Let’s start a training chain. How it works is that we take turns sharing an exercise or training challenge with the group. Everyone can give it a go at home and share their videos or daily training posts. We then tag the next person to share the next exercise. You can either film it, type it up or share any way you feel comfortable. Just have it ready to post by Sunday 😊

Today I rescued this dog from the pound. He has some behaviour issues that meant he was two hours from being put to sleep. I’ll be training him and sharing updates here and then eventually rehoming him. He needs a new name though. Hit me with your suggestions.

I had been meaning to teach obedience style scent discrimination and retrieve so that was going to be my contribution to the challenges that @Holly Pearson threw my way. However it is a little complex and now a cyclone hitting so will just go with one prepared for something else. The exercise I call Jar is just getting the dog to run to a placed or thrown treat jar and lie down next to it. It is one I now teach first night on a puppy class as a challenge to teach before the class ends. It is like using a dish for remote reward but the closed container has some advantages. As well as teaching a down at a distance the treat jar rattle is a great attention getter in the park. Also I see this as gaining a source of focus in the park away from me I can control so one or two jars can be used for games in the park that help with off leash control by building them up on a long line first and then using the game to test off leash ears in a distracting environment. When getting new people to do it I avoid showing them the end result with a thrown jar to stop them skipping ahead - they need to be good on the waiting for the dumb human to open the jar before adding the throw or you get a dog retrieving or eating the jar.

It was really nice to see so many of you get into the Two Bowls Game! Thanks to @Ave Paasuke for that - it was fun to revisit - and for tagging me to take up the mantle this week. Here is a reverse orbit - the dog circles around you whilst you stand stationary. Start by having them sit in heel position and lure them backwards around your body. If your dog has never gone backwards in a straight line then I would recommend looking at that first. If they all struggle some hind end awareness with a pivot bowl or platform would really help you. I purposefully didn't clean up the vid too much, because you might run into the same issues- I had some confusion with her guessing I wanted position changes and so she got a little stuck. Just chuck the treat to reset and try again. I've clearly also taught her to sit with her right hind splayed out like some kind of chicken drummer so make sure you don't teach yours that. It's very ugly 🤦‍♀️https://youtube.com/shorts/zMfqZDJkWQg?si=8FGgCt2jUeSUySjg Reward the smallest try and in a different place each time.

I know a bunch of you have taught this focus switching e.g. from something away from you, and also back to focusing on your face. What's your favourite method? Any favourite tutorials/resources?