We expect our dogs to adapt to live in our human world, but do we actually make adaptions to our lives so that our dogs can have the best possible life?  The privilege of having a dog in our lives is one that is so easy to get.  You could literally just decide one morning, and I reckon you could buy one with a few days.  Now I don’t want to get started on this issue (I have big feelings about that too!) but focus on the idea that without much planning or thought you can bring an animal into your home and just expect them to fit in.  This isn’t just take 2 weeks off work to settle them in and go back to ‘normal’ without any changes to your life. 

Are you ready to have some disturbed nights sleep if the new dog needs help to settle?  To get up early when the weathers too hot to walk during the day or get very wet when it won’t stop raining? Are you happy to give the dog their own space/area that is a safe place?  Are you willing to spend time learning how to read their body language communication?  Do you accept that fur will now be in every area of your house?  Do you understand that you might have to say no to some social plans because you cannot leave your dog for long periods of time?  Or you need to pay for a dog sitter?   

A big issue I come across is people struggling to change their opinion of what a dog should like and enjoy?  I talk about the ‘Disney dog’ in that we have grown up with unrealistic expectations of dogs in general.  Not all dogs enjoy going to the pub.  Not all dogs want to play with other dogs.  Not all dogs can be off lead in certain environments.  Can you make the changes needed to help support your dog’s individual choice? 

I speak to people that have had a certain breed of dog before and they presume that the next one will be the same.  Although there will likely be similarities between them with breed traits, but even if they are bred from similar lines, they will still be different.  That’s all about personality!  Are you willing to get to know the dog in front of you and work together to get the best outcomes for both of you?  To fulfil both of your wants? 

A sentence I say a lot is “don’t set your dog up to fail”.  If you know they cannot do a certain thing or cope in a certain situation, then why are you asking them to do it? Now don’t get me wrong, some of these things are training issues and as such you can spend time training your dog to learn all sorts of skills and modify their behaviour, however sometimes you need to accept that maybe it’s you that needs to adjust, it’s you that needs to change your behaviour and embrace the dog in front of you. 

Jo x
 
Photo of Penny & Pickle from this morning’s home visit – how gorgeous are they! 

I am seeing more and more cases of dogs that struggle with frustration.  This is often seen by dogs barking and lunging towards other dogs or people.  This frustration response to due to the dog not being able to do the action they want.  In lots of cases this is due to the dogs desperately wanting to interact with the other dog.  Their expectation is that they will meet and play with other dogs, and when they cannot, they display their frustration through, what looks to most, like aggression; barking, lunging, growling etc.  This of course makes the other dog owner move away from this ‘out of control’ dog, which increases the dog’s frustration as the thing they wanted to interact with is getting further away! 

Raising a young dog is hard work.  Finding the right balance of socialising your dog so they are confident in social situations with other dogs and people but also not to allow them to be ‘over social’ and expect that each and every dog and person wants to interact with them.  I use the term 'over social’ as to me this describes some dogs that expect that each dog wants to be their new best friend.  They cannot understand why a dog would not want to play and often can pester and be rude with their manners and body language.  You will hear owners apologising saying something like “they just want to say hello”. 

I believe we are setting our dogs up to fail.  I think for some, going on a dog walk always involves interacting with other dogs and therefore we are setting our dogs expectation that walks mean social time.  When I am walking my dogs, I want them to want to play with me!  To engage with me and play different sorts of games together.  Yes of course, sometime my dogs meet other dogs, but their meeting is brief and I encourage them to just walk past.  Now with an 8-month-old puppy, this is certainly a challenge.  He is at the stage where his desire to be social is increasing.  As a teenager I also know that some dogs will really find him offensive and at 24kg he is a big dog with long legs so I know to some he will be intimidating with his bounciness.  This means when I am walking him in areas where there are other dogs, he needs to be under control.  Using a long line sometimes or giving enough space where I know he can still listen to me.  I don’t want him to learn that he gets to play with other dogs without me knowing this will be received well by the other dog.  Even then, even if every dog we met was a lovely sociable playful dog, I still wouldn’t allow him to interact with them.  I don’t want to set up that expectation in him.

