• Skip to main content
Unleashed Potential
  • Classes
  • UPX
  • Board and Train
  • Day Train Program
  • Find a Trainer
    • Become A Trainer
  • Store

dog training tips

Why is my dog suddenly reactive or aggresive?

December 4, 2024 By Sara Bryanton Leave a Comment

We have a lot of people who book consults at 8-14 months of age saying they are seeing reactivity and aggression for the first time. This can be most often be traced back to natural growth stages, misinterpretations of behavior during puppyhood, and environmental factors. Here’s a summarized analysis and actionable guide for you. 

Why Reactivity and Aggression Surfaces Around 8-14  Months

  1. Developmental Changes: 
  • Dogs go through various growth phases, including sexual and social maturity.
  • Around 8 months, hormonal changes kick in, leading to shifts in behavior, confidence, and responses to the environment. Basically the dog becomes faster, smarter and stronger both mentally and physically.
  • They transition from being reliant puppies to independent, free-thinking adolescents who are more likely to act on their feelings. 
  • They go through another phase of development called social maturity at 2-3 years of age where they once again are faster, smarter, stronger. If a dog makes it through sexual maturity with no reactivity or aggression, they may not make it through social maturity. 
  1. Tolerance vs. Comfort in Puppyhood:
  • Puppies often endure uncomfortable situations without reacting much, which can be mistaken for confidence or ease.
  • They are actually showing the usual physical stress signals  but because there is nothing vocal yet, people tend to not notice. 
  • As displayed widely in various Tik Tok videos of dogs that people find cute or humourous, most people are unaware that the dog is actually under stress. 
  • This “hidden discomfort” can resurface as vocal and physical reactivity when they feel empowered to express concerns in adolescence.
  1. “Out of the Blue” Behavior:
  • What seems sudden is often the result of cumulative experiences where stress signs went unnoticed or unmanaged.
  • Early discomfort may evolve into vocal or physical reactions like barking, growling, or lunging as dogs mature.

Prevention and Management Tips

  1. Ongoing Training and Socialization:
  • Extend training beyond puppyhood to address new challenges during fear periods (often at 6-14 months), sexual maturity, and social maturity (2-3 years).
  • Focus on controlled, positive exposures with food rather than overwhelming the dog with new situations.
  1. Understanding Stress Signals:

These are the common stress signals. Your dog may be showing just a couple of these or several at once. 

  • Yawning when not sleepy
  • Panting -when not hot of just exercised
  • Lips or nose licks
  • Tightly closed mouth
  • Ears flat back
  • Hard stare
  • Wide eyes -the whites are visible
  • Frequent blinking
  • Moving head away to the side
  • Moving body away, backing up
  • Tail down over butt or tucked
  • Stillness and/or body stiffness
  • Crouched body
  • Paw lift -when body is cowering, ears back or tail down/tucked
  • Belly up-lying on their side, body straight and tense, legs tense, tail tucked
  • Sudden ground or floor sniffing when there is nothing new there to smell.
  • Sudden scratching or licking themselves
  • Shaking off- when not wet
  • Pacing
  1. Set Boundaries at Home:

Avoid reinforcing reactive behaviors by allowing territorial or demand-driven actions, such as:

  • Barking at windows or guarding vantage points by perching on furniture. 
  • Physical demands like pawing or barking at you for attention.
  • Pushy  behaviours such as bulldozing you, your kids or other dogs in the home to get through doors or get somewhere first. 
  1. Anticipate Social Maturity Challenges:
  • Even dogs that seem well-adjusted can develop new challenges at 2-3 years old. Revisit training and socialization practices to address any new behaviors.

By focusing on proactive training, recognizing stress signals, and setting clear boundaries, owners can better navigate these developmental phases and help their dogs grow into confident, well-adjusted adults.

