We hear it all the time: “Crate train your dog!” But why? Is it really beneficial? Will it really help you and your dog? So before you decide if you should crate train your dog, let’s talk about the benefits of crating training.

Boarding

Are you going out of town soon for vacation, and needing to find a place for your pup to stay? Unless you have someone coming to your house to care for your dog, she will likely need to be kenneled in some capacity while you’re away. That might be in a crate or a larger kennel run, but regardless, your dog is going to be confined in some way.

And that’s simply for her safety and your boarder’s sanity. Bringing a dog into a new space without any boundaries or structure is a recipe for disaster. She doesn’t know the environment, and there’s probably a whole bunch of interesting smells and activities she can get herself into that just wouldn’t be safe. So, your boarder is going to crate her when unsupervised.

And if your dog has never been taught how to go in and out of a crate, or how to relax calmly in a crate, or how to be comfortable in a different space from us… then she’s going to have a really tough time while you’re away. Dogs that are suddenly crated without any experience can become very stressed out and could likely spend their crate time barking, panting, pacing, pawing at the doors, and trying to escape. And that’s not something that can be overcome in a few minutes – it takes time to get your dog comfortable in the crate.

So if you want your dog to be stress-free and relaxed while you’re doing the same on vacation, help her out and make sure she’s crate trained before you leave. You’ll both be happier knowing she’s comfortable.

Surgery or Injury

In the worst-case scenario where your dog needs surgery or has a serious injury, you’ll likely need to limit her movement for a while. This can be anything from a spay or neuter, to hip surgery, to dealing with an infection. Whatever the medical reason, your vet is going to prescribe lots of rest so her body can heal. And if you have a high-energy pup, it’s going to be really tough to get her to relax in your home without the use of a crate.

Enter the crate! There’s not a whole lot to do in there, other than lie down and take a nice long nap. Which is exactly what the doctor ordered!

But if your dog is already stressed out by being in the crate, and we then add in the stress of being in pain and confused because her body just doesn’t feel good, you can expect a really difficult recovery period. But if she already feels comfortable settling into her cozy crate, it will make her rest period that much easier on her (and you).

So if your dog has a surgery or procedure coming up, do yourselves a big favor and start working on crate training now.

Travel with Your Dog

Staying in a hotel? Visiting a friend? Taking an RV across the country? We sure hope that you can bring your dog with on such wonderful adventures. But we also hope you have a way to keep her safe and contained during big events or transitions. Here’s why:

When you go on vacation with your dog, you are completely throwing off her entire routine. Where she sleeps, when she eats, what activities she does throughout the day, who she interacts with. And while these are all really fun and exciting changes, they can also create a lot of stress for dogs who typically thrive off routine and structure. No routine? You’re going to see some problems in her behaviors.

But if you are able to bring along her crate, a place where she’s comfortable and understands the expectations, you can create a very comfortable and familiar routine for her in the midst of all of these changes.

• A long day on the trails? Go relax in your crate when we’re done to get some much-needed rest.
• Staying in a strange hotel? Sleep in your crate where you feel safe and can tune out the hotel’s unfamiliar noises.
• Visiting friends who have kids, dogs, and an overall busy house? Unwind in your crate where you can ignore all of the overwhelming distractions that might be too much to handle.

Bringing a crate on vacation (assuming your dog already knows how to relax in it), can change your experience from stressful and overwhelming, to fun and relaxing. And isn’t that what we all want for ourselves… and our dogs?

Behavioral Challenges

When we start working with a new client, we always ask if the dog is crate trained. Why? Because it can tell us so much about the dog and how they view the world.

If your dog doesn’t spend any time in the crate, she likely gets free access to your home, and her food, and water, and the opportunity to bark out the windows, and jump on guests when they come over, and… the list goes on and on. Without the use of the crate in the home, we can usually expect to see certain behaviors arise because your dog is overstimulated and simply doesn’t have the opportunity to fully rest and unwind.

Now this isn’t to say that all behavior problems can be solved by crate training your dog. Or that if your dog isn’t crate trained, you’re going to see lots of issues. But more often than not, dogs that are not crate trained do experience common behavior issues that we see repeatedly.

If you come to us to work on behavior issues, we’re going to recommend crate training your dog. It takes away the option to practice lots of unwanted behaviors. If your dog is relaxing in the crate, she can’t:

• Bark out the window
• Follow you anxiously around the house
• Chase squirrels in the yard
• Jump on guests or furniture or the counters or…

And the list goes on and on. So while we definitely need to address those unwanted behaviors and teach your dog better alternatives, we can completely remove the option to practice those poor choices in the meantime. So don’t rule out crate training as a fantastic tool to manage your dog’s behaviors until you can get her the training and help she needs.

Convenience

Sometimes you just can’t focus on what your dog is doing, but you also don’t trust her to be left alone. Or maybe you had a long day and you need ten minutes to yourself to unwind and breathe. Or perhaps you have people coming to work on the house and don’t want to worry about if she’ll run through the open door or knock over all of their equipment. Jumping onto a Zoom call for work and don’t want to apologize for your dog barking at the screen?

Any guesses on how we can manage these situations?

