#training advice

[fayeandknight]

In training it's important to communicate as directly as possible. For example, when it's time to play, jam the toy directly into your human. This way there is no confusion about what you want from them.

[superdoodleoakley]

can i have some advice on training him to ignore dogs in public? 

picture of tiny oakley is for attention bc i could rly use some help aha and i know the best way to catch eyes is with a cute puppy. more info on the situation and what im doing under the cut if you care

i know its not that big of a deal and probably happens a lot and is easy to work through.. but when i have a problem i cant figure out i tend to hyperfixate and then it really fucks with me…. he used to not have so much of an issue, but lately he gets super excited when he sees other dogs. he doesn’t necessarily lunge, but he does pull towards them and seeing as my knees are Shit its hard for me to maintain my balance when 50+lbs of dog is pulling on me lmao.. his “watch me” is usually pretty good, but sometimes he gets too focused on the dog and just doesn’t listen. what i do now is hold treats under his nose, talk in a higher pitched voice and try to make myself more interesting than the other dog. then, when i have his attention i try to do refocusing exercises (simple commands like “paw” and “touch”) but this doesn’t always work. i think that’s everything, i hope i didn’t miss anything?? thank you so so much to anybody who read this all and offers advice 

[the-disreputable-service-dog]

You do not have to instantly have a deep bond with your service dog.

It seems like a lot of people have (or want to) an instant and deep bond with their SDiT/SD. They want that intuitive feeling of bond and trust with their dog.

It’s okay and even expected to not feel that way at first. You do not have to feel an instant connection with your SD.

An example is that I didn’t feel that bond with Kibeth. Hell, I barely liked her for the first 6ish or so months she lived with me. She was my first dog, she had zero house manners, was an older puppy, I didn’t know what i was doing and was really still figuring out dog ownership, much less a service dog / handler dynamic. I didn’t know how to train or how to communicate with her.

Now? Kibeth is the best partner I could ask for. Because we worked together. We put hours and hours of effort in together. I got frustrated many times. She got frustrated sometimes. I felt like I’d failed her so many times and that she had to wash out (I was being dramatic and overreacting). We have an excellent bond. She is excellent at her job. I love working with her and she loves working with me too.

Basically what I’m saying is that it is okay not to have an instant bond with your dog. It takes time and work. You will get there. But let it happen organically.

[benevolentbandit]

Out of curiosity, what does everyone use to record their training sessions with their dogs?

I’ve attempted typing/handwriting everything but I’m never satisfied with the format I’ve used. If anybody has an app/notebook they’ve bought or made, I’d be eternally grateful for some recommendations.

Or how about we all make one we could give the public? :)

Enjoy video of Bandido doing our incredibly bootlegged version of bite sleeve training. Muhahaha.

[magnoliasporthorses]

Denny just- coming for peoples throats now

[officeroftheclaw]

Does anyone have any advice for the first night home with a new puppy? I've puppy proofed our living space again, I have puppy pads and toys and a bed for him. I'm mostly wondering if there are and tips or tricks you guys know that make the transition from mom to owner smoother, other than what's available on the Internet. also, is there any training I need to get started on day 1 or can I just relax and fully enjoy a new puppy?

[fayeandknight]

PTSD Service Dog Question

Question for those who are training or have trained a service dog for PTSD - How do you train without triggering yourself?

I'm working on teaching Faye to alert me to people coming up behind me. The trainer is very patient and she told me well in advance every time she was approaching. Faye did awesome but so many repetitions has left me shaking in my car as I try to collect myself enough to drive.

Any tips or thoughts on how not to keep myself calmer? I really don't want to end up reacting badly during a training session.

[melbinmotion]

Set yourself up for success!

Seven tips for creating and training success in your movement practice. It takes motivation and self discipline to not only start but also stick with physical movement. Create a practice that is energizing, enjoyable, sustainable, and one where success and progress are trained and actualized.