A while ago I felt I'd hit a bit of a brick wall with training to improve Jaspers focus on me while out on walks, getting his attention away from other dogs, his barking at little people and recall training. I was in a rut of doing the same sort of stuff and didnt really know what to do next other than I needed some structure to follow.
I knew going to our local dog obedience classes wasn't the way. He just found them too overwhelming and I didnt enjoy the fact he wasnt enjoying the lessons. The classses are good its just they dont suit Jasper.
I started looking online for various courses a lot of which are very expensive I might add. Some had free downloads to get ideas of what they do, marketing I know to get your email, but I downloaded anyway.
I got a promo email offering a 70% discount off a course from one of the sites. A course that covered 25 days with video tutorial each day to help with dogs focus and impulse control, and Facebook group to share experiences as well as having occasional live videos with the trainers. Theres also some youtube videos for free. The trainers themselves, one is a vet and trained behaviourist the other does agility and won crufts 2020 with her spaniel, so a broad dog background. Sounded ok, the price was such that if it was rubbish I didnt feel I'd be totally ripped off so I signed up. Then found out there were an extra 5 days, so for £27 I got 30 days of training. Less than £1 a day for something different to do with Jasper.
Its all about playing games with your dog so you become more interesting than their surroundings and they focus on you as well as teaching impulse control so they are able to focus on you. Its called "no rules dog training" as theres no specific things such as downs, sits, etc you are guiding your dog by playing games for them to make the right choices.
Day 1 is called "Ditch the bowl". Basically you no longer put food down at a meal time for them to eat. Food becomes your currency by using it in the games or stuffing in kongs, hooves to promote calmness, scatter feeding on the ground for them to find it, licki mats, puzzle toys. Dogs are contra-freeloading animals which means they prefer to work to get their food than it being put in front of them for free. This hasnt been difficult as I'd already ditched the bowl for around 75% of Jaspers food anyway. Why ? because he likes puzzle toys etc Who knew I was doing something right
Its just over a month since I signed up so now have access to all the games. I have to say I havent been 100% committed apart from ditching the bowl. You are also supposed to "Ditch the routine" and not go for walks for a couple of weeks, especially if you have a very reactive dog, and concentrate on doing the games at home and in the garden. This would provide enough mental and physical stimulation for a dog I have no doubt, but I like my walks just as much as Jasper so we still do walks. I was very lapse for a week as I had sinus infection so bending up and down just wasnt happening. I've watched all the games but haven't done them all yet, and I'm finding out which are Jaspers favorites. A couple of games work better if the dog can catch food. Jasper couldnt he'd just let them fall on his head or hit him in the face
so I've had an extra game of teaching him how to catch. I've only been doing the games inside the house and a couple of games on the patio. Not tried them in the garden or out on walks, but I've noticed some changes.1, He has become more engaged with his food. He will now accept his everyday food as reward in more situations even outside on the patio. Before he would rarely take even high value treats outside. Everyday food wouldnt get a sniff. Food means fun. This morning I'd put some food in his tornado puzzle feeder, easy food to get, but he chose to play plant pot prison with me right next to his tornado. You put a piece of food under a pot and keep showing it and covering it.They have to use impulse control and not move towards the food and are not allowed the food until you say get it. Didnt once go for the easy option of more food in the tornado.
2,When we go in back garden he has harness and long line on sometimes we go out to play fetch etc, or I'm working in garden or bit of both. As soon as my attention was off him or he heard a noise he would always head straight for the gap at the side of the house to go to the front where people pass with dogs and Teddy the neighbours dog is often roaming. So if I was gardening or about to stop playing I'd have to tie him up. I put a temporary barrier up so he cant get through but he would still go running to bark at something.
This past week he has stayed closer to me when I'm gardening and has only once gone to the barrier. I was also working on our boundary earth bank only a few feet high which he has jumped over before in to the field next door. I tied him up so he could mooch about, he put his paws up on the bank looking over but stayed on our side
3, Loose lead walking has improved no idea why. None of the games have involved walking with him on a lead and because hes been in confined area I havent put him on a lead to play the games.
4,On a morning while I'm eating my breakfast he paces all over the house going to the door etc in anticipation of a walk. This past week hes paced a bit then come and laid on the floor next to me. He was getting up pacing but then coming back. I started rewarding the offered calm behaviour and now he is staying longer and not pacing as much. I havent once asked him to go into a down he just offered this behaviour on his own.
There is definately some rewiring of his brain going on and I havent noticed any negative effects either. I'm sure the majority of dogs would love this type of training, Jasper does hes getting attention and hes on the move not staying in one spot. Not sure about all owners, since it is a totally different approach to puppy class type training. It does involve being more engaged over the duration of a day compared to doing "formal" training but its easy fun stuff. On the facebook group it seems to work well for rescue dogs maybe because they find it less stressful and its more on their terms of how they want to engage with owners.
We will carry on and see what improvements happen
Which again keeps the focus looking up. I'm thinking of using this as his recall cue rather than "come" in the future. 
