Unleashed Potential

Amazing Dog Training Results!! In Only One Lesson

January 29, 2012 By Duke Ferguson Leave a Comment

Meet Achilles and his owners:

We were to the point of thinking about giving our dog Achilles away, because we couldn’t take him for walks without fighting with him the whole time, he wasn’t aloud outside by himself because he would run right over to the neighbors house, and ignore us when we call him back. We would have to put him in his crate before we have guests because he would jump up, and be constantly at them, among other issues.
Then we thought what if we had a child that wasn’t doing what he was told and acted like he ruled the house would we give him away too? We began to look for an alternative solution.
After the first 10-15 min in the intro class, Duke Ferguson from Unleashed Potential K9 worked with Achilles.

We could not believe the difference, he wasn’t pulling on the leash, he was paying attention to what was going on, he was obeying commands. By the end of the session, Achilles would come and sit when told by us and the three kids. Now at home, he stays beside me when working him, comes and sits when told and he lays down when told. This is only since our first lesson.
For the first time in months we are happy to have a dog, we enjoy working with him and seeing the changes and it has only been two days so far.

Thanks for your help,
The Gallants

Does your dog not come when you call it? Do you want help? No matter the size, sex, age or breed We Can Help!

Want FREE dog training advice? OR to just learn more about Duke’s philosophy on dog training? GET ACCESS to his Exclusive, FREE Mini video series Click Here!! This mini series is not found on Youtube… Get Access Now… You will love the mini series and its Free!! 🙂

To find a UPK9 Trainer near you or to Book your FREE Demonstration and Consult Click Here

For more information on how you can purchase Dog Training Genesis and become a member CLICK HERE or on the photo of Duke and his dogs.

Follow us on FACEBOOK and subscribe to us on YouTube

Methods of Dog Training

July 26, 2011 By Duke Ferguson Leave a Comment

Today I was reading the newest installment of a publication the Canadian Association of Professional Pet Dog Trainers puts out regularly.

Pat Renshaw, the current chair of the organization has an article in the publication in which she talks about unity within the dog training industry.

It was very interesting to read about how the organization values all it’s dog trainers, regardless of the methods they use.

It’s no secret that there is hundreds of ways to train a dog, so to read that the organization supports the use of all methods including food training, leash training, e-collar training, I was happy to see that the strongest voice in Canadian dog training will fully back the use of e-collars when used properly with professional training. I choose to use many methods in dog training, and have personally trained with some of the best dog trainers in the world, from France, USA, Canada, Italy, and one thing that seems to continue to come up is that we all need to have an open mind in the training of dogs.

Pat Renshaw also touches on how Robin MacFarlane, (a strong supporter of e-collar use in the USA) was recently a presenter at the 2011 CAPPDT Conference in Toronto Ontario Canada.

I must say it’s nice to see some people open their minds to the use of alternative dog training tools in the industry, it’s almost as nice as the feeling I get when I show up in group class every week seeing 10-20 dogs off leash in a public park, most of whom previously had severe dog or human aggression or both.

If you would like more information on how I go about my dog training programs, please contact me personally and I would be more than happy to show you one on one in person.
Best regards.
Unleashed Potential Halifax.

Do you have problems training your dog or dogs? Do you want help? No matter the size, sex, age or breed We Can Help!

To find a UPK9 Trainer near you or to Book your FREE Demonstration and Consult Click Here

For more information on how you can purchase Dog Training Genesis and become a member CLICK HERE or on the photo of Duke and his dogs.

Learn More About Dog Training Genesis CLICK HERE !

Follow us on FACEBOOK and subscribe to us on YouTube

Chocolate Lab UNLEASHED

February 14, 2011 By Duke Ferguson 4 Comments

Rolo is 5 years old and all things chocolate labs are supposed to be; hyper, fun, goofy, lovable, etc. But, he was also stubborn and unruly. We had tried puppy obedience classes when he was small, he pulled so badly we couldn’t get him into the classroom and inside, he was too distracted to learn anything. The classes didn’t seem to help at all and to be honest, I’m not sure we “passed” them. We had a private trainer in two different times over the years, we learned basic obedience, but Rolo was dominant and stubborn, it took him weeks to give in to the down command. I tried books, videos and searched the internet for help. We had different collars, leashes, halties and harnesses. Over the years, we’ve adapted our lives around Rolo’s issues. Moving across the street away from other people and dogs while walking, not taking him to places like the lake or the park, keeping him fenced in the yard because he’d run as soon as he’d realize he wasn’t leashed, and putting him outside or in another room when company came because he’d jump all over them. It was embarrassing to have people in, it was embarrassing to take him out. The last straw came when we had to take him to the vet and his behavior landed us in a private room away from everyone else. I was feeling desperate to have some control over my life and this dog, and found Unleashed Potential during one of my internet searches. The upk9 trainer came to the house and gave a demonstration, explained his methods and left all the information I needed. At first, I was very skeptical, I had tried a lot of things so far and wasn’t convinced this was going to work.

