The Double Down Around Distractions

The double down is an incredibly useful skill for dogs to have. It requires the dog to be in a down already, and then you tell them to place their head on the floor. It essentially tells them “I know that there is a lot going on around you, but I need you to remain calm and ignore it all”.

This skill takes practice, and in a situation like this where he is very close to the vacuum (which he doesn’t like), it takes a lot of trust, too. He needs to believe that I will keep him safe from anything that makes him uncomfortable, which means making sure that the vacuum never touches him.

Like any skill, we teach this in a low-distraction environment, and slowly work up to something more challenging like this. With practice, your dog can perform a double down anywhere regardless of what is going on around them.

Basic Functions of the E-Collar

We have found a lot of value in the Mini Educator from E-Collar Technologies for training and working with dogs. This video is solely to demonstrate how the remote and collar function, and does not go into any training techniques, strategies, or methods.

Turn on/off
• Remote: Hold On/Off button for 3 seconds.
• Collar: Touch red dot on remote to red dot on collar. Flashing green light means collar is on, momentary red light then no flashing means collar is off.

Front display
• Number in the middle of display: The current stimulation level.
• 1D on top of display: There is one dog collar attached to the remote.
• C on right side of display: Your remote is in continuous mode, which allows you to tap a button momentarily, or hold down a button continuously. Your dog will feel the stimulus for the duration that you finger is on the button up to ten seconds (safely lock will automatically stop stimulus after ten seconds).

Buttons
• Black S: This will be the primary button that you use. When you tap or hold this button, it will provide a stimulus at the level shown on the front display.
• Red S: This a boost button and will add 5 to the level shown on the display.
• Black T: This will provide a continuous vibrating sensation until the button is released (up to ten seconds).
• On/Off Light: In addition to turning the remote on and off (see above), pressing this button quickly will turn on the collar’s LCD light. One tap will make the light flash, two taps will make the light solid, and three taps will turn the light off.
• M/C: This will change the settings of the remote from continuous (C), to either momentary (M) or Momentary/Continuous (M/C). This will alter how the remote’s buttons function, so we recommend leaving this programmed to Continuous (C) mode.

Charging
• Collar: The light on the collar will flash continuously as long as the collar is on. A green light means that the collar has a full charge, orange means it have a few hours left, and red means an hour or less.
• Remote: The light on the remote will only flash when the display light is on. The same colors will flash to let you know the battery’s charge level.
• There is a dual charger included with your system, so that you can charge the remote and collar at the same time. It takes approximately two hours to fully charge.

4 tricks to teach better leash manners

What does a walk with your dog look like? Does she walk nicely by your side, or does she lunge and pull to get to every tree, squirrel, or piece of trash on the ground?

If you are having difficulty on your walks, I want to encourage you to slow down. The best thing that you can do with a difficult walker is to decrease the distance you walk and decrease the distractions that you encounter. The best way to do this? Stick to your driveway! You can teach your dog so much about how to walk politely on a leash from the garage to the road and back again. Here are a few tricks to get you started, and every one will encourage your dog to pay you more attention:

  1. Change directions every time your dog walks ahead of you. This will make your movements unpredictable, and they’ll start to stay close to keep a closer eye on you.
  2. Practice sits and downs as you move around. This will encourage your dog to stay tuned in with you because you are asking for more than just a mindless walk.
  3. Slow down! Dogs naturally move at a faster pace, so slowing your speed down will force them to really think about how they are walking with you.
  4. Switch up your speed. Speed walk for five seconds, then go to a crawling pace, then a comfortable speed, then… Changing speed is unpredictable (and fun) so your dog will want to stay close to you to watch what you’re going to do next.

Notice that every one of these ideas is fun, easy, and can be done in just your little driveway. The best part? Ten minutes of an activity like this, and your dog will be both mentally and physically tired, which will create a calm dog when you go back inside.

Try it out and let us know your thoughts!

If something isn’t working, switch it up!

If something isn’t working, switch it up!

Yesterday was a tough day for me. I lacked any motivation to get work done, so other than my virtual workout with Crossfit Connex, I had a very unproductive day. Instead of staring at the computer forcing myself to come up with programming ideas (which I did for about two hours), I took the day off. I did a puzzle, I started a new batch of Kombucha, and I took my dog to a local park to goof around.
Today I moved to a new spot in the house, set a goal to write two sections of my training manual, and found some new music to listen to. And I am feeling motivated, inspired, and excited to write today. All I had to do was switch it up when things weren’t working.

