The first thing to ponder is if this is medical. If your dog is in pain they will not perform well. We would recommend contacting your veterinarian and they may want to perform X-Rays to see exactly what might be going on and what the bones are doing. From there, depending on what the issue is, they may refer you to a Orthopedic Doctor, Canine Physical Therapist or Neurologist. Glucosamine for joints can help keep them healthy but will not help if it is a more severe medical or neurological issue.

For more information, check out Truly Force Free Animal Training’s FREE Webinar “Do You Have Compassion Fatigue?” here: https://trulyforcefree.com/webinar-do-you-have-compassion-fatigue/

I fostered a litter of puppies which included my black Labrador, Captain, and taught them all to “sit” at 5 weeks in age. By 12 weeks in age they never jumped on people!

Inconsistency in humans can slow training! Sometimes, when we yell at our dogs to “stop” this can actually reinforce the unwanted behavior because they think to themselves, “I’m getting attention!”. Dogs need to know what it is you actually want them to do.

Try this!

Remember consistency is key! Have treats handy at the front door. As soon as you walk into your home ask your dog to “sit”. If they perform this cue you can give them a treat. Eventually they will learn that when they “sit” they will get treats and that jumping does not.

For more information, check out Truly Force Free Animal Training’s Good Manners Course here: https://trulyforcefree.com/course/truly-force-free-good-manners-course/

Think of it like this, if you were to leave an infant at home alone with crayons they will try to find a way to keep themselves entertained! They may start to pull out toys, draw on the walls, or even get into something they shouldn’t be getting into and the same goes for our dogs!

They may be seeking mental stimulation and are looking for entertainment! Sometimes, a dog that eats everything in sight might have a medical condition called, PICA. If this is the case you can try to desensitize your dog to a muzzle so they can wear this throughout the day. If your dog does not have PICA you can try the following;

Feed your dog with a food dispensing toy such as a Kong Wobbler, Buster Food Cube or Kibble Nibble Ball for both mental and physical stimulation. You can also provide bones or rawhides (USA MADE) for your dog to chew on.

While your dog Is in a crate you can provide a Stuffed Kong.

Put food toys in your dog’s outside area.

Another great idea, is to make a giant ice cube filled with beef broth, peanut butter and even treats! You can leave this outside and let your dog work on it through the day.

For more information, check out Truly Force Free Animal Training’s Can My Dog Benefit From Food Toys Webinar here: https://trulyforcefree.com/product/webinar-can-your-dog-benefit-from-playing-with-food-toys/

99.99% of the time we can teach our dogs positively without using punishment!

The story of the punished Pitbull; why we should not use punishment:

I once was working with a Pitbull puppy who was very sweet and energetic. I taught the family force free positive reinforcement training techniques to train him but with his level of arousal they often left him in the backyard or in the den with very little contact or interaction with them.

About 5 years later, they came to me because they said he was aggressive and had bit people without warning. During our session, his owners shared with me that they had hit him on the nose every time he growled or showed signs of “aggression”.

While we trained together he took treats from me and did not lunge, growl or bark. Although, I was careful, he never showed any sign that he would attack. We decided to remove his pinch collar and put a harness on him.

As his dad was putting the harness on him I gave him treats. When the dog heard the “snap” of the harness his eyes instantly got big and he lunged towards my face. I was able to turn my head and no one was hurt. However, that action showed me that his punishment for growling had led him to learn not to give a warning sign before lunging. He was punished for showing that he was uncomfortable. Eventually, this dog had to be euthanized.

Sadly, pet euthanasia may have been prevented with positive reinforcement, compassion and empathy.

Do you have a reactive dog? Check out Truly Force Free Animal Training’s

Reactive Dog Course + Webinar Bundle

One of the first things a person who is considering getting a puppy or adopting a dog is to find a dog that matches your personality and needs. Ask yourself, what do you want out of the relationship?