~Coach Sara

Filed Under: Sara Bryanton, UPK9 Main Blog

How to Fit a “Dominant Dog Collar” for a Reactive Dog

August 6, 2024 By Duke Ferguson Leave a Comment

In this article, I want to show you how to properly fit a dominant dog collar, or what I simply call a slip lead. This type of collar is highly effective for calming reactive dogs, especially those who are leash reactive or tend to freak out around other dogs. It’s a great tool to help your dog relax without immediately resorting to more corrective tools like pinch collars.

Why Choose a Dominant Dog Collar?

The slip lead is designed to help calm your dog. It’s not about correcting behavior through sharp jerks,or activating but rather about providing gentle control and reducing reactivity. If you have a dog that overreacts to other dogs or becomes highly excited on the leash, starting with a slip lead or a dominant dog collar can be very beneficial. A slip lead is different than a dominant dog collar but my PEI language – Island slang, often calls all the collars “slip leads. IT is good to note that Slip, leads,  slip collars, as well as dominant dog collars are all different tools by nature but can be used similar. 

NOTE: Dominant dog collar is the collar in the video and size requirements are needed, not as much for slip leads. Size and measurements differ depending on where you get the collar. 

Fitting the Dominant Dog Collar

Getting the right fit is crucial for the collar to work effectively. Here’s how to measure and fit the collar properly:

  1. Measure the Neck: Use a measuring tape or a piece of string to measure around the dog’s neck, just behind the ears. You want this measurement to be snug, as a loose collar will not stay in place.
  2. Choose the Right Size: Once you have the neck measurement, select a slip lead that matches. If the measurement is between sizes, it’s generally better to choose the smaller size to ensure a snug fit.
  3. Positioning: The collar should sit high on the dog’s neck, right behind the ears. This is critical because a collar that sits too low will not provide the control you need and can slide down.
  4. Fitting: When you put the collar on, the clip should be in your left hand with the dog facing you. This allows for easier and more effective handling. The collar should be snug enough that you can fit your fingers underneath but not so loose that you can fit your whole hand.

Checking the Fit

To ensure the collar is fitted correctly, attach the leash and pull gently. You should only see a small amount of slack, ideally just the length of your finger. If there’s more slack, the collar may be too loose and will not stay in the correct position.

Using the Dominant Dog Collar or any Slip Lead

When using the slip lead, keep in mind that it’s a tool to help your dog stay calm. It is important to teach your dog how to responded to the collar first in a few training sessions so the dog understands how to get its advantage. Teach your dog to be in control of it and learn how to remove it and avoid it.  Just before your dog starts to react or pull, add gentle pressure and known command and reinforce a sit or a different behaviour it knows and likes.  Then removing the discomfort encouraging your dog to relax and focus. It’s not meant to jerk over and over and or cause pain, but to guide and help then keep calm.

Benefits of a Proper Fit

A well-fitted slip lead:

  • Helps calm leash-reactive dogs by applying gentle pressure they want to avoid.
  • Keeps the collar in place high on the neck, where it’s most effective.
  • Prevents the collar from sliding down becoming un effective. ensuring consistent communication between you and your dog and having motivation is important. 

Final Thoughts

For reactive dogs, starting with a slip lead can make a significant difference in their behavior on walks or outings while they learn to walk. Add food for positive reinforcement in training after the release of pressure of the lead to 10X the power! It provides enough consistent control and helps to calm your dog without the need for harsh corrections.  If you’re looking for more training tips and personalized guidance, consider joining me in UPX our Unleashed Potential Experience community. We offer bi-weekly live training and coching sessions, access to our comprehensive online courses, and a supportive community to help you achieve your dog training goals. Jon a challenge, learn about breathwork and more. 

Consider UPX Personal Development and training for YOU and YOUR dog. 

For more information and to join us in UPX, visit https://www.dukeferguson.com/upx/membership and take the next step towards unleashing you and your dogs full potential. 

