They provide a predictable patterns and can easily help your dog make her way back to you.
Counting establishes a clear path back to you and encourages engagement with you while you are in a more distracting environment.
Counting also takes the pressure off of you and your dog.
It eliminates the expectation that your dog should âlistenâ to your cue.
Instead, it provides encouragement and motivation for your dog to return, especially when there are increasing levels of distraction in the environment.
This is especially important if you havenât proofed your recall cue and you are wanting your dog to return to you.
This is the first introduction of Chirag Patelâs counting game when Zelda moved away and became distracted in the environment.
This opportunity was naturally occurring and my clientâs daughter was a fast learner in implementing the steps as I was coaching her in real time for the first time.
Making coming back to you so worthwhile will for sure set you and your dog up for success in a stress less learning environment while also being fun and enjoyable for you and your dog.
Dogs do what they do, help them find you more interesting than what the environment offers!
When Gigi arrived to the States from Korea, she was petrified.
She was shaking and panting when she was being transported to her new home.
Gigi was also unsure of the world in general, but being with new people and a new place to live was also very overwhelming.
As we discussed Gigi and my clientâs training needs, we discussed how building a trusting and secure relationship is one of the first building blocks for reaching any training goals.
My client was committed to Gigi and only wanted the best for her.
One of areas of focus for my client and Gigi was helping Gigi learn to see the car as a positive place for her versus the negative one she experienced.
Over the course of our 6 weeks together, my client and Gigi hit so many milestones and witnessing Gigi learn and the relationship grow between her and my client was my proudest moment.
Gigi learned:
â family members were safe and enjoyable people to be around
â strangers or unfamiliar people coming up to the house isnât that big of a deal
â strange or sudden noises really arenât that big of a deal
â relaxing is a much more enjoyable behavior to do
The biggest achievement my client and Gigi obtained was Gigiâs willingness and comfortability with getting into the car.
Make no mistake, even though the video seems to show how effortless this skill is between my client and Gigi, the learning wasnât all smooth sailing.
My client rode the waves of success and really felt those valleys of not seemingly moving anywhere or even feeling things were moving backwards.
Days and even weeks when Gigi looked nervous about the ramp and wasnât comfortable stepping one paw into the car even when just before Gigi spent time in the car and even ate meals in it.
My client dug deep.
She reframed her goals for Gigi.
Still my client showed up and met Gigi where she was in the moment of learning.
My client learned taking breaks and doing other bonding exercises was beneficial to the goal of encouraging Gigi to make the choice of going in the car.
They practiced walking up the ramp together in random areas away from the car.
Gigi and my client even spent time playing Find It around the car without the expectation of getting into the car.
Today, all of these steps came together and Gigi willingly went into the car several times and was encouraged along the way by my client.
I had a little dance party for them to celebrate since Gigi would have been too nervous for my client to do so in this moment đ
The moment Gigi chose to enter the car. A huge win for her and my client.
Are you willing to stay open to going with the flow and even learn about yourself along the way?
Do you have goals you want to achieve with your dog, but donât know how?
Have a computer and internet?
Letâs chat! As a dog behavior consultant and coach, I can help you achieve the goals you want you and your dog to achieve regardless of where you are located.
During a webinar I attended last week, the host, Heidi Metro said âwho are you when things get tough?â
This made me pause.
Life is not about everything being happy and plodding along in a forward motion.
Life and our experiences or even your dogâs experiences and how you see them can appear to be anything but what you judge as progress.
Leaving you feeling annoyed, frustrated, angry, lost or even wanting to give up.
In many situations, when you experience set backs, this can dismantle your expectations.
Let the perceived set backs blow up your expectations.
Once you allow yourself to let go of expectations, you will be able to be in the moment of what your dog truly needs.
Sometimes, this is taking a few steps back or itâs trying something new, or its just taking a break.
When you can shift your perspective from focusing on achieving the next goal and you just show up and meet your dog where he is at in this moment, this shifts you into one of compassion and empathy and allowing you at least step a foot into your dogâs world.
Recognizing your dogâs emotional state in the moment can be the guide in moving you forward.
Not sure how or what your dog is feeling?
Curious about how your dogâs emotional state impacts your dogâs behavior?
Want to learn how you can let go of your own expectations and how to show up for your dog?
Letâs chat and I can share with you how my Growl to Grow program can support you!
Four Paws & You Dog Training 