The Velcro Dog VS. The Independent Dog: If you are a couch potato you shouldn’t get a highly active dog or “Independent Dog”. If you are a highly active person, you shouldn’t get a dog that is a coach potato or “Velcro Dog”.

For more information, we recommend checking out Truly Force Free Animal Training’s How Animals Learn Webinar.

We encourage you to check out our #backyardpettalkpodcast with Shannon Riley-Coyner and Guest, Trish McNillan, as they discuss dog adoption here: https://media.blubrry.com/Backyard_Pet_Talk/content.blubrry.com/Backyard_Pet_Talk/_backyardpettalkpodcast_Trish_McNillan_9_22_22.mp3

Think of it like this, if you were enjoying an ice cream cone and someone took it away you would probably not be too happy about it. Then, someone comes a second time, so you yell back (or in a dogs case growl) “hey, why are you taking my ice cream cone!”. Finally, the person comes back a third time, and knowing what has happened in the past, you may become reactive (or in a dogs case, bite).

Now, if that person were to trade $20 for the ice cream cone you may react differently and see the value in the trade. For your dog, instead of always taking something away from them try trading it out for something of high value to them such as a favorite toy or high value treat.

For more information, we recommend checking out Truly Force Free Animal Training’s Understanding Canine Body Language Webinar or Understanding & Helping Your Reactive Dog Webinar

Your dog may be frustrated and does not understand what you want or you may be creating a pattern and unknowingly reinforcing it.

Example 1: If you try having your dog “sit” for 30 seconds and they jump on you within 20 seconds they may not be ready for that long of a duration. Instead, start back at 10 seconds until they are successfully sitting for that increment of time. Once they are successful, you may slowly increase the duration by 5 seconds.

Example 2: Captain is obsessed with tennis balls and won’t stop until the ball is destroyed. Before this can happen, we recommend giving your dog a cue so they know when “ball time” is done – I use “all done”.

For more information, check our Truly Force Free Animal Training’s How Animals Learn Webinar or Principles of Positive Reinforcement Training Webinar

First, I would ask, how often are you practicing training with your dog?

The truth is dogs aren’t actually “stubborn” but may be confused, scared or even overwhelmed and there could also be an underlying reason for this behavior such as fear and/ or anxiety.

When training, make sure you are using a “High Value” treat so the reward is of value to them. This is something your dog loves – my dogs love Lamb Redbarn cut into small pieces. Want to know more about what a high value treat is? Check out Truly Force Free Animal Trainings What’s Your Dogs Currency Webinar here: https://trulyforcefree.com/webinar-whats-your-dogs-currency/

For more information, check out the following webinars;

Truly Force Free Animal Trainings How Animals Learn Webinar here: https://trulyforcefree.com/product/webinar-how-animals-learn/

Truly Force Free Animal Trainings Understanding Canine Body Language Webinar here:

https://trulyforcefree.com/product/webinar-understanding-canine-body-language/

This may be because your dog has their training down at home which is a low distraction environment but haven’t quite advanced to training outdoors with lots of distractions. Remember, “fast is slow, and slow is fast” and always set your dog up for success.

Once your dog is has their training down at home, next try it in the backyard and once they have perfected it here, then you may move to the front yard and once they have perfected it here, move onto the park on a long leash.

For more information, check out Truly Force Free Animal Trainings Good Manners Course here: https://trulyforcefree.com/course/truly-force-free-good-manners-course/

If your dog comes home hyper after daycare it could be due to nerves. Your dog may be “wired and tired” which can be the same for humans. When humans come home after a group gathering they may be up for a couple of hours until they are able to settle down.

You know the saying, “you can lead a horse to water, but, you can’t make them drink”, well, the same goes for other animals too. There may be many reasons a dog is not drinking water or eating at daycare.

Some dogs may not like to drink out of other dogs water bowls and others may just prefer fresh clean water. Another reason could be that your dog is nervous especially if it is their first time at daycare in a new environment with new people, dogs and other stuff! So, if your dog comes home thirsty after daycare consider the following;

What can you do?

