Kindred Moments Canine Training

Another great virtual lesson today in the books! Griffin is learning how to loose leash walk. . I love starting this exercise inside the client’s home. Typically this sets each dog up for success while learning as they are in an environment that is minimally distracting. . I usually compare trying to teach a puppy something new in an outdoor environment to trying to teach a child something with the TV on. ... . Seems a bit tricky to learn under those conditions doesn’t it? That’s why it’s important that we are always thinking of the learner’s (your pup’s) experience and how to best set them up to succeed! . What have you noticed that your dog finds really distracting? #dog #dogsofinsta #dogs #ilovemydog #dogtraining #dogtrainer #dogtricks #petphotography #rewarding #training #challengeaccepted #puppylove #pup #puppiesofinstagram #puppylife #puppymanners101 #basiclifeskills #positivereinforcement #freedomtochoose #satisfied #distractions

Teaching virtual lessons have definitely been an adjustment in my teaching/ training routine. However, there have been some major perks! For one, I’m finding that my teaching skills have improved when instructing humans/dog guardians. . Typically, in my private in-home lessons I tend to rely heavily on demonstration and getting each dog into the groove of performing a behavioural loop usually before having their human step in. This way the human can observe, ask questions an...d see the training loop play out. . Obviously when it comes to virtual lessons, this is impossible so I had to up my verbal instruction game and troubleshoot from the other side of the screen. . It’s been really successful so far but the best thing about it, is each dogs’ guardians are more empowered than ever before. They experience the process first hand from start to finish, which I believe creates more opportunities for kindred moments to form. . This week I worked with Lola and her guardians on luring, sit, down and look at me. It was a bit tricky for Lola to lure into a down as I find generally it can be for some dogs. We tried a few methods and found the one that worked for Lola. . Her human mom and brother did an incredible job and got the full payoff as they taught her how to lure into a down so smoothly by the end of the session...all on their own! #dog #dogsofinsta #dogs #ilovemydog #dogtraining #dogtrainer #dogtricks #petphotography #rewarding #training #challengeaccepted #puppylove #pup #puppiesofinstagram #puppylife #puppymanners101 #basiclifeskills #positivereinforcement #freedomtochoose #satisfied #virtuallearning #luring #payoff

So proud of my clients and their hard work on getting those loose leash foundational skills underway! . Desi was struggling with his loose leash walking when he became over-aroused, particularly when the environment changed (I.e. moving onto a less familiar street/ squirrel!). . When trying to coax him back, upon getting into this excited state, he would completely ignore us/food and rather be zoned in on the environment. ... . So Desi is going back to basics and learning to love the come back cue - a cue we give once the leash gets tight and we’d like him to turn around and go back into a heel position to create slack on the leash. . Now Desi is coming back on verbal cue alone when inside the house. Next is incorporating this cue into a slightly more distracting environment like the backyard. They have come so far and I couldn’t be happier for them! #dog #dogsofinsta #dogs #ilovemydog #dogtraining #dogtrainer #dogtricks #petphotography #rewarding #training #challengeaccepted #puppylove #pup #puppiesofinstagram #puppylife #puppymanners101 #positivereinforcement #freedomtochoose #satisfied #looseleash #desi

Great news to the Bolton/Caledon reactive dog parents out there! I’ve just created a group on Facebook to give dog reactive dogs and their humans the opportunity to work around one another. This is not a class but rather a meet-up of like-minded people and their dogs who are struggling or would like to continue to work on their dog’s reactivity. Any aversive tools (choke chains, prong collars or e-collars) are not permitted in this group. Because pain is not necessary to teach our best friends! Hope to see you there! P.S. Why on earth didn’t I think of this sooner? #dog #dogsofinsta #dogs #ilovemydog #dogtraining #dogtrainer #petphotography #rewarding #training #challengeaccepted #puppylove #pup #puppiesofinstagram #puppylife #positivereinforcement #freedomtochoose #satisfied #reactivedogsunite #bolton #caledon

Diego and Zombie have been getting together for a few weeks to work on their dog-dog reactivity together. Day 1 began with having them simply see each other from across a soccer field as that was the point in which they were able to maintain being under threshold. Cut to the other day when they were walking along side one another. So proud of these two reactive boys learning to trust one another and build companionship. And especially so proud of Diego’s mamma for always giv...ing Diego the space, time, patience and reinforcement he needs. #dog #dogsofinsta #dogs #ilovemydog #dogtraining #dogtrainer #dogtricks #petphotography #rewarding #training #challengeaccepted #puppylove #pup #puppiesofinstagram #puppylife #puppymanners101 #basicobedience #positivereinforcement #freedomtochoose #satisfied #reactivedog #desensitization #counterconditioning