Filed Under: Duke Ferguson, UPK9 Main Blog

Building Confidence in Nervous Dogs: Tackling Food Bowl Anxiety

July 23, 2024 By Duke Ferguson Leave a Comment

Hey there, it’s your trainer and coach, Uncle Duke from Unleashed Potential. Today, I want to address a common issue many dog owners face: dogs being nervous of different tings and sounds. We normally think about loud sounds like guns and fireworks, but some dogs are nervous of metal food bowls or water dishes. You might not notice it, but it’s a reality for many dogs. Ive seen thirsty dogs who refused fresh drink from a dog bucket that was metal.  The clinking noise of their collar hitting the bowl can cause hesitation and anxiety. If you have a dog who has weak nerves or is fearful then this video and post is FOR YOU AND YOUR DOG! This post will walk you through techniques to help your dog build confidence and become more courageous around their food bowl. This confidence will bleed out in other life things in a more positive way. Take what I teach and add it to different situations in life with your dog. Same principles apply on other areas and to other things. This is the food bowl confidence builder. 

 

Understanding the Anxiety

Dogs can develop nervousness around food bowls due to the noise they make when their collar or leash hits the dish and they have never learned to overcome it.  This is particularly true for dogs that are naturally timid or have had negative experiences in the past. WE the humans often feel bad for the dog and make things more comfortable for them by using a different bowl and avoiding the issue of the initial fear.  This is unproductive for for making the dog more courageous and resilient to life and more anxiety increases becasue the dogs never learn to take on a challenge and struggle then win to become stronger and tougher and more confident in life. 

 Instead, anxiety increases in different areas of life over time. This affects overall health, performance and wellness of the dog in a negative way. It is the same in humans.  There is a healthy way and an unhealthy way to look at things that effect our choices and outcomes in life. Often doig the hard things, taking on the challenge is what helps us grow and learn and become stronger mentally and physically. We won’t do it if we are not motivated and we wont be if others will do it for us. 😉  I cant say enough about having a good coach in your corner and as for the dogs, they  need us humans as their coach whos in their corner, just like we need coaches in our life to grow and succeed. This is why I became a certified professional dog trainer and high performance coach. 

  I feel there are ”to many” humans and dogs who end up on anti anxiety medication when it is not required.  Most often other things in combination work excellent to combat anxiety. To name a few examples for humans and dogs: Getting enough rest and exercise, proper nutrition, therapy or coaching, training and personal development for dogs and humans, breathwork and more hobby or play. By taking on challenges to learn to serve and grow and doing hard tings that is what is required fir growth and resilience to life and reduce anxiety.   

In the video, the goal is to counter condition or desensitize them to the noise and make the eating experience positive and stress-free.

Desensitization Techniques

One effective way to build your dog’s confidence is through gradual desensitization. Here’s how I approach this training:

  1. Introduce the Noise Gradually: Start by dropping food into the bowl while your dog is near it. If they’re hesitant or jumpy, it’s okay. The idea is to get them used to the sound bit by bit.
  2. Observe and Adjust: Pay close attention to your dog’s reactions. If they show signs of stress, like jumping or backing away, take note. The key is to proceed slowly and not push them past their comfort zone to much to fast. Let the dog try harder then you do. It is healthy to let the dog struggle to figure out how to gain its advantage. 
  3. Positive Associations: Each time you drop food into the bowl,  the experience and sound means something positive. Over time, they will start to associate the clinking noise with something good—food!!!!  and the noise will be a desired sound when it was once a fear sound. Decreasing the anxiety. BUT the dog needs to want the reward bad enough to try hard. Letting the dog struggle so it can find its own advantages is POWERFUL!! 

Step-by-Step Process

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the process:

