Rewards Dog Training

12/02/2025

Don't forget about Your Dog's Friend on this Giving Tuesday. They provide invaluable resources to dogs and their people, as they offer many free services, including classes, webinars, advice, and referrals. They've also been responsible for many dog training careers, including mine: I took a a reactive dog class at Your Dog's Friend with my previous dog; learning about dog communication and clicker training completely opened my communication with my dog and changed our relationship. Any little bit helps!

11/14/2025

Wise words, myth busting "let the dog cry it out."

It seems this one will just not die – caregivers being told to let their dogs with separation anxiety cry it out.

So we need to talk about what’s ACTUALLY happening when with this advice.

I get why it seems logical. Your dog is barking, howling, panicking when you leave. If you go back, aren’t you rewarding that? Teaching them that noise works? And they stop crying eventually, so it worked, right?

Actually, no.

Because here’s what really happens when you let them cry it out.

Sometimes the dog does stop crying. After days, weeks maybe. They’re quiet when you leave. Problem solved? Again, no.

What’s happened is learned helplessness. Your dog has learned that nothing they do matters. They cry for help and no one comes. So they stop asking.

The anxiety is still there. The panic is still flooding their system. They’ve just learned that signaling it doesn’t help, so they shut down.

It’s not calm. It’s giving up.

If your dog was terrified of thunderstorms, would you leave them alone in a room during a storm to get over it? Some people would.

But most of us recognize that’s not how fear works. You don’t cure a phobia by forcing someone through it and hoping they stop panicking eventually.

Separation anxiety is panic. It’s a panic disorder. We’re asking the dog to just stop panicking by themselves while the thing they’re terrified of is happening. It doesn’t work like that.

And of top of that, we’re telling them “No point crying for help. I’m not listening!”

But what’s wrong with dogs learning that when they need us we will be there for them?

So if you’ve ever tried letting your dog cry it out, or someone told you to try this - you’re not a bad person.

You’ve been given bad information by people who should know better. This is old-school thinking that ignores what we actually know about how fear works.

What does work? Systematic desensitization. Staying under threshold.

Teaching your dog that being alone is safe by building up their tolerance gradually.

It’s slower. It’s boring.

But it works because you’re teaching your dog they can handle being alone, not teaching them that crying for help gets them nowhere. And you're teaching them they can trust you to help them feel safe.

That's priceless.

11/08/2025

We had a good experience adopting from Rural Dog Rescue. Check out these two cuties, and share to help get them into homes.

10/26/2025

Hope everyone gets some restful moments this weekend!

10/20/2025

All rescue dogs have a special story, and this is no exception. Help if you can or share.

10/19/2025

Something funny for Sunday morning.

It’s that time of the year again where our dogs provide us with enrichment.

10/15/2025

Openings in Basic Skills class starting soon at Your Dog's Friend.

We have Basic Skills class spots available THIS Thursday, October 16 at 6:45 pm with .llc Good Pets! 💛

Sign up with your adolescent or adult dog at YourDogsFriend.org/Basic

We’ll encourage and help you every step of the way! 💙

09/03/2025

This happens so frequently, usually starting when the dog is young, but it builds a bad habit and future issues.

Always, always with great intentions.
That's how this all starts.
We should let them meet all other dogs and puppies, shouldn't we?
They're excited to see them, meet them and interact, so why should we stop them?
Leash reactivity is a very real concern that we do need to take seriously, just ask someone who has a reactive dog.

"We let her meet every dog she came across, to socialise. Now she screeches at a dog from 100 metres away"

"He was just so excited and happy when he saw another dog, so we always made a beeline for them to keep him happy, now he drags us there"

It can start that easily.
We think we are doing the right thing, letting them have fun and satisfying that need to meet that dog they have just seen across the road.

What we can create is a dog that goes to another stratosphere when they see another.
The leash or lead is now a barrier too.
Letting them pull towards their "new friend" was "fine" when they were younger but now it's impossible to even hold them still and they can drag you down the road with them.

Pulling worked when they were younger.
They were rewarded by every "dig in" , it got them closer.
They met the dog, they got there eventually.

Why do we expect they won't do the same when they are older if we haven't shown them differently?

08/20/2025

Why do U-turns help reactivity?
Well… it’s not always for the reason people think.

✅ Early recognition.
By spotting those subtle and tiny posture changes, you can turn before reactivity kicks in. That’s the optimum time to help change emotions.....not when they’re already reacting.

✅ Distance creates comfort
Re-engaging while the trigger is still at that manageable distance turns this into a training opportunity......your dog learns this other dog isn’t so “bad” after all.

Well look at you!
You're building resilience and optimism.

✅ A controllable cue.
Having a reliable U turn gives you something predictable to use in "unpredictable" situations.

Are there pitfalls with this method?
You betcha...as there are in many dog training techniques.

Timing is key, so rehearse before you need it.

Don’t rush straight back to the same distance that triggered that escalation. Sometimes you can return partway....sometimes a bit closer.
Sometimes not at all.

Often just an extra metre or two is the confidence boost your dog needs.

08/16/2025

I'm fortunate to have like-minded dog training colleagues who are willing to share knowledge, experience, and a laugh over lunch. And these little cuties enjoyed it as well. The DMV has many positive reinforcement trainers who are ready to help. Simply reach out to arrange a consult or for referrals.

07/29/2025

I completely agree Sit is overused. And often people waste an opportunity to reinforce a wanted behavior (standing, focus, or coming to them) asking for and insisting on a sit...which might not happen and the dog gets frustrated or distracted in the meantime, so unwanted behavior continues. Reward what you want but it doesn't have to be a sit!

Since when did we equate sitting with "politeness" ?
Is it time to reassess the "Sit"?
It's a reflex of ours to always ask for it.
It becomes a "default" cue....whether it's "needed" or not.

A change of position does not change their emotions.
It can be incredibly frustrating for them.
Is there anything wrong with just standing near us?

Do we insist on a sit when they are clearly showing us they are feeling anxious?
Is it always the most asked for position?

Does it really help?....or is it a habit that we have and it's difficult to break?

07/26/2025

It's not too late to sign up for this free webinar I'm giving tomorrow for Your Dog's Friend. If you or someone you know has recently brought home a dog, or are planning to do so soon, this is for you. Sunday, July 27 at 11am. (Graphic has a typo, it does start at 11am!) Sign up through Your Dog's Friend.

FREE webinar, Welcome Home, Pup, coming up this Sunday, July 27th at 11am ET with Rewards Dog Training!

Register at https://yourdogsfriend.org/free-workshops/

We'll discuss ways to:

✨ help your new pup feel safe
✨ prioritize training skills
✨ develop routines

And we'll have have time for Q&A!