Dog training is fun!

I have always adored dogs as their ability to enjoy life in each moment kindled my love and enjoyment of life.

Kingsdale Dog Home Boarding was created through my love of dogs; a safe and happy environment for both my dogs and boarding dogs to meet, play and share time with Mike and I.

16 months later, Kingsdale is expanding to include assisting dog owners and their dog(s) to have a rewarding relationship together. My understanding of dogs has vastly improved through being with a variety and large number of dogs and observing their behaviours in many different situations.  

I believe that dogs innately want to love and please their owners, but sometimes the message between dog and owner gets confused and disharmony ensues. No dog is being 'bad', the dog simply hasn't understood that a different behaviour is the best behaviour! Positive reward for a dog in my humble opinion is the only kind, gentle and positive way to show and teach a dog how to behave in their world of 'humans'!

Sometimes training or as I like to think of it, teaching a game, can be very quickly adopted by the dog. Or there is the opposite when the game needs to played for a much longer time. 

The game can be different for each dog even when the outcome is the same which can be even more rewarding for all involved.

I am blessed to share my life with 2 Collies, both working dogs; one a retired male Collie, Benny Bear and the second my gorgeous 'PrimaDonna', a female Collie, Cara Doll!

Cara has taught me how to play the game of dog training. Mike and I tried everything and anything in our attempt to socialise Cara with people. She was born on a working Collie farm and was then bought and worked in another working farm. She failed and as I like to think, she really didn't want to earn her living that way!

She hardly met any people, other than on the farm, so when she came to live at Kingsdale, absolutely everything and anyone caused her to panic and go into anxiety attacks.

2 years down the line and Cara has come a long way teaching Mike and I what works in training and what doesn't! She is beginning to trust 'strangers'  albeit slowly and on her terms and watching her progress inspired and enabled me to offer assistance to others.

The golden rule that has worked wonders for me and for the dogs that I have shown new behavioural games is 'Be in a good space BEFORE you work with your dog'. Dogs can read their owners moods like an open book, so if you are feeling annoyed, frustrated or any other negative emotion, then walk away and try not to engage with your dog too much. Wait until you feel calmer, then begin again. This simple rule is the cornerstone to all my training work with dogs.

Happy Owners= Happy Hounds= Happy Owners!

To finish this post, I am sharing a testimonial I received after I played the 'Recall' game with a lively Collie who only wanted to come back when he decided! 

"Jo and Mike offer a fantastic service that goes well beyond simple boarding. Pepper is a rescue dog needing doggie socialisation and improved recall. Jo invested a tremendous amount of time and patience and he came home a much improved pooch. 

His recall is definitely better and he is much calmer - no rounding up or barking at other dogs and people - instead just a sniff and wag of his tail!

Pepper had so much fun with the other dogs and all the cuddles on comfy couches that he had the post holiday blues when he came back home.

Jo and Mike do a wonderful job and it is so great for people to know that their dogs are having a whale of a time when they are away."

Have a funtime with your dogs and I will be giving some training tips concerning recall on my next post.

Jo and the Kingsdale Pack.