Unlocking Adventure: An Interview with Sam and Her Awesome Aussie, Teddy

Unlocking Adventure: An Interview with Sam and Her Awesome Aussie, Teddy

Have you ever felt like you and your furry best friend are speaking completely different languages? Or maybe you’re facing a behavior challenge that just feels… insurmountable? You’re definitely not alone. Many of us dream of a perfectly well-behaved companion, but the path to getting there can sometimes feel a bit like navigating a maze blindfolded.

We're so excited to share the incredible journey of Sam and her Australian Shepherd, Teddy. Their story is a fantastic example of how positive reinforcement training can transform challenges into triumphs and open up a world of adventure.

Ready to transform your dog's behavior and embark on new adventures together? Contact the Summit Dog Training team today with all your dog training questions – we're here to help!

Teddy poses stoically with his tongue out for a scenic photo-op!

SDT: Sam, can you start by telling us a bit about Teddy when you first brought him home?

Sam: I got Teddy when he was three, and at that time, he was pretty quiet and reserved. He was also about 30 pounds overweight, which made him slow and tired, not really like the energetic Aussie you’d expect. My initial focus was really just on helping him lose weight and bonding with him.

SDT: As Teddy lost weight, did you notice a shift in his personality?

Sam: As he lost weight, he became much more active and excited, really starting to act like a true Aussie. I was thrilled to see these changes in him, but I also realized I was kind of out of my depth with training. I could teach him the basics, but he was learning so quickly that I didn’t know how to keep up. His herding instincts started coming out more, and I knew I needed help guiding him to express that energy properly – almost like you would with a puppy, but he was three! For example, as he got more energy, he started chasing fast-moving things like bicyclists, skateboarders, and bunnies. He's always been a good dog, very sweet, and he wants to do everything with me, but he would just get really amped up and didn’t quite know how to manage his new energy.

SDT: It sounds like you quickly realized communication was key. How would you describe the "behavior challenges" you faced with Teddy?

Sam: It feels weird to describe these as "behavior challenges" because, for me, the challenges Teddy and I faced actually came from my not knowing how to communicate with him in a way that he understood. When he understands what I want him to do, he will typically do what I ask with enthusiasm. It was more about me learning how to speak his language.

SDT: That's a wonderful way to put it. Can you give us an example of a specific challenge and how you addressed it with Summit Dog Training?

Sam: One big one was his dislike of being handled. I realized this after I first got him and he kept getting yeast infections on his paws. When he got these, I would have to clean his paws and apply an antifungal spray. It would take two people to hold him still enough to do this. I felt horrible when I had to hold him, so I was very excited to take the Cooperative Care class with Summit. My focus with that class was to get to the point where I could fix his paws without holding him. I took that class a few years ago, but it made such a huge difference. Now, Teddy doesn’t need to be held to have his paws cleaned or sprayed. I can even trim his nails with a Dremel by myself! It’s incredible the trust we built.

SDT: That's amazing progress! You also mentioned getting into dog sports. How did training help with that?

Sam: Yes, within the past year, Teddy and I have started learning how to do dog sports – Agility, Rally, and Nose Work. He loves sports and is always so excited to do them. However, I realized that Teddy was so excited to work that he wasn’t able to chill out between turns. He was whiny, restless, and wouldn’t settle because he did not want to stop working.

SDT: And what did you do to address that "always on" mode?

Sam: I took the Work Mode to Nap Mode workshop and learned some really great techniques for how to get him to learn how to settle down after working. It took a few weeks, but I am impressed by the difference in his behavior. He can still be a little whiny between turns, but he’s much quieter and usually he’ll be laying down. To me, this is a huge win because it shows me that he knows what I want, and that he’s trying his best. 

SDT: Teddy is such an awesome dog! Are there any behavior challenges that you’re still working on with him?

Sam: The food scavenging is one thing that we’re still working through, and will probably be working through forever, honestly. He is super food motivated, which is probably the product of his nature and amplified by the fact that he’s been on a diet to lose 30 pounds in the time that I have had him. He’s pretty notorious for seeing a piece of food on the ground (or something that looks like food, like a leaf) and diving towards it. Through Summit, we’ve learned techniques to help him to take a second to think about what he should do instead of immediately trying to eat the food. It’s an ongoing process, but we’ve definitely seen improvement.

SDT: You also mentioned some challenges with fast-moving objects early on. How is that now?