I need to get a little controversial...I do think that the rise in doggy day care might not be helping this issue.  Before anyone shouts at me, I know lots of brilliant people that run excellent dog walking and day care businesses, however I do think that teaching your dog that they can just play all day with all the dogs they meet, might not be best for them.  I love that we now have options with professionals helping us look after our dogs.  It means more people can have dogs that have work or other life commitments, so this isn’t that I don’t like the services now available.  However, I do meet some dogs that have spent a lot of time in day care and some of these dogs definitely struggle more with frustration issues around other dogs.  Has this made a difference to our dogs’ expectations? 

I run a Foundations & Focus programme for adolescents and rescue dogs, and we have an off lead social group each month, so that dogs can have appropriate off lead play with suitable other dogs.  I also have my DOG Hub membership group, which allows dogs (and owners) to become friends and they also have some play time together.  I think there is nothing more joyful that seeing dogs play with each other, running around and having a great time.  This is an important part of their development, however if not managed well, I do think too much off lead play with dogs can have a negative impact.  What do you think? 

I don’t always get it right. Bramley (my pup) has definitely been annoying to some dogs, and I will always tell you the truth about the mistakes I make, but my aim is to set my dogs up for success and to keep focusing on the adult dog that I want him to be.  Each dog is different and therefore the journey will be different, but do try to think ahead and plan your training accordingly.  

​Jo x

I was asked by Bridgwater College this week to be a guest speaker for one of their City & Guilds groups at the Animal Management centre.  I am a guest lecturer for their adult short courses on Canine Behaviour but being asked to speak in front of teenagers to me was quite another request!  I was really quite nervous and worried that I wouldn’t get any engagement during my lesson.  Well, the good news is that they were a wonderful group and were very happy to engage with me and play some fun clicker games (well I did pay with Smarties!!).

One of the tasks I asked them to complete was to think of all the activities a dog would like to do.  If they were given choice, no barriers such as doors or locations, what do you think your dog would choose to do?  Running? Chasing? Swimming? Sunbathing? Chewing? Eating? Sleeping?  It’s actually something I often ask my behaviour clients to consider as it gives us a real insight into your dog’s personality. 

I then asked them to write a list of things we want our dogs to do.  Suggestions were: come back when called, walk nicely on the lead, don’t roll in fox poo, don’t chew the furniture, don’t steal the cake off the counter!  We then put both the lists together and it quickly dawned on them that they don’t match; they don’t match at all! 

Now this doesn’t mean our dogs cannot be trained to have skills that we need for them to be safe and a lovely member of society, but it’s important to know that most of what we want our dogs to do aren’t actually what they would choose to do.

Come back when called or chase a rabbit. Ignore the food left out on the counter or grabbing a quick bite.  Walk really slowly, at human pace, rather than get to the fields as quickly as possible.  Can you see why some skills we need from our dogs will take time to teach them. 

Most of you know we have a new member to our household – Bramley will be 6 months next week and he is still very much learning all the skills we need from him.  A lot of what we are still doing is management, so that he cannot rehearse unwanted behaviour.  For example, when we walk in areas where other dogs are around, he is mostly on his long line, because I know he will want to go and say hello to all of them.  I don’t want him to learn that it’s ok to go up to every dog that we come across.  That is not good dog manners as lots of dogs won’t want to interact with him.  So to keep him safe and be respectful of others, we have to manage him as his recall isn’t strong enough yet to trust that it will work.  This week he has decided that the rug in our lounge is something he wants to chew, so we have removed the rug.   He is teething at the moment, and he is looking for lots of things to chew, so we are giving him lots of appropriate chew toys, but also still managing his environment so he doesn’t get it wrong. 