Crate training! Crates aren’t for bad dogs. Crates are a safe place to put your dog away when you can’t give her your attention. That’s it. So if you’re worried that you will be too busy or distracted to give her your attention, there is absolutely nothing wrong with giving her some rest time in her crate. It’s good for her, and it’s good for you.

Conclusion

We’re going to sound like a broken record here, but crate training is such a valuable skill for your dog to have. Whether it’s for safety, for working on certain behaviors, or simply to give yourself a mental break, your dog’s crate has so many valuable uses.

And there are loads of dog trainers out there that are skilled in helping you and your dog get comfortable with using the crate. Remember, it can be really scary and stressful to be shoved into a crate when your dog isn’t used to it. So you definitely want to take your time and make sure your dog truly feels comfortable and safe in her crate. And if you don’t feel comfortable teaching that on your own, please reach out for help.

There are so many different ways to teach your dog the down command. The most common method that you’ll see is using a treat to lure your dog’s body into the position you want to see. And it’s the most common because it works really well… for most dogs. But what if your dog just doesn’t understand, or doesn’t care, or doesn’t want to?

Teaching the Down Command in a Way That Makes Sense for Your Dog

We have been working with Fenris, a Greater Mountain Swiss, who was really struggling to understand our “typical” methods for teaching the down command. That doesn’t mean we give up. It means we pivot and try something new that makes sense for this specific dog.

What you’ll see in this video is one of our trainers, Chloe, using a couple different methods to help Fenris understand how we want his body to be positioned. For the “down” command, we want elbows, belly, and butt on the floor. As soon as he gets all three on the floor, we immediately give him a reward (treat) to let him know he did the right thing.

Now with Fenris, we’re working on a lot of confidence building and building up his attention around distractions. Asking his body to slow down and hold any position is tough for him. So our trainer is taking it very slow and giving him time to process and make some choices. You’ll see him try different behaviors like walking away, pawing at her, trying to eat the treat out of her hand. And in all of these attempts, she is calm and patient, showing him that those behaviors aren’t going to get him the treat he really wants.

When he finally tries to lie down, he is immediately rewarded. This clicks for him, as he begins to understand that his behavior (his very specific behavior of lying down on the ground) is getting him the reward he wants. And once that clicks, he’ll start offering that down faster and more willingly.

Let’s see it in action:

Will This Work for My Dog?

Now this method won’t work for every dog. Many dogs don’t need this much time and space to process through a new behavior like the down command. But if you’re trying other things and they just don’t seem to be working for you or your dog, there’s no harm in trying this method. Perhaps it’s exactly what your dog needs to process and make some different connections between what you’re asking, what she needs to do, and how she can get that reward.

Group classes are a popular option for lots of dog owners. But that doesn’t mean they’re the best training choice for every family. When investing in your dog’s training, you want to make sure that it will be the best fit for your goals, your schedule, and your budget. So we’re going to break down everything you need to know about group classes so that you can confidently make the decision that is best for your family.

What are Group Classes?

Group classes are a type of dog training program that allow you to work in a small group with other dog owners and their dogs. Group sizes are typically limited to 4-10 dogs and their owners, but this will depend on the trainer that you are working with. Typically you will be signing up for about 4-8 classes as part of your training program.

Classes are typically held weekly or bi-weekly at a training facility (or park, or brewery, or wherever your trainer decides is the best fit for your group). During classes, your trainer will demonstrate different training exercises and then will give you time to practice with your dog. The skills covered in class are pre-determined by your trainer and can range from basic puppy skills, agility, off-leash work, tricks, and so much more.

After class, your trainer will likely give you homework to work on with your dog until your next session. This will give you time to practice your new skills and come back ready to add more challenging skills.

Benefits of Group Classes

Working Around Distractions

Because you will be training as part of a group, group classes are a great way to start working with your dog around distractions. For some dogs, simply being in the same room as another dog will be a good challenge to overcome. For others, learning how to stay focused on you while other people are moving around with treats bags will be a challenge. Regardless of what gets your dog excited and distracted, there will be plenty of things in the room that you can help your dog feel comfortable and relaxed around.

Hands-on Practice

You’re going to get lots of hands-on practice in group classes. Typically, your trainer will demonstrate a new behavior she wants you to learn, and then she’ll give you time to practice while she goes around and helps each individual dog and their owner. So not only will you get to try new skills and figure them out with your pup, but your trainer will be right there if you need a little extra help. So much of dog training is about repetition, and you will definitely get the opportunity to practice lots in class!

Cost

Group classes are going to be your cheapest option when it comes to dog training. Because there are several families all paying for your trainer’s time, you reap the benefits of lower costs. Your trainer’s rates can vary based on where you’re located, what behaviors you need to work on, your trainer’s level of expertise, and how many classes you will be attending. A rough estimate for group classes can start at about $150 for all of your sessions, and increase from there based on the above factors.

Downside of Group Classes

Overstimulating for Some Dogs

As mentioned above, group classes can be a great option for teaching your dog how to work around lots of noises, sights, and smells. But this can also be a downfall for some dogs. If your dog is nervous, fearful, easily distracted, or reactive, you may find that group classes are not the right fit for you.