Sam: I don’t see this very often anymore, but Teddy used to lunge at fast-moving things like bikes, skateboards, bunnies, etc. I mentioned this once at a class, learned some techniques for how to handle this, and now I barely remember what it was like to worry about this. Teddy sees a biker or whatever, and he looks at me. It’s a huge relief.

SDT: When you started, what were your initial goals for training? And how have they evolved over time?

Sam: As I’ve taken classes with Teddy, my goals have definitely shifted. When I first started, I wanted to learn how to train my dog to do more than just sit, lay down, etc. I didn’t know it at the time, but looking back, I wanted to learn how to communicate with him in a way that he understood. After I learned how to do that, my goals shifted into getting Teddy’s Canine Good Citizen titles. Now he has earned four AKC titles: Canine Good Citizen, Canine Good Citizen Urban, Canine Good Citizen Advanced, and Trick Dog Novice all through Summit!

SDT: It sounds like Teddy truly transformed. How would you describe him after all your training with Summit?

Sam: Now, people are constantly commenting on how focused Teddy is on me and how well he behaves. This focus is one of the first things that we learned how to do in the Good Dog Basics class. It felt so strange at the time to reward him for doing nothing but looking at me, but since then, we’ve used this skill to focus around all types of distractions – like concerts, fire alarms, dogs barking, crowded elevators, and so on.

We’ll go to breweries or restaurants with dog-friendly patios, and we’ll use techniques that we’ve learned in the brewery dog class. There have been a few times where Teddy and I have left a restaurant’s patio after a meal and have heard people say, “I didn’t realize there was a dog out here.” 

Also through Summit, Teddy and I started getting into dog sports and have not looked back. We’ve taken the Intro to Agility and the Level 1 Agility class a few years ago. We did all three levels of Nose Work last year, and we took Rally Novice and Rally Advanced a few months ago. When people say that you need to give your Aussie a job, they’re not kidding! Teddy is always so excited to do any sport that I show him.

An enthusiastic Australian shepherd, Teddy, leaps over an agility jump.

SDT: That’s absolutely incredible, Sam. What would you say to other dog parents who are considering training with Summit Dog Training?

Sam: I am so happy that I started taking Teddy to Summit! All of the instructors have been amazing and have helped me learn how my dog thinks and learns best. There have been times when me or Teddy have struggled with a concept, and the instructor was right there with a suggestion on how to tweak what I was doing to be successful.

I have really enjoyed the variety of classes that are offered at Summit because I’ve been able to choose classes that fit best with the topics that I am trying to learn about. When I was struggling to apply medicine to my dog’s paws, I was able to take the Cooperative Care class to learn how to get Teddy to opt in to his care. When I was struggling with recall, I took the Recall and Stays class. It’s been an amazing journey, and I highly recommend it!

SDT: Thank you so much, Sam, for sharing your and Teddy’s inspiring story!

Teddy on a winter adventure hike!

Sam's journey with Teddy is a shining example of what's possible with positive reinforcement and dedicated training. Her experience highlights the power of personalized support and a diverse range of classes that cater to specific needs and evolving goals. Whether you're dealing with a specific behavior challenge or simply looking to deepen your bond and explore new activities with your dog, there's a class and an instructor at Summit Dog Training ready to support you every step of the way. You can explore our group classes and class schedule here: www.summitdogtraining.com/signup

What adventures do you dream of having with your dog?

Ready to embark on your own training adventure? Discover how Summit Dog Training can help you and your dog thrive! Reach out to us today with any questions you have about our classes and positive reinforcement methods.

From Puppyhood to Adventure: Laidley’s Journey with Positive Reinforcement Training

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!

Mastering Emotional Regulation: Signs of Stress in Your Dog and How You Can Help

Mastering Emotional Regulation: Signs of Stress in Your Dog and How You Can Help

By: Hannah Barnes

Ever wonder what's going on in your dog's head? Dogs, just like us, experience a kaleidoscope of emotions – joy, fear, anxiety, and everything in between. And just like us, they need healthy ways to manage those emotions. That's where emotional regulation comes in!

Emotional regulation, simply put, is the ability to handle those big feelings effectively. It's not about suppressing emotions, but rather about experiencing them fully and having the tools to navigate them in a healthy way.

In this post, we’re diving into signs of stress in dogs and ways that you can easily support their ability to self-regulate.

