FearLess Dog Training

A great read! Cheers to the dogs 🐕

Manners, Cues, Management, and the Language of a Better Relationship with Dogs The language we use to describe dog training is changing to reflect our changing relationship with dogs.

🥰 Do you or someone you know need help learning more about how to help dogs transition into their new homes? I have a FREE course to help the process go as smooth as possible! I've even added some training to ensure that those who need it have the tools to best support their new pup. This program is also free to all rescue organizations. Visit https://courses.fearlesspet.com/p/adopted_dog_program

My FREE Adopted Dog Training Program includes sections on:

📍Decompression - This is the time it takes a dog to destress, unwind and begin to feel comfortable after adoption. Learn about this important process.

📍Adapting - giving your new dog the time and space they need when you bring them home.

📍Supplies & Equipment Checklist to help you prepare for the big day.

📍Handouts for Sit, Stay, Down & Come (plus games and testing reliability)

📍Leave It, Take It/Drop It

📍Potty Training (plan and chart)

📍Play Biting (how to handle)

📍Car Safety and More!

Training tip!

Do you let your dog shred and destroy things? This is sooo fun for them and also mentally enriching for them. Allowing your dog to tear limbs, pull out stuffing and conquer the squeaker in toys is a rewarding and healthy experience for them. NOTE: if your dog eats parts of toys this would not be a good recommendation - I would do scavenger hunts with treats and/or use a black KONG for play instead!

Dog Training: It doesn’t happen magically but it does work wonders ❤️

Training tip!

Do you have your dog's attention? Sometimes I see people asking their dog to sit, come, stop doing something, and other things but the dog isn't even engaged at the time. Often they are right in the middle of something. Do you like being interrupted all the time? To be a better dog parent and establish good communication with your dog be sure you:

1. REALLY need them to do what you are asking? For example is it really necessary for your dog do sit to greet another dog? This is very challenging when a dog is excited - could standing and relaxing while greeting be better? Most likely the answer is yes and much easier for your dog too. Do you really need them to stop sniffing right this moment? Or, can you go to them instead of calling them to you?

2. Get your dog's ATTENTION and eye contact before asking them to do a behavior. Do this by saying their name, clapping, making a sound, etc. If they still ignore you and they aren't in the middle of something it may be that you need to work on your relationship first :)

Or, perhaps you are convinced that your dog ignores you "just because". There could be more going on. They may be in the middle of a VIS (Very Important Sniff) or a VIP (Very Important Potty). Or, they may be too excited to listen - again, ask yourself do I need their attention THIS MOMENT? If not, don't ask! We can build a really strong response to cues if we ask for it when our dogs are best able to provide it.

I've noticed that ALL dogs pull more on leash when they need to potty, keep this in mind. You can still help them get there with a loose leash but it's important to give them grace when they have a physical need and it's urgent.

We can most certainly train dogs without force, it's been proven time and time again. This New Year I hope to share content to help you train your dog well and compassionately. Here are just a few tips for compassionate dog training. When I say "Your dog is not your "last" dog" I mean they don’t gather and retain information exactly like your last dog and, as you may have noticed, they don't act like your last dog. All living beings learn at different rates so it's important to keep that in mind at all times when training :)

Let your dog rest, even if it’s during training. If they lay down it’s because that have a need to fill. Rest with them and enjoy the moment because that moment is all we have.

I’m trying to get Mater used to being in social settings for long periods of time because he may be boarding a plane tor a long flight at some point. It wouldn’t be fair to assume this would be comfortable for him. So…the training plan includes training longer down stays on a blanket (that will be on the floor of the plane for him), a nice “leave it” (in case he wants to kiss the flight attendants) and, exposing him to as many social situations as possible - slowly and at HIS pace. Photo one looks as though he’s having a great time right? Photo two shows his tail down, he wasn’t thrilled - he wanted to go meet the other dog and kiss all of the people. I was surprised by this but it tells me to slow down and keep working to help him so he can get used to relaxing around people without getting to meet everyone (I know it seems sad but he won’t do well on a plane if he wants to meet everyone). I should’ve considered bringing the blanket we’ve been working with as well. We started this process at a park table with no one around and eased into this brewery. I will always set him up for success in his training.

Basics go a LONG way with dogs. Most of the time the dogs I meet that have the most issues have the least amount of basic training. Start with simple things, be kind and have fun and you will find not only the relationship with your dog improve but their general behavior will too! If you’d like a FREE “progress tracker” email me at [email protected]. No spam, no obligation whatsoever. I just want to motivate people to have fun and build a great relationship with their dogs 🐕 💕.

I get a LOT of questions about barking. I hope this Blog helps ;) https://fearlesspet.com/blogs/news/barking-a-natural-behavior-for-dogs

Barking! A Natural Behavior for Dogs People always ask me: "How Do I Get My Dog to Stop Barking". Barking is a natural behavior for dogs, for some breeds more than others. However, barking can be quite irritating. Below are some training tips and information that will help you to teach your dog to be a bit more “quiet”. It’s impo...

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I am so incredibly proud of Koa! At about 90 pounds, he’s reactive and a bit much on leash (as you can imagine). When I first met him it was hard to call him off when he decided he wanted to bark and lunge at someone. So, I spoke with his family and explained that I needed to build a good connection with him and some really basics as a foundation. So we worked for a few weeks on things like let’s go, leave it, recall and stay. What do these have to do with Reactivity? A lot actually when we take it on the road! So today I took him out in the world and when he started reacting, I was able to call him off AND do some actual reactivity training. If you can’t reach your dog when they’re not reacting, there’s no way you’re going to be able to reach them when they are. It’s important to build a really good foundation so you have a good connection and when you need to get their attention they will look to you. It’s worth it, I promise!

Welcome Daisy! She’s a lovely 5 month old, English Creme Golden Retreiver. Today we worked on “wait” (so her Mom can put her food bowl down without being bombarded), down and staying on a mat. Of course she did GREAT! Dogs always do 💕

Does your dog jump and grab from your hand? You can teach them not to and it’s actually good for them! When we teach dogs to “wait their turn”, it gives them a chance to learn about impulse control. Impulse control is important for dogs because usually if a dog will jump and grab from your hand they will certainly jump and grab from the kitchen counter or the coffee table. If you teach them how to have manners around food, they learn that stealing is not the answer.