Welcome miss Alina to the KM crew. We had our first virtual lesson today on Potty training! Can’t wait to meet you in person! #dog #dogsofinsta #dogs #ilovemydog #dogtraining #dogtrainer #dogtricks #petphotography #rewarding #training #challengeaccepted #puppylove #pup #puppiesofinstagram #puppylife #puppymanners101 #positivereinforcement #freedomtochoose #satisfied #pottytraining

**Warning: Proud Dog Mamma Moment** I just found out that Zombie is one of three Boston Terriers to have his Expert Trick Dog Title in all of Canada! .... So proud of my little guy and how far he’s come. #dog #dogsofinsta #dogs #ilovemydog #dogtraining #dogtrainer #dogtricks #petphotography #rewarding #training #challengeaccepted #puppylove #pup #dogsofinstagram #puppylife #puppymanners101 #positivereinforcement #freedomtochoose #satisfied #experttrickdog #title #prouddogmamma

Congratulations Sasha for graduating from our Puppy Manners 101 class! #sitstay #posingforthecamera #dog #dogsofinsta #dogs #ilovemydog #dogtraining #dogtrainer #dogtricks #petphotography #rewarding #training #challengeaccepted #puppylove #pup #puppiesofinstagram #puppylife #puppymanners101 #basicobedience #positivereinforcement #freedomtochoose #satisfied #puppymanners101 #sasha #dobermanpuppy

Before the lockdown, I had the pleasure to work with the shining @diamond.aka.pupsmoke and his mamma on his stay around simple distractions. . We started off by adding minimal movement to the distraction (ball) and were able to build to rolling it across the floor in this setting - all within a minute. Very impressive for this little pupper’s second stay lesson. . Does that mean the behaviour has been undoubtedly learned? Does that mean Diamond has a strong stay behavi...our and will never move? Definitely not. This means that under these exact circumstances (Diamond sitting in that direction, in that part of his home with that particular ball and those particular teachers involved as well all of the other unintentional antecedents arrangements) he did extremely well. So what DOES this all mean? . Well I’m going to let you in on a little secret friends...behaviour is never, EVER, guaranteed... not our own and certainly not the behaviours of others. A bit liberating, no? . That is one big reason why it is so important to continue to train your dog throughout his life. Set him up to be successful in as many environments and around as many distractions as you possibly can. . This is how you can begin to proof your dog’s behaviour. So that when you need to ask your dog to utilize a behaviour, he already has a strong reinforcement history and is likely to succeed! . So get out there and challenge your routine by switching it up, while always setting your dog up for success. #dog #dogsofinsta #dogs #ilovemydog #dogtraining #dogtrainer #dogtricks #petphotography #rewarding #training #challengeaccepted #puppylove #pup #puppiesofinstagram #puppylife #puppymanners101 #basicobedience #positivereinforcement #freedomtochoose #satisfied #stay #proof #switchitupchallenge

Taking my sweet time this morning, to reflect on the events of this past year. Although it’s been a dumpster fire of a year, there was still a lot of good that came out of it. And I’d like to take a moment to be grateful for it. Thanks 2020 for being the year the greatest man on the planet asked me to be his wife, for helping me find new ways to understand my bubs, Zombie, even more, for allowing me to earn two more dog training certifications, for giving me the opportunity to give a virtual dog training presentation at a York University event, for motivating me to finally learn ASL and lastly for gaining some much needed perspectives both in my professional and personal life. Onwards! Friends, if we can accomplish all that we’ve accomplished in the dumpster fire of 2020, imagine what we can do in 2021. Happy New Year ya’ll!

When you’re just hanging out with the kids.... #dog #dogsofinsta #dogs #ilovemydog #dogtraining #dogtrainer #dogtricks #petphotography #rewarding #training #challengeaccepted #puppylove #pup #puppiesofinstagram #puppylife #puppymanners101 #basicobedience #positivereinforcement #freedomtochoose #hangingout #headstand #dogtricks #oneofthekids

Puppy 101 is truly an amazing program. When Montana first met Chris he was scared, nervous and barking so much. By the end of our session he adored Chris. Thank you for all your kindness, patience, support, guidance and most of all for making this experience fun.- Grace Congratulations to Grace and Montana for working so hard and doing such a great job! #dog #dogsofinsta #dogs #ilovemydog #dogtraining #dogtrainer #dogtricks #petphotography #rewarding #training #challengeaccepted #puppylove #pup #puppiesofinstagram #puppylife #puppymanners101 #basicobedience #positivereinforcement #freedomtochoose #satisfied #graduate