From Puppyhood to Adventure: Laidley’s Journey with Positive Reinforcement Training
At Summit Dog Training, we believe in empowering both dogs and their humans to live adventurous lives together. This means not only teaching your dog obedience and good manners but also ensuring they thrive emotionally and socially in any situation.
This case study highlights the importance of starting with positive reinforcement training early on, and how even a high-energy breed like Laidley, a spirited Australian Cattle Dog (ACD), can grow into a well-socialized and well-behaved companion ready for every adventure.
Want to learn more about positive reinforcement training and how it can help your dog? Reach out to Summit Dog Training for expert advice and tailored solutions! We’re here to help!
Meet Laidley: A Fresh Start
Laidley, affectionately known as "Ladle," joined Caislin and Craig’s family as a 9-week-old puppy. With her background as an Australian Cattle Dog, a breed known for its high intelligence and energy, Caislin and Craig were ready to take on the challenge of raising a working breed dog with the right tools and mindset.
Caislin had already experienced the ups and downs of raising a reactive cattle dog and was determined to give Laidley a fresh start. They enrolled her in Summit Dog Training’s Adventure Camp for Puppies and Puppy PlaySchool from the very beginning, hoping to provide a strong foundation of positive socialization and essential skills for a well-behaved companion.
The Challenges: Understanding Laidley’s Needs
Like many puppies, Laidley’s early days brought challenges, particularly in a few areas that could have easily escalated into bigger behavior problems down the road. Some of their specific hurdles included:
Greeting People Politely: Laidley’s natural enthusiasm led her to greet people with a little too much energy—sometimes mouthing or jumping up in excitement.
Prey Drive: As a herding breed, Laidley’s high prey drive meant that she was very focused on chasing after wildlife, making handler focus during exciting situations a bit tricky.
Reactivity: Laidley showed signs of reactivity, barking at other dogs, bikes, or people—especially from behind windows, whether in the car or at home.
Adolescent Challenges: As Laidley entered her first heat cycle, her reactivity towards other dogs heightened, adding an additional layer of complexity to her behavior.
Caislin and Craig knew that these behaviors could be managed with the right guidance but didn’t want to wait for them to spiral into bigger issues. They were eager to prepare Laidley for their active lifestyle and social adventures.
“I hoped to give her the best possible start in life with positive socialization experiences and solid foundational skills so that she could be a fitting companion for our active and social lifestyle. We committed to owning a high energy and driven working breed, and I wanted to make sure we would be able to prepare for and navigate through the challenges of adolescence.”
Training Goals: Setting Up Laidley for Success
Caislin and Craig had some big dreams for Laidley, and they knew that good training would be key to making those dreams a reality. Their goals for Laidley included:
Becoming a hiking companion: They wanted Laidley to be able to join them on their outdoor adventures, from hiking to rock climbing trips.
Public manners: Being craft beer enthusiasts, they hoped to bring Laidley along to breweries, where she would need to be calm and well-mannered in public settings.
Socializing with other dogs: Despite Australian Cattle Dogs’ reputation for being less dog-friendly, they wanted Laidley to learn to interact appropriately with other dogs—whether for play or simply tolerating their presence.
Future sports goals: Laidley was destined to participate in dog sports like agility, nosework, and even dock diving, so foundational skills were a must.
Caislin and Craig knew that with the right training, Laidley could thrive in these environments, but it would take patience, consistency, and the right tools.
The Training Process: Building a Strong Foundation
From the start, Laidley’s training focused on providing her with the right socialization experiences and teaching her essential skills for her adventurous life. Here’s how Summit Dog Training helped her progress.
Positive Socialization: Laidley attended Adventure Camp for Puppies and Puppy PlaySchool consistently, where she was able to learn appropriate interactions with other puppies and dogs, building the foundation for healthy dog-to-dog relationships.
Handler Focus and Connection: Laidley’s strong prey drive required a focus on building her engagement, even in high-distraction environments. Through positive reinforcement, Laidley learned how to focus on her humans, even in the face of exciting distractions like wildlife or passing cars.
Polite Greetings: Laidley mastered polite greetings, learning not to mouth or jump up when meeting new people. This helped her become a more confident and socially acceptable pup.
Emotional Regulation: A key breakthrough in Laidley’s training was teaching her how to manage her emotions through techniques like sniffing and shaking off stress. This allowed her to process intense feelings in healthy ways, especially when encountering other dogs or new situations.
The Results: A Thriving Pup
Fast forward to today, and Caislin and Craig are amazed by how much Laidley has flourished. Here are just a few of the ways she’s benefited from her training:
Engagement and Focus: Laidley is now able to stay focused and engaged with Caislin, even in distracting environments. Whether they’re hiking or training for agility trials, her attention is unwavering.
Polite Greetings: Gone are the days of jumping and mouthing—Laidley now greets people politely, making her a joy to take out in public.
Improved Social Skills: Laidley now knows how to interact with other dogs, even those with differing play styles. She’s learned the art of appropriate play and is more comfortable in social settings with other pups.
Emotional Maturity: Thanks to Summit’s guidance, Laidley has developed the ability to manage her emotions and regulate her reactions, especially during her first heat cycle and when encountering new situations.
Caislin and Craig are not only thrilled with Laidley’s progress but are also confident that they’re equipped to handle the challenges of adolescence and beyond, all while supporting her growth in every area of life.
Client Testimonial: A Journey of Growth
Caislin and Craig’s journey with Summit Dog Training has been transformative. Here’s what they had to say about their experience:
“Summit Dog Training has been an integral part of both the rehabilitation of our past reactive cattle dog, Adelaide, and our first puppy-raising journey. The amount of information and individual support we’ve received has been vital. We are so incredibly pleased with the programs offered and all of the fantastic trainers that have worked with both Adelaide and Laidley. Summit’s reactive dog class was the first place that Adelaide was able to be successful in a group class. With Laidley, it’s very hard to imagine how we would be managing without the Summit team. Every member is so extremely supportive and helpful, even when it is I, the handler, that needs a bit of a pep talk.”
Conclusion: The Adventure Continues
Laidley’s journey with Summit Dog Training is far from over. As she continues to grow and develop, Caislin and Craig look forward to tackling new challenges together—whether that’s competing in dog sports or exploring new hiking trails. Through positive reinforcement training, they’ve given Laidley the foundation she needs to live a full, happy, and well-balanced life.
Is your dog ready to start their own training adventure? Reach out to Summit Dog Training today! We can help your dog reach their full potential and be the companion you’ve always dreamed of!
