Who’s to blame? 3 Reasons your dog won’t “Out” their toy
“I’m having trouble with my OUT,” he said as I met him on the grassy field. “My dog just won’t let go of the toy. And when he does finally let it go, he’s so frantic, I always get bit.” His hands showed the wounds from a tug game gone South. “I mean, I almost…
5 Tips to Prevent Injury While Playing Fetch with Your Dog
She stepped out into the grassy field. Chuck-it in hand, and dog prancing gleefully at her side, she thought about work, and her mounting to-do list and then pushed it aside for a little fun with her best friend. The pair made their way to the middle of the field, and as they slowed to…
Missed Messages: Is Your Dog Feeling Secure in Bitework or Tug Play?
“Check out this video. What do you think? I’d love your opinion” It was sent to me by a friend and it was a video of her young dog starting bitework. Normally, I keep my opinions to myself. I live by my own personal Golden Rule of “don’t give advice unless it’s asked for.” But…
An Exercise in Frustration – Is your Drive Work Really Helping?
“Drag him back,” the decoy coached. The dog barked wildly, threatening to take his handler to the ground as he pulled to reach his target. He wanted to bite. It’s all he could think about. And she struggled to get control. She did as instructed, pulling the massive dog back to the line, attaching his…
Combatting Brain Melt – The Technique That Transformed My Dog’s “OUT”
The dog is insane. It’s no secret. If you met him, you’d quickly realize he has more drive than sense. He’s a bull in a china shop, and he’d have no issue running head first into a fence if a ball was on the other side (in fact, he’s done it). He is intense in…
Getting Strategic: The Top 5 Mistakes Handlers Make when Playing with Their Tug-Crazy Dogs
The tug was made of leather, roughly stitched, with two bright red handles fashioned from a strip of utility webbing. Being the MacGyver style, former Navy SEAL that he was, he opted to craft his own toy, proudly proclaiming “I’m not buying one of those. I’ll make it myself” when I encouraged him to get…
Reward it Right: Assessing Your Dog’s Wants for a Conflict Free Out
“Out!” I called, holding the toy firmly in one hand as I spoke the word, a lead in my other hand attached to the dog in front of me. I wanted to know exactly what I was dealing with. I knew this particular dog had been taught an “out”, but I also knew his understanding…
You Can’t Go It Alone: Treating Bitework as a Team Sport
“An out to a guard?” I asked. It was more a statement than a question, as I knew what was coming next. The decoy nodded, the massive 90lb Malinois’ jaws shut tightly around his leg as he worked the bite. I called the dog’s name and commanded the out. In a moment, the dog worked…
2 Strangers, A Malinois and A Precarious Game of Jenga
I picked him up on Monday. I really wasn’t prepared to take him, but as I had been pining over him for more than a year, when he became available with the caveat that “you better take him now before I change my mind”, I couldn’t say no. He is an adolescent male Malinois, and…
Mixed Messages: Getting Clear on Your Body Language when Training for Sport
She peered down at her dog lovingly, shoulders tilted slightly so she could grab his eyes with hers and hold them. “Au pied,” she called in a strong tone that completely negated the soft French words meant to instruct the dog to Heel. The dog shifted slightly to take his position, gazing up at his…