Summit Dog Training offers positive reinforcement-based training classes to address a wide range of behavioral challenges. Our certified, professional dog trainers utilize known outlets for emotional regulation to help dogs work through their emotions and expand their world into the classroom and beyond. Get started today!

Why is emotional regulation important for dogs?

Think of it like this: good emotional regulation is like having a superpower for your dog. It helps them:

• Conquer stress & anxiety: Life can be stressful! Emotional regulation helps dogs manage stress and anxiety, leading to a calmer, happier pup.

• Build healthy, respectful relationships: It helps them communicate better with you and other furry friends, reducing conflict and strengthening bonds.

• Make smart choices: A well-regulated dog is better equipped to make good decisions, even in challenging situations.

• Boost overall well-being: Emotional regulation leads to a more balanced and content canine companion.

Spotting signs of stress:

Your dog might already be a master of emotional regulation, using these techniques:

• Licking: Licking naturally releases endorphins in your dog’s system, promoting relaxation.

• Yawning: Not always a sign of tiredness, yawning can help regulate breathing and heart rate, reducing your dog’s stress.

• Shaking off: Literally shaking off the stress!

• Chewing: A classic stress reliever, chewing provides a positive outlet for anxious energy.

• Sniffing: Deep sniffing for 10 or more seconds can lower heart rate and boost dopamine, helping your dog chill out.

Is your dog stressed?

Knowing the signs that your dog is dealing with stress is crucial to your ability to help them cope. In addition to the above signs of stress, keep an eye out for:

• Lip licking (also called tongue flicking)

• Whale eye (seeing the whites of their eyes)

• Sudden stiffness in the body or individual body parts

• Prolonged staring

• Drooling

How you can help:

Become the expert on your dog’s body language: Learn to read your dog's subtle cues. They're talking to you, even without words!

• Provide outlets: Giving your dog something to chew on, lick, or sniff provides them with an appropriate outlet for emotional regulation. Lick mats, snuffle boxes, and chewies from your local pet store are all wonderful options.

• Create a safe space: Provide a designated safe space where your dog can retreat when feeling overwhelmed. This could be a crate, bed, or quiet corner in your home. This space should be accessible to your dog at any time.

• Minimize stressors: Loud noises, unfamiliar people, or chaotic environments can trigger anxiety. Do your best to keep things calm and predictable.

• Physical contact: Sometimes, a gentle touch can work wonders, but pay attention to your dog's response. Not all dogs find touch comforting in stressful situations. If they move away or lick your hand until you stop touching them, they may not find touch helpful in their current state.

• Stay calm: Your dog is highly attuned to your emotions. If you're stressed, they'll feel it too. Practice your own emotional regulation techniques! Provide yourself with ways to manage your own stress, like fidget devices or breathing exercises.

• Seek professional help when needed: When in doubt, it may be a good idea to consult a vet to rule out any underlying medical conditions that may be contributing to your dog's emotional challenges. If your dog's emotional issues are severe or persistent, seek professional help from a certified dog behaviorist and/or training professional.

By understanding and supporting your dog's emotional well-being, you're not just training a dog, you're nurturing a happy, healthy, and resilient member of your family.

Is your dog struggling with big feelings? Summit Dog Training offers positive, solutions-oriented classes led by certified professionals. We help dogs learn to regulate their emotions, build confidence and unlock their full potential both inside and outside the classroom. Contact us today!

Can I Train My Dog? Expert Answers for New Pet Parents

Can I Train My Dog? Expert Answers for New Pet Parents

By: Taylor Heid

Google Search bar image with commonly asked questions about training a dog listed below. 

Whether you are bringing home a new pup or looking to train a current pet, these are some of the most frequently asked questions that might be running through your mind (and Google’s search bar!). While you may find some answers you are looking for on the internet, they may not always be the most accurate. There is no perfect answer AI can generate in 30 seconds for you, and the experts’ answer might not be the one you are expecting… 

Let’s take a look at the most general question: “Can I train my dog?” You might have different variations of this question such as “How hard is it to train a dog?” or “How long will it take to train my dog?” and so on.

Well, it depends! Each training plan, session, and progress is going to depend on the dog themselves. Factors like the dog’s personality, their genetic breed, and their environment are all going to play a part in what their training looks like. 