While we want to expose your dog to the things that make her nervous, we also want to make sure that we are putting her in situations where she can be successful in those learning moments. If your dog is overstimulated and is unable to cope in such a busy environment, you will both leave classes feeling frustrated and defeated.

So know your dog’s personality and needs, and determine if she will truly be successful working in a group of dogs. If she’s not -no worries! There are plenty of other training options that you can pursue.

Curriculum is Pre-determined

Now this is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is worth mentioning. When you sign up for group classes, you are signing up for a class that your trainer has already planned out. So you don’t get any say in what skills you will work on in your classes -you’ll simply be following the trainer’s curriculum.

That being said, there is a wide variety of topics that group classes can and do cover. You’ll simply need to spend time doing your research to make sure you find a group class that fits your needs. So whether you want to learn tricks, teach your dog to walk on leash, practice puppy manners, or any other number of skills, make sure you find a class that focuses on those specific skills.

Not Ideal for Serious Behavior Issues

There are some behaviors that you aren’t going to be able to address in a group setting simply because the layout of the class isn’t the right fit. For example, group classes aren’t going to be the right fit for helping your leash reactive dog learn how to calmly ignore other people and dogs. It’s also going to be a difficult environment to work through intense fear of new spaces or people, as a few examples.

Simply put, group classes are best suited for fairly confident, happy, well-rounded dogs that are not easily startled, overwhelmed, or dealing with serious behavior concerns. If you are dealing with more difficult behavior issues, you need to work through those individually, not in a group setting. Private lessons, day training, or a board and train program may be a better fit for your training needs in these instances.

No One-on-One Time With Your Trainer

Because your trainer is going to be teaching multiple family, you won’t get a lot of one-on-one attention from her. While some people may be fine with this, it’s not the best learning style for everyone. If you learn by watching and then doing, or by asking a clarifying question here or there, then you’ll do great in group classes.

But if you need more time and in-depth explanations to process new information, then you’ll likely find yourself frustrated by the lack of personalized attention in class. The design of the class simply doesn’t allow your trainer to give you her undivided attention when she’s trying to simultaneously teach the group.

Conclusion

Are group classes right for you? Only you can know for certain. But there are a lot of great benefits that can come from working your dog in a group setting. However, if you’re dealing with more advanced behaviors, have a dog that would really struggle in a large group, or if you simply don’t think it would best suit your learning style, please know that this is just one of many options available to you.

Keep asking questions, and make sure you talk with your trainer before signing up if you aren’t quite sure if group classes are the right fit for you. They are full of knowledge, and will be able to help you pick a program that will best meet your needs.

---

We do not currently offer group classes as part of our training programs. However, if you have decided that group classes are not the best fit for you and want to learn about our other programs, you can check out our Training Programs page for a breakdown of programs that may be a better fit for your needs.

Still not sure what your family needs? Fill out our contact form and schedule your free consultation so that you can speak with one of our trainers. We’ll help break down your options and make sure you’re getting all of the information you need to make the right decision for your family.

Day training is a fairly new training program in the world of dog training, so you likely have some questions: what is it, how does it work, is it right for my family? We’re here to provide you with the information you need to make an educated decision for your family. So let’s break down those big questions so that you can decide if day training is the right investment for your training needs.

What is Day Training?

Day training programs offer a hybrid training style between private lessons and board and train programs. We like to equate them to school, but for your dog. So in a typical day training program, you will drop your dog off in the morning and pick her up in the evening. During her day, she will have several training sessions with your trainer to work on basic skills (what skills exactly will depend on the program you sign up for). She will also get social time to play with the other dogs under your trainer’s supervision, and will have downtime in her crate to relax between each of these sessions.

Day training programs vary greatly in their length. Some training facilities require that you sign up for a complete program, which typically run several days per week for several weeks. Other trainers may allow drop-in days where your dog can come for just one day to work on specific skills you need help with. When talking about signing up for a day training program, make sure you know exactly how many days you’re signing up for, and what behaviors your trainer will help you work on.

Benefits of Day Training

Individualized Training Goals

Day training programs should give you the flexibility to set your own training goals with your trainer. Whether you need help with counter surfing, leash skills, reactivity, or any other behavior, your trainer can help you work through these issues as part of your program (assuming they are experienced with these skills). While many programs will have certain goals like crate training and impulse control, those can and should be added to anything specific that you need help with.

Your Trainer Does A Lot of Work for You

Here’s where you get the benefit of a hybrid program between private lessons (you learn how to train your dog), and board and train programs (your dog lives with your trainer for several weeks of training). When you drop your dog off for day training, your dog is getting fully immersed in training for the day. This includes kennel training, learning to wait at doors, learning how to play safely with other dogs. And this is on top of the individual goals and skills that you want to work on. And your trainer is doing all of this training all day long!

In case you haven’t hear yet, dog training takes a lot of patience, consistency, and repetition for your dog to truly understand. That’s what your dog is getting in a full day of training. So if teaching your dog alone doesn’t sound like something you’d enjoy or be successful with, enrolling in a day training program can help bring a lot of success in a short period of time.