The expectations we have on our dogs that they should just know and understand is usually too high.   Think back to what they would choose to do and what we need from them.  I want to encourage you that all those skills are very possible to teach.  Through fun, play, rewards and setting them up for success, you really can enjoy the journey along the way until they can be given more freedom and be trusted to have learnt the ‘rules’ that we need from them.   

If you want help with any training or behaviour issues, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
​
Jo x

Pain isn’t training.
Fear isn’t training.
Discomfort isn’t training.
Intimidation isn’t training.
Violence isn’t training.
Aggression isn’t training.
They are not training styles.
They are not differences of opinion.
These are all forms of coercive control.
Do you want to teach/train/care for dogs, or do you want to coercively control them? - there’s a big difference.
 
Shay Kelly wrote this recently and it hit home so hard that I had to share it with you all.  I spend a lot of my time worrying about people using punishment-based training methods as it breaks my heart.  I see it all over social media, although I do try to avoid it. 

I know of so many well-meaning dog owners seek help with their dog and end up with trainers that show them ‘how to be the boss’ or make them feel like a failure because they let them on the sofa or sleep on the bed.  They aren’t being a ‘pack leader’ and that’s why their dogs are misbehaving.  They are shown how to use techniques that cause their dogs to become fearful of the consequence of them doing a certain behaviour.  They must ‘correct’ unwanted behaviour.  Does it stop the behaviour – probably!  If it causes enough pain/discomfort/fear than yes that behaviour will reduce or stop however the fall out of doing it to me to too great to even consider using these methods. 

Our dogs trust us; we have full control over every element of their life.  They are not trying to dominate us.  They are not trying to misbehave just to make your day harder.  They are probably just ‘being a dog’ and doing dog behaviours.  That doesn’t mean you cannot spend time training them, showing them how you want them to behave and to have rules and boundaries.  To keep them safe and to have any enjoyable life together, but that shouldn’t mean a life of stress, anxiety and worry. 

I know I have written similar posts before, and I know I will write them again.  I can only do my best with the people that are wanting to work with their dogs, to get the best trusting loving relationship possible.  I am just trying to guide those people that might not be aware that they are other ways to help our dogs that do not require fear or intimidation.  Our dogs are with us for such a short time; you are their whole world so make sure that their lives are as enjoyable as possible. 

Reward based training doesn’t mean allowing dogs to not have any rules or boundaries.  I want them to listen to me when I need them to respond, to have manners to live in our human world, however I am not prepared to use any methods that damage my relationship with them and cause any distress.  If they are getting it wrong and doing something I don’t like – I need to reflect on what my expectations are compared to how much training I have done with them.  If you haven’t spent time showing them what behaviours you want them to do (or not do) then you cannot expect anything other than they will be a dog! 

Be proud of using reward-based training methods, show them off to anyone that is interested and let’s show everyone that there is no need to use punishment in training.  

​Jo x
​
(Photo of Hallie & Bramley on my bed!)  

I saw this quote on Facebook recently from Susan Friedman “The animal is never wrong…you get what you reinforce.  All behaviour has a function including undesirable behaviour.  The question is not “Why is the animal behaving this way?” but rather, “What’s reinforcing this behaviour?”
 
If we can think for our dog’s behaviour in this way, I really believe it would help us understand those behaviours that we wish they didn’t do.  I talk to lots of people who get really distressed that their dog does a certain behaviour, and they think the dog understands this behaviour is wrong.  I hear “they knew they shouldn’t be doing that”.  Let’s just be clear – dogs are not moral; they have no concept of right and wrong.  They view the world as what works and what doesn’t. what’s safe versus what’s dangerous.  As Susan Friedman says, “all behaviour has a function”. 

So the real question you should be asking yourself is “what is the dog achieving from doing the behaviour?”.  “What is reinforcing it so that they repeat it?”. 

