Los Alamos Dog Obedience Club

11/03/2025

Great information!

Understanding Dog Behaviour: A Practical Guide for Real-World Dog Owners

Spend more than five minutes with a dog and you soon realise they are experts in reading us. They pick up our moods quicker than a teenager spots Wi-Fi. They know when we are calm, when we are stressed, and when we are pretending we know what we are doing. They live beside us, learn from us, and, whether we like it or not, they often behave like us.

That means one very important truth.
If we want better behaviour from our dogs, we often need to start by improving our own.

Why Dogs Misbehave: It Is Not Mischief, It Is Habit

Dogs seldom wake up in the morning and think, “I will ruin their day by pulling them face-first into a hedge.” They behave in ways that have been reinforced, tolerated, or accidentally rewarded.

A dog that barges past you, jumps on furniture without invitation, barks for attention, or treats your sleeve like a tug toy has not decided to be naughty. They have simply learnt that those behaviours work.

Indoors habits become outdoor results. You cannot have a dog who is a whirlwind at home yet expect them to glide past distractions outside like a polished service dog. If they have no structure in the living room, they certainly will not develop manners while passing the Sunday morning joggers.

Look to the Human First

Before pointing the finger at the dog, ask yourself a few uncomfortable questions. They are good for the soul.
• Do I let my dog break rules at home because I am tired?
• Have I ever laughed at a behaviour I later scolded?
• Do I correct behaviours sometimes, yet ignore them other times?
• Do my family members all follow the same rules, or is the dog running a democracy?

Dogs do not understand exceptions. They understand clarity. If one day they are allowed to charge at visitors because “it is cute”, yet the next day they get told off for the same greeting, we have created confusion.

Confused dogs do not behave well. Confident dogs who know the rules do.

Start at Home: Boundaries Make Life Easier

Training does not begin when you step outside. It begins in the kitchen when you ask for a sit before the food bowl goes down. It begins at the front door when your dog waits rather than blasting out like a rocket heading for orbit.

Set rules early and stick to them:
• Furniture privileges decided by you, not them
• Calm behaviour earns access, not pushiness
• Basic cues practised daily, not once a week when the neighbours are watching

Correct gently but promptly. Reward generously when they get it right. A little consistency goes a long way.

The Small Stuff Matters

Little behaviours grow into big problems. Door barging becomes lead pulling. Demanding attention becomes demanding everything. A tiny habit, ignored long enough, becomes a character trait.

Picture this.
Your dog never waits calmly before the walk. They jump, spin, and drag you to the front gate. Yet we expect them to walk past the local Labrador like a gentleman? Not happening. Training is not location-based. It is lifestyle-based.

Fix Yourself First

A well-behaved dog is not trained through panic, bribery, or shouting at squirrels to leave you alone. It starts with the human projecting calm, structure, and clear leadership.
• Stay calm even when the dog is dramatic
• Enforce simple rules every day, not only when convenient
• Ensure everyone in the household follows the same approach

In short, lead your dog. Do not negotiate with them like you are haggling over biscuits in a village market.

Patience. The Magic Ingredient

Progress takes time. Dogs do not read training manuals and they certainly do not believe in overnight miracles. Consistency today becomes reliability next month.

Stay steady, stay fair, and celebrate the little wins. Every small improvement builds a dog who understands their place, trusts your guidance, and feels safer because the world makes sense.

Final Thought

When behaviour goes to pot, resist the temptation to blame the dog entirely. Look at routines, rules, expectations, and your own responses. Change often starts at the end of the lead holding the cup of tea, not the furry one chewing the boot.

Raise your standards. Stay consistent. Lead with calm confidence.
Your dog will reward you with better behaviour, a clearer mind, and a far more enjoyable life together.

After all, you do not just train the dog.
You train the human who trains the dog.
www.k9manhuntscotland.co.uk

10/29/2025

Great explanation!

Reinforcement Schedules in Dog Training

Why Timing Your Praise Can Make or Break Your Dog’s Behaviour

Dog training is part science, part art, and part “Why are you rolling in fox poo again?” Whether you are an enthusiastic pet owner, a trainer with mud permanently attached to your boots, or a working dog handler shaping real-world performance, understanding reinforcement schedules is essential. These schedules determine how often and when your dog earns a reward, and they influence both how fast a behaviour is learned and how reliable it becomes in the face of squirrels, smells, and questionable life choices.

So let’s explore each schedule in depth, peppered with relatable examples and just enough humour to keep this from feeling like a psychology lecture on a rainy Tuesday.

Continuous Reinforcement

Every correct response gets rewarded.
Sit equals treat. Heel equals treat. Look at you? Treat. Dogs under continuous reinforcement feel like they’ve just discovered an endless buffet. This approach is perfect for teaching new behaviours because it builds certainty and confidence.

