Train Smarter With Games

Training Smarter, Not Harder with Games & Puzzles

When people come to their first session at the Yooper Paws Training Center, they are often surprised by our training style. I hear things like, "This is so much fun!" "This is so easy!" "All we do is play games!?!?" As positive reinforcement based trainers, we want to teach dogs what TO Do vs what NOT to Do. Playing games based on teaching skills and concepts allows us to heavily reinforce the behaviors we want. If we use reinforcement the dog wants, getting behaviors becomes much easier. Teaching in a way that both owner and dog have fun, makes learning so much easier. For those who are not familiar with Games & Concepts Based Training let me break it down a bit.

Watch this Movement Puzzle with Azul

Movement Puzzles are designed to reinforce skills we want our dogs to be good at while teaching concepts that can be applied to life skills.

In this puzzle all Azul has to do is put his front paws on the trampoline and return for a treat. I start by standing really close to the trampoline and using hand targets to guide Azul back and forth. Once Azul has the idea, I slowly back away from the trampoline. This is to teach the concept of sending the dog out to do a job and returning to their handler once the job is done, creating long distance work.

This is Azul's first time doing this puzzle so he's moving pretty slow, but with a few sessions he will start to build up some speed.

For dogs that find speed and movement reinforcing, the game becomes so fun that they don't even realize they are learning.

Here is Roz doing the same puzzle.

Roz has done 4-5 sessions already so I can build distance and speed much faster with her. I can also slow down my rate of reinforcement faster with her because she already knows and loves the game.

Games based dog training allows us to repeat behaviors without acting like a drill sergeant or forcing a dog to do something they don't want to do. We can play the game using body language to guide the dog to the behavior we are after without giving any cues. Then once the behavior is well known we can associate a verbal cue to request the behavior. By training this way, we avoid punishment when our dog struggles doing a behavior they are still learning. We can reinforce a behavior that's almost correct and slowly shape that behavior to the skill level we want.

Since learning this way is fun for both owner and dog, they are more likely to practice by playing the games between sessions. And your dog trainer can always tell if you've practiced or not!

Let Yooper Paws of Love or the Crazy2Calm Canine Coaches help you learn how to set up puzzles to train the skills you want your dog to have! Email us at yooperpaws@gmail.com.

Continue to Post 2 in the Games Series to learn about helping distracted & fearful dogs with games.

Camping with Dogs

Camping with Dogs can be fun and challenging at the same time!

I'm not going to go over a full packing list because their are hundreds of them online to choose from. One item that no one should forget is a longline or tie out cable and the prior training that goes along with that!

No matter what style of camping you're doing, you're going to need to unload and do some basic set up. Having a longline so that you can anchor your dog to the vehicle or a tree while you get set up is a must. Depending on how your dog does in new environments, you may need to take them on a sniff-a-bout first. Otherwise you're likely to be interrupted with lots of barking and tangles in the line. Azul has been conditioned to having his line attached to my vehicle so I can get things done. On our last camping trip though we had Roz and Finnegan who hadn't had previous training for this. I spent the better part of the first hour dealing with dogs; getting them all attached to secure trees, food & water, untangling the lines, asking them to stop barking, etc. This is a great example of train for the moment, not in the moment! 

If you're going to be cooking over a fire, you're going to want your dog secured on a line a safe distance away from the open flame. While I teach my dogs to lay by my side around the fire pit, I don't want them distracting me while I'm cooking. And I don't want them getting the opportunity to sneak food from someone else around the fire pit. I'll set up my longlines at a safe distance away from the fire and any tables that will have food on it. Then I'll use a 6ft or shorter leash for relaxing around the fire. On the longline the dog can play or do whatever they want, but on the short leash I expect them to lay calmly by my side. Training a relaxed settle is also something you want to train before you go camping. Keep in mind that exciting environments make settling more difficult, so be sure to have realistic expectations based on your dog's previous training.

If you're hanging out around a bon fire in your backyard, your dog may be able to train your dogs to be off leash while you relax. Please! Please! Please don't allow your dog to be off leash while you're camping! I know from the moment I pull out of the driveway until I return home my dogs are going to remain attached to a leash of some sorts. There is no way we can predict all the distractions while we are camping so recall is going to be way more challenging. On our last camping trip 2 campsites had parrots with them! On a recent day trip we came across wild chickens in the woods. I'd expect to see wild turkeys, but Azul doesn't know that word. Yet when I exclaimed, "Those are Chickens!" Azul easily pulled the leash out of my hand and went on his own adventure. 