  1. Initial Introduction: Place some food in the bowl and let your dog approach it. If they hesitate simply wait and just be there with them.  If they jump at the noise, it’s a sign that they’re still nervous, but don’t worry—this is normal. This is a matter of time and patience. Just be! I call this waiting for the water to boil before we can get cooking potatoes and lobster. See that in a different youtube video. LOL! 
  2. Increasing the Challenge in small steps:: As your dog becomes more comfortable, start making a bit more challenging with noises and places with the bowl. Make it a game of growth and it will become fun as long as you dont make it to hard.  For instance, you can tap the bowl lightly. Watch their reaction closely. If they remain calm, reward them with food. If at any point they seem too stressed, dial it back a bit. See the video for best example. 
  3. Incorporating Other Noises: To further build confidence, you can introduce other noises and distractions. For example, use a stick or another object to create sounds near the food bowl. This helps your dog become more resilient to various noises. Place the bowl on different surfaces and be creative and make it fun. Challenge build up idea:  I set the bowl on a skate board and begin tapping on it as the dog eats.  If you can do this post the video in UPX community if you are a member and we can celebrate! Besure to tage me and you could win a prize! . If you are not in UPX training and coaching community then I invite you to join me in UPX today.  

Real-Life Application

During a training session, I noticed my dog was nervous about the noise of his food bowl. I began by dropping food into the bowl and observed his reaction. Initially, he startled at the noise, but with consistent practice “opening and closing the kitchen” and making positive reinforcement work, he became more comfortable. 

One exercise I used was tapping the bowl while he was eating. At first,I took it slow since he was a little anxious,, but over time, he learned to associate the noise with food and became less anxious, mentally stronger and more confident.  It’s similar to building muscle; you start with light weights and gradually increase the load as you get stronger. The same principle applies here—small steps lead to big improvements. 

Final Thoughts

Training and dog and helping them to overcome their fears and build confidence takes time and patience and they need you as that  coach. They cnt do it alone.  Just like us humans, when we want to grow and transform and succeed we also need a good coach.  Do you and your dog have a good coach?

  It’s essential to give yourself patience and grace for you and your dog to learn and grow. Life, relationships and growth is a process and a struggle for dogs and humans. Honour the struggle is something I say in UPX, you should join us if you have not already. 

  By using these techniques, you can help your dog become more courageous and relaxed around their food bowl and other noises.

Dont go at life alone with your dog, find a like minded tribe and community.  If you’re in to dog training, personal development, breathwork and outdoors and if you are  looking for more guidance and support or more challenges and growth for you and your dog then  join the Unleashed Potential Experience (UPX) community. In UPX, we offer live community group training and coaching sessions with me and my team. NePoPO® Dog Training and behaviour shaping, personalized coaching one to one live, recorded lives for viewing, supportive and inspiring community of extraordinary growth minded people  to help you achieve your dog training goals easier and faster knowing your not alone. For more information and to sign up for my free video series on dog training, visit unleashpotential.ca or dukeferguson.com.

Remember, building a confident, well-adjusted, better version of you and your dog is a process and a journey to honour. With patience and the right approach, you can help your dog overcome their anxieties and thrive.

Filed Under: Duke Ferguson, UPK9 Main Blog

Tips for Camping with a Reactive Dog

September 22, 2022 By Duke Ferguson Leave a Comment

Camping with Reactive Dog

TIPS FOR CAMPING WITH A REACTIVE DOG

I’m an avid camper and if I am booked for board and trains and want to go camping, I will usually take them with me. Sometimes the dogs I have in for training are reactive as is the case with my current board and train – Yasha, the 1.5-year-old sable GSD. We are camping right now at Green Park in Tyne Valley, PEI.

Camping with a Reactive Dog
Kyro & Yasha

Having her along on this trip inspired me to share some tips with you on how to camp with a reactive dog:

🐕When choosing a campground, if possible, drive and scout out the best site for you and your dog prior to booking. Camp in the off-season when campgrounds are quieter. I’m the only tenter here right now and am enjoying lots of space and a decent amount of privacy. If you have a trailer choose a spot off by yourself as best you can. 

🐕 Muzzle train the dog. If you are in training, still working on your dog’s issues, and don’t have full control yet, then for everyone’s safety have a properly fitted muzzle on the dog when you are out and about with them. A good muzzle allows the dog to eat, drink, and pant. 

