Dogue Academy
5055 Bessborough H4V 2S2 Montreal, QC, Canada

We use agility obstacles to teach problem-solving, not to teach a sport. Dogs and students learn that working in a difficult environment yields positive outcomes and depends bonds.

I started to train Hariette to chase the squirrels away from the bird feeder. After 4 R+, I realised she thought chasing the birds was the target. I immediately stopped R+ birds. I showed her the actual target and R+ her when she saw it. From there, I would only R+ her if she chased AND tracked the squirrel visually. It took a few repetitions and now she's got it.... Hariette is too slow to ever catch a squirrel, but scaring is all we need. This morning she decided to scare the squirrel in the neighbours tomato garden. Problem-solving at its finest.

DOG NAIL UPDATE -- The following pictures serve to illustrate our last post on dog nail maintenance. This is what the nail looks like four days after the side trim. The quick and vein have significantly receded. One more side trim and the nail can be maintained by simply cutting off a small slice. This is the only method that will shorten dog nails.

To shorten the nail, you must expose the quick and the vein by sectioning the shell sideways. This technique will reduce the length and in a matter of days. The process can be repeated over and over again until the desired length is reached. Only then can the nail be maintained at the desired length.

Today's lesson in puppy class was sit. Humans in our classes are forbidden to use lures. We prefer to teach puppies to think on their own and they reward decision making.