Nose Touch - Trick Tuesday

Weve decide to challenge you to teach your dog a new trick every week and practice and post pics and vids.
I want to start with something very simple that some of you may already know.
Nose Touch - Teaching your dog to touch their nose to your hand.
You will use a marker word that catches the exact second their nose touches your hand - we use "YES". Some people like to use a clicker and you can we just dislike the need for an extra tool.

1. Start with treats in one hand then transfer them to the other hand so your empty hand will smell like treats.
2. Hold your hand flat out near your dogs face and encourage your dog to touch your hand with their nose. Do not do it for them but encourage them to do it even by accident the 1st time is ok. 
3. The second their nose is in contact with your hand say "YES" and treat immediately.
4. Continue this and trade and switch hands until your dog understands and has the hang of it
5. Once they understand this you can start raising or lowering your hand so they have to jump for it or lean down low. Still saying "Yes" when they do it and treating each time.

Simple Fun Trick to start with.

Other uses for Nose touch - shy dogs encouraging them to go greet someone. If your dog already knows and enjoys this game and you have a shy dog it can be a great ice breaker to have the person just hold their hand out and have your dog go touch for something positive.


Harley: the lab
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&list=UUUcqW_f8ZqmHni8Pk0Eq7GQ&v=KhngiBykieo

Vader: the shep
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_T6vJxYQdMQ&feature=c4-overview&list=UUUcqW_f8ZqmHni8Pk0Eq7GQ

Stripey + Blackie: cats
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quXYzHaymiI&feature=c4-overview&list=UUUcqW_f8ZqmHni8Pk0Eq7GQ


Share your pics with us!! #tricktuesday #pawsinprogress or @pawsinprogress    These hashtags can be used on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Tug of War MUST have rules

More and more i'm having people come into training and having previously been told or read somewhere that you should never play tug with your dog.
Tug without Rules is a disaster waiting to happen.
Tug without Rules teaches posession when the dog is allowed to have the toy and run off with it in victory and can lead to guarding and possessive behaviors with toys.
TUG WITH RULES is a GREAT game and can help build a positive relationship with you and your dog.
Rules to TUG
1. ) Dog must enjoy the game

2.) Dog must want to bring tug back when you let go
3.) Dog must drop it when you ask

How do I accomplish these rules?

Put your dog on a leash and start with holding the end of your dogs leash. You want the leash to be loose and for the dog hardly to know its there.
Start playing tug with your dog. Get your dog engaged in the game. It should be give and take but keep tension on the tug at all times. Don't allow the dog to thrash their head around.
You let go of the tug but hold onto the leash and back up and encourage your dog to bring the toy to you. Keep backing up until the dog brings it to you. You are holding the end of your dogs leash so that your dog cant run too far away but dont reel your dog in you want your dog to want to come to you. If your dog takes the toy to the ground i encourage him to bring it back up. As soon as the dog brings it back up tug again then repeat letting it go.
I want to create the idea in my dogs mind "Wait we were playing" and want the dog to run back at me with their toy not running away from me in victory of "winning" the game.
Once your dog is doing fairly well with this then mid play with tug i will take the toy to the dogs level hold onto the toy on both sides of the dogs mouth where he is holding the toy and hold the toy still. When the dog lets go - don't pull the toy away yet hold it still wait till the dog actively backs up. Release the dog to play again. The faster the dog lets go the faster you get to play again.

Furyk playing with Rules: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhqMdAU3W4Y&feature=c4-overview&list=UUUcqW_f8ZqmHni8Pk0Eq7GQ

Flirt Pole / "Woof stick"

This morning we were watching the news and they showed a clip at the SPCA about using a "woofstick" as a great way to exercise your dog. We thought it would be a good idea to give you some more information and background information on this. The "Woofstick" is more commonly known as a flirt pole and was originally used to build prey drive to chase and bite for puppies that would later be trained to bite for sport

work (Schutzhund, French Ring, Mondio Ring). So knowing what its supposed to be used for do you want to do this for your dog? Do you want to increase your dogs prey drive? Probably Not!
You CAN use the flirt pole to exercise your dog but you need to add in some training and impulse control so that you have control of the game and so that it wont teach bad habits.
Make sure the dog has a solid foundation in obedience before playing.
Just like all games you want to start with the dog having a strong interest and desire to play.
Once the dog is into the game then add some rules.

Have the dog hold a sit or down while you move the pole around and then release them to the toy.
For more advanced dogs have them Sit or Down mid run after the toy or call them too you.
You dont want to increase their drive for a moving object if they cant still come when they call.
This is a great game to play with them that adds more rules to a high arousal game.





I got a video of Amber this morning her 1st time with a flirt pole.
She was interested but not completely engaged so we didn't add in the obedience.
See vid here: http://youtu.be/CpoInZKL5l8