ining

Snickers and Gingersnap after a successful training session. These pups are both such quick learners and training is an excellent way to provide mental stimulation.

⭐️ Thunderstorm season is upon us, and firework season is fast approaching. Keep an eye on this page to learn how to help your pets stay safe and comfortable during this noisy time of year. ⭐️

🐾 All animals need a place where they feel safe and can decompress. A safe zone is a special new area we'll create together for your dog. 🏠

🔇 The important aspects of the safe zone are that it provides a place that:

Avoids sensory overload 🚫🔊
Relatively quiet 🤫
Minimizes smells/odors – if you can smell it (e.g., household cleaners), then it is likely overwhelming for the dog. 🌬️
Not too bright, no flashing lights, no shiny or reflective surfaces 🚫💡
Creates predictability 🔄
This is your dog's space to get away from stressful stimuli 🐶
A place your dog can choose to go to if he or she wants a break from activity 🐾
Gives them quiet time to recover from stress (a key for developing resilience) 💤
Minimizes talking, petting, or training 🙅‍♂️🐕

For more information, email us at
[email protected]

Ali is a 4 month old golden retreiver puppy who is learning to keep 4 paws on the floor. She is doing such a great job with practicing her sits.

For all the teenage dogs!

ADOLESCENCE:
As dogs go through adolescence, it’s safe to say things turn a little topsy-turvy! 🙃

If you’re currently at this stage and feeling like you’ve taken one step forward and two steps back, don’t panic! During this stage of life, there’s a lot going on in their busy little brains.

Here are three facts about the adolescent brain 🧠👇

1. The inhibitory neurons of the amygdala that help to dampen down emotional responses don’t fully mature until the END of adolescence.

2. Communication between the frontal cortex and amygdala, which is essential for skills training, decreases during adolescence.

3. Extinction memory is impaired during adolescence, so if your dog has a bad experience it’s much more likely to lead to a ‘hard wired’ fear memory.

Have patience and compassion as you support and guide your dog through this vulnerable period of brain development.

Sammie is learning to be such a good girl and not jump when greeting mom and dad. This ball of energy is learning very quickly!

Let's ditch the bowl!

Why not use some of their meals to provide mental stimulation. Check out our brain games post for more ideas!

Love this!

Did you know that sniffing can make your dog’s outlook more positive? A 2019 study by Dr. Charlotte Duranton (Ethodog) and Dr. Alexandra Horowitz (Barnard College) compared dogs participating in nose work with their owners to dogs participating in heelwork. The dogs were then giving a cognitive bias test, which gauges optimism using one bowl that always contains food in one specific location, and a second that never does in another specific location. The test is what the dog does when they come across a third bowl in a new location, right between the other two. An optimistic dog would get to this new bowl more quickly, thinking it contains a snack; a pessimistic dog would get there more slowly, unsure about the snack or thinking the bowl is empty.

After two weeks of sniff- or heel-training, the nose work dogs went to the third bowl significantly faster time than they had before; the heelwork dogs showed no difference in time to reach the bowl before and after the training.

Why is this? One possibility is that dogs engaged in sniff training are encouraged to move around and make their own choices; heel training requests the opposite, remaining in a specific spot and not moving around or investigating. Smell is also an incredibly important sense for dogs, so sniffing allows a dog to engage in a natural behavior while obedience heel work is more artificial, and this may have an effect on how each dog is feeling at after the training.

Olive is doing an amazing job exploring different parks and learning how to past people and dogs on outings.

Do you have a reactive dog and can't go on walks? Is it constantly raining or cold and you need ideas of what to do inside with your dog? What if we just wanted to add more mental stimulation to their day-to-day life?

Mental stimulation is just as important as physical movement for dogs. Incorporating brain work in your pup's everyday routine will not only prevent unwanted behaviors but can also help reduce stress, anxiety, and channel that energy into positive outlets. 🐶🐾

Here are a few ways to provide mental stimulation in their daily lives.

Also check out our new blog post that goes more in depth about this topic.

https://www.tailsofsuccessdogtraining.com/post/exercise-your-dog-s-mind-6-enrichment-ideas-you-need-to-know

Just like us, our pups thrive on consistency. Whether it's teaching them a new trick or maintaining a skill, staying consistent is crucial for success 🐾

Remember, patience and persistence are also essential in dog training. Stay consistent, and you'll see pawsitive results in no time!

Potty training driving you crazy? We understand how frustrating that must be for new puppy parents or a new dog in your home adjsting.

Having a management plan, creating a potty routine, and rewarding the potty outside with treats will get you started on the right track!

This is a great article on the different brands of dog food especially if you are looking to change your current brand!

Best Dry Dog Food | 2024 Dog Food Review What's the best dry dog food, and what should you look for when shopping for healthy dog foods? Here's the criteria to look for, read on.

Do you provide your pups with any mental stimulation?

Meet Samson! This adorable Bernese mountain dog puppy is getting a great start on training and socialization. Leash training is going to be very important since he's going to be such a big guy.

"Training tip of the day: Redirect that boundless energy into a perfect sit!

Daycation Day! Meet Atticus, a 2 year old pitty mix. He is such a curious and sweet boy, an amazing car rider, walked fairly well on leash, and a great trail buddy. Check him out CMPD Animal Care and Control to adopt, foster, or take him for a staycation.

Whether you have a puppy, adolescent, adult, or senior; we are always constantly growing and learning from each other.

A scared dog needs immediate space where possible, providing a sense of safety and lessening their fear response. They require choice, to freely decide how they interact with their environment, reducing feelings of entrapment and stress. Agency is essential, allowing them to exercise control over their actions, boosting confidence. Lastly, they need reliability from their human companions, who must consistently respond with understanding and compassion, fostering trust and security. All these aspects contribute to creating a supportive environment where a scared dog can thrive and overcome their fears.

Learn more with our CPD accredited Canine Fear Course. https://www.canineprinciples.com/course/canine-fear-certificate-course