Pawsitive Focus Dog Training

Pawsitive Focus Dog Training I am a PDX based dog trainer using science based positive reinforcement training methods that strengt

3 years and two babies later, I finally can put CPDT- KA after my name!! 🙌
10/26/2022

3 years and two babies later, I finally can put CPDT- KA after my name!! 🙌

So, how do we get that well behaved dog without actively training everything? The answer is to capture behavior we want ...
04/04/2022

So, how do we get that well behaved dog without actively training everything? The answer is to capture behavior we want and reinforcing it!
My favorite way to do this is SMART X50. All you do is count out 50 pieces of their daily kibble, small treats, or a mixture of both. Pay attention throughout the day and reward everything good that your dog does. Literally anything from laying down while you work or eat to seeing something outside without barking! It can be helpful to have multiple containers throughout the house to stash the daily allotment of food so it's always convenient.
Another benefit? You start to notice all the wonderful things your dog does all day instead of focusing on what you want to change! These good behaviors will increase because they are being reinforced regularly.
Laying on the kitchen mat is Lana's default behavior when we are eating or Luke is in the high chair. We've rewarded it so much that she typically just does it on her own which is exactly what we want!

Well behaved isn't the same as well trained! Sure, a well trained dog will listen when you tell them to do something you...
04/01/2022

Well behaved isn't the same as well trained!
Sure, a well trained dog will listen when you tell them to do something you've trained them to do. That doesn't mean that they'll offer that desirable behavior without being told what to do or micromanaging. That can be frustrating for everyone and isn't really how we want to live our lives!
But how do we get a well behaved dog without actively training everything we want from them? Look for my next post to find out!

Planning on taking your dog somewhere crowded? That's great for a lot of our dogs! Lana loves dogs, people, new places, ...
03/27/2022

Planning on taking your dog somewhere crowded? That's great for a lot of our dogs! Lana loves dogs, people, new places, and just going wherever I go.
She is well behaved and enjoys herself, but I still do a few things to set her up for success and minimize any potential stress.
I park away from the people. This gives her some time to get the excitement out of her system. We get the chance to warm up and build engagement before I actually need her to be responsive to me. She also gets to acclimate to her surroundings and enter the crowd at her own pace. If she is determined to sniff, that means she probably doesn't want to go into the crowded space yet and needs a minute. She isn't a bite risk, but I don't want to overwhelm her!
I let her sniff, a lot. This keeps her chill and enjoying herself. It increases her responsiveness and self control because she knows I'm not going to deprive her of enjoyment.
I periodically pull over to quiet areas for her to decompress. I don't always notice if she is getting overstimulated so I've made it a habit to just pull aside whenever I see an opportunity!

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A good training session should be fun but not seem very exciting! This is especially true when the session involves a re...
01/25/2022

A good training session should be fun but not seem very exciting! This is especially true when the session involves a reactive or excitable dog.
Sometimes, this can give the impression that the training wasn't productive. But, if your dog didn't react, jump, or do whatever undesirable behavior you are working on, then it is an absolute win!! It's also okay if they only did it a little bit because none of us are perfect, and we have to start somewhere.

I refer to the time between when you mark the good behavior and deliver the reinforcement as the reinforcement gap. It's...
01/20/2022

I refer to the time between when you mark the good behavior and deliver the reinforcement as the reinforcement gap. It's an incredibly important moment of time because everything that happens between the reward marker and the reinforcement is also being reinforced and will increase!
So, what goes on during that reinforcement gap? Does your dog jump for the food? Do they cross in front of you while walking? Do they move closer to the behavior you're shaping or farther away?

Management! Management is when you set up the environment in a way that prevents your dog from performing the undesired ...
01/09/2022

Management! Management is when you set up the environment in a way that prevents your dog from performing the undesired behavior. This could be baby gates to keep them out of the kitchen or away from the front door. It could also be standing on the leash so they can't jump on people.
Management is essential for training because it stops the undesired behavior from being reinforced so we can teach them an alternate behavior that is reinforced. Dogs don't know right or wrong in the same sense that we do, they just know what gets reinforced and what doesn't!
Management is always part of a solid behavior change plan, but sometimes it's really all you need to do! We don't need to micromanage our dogs, and we don't always have the ability to carry out a behavior change plan. Maybe you don't have the time, need to prioritize a different training goal, or don't have the resources. That's fine, and I do it with my own dog! Let's say you give your dog a Toppl when someone comes over, and they are calm enough to be polite afterward they finish. In this case, you don't really need to do anything else. When management works well for everyone, it is good enough.