Your silly and goofy teenage dog might be eager to learn, happy to eat treats, and could thrive with a more structured training plan. Whereas a shy or nervous pup might need some time to open up and gain confidence to start building a stronger bond with their human first. 

A border collie who was bred for herding and lives on the farm is going to need a significantly different training approach than your family’s toy poodle lap dog. Each of their humans are also going to have different goals for these pups. 

Some dogs might do great in a group class and enjoy the socialization aspect of it, while others might need to utilize private lessons for more one-on-one time with less stimulation and distractions. 

Not all humans learn the same and neither do dogs! While this isn’t the quickest and easiest answer to grasp, once you take the time to understand your dog’s needs I promise you will have more success in the long run. 

All this to say - there is no one size fits all answer when it comes to training your dog. That’s why turning to the experts is a no brainer. At Summit® Dog Training, we always take a customized approach when creating our training programs. While the group class curriculum might be decided ahead of time, our trainers are always modifying the material and methods to best suit the needs of students in the class. In our private lessons program, we consider each owner’s input and goals, and our trainers bring their expertise in dog knowledge to find the best route to achieve the desired results. 

It might not be the most satisfying answer, but when asking the right questions to get started on your dog training journey, it truly does depend! 

Summit® Dog Training offers group dog training classes & private lessons in Fort Collins, Colorado, as well as online self-study courses & online private lessons for education on how to live the best life with your dog! If you are looking for more training support, please don’t hesitate to contact us! We’d love to help you and your dog get ready for any adventure.

Summit Has a New Home!

Summit Has a New Home!

By Taylor Heid

Have you heard the news? Summit Dog Training has a new home! We are ready to grow and continue to serve our community even better. 

We have been a bit sentimental looking back at where we’ve been and where we’re going. Take a look with us!

Summit Dog Training’s history timeline from 2015 to 2024.

Summit’s new facility is located at 2906 E. Mulberry Street, Fort Collins, CO 80254

You can find more information and directions on our website to our new Adventure Base Camp!

Thank you to those who have followed us every step of the way. Whether you have been here since the beginning or are new to our community, we couldn’t have done this without your support!

Cheers to a new adventure!

Camping With Your Dog

Camping With Your Dog

Now that the leaves have turned, the bugs are gone, and the temperature is cooling, we’re all itching to get the dog, grab the tent and head up to the mountains! Camping with your dog is tons of fun and full of adventure. Many of the same skills that our dogs need to be successful while living in our homes also apply to camping, with the added difficulty of being out in an exciting environment with extra distractions and fewer management options than we have at our disposal in our homes. Below you will find tips to set your dog up for success as you enjoy all that nature has to offer this fall. 

Teach a stationary “Settle” behavior! This behavior is useful in many different contexts, but especially in a camping setting. Having a reliable “Settle” cue helps to keep your dog out of the way of the camp stove while you’re cooking dinner, settle next to the fire, and gives them a clear spot to be in the tent while you get ready for bed at the end of the night. Check out this video playlist for instructions on how to get started on this skill with your dog! Remember to start in an easy environment and build up the difficulty from there.

Practice sleeping outside ahead of your first full camping trip. For dogs that are used to sleeping inside quiet houses, we have to remember that transitioning to sleeping outdoors in a tent or camper can come with a lot of extra little noises and smells. If you have the option to do so, try a test run close to home for your dog’s first outdoor sleeping experience. Make sure your dog has had plenty of exercise and is ready for bed before getting into the tent. When it’s time to get into the tent together, provide a designated sleeping space that is similar to where they might sleep inside your home (this is where you settle training comes in!). You may not always need to bring their big cushy dog bed along for your camping adventures, but especially for their first tent experience, we want to help them clearly understand that sleeping is the primary activity when inside the tent.

Teach your dog that people appearing suddenly is a cue to check in with you. Whether you are camping in a dispersed area or a busy campground, it’s important for your dog to calmly accept people and other dogs walking past your campsite. A barking dog can be an unpleasant surprise to anyone walking past, as well as yourself! With a little bit of proactive practice, you can help your dog be prepared for sudden visitors by teaching them that these are good experiences for them! Start by teaching your dog that when something happens in their environment, it is an opportunity to come and get a treat from you. Start this in an environment like the far end of a grocery store parking lot with your dog on-leash. When your dog sees someone walk into their field of view, give them a treat. Repeat this until your dog assumes that someone appearing suddenly is usually an opportunity to get something good from you! Then you can take this on the road and practice on hikes, at campsites, or any other environment you might find yourself in. Gradually build up the difficulty so that even if your dog is startled by a surprise hiker on an otherwise deserted backcountry campsite, they’re ready to reconnect with you quickly!