Off leash dogs easily create problems for other people nearby too. Even if your dog is totally friendly, it's rude to let them say high to other people and dogs without permission. Please don't be that person to exclaim, "It's ok, my dog is friendly!" I used to be that person until I started working with fearful dogs and people. On our recent trip to a campground we had 4 off leash dogs or groups of dogs come our way. Most happened when we walked down the road on sniff-a-bouts and most were able to recall their dogs. The one that bothered me the most was a repeat offender camping next door. Apparently the young dog had a door dashing problem and kept leaving the camper without permission. Every time, the poodle would head straight for our 3 dogs. I offered the caregiver a leash if she needed one to keep her dog from invading our space. My offer was not out of kindness. They declined saying they had a leash and walked away. My daughter went over and had a long discussion with them about how their dog invading our space was unsafe for everyone, especially their dog and how their dog was interfering with a Service Dog who may or may not be working at the time of the invasion. Thankfully after that, the dog was kept on their campsite. Most campgrounds have leash requirements! My next camping trip is on private property and I still expect my dogs to be on leash the whole time.

Dogs Need Sleep!

Camping greatly impacts everyone's energy level and quality of sleep! Dogs and kids are bound to be super excited when you first arrive to your campsite. Be prepared to manage that excitement! If you're in a group and people are arriving at different times, be prepared for your dog's excitement level to go up with each new arrival. You may have to help your dog maintain manners for calm introductions or go for a walk just before someone arrives to help move past that increased excitement.

You are spending way more time outside than you typically would and your dog is on leash therefore following you around more than normal too. This can lead to a very tired dog that may struggle with napping around all the distractions. We all know that a tired puppy becomes a naughty puppy and the same holds true for your older dogs when you're camping. If you're dog goes from being well behaved to being extra needy or doing behaviors they typically wouldn't, you're probably going to want to find a quiet place to rest together. They are not going to rest on their own so use this time to allow yourself to rest a bit too!

When I'm camping I tend to be one of the last people to bed and one of the first people awake. This means my nights are really short! My dogs are used to having 10-12 hrs of down time each night, but might only get 6 hrs of rest due to my schedule. This can be even more challenging if your dogs can't settle wherever you want them to sleep due to the new environment, wildlife noises, activity from other campers, etc. Be sure to take a blanket or dog bed that they've used at home to help them settle in. Just like we may need coffee to help us make it through the early morning, our dogs might need a special treat that takes them awhile to enjoy; a frozen lickmat, a bone to chew, whatever they love and will help them relax as people around you try to get a few more hours of sleep. Be sure to provide your dog a safe place to sleep if they are asking for some more rest.

Since I'm typically camping with family or friends, I plan at least a few quiet walks or even a drive with just me and my dog(s). This gives us all a chance to decompress a bit and have some silence. My dogs often use this time to sniff which is relaxing and they often go potty too. Some dogs struggle with going potty around strangers or away from home, but getting away from camp for some quiet time can really help. And once my dogs learn that this will happen, they typically won't poop in the areas people relax in. I'm cleaning it up either way, but I'd rather not have them going where we will be playing and eating all day. This is also a good time to think about how your dog lets you know they need to potty. At home it's generally by going to the door, perhaps ringing bells or using a potty button. But when your outside and you don't have doors, bells, or buttons available, how will your dog tell you they have to go?

Connecting with the Environment

When our dogs are adding lots of work to our camping trip we may need to remind ourselves why we want our dogs with us in the first place. Spending some quiet time each day enjoying the nature around us and connecting on a heart to heart level with our dogs can be the highlight of the trip! Yet it's one of those things that we seem to forget to do while we are camping. If your a morning person, you may find some yoga in a tranquil spot rewarding for both of you. If your an evening person, a sunset on the beach might sound better. I'm more of an afternoon person so that usually means hiking through the woods to some hidden spot and relaxing in the shade without any technology (my phone is typically buried in my bag for safety) and simply watch the world go by; leaves falling, birds chirping, chipmunks running, etc.

It can be very hard for dogs to be able to hold still and take in the environment with all kinds of potential distractions around them. I typically let me dogs choose their activity during this time so they can sniff the area we are settling in, play with each other or me, or relax for a drink of water. If I can find a spot near a lake or river, then we found a slice of heaven! My dogs can play in the water, splashing around and making me laugh. I can't wait to take my shoes off and put my feet in water every chance I get! If you want your dog to be calm and you think the environment is going to be too stimulating, take a lickmat or long lasting chew for them to enjoy while you hang out together. 

