TresLabs🐾🐾🐾Dec 21, 2022
Aaron
Anyone have a good resource for dog training? She’s an Australian Cattle Dog. So, a working dog. Looking for some games for physical and mental exercise.
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#cattledog
Dec 20, 2022 at 3:01amWeb
Show threadTjandamurraDec 20, 2022
@dullBoy A hard round ball, about soccer ball size. I have them for mine.
Show threadSteadynowDec 20, 2022
@dullBoy Beautiful! And so alert and alive!
Show threadPhoenixSerenityDec 20, 2022
@dullBoy do you have a clicker for training? It really helps & is affordable.
Show threadKaty ChalmersDec 20, 2022
@dullBoy I found livestock guardian facebook groups to be a great resource when I had a working dog. They had great recommendations for keeping them occupied after retirement, etc.
Show threadWilliam WagnerDec 20, 2022
@dullBoy I have an Australian cattle dog, and she loves the Outward Hound puzzle toys. Some of them are pretty simple, but some of them are fairly complex and require multiple sequential steps to get a reward.
Show threadStephen CollinsDec 20, 2022
@dullBoy does she fetch? Our cattle dog x vizsla is fetching mad. Every time I go into the yard, we play a dozen or so fetch and return with hard rubber toys of different shapes - Kong, ball, beer bottle. The reward is hugs and pats (and extra throws).
If she's good off-lead, a walk in the woods does wonders - it needn't be miles. Learning to walk on lead, sit, and return on call are vital skills. You can teach those, but if she's struggling, your local companion dog club should have a course.
Show threadTechEnthusiastDec 20, 2022
@dullBoy @pkmgm my pup and I do lots of scavenger hunts with his treats, hide and seek with toys and treats, hide the human, provided you have some means of keeping her from following you while you hide, or... the hiding human does. Lol Feed her dinner from a puzzle toy like the kong wobbler or one of the more advanced puzzle feeding systems out there. Use either clicker work, or positive reinforcement to teach her things like touching her nose to your hand, high 5 with both paws, etc. My dog does guide work, so I also teach him the names and meanings of new things such as stairs, elevator, escalator chair, bench, seat, trashcan, etc. Just a few of the things I've done with my boy over the last year or so of having him. I hope it helps. ,
Show threadKim Campbell ThorntonDec 20, 2022
@dullBoy Look for a nose work trainer. Scent games are great for mental exercise. Not sure where you are, but in the U.S. or Canada, check out NACSW.net to find trainers.
Show threadKristin RosenbachDec 20, 2022
@dullBoy If you are interested in scent detection for recreation (truffles, musrooms, antler sheds) I can help. There are a lot of good ideas listed here from others. One thing that wasn't mentioned is treibball.
Show threadAaronDec 20, 2022
@TruffleDogs
Ok, I just looked up treibball. Looks perfect! Thanks.
I might get back to you about scent detection for recreation, too.
Show threadKristin RosenbachDec 20, 2022
@dullBoy Excellent! I'm glad I could help 😊
Show threadDream A Little  Dec 28, 2022
@dullBoy @TruffleDogs Scent detection is so fun! I train my dogs for Nosework and they love it.
Show threadDream A Little  Dec 28, 2022
@dullBoy @Cyrus is good!
Show threadMaurie J ManningJan 3, 2023

@dullBoy We've had lots of rain the past few weeks, so my GSD Daisy and I have concentrated on listening skills. She is only allowed to take a treat when I say "Okay" - so I try to "trick" her with "o-tay, o-pay, o-fay etc." Those ears are listening hard.

Also, "Bring *item*" is rewarding and intensive listening work for her.

Show threadLotus 🔞⛓🏳️‍🌈🐘Feb 1, 2023

@dullBoy was browsing the dogTraining hashtag and saw your post. I’ve been working through Susan Garrett’s podcast (Shaped by Dog) and her ItsYerChoice games and it’s been a dog training revelation for me 🤯

Until very reverently, I was using treats as lures for most training (basically what most folks do) and we were getting frustrated by lures not working well for complex behaviors so now we do targeting and choice games. Sooooo much more enjoyable for both myself and my dog, and he learns new behaviors way faster with less frustration now.

Here’s a link for more info:

https://susangarrettdogagility.com/2018/06/why-choice-is-the-critical-key-to-a-great-dog/

Why “Choice” is the Critical Key to a Great Dog | Susan Garrett's Dog Training Blog

The ItsYerChoice Game is the key building block to everything I teach in dog training. With ItsYerChoice, doing what YOU want, is going to be your dog's idea!

Susan Garrett's Dog Training Blog