Smart Dogs Canine Training

04/23/2025

If you can stomach the drool, olde English bulldogges can and do make great family dogs (depending on the lines). They are endlessly tolerant, stoic and hardy. Though some are lazy, they can also be fairly athletic and highly trainable. Aside from certain skin issues that can crop up, they are typically healthy, especially for bulldog standards. However, two very important things to remember when entering the world of bulldogges; one, you have to be prepared for them to disagree with you. I actually find them quite sensitive, and easy to train, but a bulldogge will be a bulldog, which means they have their own agendas and will use their strength to enforce them. You CANNOT be a pushover if you are going to share your home with one.
And two, bull breeds of any type, from frenchies and fancy American bullies to American bulldogs, pit bulls and any and all in between, can have aggressive tendencies towards other dogs. This is a fact, this is hereditary, this is bred over generations in certain lines. This is something that you absolutely HAVE to be aware of because a bully may not start a fight, but they are likely going to be the top dog in it due to generations of instincts. Like it or not, bull breeds were bred for combat, whether that combat was with other dogs, bulls, pig, bears and whatever else was thrown at them. This is something that’s wired in, just as it’s wired into border collies to herd moving objects and terriers to seek and destroy small animals.
Other than these two things, they are very capable of being great family companions, quite good with kids, can be decent with other dogs depending on the lines (I don’t suggest same s*x pairs especially females), lower on the exercise needs, and easy to train if you are firm but fair.

04/21/2025

Everyone has different goals with their dog’s training and that’s ok. Not everyone needs high level obedience, and in fact, a majority of people are really just looking for their dog to do three main things; come when called, walk nicely on leash, and hold themselves in a position when asked. And within these three things there are varying levels to what people actually want and require. Many people lead busy lives, have other things that take priority over dogs, like children, jobs, family etc. This is life, this is normal. Understanding that not everyone has the time, nor even the desire to do high level training is important. As long as the dogs mental and physical needs are being met, they have some semblance of self control along side the three main things I listed above, and as long as they are part of your family and not squirrelled away in a crate all the time or endlessly on place, your dog will survive and thrive. It’s ok not to have the dog that social media tells you that you absolutely have to have - no one really does anyway. It’s ok not to spend hours upon hours of training and dedicate your whole life to working with your dog. It’s ok not to endlessly entertain and exercise your dog. It’s ok not to care about high level obedience. It’s ok to be a person with a life and a job and kids and family and have a dog that joins you along the way.

04/09/2025

Dogs are all different. Different in their mannerisms, their likes and dislikes, their energy levels, fears, their genetics, their drives and how they perceive the world. Because of this difference, dogs need to be evaluated on an individual basis in regards to their needs for training. Because they are all different, it is also unfair to compare prior dogs to current dogs, other dogs, your friends and neighbours dogs, or expect them to act the same as a previous dog, and get frustrated when they don’t. Each dog is an individual and should be respected and treated as such in order to be fair when living with and training dog in front of you. Comparing to others will only disappoint. Your dog is who he is, you are who you are, embrace that.

04/08/2025

Freedom, and not suppression, is so important to dog behaviour.

04/07/2025

Puppies need lots of sleep! Don’t forget this fact when adding a puppy to your family. Too often I see puppies who aren’t even getting half of the amount of sleep that they should be getting and end up just like over tired children; nuts - bouncing off the walls, biting everything in site and in general, all of the the typical puppy behaviours that we don’t like are exasperated when there is a lack of sleep. Crate rest is important to help ensure that your puppy is getting the proper amounts of sleep. Especially when you have children. The puppy needs a place to sleep where they will not be interrupted or bothered. Structured downtime in a crate can do wonders at making puppies less stressful to raise.

04/04/2025

Boxes are fun. They are fun for kids and dogs. They are fantastic for confidence building, balance, proprioception, problem solving amongst other things. I use boxes to teach dogs that they can over come fears, to teach bodily awareness, to teach how to get in and on things, and more. It might sounds silly, but some simple box work can really boost your dogs confidence, and it’s a low cost, do it yourself, at home way of beginning confidence building in dogs who could really use a boost.

The video below is just a short example of what you can do with a little creativity, a box or two and a dog. Easy, fun, indoor work, great for the mind and body.

04/03/2025

03/31/2025

A shift in how and when you interact with your dog can have a massive effect on behaviour. Do you interact when your dog demands it? When they are being pushy? Or when they are doing things that you don’t like? If you do, you are rewarding all of these things and allowing the dog to dictate your actions. Attention is rewarding for dogs, and even negative attention will suffice many times. Make it a habit instead, to interact when your dog is showing behaviours that you like, being polite and calm, rather than when they are being demanding and rude. This can help to change the dynamic of the relationship between you and your dog.

03/28/2025

Bulldog tricks … or any dog for that matter. I was impressed at how fast he picked this up. Try it with your dog!

