Positive Rewards Dog Training/MV

09/23/2025

Ethical thought for the day...

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/animal-emotions/202412/are-free-ranging-dogs-better-off-when-saved-by-humans/amp?fbclid=

Marco Adda questions whether removing free-ranging dogs from human environs is truly better for the dogs and stresses the importance of their individual personalities.

09/03/2025

Puppy HeadStart class - learn all sorts of new ideas about channelling puppy mental prowess.

Sneak peak into guiding your puppy's learning process - develop confidence, resiliency and provide suitable outlets for problem-solving!

Alan's outside learning center, November 2023

09/03/2025

Ready? Set. Go!

Puppy HeadStart begins in just over a week - September 13 at 9 am.

Don't let their small size and young age fool you. Unlike your computer, your puppy's brain never turns off - they are either experimenting, practicing, or installing updates - continually!

Puppies have a remarkable ability to learn quickly at a rate that is unmatched at any other time in their lives.
These associations develop rapidly through physical interactions with the world around them, mental problem-solving, and attention to how they emotionally feel about these experiences.

In this class, you will learn not only how to teach your puppy, but also develop skills for managing your puppy's learning experiences, and understand how to set your puppy up for success emotionally and physically.

You can find out more details about class here:
https://www.posrewardsk9.com/new-classes

My youngest, Alan, demonstrated right from day one at home that he was ready to tackle all manner of challenges - a master problem-solver at the young age of 8 weeks.

https://youtu.be/e_GdQfBhgoQ

NEW CLASSES ! Fall 2025 Puppy HeadStart A special class for our youngest learners!Open to puppies aged 12-20 weeks, we will cover a wide range of critical skills specially selected for puppies.We will work on Life Skills, Socialization, Beginning Manners and much more!class start date: September 13c...

08/27/2025

News Flash!

Puppy HeadStart class is back!

We will be offering a 6-week puppy class for dogs aged 12 -20 weeks, beginning September 12 @ 9 am at the Animal Shelter of Martha's Vineyard.

Registration is now open, and the class size is limited, so if you are interested, for more information-

email: [email protected]
webpage:

NEW CLASSES ! Fall 2025 Puppy HeadStart A special class for our youngest learners!Open to puppies aged 12-20 weeks, we will cover a wide range of critical skills specially selected for puppies.We will work on Life Skills, Socialization, Beginning Manners and much more!class start date: September 13c...

08/04/2025

https://youtu.be/ximzsGXzWkw?si=CHs4uhhTGJfeU3Je

This is the first training session with Bingley. His owner wants to share the couch with him while she eats, but Bingley finds it impossible to resist trying to eat her meal, too!

While management (crating him while she eats) prevents him from surfing her plate for a snack, it does not teach him how to create companionable space.

I am 'wiring up' Bingley's brain so that he learns how to make situationally appropriate behavior choices independently.

Bingley is a busy, 22 month old English Cocker Spaniel. This is the first session to help him learn that creating a little personal space can work.

07/21/2025

https://youtu.be/uW8CXj8n3bw?si=vnWREQZl1u2k6t1r

On this particular walk, we encountered four different bicycles (including the E-bike) as well as a dog walker with an off-leash dog.

Developing environmental awareness of potential situations is crucial when supporting your dog's learning.

The approaching dog was sporting an ecollar, the transmitter hung around the walker's neck, and at about 50 feet from us, the walker took his dog's collar in hand.
Even if the walker had not taken hold of his dog's collar, I still would have chosen the path we took.
We moved well off, into an adjacent field to create extra space for both dogs.

Alan was curiously interested. The other dog was intently focused on Alan with a tightly closed mouth.

Everyone passed without interaction.

Interested in learning more about building calmer, less 'exciting' walks with your dog through positive reinforcement?

Send us an email!

07/11/2025

The Great Detective Dog Hunt!

Stop by our working area at the Celebration of Pets festival, July 24th from 1-3 pm at the MV Agricultural Society Fairgrounds!

The Great Detective Dog hunt is free and open to dogs and their inspired Handlers.

Prepare to be amazed at your dog’s scenting ability as they lead you through a variety of search areas guided only by their nose and the motivation to find.

Have fun! Learn about how to start your dog in scent work or ask about joining our Sniffer Dog training program.

07/04/2025

It's the 4th!

If you haven't thought of preparations to keep your pets safe this evening, there is still a little time to put a few safeguards in place.

* Make sure all gates and fences are secure (don't rely on an electronic fence to keep your dog or cat contained if they panic)

* Take your dog for a late afternoon or early evening walk, then set up a room in the house where you can dampen down sensory information available to your pets after dark. Closing windows, running a fan, radio, or TV a bit louder can make a huge difference.

* Collars should have some form of identification (town tags, or personal contact information. Or write your phone number on the collar.

* If you have guests, remind them not to let the dog or cat outside, especially if they are leaving the house near evening.

* if your dog is especially sound sensitive, you should consider staying home to monitor and support, as well as be there if an emergency happens.

Send a message to learn more

06/19/2025

why it's important to monitor your dog's chewing toys.

This morning, I heard one of my dogs chewing hard for a time, then the sound of him chewing on an object in his mouth.

He was the winning finalist in removing the end of the chew toy. The fragment is now in the garbage, rather than his stomach.

04/26/2025

when is a yawn not a sleepy dog?
Look at what is going on in the moment.
Stress yawns tend to be very wide open mouth, with a lot of tension in the face ( look for quivering), and a long thin tongue.

Be polite. Be aware that our primate way of showing affection may be very invasive.

03/25/2025

Here's your funny for the day.

Sunday's seminar was a long day for Alan - he did fantastic considering
* it was his 2nd time being in a dog-training facility
* his first seminar
* his 2nd 'performing in public' appearance -his ORT (Odor Recognition Test) was the first
* working around a large group of people
* he's 18 months old

He loves his hunt games, but we must always balance the demands of the experience with the reality of age + the strong influence of genetics over trained behavior.

Sometimes you just gotta dance. Especially if you are 18 months old!Genetics (retrieving) pulling ahead of trained behavior (scent detection).

03/24/2025

It was a fantastic learning day at MasterPeace Dog Training in Franklin, MA with Amy Herot, with Dana Creveling of Dogs of Course.

Thank you again for a great time and I hope everyone enjoyed Alan's 1/2 time improve dance with boxes :)