Ready to continue learning about camping with your dog? Click here for our Camping with Dogs Webinar! This webinar is taught by dog behavior and training experts who regularly camp with their dogs, and have coached many other teams to camping success. If you want additional support for you and your dog, we offer in-person Group Classes and Private Lessons in Fort Collins, Colorado, and virtual coaching right in the comfort of your home. 

Separation Anxiety

Separation Anxiety

By Benah Stiewing

Separation Anxiety is a brutal behavior to experience for both you and your dog. Separation anxiety refers to a group of behaviors a dog will exhibit when left alone, from panting and pacing to ripping holes in the walls. For some dogs, their stress is relatively mild and you may not even realize your dog has anxiety around you leaving. But for others, separation anxiety can make everyday practices extremely difficult, like grocery shopping and going to work. 

From the mildest case to the most severe, separation anxiety as a disorder has one underlying commonality: Panic. Your dog isn’t acting out of spite, they aren’t annoyed about your absence, and they aren't trying to punish you for going shopping without them. They are so panicked about being left alone that they can't control themself.

Imagine this scenario. You are driving through a green light, as casually as you like, minding your own business. Suddenly a car comes flying through the opposing red light, right at you. You slam on your brakes. The car swerves, misses you by a hair's breadth, and then proceeds to speed away. Sitting there, gasping, you notice your heart racing; your hands shake a little. Now ask yourself this: In the moment the car hurled toward you, could you have willed yourself to relax? Could you have ordered your heart not to pound? Of course not. You don’t have control over the panic that overtakes your body in a situation like that, nobody does. The brain floods the body with adrenaline to trigger its emergency response. 

If you have a dog with separation anxiety, this is what they go through each and every time they are left alone. However illogical, excessive and disconnected from the reality of the situation that response is. Like us, dogs form strong social bonds, which is why the typical symptoms displayed with separation anxiety are those a dog would use to avoid being separated from their family: vocalizing, pacing, scratching, and Houdini-type escape attempts. These symptoms can bring about numerous problems, like complaints from neighbors, costly bills for destroyed property and frightening phone calls about your dog being loose in the neighborhood.

Your dog can’t just “get a grip” on their separation anxiety, but they can get better. How? In time, through a type of training called desensitization, your dog will learn that absences need not be a reason to panic. Desensitization refers to the act of changing a learner’s emotional response to one stimulus by pairing it with the emotional response of a different stimulus. In order to do this, we need to break down the behavior of your dog being alone into much smaller steps. We call these steps the Pre-Departure Routine. We systematically change your dog’s emotional response to these behaviors and then slowly build them together to create the entire behavior chain of leaving your dog alone. This process takes lots of time and dedication, but most dogs are able to make a full recovery from their separation anxiety. 

While we’ve provided a light introduction into separation anxiety training, there is so much more to learn! If you have a dog who doesn’t have separation anxiety but you want to be proactive, consider watching Separation Anxiety Prevention Training Starts Now! This pre-recorded webinar follows our CEO, Amber, as she raises her puppy with separation anxiety prevention in mind. If you want additional support for you and your dog, consider working with a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT). Trainers with the CSAT credential are highly trained to support your dog recover from separation anxiety. This training generally occurs virtually, since there is no added benefit to in-person work when focusing on separation anxiety. Our top CSAT referrals are Beth Friedman with Canine Companion Consulting & Jackie Johnston with Believe in Your Dog.  If your dog is suffering from separation anxiety, we strongly recommend reaching out to one of these excellent professionals for private training. We don’t currently have a CSAT trainer on our training team, but if you’d like to meet with us first to get our perspective on your dog’s case before seeing a specialist, we’d be happy to support you in a virtual consultation - just email us at admin@summitdogtraining.com to set up! 

Summit Dog Training offers group dog training classes & private lessons in Fort Collins, Colorado, as well as online self-study courses & online private lessons for education on how to live the best life with your dog!  If you are looking for more training support, please don’t hesitate to contact us! We’d love to help you and your dog get ready for any adventure.