One-on-One Lessons

Now that all sounds great – “let the trainer teach my dog!” But that isn’t really worth your investment, because that doesn’t guarantee that your dog will transfer those skills and learning experiences to your home. So even though your trainer may have great success with your dog’s behavior, you also need to learn how to practice and get comfortable with your new skills. That’s where lessons come in.

The best day training programs will offer you one-on-one lessons to transfer all of your dog’s knowledge over to you. So don’t think this program is an easy out – you will still have work to do. But your trainer will do the heavy lifting of making sure your dog understands her new commands before teaching you.

Lessons can be daily, weekly, or monthly, depending on how the program is setup. Regardless of the exact structure of these lessons, make sure that the day training program you are looking into offers a very clear way for you to learn and apply what your dog has learned at “school”.

Doggy Playtime

Want your dog to get playtime with other dogs? Day training programs should be offering playtime for your dog to have fun and unwind during their days. Dogs learn best when we keep them engaged and happy, and that includes giving them downtime to let loose and just have fun together.

Playtime should always be supervised, and dogs should be matched based on their personalities and energy levels. Supervised play sessions are full of great learning opportunities, but every dog needs to be advocated for. So if your dog doesn’t like other dogs, that’s ok! She should (hopefully) be given the opportunity to learn how to calmly coexist around other dogs. And what a benefit that will be for enjoying life with your dog out in the real world!

Small Group Sizes

Unlike a doggy daycare environment that can have 20-30 dogs in a group, day training programs have much smaller group sizes. This gives your dog more one-on-one time with your trainer, which means more opportunities to play and learn. When looking at a day training program, you should expect a small group size ranging from 3 to 6 dogs per trainer, per day. Any more than that, and your dog likely won’t be getting the attention and training that you’re paying for.

Downside of Day Training

Scheduling

Because you are dropping your dog off at a training facility, you will need to follow their daily schedule. This can be a hindrance for families that are also juggling work and kids’ extracurricular activities. Make sure you know when you can drop off your dog, and how late you can pick up in the evenings.

This also goes for your one-on-one lessons. Because your trainer will be engaged with the dogs during the day, she may have limited availability to schedule your lessons outside of program hours. If you have a busy schedule, it’s important that you check on your trainer’s availability so that you can plan accordingly.

Cost

Cost can be prohibitive for families considering day training programs. While these programs are not as expensive as board and train programs (where your dog lives with your trainer for weeks at a time), they are more costly than private lessons and group classes. This is because your trainer is committing to a full day of training to a small group of dogs. When your dog is in her care, she is committed to being onsite and working hands-on with your dog. And that’s a good thing! That means she’s working toward getting you the results that you need. But that also means she needs to be properly compensated for that time and work.

Your trainer’s rates can vary based on where you’re located, what behaviors you need to work on, your trainer’s level of expertise, and how many days per week your dog will attend. A rough estimate for day training can start at about $300 per week, and then increase from there based on the above factors.

Questions to Ask Your Day Training Program

1. What training goals and skills will you be teaching my dog?
2. Do you have experience teaching dogs to work on (your specific training needs)?
3. Do you include lessons so that I can learn what my dog is learning in training?
4. How do you match dogs for group playtime?
5. What if my dog doesn’t like other dogs? Does she still get time to play?
6. What is your dog to trainer ratio?
7. What are drop-off and pick-up times?
8. What is included in the cost of the program (training equipment, how many days of training, lessons, any follow-up training, etc.)?
9. Can I talk with other program graduates about their experiences?

Conclusion

Day training can be a great training option for many dog owners. There are a lot of benefits to this unique program style, and we think it’s definitely worth looking into on your search. But not every training program is the right fit for every family. So when speaking with a trainer, we highly recommend bringing the above list of questions and making sure that the program truly meets your needs.

If day training can help you meet your dog training goals, then we wish you the best of luck! But if it doesn’t make sense for your family, know that there are other options available to you. Taking the time to carefully choose the right training program will make all the difference for your family.

---

Interested in learning more about our day training program? Check out our Training Programs page for a breakdown of what to expect when working with our trainers.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the mountain of options available to you on your dog training search? You’re not alone! One of the most common dog training options is private lessons. So let’s break down this program so that you can decide for yourself if private lessons are the right for your family.

What are Private Lessons?

Private lessons are one-on-one training sessions with you, your trainer, and your dog. This training option offers you a lot of flexibility in your schedule and what you choose to work on, which is why it’s such a popular program for so many dog trainers and dog owners alike. Whether your dog is easily distracted in group settings, or you personally want more individualized instruction from your trainer, private lessons can offer some great options that other training programs can’t compete with.

Benefits of Private Lessons

Individualized Training

Because private lessons are just that, private, you can really tailor them to your individual needs and goals. Whether you want to work on jumping, barking, leash walking, or any other number of skills, your trainer can and should be able to design a training program specifically for you and your dog. This also means that you have your trainer’s undivided attention for your entire lesson to ask all of your burning questions and get hands-on practice with your dog.