Make a frozen stuffed Kong filled with chicken broth and water for your dog to work on during the day while at daycare. This may help your dog stay mentally stimulated as well as hydrated.

All daycare facilities must have constant supervision to watch for inappropriate play so they can stop the inappropriate play before it gets out of hand. These unwanted behaviors can be learned at daycare or even from other dogs at home and can transfer to daycare.

How to stop these unwanted behaviors?

Not all dogs are meant to be friends! If this is the case, do not let them play together.

Dogs need constant supervision especially during playtime.

Stop play if it starts to get inappropriate, separate them and take a break.

Deter unwanted behaviors as soon as possible with a reliable “recall”! When you notice your dogs body language change you will be able to successfully call them back to you (also known as recall). For more information on Canine Body Language check out Truly Force Free Animal Trainings Understanding Canine Body Language Webinar here: https://trulyforcefree.com/product/webinar-understanding-canine-body-language/

You may also want to ask yourself, Is fear going on? Your dog may be in “fight mode”. Fight Mode is a response to an acute threat to survival that is marked by physical changes, including nervous and endocrine changes, that prepare a human or an animal to react or to retreat. If so, your dog may benefit from Truly Force Free Animal Trainings Reactive Dog Course + Webinar Bundle here: https://trulyforcefree.com/product/reactive-dog-bundle/

There are a million reasons why this could be happening! Your dog could be excited, scared or even just playful! Try the following;

1. Keep a journal and log when the behaviors are happening and to identify what the triggers may be
2. Here are some ways to manage your dog;
3. Don’t let dog have access outside
4. Your dog may be experiencing general anxiety (constantly in stress mode; fight, flight or freeze) and may need medication to help them overcome triggers. In this case, contact your pets veterinarian for prescription medication.
5. Understand what your dogs body language is trying to tell you! You can check out our Truly Force Free Animal Training Understanding & Helping Your Reactive Dog Webinar or download our Truly Force Free Animal Training Canine Body Language Poster.
6. Keep your dog busy with food toys such as a kibble nibble ball, Kong wobbler, stuffed Kong or a puzzle toy
7. Is your dog getting enough exercise? Consider hiring a dog walker
8. Is there a visual trigger? Block the windows with a curtain or opaque film so it make it difficult for them to see out of
9. Is there a noise trigger? Play calming music such as “Through A Dogs Ear” or you can find a lot of free options on YouTube.
10. Are you and your pet able to communicate properly? Teach your dog the basics so you can better understand each other with Truly Force Free Animal Training Good Manners 1 Course!

There are lots of reasons for this and can happen and can happen with any breed of any age.

There are a couple of reasons this may be happening – motion sickness or fear. First, I’d like to start by asking the following;

• Is your dog excited to go into the car?
• Does the frothing of the mouth start before they get into the car, once the engine is on or when the car starts to move?

Is your dog fearful of the car?

1. Make sure to have a “high value treat” such as a stuffed Kong.
2. Start by providing your dog with the stuffed Kong while sitting in your car and not turning on the engine. Continue to work on this until your dog feels comfortable.
3. Again, provide your dog with the stuffed Kong and then turn on the engine. Continue to work on this until your dog feels comfortable.
4. Again, provide your dog with the stuffed Kong and go for short drives around the block. Remember, slow is fast and fast is slow.

Is it motion sickness?

1. If your dog is experiencing motion sickness, you may contact your pets veterinarian to prescribe anti-nausea medication. Once the dog is in the car you can try to have them in a crate that is covered by a blanket instead of having free range of the car and providing a food toy such as a stuffed Kong or even a bone.