It’s the training version of primary school: constant gold stars for effort.
The downside? Once rewards become less frequent, your dog may stage a mini protest, complete with confused expressions and a hint of betrayal. Continuous reinforcement builds the behaviour, but it doesn’t yet make it strong.

Fixed Ratio Reinforcement

A set number of behaviours earns a reward.
For example: “Touch my hand three times, then you get a treat.”

Dogs learn they need to work a bit for the good stuff. It builds persistence and effort, especially useful once the dog already understands the task. However, dogs are clever little pattern detectors. They may speed through repetitions as payday approaches or stop entirely once they believe the work quota is filled.

Good for strengthening skills. Not ideal once boredom kicks in.

Variable Ratio Reinforcement

The slot machine of dog training.
Rewards come after an unpredictable number of correct responses. It might be the second time. It might be the fifteenth. And because the next one might be the jackpot, the dog keeps working with unwavering enthusiasm.

This schedule creates behaviours that are extremely durable. It is a favourite for working dogs and competition trainers because it maintains drive even when the treat pouch appears suspiciously quiet. Essentially, your dog becomes a hopeful gambler, but in a productive and far less financially devastating way.

Fixed Interval Reinforcement

The reward comes when the dog performs the behaviour after a set amount of time.
Perhaps you reinforce calm behaviour every 30 seconds. The dog starts to develop a sense of timing and you’ll often notice an amusing surge of perfection right before the next expected reinforcement.

They wait… they’re calm… they’re still calm… five seconds before the deadline they suddenly channel Mary Poppins and appear impeccably angelic again.

Ideal for teaching dogs to settle.
Less ideal for dogs who realise the timer exists and treat it like a negotiation.

Variable Interval Reinforcement

Reinforcement occurs after the first correct behaviour following unpredictable time intervals.
Two minutes, twelve seconds, forty seconds, one minute twenty… who knows?

Because the dog cannot predict the moment of reinforcement, they maintain steady, reliable behaviour over time. This is particularly valuable for:

• Relaxation and neutrality around distractions
• Reducing attention-seeking behaviours
• Therapy, service, and operational working dogs
• Everyday life where clocks rarely cooperate

The dog learns: “Good behaviour could pay off at any moment.” So they keep making good choices.

Putting It All Together

A skilled trainer changes reinforcement schedules as the dog progresses.

First, teach with continuous reinforcement
Then move to fixed reinforcement to build stamina
Eventually shift toward variable schedules for rock-solid dependability

This is where behaviour stops being fragile and becomes genuinely trustworthy, even with crows laughing from lamp posts and Labradors dropping tennis balls at their feet every two seconds.

Why This Matters in the Real World

We don’t just want behaviours that work in the living room when a biscuit is visible. We want:

• Recalls that defy temptation
• Loose-lead walking that doesn’t depend on snacks
• Solid stays while pheasants are playing air-traffic control
• Detection dogs who search relentlessly because the reward could come at any moment

Strong behaviour doesn’t come from constant rewards. It comes from smartly timed ones.

Final Thoughts: Keep Them Guessing

The true magic lies in variability. Keep the dog engaged. Keep them thinking. Keep them believing the next brilliant moment might be the one that earns them their favourite reward.

A great trainer isn’t just generous with reinforcement.
A great trainer is strategic.

Reward behaviours in a way that builds both enthusiasm and reliability. Let the dog work not only because they get paid, but because the job itself becomes genuinely worth doing.

After all, who doesn’t love the thrill of a surprise win now and again?
www.k9manhuntscotland.co.uk

10/22/2025

10/05/2025

If You Think Crate Training Is Cruel, You’re Probably Doing Everything Else Wrong Too

Every few days someone tells me, “I’d never crate my dog , it’s cruel.” I understand where that comes from. Nobody wants to harm their dog. But here’s the truth that may sting a little:

Crates aren’t the problem. Your lack of structure is.

If you believe a crate is automatically mean, it usually signals a bigger misunderstanding about what dogs actually need to feel safe, calm, and connected.

A Crate Is Not a Cage — It’s a Bedroom for the Canine Brain

Humans see bars and think prison. Dogs don’t.

Dogs evolved from animals that slept in dens, enclosed, predictable spaces where they could fully let down their guard. The limbic system (the emotional brain) is wired to feel safe in a contained space when it’s introduced correctly. That safety lets the autonomic nervous system shift out of hyper-arousal and into rest.

When I say “kennel” or “crate” in my house, I mean bedroom. It’s the place my dogs retreat to when they want zero pressure from the world , to nap, chew a bone, or just exhale. My German Shepherds and Malinois will often choose their crates on their own when the house is buzzing with activity.

