Ducki’s Dog Training

17/11/2025

Sooo proud of these young adolescent dogs and their handlers! Especially the kids that take their role as trainer to the puppy they asked for and got! All these dawgs have been fun to help their handlers train and learn by and grow. We’ve just begun!
Stay tuned for their next chapter! 😎❤️🐾🐾

13/10/2025

Lumi graduated Fundamentals obedience. She’s quite a springy dog. Kankaroo!

13/10/2025

Luna was NOT happy about her graduation cap😅

06/10/2025

Bodhi whispering sweet nothings in my ear😳😈🤣🤣🤣😍

02/10/2025

This!

An active baby on the move means parents have a lot to juggle when sharing space with family dogs. This is one of the busiest stages of parenting!

❗️One of the most important rules: never allow your baby to approach the family dog. We always say: “Dog and baby on the scene, a parent in between.” This simple step prevents startling or uncomfortable interactions.

🐾 As babies crawl closer, dogs often show subtle stress signals—lip licking, yawning, scratching, turning away. Sometimes they’ll get up and leave, but other times they may stay put.

❗️That’s why your role is to notice these signals and prevent the approach. In our experience, it’s usually when the baby goes toward the dog that growls or snaps occur.

✅ Tools like crates, gates, play yards, or even positioning your own body as a barrier (what we call success stations) make a big difference in keeping everyone safe.

✏️

02/10/2025

Yummy

Our Coziest Favorite If there’s one soup that everyone asks for again and again, it’s this Greek Lemon Chicken & Orzo Soup. It’s bright, cozy, and so comforting — truly like a warm hug in a bowl. I love how it’s light yet satisfying, with tender chicken, orzo, fresh spinach, and that p...

01/10/2025

Such an no amazing woman! God speed Jane! Thankyou for your service ❤️

01/10/2025

Afghan hounds. Actually sight hounds.

The inspiration of Pablo Picasso’s sculpture in Daley Plaza in Chicago. Picasso had his beloved Afghan dog named Kabul which was his inspiration for the head of this famous sculpture.

History

This is a very old breed. In fact, some authorities maintain that the Afghan Hound is the oldest breed of purebred dogs. (An ancient myth says that a brace of Afghan Hounds represented the canine species on Noah's Ark.) Because the breed predates written history by a few thousand years, and because it was developed in some of the world's most remote locales, its exact time and place of origin within the vast area that is now Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan will never be known. What we do know is that for centuries Afghans were rugged, fleet-footed hunting companions and status symbols of royals, tribal chieftains, and aristocrats in Asia's mountain kingdoms. Afghan Hounds belong to the subcategory of hound breeds known as sighthounds, dogs who rely on their panoramic vision and explosive speed to spot and pursue their prey. A fixture of Eastern culture since the dawn of civilization, the Afghan hound didn't make its entrance on the stage of Western history until the late 1800s. It was then that English officers returning from the British Empire's farthest corners introduced the breed to Europe. By the early 1900s, the Afghan was a preferred breed of the British gentry. The AKC registered its first of the breed in 1927, but not until the early '30s did the breed really catch on with U.S. breeders and owners. Among the most important dogs of those early years in America were a breeding pair imported from England by Zeppo Marx, the youngest of the wacky Marx Brothers. Since then, the Afghan's fame in America has been built on his sterling qualities as a pet and his show-stopping presence in the ring. The giant sculpture by Pablo Picasso in Chicago's Daley Plaza depicts Kabul, the artist's much-loved Afghan Hound.

Fascinating! 🐾🐾🐾❤️😍😎

30/09/2025

Inner visions. Not just an excellent Stevie Wonders album that I listen too often.

Dogs too have their sense of identity, some bold, confident, with sense of purpose, ALWAYS faithful bringing unconditional love.
For others maybe opposite characteristics. Shy, fearful, insecure, needy. Looking to their guardians for guidance and support.

What I see, is there’s an imbalance in them. Could be in both types of dogs actually. A dog in balance has good rebound times from upsets. A grounded dog is a happy confident dog. So how do you know if they’re not so grounded, if they’re off balance. Are their chakras in balance? How about you? Are you in balance? Remember dogs have their own energies as we do ours. They pick up and can mirror yours as well. How do YOU get yourself re-balanced? Do you meditate?

My work with human guardians and their beloved dogs is helping bring out that confidence and improve their relationship together.

Such a joy to watch the improvements! 🐾😍🐾❤️

10/09/2025

This! 😍❤️🐾🐾🐾

23/07/2025

This is great!
Teaching the handler that loose leash walking can happen when both dog AND handler are in sync and moving in their rythym together but with their comfort of gait. Yes there are rules in walking politely but pay attention to the dog on the other end of the leash
Communicate and be present! Learn the dance of walking together🐾❤️😎🐾🐾

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19V1jSs4gA/?mibextid=wwXIfrn er

Loose lead isnt natural. It’s a skill that has to be learnt. Biomechanically, dogs are built to move faster than us. Dogs choose to shift to a natural trot and on average walk at 2.5 - 4 mph (Hildebrand, 1966) where us naked monkeys on the otherhand average 2-3 mph walking (Kirtley, 2006). Do you know what 2.5 feels like? You should!

Because the mismatch alone creates tension — physically with the lead and emotionally in the relationship. Infact Dogs Trust found 30% of owners considered it a reason to rehome.

Now add in breed differences with research by Fischer & Lilje (2011) suggesting that Different breeds have different locomotive profiles based on original function. Malinois and Vizslas who are bred to move, track, cover ground; hearding breed like kelpies and collies who are bred to arc out infront; scent hounds like Beagles and Bloodhounds - designed to follow their noses with purpose, drive and speed; and of course breeds like Huskies who are literally bred and built to pull - it’s in the actual job description.

Its not a suprise that Rooney & Cowan (2011) found Lead tension and restricted gait was specifically a negative welfare marker for working breeds.

So when we expect all dogs to plod beside us through a park at human pace, ignoring smells, distractions, and natural instinct…we’re arent asking for a behaviour: We’re asking for the dog to restrain their pace, suppress their instincts, and constantly self-regulate.

In my opinion loose lead is one of the three essential skills I believe every dog pro needs to understand in depth - gait, drive, motivation, mechanics, assessment, different technique and exercise, consequence gradients and all.

Because when you understand what you’re really asking for,
you stop calling it stubbornness
and start training it like the advanced skill it actually is. And this leads to way better pet dogs with way happier relationships. ###