Training methods – Stoked Dogs

Be a leader, not the alpha

The alpha myth still runs rampant in the k9 world. So if it comes to you as a surprise that “alpha” is a myth, you’re far from alone! The alpha myth, which says that dogs have similar social structure to wolves and that wolf packs operate with one alpha which must remain dominant over theContinue reading “Be a leader, not the alpha”

As seen on TV: Canine Intervention

Good dog training generally doesn’t make for good television. Television shows are about instant gratification. Magnificent makeovers done in 20 minutes. Full home builds and renovations in 55 minutes. It’s about showing one extreme to another. When it comes to good dog training (by this, I mean ethical, humane and science-based dog training) on television,Continue reading “As seen on TV: Canine Intervention”

What is the Premack Principle and how can it help me?

The Premack Principle is one that all dog trainers are generally familiar with, and that some very savvy dog owner’s also know. So, what is it and how can it help you? The Premack Principle was discussed in a study by David Premack who discussed the principle in a paper of a study on CebusContinue reading “What is the Premack Principle and how can it help me?”

Five common training mistakes that might make you think positive reinforcement doesn’t work for your dog

I’ve recently had many conversations on social media with dog guardians who believe that positive reinforcement doesn’t work for their dog. This made me realize that there are many common training mistakes that can lead to people thinking exactly that. To be clear, positive reinforcement works, otherwise it’s not positive reinforcement. I don’t want toContinue reading “Five common training mistakes that might make you think positive reinforcement doesn’t work for your dog”

Puppies and recall

I’ve been thinking about recall a lot. This may be due to the fact that I’m working on a recall focused class. Either way, this is one of the top skills that clients ask me for advice on. Recall is a potentially life saving skill. Having a reliable (or bomber as I like to callContinue reading “Puppies and recall”

So you want an adventure dog: Part 3

We’ve been discussing adventure dogs and how they don’t just magically form out of thin air. We have to build their recalls until they are absolutely bomber, and we have to put in time to build value in engaging with us when we’re outdoors. But what else do we need to consider if we wantContinue reading “So you want an adventure dog: Part 3”

So you want an adventure dog: Part 2

A lot of us are outdoor adventurers and we want our dogs to join us in that endeavour. It’s normal, our dogs typically love the outdoors like us and so we want to bring them along. But adventure dogs don’t just happen, adventure dogs are created through a strong relationships and lots of work onContinue reading “So you want an adventure dog: Part 2”

The importance of clarity in methods and tools

I thought long and hard about what I wanted to post as the first blog post of my new training company’s website. I thought about posting something related to the common issues dog owners struggle with. Something about loose leash walking, teaching a solid ‘leave it’ cue, and the all important recall. But then IContinue reading “The importance of clarity in methods and tools”