No Distractions… Until You’re Ready

Private lessons are usually held in a training room at your trainer’s facility, in your home, or in quiet space where you and your dog can really focus together. This is a great environment for dogs that are easily distracted or dogs that are working on reactivity. When you and your trainer decide you’re ready, you can start slowly adding distractions in this controlled setting, helping your dog learn how to stay focused and successful.

Schedule

Let’s face it: life is busy! Between work, school, kids’ soccer schedules, there is a lot to juggle. Opting for private lessons gives you the flexibility to schedule time with your trainer when it works for you. And that can be a huge benefit when you have a lot on your plate.

Get the Family Involved!

Most dog trainers will allow (and hopefully encourage) the entire family to join in on private lessons. This is a big benefit that you won’t likely get from group classes, which typically have a limit to allowing only one or two people per dog. With the whole family at your lessons, you can make sure everyone hears the same message, gets to ask all of their questions directly to the trainer, and has the opportunity to practice your new skills. And the more consistent your entire family is at communicating with your dog, the more success you’ll see.

Downside of Private Lessons

No Opportunity for Group Socialization

While it is really nice to work on your dog’s unique needs, many people wish there were an opportunity to socialize with other dogs. That simply isn’t an option with private lessons. Your focus with this program will be working on more dog-specific goals and building up your own relationship with your dog. If you want to get your dog some puppy playmates, you can ask about daycare or joining a group class that focuses on those skills.

Cost

Because you’re paying for your trainer’s undivided attention, private lessons are going to cost more than if you were to join a group class (but less than a board and train). Your trainer’s rates can vary based on where you’re located, what behaviors you need to work on, your trainer’s level of expertise, and how many private lessons you are purchasing. A rough estimate for private lessons can start at about $50 per hour, and then increase from there based on the above factors.

Conclusion

Are private lessons right for you? Only you can truly answer that. But they are worth considering if you need a flexible schedule, want to work one-on-one with your trainer and your dog, and can afford a bit of a price increase. You can make huge strides with your dog’s behavior when you are focused and engaged, and have the help of a great trainer to guide you.

---

Interested in learning more about our private lesson program? Check out our Training Programs page for a breakdown of what to expect when working with our trainers.

Do you want to be one of those incredibly confident dog owners that can stroll down the street without your dog barking, lunging, pulling, and causing a scene? You can! And you don’t have to hire a dog trainer to get started. You may want to, but you don’t HAVE to. And we’re going to show you how with this simple drill that we lovingly call “Driveway Drills”.

Understanding Why Your Dog Pulls on Leash

Alright, so before you get started, let’s break down what is happening on leash. Currently, you’re struggling to walk your dog. It could be because she wants to sniff every wonderful smell, or because she is reactive and loses her mind when she sees another dog, or perhaps she’s afraid of her own shadow and would rather stay inside. I hate to say it, but the reason your walk isn’t working doesn’t really matter. Not yet, at least. We’ll definitely need to work through those specific behaviors down the road, but first we need to reset your dog’s relationship with the leash.

So right now, when you walk outside with your pup, she sees the leash (and therefore you) as an annoyance. You are keeping her from doing what she currently wants to do (sniff, run, play, bark at the neighbor, etc.). And that causes a lot of frustration for her. So to deal with that frustration, she is choosing to pull harder on that leash to show you exactly where she wants to go. And she’s going to keep pulling until she gets what she wants (or until you force her toward a different path). It’s an incredibly unhealthy relationship that she has with the leash, and by extension, you.

That needs to change. ASAP. It’s not fun for anyone to have their arm pulled for an entire walk. So we’re going to help you reset that relationship. We want to show your dog that every time she feels pressure on the leash, it means she’s gone too far, and she needs to return back to your side. And we want to show you that you are exactly the right person to help her through this. Sound hard? It’s not, as long as you’re ready to be patient and consistent.

Getting in the Right Mindset Before You Begin

Before you start training your dog to walk on leash (and any skill, really), it’s important that you are in the right mindset. Most dog owners see a leash and are instantly reminded of the terrible, stressful, overwhelming walks that they’re used to. You have a negative association with the leash, and you probably don’t enjoy walks very much right now.

We want to ask you to set aside those feelings, as hard as it may be. In order to properly lead your dog into this new way of walking on leash, you need to be a calm and confident leader. You may not feel it right now, but you can probably fake it pretty well if you have to. At least at first. So before you even grab that leash, take a deep breath, tell yourself you are in control of this situation, and that you have the ability to change your walks.

This confidence and sense of calm WILL rub off on your dog. Energy runs through your leash, whether you realize it or not. If you are anxious, holding that leash tightly, on edge at every turn, your dog is going to feel that nervous energy. And she’s going to think that there is a reason to be concerned. “Mom’s worried. Something must not be right. I need to be ready for whatever comes our way!” And BAM, you have a nervous dog that is ready to react to anything in her path.

But if you’re calm, holding the leash loosely by your side with your shoulders relaxed, you are telling your pup that you have control of this situation. She’ll then start thinking, “Huh, mom is super chill right now. She doesn’t seem worried about anything. I’m going to trust that she has control here.” Just like that, you’ve passed your calm energy on to your dog and told her that this walk is going to be different. And that’s before we even start walking!