This is so true for training. If you are trying to teach your dog something and it just isn’t working, switch it up! Take a break, try using a different treat, try it in a different environment, ask someone else to help. Don’t struggle through something because you feel like you should. If you’re not seeing results, take a step back and figure out how to change it to make it fun again.

5 tips to welcome a new dog into your family

Wisconsin humane societies and pet rescues all over the state are emptying out as people are taking the Safer At Home order as an opportunity to adopt new pets. Welcoming a new pet into your home can be such a fun and exciting experience for the entire family. It can also become overwhelming if you don’t have a plan in place to teach your new dog appropriate household behaviors. Here are five tips to make sure that your dog will be a happy and healthy member of your family.

  1. Start a routine right away. Your new dog is going through a lot of changes right now. Help ease their stress by making their day predictable with consistent bedtimes, playtimes, and boundaries in the home.
  2. Don’t assume a dog at any age is fully potty trained. Even a fully potty-trained dog can have accidents under stress. Make sure you let your puppy outside 30 minutes after eating or drinking, and one hour for older dogs. Most importantly, don’t get mad at your dog for having an accident. Instead, take them outside quickly and show them where they can go potty.
  3. Crate train your new dog. The crate is a great place for your dog to relax and recharge in their own space. Crate training your dog will be helpful for having guests over, traveling to pet-friendly hotels, and sleeping peacefully through the night.
  4. Supervise your dog’s free time. There are so many new and exciting sights and smells in your home, and your dog is going to want to explore them all! Until you know how your dog will treat your belongings, don’t leave them unattended. They need to be taught that your jacket is not a chew toy, and that the new rug isn’t a substitute for going potty outside.
  5. Start slow and give your dog time to adjust. As we’ve said, joining a new home is a lot to process. Your new dog will need time to adjust to your routines, your family, and your expectations. Be patient and allow them time to warm up to their new surroundings without forcing new experiences on them.

It can be so rewarding to bring a new dog into your home. Help your new family member adjust to your home by taking things slow and allowing them time to understand appropriate household behaviors.

If you have any questions on how to implement these tips or any other strategies, please reach out to us at 608-561-3314 or info@copperridgetraining.com. We are here to help make this a smooth transition for your family!

Teach Your Dog to Sit Pretty

This is a more advanced trick that needs to be taken slowly. For the “Sit Pretty” command, we’re asking your dog to sit in an upright position on its hind legs only. This takes a lot of muscle strength and stability that your dog needs to develop in order to hold this position safely. Take your time between each step and make sure that your dog is safely performing the command before moving on to the next step.

This command should not be taught to young puppies as they are still developing and this would be too tough on their growing bodies.

Trick Training – Spin Command

Are you looking for something new to do this weekend? Trick training is such a great way to build a relationship with your dog while keeping them mentally engaged and moving around. Take your time at each phase of this video and make sure that your dog understands what you’re asking of it before moving to the next step. If you notice your dog getting confused or frustrated, slow down, go back a step, and try again. With patience and repetition, this will soon become a favorite trick for both of you!

Structure Leads to Sanity

Dogs are creatures of habit. When your dog has a clear and consistent routine, it allows them to relax because they know:
a) what will come next in their day,
b) that you have control over the situation, and
c) that they do not need to worry about their day.
With structure, you can have a calm and relaxed dog. Without it, you can expect chaos, anxious energy, and problem behaviors.

So how do we create structure for our dogs, especially when everyone’s routines are inconsistent right now? Go back to your normal daily routine before the Safer At Home order was put in place. If your dog was crated while you went to work, start doing so again while you’re home. If you would come home for a lunch walk, start doing a midday walk again. If you used to practice some training in the evenings, start adding in a few minutes each day. If you let your dog run crazy through the house all day… maybe it’s time to start implementing some of these routines.

Most people will be on board with reinstating structure, especially if it helps ease their own stress level, too. The hardest point to get owners on board with, however, is crating their dog during the day while they’re working from home. We get it -you feel bad leaving them locked up when they could be snuggling at your feet, especially when they flash those puppy eyes your way. However, let’s not think about it in terms of feelings, but in terms of need. Your dog needs a calm space to recharge mentally and physically. Your dog needs structure, and giving them that time in their crate provides it more than letting them aimlessly roam around the house looking for something to get into. Your dog needs to know what to expect from their day in order to feel relaxed, and if you take away the routine of kenneling during the day, you’ve taken away a huge part of their routine. Your dog needs boundaries, and the crate is a perfect way to establish them. And let’s not forget your needs: you need to focus on your job, your kids, and your sanity without also worrying about the dog all day.

So even though it might be hard and uncomfortable, pick one thing that you can do today to add structure to your dog’s day. You might find that the structure helps add some peace to your day, as well.