...I should probably call it "threshold manners".. doesnt matter if its a building door, crate door, car door, gate, property boundary, etc... There will probably be a much more in depth post on FB in the future. But, I wanted to post my thoughts for y'all here first! Doors, and access in general, are such a huge issue. Its not just good manners, its safety, its security. A dog bolting out a door could end up costing the dog its life. And more and more, im seeing dogs coming in with zero respect for boundaries. Not even a glance at the handler before pushing through. Teach your dog some basic control. You shouldn't have to say sit at every threshold- they should be thinking on their own. If you need instructions on teaching it- theres an article or two under the training tips on my website. Video 1: no cue. No stay. No wait. Nothing. Just control and education that you dont pass a gate without permission Video 2: in the first video, they were right there. You could question whether I gave a stern look, or hand cue off camera (i didnt). What happens when they discover the open gate and im 30' down the driveway? Nothing. Nothing happens. They wait.

Chess! We are kicking off the new year with a brand new challenge at REACH K9! To start us off right, our January theme is Calm & Confident. Whether you are looking to build steadier focus or help a shy dog find their bravery, this month is all about strategic, thoughtful progress. But we aren't just training—we’re playing! And all our faithful Skoolers get to play for free! And what better game for strategy than chess? Dog training is never just a straight line; you have to be ready, look ahead, adapt, and think outside the box. The same could be said of the Game of Kings. To play, simply print out the board below and pin it to your fridge. You can track your position with a magnet. You claim a square by performing the skill listed, but if you get stuck, no problem! It’s always okay to step back, reset, and set your dog up for success. Post your pictures and videos for validation. (both for the game, and your own confidence!) :) Your ultimate mission is to Capture the King, so take your time, get creative, and enjoy the journey. Checkmate earns you a medal! Who is ready to claim their first square? Let’s get to work!

I finally found the video to go along with class from last week. We had talked about using 'paws up' on an object to remind the dog to keep their front feet still, while moving the back end into positions. When the work in this manner, they maintain the heel position and dont step forward out of position for the stand, or end up behind the position in a rock back sit.

Sprouty has always been my “easiest” dog in regards to settle/place work, but he does have his challenges with it. We’re at a dog show this weekend and learned that the zipper on one of our pop up crates is jammed. He is handling it in stride, but the weekend is turning into a training day the whole time he’s here! Building and resetting his settling foundations in such a busy environment, it’s always interesting to see the things I need to step back with and rebuild as time goes on. I’ll be taking a step back to focus on his settling around distractions after this weekend for sure!

I have been really struggling w ledg's formal retrieve. So much so, I basically gave up for a few (many) months. I have tons of tricks for teaching it, but none made a difference to my little meathead. I needed a new perspective. I always build the chain in reverse: getting the hold first, then the pick up, then adding distance. Teaching the hold has always been a stationary exercise. For ledg, it wasnt working, so I needed to pivot. Just get him gripping an object. I changed dumbells so it was something "new". I changed words- just premack'ing it until I get the pattern (ill intro formal cues later), I started moving. It doesn't look like a retrieve right now- but its more progress in the right direction than I've had. We'll do a bunch of short sessions like this then ill start to raise the bar. Side note: yes, Hodge is obnoxious. Hes so distracting! But thats why I often leave him out. Can I keep ledg focused and engaged while his daddy is barking in his ear and body slamming him? Also- super happy with the kid's "drop it" cue!