Pawtential Dog Training

01/01/2026

18/12/2025

Session/Day Six of teaching Koda to weave through my legs.
And let’s try weaving while we walk!

Look at the progress! Koda is learning to focus with the ball present. And in a new environment. I’m beginning to replace food with the ball.

The reinforcements used in training sessions in order of value approximately have been:
1) fried salmon skin
2) soccor ball
3) GF beef sausage
4) dried liver
5) praise
6) pats/sweet talking

I used medium value food initially (sausage, liver) to train the foundation skills.

Highest value reinforcements can trigger an emotional state that interferes with focus, memory, learning. They are of value once muscle memory of foundation behaviour is in place.
Then we will be working on speed and reps to strengthen and build the end result.

We have four days left!
Keen to see how much more we can achieve!

17/12/2025

Great progress! Session Five and weaving between my legs is flowing well.

This session I experimented with changes to rate of reinforcement (how often reinforcement is given) and types of reinforcement.

Balls can’t be introduced too early when teaching Koda something new as they are too high value to her and she loses the ability to think. They are a distraction. I decided at this point to bring out her ball and sure enough she couldn’t follow my instruction. I was using sausage to reinforce but it wasn’t enough to keep her focus on me while I had the ball in my hand.

And then I brought out the fried salmon skin!
I didn’t think anything could override a ball for Koda. The speed with which Koda weaved between my legs increased.

A great training session thanks to fried salmon skin! Koda practised focusing in the presence of a ball and she practised weaving at a faster pace.

Choice of reinforcers will impact progress and outcome!

16/12/2025

Decided with just ten days left together to see how far I’d get teaching Koda to weave between my legs.

See first video for sessions one and two. It’s shows how I get started.

In session four I reduced the rate of reinforcement and was asking for three weaves before reinforcing.

I’m aiming to set up for success even when changing criteria. So I’m careful to ask for what I’m confident Koda can do. Therefore only the behaviour I’m wanting gets repeated and strengthened.

14/12/2025

Expanding on Koda’s agility jumping skills.

We practised jumping 180 degrees with two jumps. We challenge this skill by gradually moving the jumps further apart.

We also practised the beginnings of a serpentine where eventually there are three jumps navigated moving away over the first one, back in towards the handler on the second then out away from the handler on the third jump.

Less than 10 days left looking after Koda before she moves overseas with her family. Will make the most of our time left!

13/12/2025

My housesit job with Koda finishes December 22nd. Ten days away.

I’m going to see how far I can get teaching “weave between my legs” in that time.

My training approach is known by many words such as force-free, fear-free, positive, reward-based, choice training.

The aim is to teach an animal to want to do the behaviour we request. As opposed to an animal doing as we request out of fear as to what might happen if they don’t!

Force free training results in a happy, confident dog that’s busting to be asked to do something as there is always something amazing coming to them as a result.

04/12/2025

Such a good feel when a dog chooses you over anything else in the environment 💜
Hanging out together doing slow and still.

I like when I’m in that mode of being present.
There’s space for noticing, observing and connecting.

The magpie in the tree was there alone for a lengthy time. Head tucked in. Had me wondering if it needed help.

Tiny spider covered in spikes? I assume for ptotection?

The daisies I planted and forgot about.
Fun to see they were thriving despite neglect.

Huge mushrooms! Edible? 🤔