Kane Chocolate Lab Puppy

 Management tools are a way to give yourself a little break from training and hyper vigilance, as are the way that you use them.   These are your physical management tools and their uses: Crate:   You can use this to feed either dog in while the other is out, you can use this as a rest time (dog's actually could use more sleep than they get, and space to just relax), let wiggles relax in it when Bruce is out sometimes (as Bruce does need to have his free alone time with you),  Collar: ( that does not come off or slip lead)  A halter does not, as other trainers say, control the "bitey end" of the dog.  A halter also is not a great tool for preventing lunging and it is possible for them to get it off.  I use this when I am umbilical cording the dog.   I am holding onto the leash whether I am sitting down for tv (or even have it in a sit on the dog configuration, just remember that sit on the dog is a 30 + minute exercise) or walking around...

Socializing better with friends (not that he was bad just a bit too excitable and humpy in the beginning):   Teaching ball retrieve and bring inside: Long Place Inside Leash Dropped with Best Puppy Friend, Bluey (very hard for both of them): Send to Place and Recall Practice Reps from More of A Distance Inside: Circle Place Inside with Leash Dropped: Sit Stays Inside with Leash Dropped:

  Long place is technically the 4th step in the overall place command:   First step is intro.  Intro is just walking the dog and letting them pass over it.  "Place" is said when all paws are on the place. Second step is teaching the dog to step on the place themselves. Third step is teaching them that there is a boundary they should not step off. Fourth step is beginning to proof and advance this exercise by having them keep themselves on the place for a period of time.   Trainer only gets involved if they try to leave. This teaches your dog that you might very well be in a seated position when they are in a place (while the third step has started the idea that you may be moving around the room).   This is tricky for dogs as they usually want to be petted or cuddled when you take a seat, but it is important that owners have time to read, work, eat a meal, and so on without constantly needing to pay attention to their dog.   Usually ...

   THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE PLACE (STEP 1): STEP 1:   Position your place equipment in the middle of the room. STEP 2:  Start walking your dog around the room. STEP 3:   Walk  with your dog over the place area.   When all four paws are in the place, say "place". STEP 4:   Repeat step three from every angle of the place mat or bed (remember dogs can totally interpret something as "just from this direction", so help them to learn to generalize the command by doing this). STEP 5:  After several (15 or so) repeats of this, stop short of the mat, and see if the dog is ready to step on themselves.   SEND TO PLACE (STEP 2): STEP 1:   You still have a leash and collar on your dog.   The place (board, mat, dog bed) item is in the middle of the room so you can walk around it, and use all sides to place your dog (so that they do not generalize). STEP 2:    Now as you a...

  Equipment:  15' long line Training Collar Chuck-it type ball (easier for puppies) OR other favorite toy STEP 1:   Have your puppy near you on the long line.  You can have the line short at this point to keep them near you. STEP 2:   Throw the ball as you say "get it". STEP 3:   (Super important for the bringing back) Wait until your puppy latches onto the ball before saying "let's go".   DO NOT say "good boy" or "let's go" until they have a grip on the ball. NOTE:   If they don't go after the ball, first make sure you have not picked out a time the puppy is tired or has already trained enough.  Remember you want to do this when the puppy is fresh and ready to go.  If they are, but something has just distracted them or inhibited them, go towards the ball yourself with the puppy.  They will normally go and grip it after this. STEP 4:    Make sure your dog comes towards you.   If they drop the ball along the way, ...

  Equipment needed: Long Line, Training Collar, Food Reward (if that is what we are working with)   STEP 1:  You will be wanting to hold the end of the long leash for this one. STEP 2:     In the opposite hand, you will want to be holding the food reward. STEP 3:    Let your puppy get distracted.  If they go to the end of the line, just keep constant tension on until they turn towards you.   When they look at you OR they are not putting pressure on the line (in other words distracted but not going to the end of the line and they do not need to be looking at you) say the command "let's go". STEP 5A:   When your puppy starts to come towards you, say "good girl/boy" and then  they get to you give them the food reward. STEP 5B:   If your puppy does not turn towards you, give a little tug on the leash, and the instant they lock eyes and come towards you say "good boy or girl" encouragingly until they get to you.  ...