How to read your dog’s body language in training sessions. Firstly we shall look at what the ears of the dog are telling us during a training session. When training a dog you want to shoot for the ear position on the left: POINTED AT YOU, relaxed or perky. I call these ears “expectant” they are expressing that the dog is expecting something to happen that he is not conflicted about. The ear positions on the right, POINTED AWAY FROM YOU give you information that your dog might be feeling somehow conflicted, uncomfortable or anxious. Don’t panic if you see your dogs ears go back during training. Your dog is just communicating with you. When you see the ears go back, you can tweak your training plan by breaking the training up into smaller steps and trying to figure out what is making your dog feel uncomfortable so you can get those ears back up and looking perky or relaxed. Your dog’s ears will also move around if he is listening to sounds in the environment. This is also information though, as when his ears are moving around, he will not be as focused on learning so don’t train a new behavior in a distracting environment until you have his full focus. Dogs also put their ears back in every day life when greeting dogs or people. This is normal dog behavior. Want to become a trainer that is great at reading dogs? Film your training sessions, and when you watch back the footage, pay attention to just one part of your dog’s body during the whole session – his eyes, his mouth, his neck, feet, body posture or ears. To begin with, watch your dog’s ears. By watching back the footage you will see things you missed while training. When a dog is directly in front of you during a training session, the dog’s gaze should ideally be POINTED AT YOU, the reinforcement or in the direction of the task. If you notice the dog’s gaze start to POINT AWAY FROM YOU or the task, this gives you vital information about what to do next in the training session. Dogs can look away during training for many reasons. Some reasons include, that the dog is uncomfortable or stressed, that the reinforcement is not of high enough value, the session has gone on too long or that the dog is simply distracted by the surrounding environment. Regardless of the reasons, the dog is not paying 100% attention and is not 100% in the training game. When a dog starts to look away, you can reassess if something is causing the dog to feel uncomfortable. There could be some unintended social pressure you were unaware of, for example the dog could perhaps be feeling uncomfortable that you are leaning over him. If you believe this is not the case, you can see if using a higher value of reinforcement will get your dog back in the game. If this does not work, it’s not a good idea to train new behaviors without having your dog’s full attention. You can either give your dog a break or you can ask for behaviors that your dog knows and loves and use a higher rate of reinforcement. It is normal for dogs to be slightly distracted during training when working in new environments for the first time. So I suggest when you begin training somewhere new, warm up with attention games, your dog’s strongest behaviors or a settle. In a training session with your dog in front of you take note of your dog’s body posture. The ideal picture is that your dog’s posture is relaxed in a neutral position or leaning toward you, the task or the reinforcement. When you see your dog’s neck and chest start to shift away from you, downward, to the side or back away from you or the task, this is giving you information. Imagine you are talking to someone and you see them leaning their chest and neck in your direction. They most likely feel comfortable with you and are engaged in what you have to say. Then you see them start to lean away from you… Something has changed. If they are just getting comfortable, that’s a different story. But if you see their center of their body start to point elsewhere… It is information. The same is true with dogs. All dogs communicate differently with their body posture just like people. Also, outside of training sessions your dog might change his body posture according to different social scenarios. Your dog might have the tendency to greet you or other dogs with a submissive appeasing posture or lean away from another dog who is trying to lick him. Just to note, I don’t condone having young kids hug dogs but used the picture for “leaning to the side” because it is a very good visual example of a dog feeling uncomfortable. You will also notice the facial expression is very telling. #dogbehavior #dogtraining #understandingdogs

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Tips to reduce stress for the dog you already have when adding a new dog to your household. Is your dog used to getting 100% of your attention in your free time? Are you worried that getting another dog will drastically change your existing dog’s life for the worse? Here are some tips to make the transition smooth and not turn your existing dog’s world up side down. Introducing a new dog to your household - this is a 30 min step by step video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoN1dwALe6U Separation training: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWT9DI7hMfo How to take treats nicely: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXDWbtx44b8 #dogtraining #professionaldogtraining #addinganewdog Preventing “Jealousy” When Adding a New Dog, how to stop dog jealousy, preventing resource guarding, adding a new dog, tips for the old dog to feel more comfortable, How to reduce the stress of your existing dog when adding a new puppy or adult dog to your household.

This video is on the topic of what treats to use when training your dog, how to tell if a treat is of high or low value and when to use high and low value treats in your training. Thank you to all the Kikopup Members who voted this video into creation! I really appreciate your support and input into what videos I create. The videos I mention are: What to do if your dog is over excited by food- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DR831Q2fv-U What to do if your dog is under motivated by food- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knYNa0U5QZU Another helpful video: Take treats nicely- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXDWbtx44b8 #dogtraining #professionaldogtraining #puppytraining Check out my dogs’ daily antics on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/kikopup/ FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/dogmantics/ CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE FOR FREE TRAINING ARTICLES, VIDEOS AND PRODUCTS: https://dogmantics.com/ The online store where you can find Professional Dog Training memberships, Self-study courses and video on demand for purchase: https://dogmantics.com/shop/ If you would like to support my work to create more educational videos like this one on how to train dogs without the use of physical or psychological intimidation, consider clicking the join button and becoming a member of channel Kikopup! It's kind of like the youtube version of patreon with perks. :) Click this link here if a join button does not show up on your device such as a phone: https://www.youtube.com/user/kikopup/join Happy Training! - Emily Larlham (AKA Kikopup)

