Training Videos & Fun stuff too!

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Mouse Trap Game- The Mouse Game is a fantastic tool for building impulse control in dogs. It’s designed to help your dog learn to disengage from distractions and make better choices. Here’s a quick overview of how it works: Setup: Place some high-value food on the floor or an upturned bowl. Your dog should be on a boundary, like a bed or mat. Temptation and Control: The goal is to tempt your dog to stay on the boundary despite the food being present. If your dog steps off the boundary, cover the food with your hand to prevent them from getting it. Rewarding Good Choices: When your dog stays on the boundary, reward them by giving them a piece of the food. You can flick, roll, or bowl the food towards them as a reward. Building Excitement: Keep the game fun and engaging. Occasionally let your dog get the food to maintain their interest and excitement. Adjusting Difficulty: As your dog gets better at the game, you can increase the difficulty by adding more distractions or increasing the distance between the boundary and the food. This game is not only about teaching impulse control but also about making it a fun and rewarding experience for your dog.

Paper Bag Chaos- Cardboard Chaos is a fantastic game that you can play with your dog to build a variety of skills and concepts. It’s especially great for puppies and dogs that need to build confidence, optimism, and independence. Here’s a quick overview of how to play: Setup: Gather some cardboard boxes and scatter your dog’s dinner or treats in and around them. You can use different surfaces and objects to add variety and novelty. Encourage Exploration: Allow your dog to explore the setup, moving around and behind the boxes. This encourages them to forage for their food, which can be a positive and enriching experience. Build Skills: This game helps build confidence, focus, optimism, grit, and independence. It also encourages engagement and disengagement, as your dog learns to check in with you amidst the chaos. Adaptability: Change the setup each time you play to keep it fresh and exciting for your dog. You can add noise, different surfaces, and new objects to challenge them further. Purposeful Play: Use this game to address specific needs, such as separation anxiety or reactivity. It helps dogs learn to be comfortable out of sight and boosts their confidence in unpredictable environments.

Whip It Game- The Whip It game is a dynamic and engaging activity designed to harness your dog’s natural chase instincts while building drive, desire, and impulse control. Here’s a quick overview of how to play: Purpose: The game is excellent for building toy motivation and teaching your dog to chase and engage with a toy. It’s particularly useful for dogs that are driven by movement and love to chase. Setup: Use a whip toy, keeping it low to the ground to prevent jumping and protect your dog’s joints. The goal is to have your dog chase the toy without encouraging behaviors that might lead to injury. Building Drive: Encourage your dog to chase the toy, allowing them to catch it occasionally to build confidence and optimism. The game should be fast-paced and fun, with short sessions to maintain your dog’s interest. Mechanics: Adjust your play style based on your dog’s behavior. For example, if your dog tends to cut in and intercept the toy, work on keeping their nose on the toy and encourage them to chase in a straight line. Safety: Be mindful of your dog’s physical fitness and body awareness. Avoid overdoing it, especially with puppies, to prevent joint injuries. Progression: As your dog becomes more skilled, you can introduce layers of impulse control, such as asking them to wait before chasing the toy.

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