Obedience

How To Find Time To Train Your Dog

April 26, 2022 By Duke Ferguson 13 Comments

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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

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Reactive Dog No More!

February 10, 2022 By Sara Bryanton Leave a Comment

One of our Vet Student clients came to us with her reactive dog, Indie, a couple of months ago. They both learned a ton during their lessons and have been on a road to success ever since! The amount of hard work this client put into her dogs training truly shows and we couldn’t be more proud!

“We had our first group obedience class this weekend!

I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous going into it. I hadn’t really trained Indie all week due to studying and patient care at school and there would be quite a few dogs present, so I wasn’t sure how it would go.

But as usual, she blew me away. Indie didn’t have one single reaction at group class – she was focused, calm and so dang good, even with other excitable dogs and other dogs working around her. We were able to participate in all of the drills with the other dogs, including weaving through them and their handlers and walking past them.

If you would have told me that we would be able to do this a couple of months ago, I would have laughed. If you have a reactive dog and are struggling – reach out to a trainer. It was the best decision that I made – they helped me with things I couldn’t see, taught me how to handle situations, and continuously supported us through the process. So do better for your dog, do better for you. It’s a hell of a lot of work, but I promise you it is so worth it to see your dog learn that life isn’t so scary and to give you the confidence to help them navigate the world.“

– Owner Maddie

You can follow along with their journey on Instagram – @tailsofindie

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Looking for help with your dog’s training?

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

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

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Going Mental! 3 Things You Can Do to Decrease Stress and Increase Pleasure For You and Your Dog

March 26, 2019 By Guy Lapierre 2 Comments

“Going Mental” 3 Things You Can Do to Decrease Stress and Increase Pleasure For You and Your Dog.

Adding the Balance to Your Dogs Needs Decrease Your Stress and Increase Joy

The bulk of the work I do with dogs is dealing with unwanted behaviors. In many cases, I get contacted as a last resort and at that point the dog and the owners are going mental. That is, they are at whit’s end and whether they know it or not so is their dog. When I tell them the problem and the solution is mental, they don’t believe me – until they try.

Problem:

With many dogs the problem is not enough or the right kind of mental stimulation. Frankly, a lot of dogs are bored and that leaves them searching for things to do that allows them to use their brain. This is especially true for working breeds but it is not limited to them and the behaviors that develop as a result are often unwanted by the owners. Barking, destruction, reactivity, guarding, not listening in general, etc. In some cases these dogs are physically exercised plenty as it is often said a tired dog is a good dog. While that may be true, many find that all they end up doing is building an athlete. What used to take a 15 minute session of chuck-it now takes an hour. What used to be a 5K hike is now 10K. There are limitations to physical exercise. There is nothing wrong with it and I highly encourage it. But if that is your dog’s only outlet it may be a problem. Your dog has other needs that require fulfillment.

If you work at a job that requires a lot of physical activity but not a lot of thinking, at the end of the day you may be left physically exhausted with a restless mind. Conversely, if you sit at a desk all day problem solving, at the end of the day you may be left mentally drained but with a restless body. You need both and so does your dog.

Solution:

Your dog needs both physical and mental exercise to strike a balance and fulfill their needs. I recommend meeting these needs first before tackling any behaviour issues the dog may have or to prevent them from happening in the first place. Many find simply adapting this lifestyle with your dog solves most of their problems or diminishes them greatly at the very least.

Here are some ideas on how to provide mental stimulation to your dog:

Obedience or Trick Training: Teaching obedience or even tricks gets your dog thinking. Every time you teach your dog something new and then develop it to perfection it engages their brain and gets them to think. It is no different then us. We use our mental capacity much more when learning something new compared to doing something we already know. With the dogs, I recommend continually teaching them new things and once they know them randomly run them through several of the things they know in a session. This gets them thinking and concentrating on what you are going to ask of them next. As long as they are willing to work for whatever it is you have to offer they will do it very willingly and try their hardest to succeed. These drills are able to exercise your dog mentally and physically at the same time. Get your dog to do obedience or tricks between launching the chuck-it ball or playing tug.
Nose Work: Whether it be tracking or scent work, dogs tire very quickly when using their nose. They do so naturally but when we teach them how to do it for a specific purpose we can exhaust them mentally very quickly. I like scent work in particular because it is a great option when the weather outside isn’t cooperating. It is an easy activity to do in the house or yard.
Agility: Agility combines both physical and mental into one. The only downside to agility is the equipment required. But if you have access to a facility or can install some in your yard you can make a dog think while they are physically exercising at the same time. It’s a win-win.

Would you like FREE dog training advice? GET ACCES HERE to his Exclusive, FREE Mini video series!

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Lifetime Group Class

January 25, 2018 By Camellia Saunderson Leave a Comment

How Unleashed Potential Can Help You- A look at our Lifetime Group Class After The Private Dog Training Lessons.

We offer private training sessions, or a board and train, followed by group classes for life. This allows you and your dog to learn in a calm, quiet environment while having all the focus and attention on you. Once private training is complete, you can attend weekly group classes, like the one in this video, for the rest of your dog’s life. This means you will have a professional dog trainer, specializing in off leash control and aggression rehab, on hand for the rest of your dog’s life!

