Jessica Mann: From Timid Tails to Confident Canines [Episode 37]

At Animal Training Academy, we know you want to master your animal training skills using a force-free approach.

And we recognize that you're not just any trainer. Instead, you're someone driven to elevate the confidence of dogs, ensuring they lead a life rich with meaningful activities and training exercises. However, this journey is not without its challenges. High-energy working breeds, in particular, require consistent mental and physical stimulation to sustain their confidence and overall well-being.

Like many trainers, you might often find yourself at a crossroads, seeking effective yet gentle methods to boost your dog's confidence. This task becomes even more challenging when dealing with dogs that have physical limitations or fears, leading to feelings of stress, frustration, and overwhelming concern.

Enter Jessica, your guide for this episode. A dedicated dog trainer since 2012, Jessica is here to support you. Drawing from her personal journey living with her own fearful dog, Jessica provides insights that come from a place of deep understanding and compassion. Her expertise, honed through one-on-one consultations, group sessions, and online classes, offers a plethora of opportunities. With an academic background in political science and journalism, Jessica has written books to aid dog owners like you and remains a valued contributor to the Tromplo community.

Throughout the episode, Jessica imparts a wealth of insights tailored just for you to help build dogs confidence. Here are three key takeaways:

1. Scent Work, Tracking, and Agility: Introduce dogs to activities such as scent work, tracking, and agility to bolster their self-assurance.

2. Safe Before Challenging: Before exposing dogs to demanding scenarios, ensure they're grounded in more secure settings.

3. Practical Training: Incorporate enjoyable simple behaviors, like teaching a dog to shut a cupboard, into your dog's training routine. 

Eager to learn more? Hit play on the podcast episode! 

Our goal is for you to sidestep feelings of embarrassment, overwhelm, and burnout. Instead, with Jessica's guidance, your dog will emerge more confident, happier, and adept at navigating a range of situations, from the serenity of a forest to the bustling city streets. They'll thrive in a life filled with activities tailored to their mental and physical needs. 

As for you? Revel in the satisfaction of newfound skills and knowledge, poised to make your biggest possible positive impact on the lives of all the animal and human learners you work with! 

Links:

• motiveradehundar.se

• https://www.instagram.com/motiveradehundar/  https://www.facebook.com/MotiveradeHundar

• Jessica Mann on Tromplo >>> https://tromplo.com/instructor/jessica-mann/

Videos & tips shared from Jessica

- Search and retrieve. This is my go-to game, and you can make it as easy or hard as your learner needs. Here are some of the beginner steps (you might need to start closer!) https://youtu.be/GLftPjJbLZY Next step would be to do a "blind" search - placing the toy without him seeing and then add more objects. Make sure the dog is coming to you as soon as he's got the object- you don't want him to go searching for the next /switching toys. This is so much easier on the body than fetching. This can be done in a long line, in a fenced yard and even indoors if needed. 

- searching in water. Same as above but in water. Start in shallow water and then deeper. I use hockey pucks! https://youtu.be/sq5VK-6-644 

- all kinds of games with an object, such as a traffic cone. I reward all interaction, and this is such a good confidence builder as well. https://youtu.be/z0fjq-BH20Q 

- All kinds of dog parkour - jumping up, going under, balancing on things... https://youtu.be/MzHDKYjXH7s

- a little more advanced parkour. Make sure to use a harness so you can support the dog as needed! https://youtu.be/r3Ga1kyuZoY

- Cavaletti is such a good controlled movement too. Make sure you use very low obstacles, to work slowly and that the dog has his spine horizontal - not looking up to see the treat. You can work in a straight line as in the film, or on a half circle. Make sure to work both directions. https://youtu.be/8hEeL4H-g0c