Cooperative Care

Cooperative Care

By Benah Stiewing

Just like us, there are certain activities your dog has to do even though they may be difficult, or sometimes painful. For humans, we may not enjoy going to the doctor but we can rationalize why it’s worth getting poked and prodded. For our dogs, going to the vet can be terribly confusing at best and traumatizing at worst. It’s not uncommon for your normally friendly and easy-going dog to develop fear or reactivity when they visit the veterinarian. As positive-reinforcement trainers, a trip to the vet can be especially destabilizing to our dogs who are used to feeling heard and advocated for. Enter, cooperative care! 

Originally started in zoos and animal parks as a way to care for and treat large, often dangerous animals, cooperative care is the method of training an animal to not only tolerate physical actions and manipulations, but to actively consent to such behaviors. This method is rooted in autonomy and the positive effects of choice. We teach our dog that they have full control over what happens to their physical body in a certain context. There are times, like an emergency medical scenario, where your dog may need to be fully restrained and sedated for a medical procedure and does not experience any autonomy, but this is entirely separate from the context of cooperative care training. You can use cooperative care training for:

• Blood draws

• Vaccines

• Physical inspections

• Nail trims

• Teeth brushing

• And more!

Sounds great, right? Let’s get started! First, you need to build your context of choice. You need to teach your dog how they can opt in and opt out of training by teaching your dog a stationary behavior! If you aren’t familiar with teaching that behavior, click here for an instructional video. Once you have trained your stationary behavior, we are going to use being on the mat as a way to opt-in to the training goal at hand. If your dog is on the mat, they are consenting to the behavior you are practicing. When they leave the mat, they are saying no. If at any point your dog leaves the mat during a training session, you must respect that choice and not encourage them to come back on. Remember that cooperative care is about autonomy, so it’s imperative that you honor your dog’s choices and allow them autonomy. 

After building an environment of choice, cooperative care breaks down a behavior (like nail trims) into many much smaller steps. Let’s explore nail trims as an example of how cooperative care works! Below we have broken down the act of trimming a dog’s nails. Please keep in mind that this is just an example and you may need to modify the steps/progression for your own dog. 

1. Hand moves towards dog’s head

2. Hand touches dog’s foot

3. Hand grasps dog’s foot

4. Hand grasps dog’s foot for 3 seconds

5. Hand grasps dog’s foot for 5 seconds

6. Hand grasps dog’s foot for 10 seconds

7. Go back to step 1, with the clippers present in the space (at a distance where your dog notices them but isn’t in a state of fear). 

1. Repeat steps 1-6 with the clippers in the space.

2. Continue repeating steps 1-6 at each stage of the clippers moving closer to you and your dog. Once the clippers are within reach of your body, move on to step 8.

8. While one hand is grasping foot, the other hand picks up clippers

9. Hand holding clippers moves dog’s foot

10. Clippers touch dog’s foot

11. Nail is placed in the clipper

12. Clipper is closed around the nail

13. This cycle continues for each toe. 

That’s a fairly complex set of behaviors, and we need to desensitize our dog to each step in that process. The general rule is 15-20 successful repetitions per step before moving on to the next. Remember, this is a general outline and you may need more or less steps depending on your dog’s overall comfortability with nail trims. 

While we’ve provided a deep dive into using cooperative care for nail trims, there are so many more possibilities for this training method, like baths and haircuts! If you want to start cooperative care with your dog but aren’t sure where to begin, consider enrolling in Cooperative Care for Better Veterinary & Grooming Visits! This 3-week virtual class is bursting with information, presented through recorded lectures, written instructions, and demonstration videos. If you want additional support for you and your dog, we offer in-person Private Lessons in Fort Collins, Colorado and Chatham, New York, and virtual coaching right in the comfort of your home.

Summit Dog Training offers group dog training classes & private lessons in Fort Collins, Colorado, as well as online self-study courses & online private lessons for education on how to live the best life with your dog!  If you are looking for more training support, please don’t hesitate to contact us! We’d love to help you and your dog get ready for any adventure.

Counter Surfing

Counter Surfing

By Benah Stiewing

Counter surfing is so much fun... for your dog! Dogs typically counter-surf for two simple reasons - it's interesting, which enriches their daily life, AND it often pays off with some high value rewards! However fun this behavior is for our dogs, it's typically not something we want them to practice in our homes. Not only is this hazardous for your food and other objects on your counter-tops, it can also be dangerous for your dog if they were to find & consume something unsafe. Below you will find enrichment, management, and training tips to prevent counter surfing and provide your dog with alternative behaviors that are safe and simple. 