This could be fear-based! Try the following;

1. Keep a journal and log when the behaviors are happening to identify the triggers that cause nipping to occur.
2. Before the visitor comes into your home, put your dog on leash to manage and reduce opportunities to nip, and leave a bag of treats by the front door. The visitor can toss treats towards your dog (not at them) as they enter your home.
3. This will start to show your dogs that visitors are good and they associate the visitor with a treat.
4. Teach your dog to “sit” before being pet. Check out Truly Force Free Animal Training’s Good Manners 1 Course to learn how to teach your dog “sit”!
5. If your dog is a high energy breed such as a heeler I recommend giving them a job or something that will keep them mentally stimulated such as a Kibble Nibble Ball or Puzzle Toy.

Ask yourself, is this something your dog will enjoy? If the answer is, yes, keep reading! Training may differ some depending on if your dog is a puppy or from a rescue.

1. Puppies will need to start as soon as possible! Rescue dogs may need more time especially if they are experiencing any type of behavioral issues such as fear, anxiety and/ or aggression.
2. Get a high value treat that your dog loves (my dogs love the Lamb RedBarn).
3. Introduce your dog to the new environments such as a park, beach, campgrounds, hiking trails and don’t forget those yummy “high value” treats!
4. Start with short visits (30 minutes), once your dog is comfortable, you can progress to a full day.
5. Once your dog is comfortable, stay at a local campground for one night.
6. They may be nervous, so they may not want to eat their food. This can be common for a nervous/ fearful dog.

Also consider the following;

Where will your dog be sleeping (crate, tent, car)?

You will also want to introduce your dog to this area so they are comfortable.

Is your dog reactive?

Shannon recommends taking the Truly Force Free Animal Training Reactive Dog Rehabilitation Program

Will you be hiking while camping?

 Start NOW!

Is your dog used to being in a car?

Make sure your dog is used to being in a car for long distances as some dogs may experience car sickness.

Lastly, remember to always have compassion for both yourself and your pet. You might find Truly Force Free Animal Training Canine & Feline Pet First Aid & CPR Webinar beneficial in the case of an emergency.

A muzzle punch can be distance increasing behavior saying “get away from me!” or an attention seeking behavior or a herding behavior but it can also be a potential precursor to a bite, so it is a concerning behavior.

To prevent this, you will want to PREVENT triggers, PROVIDE mental stimulation and REDIRECT unwanted behavior!

Here are a few tips;

1. Make sure your puppy is getting enough rest. Puppies should be getting at least 18 hours of sleep per day. A tired puppy can get “cranky” and can lead to mouthing and biting behavior
2. Provide mental stimulation toys such as a buster food cube, kibble nibble ball, licky matt or snuffle matt. You can find a list of recommended pet toys here: https://trulyforcefree.com/all-products/affiliate-products/
3. You can toss, hide treats, or get created and have a easter egg hunt
4. This treat will need to be something of “high value” for your dog and something they absolutely love. My dogs favorite treat is the Lamb RedBarn Food Log.

For more information, Check out Truly Force Free Animal Trainings Good Manners 1 Course

This is dependent on your situation. It is advised to only have as many dogs in your household that you are able to care for and afford financially (food, veterinarian appointments, etc.).

Older dogs in the household model both bad and good behaviors depending on how much training you have done with them in the past and if they have any problem behaviors currently.

Some dogs prefer to be alone and don’t like having other dogs in the household especially if they are used to living alone.

In addition, not all dogs get along with other dogs so adding another dog could lead to more behavior problems.

Anxiety triggers can be when a specific human family member leave home so having another dog in the household is not always the best option.

For more information, check out Truly Force Free Animal Trainings Good Manners 1 Course

Teaching Loose Leash Walking

You will want to start training in a low distraction environment such as your home or backyard.

First, Introduce your dog to a harness. Flat collars, choke chains and pinch collars can all cause long term damage to your dogs neck so we recommend using the 2 Hounds Design Freedom No Pull Harness.