Let’s talk through some examples:  Your dog is jumping up on your kitchen table.  Sometimes when it jumps up something is there to grab, crumbs from your toast, a smelly tea towel, or even loaf of bread.  Can you see that the action of them jumping up is being rewarded by the ‘thing’ they get.  Now what usually happens is that you now catch your dog in the action of jumping up, you tell them off or correct them in some way, they stop doing it.  You think they have learnt not to do it.  However you notice that they still do this behaviour when you are not home as you find evidence of things chewed up when you return home.  You now think your dog is doing this on purpose – they knew they shouldn’t be doing it; they are doing it to spite me.  No!  They have learnt that doing that behaviour when you are present is dangerous (there is a consequence) but when you aren’t home, it’s safe so that’s when to do it.   This is smart right?  It’s safe when no one is around so that’s when they do the behaviour.  It gets reinforced because sometimes they win something like some left over food. 
 
Let’s think of another example.  Your dog is worried about other dogs getting too close, so they have started to bark when another dog approaches.   Most of the time, the owner of the other dog will move their dog away (as barking is intimidating) so now the barking dog sees their behaviour as successful.  After a few repetitions they have learnt that barking keeps them safe as the other dog moves away.  Even if this barking behaviour doesn’t work every time, it work’s often enough that it is seen to be successful and therefore the function of barking has achieved the goal of making the other dog move away. 
 
Once a behaviour is learnt then why would the dog change it?  It works!  Behaviour will only change if you consider the function, the ‘why’ of the behaviour is happening and what is reinforcing it?  Only then can you look to change the behaviour.    
 
Have you ever tried to change your behaviour before?  Something that you have done for a long period of time.  It’s hard work and takes time. 
Sometimes figuring out the ‘why’ needs a different viewpoint and not from someone in the middle of it.  I am very happy to tell you when I struggle with my dog’s behaviour, I seek help from others.  People I trust that can help and guide me to achieve the best outcome for me and my dog.  There is nothing wrong with asking for help. 
 
If you have got to the point where you need help and support for your dog’s behaviour and to understand their ‘why’ then please get in touch. 
Jo x

It may surprise you that as a trainer I haven’t started doing much training with Bramley yet.  We have had him 6 weeks, and in terms of obedience training, he knows sit (the breeder started that) and to respond to his name, so the start of recall training.  That’s it.  I think this will surprise some people. 

With any new dog (puppy or rescue) the last thing I focus on is obedience training in those first few months.  Don’t get me wrong, I start working on manners such as where to toilet, reducing puppy biting, confident in being handled and showing them how much fun playing with me is.  My focus is on finding out who this dog is, what they enjoy doing, working on building confidence in the world around them (noises, different environments, people, dogs etc) but mainly it’s all about building a trusting relationship.
 
I love all the training side, and he will learn lots of skills, but you cannot expect a dog to enjoy training and learning without the fundamentals of having a relationship first. 

Our main focus with Bramley at the moment is raising a confident dog. We met our target of meeting 100 people before he was 12 weeks old (Ian Dunbar recommends this amount) which took lots of planning and carrying him around and having people in our house.  He has meet several of our friends’ dogs before he was allowed out to interact with others.  We have been to garden centres, B&Q, housing estates, rural walks, woods, riverside walks, seen some horses and sheep.  Lots of trips in the van, which he is now happy to travel in.  Working on being left alone, and appropriate play with the other 2 dogs.  I have goals of what I want him to be good at as an adult and what experiences I don’t have easy access to – this shapes what we do each week.  I need to be proactive in what we are doing but also being aware to not overwhelm and give him space to process. 

The joyful moments we now have with him and Hallie playing together is lovely.  We had to do a slow introduction to start with as Hallie can guard me and stuff on the floor, so management is needed.  However, they are building a lovely bond together and figuring out how to play.  Cuba isn’t that interested but as he is 9, I wouldn’t expect him to be.  I think when Bramley is less bouncy their relationship will build. 

