In dog training and dog dynamics, the idea of being part of a pack is often misunderstood. Due to a very poorly understood research study from the 60's looking at inter-pack dynamics in wolves, lots of misunderstandings and assumptions have been made about dog packs and dynamics. Beliefs about dominance, alphas, and the like came from this study and have sadly plagued the dog training world since, leading to the explosion of "Balanced Training" and belief that humans must be the Alpha to their dogs.
NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.
There is no place for ego, alphas, or punishment in our relationships with our dogs, especially when it comes to training!!!
The reality is our dogs are very well aware that we are not a dog and they don't look to us for that sort of relationship. Instead, we humans are meant to be a calm, confident leader for them, a partner in this life, who helps them coexist with us in the happiest and healthiest ways possible.
Have you ever considered the difference between a leader and a boss?
Leaders tend to guide, demonstrate, teach by setting an example and working alongside their charges, incentivizing good work, while a boss tells their subordinates what to do, often with threats of punishment or repercussions if instructions are not followed explicitly.
Would you prefer to work with a leader?
Or under a boss?
When working with our dogs in a pack dynamic, (meaning you as the human handler are working directly with your own dog around other dog and handler teams,) this gives them the opportunity to build engagement with their human and neutrality around other dogs. Pack walks give them experiences to learn that others pup and pawrent teams are no big deal and that their presence doesn't change the expectations of their behavior or engagement. Working around other teams gives us a unique opportunity to help our pup proof their skills and learn that even with friends around, we/ their human are still the most exciting, rewarding, engaging thing in their world.
Engaged Pack Walks
(held Saturday mornings, 9-10AM,)
give pup and pawrent teams the opportunity to work on their leash manners around other pup and pawrent teams while walking around SWDC. By practicing your pup's already learned leash manner skills around other teams, you can increase their confidence and your own. Additionally, with Sara (trainer, behaviorist, and creator of Engaged Dogs,) present, you'll have the opportunity to problem solve any challenges and to learn some new skills.
Each Pack Walk begins with a few minutes of acclimation,
allowing our dogs the opportunity to get neutral around each other while stationary and maintaining a bit of distance from each other. Once all friends have arrived and settled in, the Engaged Pack Walk begins! Sara will share what route we'll be walking that session, identify any specific goals or things the pack will work on, like stopping for stationary work or running through some training drills periodically (asking for a Down/ Sit/ Touch, etc. for example,) and the pack will head out.
You can feel confident that you won't be unexpectedly greeted by other teams as they are ALL working on creating neutrality in their pups!
In addition to building your relationship with your pup, this class will help you and your pup proof their learned skills and be able to more reliably demonstrate good leash manners across a vast range of environments and situations. By not allowing greetings between pups, we help teach them that having other pup and pawrent teams present means nothing other than they are there and present! This better enables your pup to stay tuned into you and to more easily learn that you are the most exciting, rewarding, engaging thing in their environment, even with other furiends around!
Engaged Pack Walks are great for pups who are:
* working to build confidence
* building neutrality around other dogs and distractions
* building engagement with their human handler
* need some help in their leash manners
* working to proof their skills
* are working to build their relationship with their human handler
* with big emotions learning emotional regulation skills
Not sure if Engaged Pack Walks are right for you? Schedule a consultation and let's discuss!
Tips to set you and your pup up for success during Engaged Pack Walks:
* Arrive 10-15 minutes early to allow your pup ample time to acclimate.
No cuing or expectations, simply let them sniff, look, notice.
** NO on leash greetings during this time or throughout the session please. **
* Have a traditional flat collar and harness on your pup so you switch between the two and see which your pup walks better on in this scenario.
*Engaged Dogs does NOT recommend any aversive type collar, such as prong, choke, pinch, chock, or e-collars of any type. If your pup is currently utilizing one of these, we would be ecstatic to help you and your pup learn to work without these tools.
(Aversive type collars/tools refers to items which work by causing unwanted sensations or pain to our dog in order to stop behaviors. (example: dog pulls and they are choked or pinched in an attempt to prevent pulling.) Our goal at Engaged Dogs is to focus on teaching what we WANT from our pups, rather than wasting time and energy on telling them what we don't want with such tools.)
* Bring a variety of very high incentive treats- Pack Walks are one of THE biggest challenges for many dogs, so we want to pay well and pay often. Some suggestions: Stewart's Beef Liver, Kingdom Pet's dehydrated chicken, lean, cooked chicken/ pork/ beef/ tuna/ salmon, Open Farm Raw Meal Mixers (any variety.)
* Consider decreasing your pup's meal size on training days to allow for more treating and rewarding during these sessions without impacting their weight. You may even skip traditional breakfast on Pack Walk days and use this to handfeed through the walk instead.
* Use a leash 6ft or less and that you and your pup are comfortable with. We recommend the Kurgo 6-in-1 waist leash to allow for hands free working with your dog and keeping any pull at your hips, which is safer for many, (versus having their arm/ shoulder pulled.)
* Bring your sense of humor and enthusiasm!! The more exciting, silly, engaging, and fun you are to your pup, the more easily they will remain focused on you, versus the other various distractions around.
* Don't forget to use the skills you have been learning! Luring, Touch, Magnet-hand Touch, and a well-timed "Let's Go!" + U-turn can be powerful to maintain your pup's engagement and set them up for success. If you need a refresher on these, let Sara know and she can review via your pup's next Engaged Walk OR you can schedule a private training session to review with her directly.
* There is no "right" way to be during this session! The ONLY requirements are to have fun and to not greet other teams as our Engaged Dogs are working on a variety of things, many of which include BIG emotions.
*Set everyone up for success by maintaining a distance of 10-12 feet-ish between teams. If/ when your pup begins to struggle or become distracted, get distance, circle, and get their reengagement before proceeding. It is ALWAYS ok to step away, regroup, or leave the walk at any time in order to meet your pup where they are.
Are you ready to join us?
Sign up at:
www.ChooseToLiveEngaged.com
We meet every
Saturday from 9-10AM*
at the shady Waterfront Park ( in Southwest DC,) behind the police station
for an Engaged Pack Walk!
(Weather permitting. Sara will text no later than 8AM to notify if the session must be cancelled.)
Need a great hands free, versatile leash to be better able to work with your pup?
We love the Kurgo 6-in-1 https://amzn.to/3Ps5Vh4
Want to better understand your dog as a unique individual?
We really appreciate Kim Brophy's insight in her revolutionary new book: Meet You Dog: The game-changing guide to understanding your dog's behavior
Get your copy here:
*Please be advised that "as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases."
Links in this blog, and others, may be eligible for commission.
Comments