View Truly Force Free Animal Trainings #trainerquicktip Overcoming Harness Fear here: https://youtu.be/h3i3cEKXIcQ

Once your dog is familiar and comfortable with the harness you can start practicing “Loose Leash Walking” at home.  You will need a “high value treat” such as cream cheese or peanut butter packet (you may find these at your local box store) or another treat your dog loves.

For more information on how to train your dog to walk nicely on leash check out Truly Force Free Animal Training’s Good Manners Course here: https://trulyforcefree.com/product/truly-force-free-good-manners-course/

“When a person is drowning, it is not a good time to teach him to swim”. – Haim Ginott

This can be due to your dog’s Prey Drive!

So, what is prey drive? According to the dictionary, Prey drive is the instinctive inclination of a carnivore to find, pursue and capture prey. The term is chiefly used to describe and analyze habits in dog training.

So, what does this mean exactly? Your dog’s brain is preprogrammed to chase cats. This is a genetic behavior that was useful before dogs were household pets, and, also how they were able to catch their food in order to survive. So, this behavior is not because they are being “bad” but is just a natural reflex.

Why isn’t my dog listening to me?

This is because your dog is over threshold! This is when your dog crosses from one emotional state to another. If you spend time with a dog who is concerned about other dogs, you have probably witnessed the moment when he or she moves from seemingly okay into out-of-control behavior.

What can I do to help with this behavior?

There are a few things we can do to help with this behavior. You can try to prevent your dog from getting in this situation but we all know that is not always possible. In this case, we recommend the following;

1. Start in a low distraction area such as your home. You will gradually increase distraction overtime so it is important not to rush your dog. Training is never perfect but practice is key for success. I recommend training for 5 to 10 minutes each day as to not overwhelm yourself or your dog while you are both learning.
2. You will need a high value treat. This is something your dog really enjoys like bacon, cod or even cream cheese. It will need to be more valuable than what they’re chasing. My dogs absolutely love the Lamb RedBarn while we train together but each dog is different.
3. Teach your dog to “look at you” by playing the Name Game. The goal is for the dog to look at you when you cue the behavior by saying your dog’s name.
   1. For example, If I say my dogs name, “Captain”, I want that word (his name) to cue him to look back at me. Eventually, we want this behavior to become an instant reflex/instinct.
4. Once your dog has mastered this in a low distraction environment (your home), you can move into more distracting area such as your backyard.
5. Once your dog has mastered this in your backyard, you can move into an even more distracting environment such as the park.

For more help, check out Truly Force Free Animal Training’s Foundation Behavior Course, Good Manners Course or one of our pet-related webinars! Truly Force Free Animal Training is offering a 100% OFF DISCOUNT for a Truly Force Free Webinar (purchase of your choosing) when signing up for our newsletter. Be sure to check the box next to the signup code at the bottom of the homepage in order to receive the correct discount code at www.trulyforcefree.com.

• Barking out of your window could be a sign of anxiety/ fear.
• Your dog may be in “fight mode”.
• Good Manners is a great course to help give you ways to communicate with your dog but it will not deal with specific behavioral issues such as anxiety, fear or aggression.
• You can also try redirecting your dog with a high value treat.

Is it getting more intense? Try this;

• Close the blinds
• Put frosted tint on the window
• Block the window
• Keep your dog in the back room
• You can also try to move where the mail or your packages are delivered to a location where it won’t affect your dog.
• Play calming music throughout the day in the background.

If it continues, we recommend taking the Reactive Dog Rehabiliation program or watch the Understanding & Helping Your Reactive Dog Webinar!

Try the following;

1. Teach a “calm” behavior – remember “slow is fast, fast is slow”.
2. Make sure your own energy is calm.
3. Prepare the environment for CALM such as a quiet home.
4. Put a lower value treat in your pocket (leave the training treat pouch out of this training session).
5. Instead of a clicker you can use a verbal cue such as “yes” or “good” in a calm tone.
6. If you prefer to use a clicker, try a clicker that is quiet or put the clicker in your pocket to muffle the sound.
7. Once your home is quiet and you are calm, sit on the floor with your dog on leash and wait.
8. Be sure not to give your dog attention (especially for unwanted behaviors such as high energy).
9. If your dog does a calm behavior such as sitting or laying down give them a treat and calmly say “yes” or “good”.
10. Try to avoid eye contact (you can add this into your plan later).
11. After about 3 to 8 minutes of training end on a calm note.
12. Practice this each day for a short period of time. Remember, consistency is key!