Because dogs often choose counter-surfing as a fun activity when they are bored and don't have other, more positive outlets, we have to consider enrichment as a key part of our behavior modification plan for counter-surfing. When considering your dog's enrichment needs, you have to take into account your dog's age, breed, & preferred activity level. A dog with a high drive for hunting and working will be getting a lot of mental benefits from their counter-surfing routine, and we need to be ready to replace that with appropriate outlets instead!

Easy Enrichment Activities:

• Do training games or food puzzles for many of your dog's regular meals.

• Keep a freezer full of frozen Kongs & other stuffable toys for a regular mental exercise when your dog needs it!

• Teach your dog sniffing games on the ground, like find the treat or the toy.

• Add in some extra walks, runs, hikes, or other physical activities to your dog's weekly routine.

• Click here to view our recommended enrichment items & food puzzles!

Management is an essential piece of resolving counter-surfing behavior. If your dog is able to regularly practice getting up on the counters, and subsequently receives reinforcement (even in the form of a tiny little crumb of food), then they are likely going to continue to exhibit this very functional behavior. While we are working on replacing counter-surfing with better behaviors, we need to restrict our dogs' access to areas that have counters when we aren't around to supervise and redirect.

Even when we are around to supervise, sometimes our attention can be divided (i.e. cooking

dinner) and our counter-surfers can use that opportunity to sneak a tasty snack. Having a good management plan in place can help prevent that from happening! In practice, this could look like: 

• Use baby gates or exercise pens to keep your dog out of the kitchen when unsupervised.

• Keep food away in the pantry, cabinets, and/or refrigerator. 

• Avoid leaving food on the counter as much as possible. 

• When in the kitchen cooking, use tethering to keep your dog restricted to certain areas. 

• You can either tether your dog to your waist so you can supervise closely, or pick a nearby doorknob. 

The training game below is as simple as it sounds! We want to teach your dog that it’s more reinforcing to have all four feet on the floor. Through the enrichment and management techniques we discuss above, we’ve already made sure that your dog won’t ever be reinforcing for jumping on the counter. Now, we want them to learn what is reinforcing!

Four Paws on the Floor: 

• In your kitchen or other counter-surfing area, watch your dog and look for times when they have four paws on the floor. Mark and reward, then keep watching. Do they raise their nose up towards the counter surface, but keep their paws on the floor? Mark and reward! 

• If your dog struggles to even keep all four feet on the floor, you can ask your dog for a sit when they approach the counter. 

• Remember, we want to prevent the behavior, so ask them for a sit before they have begun to jump on the counter.

• You can add in mild distractions on the counter-top (think baby carrots or something else dog-safe) as your dog is ready!

Do you need extra support with your dog’s counter-surfing behavior? We’re here for you! If you want additional support for you and your dog, we offer in-person Group Classes and Private Lessons in Fort Collins, Colorado and Chatham, New York, and virtual coaching right in the comfort of your home. As you work through your dog’s counter-surfing, it’s vital to remember that your dog is simply being a dog and working to access what is reinforcing - the more we can understand this and pay our dogs well for desired behavior, the better we may serve our dogs.

Summit Dog Training offers group dog training classes & private lessons in Fort Collins, Colorado, as well as online self-study courses & online private lessons for education on how to live the best life with your dog!  If you are looking for more training support, please don’t hesitate to contact us! We’d love to help you and your dog get ready for any adventure.

Inter-Household Conflict

Inter-Household Dog Conflict

By Benah Stiewing

Just like people, not all dogs get along! Some people are your best friends, other people are your acquaintances, and some people you just don’t like - and that’s okay! Unfortunately, we can’t always predict which dogs are going to get along great and which ones won’t. Whether you’re visiting friends or have recently added a new dog to your family, experiencing conflict between dogs within a household is challenging and often exhausting. Worrying about preventing or breaking up a fight can leave you tense and constantly on alert. In this post, we’re going to talk about handling inter-household dog conflict, but if you’d like to learn more about preventing inter-household conflict, check out this podcast episode from Pawsitively Dog-Powered! Please note: if there are dogs in your household regularly experiencing conflict that escalates into lunging, snapping, or biting, we strongly recommend seeking professional help from a certified trainer. 