🐕Kennel train. Yasha is coming along well but I do not trust her yet to be tethered on my campsite unattended while I’m puttering around and not freak out at anything that passes by. Also, I’m friends with the staff and they sometimes pop by unannounced to chat. This sets me up for setbacks if Yasha loses control and lashes out and I’m not ready. Whenever I can not 100% watch her, I put her in her kennel. Times when I’m working online, cooking, cleaning up the site, collecting firewood, etc. 

Camping with a Reactive Dog

🐕 Walk the campground solo and see what kind of dogs are here. Make note of any that are sometimes not tethered or are in groups of 2 or more. Also, how secure are their tie-outs. Note if any are reactive themselves and whether owners try and do anything about it when they react. Avoid areas where you think there will be potential problems. 

🐕 Train a bombproof recall. Before having your reactive dog in any lesser controlled environments, you want to make sure that they have a 100% reliable recall. IF I had Yasha tethered on my site and IF someone I didn’t initially see walked by and she reacts, I want to immediately call her to COME so I can diffuse the situation. 

🐕Post a beware of dog sign at your site. People will appreciate having a heads-up. 

🐕 Prevent what you can not control and control what you teach. For safety have all the proper management protocols in place at times when you are in uncontrolled situations. Always be in a position to reward or correct behavior the moment things happen so you can succeed at teaching the dog more desired behaviors. Don’t set them up to fail by getting slack on your protocols and assuming no one will come by, so it’s okay to have them off their tether this time. Assume nothing, plan for everything. 

Camping with a Reactive Dog

If you don’t feel your dog can handle the potentially high distractions of campground life, or you lack confidence in your abilities to manage and keep things under control – then arrange to have them boarded. This does not mean you are a failure. There are a lot of people who don’t camp with their dogs. And if you are living life with a reactive or aggressive dog it is ok to take some respite, board them somewhere and go camping, and have a break. Especially if you camp in high season where the campgrounds are teeming with kids and dogs. Some cases of reactivity take a while to fully get under control.

In the meantime prevention of out of control situations is paramount. If you are not at a point in training where you feel you can manage your dog then it’s ok to say you know what? We’re not ready for this yet and that’s ok. Let’s find you a place to stay and have fun and we’ll keep working on things so we can all camp together someday. Sometimes the best way to love your dog is to avoid having them in situations they find too stressful. But this does not mean you have to avoid those places as well. 

– Coach Sara Bryanton

 

Are you an avid camper who dreams of taking your currently reactive dog camping? We can help!

Book a FREE consult with us today to get started on your dog training journey!

________________________________________________________________

Click for Free Dog Training Videos

Looking for help with your dog’s training?

Sign-up for our Free Dog Training Mini-Series to get started!

 

Follow

Subscribe

Like

________________________________________________________________

Need help with your dog’s training but unsure of what service we offer is right for you?

Click here to explore all of our Dog Training Services

German Shepherds Training

 

Filed Under: UPK9 Main Blog

How To Find Time To Train Your Dog

April 26, 2022 By Duke Ferguson 13 Comments

Dogs Walking

In this blog, I am going to teach you how to stop taking an all-or-nothing approach to dog training and give you lots of tips on how to find the time to train your dog!

So many people are living life with out-of-control dogs. Correction, they are not living, they are surviving. 

Maybe you got a puppy and were not properly prepared as puppies require A LOT of time and effort put into training or you can end up with major problem behaviors. (Check out our Puppy Management Class for help with training your pup!)

Maybe you got a rescue wanting to save it from further trauma and hardship and you were not prepared to deal with its reactivity, anxiety, or aggression towards people or dogs. 

Maybe you were taught to believe by the media that if you just spoil your dog with endless amounts of free love, affection, food, treats, toys, and snuggles that they will recognize all you do for them and reciprocate by never doing bad things. 

You realized you are out of your depth and contacted your local trainer and signed up for a training package. That’s an amazing first step!! You should feel good you did that! 

You knocked on the door of dog training and guess who answered. Work. Lol, yup! That’s what dog training is. Work. Anyone who seeks growth and transformation in their life needs to be prepared for work and dog training is no different. 

