Process
Douglas has consistently attended our general Puppy & Dog Training classes at our Blue Cross venue for over six months and has no plans to stop! He has also attended our popular Ultimate Lead Walking Masterclass. They have covered lots of skills including:
- Recall
- Loose lead walking
- How to behave around other dogs
- Social greeting skills
- Engagement with his human around distractions
- Impulse control around food, toys and dogs
...and more!
Result
Because Douglas' owner brought him to classes from an early age, she was able to ensure he got the best socialisation possible. Socialisation is about more than just meeting other dogs and playing. A big - perhaps the biggest! - part of socialising young dogs is helping them learn to be calm, relaxed and engaged around other dogs. Douglas has grown into a large dog and this important learning that took place in the early stages of his life means he is now a wonderful, pleasant and manageable dog to be around - both for his human and those around him.
Douglas loves to play and has bags of energy - because of his training history, his owner is able to direct this energy into appropriate outlets so that everyone is happy. Energetic dogs can often become frustrated and this can lead to numerous unwanted and difficult behaviours such as barking, lunging, pulling and lead biting - none of this is a worry with Douglas as he knows exactly what to do and how to have fun in different environments. Douglas can easily swap between focused exercises like heelwork, to more energetic activities like a game of tug and then back to stationary behaviours like a sit-stay. This ability to switch gears means Douglas can enjoy a range of activities with his human without problem behaviours appearing or Douglas feeling frustrated.
Douglas' owner has recently begun Canine Hoopers with him - a fun dog sport that we know Douglas will enjoy! This is a new environment and a high energy activity, which can make it difficult for some dogs to focus and learn effectively. Both Douglas' training experience and his owner's knowledge gained through their ongoing classes are and will continue to be invaluable in ensuring they can get the most out of this new sport as they learn together.