I will keep you all updated with what we get up to as he grows up.  The joys of adolescence will be on us in no time!!! 
​Jo x

I was out with a client last week and walked past another dog walker who the moment they spotted us, moved away and was obviously wanting space.  I initially was really happy as I love it when I see dog guardians knowing what their dogs need and will advocate for them. We of course moved over as far as the path allowed.  However, it quickly turned into a sad experience…as they walked past us, the dog gave a few barks at us, and the owner started shouting no and yanking on the dogs lead.  This dog was clearly uncomfortable about being this close, and the consequence of the dog expressing his discomfort -  he was shouted at and hurt by the person that should be his protector.   
 
This isn’t a one-off experience.  I frequently see dog owners that use punishment as a way to control their dog’s behaviour especially when they are feeling embarrassed or out of control of what their dog is doing.  I genuinely feel sad, a deep-down stomach sort of upset; but my heart goes out to these people.  It’s so hard to have a dog that ‘misbehaves’ and the looks of judgement that come from other dog owners is really hard to cope with.  It still shocks me that other dog owners can be so unhelpful towards each other.  Surely, we should all be on the same team?  We all just want our dogs to have a lovely, safe, happy life? 

I understand the stress and frustration of having a dog that looks like a ‘crazy fruit loop’ (my technical term) when another dog turns up.  It’s so embarrassing.  It’s hard to not get upset and angry as this usually loving dog is now looking like a crazy beast.  You don’t understand – you give this dog a wonderful life, and this is how they are paying you back!  The walk is for them anyway, and now it’s ruined because of their behaviour.   You don’t understand that they are so wonderful most of the time, expect when another dog shows up.  Have you considered they might also say the same thing about you??? You are lovely most of the time, but the moment another dog turns up, you turn into a lunatic.  You start shouting, pulling, and looking like a mad person!  Just a thought…

You and your dog are now in a circle of behaviour in that you both ‘react’ when another dog is present.  It’s a hard behaviour pattern to change, but it can be.  However, I really want to express my concern in using punishment as a way to stop this reactivity.  Making your dog fearful of expressing themselves is not the way to do it.  Fear of being hurt or punished will only suppress the behaviour, it won’t change how they feel about the situation.  Yes, it might look like it’s working as your dog is no longer shouting or lunging at other dogs – but at what cost?  The cost of your dog now living in fear of when the next ‘lead check’ might occur, or worse.  Are you aware that dogs don’t process information as we do.  They may not understand that the pain is due to their unacceptable behaviour – it’s much more likely they will pair that pain with the presence of the other dog.  So now they are even more afraid of the other dog and afraid of you too! 

Can you imagine living in a world where the person you trust with your life, is also the person you fear?  Dogs are so forgiving animals that they do put up with it.  That is not the life I want my dogs to experience or anyone of yours either.

If you are struggling with your dog’s behaviour, please reach out and ask for help.  I know that most of us find it hard to accept that we cannot do things alone and that we need help.  However, it really can be the best decision you make.  Please makes sure you use a qualified, rewarded based trainer, so that you get the best results without it costing the loving, caring and trusting relationship you have with your dog.   See the ABTC website link below for details of trainers that follow a code of ethics and have been assessed.    

Jo x

​https://abtc.org.uk/

However, we do need a bit of empathy and to understand what is going on for our dogs. Do you remember being a teenager? Certainly, a time of change and confusion.  So why wouldn’t our dogs (or an animal) be similar. 

The mammalian brain is physically changing during this period between puberty and adulthood.  What this means is that they are more likely to take risks, have less inhibition, their confidence is increasing, their desire to be ‘social’ increases and prey drive kicks in.  Sound fun!! 

I remember being a teenager well.  Finding my place within the world, wanting to be grown up but not knowing how to be.  Hormones were of course impacting me and my friends as well, so no one really knew how to manage their behaviour sometimes.  My parents were also trying to find the balance between giving me more freedom versus keeping me safe. 

I think having an adolescent dog it very similar.  We need to understand how many changes are going on physically and mentally.  We must find the balance between giving them outlets for what they want versus keeping them safe.

Having suitable dogs that they can interact with without learning to be a hooligan.  Using long lines to make sure they don’t learn how much fun running off and chasing a rabbit or bouncing on all the other dogs in park can be!  Giving them some quiet time to allow them to process the world.  Managing our expectations about what they can do, where they can go and help them cope if they are struggling.

