GM News - August 2021

Stay safe. Stay strong. This too will pass.

Amanda, Rodna, David & Ruth
Gentle Modern School of Dog Training

Top Tip - Push-Drop-Stick

It can be tricky to know how to make your training increase in challenge for your dog without causing unproductive frustration (for you and your dog!)

Jean Donaldson’s Push-Drop-Stick method of progressing your training provides a useful guide:

Practice at one level (for example, you being one metre away from your dog for 20 seconds) five times. If your dog is comfortable in these conditions, increase the distance and/or the time period – Push. (You’ll know whether the distance or the time period is the major factor for your dog - some dogs don’t mind the distance you are away so long as the time period is short or vice versa.)
If your dog is comfortable in these conditions for only three or four of the practice sessions, stay at this level for another five practice sessions – Stick.
If your dog is successful in less than two of the five practice sessions, make it easier for your dog – Drop. (For example, you being one metre away from your dog for 10 seconds.)

Free-Roaming Dogs

It's common in many places in the world for dogs to roam freely through streets; dogs with a home with humans to go to and dogs living completely independent lives. Forty-five years ago when I was a child living in regional Victorian towns, letting your dog roam during the daytime was pretty common too.

Ever wondered about that free-roaming canine lifestyle?

Lockdown is a good time to explore those quirky interests.

Marco Ojeda and Chrissi Schranz recently presented a webinar on this topic for the Fenzi Dog Sport Academy and the webinar is freely available.

Here's another rabbit hole you might want to pop your head into:

Why So Many Millennials Are Obsessed With Dogs by Amanda Mull in The Atlantic

Dried Banana Dog Treats

Last time we had a recipe from the Proud Dog Mom. This time it's the turn of the Crazy Dog Mom.
Check out the simple method of turning sliced banana into treats that last a week and can be enjoyed by you too.

Online Courses

Fenzi Dog Sports Academy (as the name suggests :-) has a large body of online courses for the dog sport enthusiast (Agility, Treiball, Lure Coursing, Dock Diving, etc), but they also have a variety of pet dog skills programs also. These online courses are presented by many excellent presenters, including dog training gurus like Suzanne Clothier. There's also a podcast and blog.

Do you have a Pet Sitter/Kennel, Dog Walker, Groomer, Vet, Canine Massage Therapist, etc. that you would recommend to other members of the Gentle Modern School community?

If you love it, please share it!
We often have people ask about these services and it would be great to be able to refer to services that you know and trust. Email Amanda with details. Thanks in advance!

Review Us?
If you feel it's warranted and you're comfortable writing a sentence or two in the form of a testimonial for use on our website (please email it to Amanda), or reviewing us on Facebook or Google (how to and direct link to GMSDT Google review), we would be very grateful.

If you have any concerns about your training experience with GMSDT, don’t hesitate to contact Amanda – we want to ensure always that you and your dog have an effective and beneficial training experience.