In order to prevent conflict escalation, it’s important that you’re able to recognize the early warning signals your dog gives. These communication methods are called calming signals, or sometimes called cut-off signals because they embody the dog’s desire to de-escalate. The vast majority of dogs are not inherently aggressive and do not want to engage in violent behavior, so will do their best to diffuse a situation before it escalates. Below is a list of some common calming signs. When studying dog communication, it’s important to understand that just like us, dogs are nuanced and contextual. Your dog yawning doesn’t always mean they are stressed - they could also be tired! It’s important to look at the whole body and make an assessment of your dog’s emotional state based on the big picture. 

Calming Signs:

• Lip licking: dog licks their lips or flick their tongue out from their mouth.

• Yawn: dog yawns, sometimes with their lips more curled back.

• Turning away: dog turns their head away from the person/dog that is making them nervous.

• Raised paw: dog slightly raises a front paw.

• Stiff body: dog’s muscles tense and movement slows.

• Tail raised: dog’s tail goes half-mast or slightly higher, maybe with a slow wag.

• Shake off: dog shakes off entire body.

Pay attention to your dog’s body language over the next few days, and start to notice what calming signals they display. Once we understand how to read when our dog is becoming agitated, it’s easier to intervene earlier before behavior escalates. If you notice your dog yawning and lip licking when another dog comes close, ask your dog for a known behavior or say their name to help them create distance from the other dog. Reinforce your dog if they’re able to walk away and perform the behavior you asked for. We want your dog to know that they can create the distance they need to feel comfortable, and that we are their advocate and will help them create that distance when it’s needed. You want your dog to know that you hear, see, and will respond to their early warning signals that they’re feeling uncomfortable. If you’d like to learn more about calming signals, click here to watch a brief documentary from celebrated behaviorist, Turid Rugaas!

Management:

When handling inter-household dog conflict, we always want to focus on quality or quantity when it comes to time spent together. When you have multiple dogs, it’s quite normal for those dogs to spend 24/7 together. They eat together, exercise together, sleep together. Just like people, your dog is bound to get sick of spending that much time with someone! It’s critical that you create time and space for your dogs to do activities alone, like solo walks or solo cuddle time (if cuddling is something they enjoy). Have a dedicated activity that you all do together, like going for a walk with both dogs, or playing with toys out in the yard. When your dogs are spending time together, remember to look for signs of stress (as described above) and immediately end the experience if they start to arise. We want the stressed dog to know that those early warning signs will be noticed and responded to, so they don’t need to escalate to aggressive behavior to create the space they need. It’s critical that your dog trusts you to be their advocate, so they don’t have to.

We want to make sure your dogs always have the space to feel comfortable and secure, whether they’re with other dogs or alone. To ensure this, we want to bring in management! We can use objects like ex-pens, baby gates, crates, leashes, and muzzles to create a comfortable environment. We can use ex-pens, crates, and baby gates to provide separation and allow for each dog to have time apart. In the photos below, you’ll see one such separation! Cosmo is very selective when it comes to other dogs, so this was his set-up while visiting some friends who had dogs of their own. He has his crate, which is a safe and familiar space for him, surrounded by an ex-pen covered with a blanket. This way, Cosmo has three barriers of protection if he starts to feel unsafe - the blanket blocking his view, the ex-pen, and his crate. Keep in mind that this set-up is specific to Cosmo’s needs. For other dogs, we might have removed the chair and used a taller ex-pen.Your set-up is going to be specific to your dogs and what they need to feel comfortable. 

Training Support for Inter-Household Dog Conflict:

Supporting you and your dogs is our passion! We understand how challenging conflict in your home can be, and we are here to help. Private lessons are an excellent way to work on the relationship between your dogs, with an individualized training program created for you and your specific situation. Private training is available in-person in Fort Collins, CO, Hudson, NY, and everywhere virtually!  If private lessons aren’t an option for you on this set of behavior challenges, we highly recommend this online course by our colleague Katie at Wise Mind Canine, who specializes in multi-dog households!

Summit Dog Training offers group dog training classes & private lessons in Fort Collins, Colorado, as well as online self-study courses & online private lessons for education on how to live the best life with your dog!  If you are looking for more training support, please don’t hesitate to contact us! We’d love to help you and your dog get ready for any adventure.