How do you fill your pets EBA? Giving treats, cuddling, walks etc.

The Gottman Institute states the following;

The Emotional Bank Account

Essentially, when you turn toward your partner’s bids for connection, you are making a deposit in your Emotional Bank Account. And when you turn away from your partner, you make a withdrawal. Just like a real bank account, a zero balance is trouble, and a negative balance is the real danger zone.

An Emotional Bank Account grows when partners make more deposits than withdrawals. In a six-year follow-up study of newlywed couples, couples who remained married turned toward their partner’s bids for emotional connection 86% of the time in the lab, while those who divorced averaged 33%. The difference between happy and unhappy couples is how they manage their Emotional Bank Account.

When the Emotional Bank Account is in the red, partners tend to question each other’s intentions and feel disconnected, or even lonely.

But when the Emotional Bank Account is in the green, partners tend to give each other the benefit of the doubt during conflict. They keep their relationship in the positive perspective.

So how do you measure the balance of your Emotional Bank Account?

Some dogs don’t like to lay on the ground! What can you do?

1. Start teaching your dog a “down” behavior on a bed or couch.
2. Once your dog has this down, transfer this training to the floor (you can put a dog bed on the floor to start and slowly take it out of the training).

It depends! Just like humans, dogs are very different from eachother. Some senior dogs may welcome a new puppy and are great teachers. Others can become more stressed since they may be used to being the only pet in the home. What’s most important, is for you to create bounderies between your puppy and senior dog.

1. Meet the puppies parents (both mom and dad)

2. If the puppy is out of state, have the breeder fly with them to you or fly with the puppy yourself (don’t let them travel underneath the plane in cargo)

3. The breeder should have started exposing puppies to a variety of novel objects, people and dogs

4. Get the parents health history

5. Check out Puppy Culture shoppuppyculture.com

Did you know that puppies need between 18 to 20 hours of sleep each day? Your puppy may be biting because they are just tired! 

1. Think about what type of environment you like to take a nap in… set up a place that calm and quiet for your puppy to nap.
2. DON’T use your hands and feet as toys.
3. Specific breeds such as heelers, australian shepards, siberian huskys may need more stimulation

1. There are a variety of clickers to choose from! If your dog is sound sensitive you can check out a clicker that’s more “quiet”.
2. If this is still too loud, you can try clicking while the clicker is in your pocket to muffle the noise
3. ALWAYS pair the click with a high value treat or something rewards to the dog (such as a toy)
4. Another option: Use a verbal cue such as “good” or “yes” (instead of the click) with a high value treat

Is your pet afriad of loud sounds such as fireworks, thunder etc? This weeks #trainerquicktip is in preparation to “desensitize your dog to loud sounds”. Submit your short video to info@trulyforcefree.com!

View the #trainerquicktip Desensitization to Loud Sounds here: https://vimeo.com/410212531

There are many reasons your puppy may not be playing correctly. Let’s take a closer look!

• Playing with dogs that play too rough: If this is the case, make sure to interupt their play as play should be equal.
• There should be a “chaser” and a “chasee” but it MUST be reciprical.
  • Try This! If your dogs are playing but you are not sure if it is appropriate, try catching the chaser and watch their body language. If they display a relieved look on their face this may mean play is NOT reciprical.
  • If the chasee looks back like, “hey, keep chasing me” then IT IS reciprical.
• Puppies NEED short breaks (nap time) inbetween play.
• End of play – End play BEFORE your dog gets too tired.