What You’ll Need

Driveway Drills: What Are They?

Driveway drills are your key to a new, happy walk with your pup. It may be easier for us to show you before we explain it, so take a look at this short clip of us working with one of our training dogs, Annie:

Looks easy, right? Maybe even a little boring? But we promise you, there is magic in this drill. And it works with about 99% of dogs that we train, which is why we want you to give it a shot.

So have your dog on leash and find a nice, quiet spot where you won’t be bothered by a lot of distractions. We like the driveway (hence the very creative name for this drill). Now start moving forward. As soon as your dog starts moving past you, change your direction and walk the other way. Your dog will likely hit the end of the leash, realize that you’re walking away, and trot to catch up to you… and then likely run past you again. As soon as she runs past, turn and walk the other way again.

Repeat this until your dog starts to understand that you aren’t going to let her run past you. But you’re also not going to fight her on it. You’re simply going to change direction again and again and again. You should notice that she starts to slow down, give you some eye contact, and may even start to turn with you before hitting the end of the leash. This is when you know you’re ready for the next step: unpredictable movements.

Now you’re going to change your direction and your speed. Make it unpredictable. Go left, then right, then make a figure eight, then jog before coming to an abrupt stop. Have fun with this! The goal here is to keep your dog guessing, and therefore engaged with you. Don’t forget to give her a reward for turning really nicely with you (could be a treat, a “good girl,” or a chance to go play).

Some things to remember as you get started:

• Keep your body relaxed with your arm loose at your side;
• Once your dog is turning nicely with you, make your movements unpredictable to keep her engaged;
• Walk slow enough that your dog has a chance to figure out what you’re doing (you’re not going at your normal speed walking pace here);
• Stop this activity as soon as you feel yourself or your dog getting frustrated or overwhelmed. You can always come back to it later when you’re feeling excited about it.

Do I Have to Stay in My Driveway?

Let’s take baby steps to reach your end goal. At first, we definitely recommend staying close to home and doing your driveway drills around minimal distractions. The easier we can make this on you and your dog to begin with, the better. So get really good at doing this in a familiar setting before tackling bigger challenges.

Once your dog is focused and moves with you and is offering eye contact and doing all of those wonderful things you’ve always dreamed of… then you can start to broaden your horizons. Try going to a park and practicing your driveway drills there around new sights and smells. Then go to a parking lot outside of a store and help your dog stay focused with people and cars coming and going. You might feel a little silly, but who cares! You probably also feel self-conscious when your dog is barking up a storm.

This part of training is all about testing and seeing what your dog needs help with, all while making sure you’re doing everything you can to keep her successful. So don’t rush and try to do this in the middle of a pet store after one session. Trust us, you’ll both be frustrated and will not feel good about the situation. So find situations that you know she might struggle with, and practice keeping her attention on you while you move around.

How Often Should We Practice?

Driveway drills look and sound simple in theory, but they do take time and practice. So plan on giving yourself some time to build up your confidence and skills together. Remember, you’re resetting your relationship on leash. And unless you just brought home an 8-week old puppy, you likely have months or years of thinking to undo for your dog about what walks should look like.

Our recommendation: short and often is always best. Ideally, you should aim to spend about five minutes doing driveway drills together. A lot of learning can happen in just five minutes. And by keeping it short, you’re ensuring that neither you nor your dog get burnt out. That’s going to leave you both wanting to come back for more.

You can practice as many times a day as you’d like. And if you live with multiple people, each person should take a turn working on this with your dog. This will ensure that your dog understands the expectations with every person in the home, and not just the person that puts in the practice.

Conclusion

Does this sound like a lot of work? Probably. But the benefits and the outcome are worth every second. Depending on how much practice you put in, you absolutely should start to see big changes within a few weeks (and sooner if you practice every day). Taking the time now to show your dog exactly how you want her to walk on leash will lead to a lifetime of relaxing and fun walks together. You won’t have to fight over who has to hold the dog’s leash, or debate if you should just leave her at home.

If you’re willing to commit your time and energy (in only 5 minute bursts!), you will absolutely see big changes in how your dog walks on leash. We’ve seen it over and over again.

Want to learn more about what walking with your dog can look like? Check out our blog on what it looks like to walk your dog more freely.

I have yet to have a client approach me and say “Allison, my dog’s leash skills are too perfect. Why isn’t she pulling and barking like all the other dogs?” It just doesn’t happen.

What we typically hear is “My dog pulled me to the ground chasing the neighbor’s cat yesterday,” or “I have to walk my dog at 5am before anyone else is awake, otherwise she loses her mind,” or “I stopped trying to walk my dog because it’s just not worth the stress.”

Walks should be fun for both you and your dog. In an ideal world. But walking calmly on leash is not your dog’s natural instinct, so you need to teach her. And perhaps you’re currently telling yourself “I CAN’T walk my dog,” or “I don’t know how to walk my dog.” Those are normal thoughts when you’re frustrated, but we want to help you shift those thoughts into something more positive. Because we know you can do it.