People frequently say "Positive Reinforcement Didn't Work". I am going to explain why this happens as well as talk about the concept that Positive Reinforcement wasn't actually used. I will talk briefly about situations to avoid in which food, toys and access to the environment do not function as reinforcers that can efficiently change behavior. The main take away from this video is that just because you are giving the dog food, toys or access to something, it does not necessarily mean that you are using Positive Reinforcement Reinforcers and Punishers are subjective and can change depending on the situation. They mirror each other in how they can be conditioned and you can change a reinforcer into a punisher and a punisher into a reinforcer. The key to effective training using Positive Reinforcement is knowing how to break the steps up, arrange the environment, raise criteria and condition and use reinforcers effectively. Its also extremely important to be able to read your dog's body language and behavior to know the strength of the reinforcer as well as when the criteria is too low or too high or the dog is acting over-aroused, fearful or anxious. Check out my dogs’ daily antics on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/kikopup/ FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK: https://www.instagram.com/kikopup/ CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE FOR FREE TRAINING ARTICLES, VIDEOS AND PRODUCTS: https://dogmantics.com/ The online store where you can find memberships, Self-study courses and video on demand for purchase: https://dogmantics.com/shop/ To become a member of CHANNEL KIKOPUP and get access to the perks of being a member, click the JOIN button that is next to the SUBSCRIBE button on my Youtube Channel or click this link here if a join button does not show up on your device such as a phone: https://www.youtube.com/user/kikopup/join Happy Training! - Emily Larlham (AKA Kikopup)

This video goes over one reason why newbie owners and newbie dog trainers FAIL when attempting to get their dogs to work for toys and treats as well as to get their dogs to like something like nail clippers, guests visiting the house or other dogs. This video is all about understanding the importance of the trainer’s MOVEMENT when training, and how it can make or break your training. A trainer could write the most amazing training plan which looks amazing on paper, but the way the trainer MOVES during the training could totally make or break the training depending on the dog. All dogs have different personalities, so some dogs are not as affected by movement as others. But it is extremely important to learn to read your dog’s body language to see if your movement affects your dog. This video also really is a great example of how you can turn a punisher into a reinforcer and turn a reinforcer into a punisher. This is why it’s extremely important to understand that you can’t just label things as being intrinsically reinforcing or intrinsically punishing to dogs. Everything is subjective and fluid. Only the dogs brain decides what is reinforcing and what is punishing, not the trainer. Halo the Border Collie is just 9 months old in this video and the goal with him is to condition him to think anything I do with him is reinforcing. If you see something makes your dog feel uncomfortable you can train them in training sessions to be confident instead of worried to create a resilient learner. I show myself working with a dog who is shy and reserved with guests in this video as well as describe how I worked with my own dog’s fear of a hand reaching at him. This is in no way advice for training your own dog. If you have a dog who is acting shy, reactive or aggressive toward people you need to go and hire a professional dog trainer who doesn’t use any forms of physical or psychological intimidation to help you with setting up a training plan, because even if you try to follow what I did in the video, you might raise criteria too fast and that can cause the dog’s behavior to get worse rather than better. As well as you might not be able to read your dog’s body language that it is time to raise or lower criteria. How to read your dog’s body language: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAk8eMRHYjU The touch cue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWSJVwZybwo The chin rest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2lnaerPR5o How to train a dog that is OVEREXCITED about food- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DR831Q2fv-U How to train a dog who is OVEREXCITED about toys- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWZn--78JDM How to train a dog who is not interested in food- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knYNa0U5QZU Check out my dogs’ daily antics on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/kikopup/ FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK: https://www.instagram.com/kikopup/ CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE FOR FREE TRAINING ARTICLES, VIDEOS AND PRODUCTS: https://dogmantics.com/ The online store where you can find memberships, Self-study courses and video on demand for purchase: https://dogmantics.com/shop/ To become a member of CHANNEL KIKOPUP and get access to the perks of being a member, click the JOIN button that is next to the SUBSCRIBE button on my Youtube Channel or click this link here if a join button does not show up on your device such as a phone: https://www.youtube.com/user/kikopup/join Happy Training! - Emily Larlham (AKA Kikopup) #dogtraining #dogtrainingbasics #professionaldogtraining