At Unleashed Potential K9 The Valley NS, we hold our group classes in real world settings to ensure that your dog can focus on you in any given environment or level of distraction. One week we may be working on a hiking trail and the next we may be walking the busy streets; one week we may be focusing on social interaction and the next we may be working on focus on you, like you see in this video.

Whether your dog has aggression issues, reactivity, needs to learn some manners, or you want off-leash control, I can help you get the results you are looking for. So book a FREE consultation today! Send us a private message, email camellias@upk9.ca or call 902-306-7833.

Are you at your wits end with your dog’s behavior and would like to have control, sanity, and above all else, safety? No matter the age or breed, please contact me now, I assure you, I can help!

Book your FREE consultation and demonstration today!
Send an email to camellias@upk9.ca Like us on Facebook!

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For more information on how you can purchase Duke’s Dog Training Genesis and become a member CLICK HERE

ARE YOU A TRAINER LOOKING TO BETTER YOUR SKILLS OR SOMEONE WANTING TO LEARN TO BECOME A DOG TRAINER or JOIN THE UPK9 TEAM ? CLICK HERE TO LEARN HOW YOU CAN COME AND TRAIN WITH DUKE FERGUSON

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Meeting Your Dog’s Needs, Unleashed Potential Halifax.

August 21, 2017 By Guy Lapierre Leave a Comment

I’ve assessed hundreds of dogs up to this point in my career as a dog trainer. The biggest constant I see as the underlying cause of the behaviour problems presented to me is quite simple, the dog’s needs are not being met. Most of the dogs I’ve met are being cared for from a health and wellness standpoint, although a lot of people are feeding very poor quality food to their dogs but that is another topic for another time. What I’m referring to is proper physical and mental exercise and stimulation. Some are guilty of providing neither and many will provide some level of physical exercise but what is drastically in short supply is mental stimulation.

Frankly, some people shouldn’t have a dog while some have a breed that does not meet their lifestyle. Others are just not aware what their dog requires. For some time now I’ve seen many sedentary people with Huskies, Border Collies, German Shorthaired Pointers, German Shepherds, and even Belgian Malinois – among other high drive, high energy breeds. People need to research breeds before acquiring a dog. Considering a mixed breed? Spend some time with the dog to determine the temperament, energy level, and what traits the known breeds in the mix may be most prevalent. There isn’t much a trainer can do to help you with the resulting behaviour issues if you are not willing to step up. For those of you that are or were just not aware, there are limitless options are your disposal.

Physical exercise is a very key component to your dog’s well being but alone it will not suffice. If your job is physical labour and doesn’t require a whole lot of thought, you will most likely end your work day physically drained but with a mind that is racing. Conversely, if you have a job where you sit at a desk all day problem solving and concentrating at the tasks at hand, you will most likely end your work day mentally drained but with a restless body. Physical and mental exercise and stimulation are both required and it is not any different with dogs. Some breeds more than others.

If you have a particular breed it is always best to play into the purpose of the breed. If you can have a herding dog herd, a hunting dog hunt, a retriever retrieve, a protection dog protect, etc., than that is satisfying their needs at their very core. However, that is not always possible and there are alternatives.

Whether you have a purebred dog or a mixed breed, there are so many outlets for you and your dog you would never run out of possibilities in their lifetime. Obedience training, agility, scent detection, tracking, trick training, the list goes on. Providing a dog physical exercise while making them think will wash away the bulk of behaviour issues. Not all of course, but the vast majority will be or severely diminished.

My personal choices for my dogs are obedience, rally obedience, and tracking. I also love to hike with my dogs so they get plenty of freedom, exercise, and social time on top of the mental stimulation.

I have six dogs but my main dog that I use for work and is my constant companion is River, a Belgian Malinois / German Shepherd Mix. She is pictured left.

I wanted to highlight her in this article for a number of reasons. The first is that she is extremely driven with a ton of energy. So I wanted you to know that I understand and live the extreme end of the spectrum. I work River all day with a combination of obedience training, tracking exercises, and she helps me assess, socialize, and rehab all the dogs in my training programs. And, she still has energy at the end of the day.

At the time of this writing, River just turned two years old and holds 5 titles. Two in obedience, two in rally and one in tracking. She is currently preparing for the next level in tracking at a trial next month and after that she will continue progressing in all three. She has achieved five high in class, two second places, and one third place finish. She also recently acquired a high in trial. Not bad for a mutt, eh? Most people don’t realize that this is an option for their mixed breed or unregistered dogs. The CKC has a Canine Companion Number (CCN) program that allows these dogs to compete along with the purebred dogs.

Why am I bragging up my dog? To encourage you. It isn’t hard to achieve, it just takes commitment and you most likely need an outlet for your dog anyway. Competition can be fun and it is easier than you think. If you need help, I teach competitive obedience and rally obedience classes that start from the ground up. Contact me to book your consult today!

Guy Lapierre