As you get started on your dog walking journey, we have one easy trick that you can start implementing to see where her attention is, what she is focusing on, and how you can help her pay more attention to you. Sound too good to be true? It’s not!

Step 1: Driveway Drills

Driveway drills! If you are just learning how to walk your dog, I want you to check out this video we created on driveway drills. This skill teaches your dog how to start moving with you rather than pulling against the leash. So take the next 59 seconds to see this lifechanging method in action. This is the foundation that we use with almost every training dog we work with.

Now go out and practice your driveway drills! This truly is step one. We want your dog to learn how to move with you, and how to respond when she’s tight on the leash (hint: it’s not to pull harder). So spend some time on this step before you progress.

Step 2: Go for a Short Walk

Now that your dog understands basic leash pressure and how to move with you, it’s time to go for a short walk. And we mean short. Like, to your neighbor’s driveway and back, short. The reason for this is simple: you and your dog are relearning how to walk on leash together. So don’t bite off more than you can chew too soon, or you’ll both get frustrated. It’s better to do a short path several times than to end up a mile from home, realize neither of you were ready, and fight the entire way home over what the walk will look like.

You may even set a time limit for yourself – the shorter the better. So today, you may say “I’m going to walk my dog for 5 minutes, and then we’re done.” Tomorrow, perhaps you’ll say “I’m going to walk my dog for 7 minutes, but we’re going to play a game of tug in the middle to have some fun.” Setting short time limits for yourself will ensure that you don’t get burnt out, and that both you and your dog want to come back for more. Additionally, there is a lot of learning that can happen in a short period of time wen you’re focused and engaged. So don’t underestimate the power of a short session together.

Step 3: Test Your Dog’s Attention

So you’re walking to your neighbor’s driveway, but you’re not quite sure if your dog is paying you any attention yet. It’s time to test her attention with this one simple trick: whenever you’re ready, take one big step away from your dog. What does she do?

If she’s like most dogs just learning how to walk on leash, she will most likely not care at all that you’ve changed direction. That’s OK – that just tells us that we need to go back to step one and practice driveway drills for a bit to show her how to follow your movement.

But let’s say she notices that you moved away from her, and she closes that gap so that she’s back by your side again. Congratulations! You have a dog that is focused on your movements and understands that she needs to follow you. Tell her she’s a good girl, give her a treat, and keep moving. And tell yourself “I am learning how to walk my dog.”

Now do it again. And again. And again. Each time, you’re building her muscle memory and showing her exactly what to do when she gets too far away from you: close the gap, little pup.

Here it is in action with our training pup, Gemini. Gemini was 6 months old at the time of his training, and came to us jumping and pulling every time he was on a leash. Look at how following these steps can teach even a young, excitable pup how to follow our movements so that both he and his mom can enjoy their walks. And this only took a couple of weeks!

Step 4: Proof Your Dog’s Attention on Leash

As your dog shows you that she really understands this expectation, you’re going to start going on longer walks, but still throwing this little test in to see if she is paying attention. Try doing it around different distractions, as well, like at a busy intersection, or when passing a dog, or at the playground with kids running around. The more you practice it, the easier it will be for her to keep her attention on you while ignoring the world around you.

Step 5: Go Walk Your Dog!

Now it’s time to tell yourself “I CAN walk my dog. I know I can.” Now that you have this skill and you’ve practiced it in lots of different situations (you’ve proofed it), it’s time to get out and start enjoying walks with your dog. Anytime that you notice she’s struggling or not paying attention, just take a big step away from her. Does she ignore your movement (which tells us she’s distracted and not paying attention like she should), or does she close the gap (she’s focused and moving with you). Either way, you’ll gain valuable insight into where her head is at, and you can help her accordingly.

Conclusion

Walks with your dog should be fun. We want you to have adventures and experiences together. We want you to confidently say “I can walk my dog anywhere!” and actually believe that it will be a fun walk. In order to get to that point, however, you need to put in some work to teach her how to be the best walking companion there is. That means practice. And practice a lot. You’ll be so glad you did.

Want to take your leash skills to the next level? Check out our blog post: Leash Skills: Does My Dog Always Have to Walk in a Heel? This is a great next step for adding even more fun and freedom into your walks together.

Let’s talk about those dogs that seem bullet-proof around loud noises and lots of distractions. You know, the dogs that could take a nap in the middle of a thunderstorm or that could walk through a crowded market without flinching at all of the people and food passing by. Those dogs are the envy of every dog owner that struggles with a fearful or nervous dog.

But those dogs didn’t just happen to turn out like that. Yes, genetics can have a huge impact on your dog’s confidence and overall demeanor, so let’s not take that out of the equation entirely. But even the best-bred dog, if left without any training or intentional experiences, would likely struggle if thrown into a crowd of people and noises.

So how do you get your nervous dog to be calm, relaxed, and confident in situations where she currently struggles?

Practice!

As with any new skill, you need to practice. And practice a lot, my friend.

But this doesn’t mean throwing a leash on your dog and dragging her to the farmer’s market every weekend until s he “figures it out”. Please don’t do that – it’ll cause frustration for both you and your dog, and won’t do anything productive for building up trust in your relationship.

