These dogs gave their owner LOTS of warning signs before they reached this extreme behavior. #bensonmaremmastraining, #lgdtraining, Any behavior can also be viewed as small pieces of behavior strung together to create a more complex behavior. I think of it as counting from one to ten. If I change the dog’s behavior at two, I can change the behavior he would have gotten to at ten. Simple. Interrupt – Redirect – Reinforce Here’s an example. A dog is running toward me with the c

#bensonmaremmastraining, #lgdtraining, #lgdpuppytraining At first glance, starting out with only one LGD can seem like the conservative and responsible choice, particularly if you are new to LGDs. In my experience, though, training a single LGD pup is much more work than raising a pair of similarly aged pups together and much less likely to be successful. Here’s why: All LGD training should build the confidence of the dog A single pup is a frightened pup. Pups don’t learn wel

#bensonmaremmastraining, This is the end of my first clicker session with the Shelby pups and the Kim pups. Check out those mindful little superstars! The black and tan pup is Juniper. She is the one pup of the Shelby litter that showed me LGD behaviors. One of the Kim pups was purchased as a partner for her. Watching the two pups work as a pair will be very interesting!

#bensonmaremmastraining One of the things I thought I would have to give up when I stepped down as a Maremma breeder is clicker training with a litter of pups. When I visited Kim Crawmer, Prancing Pony Farm, the other day imagine my surprise when she handed me a clicker and some baked chicken! I had the best time playing with these pups! I was a stranger to them, and at least a couple were obviously in a fear period (sensitive period) but the language of the clicker drew them

#bensonmaremmastraining In anticipation of the pups going to their new homes, I decided to begin leash training with the litter. I selected Sequoia as the pup to start with because he has been consistently the first pup to offer behaviors to me, and he has always been very confident. What I found on this day is that Sequoia had entered his predictable fear period. This meant that I needed to adjust my training plan for him. The pups have never been away from each other. Since

#bensonmaremmastraining The Shelby pups are getting ready to go to their new homes at nine-ten weeks of age. As I mentally prepare for this my mind keeps playing over some of the scenarios pups experience in the hands of new owners, having been one myself. I hope this video will ease the way for these particular pups and owners, and maybe it will be helpful beyond that. Puppies as sovereign..... Many new owners acquire pups and then set about "training" them, rather than lear

#bensonmaremmastraining As you may know, the Shelby pups came to me to be evaluated regarding what sort of home would be appropriate for each pup given their blend of companion and guardian genetic base. The dam of the pups is a Newfoundland/Leonberger cross. The sire is an Anatolian/Komondor cross. I expected to see a blend of behaviors and I expected more than one pup to show my guardian behaviors; that isn't what happened. After only four days it became clear that Miss Jun

#bensonmaremmastraining It really is! The backstory: Kathy and I usually do a better job of communicating with each other. I told her I had trained with the pups the night before. She thought that meant I had introduced the pups to the clicker, but I didn't get past teaching them to take chicken from my hands. When Kathy began the training you see her do in this first video she made the assumption that she wasn't very good at what she was doing. Heavens! What she did was trai

#bensonmaremmastraining, Kathy did some excellent work in this video. The night before I introduced half of the pups to baked chicken from my fingers while the rest of the litter slept. On this day Kathy had all the pups and they learned quickly. She began clicking them for manding. This offered sit by the pups gives them a way to ask for our attention that we enjoy. Two things are important here so I am going to take a little time to explain them. When pups are born they kno

#bensonmaremmastraining, #lgdtraining,#lgdpuppytraining The Shelby pups have arrived at the Benson Maremma College! I am thrilled to have them here! Over the next few weeks, I will be asking these beautiful pups who they are and what they would like to do for the rest of their lives. I will share this journey with you through my clinical observations of these pups as well as through video. The video below compiles the transport of the pups and their first meal at the ranch. T

#bensonmaremmastraining, #lgdchickentraining, #lgdtraining, #positivereinforcementtraining, Thor is almost six-months-old now and has been with me for about two months. He is as tall as most of the Maremma pups I have been using as mentors! He is more resilient in most situations than he used to be. This is a lovely age! Thor will head back to his real home soon, now much better prepared to step in alongside the sweet female Maremma who waits for him there. In his life job Th