Adolescence is a long developmental stage that begins when the sensitive socialization period ends and puppyhood comes to a close. Some dogs mature well before the age of two, while for others the process takes significantly longer.This long teenage phase can be filled with all...
Even though puppy owners often fear making mistakes, very few things in puppy life actually fall apart because of one or even several individual mistakes. Problems usually arise because, with the best intentions, people try to do too much, too quickly and in too many...
A dog’s shyness and fears can stem from many factors, including insufficient early-life experiences, genetic traits or unpleasant incidents. Fears also tend to generalize easily and most of them worsen over time, especially if nothing is done to address them.Whenever we talk about fearfulness or...
In the previous article we discussed rewards and timing. Another fundamental pillar of training is the level of requirement, also known as the criterion, and the rate of reinforcement. These two are closely connected. The criterion directly affects the reinforcement rate and the reinforcement rate...
If you do not have something your dog wants, training becomes impossible. If you reward your dog at the wrong moment, the dog learns the wrong thing. Reward and timing therefore form the foundation of training. Their importance and role are present every single time...
Species-typical behaviour is often the most rewarding thing for a dog — and this is exactly why teaching recall can be challenging. Playing with another dog, sniffing the ground or chasing a rabbit are all examples of highly rewarding, natural behaviours for dogs.In every situation,...
Dogs are learning all the time — whether we intend to teach them or not. Learning doesn’t happen only during structured training sessions. That’s why it’s worth observing how your dog behaves in everyday situations and considering how those moments could be used as part...
Dog breeds have been developed for a wide variety of tasks, and different working roles require different traits from a dog. As a result, every dog has a certain energy level that is influenced by both breed and individual genetics. A dog’s original purpose —...
Author Kirsi Liikanen, 7 November 2019Even the best of training cannot succeed if the foundation it is built on is not a solid one. Ideally, a dog's foundational skills should be built strong when the dog is a puppy, but it’s never too late to work on...
Author SportsK9 editorial team, 21 June 2017How do you build a relationship of trust with your dog? If dogs could choose, what kind of people would they want in their life? To learn more about this intriguing topic, SportsK9 interviewed Miira Hellsten, a qualified full-time animal trainer...
Author Sari Paavilainen, 30 May 2017Dreaming of a new puppy usually involves picturing a rosy future with a beautifully behaved dog. Often, however, as that heady puppy smell vanishes, the rose-coloured glasses come off and the challenges start setting in. Your cute youngster pulls at...