Remembering that management isn’t cruel, it’s about not setting your dog up to fail.  What gets rewarded gets repeated!  Can you imagine the internal reward (feel good factor) your dog gets when it chases a rabbit across the field.  They cannot hear you calling them, all they know is that this is the best thing they have done all day!  So why wouldn’t they want to do it again tomorrow?  For you, you are terrified that your dog is not listening to you and scared they aren’t safe.  It’s the same if you allow your puppy to play with all the dogs they meet on a walk – this isn’t going to help them cope with their frustration of not being allowed to interact when the other dog when they are older.  Management is essential during this time in their life. 

However, please don’t take this to mean you hide away and don’t spend this time still working with your dog.  This period of their life is very important to develop a well-rounded adult dog. 

A few thoughts for you to help: How often do you play with your dog?  Spontaneous, silly, just running around play?  Do you give your dog appropriate outlets for both physical and mental desires?  Hiring a dog field is a great way to give them some safe off lead time, do some training games, sniffing time, and be relaxed because you know no one else is around.  Get to know your dog – what do they like doing?  I love asking people – if your dog had choice of what they get up to, what would they do?  This will guide you as to the fun activities you can learn together. 

I personally really enjoy this time in a dog’s life.  I love getting to know who they are going to become.  Yes, it is challenging, yes it can be hard work, but please remember to enjoy it too!  We don’t have long with our dogs, so make it all count.  

Jo x

I'm sure you are all aware of the news about the likelihood that the Government will ban XL Bully dogs. I have to say I don't agree with banning any breed as this doesn't address the underlying issues, however I do agree that something needs to be done to stop the numbers of dog attacks. 

A ban will just move breeding 'underground' and actually could generate more money for breeders of these dogs. The big challenge is an XL Bully isn't a breed so there is no standard, so who can decide what is an XL Bully? These dogs are crosses and most likely created due to the ban on the Pit Bull. I believe all this will do is make breeders create another type of dog that is outside the government restrictions.

I know lots of wonderful Bully type dogs; however, some people are attracted to the breed due to the status of having a very large powerful dog and these people will go for looks or colour, and not be considering the health and temperament of these dogs. The breeders will not be health testing, raising them with care and understanding of how to raise a well-adjusted dog, and the new owners, wanting a status dog, will unlikely be taking them to certified reward-based trainers to give them appropriate life skills.   For all of these reasons, it’s time to make changes.

It's time to focus on who is allowed to breed dogs. It's time to focus on education on how to raise dogs to be well adjusted and able to live in a human world.  It's time to regulate the Dog Training industry so that people cannot just watch some 'quick fix' TikTok video and think they know how to fix a behaviour problem or spend money with an unqualified trainer.  It’s time to stop and think if getting any dog is the right choice for the dog and family and understand in this world where we can get almost anything instantly, whether it’s time to stop and think first before buying. 
 
Having said all the above, I want to reach out to any Bully dog owner and say there are lots of certified reward-based trainers across the country that are ready to help you.  Please don’t panic and give up your dog (I can already see so many dogs being abandoned or given to rescue).  I suggest you start with getting your dog happy to wear a muzzle.  I can recommend the below link for well fitted muzzles and information about living with a dog that needs to be muzzled. 

https://www.facebook.com/the.muzzle.movement
 
If you have a Bully and just want to talk to someone, please give me a call.
​ 
Jo x

Do you worry about using food in training?  Do you worry that you will always have to use it?  Will your dog become obsessed with food?  Can you use ‘human’ food, or should it always be ‘dog’ food?  Will using food make my dog fat?  Using food means you are bribing not training.  I don’t need to use food; my dog loves me and that should be enough.

I think there is still confusion about using food in dog training, still some old school myths running around, so I wanted to address this. 