Happy Holidays from Lana and me! I hope everyone is enjoying themselves and staying warm while playing outside ☺️It's be...
12/26/2021

Happy Holidays from Lana and me! I hope everyone is enjoying themselves and staying warm while playing outside ☺️
It's been a fast paced year for us with baby Luke, health problems, and starting up Pawsitive Focus. It's also been a wonderful, beautiful year full of adventures! The whole family is doing fantastic now, and Lana is living it up ❤️

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I am very against retractable leashes for several reasons! First of all, there are several real safety concerns that com...
12/17/2021

I am very against retractable leashes for several reasons!

First of all, there are several real safety concerns that come along with them. They are more difficult to hold on to, especially this time of year, and make a terrifying sound when they drag on concrete. That can cause a dog to bolt or freeze and get hit by the handle causing a lasting fear response. Rope burn is a common injury - I've seen scars on people and dogs!
Once your dog isn't nearby, you have little control over them. They can get pretty far away before our human reflexes kick to press the stop button. There is no good way to get close to them again aside from a solid recall because you can't shorten the leash.
If there is a dangerous situation or object, all you can do is press the button, call your dog, and walk/run the opposite direction. You can't control whether they come in a straight line or wrap around a person/object. If you need to go to the side to avoid a bike, car, or attacking dog, it's worse because the slack on the leash will increase before it gets tight again.
In a less dramatic example, you have a more difficult time preventing your dog from greeting people and other dogs when they are not close to you. They are getting information (people, animal, bike, food...) significantly earlier than you are, and you can't respond in a timely manner.

As for training, retractable leashes are always tight. Pulling is the only sensation they experience. You lose the communication that comes with a fixed leash.

If you are taking your dog on a decompression walk/hike, use a long line! I highly encourage this and recommend biothane material which is comfortable, waterproof, and vegan.

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The good enough dog.There is a lot of social pressure to have a perfectly trained, mega obedient dog. Unfortunately, tha...
12/11/2021

The good enough dog.
There is a lot of social pressure to have a perfectly trained, mega obedient dog. Unfortunately, that ideal actually requires stamping out pretty much everything that makes a dog a dog.
We forget that they are captive animals who aren't living like we selectively bred them to live. We didn't breed dogs to walk in a heel except to pee/poop, never bark, always instantly do as they are told, and spend the majority of their time quietly home alone.
We have a cultural obsession with micromanaging what they do and imagining that everything is a power struggle. What kind of life is that for either of us?
The good enough dog is a dog that has the tools to deal with the modern world but isn't "perfect". They have the freedom to be themselves while also not causing problems and being able to handle their environment. For example, they walk with a loose leash but are free to sniff and set the pace most of the time.
It requires us to let go of cultural norms and be strong enough to not cave into the judgement we feel from others. That's definitely something that I've struggled with in the past but now have the education and confidence to know that this is a much better life for us both!

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This might not be a popular post, but I feel strongly it needs to be said! As a dog trainer and someone who works in the...
11/23/2021

This might not be a popular post, but I feel strongly it needs to be said! As a dog trainer and someone who works in the rescue world, I want to reassure you that it's okay to rehome your dog!!
I've come across several stories the past few months of people deciding to rehome their dogs. The reasons span from dogs being aggressive towards a child to serious allergies in a human family member. Every reason is a good reason.
Rehoming is a HARD decision, and no one takes it lightly. They all tried every option available to them before coming to the conclusion that they absolutely had no choice. The only wrong thing is that every single one of them got shamed.
The thing we tend to forget is that those dogs aren't happy either and don't have a good quality of life.
Yes, dogs are a commitment. Yes, we need to learn to modify our lives to better meet our dog's needs.
However, life happens, and we can't always make it work. It's hard, and I promise people don't do it lightly. Please don't judge people who are in this heartbreaking situation.

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11/12/2021

I love it! She still checks in occasionally to see if I'll help her, but that happens less and less as she gets more confident and independent. I used to give her clues because that comes naturally to my human self. It's actually much better and rewarding for us both to let her find it on her own!
I think we are both addicted to scent games now...there isn't much I love seeing more than her catching the scent.
Scent games are just about the best thing you can do for your whole dog - emotionally, physically, and mentally.

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