I have conversations with clients a lot, especially during the pandemic, that they are stressed, tired, burned out, overwhelmed with their hectic lives and all their duties and they struggle to add dog training to their list. We live in world now where you are expected to hustle 24/7, drop everything to deal with others emergencies and maintain peak performance in productivity while sacrificing your down time and self care. Moms definitely know what I mean!

No wonder clients struggle to make time to work with their dogs and end up falling behind on their training or quitting not long after they start. In my experience, some owners tend to be all or nothing about training. They feel in order to do it right you need to set aside hours of your day to spend with the dog. This leads to guilt, regret, feeling overwhelmed which will cause you to avoid and merge into comfort seeking habits while continuing the old habit of  just putting up with the dogs behaviour. 

I can be the same way sometimes! I get in my head on occasion that in order to see real change in my life, I need to have hours a day to spend focusing on it but who has that? This way of thinking can make training seem to be a very large project instead of simple small tasks to move the needle forward. You then tend to retreat into stalling until…the perfect day, the perfect time, the perfect weather when all the stars line up and you are free of stress. 

In my personal experience that never happens. Life will continually throw curve balls, people who need me will continually make demands of my time. What works well for me is to stop thinking of the “big project” and start thinking of small, measurable goals and tasks necessary to complete the big project. 

Coach Sara’s Tips: Creative Opportunities To Work On Your Dog Training Goals. 

Here are some ideas on how to find time to train your dog. I do these while I also manage:

  • A full time 50 plus hour week job teaching and coaching wonderful clients. 
  • An 80 minute a day commute to and from work.
  • Living with 1 to 2 board and trains in my care most of the year in addition to my own two dogs.
  • Being responsible for all my home/property maintenance on my own as I live alone. 

Dog Trainer

1. You don’t need to train for hours a day. Science shows that dogs learn best with several short training sessions. I train dogs 3 times a day for 2-5 minutes. I can train up to 5 times a day if I have the whole day off. With some planning and scheduling, you can find 15 mins to engage and work with your dog every day. It’s like going to the gym. You work one muscle group for short sets. Then you stop and let them rest and work in a different group. There’s leg day then back and shoulders day etc. Short sets move you along your goal to the higher level of strength and fitness you desire for your whole body. 

2. I’m a weekend warrior. On the weekends I take dogs on adventures all around PEI to play/train and be socialized in new environments or environments we don’t go to often. Point Prim, Fort Amherst, Green Park, Confederation Bridge Park are a few places we roadtrip to. During the workweek, I do training, walking, hiking and games at home, and close to home designed to use their body and brain to burn off energy quickly and satisfy them – yet suit my busy schedule. Think about where you could go within a 5-10 minute drive from home to hang out with you dog. 

Dog

3. Incorporate obedience into your fetch and tug games. Before you say fetch or cue them to attack the tug, ask them to do commands- sit! down! Fetch! Heel, Place! Fetch! Mix it up and never let them guess what you’re going to ask them to do next. This encourages deeper thinking and will tire them out faster if you have dogs that never seem to get tired mindlessly chasing the ball over and over. You will cut down your time needed greatly and this is stuff you can do right at home.

Here’s a video to help you 👇

https://youtu.be/4QK2hxGIUI0

4. Treadmill training. Train your dog to walk/trot on a treadmill and you will eventually be able to let them have fun burning off energy while you are doing something else. Don’t leave them alone on the treadmill though! Be in the room. I trained my dogs to use the treadmill this winter and they legit love it. Some breeds are not suited for long outings in the heat of summer or cold of winter so treadmills are great for them. Also perfect for clients with mobility issues. 

5. I know you feel guilty that your dog is home all day while you work but you have full control over what you choose to do with them before and after work. Set your alarm to get up minimum 10 mins earlier and now you’ve freed up time for a train/play session before you leave. Session #2 when you come home, session #3 before bed. 

