April 2020 Updates from Shelby Semel Dog Training

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Virtual Group Workshops

Due to COVID-19, we are offering virtual workshops in addition to our private virtual sessions to help you and your pup have some fun in this difficult time.

Our virtual workshops include:

  • Puppy topics and basic obedience

  • Growing family/baby prep

  • Intermediate/advanced tricks

  • Fixing unwanted barking

and more!

If your dog is driving you crazy during this quarantine, they're probably going crazy too! Either way, we have the tools to help you stay sane and stay safe with your family.

For more information on these classes, contact your SSDT trainer, or contact us!

Sign up for our virtual group classes here:

Don't forget to follow us on social media for daily updates:

Instagram: @shelbysemeldogtraining
Facebook: Shelby Semel Dog Training

Tip of the Month: Loose Leash Walking

Ever wonder how some people have dogs that walk nicely next to them, not pulling or stopping in their tracks?

They probably worked really hard to get to that point!

Spring is always a really great time to work on your dog's walking skills, and right now is perfect, because you don't have as many distractions taking your dogs attention away quite as much.

Luckily, your SSDT trainer can teach you how to go from

THIS : 

 
Dog Pulling on Leash
 

TO THIS:

 
Loose Leash Dog Walking
 

Tip #1: Try having your leash in the opposite hand from the side the dog is walking on. This is so you have a free hand to ask them for behaviors and give them rewards.

Tip #2: Use your basic obedience behaviors while you're walking! These will come in handy more than you think in getting your pup to pay attention to you and know that they can earn rewards while on walks!

Tip #3: Make sure you're using your highest value rewards (chicken/jerky/etc) so that they have a reason to pay attention to what you're asking them to do! We need to make paying attention to us the most rewarding thing while in a distracting environment.

Tip #4: Teach your dog to sit each time he/she wants to say hi to someone. Jumping results in a lost opportunity to greet people.

This is an impulse control exercise that takes practice! 

If you have questions, contact your SSDT trainer you've been working with, and let them know that you'd like to work on your pup's loose leash walking skills!

If you have not worked with us before, but you’d like to have a virtual session to begin your training process, and start working on your pups manners, that is a perfect place to start!

Try a New Trick

Working on training new tricks with your dog can be really fun! It can be super helpful with a pup who is high energy and needs a lot of mental stimulation.

Here are a couple easy steps to start training your dog a Spin behavior:

Step 1: Get your pup into a standing position using a food lure. If you need to walk to a different spot to get them to stand up, do so.

Step 2: Let them lick at the treat while you draw it very slowly around in a LARGE circle. Mark and reward for a full turn! Use your pointer finger out while you draw the circle so they start seeing you pointing in a circle.

(If you see that he/she is having trouble following the treat all the way around, try giving the treat for only going part-way around! Then take slow steps to get them to understand the concept.)

 

Here is an example of how fun training tricks with your pups can be. In this video, Dozer shows off his touch, sit, stay, and turnaround!

 

Step 3: Start luring them in a circle without having a treat in your hand, and when they complete the circle, mark and give the treat from your other hand!

Step 4: Start adding in the verbal "spin" or "turnaround" when they are performing the behavior consistently with just the hand signal!

(Then if you can, start using your pointing hand in a circle further up from their face, so you don't have to bend over to ask them for it every time.)

If you have any questions about training this behavior or anything else, contact your SSDT trainer directly, or contact us here!

Trainee of the Month

We have two Pandemic Puppy cuties who have been working hard this month!

CHARLOTTE

 
Charlotte
 

PERRY

 
Perry
 

Perry and Charlotte have been working very hard at home during this quarantine!

They have participated in our virtual training sessions, as well as our virtual zoom workshops, learning all of their basic obedience behaviors like sit, touch, look, down, drop it, and practicing loose leash walking!

If you’d like more information on learning new behaviors like Charlotte and Perry,  or fixing any undesirable behaviors, please check out our virtual group workshops and private virtual training sessions on our website!