Would you like to improve the consistency & effectiveness of your teaching, training, & overall relationship with the learners in your world?

Over the following weeks PAW will be presenting a 21 day “kick start” Positive Training Challenge!

Folks often reach out for help when they find themselves in a challenging & frustrating situation.

However, with the tips, advice, & guidance to follow, pet parents & people generally interested in how knowledge, science, applied behavioral analysis, persistence, & consistency can make positive changes for the better.

For the busy dog, bird, or horse owner who is time crunched & dealing with other realities & priorities of daily life, finding the right information to help from legitimate sources can feel frustrating & overwhelming.

However, before you throw up your hands & give up, the twenty-one day positive reinforcement training challenge is here to help you to optimize your learning, teaching, & training potential.

Stay tuned & tune in to participate & be on the way to a better understanding of training & learning & an overall improved relationship with your companion animal!

For every new “like” on the PAW-Positive Animal Wellness Facebook page during the 21 day challenge, PAW will donate one dollar to the newly created Defensa Animal de Rincon-DAR animal rescue group.

Thanks & good luck getting started on the right “PAW” today!

Does your dog have a difficult time when needing to calm down in new or exciting surroundings?

A towel is a handy tool that you can use as it can roll up and travel with you providing your dog a spot to relax and settle on cue in new, distracting, or stressful environments. Via an exercise in Leslie McDevitt’s,  “Control Unleashed” program we worked on following the cue, “Bottom on the Mat” in which George lays down on a towel until his release cue is given. You can see that he is attentive and eager but not overly stimulated.

Sam focused sitting-awaiting release cue!
Sam is available for adoption via arfrincon.com!

Adding a release “cue” to your behavior gives your dog the message that the behavior that you were seeking is complete and that they are free to move.

You can use any word that you like. Common release cues are “free,” “okay,” “release,” or, the one that we use, “break!’

An example of the use of a release cue is if you have asked your dog to sit. The “sit” should remain in place until you provide the release cue (in our case, “Break!”) which means that the dog can move from the sit position.

A practical application of a release cue is before your pup is allowed to exit the car. This is a safety feature as you can ensure that you have your leash hooked on and the coast is clear (of cars, or any other dangerous distractions) before your dog exits the vehicle. It is a good idea for your dog to know that the act of you opening the car door is his cue to look to you for the release cue in order to know that it is time to get out of the car.

You can play a game to practice your release cue with your dog. You may put your dog into a sit, step back,  and then shout out odd, random words (like “turtle,” “catsup,” or “bongo,” for example) before finally giving your release word which would allow your pup to move. Most dogs sit eagerly awaiting the “right” cue & enjoy this game. When playing, don’t forget to CT (click and treat) for the correct response!

(photo thanks to Laura McLaughlin www.photographyLAM.com)