No, what we’re talking about is setting up carefully planned situations (aka controlled experiences) for your dog. You want these experiences to test your dog’s comfort level, but in such a way that you know exactly what the outcome will be. And it’s easier than it sounds, so anyone can do it with a little planning.

What is a Controlled Experience

A controlled experience is one where you know exactly what kind of situation you’re about to put your dog into that serves a specific purpose in her training. You will want to plan who or what you’re going to run into, what distractions will be present, and already have a plan for how you will help your dog through those moments. The best part? Your dog has no idea any of this planning is happening, so you’ll be able to see her true response and help her work through any issues that arise.

A few examples might look like this:

• Your dog barks and lunges at other dogs on leash, and it’s really embarrassing and frustrating for you. So you ask your neighbor to walk by your house at 2:30 this afternoon when you will also coincidentally be outside with your dog on leash. So at 2:30, you and your dog are enjoying the smells of the yard when your neighbor and their dog stroll by. You knew they were coming, so you’re ready and see them before your dog does. She starts growling and getting ready to lunge, but you’re ready and can give her a quick correction, redirect her attention, and reward her if she makes a better choice.
• Your dog is afraid of new people and will bark at anyone that walks up to the house. You see the mailman parking his car and know that he’ll be here in five minutes. That’s just enough time to put your dog on her place bed to relax, all the while knowing that you’re about to help her through a pretty big fear. As soon as she hears the mailman walking up the front steps, your pup starts barking and running to the door. You calmly tell her “no,” walk her back over to her bed, and allow her to calm herself on her bed. Practice this every day, and your nervous dog will soon gain confidence in understanding exactly what should happen when she’s uncomfortable with someone approaching the front door.

In both of these scenarios, you knew exactly what was going to happen, and you were prepared to address your dog’s response calmly. When you aren’t prepared for these encounters, they can feel rally chaotic and overwhelming. But when you know what’s coming, you can act with confidence and provide the best information possible to your dog. And this is how we start turning your nervous dog into a confident one that can handle increasingly stressful situations.

How to Setup Controlled Experiences

So how can you setup a controlled experience for your dog?

First, you need to determine what your dog’s triggers are. What does she struggle with? What makes her really uncomfortable? What gets her so excited that she loses all focus and seems to forget everything you’ve ever taught her?

So let’s say you want to work on building your dog’s confidence around the vacuum. One technique is to bring the vacuum out and just set it in the corner of the room while you play with your dog’s favorite toy. The “scary” thing will be there, and she’ll likely side-eye it twenty times during your play session. But she’ll start to see that the monster in the corner isn’t trying to hurt her, and may even forget about it as she plays with you.

The next time, perhaps you’ll try throwing her favorite treats on the floor around the vacuum and allow her to explore as she’s comfortable. The next time? Try turning the vacuum on , but leave it standing still in the corner again so that she can experience the sound without any movement.

And you slowly allow her these positive experiences so that she can see and understand that the vacuum is just a thing that happens sometimes, and she has no reason to fear it. We know it won’t hurt her, but she needs these controlled experiences to learn that for herself.

See it in Practice

In the video below, we have setup a controlled experience for one of our training dogs, Mando. Mando is a very nervous dog around new people. We’re talking so nervous that he would run to the other side of the room to avoid them. So we had our work cut out for us.

Now it’s important to note a couple of things when working through fears with your nervous dog:

1. Do not force your dog to interact with the thing she’s afraid of. In Mando’s case, we aren’t forcing him to meet anyone. In fact, we’re telling people to ignore him. This will help him feel safe by removing all pressure of a person moving into his space. We simply want him to feel relaxed in the presence of new people.
2. Keep your dog on leash during these controlled experiences. While you don’t want your dog to interact with the “scary” thing, you also don’t want her to run away and miss the experience altogether (or charge at the thing she’s afraid of, making this an ineffective training opportunity).
3. No matter what your dog’s response is, stay calm and confident. You prepared beforehand and you have a plan to help her if she struggles, and reward her if she does a great job. Your confidence will rub off on her – if she sees that you’re not worried about the situation, she will be much more likely to feed off of that calm energy. If she sees that you’re nervous or panicking, she will absolutely follow suit.

https://youtu.be/fpw7URcOPfI

Conclusion

We know how hard it can be to watch a confident dog stroll around in situations that would put your nervous dog in fight or flight mode. It’s frustrating and overwhelming, and you feel so deeply for your dog and wish you could just give her the magic pill that solves all of her fears. But that pill doesn’t exist.

What does exist is a very clear training plan to start safely exposing your dog to situations that she struggles in. Fear and anxiety take time to overcome. And the best thing you can do for a nervous dog is provide her with safe and controlled experiences where you can show her how to work through her fears.

Are you ready to take that next step for your nervous dog? Does all of this sound great, and you want to help her succeed, but you still aren’t sure where to start? Or perhaps you can see the goal ahead, but want someone to cheer you on and support you on your journey. Reach out to us! We’ll talk through your dog’s behaviors together and help you come up with a plan to build her confidence, set up controlled experiences, and prepare her for all of life’s challenges.