TRAINING

Level 1 training is foundation behavior and needed for all other training levels. The training focuses on getting the dog to think about their behavior and on impulse control. This focuses around PACE which stands for Polite Attentive Calm Exercise- this means that if a treat focused dog can sit but jumps right back up to grab the treat then they have not done sit in the way we are asking. In Level 1 this idea is introduced into all training and it will continue throughout all BLDHTX training levels. Level 1 includes taking treats gently, not invading a person’s space, keeping all four feet on the ground, making eye contact, relaxing, sitting for things they want without being asked to sit, learning the touch cue which is especially helpful for skittish dogs, “sit”, and  “down”. We also begin to work with the cues “wait” and “stay” (which we cover more formally in Level 2) as they are used to help with the start of door manners (also explored more fully in Level 2) and with relaxing in the sit or down position. Finally, beyond keeping all four feet on the ground, we introduce greetings in general- how does the dog greet people when excited- how can we bring PACE into greetings and throughout the dog’s behaviors.

Level 2 builds on the manners and foundation behaviors learned in Level 1 and continues to work on impulse control and the ability to follow cues. This level focuses on “wait”, “stay” (with distance between you and the dog and with duration), “leave it”, “drop it”, getting a dog to settle down quickly when they are excited, door manners, and building on some of the cues learned previously so that dogs can do them reliably without a hand signal. 

Level 3 uses the skills learned in the other levels such as PACE, “down”, “wait”, “stay”, etc. to work on more advanced skills and tricks! Dogs will learn “come”, “stay” (expanded to now be done with distractions), “place”, and so much more. Once your dog is working at this level they can often learn new tricks more quickly and we will help teach them new cute tricks.

Leash Training is hard for many dogs and owners because there are so many issues to tackle- the ability to focus when on leash, keeping a good pace, loose leash walking, distractions, reactivity, etc. During Leash Training, we will work on desensitizing your dog to the leash so it is no longer difficult to put the leash on and then all aspects of leash manners. We walk dogs off-site and work with all distractions- cars, other dogs, squirrels, etc. For most dogs (depending on the severity of issues) Leash Training needs to be repeated multiple times to continue to make progress. Doing one leash training session will give your dog the basic understanding of what is being asked and you the basic tools to continue to work on reinforcement and progress at home. For dogs who need more help or owners who want more help during the reinforcement and progress stage, we are happy to continue leash training as many times as you would like to get the results you’re looking for.

Has your dog been through Levels training but loves to learn? Do you love getting their training reinforced ongoing while stretching their abilities in new ways? Do you want your dog to get breaks from play time to work on enrichment and learning? We believe that ongoing learning is great for dogs- keeping them thinking helps them with skills and manners throughout their lives. We are happy to continue training with your dog at advanced levels. We will teach them new tricks (do you have specific tricks you want them to learn- we are happy to work on it with them!), reinforce their learning with more distractions, and push their known cues and skills. If you are having specific issues that you want our help with, we are happy to do all we can to build on their strong foundation to help with any issues you are seeing. Advanced Training is training honed to advancing each dog individually and can be repeated as many times as you would like to continue to stretch their learning.

Level 1+ is an enrichment and training reinforcement add-on. Dogs who have completed Level 1 or higher of training can enroll in Level 1+ Daycare with Training. On Level 1+ days dogs will enjoy daycare but also participate in short activities outside of daycare. These activities will include reinforcement of their training and time with mental stimulation games/toys which increase problem solving, impulse control, and focus. These enrichment times combined with daycare will allow them to enjoy both mental and physical fun throughout their day while reinforcing their learning.

Level 1+ Training with Daycare days can be added as individual days to any weekday but we recommend making reservations in advance as spots are limited.

Is your little one ready to learn?! Puppy Kindergarten is the perfect introduction to new experiences, learning, and socialization for puppies. This program is for puppies up to 8 months old (for the safety of your dog, they must be finished with all rounds of puppy vaccinations). In Puppy Kindergarten puppies will be exposed to new stimuli in a safe and nurturing environment so that they are less likely to develop fearful responses later (ex. storm noises, walking over different surfaces, vacuums, etc.) Puppies will learn basic obedience through positive reinforcement. We will work on crate training and use these skills to work towards reducing the likelihood of the development of separation anxiety later. To help with their socialization, puppies will enjoy play time and learning with other puppies in the program and will meet new people. 

This offering is for dogs currently enrolled in our Puppy Kindergarten. If you need to use our Daycare or Boarding services on days other than the Tu/Th Puppy Kindergarten schedule, we highly recommend adding Kinder+. On days that your dog is doing Kinder+ they will be in general daycare but will be pulled out of daycare for short enrichment sessions. Sessions will focus on reinforcing everything they are working on in Puppy Kindergarten. These enrichment sessions will help your dog continue to grow behaviorally and will allow them to have some breaks from the busy daycare environment to do some focused mental work.  

This training is specially designed for skittish or shy dogs that struggle with people in general, with strangers, or with new situations. Level 1 Daycare with Training is a pre-requisite as it lays some foundation of trust and skills for us to build on while we focus in on continuing to build their confidence with people and in more stimulating environments. Building confidence in shy dogs is an ongoing task that takes a lot of time and trust building- we would love to be part of your dog's growth and help them understand that they can be loved by many and safe in new situations. This course is also helpful for dogs that are fearful of being touched on certain areas of their body (back, feet, tail, ears, head, etc) as we can begin to help with desensitization with positive reinforcement over time- this has many applications including allowing safer handling at home, with new people, or for processes such as grooming.

If you would like to do training at BLDHTX and your dog has previously attended training elsewhere, you can opt to have your dog’s training level assessed to see if they are able to start at a higher level.  Training is assessed based on your dog’s ability to follow cues and to do so while relaxed and focused. During the assessment we will determine if your dog is ready to move to a higher level or if they would benefit from reinforcement of their previous learning through our Level 1 course. If your dog is new to our facility and you feel that they may be able to better show their skills after attending daycare for a while, you can add another Training Assessment at a later date to have your dog re-assessed before booking training.

Grooming can be scary for some dogs and, unfortunately, we can’t fully explain to them that there is nothing to be scared of in the grooming process. Therefore, we offer groom desensitization. This can be added to any daycare or boarding day for $10. During groom desensitization we spend 10-15 minutes working with your dog in the grooming room on handling and desensitization. Groom desensitization needs to be a slow consistent process in order to make progress. We suggest adding groom desensitization on a regular schedule at least a few times per week to make the most progress. Like all of our training, we only use positive reinforcement and don’t push your dog past their stress threshold- this helps dogs understand that grooming is not scary and it means yummy treats!