6. If you are lucky enough to live with a partner or family then you have help with the dog training duties. (I have your back Mom’s! Make the spouse and kids help! This is not all on you!) Have a family meeting. Discuss why you decided to get the dog and why it’s important that you all work together to take care of them. Plan and delegate the daily tasks for the dog’s care. If you have small kids, you can work the leash/tools and give commands and the child can say “Break” and feed the dog. Put someone in charge of potty breaks, someone in charge of exercise, someone in charge of training. Then rotate the duties so the dog will learn to listen to everyone equally. Have a points system for all the duties and the family members can earn points towards prizes. 

Train Dogs

7. Potty break time can be training time. You have to take them out a few times a day or more to do their business. You are already geared up to be outside with them. Train them for 2-5 mins after they potty then go back inside. Or stay out and play. 

8. You can carve out more time than you think to keep the momentum going. Boiling water for pasta? Train the dog while you wait. Saucing up ribs on the BBQ? Train a dog, and brush the ribs. Scrolling around social media? Set alarms and allow yourself a set amount of time to scroll then go do something with your dog. (My screen time alarm says “Get off your ass and go do something!” Works!) Taking the garbage can out to the curb? Work on your dog’s heeling as you roll it out.

Here’s a video to help inspire you 👇

https://youtu.be/Ur4K9hQRoSM

9. Take your dog with you when you go get gas. Choose a station that has the thingy that allows you to pump hands free. (Esso and Petro Canada in Charlottetown) You just created 2-3 mins you can get your dog out of the car on a leash and practice some sits, downs, place on the gas pump platform, and jump in and out of the car on command.

Dog Training

10.  I often slip to my local country general store for a few things. You can buy systems to monitor your car’s temperature when you’re not in it and a live stream to your phone for further monitoring. If you dont’ trust your dog loose in your car purchase a car kennel. I train dogs in the parking lot, go get my few things, train for another 2-5 mins if time and go home. Bam! 1-2 sessions done! 

11. My parents have me over for dinner sometimes. Bring the dogs and train/play out in their yard then they can hang in the garage while we visit. (No dogs allowed in their house as it’s a B&B) Can’t be trusted loose on their own? Put your car kennel in the garage. 

12.  Have errands to do at pet-friendly stores such as Canadian Tire, Home Depot, Kent, and Princess Auto? Bring your dog!

Find Time to Train Your Dog

13. Need dog food at your local pet store? Bring your dog and train them in the store before making your purchase. Dog reactive and don’t want to take them in? Just train in the parking lot then. 

All this continuous short-term exposure to different environments/situations will go a long long way towards helping you reach your goals.  Best of all, now that your dog is spending more quality time with you, your bond with them will deepen and their drive and willingness to pay attention will improve!

Want a Coach that will help you further in your dogs’ training and help you find time to train your dog? Book a Free Consult with me (Coach Sara) to get started! Click here to book now.

 

Dog Training

Find Time to Train Your Dog

Dogs

Follow along my dog training journey on Instagram where I also give you lots of ideas on how to find time to train your dog! Follow – @unleashedpotentialpei

________________________________________________________________

Click for Free Dog Training Videos

Looking for help with your dog’s training?

Sign-up for our Free Dog Training Mini-Series to get started!

 

Follow

Subscribe

Like

________________________________________________________________

Need help with your dog’s training but unsure of what service we offer is right for you?

Click here to explore all of our Dog Training Services

German Shepherds Training

 

Filed Under: Sara Bryanton, Uncategorized

  • Page 1
  • Page 2
  • Go to Next Page »

Home | Contact | Find a Dog Trainer | Dog Trainer School | Dog Training | Store | Blog | Privacy Policy


Follow Duke Ferguson on Facebook Follow Duke on YouTube Follow Duke on Instagram


Copyright © 2025 · All Rights Reserved

Unleashed Potential - Stratford, PE, C1B 2W2, Canada
Phone: (902) 367-3647 · Toll Free: (844) 364-3647

Hours of Operation:
Unleashed Potential Main Office:
Monday - Friday: 9am-4pm | We are closed on Saturdays & Sundays
Dog Training & Coaching - All hours by appointment only