Firstly, get comfortable with using food when you are training your dog (or any animal).  Food is a fantastic tool that you have easy access to, so why not use it?  Do you get paid to do your job?  How about if I told you that when you are learnt your job, and when you are really good at it, that’s when I will stop paying you – how do you feel now?  Are you still keen to work hard?  To listen and respond to what your boss asks you to do? This is what I say when people ask me when I can stop using food in training. 

Food is a primary reinforcer, and most dogs find it valuable.  I can already hear people saying “my dog isn’t interested in food when another dog is around” (or insert your own distraction) and yes I agree food doesn’t trump lots of distractions and I’m not saying it will, but used correctly it is a powerful tool.  Food can be used to create powerful positive associations for dogs as well as counter condition negative associations.  It’s easy to use, lots of different variety can be used (kibble vs sausage) and your dog needs to eat so let’s get used to not seeing these are ‘treats’ but actually as part of their daily food allowance. 

Your dog gets to choose what food is rewarding.  Stop thinking about human food versus dog food.  One of the activities I often get my clients to do is use a tray, pop 8 different types of food on that tray and then put on floor and watch to see which items the dog eats first.  Some examples of food are: cheese, sausage, chicken, fish cubes, soft cheese, strawberries, cucumber, blueberries, kibble etc.  If you haven’t ever done this, I really want to encourage you to try this – a wonderful way for your dog showing you what their personal level of each food reward is.  That can be useful information when you are training.  I am not a fan of getting your dog ‘working’ for all of their daily food, but you certainly need to find the balance of what food they have when you are training.  You are in full control of what they eat, therefore there is no need for your dog to gain weight when you use food in training. 
How do you deliver food is another way of creating value in using food.  Do you get deliver to their mouth?  Do you scatter food on the floor so they can sniff to find it?  Do you throw it away, so they chase it?  Do you chuck in the air, so they catch it?  So many different ways to use food and depending on your dog’s personality they will have a preferred way for receiving food.  Some dogs would love to chase it across the floor, whilst some would look at you with the ‘you’ve got to be kidding – I now have to run to earn my reward!!!’ Another fun game to try with your dog – how do they like to receive their food reward? 

I pay my dogs regularly and have no shame in doing so.  It’s interesting that people sometimes comment when they see me using food.  For example, when walking on the canal and a bike goes past, I’ll ask my dogs to sit and wait whilst the bike goes past, I will then give my dogs a food reward and some people will quip “they’ll do anything for food” in a way that is them almost suggesting my dogs need to have food to listen.  I just smile and don’t say anything because they don’t understand, but I do find it interesting that people seem to judge dog owners that are seen to use food.  I get full of joy when I see someone walking down the street delivering food rewards to their dog when you can clearly see them practicing their loose lead walking. 

So does that mean I always have to use food?  I will go back to my point of: Do you get paid to do your job?  So Yes, some form of reward should always be used but as my dog’s learning increases the payments do reduce.  I would expect my dog to do more, work harder or longer for the ‘payment’.  When I started Hoopers training, I would reward my dog for simply doing 1 Hoop.  Now, I expect them to run a whole course of 20 obstacles for a reward.  Starting to teach loose lead walking, I pay every step and overtime reduce this down to some food rewards and verbal praise.  I often say pay according to difficulty.   If I am at home, no distractions around, then a mix of kibble/biscuits I would use, but the moment I go outside on a walk or to a training class, the value of my payment/food reward goes up. 

Getting paid for doing a job is a big reinforcer, but it’s not the only reason we go to work.  We have relationships with co-workers, pride in your job and learning skills are all motivations to work.  Linking that back to dog training, when your dog is learning new skills, or you are still building your relationship, more frequent rewards are needed, as your relationship builds, and there is intrinsic value in learning and playing together, then that also forms part of their motivation. 

Overtime, your dog will often work without food because they truly enjoy the activity, the teamwork of playing with you and they have been reinforced previously so now it is valuable for them to do.  This is all about relationship and history of learning and reinforcements that will get you to the goal of you and your dog being a great team.  
​Jo x