✅ Start with luring - repeat a bunch for muscle memory
✅ Add your word - repeat a bunch with word an luring so they gain an understanding of what the word means
✅ Once they “get it” take away lure, use hand signal and reward (I like to toss reward away) - repeat a bunch
✅ Add distance and slowly increase, but step in and help if needed
✅ Then you can generalize to other objects
Have fun!

Ps. My shirt stands for “Man I Love Fishing” - probably wrong choice for the video … since it’s hard to read the small print. Oops. Got this one from 😁

03/26/2025

Intro to Rally Skillz! This fun course will get you introduced to all the Novice CARO Rally Obedience signs while we also work on improving heeling, focus and positions. Your instructor has titled dogs in both CARO and UKC, as well as judges rally with the Jack Russell Terrier Club of Canada. One spot left. Sundays at 2pm. Contact us for more details or if you’d like to sign up.

03/25/2025

Clearing up communication with your dog can have a great effect on over all behaviour. Clarity is key with dogs. Don’t muddle things, don’t give them maybes or sometimes. They need things straightforward, black and white. They either can or they can’t, yes or no … sometimes it’s just that simple.

03/24/2025

Picture what you’d like your puppy to be like at 1.5 to 2 years old, and use that as your template for training, behaviour and rules. If you have a picture in your mind, you have a goal to strive towards. If you have a goal, you are more likely to stick to training. If you remain consistent, calm and clear, it doesn’t matter how you train or what your rules are, you will achieve your goals.

03/20/2025

Body language and spacial pressure, along with eye contact, are huge in dog communication. Dogs aren’t verbal, so they rely on these things to communicate with each other, along with the noises that they make. Body language isn’t just a way for dogs to communicate with each other, but is also a way for us to communicate with dogs, and one that is often over looked and under used.

In this short video I will describe a way that we can use body language and spacial pressure to communicate to a young puppy what we want. It’s not always about obedience commands, and often, in many in home situations, obedience commands aren’t needed. Rather it is about being calm and clear to our dogs. Often we muddle our intentions for them with too many words, and too much energy, and then we get irritated when the dog isn’t understanding or doing what we ask. Using spacial pressure and body language gets the job done without overwhelming our dogs with endless words that they may or may not understand.

I encourage you to try this with your own dogs, as long as you are not experiencing any aggression issues. Remaining calm and consistent is key, just like it is with obedience training, but also quiet and meaningful. Often, less words and more action is better for the dog.

This is "Training with Spacial Pressure/Body Language" by Smart Dogs Canine Training on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

03/17/2025

Socialization isn’t about interacting with every dog and person out there, rather, it is about experiencing the world, and what’s in it, learning to take it in stride, building confidence in new situations and building control around new things. It is being in the world, but not making a big deal about the world and what it contains.

03/13/2025

Let Your Dog Be a Dog!

Many dog owners take their dogs out for a quick potty break, a stroll on a short leash, or let them roam the backyard, thinking it’s enough. But dogs need more than just bathroom breaks and the same predictable environment every day.

Exploration and adventure is essential for their mental and physical well-being. Dogs experience the world through their noses, and every sniff is like reading a new chapter in a book. Allowing them to roam in open spaces—whether on a long line, in a safe off-leash area, or on a decompression walk—gives them the chance to just be dogs.

Here’s why this kind of freedom matters:

✅ Mental Stimulation – Sniffing and exploring new environments reduce boredom and anxiety. A mentally fulfilled dog is a happier, calmer companion.

✅ Physical Exercise – Moving freely, trotting at their own pace, and engaging with their surroundings provide better exercise than a structured heel on a short leash.

✅ Confidence Building – Dogs that explore and problem-solve in different environments become more adaptable and resilient in new situations.

✅ Natural Behaviours – Digging, sniffing, rolling in the grass, and even just meandering at their own pace are all instinctual activities that contribute to overall happiness.

Not every dog can be off-leash, and that’s okay! A long-line in a safe space can still provide this freedom while keeping them safe. The goal is to give them time to engage with the world on their terms, not just ours.

So, take your dog somewhere new, let them sniff, let them wander, and watch them truly enjoy being a dog. You might just find that their happiness rubs off on you too.

Where’s your dog’s favorite place to explore? Drop a comment below! ⬇️

03/08/2025

Respecting a Dog’s Social Boundaries

Just because a dog doesn’t like strange dogs rushing up and getting in their space does not mean they’re not social.

Think about it this way—most people don’t appreciate a stranger running up and getting in their personal space, yet we expect dogs to tolerate it without question. Some dogs love meeting new friends up close and personal, while others prefer a slower, more polite introduction. That doesn’t make them antisocial; it just means they have boundaries, just like we do.

A well-socialized dog isn’t one that tolerates everything—it’s one that communicates clearly, feels safe in their environment, and interacts in a way that’s comfortable for them. Let’s advocate for respectful greetings and give dogs the space they need to feel secure.

Does your dog prefer calm introductions? Let’s hear about their social style in the comments!
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03/07/2025

Your motto with every new puppy while house training should be, “if in doubt, let ‘em out!”.

You’re welcome.