It’s ok! We’re here to help. We speak a little dog and can help translate for both of you. It’s probably just a miscommunication! And we are here to help get you both speaking the same language! Woof!
Connect with the PAWpundance training team and other members of the dog community to discuss better ways to communicate with your furry house guest.
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(3/6) In this clip we continued doing a “down” exercise. She did great. She was doing a consistent down by the time we stopped. One thing that is crucial to having a good session is to know when to stop and when to push on. A lot of that comes from watching her. If Luna is engaged and eager, then we can keep moving forward. When she shows “stress” signals (I use the term lightly it doesn’t always mean she’s in a bad emotional state - just means she’s thinking) we see almost like a cognitive dissonance if we push too hard and the pups start getting wiggly etc. So we want to stop before they hit that threshold. So watching for those early wiggling warning signs helps us know when to move on to another challenge and when to quit. Also, she’s probably young enough that she doesn’t want long sessions. 5-10 minutes but a few per day would be so stimulating to her. She would be such a happy engaged little girl if she got just that much.
And here’s a huge lesson. We always consider what the activity is (sit, down yada yada) but one huge thing to learn is where you give the treat. If you are teaching her to dance, and she’s standing on her hind legs twirling... great. Click when she does the behavior. To receive the reward she needs to return to the down position. If you always expect a down position to receive the treat... she will be a calm, sweet puppy that does not jump on your friends and family.
Supplement that with never petting her unless she’s sitting or in a Down (I prefer down). You will have the dog that doesn’t jump.
When we arrived Luna was excited and jumping all over us.
At the end, instead of jumping all over each of us, Luna was running between each of us and sitting.
Very sweet. She’s a smart girl. Lots to work with!!
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We want to see your furbabies!
We’re here to assist with any questions you may have about training, behavior, and more. At PAWpundance, we believe in blending knowledge with a bit of fun—expect plenty of paws, puns, and maybe even a dance or two! Together, let’s enjoy some laughs and build stronger relationships with our pups.
Our Philosophy:
We’ve invited another species to live in our homes, and our dogs are much more than accessories; they’re our guests. They don’t speak our language, and like in the movie E.T., we don’t want to be the intimidating figures trying to coerce a scared, confused being. Instead, we want to be like ...
Eye Contact, Eye Contact, Eye Contact!
Reward every glance. Start by reinforcing brief glances, then encourage your pup to hold your gaze a bit longer. Gradually phase out your part of the eye contact—your pup will learn to watch you and adapt to your movements naturally. This approach helps them learn to walk with you without relying on leash cues.
Remember, the leash is purely for safety—not for communication.
Take a look at this video with Meghan and Buckee. Buckee is watching Meghan closely, and she rewards him by making eye contact, smiling, and offering treats. Meghan also looks forward occasionally, teaching Buckee to walk with her in sync.
Notice that Buckee is a reactive pup, so the leash is essential for safety, especially if he responds to something unexpectedly. However, it’s only used for physical control when necessary. When Buckee refocuses, Meghan reestablishes instructional control, and they continue their walk together. She does a fantastic job of engaging with him! In ...
Loose-Leash Walking Tip:
Where you reward makes a big difference! Try using the hand on the same side as your dog when giving treats or praise.
When you reach across your body to reward with the opposite hand, it draws your dog’s nose in front of you, encouraging them to move ahead and potentially start pulling.
In the video of Meghan and Domino, Meghan holds the leash with her left hand while Domino walks on her right. She rewards him by petting and giving treats with her right hand. This keeps Domino walking by her side on a loose leash, rather than in front, pulling her along.
Next time you’re out walking with your pup, try rewarding with the hand on the same side as your dog.
https://twitter.com/wholedogjournal/status/1295508215740932098?s=21
How to teach you pup to be a good dining companion! What a great skill!
https://twitter.com/wholedogjournal/status/1292609106637987840?s=21
This is about counter-surfers, but I love the description of trying to shame dogs. This author, Pat Miller helped me understand this concept in her book the Power of Positive Dog Training.
If you’re still on Twitter, the Whole Dog Journal is a great group to follow. Lots of fantastic info!