Why So Many Dogs Are Stressed Without Boundaries

Freedom sounds loving, but for many dogs it’s chaotic and overwhelming:
• Hypervigilance: They scan every sound and movement because no one has drawn a line between safe and unsafe.

• Over-arousal: Barking, pacing, and destructive chewing are the brain trying to find control in a world without limits.

• Problem behavior rehearsal: Every hour a dog practices bad habits (counter surfing, jumping, door dashing) is an hour those neural pathways strengthen.

From a neuroscience standpoint, the prefrontal cortex — the impulse-control center — is limited in dogs. They rely on our structure to regulate. A dog without clear boundaries burns out its stress response system, living in chronic low-grade cortisol spikes.

A structured dog isn’t “suppressed.” They’re relieved , free from the constant job of self-managing a complex human world.

Crates Give the Nervous System a Reset Button

Here’s the part most people miss: A properly introduced crate isn’t just a place to “put” a dog. It’s a tool for nervous system regulation.

• Sleep: Dogs need far more sleep than humans , around 17 hours a day. A crate gives them uninterrupted rest.

• Decompression: After training or high stimulation, the crate helps the brain down-shift from sympathetic (fight/flight) to parasympathetic (rest/digest).

• Reset: Just like humans may retreat to a quiet room to recharge, dogs use the crate to self-soothe and recalibrate.

But here’s the catch: PLACEMENT MATTERS!!! My crates in my bedroom are for Little Guy, Ryker and Walkiria, Garage is for Cronos, Guest Bedroom for Mieke and my bathroom is for Rogue and my Canace is in my Shed.

Stop Putting the Crate in the Middle of the Storm

Most people stick the crate in the living room because that’s where they hang out. But think about what that room is for your dog: constant TV noise, kids running, doorbells, guests coming and going, kitchen clatter.

That’s not decompression. That’s forced proximity to stimulation with no way to escape.

If you want the crate to become a true bedroom, give it its own space , a quiet corner of your house, a spare room, a low-traffic hallway, garage , shed. Somewhere your dog can fully turn off. The first time many of my clients move the crate out of the living room, they see their dog sigh, curl up, and sleep deeply for the first time in months.

Why Some Dogs “Hate” Their Crate

If your dog panics, it’s almost never the crate itself. It’s:
• Bad association: Only being crated when punished or when the owner leaves.
• No foundation: Tossed in without gradual acclimation or positive reinforcement.
• Total chaos elsewhere: If the whole day is overstimulating and unpredictable, the crate feels random and scary.

I’ve turned around countless “crate haters” by reshaping the experience: short sessions, feeding meals inside, rewarding calm entry, keeping tone neutral. In a few weeks, the same dogs trot inside happily and sleep peacefully.

Freedom Without Foundation Hurts Dogs

I’ve met hundreds of well-intentioned owners who avoided the crate to be “kinder” , and ended up with:
• Separation anxiety so severe the dog destroys walls or self-injures.
• Reactivity because the nervous system never learned to shut off.
• Dangerous ingestion of household items.
• A heartbreaking surrender because life with the dog became unmanageable.

I’ll say it plainly: a lack of structure is far crueler than a well-used crate.

When we don’t provide safe boundaries, we hand dogs a human world they’re ill-equipped to navigate alone.

How to Introduce a Crate the Right Way
1. Think bedroom, not jail. Feed meals in the crate, offer a safe chew, and keep the vibe calm and neutral.

2. Give it a quiet location. Not the busiest room. Dogs need true off-duty time.

3. Pair exercise + training first. A fulfilled brain settles better. Every Dog at my place get worked at east 4-5 times per day (yes this is why I am always tired)

4. Short, positive sessions. Build up time slowly; don’t lock and leave for hours right away. (I work my dogs mentally for max 15 minutes, puppies shorter, physical activity and play around 20 minutes, when I take dogs for a workout walk around 1 hour walk )

5. Never use it as AVERSIVE punishment when conditioning. The crate should predict calm, safety, and rest. When you are advanced eventually we can use the crate as "time out" to reset the brain after proper conditioning has taken place.

6. Create a rhythm: Exercise → training → calm crate nap. Predictability equals security. ( I have 10 dogs on my property right now so every dog works about 15 minutes x 10 dogs = 150 minutes = 2 1/2 hours. Every dogs get worked every 2 1/5 hours, I do that minimum 4 times per day = 600 minutes or 10 hours. yes this is why I wake up so early and go to bed late lol )

The Science of Calm: What’s Happening in the Brain

When a dog settles in a safe, quiet crate:
• The amygdala (fear center) reduces activity.
• The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis down-regulates, lowering cortisol.
• The parasympathetic nervous system engages: heart rate slows, breathing steadies.
• Brain waves shift from high-alert beta to calmer alpha/theta — the same pattern seen in deep rest.

