Category Archives: Elite Instinct Canine Training Tips

A collection of tips and tricks and best practices.

I do not whisper, I translate

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I was at a consult this past week when someone made a reference to me as “the dog whisperer” While i appreciate any comment towards a well known popular dog person (albeit whether i agree with his methods or not) i am not, in anyway, a dog whisperer. The term is just plain, well, dumb.  What does it mean??? How would you ever “whisper” to a dog? Why would a dog care if you even did whisper? Dogs do NOT communicate like humans do, we cannot whisper, yell, cry, scream, yodel, bark, meow, purr, whistle, burp, or even groan for godsakes as dogs do not communicate through vocalization like humans do. To really truly understand dogs one must first observe said dog. I say this because EVERY dog is different, it doesn’t matter the breed, sex, age, or size of the dog they are all genetically different and environmentally influenced to have varying personalities. Once the dog has been observed you can start to draw SOME conclusions about the dog, and what methods of communication will work, and even why he is offering certain behaviors or unpleasant habits. Then once this has been accomplished you can begin to build your relationship with said dog, in hopes of opening the barriers in communication that exist between dog and human.

I do not whisper, I translate.

Translation

Offering some basic classes in good canine communication this summer please check out our website for details!!

http://www.EliteInstinctCanine.com

Keep moving

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The girls spend most of their time off leash either working or hiking so we must practice self control exercises and focus work while out and in the field. The girls are used to this on our land and while out together or with our other dogs in the pack but they also need to be able to do the same with more distractions and in variable environments.

Stay work

The environment is new, we have never visited this state land and felix is a dog that was turned over to Life Long Tails and is currently in training with his K9 handler Kara for Search and Rescue with Amigo Search Dogs.  A simple training command that is obeyed so perfectly at home can be a challenge if to many variables are changed to quick. Both girls did great this time as we have been practicing separate and together in varying environments for the last few months.

Girls

The hard work pays off!

Better then a bird

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Training the dogs is great, its a mental and physical release, whether its my own kids, or a training class or private session. The focus, the dedication and the overall joy of having that connection allow me to leave this world and enter another, one with just me and the canine. I can really step back and view him or her they way they should be, as a dog.

Anyone who knows me knows that i am a talker, and i am not afraid to say anything!  This allows me to talk through what the dog is thinking, and why it is behaving how it is, and really explain what i see to clients. This clear communication is part of our foundation at Elite Instinct Canine.

annnnnnd...........ACTION

The girls love a good training, whether its just basic obedience or their favorite search and rescue missions! The other kids really love just polishing up on some obedience and getting a few trips out to the dog park.

L-O-V-E

Either way its spring and soon will be summer the dogs are happy and i gotta go out and find a pool!!!

ahhhhhhhhh

Training, the soul of it all

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I always tell my clients EVERY minute of everyday is a training opportunity. Dogs do not put training life “on paws” and only pay attention and learn when you want them to, everything you do, everything you say, and EVERYTHING you reinforce every minute is you training your dog. Make sure that you are always doing what you want reinforced in life or will find some very bad habits creeping up and you have no one to blame but yourself!

For more information on how to have a better life with your canine copilot please contact us today!

EliteInstinctCanine@gmail.com    visit our website http://www.EliteInstinctCanine.com

 

Bark the same language

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Speaking the language of another species is not easy, far from it. We were born with a spoken language why would we use something else? What people fail to see is we were also born with a body, and that demands much more respect than words.

TUG

Every interaction you have with a dog you use your body, either good or bad. In order to have the best communication and best relationship with your dog you have to understand what your body means and how to use it.

 

Words and tones make up some of our canine communication but save it for special times, times you need the dog to really listen or acknowledge you and your existence. When you work obedience or have a training session make sure your upbeat and have a happy high pitch voice, this is what dogs like and believe me their is a huge difference in the dogs behavior depending on your tone!

 

Remember trained dogs are happy dogs and make happy owners.

 

DOGS ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS THEIR OWNERS TRAIN THEM TO BE!!!!        So be proud of your dogs!!!!!

 

Get out and train!!

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With spring coming, the snow melting and the days getting longer I cannot help but get excited about getting out there and training even more this year!!! You will find the pack and I all over Binghamton and surrounding counties starting now, every weekend. We will be practicing obedience, Search and Rescue, basic manners, agility, and working on some problem behaviors.  If interested in attending any working session to learn the Elite Instinct Canine way please email us EliteInstinctCanine@gmail.com and keep an eye on our website http://www.EliteInstinctCanine.com   Times, locations, and days vary so please keep an eye on our calendar.

day to day fun

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My posts normally occur after my weekend of working dogs but while trying to kill time before training starts i figured i would give an update on the rest of the canine co pilot pack.

 

Everyone seems to be doing well, even with the cold temperatures lately and the crazy amount of snow and ice.  Our day to day training and fun includes obedience outside and inside, group downs and stays, and Simon says games. Kendal has been working on her obedience so that i can get her tested for her PAT (public access test) and then once she is my service dog move her into certification for therapy dog as well. While Kendal tries to just be a funny clown of the house she has a serious working side as well and knows when she is out with mom she needs to be in tune and responsible at all times.

hum the world seems different from this view!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a Life Long Tails rescue Kendal is the perfect picture of what a rescue dog can achieve if given the appropriate training, time, and owner.  Kendal is also Life Long Tails donation dog and canine mascot.

Shepherds playing in the snow in the backyard

Unlike so many trainers out there our dogs love training time. It is not a time when they get thrown on the ground, alpha rolled, beaten, yelled at, or dominated. It is a time when we get to have fun together, learn together, and communicate in a revolutionary  new way. This is what ensures the ultimate relationship, amazing obedience, and a bond that never dies.

The Pack Mentality

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Many people often give me incredulous stares when i indulge that I have 11 dogs. I guess i expect it, an odd number is never where to stop 🙂        The difference between me and anyone else i have met with a good number of canines (a good number being over 4 or 5) is that my dogs are all companions, they do not live in kennels, runs, outdoor buildings or anything of that sort. Everyone lives in the house with my husband, I, and the Molucaan Cockatoo (which is a whole other post)

The dogs are our family and are expected to live as a unified pack which gets along, shares, coexists, and respects each other. When you have dogs from 80 pounds to 6 pounds 6 female and 5 male this could be quite a challenge, but its not. All dogs respect me and look towards me as their leader. I did not achieve this by beating them, or alpha rolling them, or screaming at them till they coward at my feet. I taught them the FOUNDATION of our relationship and i made sure i could COMMUNICATE clearly to them. I kept it CONSISTENT day to day and canine to canine and in the end i was rewarded with mutual RESPECT.

Just owning dogs are great, i see families, couples, and single people “own” dogs all the time. What i want and what i help people provide is the ULTIMATE RELATIONSHIP where you and your dogs have the correct tools to help them lead a balanced life.

It isn’t just about living, its about living balanced. And every dog deserves that.

We will get more into what “balanced” is in the next post!

Eme asleep, yes asleep in my shoe.