But, I decided to go ahead, and the results have been amazing.

Rolo now plays in the front yard while I shovel snow without a fence! He’s been skating with us for the first time and never once wandered off, not even when two large dogs showed up. He has been learning to greet people without scaring them, and has advanced enough to take him off leash in Point Pleasant Park. We still have a lot to learn, but I’m confident we can master it. We even made it to the vet without being removed from the waiting room!!

I am impressed on how quickly the results were seen with proper direction and support. I’m really looking forward to summer, cottages, lakes and beaches, Rolo is loving his new freedom!!

Holly Flemming
Halifax, NS

Do you have problems training your dog or dogs? Do you want help? No matter the size, sex, age or breed We Can Help!

To find a UPK9 Trainer near you or to Book your FREE Demonstration and Consult Click Here

For more information on how you can purchase Dog Training Genesis and become a member CLICK HERE or on the photo of Duke and his dogs.

Fotor111122448 — Learn More About Dog Training Genesis CLICK HERE !

Follow us on FACEBOOK and subscribe to us on YouTube

E-collar or Shock Collar? FROM OLD SCHOOL PUNISHMENT TO A MODERN DAY COMMUNICATOR

December 1, 2010 By Duke Ferguson 3 Comments

Sadly, there is too much controversy about e-collars, remote collars, shock collars….what ever you want to call them in the dog training world.

E collar haters say they are inhumane and abusive and that they send a jolt through the whole body of the dog. Some say the dogs only work because they are scared to be shocked. There are a few blogs and websites that bash e collars and make them scary to others but the fact is most of these people have never felt one and don’t have any idea what they are really talking about. Then there are some of the videos of idiots turning collars wide open like something you would see on the movie Jackass and stimulating themselves wide open? There are too many people who view an e collar as the last resort to any training IF they were to use one.

Because of the lack of education and knowledge about e collars, I feel this ignorant way of thinking comes from way back in the days of e- collar use when the technology was poor and the use was quite harsh. Many years ago in the beginning days of e collars there was only one level possibly 2 or 3. They were meant for 1 thing. STOP the dog. ZAP!!
People need to wake up and realize that technological advances have made leaps and bounds since those days and things are different now.
When you go to physiotherapy and they put a tens machine on you or a muscle stimulator, are they brutally shocking you? NO! Are you scared and in pain? NO! In fact its just the opposite and there are medical benefits and pain relief in the application. The thing is, the therapist is using the tool properly. Can the Tens machine be unpleasant? Sure! If the person using it does not know what they are doing?
It is time to stop being so narrow minded in the thinking that a remote collar can ONLY be used as a tool of punishment or correction, this is simply not the case

The problem I see today, with an e collar is that to many people can buy one with absolutely no idea how to use or apply it. This becomes a problem created by the uneducated handler and does not mean the tool is bad or inhumane.

With today’s modern e collars there are many different levels of stimulation that gives us many options when training just like a tens only not as strong.

Do you realize now we can use a the remote collar gently as a prompt or a cue for attention? Its true!! Just like tapping someone gently on the shoulder. The physical touch of the collar tap is very effective to break through distraction and re direct attention when the dog has focused his attention somewhere else, and yes of course when the dog redirects the attention back to the handler you can give positive reinforcement with a treat. The collar tap does not have to be a high level stimulation in order to work.

The only thing I see that makes this so hard to understand amongst trainers is personal emotional feelings and narrow mindedness. This is very Sad!!

I have trained all over North America training with many different dog trainers and have gone to many professional training schools that teach the complete opposite theory and I see dog trainers disagree and argue on topics way to often. It gets very hard on the head after a while.

Take a Clicker trainer, a traditional leash trainer and a e collar trainer that are set in their ways and put them in a room together. Ive been in this position before and it is stressful to say the least. They do not agree on very much at all and what they fail to see is that they all have pros and cons to their methods if used narrow-mindedly. They are not wrong they are just limiting their ability. In today’s society, IN THE REAL WORLD, trainers need to open up their minds to understand each other and to learn to use a balance of both positive and negative motivation. We seem to fear what we don’t understand so to better ourselves open the mind and get educated.

Here are some links to a couple of videos in relation to this blog post

All comments welcome

Duke Ferguson, ABCDT, CMT. Owner of Unleashed Potential K9 Academy.

We have Dog Trainers currently serving All of PEI, Halifax ,Nova Scotia,

www.unleashedpotential.ca

Do you have problems training your dog or dogs? Do you want help? No matter the size, sex, age or breed We Can Help!

To find a UPK9 Trainer near you or to Book your FREE Demonstration and Consult Click Here

For more information on how you can purchase Dog Training Genesis and become a member CLICK HERE or on the photo of Duke and his dogs.

Follow us on FACEBOOK and subscribe to us on YouTube

Unleashed Potential

Meet Achilles and his owners:

Footer

The Weekly Recall with Duke Ferguson