This is why dogs who have a true den space often become more relaxed and stable everywhere else in life.

The Bottom Line

If you think crates are cruel, you’re missing the bigger picture. The crate isn’t about punishment — it’s about clarity, safety, and mental health.

A dog without structure lives in a constant state of uncertainty: Where should I rest? What’s safe? Why am I always on guard? That life is stressful and, over time, damaging.

A well-introduced crate says: Here is your safe space. Here’s where you rest and reset. The world makes sense.

Kindness isn’t endless freedom. Kindness is clarity. And sometimes clarity looks like a cozy, quiet bedroom with a door that means you can relax now.

Bart De Gols

10/05/2025

Good read.

The Dog Must Love the Journey, Not Just the Destination

In dog training, we often focus far too heavily on the end result: the perfect heel, the faultless recall, or the dog lying calmly on its bed when asked. While those outcomes matter, they are only half of the story. Training is not simply about reaching a destination; it is about shaping the journey so the dog learns, enjoys, and builds lasting confidence along the way. A dog that only works for the final treat or the last “good dog” risks missing the true essence of learning: the repeated, self-rewarding experience of progress.

Clarity Over Length

Dogs do not learn by sitting through lengthy lectures, nor by being dragged through endless repetitions of the same exercise without reward. Instead, they learn through clarity, short, sharp, meaningful experiences where action and reward follow in quick succession.

When a dog associates its behaviour directly with a clear outcome, “I sit, I earn,” or “I follow this scent, I find” learning is strong and reliable. The longer the gap between effort and confirmation, the weaker the association becomes. This is why short, focused training sessions, repeated consistently, shape behaviour far better than one marathon session where the dog is pushed to its limit.

Repetition Builds Stability

One well-executed recall in a half-hour walk does not create reliability. Ten short recalls, each immediately reinforced with praise, food, or play, do. Repetition is what stabilises behaviour. Every time the dog experiences success, the neural pathway strengthens: “When I hear that cue and turn back, something brilliant happens.”

Contrast this with a single long exercise, such as a mile-long heel walk where the dog only receives acknowledgement at the end. Mistakes along the way, moments of confusion, or corrections can overshadow the success. The dog experiences more frustration than clarity.

The Power of Self-Reward

At the heart of effective training is self-reward, the sense a dog has that its actions are producing results. In mantrailing, this might mean recognising that following its nose leads to the subject. In obedience, it might mean realising that offering focus results in the handler engaging positively.

When training is structured so that the dog feels in control of its success, rather than being pulled, corrected, or micromanaged, motivation and confidence grow. The dog learns not only what earns the reward, but that it is capable of finding the solution on its own.

Strip away that sense of independence, and you also strip away the dog’s belief that training is worthwhile. Without self-reward, learning becomes mechanical. With it, training becomes purposeful.

Short Sessions Teach, Long Sessions Test

This is where many owners and even trainers go wrong. Long drills or extended exercises do not teach new skills; they simply test what is already in place. A twenty-minute down-stay does not teach the down cue; it tests the dog’s ability to endure it. A two-hour hike at heel does not teach lead manners; it tests endurance and resilience.

Learning happens in short, clear sequences. Teaching a young dog to settle might begin with 30 seconds on a mat, followed by release and play. Repeated several times, the dog builds an association between “staying calm here” and “good things follow.” Only once the behaviour is reliable in short bursts should the duration be expanded.

Longer sessions have their place, in real-world readiness, operational testing, and resilience building, but they must never be mistaken for teaching.

The Role of the Handler

Whether you are a dog owner, a professional trainer, or a handler in working disciplines, the principle is the same: your role is to set the dog up to succeed. This means creating structured opportunities for success, allowing the dog to experience self-reward, and resisting the urge to over-control.

Every time you shorten the exercise, provide clarity, and let the dog figure it out, you invest in long-term reliability. Every time you drag the exercise out, pile on corrections, or guide the dog too heavily, you risk undermining both motivation and confidence.

The Takeaway
• Short sessions shape behaviour.
• Repetition builds reliability.
• Self-reward fuels motivation.
• Long sessions test what has already been taught.

The destination, a calm, obedient, confident dog, matters. But the journey is where learning takes place. If the dog enjoys and understands the process, the outcome will follow naturally.

As trainers, handlers, and owners, our responsibility is to make the journey clear, rewarding, and purposeful. Because when the dog loves the journey, the destination takes care of itself.

09/29/2025

Great information!

09/02/2025

Registration is happening Now! Sign up at www.losalamosdogs.org

We have a great line=up of fall classes.
Mark your calendars, registration begins September 2nd!

08/21/2025

We have a great line=up of fall classes.
Mark your calendars, registration begins September 2nd!

08/19/2025

Great write up!