SuperPoof Dog Training

#30daysofenrichment Day 19 Impulse control practice! Impulse control is such an important fundamental skill - elements of it come into play in virtually every aspect of training.... Many people teach "leave it" and that's it. Or spend a lot of time training our puppies, then never revisit those skills as adults. Which means that those skills deteriorate! So make a point to do some impulse control practice - my dogs work on a default leave it with food and toys, waiting to cross thresholds, and more, all using Susan Garrett's It's Yer Choice method.

#30daysofenrichment Day 18 Treadmill training While it may take some time for your dog to be comfortable with it, it is a great investment! Especially on those -30 days for dogs who need a little extra exercise.... I have taken my time building up really great associations with the treadmill, and I highly recommend that over tying your dog to it and pressing "go!" *safety first! Make sure you are supervising and your dog has a safe option to bail if something happens. **ensure the treadmill is long enough for your dog's full stride - a long human treadmill works for my little crew, but you would need a much longer deck for bigger dogs.

#30daysofenrichment Day 17 On a less-cold day, chuck some kibble or treats in a snow bank and let them sniff and snuffle to find the food! This allows them to use their natural instinct to scavenge, and is super quick and easy for you. To make it more difficult, spread the kibble out more, or even throw some extra snow over top!... *watch for your dog getting too cold, like lifting their paws. If that happens, give them a break inside to warm up. **exercise caution or skip this one entirely if your dog has any resource guarding issues - it is quite easy for a stray kibble to get left behind, and we don't want to set up a bad situation.

#30daysofenrichment Day 16 Take a class! Whether it's just a class to brush up on obedience cues or to try a new sport, group classes can be a great way to spend some quality time with your dog.... Besides my main competitive sports, my dogs have taken all kinds of classes over the years - scent detection, rally, recall, tricks, flyball, just off the top of my head. Some we like and pursue further, some we don't but at least we had fun! Most dog sport beginner classes don't require a commitment to competition to try the class out, and anyone who thinks their dog is 100% trained and can't be challenged in a group class is lying ;) so try something new this winter!