Very rarely will I invite anyone along on these excursions. It has to be someone who loves my dogs nearly as much as I do or someone who has their own dog to love and everyone loves hanging out together. I'm a very social person, but sometimes we all need "ME" time and sometimes that means we need that break from our dogs too.

Leaving Your Dogs While on Vacation

This can be one of the most challenging parts of camping with your dog! Most of us have dogs that can stay home alone for at least short periods of time. If you happen to have a dog that suffers with separation anxiety then you may need to work even harder if you need to leave your dog somewhere during your vacation. The goal should be to set up in a way that leaves both you and your dog feeling safe, calm, and happy during your separation.

I'll be staying in a tent this coming weekend. In no way can I leave the property with my dog enclosed in a tent or other temporary structure and feel like they are safe while we are gone. Dogs can easily chew or dig through tent material if they want out. My dogs are a Service Dog and a Service Dog in Training so legally they can go with me anywhere I go. However, it's quite hard to enjoy a trail ride in a JEEP with 2 large dogs on my lap. We will also be taking a canoe trip that put us away from our camp for 4-5 hrs. I can easily take 1 dog on the canoe trip, but 2 would be too hard. Last year we had 4 dogs on the river in our group, but I was only responsible for Azul. This year I'm faced with either choosing to stay behind and not go canoeing or choosing which dog to leave behind. We do have family members who don't go on this trip, but most are older and would struggle to manage a leash with one of my large dogs attached. I'm not exactly sure what I will do for this excursion yet, but that will probably be in an upcoming blog.

Here are some steps that I do to make sure my dogs and I feel safe, calm, and happy while we are separated.

1. I'll be taking a crate that can be set up under a shade tree or inside a pole barn where it is cooler. This will depend on predicted weather while I'm gone. But if it's too hot, this will not be a safe solution.
2. I'll have longlines set up and secured to minimize any leash time another person may need. We have 2 main areas set up at our camp; a bon fire area and play/games/gathering area out back in the shade. I will have a longline secured in both areas so that the human watching the dog only has to move them from one line to the other if the human is changing areas.
3. I'll make sure the human my dogs will be staying with and the dog that will be staying have created a relationship together and have learned how to communicate with each other. Azul has been to this location 4-5 times and often sleeps with me inside my sister's camper. She has known him since he was a puppy and even though they only see each other a few times a year, Azul knows she always has something good in her ice chest! This will be the first time Roz has been to this camp, but she's so social and food motivated that she's going to have everyone begging to watch her when I leave.
4. I'll have a backup plan! You never know what is going to happen while you are gone. We've had 1 hour trail rides turn into 4 hours when a vehicle breaks down on the trip. We've had storms pop up suddenly drenching everything that couldn't run to cover. There is no way to prepare for everything, but do your best to have a plan that is communicated with the person who is caring for your animal. 
1. Typically my dogs don't need to eat if I'm going to be gone an hour, but if something happens, the caregiver should know where the food is.
2. If the babysitter needs to stick the dog somewhere due to weather, where is your safe space. Cam would have preferred to be in the car should a sudden storm roll through. Azul would prefer to be in my sister's camper or the pole barn depending on where all the people are.
3. What should your babysitter do if an off leash dog or wild animal wanders into camp while your gone? I'm sorry but there are not many family members that I would trust to be able to hold back my dogs in this situation! Even if I'm there, I'm going to quickly load my dog into the car to deal with the other animal. Can my babysitter do that safely? If not, what else can they do? What other ideas can we give them to help when the unexpected thing happens while your gone.

If you can't feel safe, calm and happy about leaving your dog at camp then you probably shouldn't be leaving them. This might be hard to do, but sometimes the choice to stay behind is the best choice. Will you really enjoy that out if you're worried about your dog the whole time your gone? This one was really hard for me when Azul was younger. I lost my first Service Dog due to an unforeseen accident and I don't take unnecessary risks with Azul! You could even say I don't take any risks with Azul! While Azul doesn't have separation anxiety when we are apart, I sure do! This is common among Service Dog Handlers, but many pet parents struggle with this issue as well. I wish I had more advice on this issue, but basically if you can't enjoy yourself while your gone knowing your dog is safe, calm and happy, then perhaps you just shouldn't leave them during your vacation. 

Here are a few more pictures for you to enjoy from my last camping trip! 

Next up: Taking Your Dog to the Beach!