This video goes over the concept of how it is possible to train come when called using Positive Reinforcement. The key is proactive training and behavior modification where you set up training sessions so the dog can succeed step by step as criteria is raised. I talk about how it’s not so much about proofing a recall with things that make your dog excited as much as taking the time to teach your dog to be calm confident and have self-control around the things that make him excited. When you achieve that you can imagine that a recall is really easy for a dog to do in that situation. I use the example of wildlife in this video but the same holds true for anything that excites your dog. I then talk about how beneficial it is to teach your dog the concept that access to the environment and what he wants to do most is contingent on listening to you so that your dog isn’t feeling punished when being recalled to you when what he was doing was more reinforcing than what you have on your person. As you know I don't usually show "before" footage of dogs because the best plan is to never let the behavior be rehearsed again so the dog will be less likely to do it in the future. But in this case it was a unexpected reaction to prey that by chance was captured on camera. This was the first and last time Tug was in this state because I managed the environment after finding out how excited he was about prey. This footage of Tug is from my Harnessing the Hunter Video on Demand. Tug was an easy fix just by chance because of his personality and genetics but in the video on demand I go over the process of training how to teach dogs bred for hunting or who have chased prey already to listen around prey. https://dogmantics.com/product/harnessing-the-hunter-vod/ Here are links to video tutorials I mentioned in the video as well as one on proofing a recall: Protocol: https://dogmantics.com/protocol-for-emotional-and-behavioral-modification/ Calm settle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yr1olzgidMw Proofing a recall: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIR3MtTSyIw Teaching the dog the concept that access to what he wants is contingent on listening to you first: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-ezmzKZ8kM #professionaldogtraining #dogtraining #dogtrainer Thanks for watching! Please give a thumbs up, comment and subscribe! It means a lot to me :) Check out my dogs’ daily antics on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/kikopup/ FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/dogmantics/ CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE FOR FREE TRAINING ARTICLES, VIDEOS AND PRODUCTS: https://dogmantics.com/ The online store where you can find Professional Dog Training memberships, Self-study courses and video on demand for purchase: https://dogmantics.com/shop/ If you would like to support my work to create more educational videos like this one on how to train dogs without the use of physical or psychological intimidation, consider clicking the join button and becoming a member of channel Kikopup! It's kind of like the youtube version of patreon with perks. :) Click this link here if a join button does not show up on your device such as a phone: https://www.youtube.com/user/kikopup/join Happy Training! - Emily Larlham (AKA Kikopup)

This video briefly describes the resource guarding protocol I have written to help dogs and their owners who have issues with their dogs guarding from people as well as their dogs guarding from other dogs. Here is the full written Resource Guarding Protocol: https://dogmantics.com/resource-guarding-protocol/ It is important to get help from a vet behaviorist to help you create a training plan based on this protocol if you are unsure what your dog might do, you can't read your dog's body language, or you think your dog might nip or bite. Stay tuned for more puppy tutorials! I'll be uploading some in the next week! Thanks for watching! Please give a thumbs up, comment and subscribe! It means a lot to me :) Check out my dogs’ daily antics on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/kikopup/ FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK: https://www.instagram.com/kikopup/ CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE FOR FREE TRAINING ARTICLES, VIDEOS AND PRODUCTS: https://dogmantics.com/ The online store where you can find Professional Dog Training memberships, Self-study courses and video on demand for purchase: https://dogmantics.com/shop/ If you would like to support my work to create more educational videos like this one on how to train dogs without the use of physical or psychological intimidation, consider clicking the join button and becoming a member of channel Kikopup! It's kind of like the youtube version of patreon with perks. :) Click this link here if a join button does not show up on your device such as a phone: https://www.youtube.com/user/kikopup/join Happy Training! - Emily Larlham (AKA Kikopup)

This video discusses how trainers who don't use any forms of intentional physical or psychological intimidation create behavior modification plans for issues such as fear, reactivity, anxiety, aggression and over-arousal, that are focused on training the dog how they should behave as well as changing the dog's emotional state which often times is the root of the behavioral side effect. This video also touches on how too much stess and other behavioral issues can be the cause for some dogs behavioral issues, and how it is important to look at the dogs full history before creating a training plan. I will create more how to videos on this subject. I did not touch on the topic of how genetics and personality can also be the reason behind dog's fearful or aggressive behavior but will at a later date. I used the term Positive Methods to mean training without the intentional use of physical or psychological intimidation. A type of training called Progressive Reinforcement Training. You can find out more about it here: https://progressivereinforcementtraining.com/ Here is the PROTOCOL for Emotional and Behavioral Modification that I will get more into in up coming videos :) https://dogmantics.com/protocol-for-emotional-and-behavioral-modification/ Here is an article about barking at noises when inside the house: https://dogmantics.com/solving-barking-at-noises/ Here is an article about good and bad stress: https://dogmantics.com/too-much-of-a-good-thing-are-the-activities-your-dog-loves-doing-making-him-sick/ Check out my dogs’ daily antics on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/kikopup/ FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK: https://www.instagram.com/kikopup/ CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE FOR FREE TRAINING ARTICLES, VIDEOS AND PRODUCTS: https://dogmantics.com/ The online store where you can find memberships, Self-study courses and video on demand for purchase: https://dogmantics.com/shop/ To become a member of CHANNEL KIKOPUP and get access to the perks of being a member, click the JOIN button that is next to the SUBSCRIBE button on my Youtube Channel or click this link here if a join button does not show up on your device such as a phone: https://www.youtube.com/user/kikopup/join Happy Training! - Emily Larlham (AKA Kikopup) #dogtraining #dogaggression #professionaldogtraining