Impulsiveness in Adolescents

 Impulsiveness and Forgetfulness in Adolescents

Impulsiveness during a "fear stage" is almost always a huge sign that our dog is going through the brain changes that occur. Some people think of this in terms of impulse control and some people call this self regulation.

As young kids, pretty much all of us have done a Dot-to-Dot at some point in our schooling. That is the easiest way to think of how this stage impacts our dog's brain. As an elementary student we might start with a dot-to-dot that goes from 1-10 and slowly build up to a dot-to-dot that counts by 10's and goes into the hundreds. As we move up through our education those dot's change or become more complex but they still follow a specific pattern according to the rules of the educational subject we are focusing on.

Now imagine that you are handed a dot-to-dot that is in a language you don't understand or the rules that dictate the order of connecting those dots is not given to you. This is exactly what is happening in our adolescent and young adult brains as they are going through a fear period. This causes them start missing some of the dots. They might get 1-3 in the right order then suddenly jump to 7 or 8 and finish in the right order, or miss any step along the way of a previously well known behavior chain.

This is another common place where we, as humans, like to stick a label...my dog is being stubborn, doesn't want to listen, is being a jerk, is making bad choices, etc. There is really a big movement in the dog training industry to avoid labelling dogs in this fashion because the label helps other people to understand what the dog is doing, but it rarely changes the behavior of the dog or teaches the dog how to make better choices. This can often lead to more harm then good!

Science has shown us that a dog's brain previous to the fear stage might have dots that go in order of 1, 2, 3, 4. Then after the stage the wiring changes completely and the dog might go from 1 to 3, 4 completely skipping one part of the brain. Once the fear stage is over we can repair or reconnect the dots but during the fear stage, our dogs really are not in control of their impulses and can't control their actions the way we think they should or even the way they previously could. This means our dogs that are in fear stage will really struggle with impulse control especially when anything even slightly exciting is happening. Poor habits like pulling on the leash to reach something or counter surfing often become more intense in this period of life. And it's not our dog's fault as their brain simply can't control itself. This means we have to implement our very best management techniques such as blocking of the kitchen or not leaving anything on surfaces the dog can reach that the dog might want to steal. The more our dogs practice these behaviors that we don't appreciate, the more they learn that the behavior is a great way to be self-reinforcing.

Forgetfulness

Forgetfulness during a fear stage starts with the rewiring of the dog's brain, connecting the dots, but also moves into reinforcement challenges that often arise during this time.

Part of the reason our impulsive adolescents seem so forgetful is the flood of hormones that happens so rapidly at this stage. The hormones related to procreation run rampantly at this time in unaltered dogs. Even altered dogs struggle with rapid increases in cortisol, adrenaline and dopamine. Their brain simply isn't equipped to deal with this yet. They often can't tell if another dog is friendly or not yet so becoming "reactive" due to fear or over-excitement is very common. 

At this stage your dog is now "Large & In Charge" when faced with distractions. Barking & lunging become the norm leaving many dog owners wondering what happened to their adorable puppy. Owners often struggle to stay in control of their dog and their own emotions as it seems that everyone must be looking at how awful their dog's behavior seems. 

This is often when the stronger tools come out based on correcting the dog when they act like a fool. Owners try these as an attempt to safely keep their dog from dragging them down the street. Many owners feel remorse for using such harsh tools, yet they simply don't see another way to keep everyone safe.

But there is another way to keep everyone safe and avoid punishing your dog for doing exactly what nature has designed the brain to do!

This simple answer is Do Nothing!

But that doesn't really explain it the right way. We need to remember that the adolescent stage doesn't last forever. The brain will eventually sort itself out into an adult brain capable of making rational decisions. By "do nothing" I mean stop asking your dog to try new things, go in busy or over-stimulating environments, and be social butterflies. Instead here is a list of things to do:

Take walks in quiet places at odd times of day when the environment is calmer. Try "Go Nowhere" walks or ""See No One" walks.

Play with trusted friends that share play styles for safe social experiences.

Try to avoid any major life changes during this time as possible! This isn't always possible so if there is a big change, be sure to provide lots of extra stress relieving enrichment.

Work on fun, teamwork based training and games that help keep the relationship between you and your dog strong...parkour, agility, nosework, etc.

We have a lot more info on this struggle filled adolescent stage! Check out the Crazy Canine Adolescent Classroom, Helping Distracted Dogs Workshop, Helping Fearful Dogs Feel Safe Workshop and other great activities offered by Yooper Paws of Love.

Understanding Adolescents Series

Post 1, Post 2, & Post 3