Comments on: Natural Dog Training Fundamentals: How pushing teaches your dog what to do with their energy http://www.naturaldogblog.com/blog/2007/08/natural-dog-training-fundamentals-how-pushing-teaches-your-dog-what-to-do-with-their-energy/ harness your dog's prey instinct and have the happiest dog on the block Fri, 19 Feb 2010 05:22:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: How do you deal with a hyper dog who digs at houseplants and snaps at you - Natural Dog Blog – Training and More http://www.naturaldogblog.com/blog/2007/08/natural-dog-training-fundamentals-how-pushing-teaches-your-dog-what-to-do-with-their-energy/comment-page-1/#comment-2315 How do you deal with a hyper dog who digs at houseplants and snaps at you - Natural Dog Blog – Training and More Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:52:42 +0000 http://www.naturaldogblog.com/blog/2007/08/natural-dog-training-fundamentals-how-pushing-teaches-your-dog-what-to-do-with-their-energy/#comment-2315 [...] While it’s mentioned explicitly in some of the above articles, I want to also highlight the technique of “pushing” – which will be the cornerstone of your turning around this dynamic.  Pushing gives you a consistent way of resolving your dog’s emotional energy in a way that’s satisfying for her, and you’ll find that your dog will get calmer and calmer – instead of what it sounds like is happening now, which is that having no real outlet for her emotional energy (of which she has a lot – all “super-hyper” dogs do), she is storing that energy as stress.  Which comes out as “super”-anything, as well as misbehaving, and, ultimately, aggression.  You want her to feel COMFORTABLE and relaxed around you, even when she’s energized.  Right now you’re causing her stress and tension when she’s energized, which is manifesting as the beginnings of aggression.  How to push and Why pushing works [...] [...] While it’s mentioned explicitly in some of the above articles, I want to also highlight the technique of “pushing” – which will be the cornerstone of your turning around this dynamic.  Pushing gives you a consistent way of resolving your dog’s emotional energy in a way that’s satisfying for her, and you’ll find that your dog will get calmer and calmer – instead of what it sounds like is happening now, which is that having no real outlet for her emotional energy (of which she has a lot – all “super-hyper” dogs do), she is storing that energy as stress.  Which comes out as “super”-anything, as well as misbehaving, and, ultimately, aggression.  You want her to feel COMFORTABLE and relaxed around you, even when she’s energized.  Right now you’re causing her stress and tension when she’s energized, which is manifesting as the beginnings of aggression.  How to push and Why pushing works [...]

]]> By: Neil http://www.naturaldogblog.com/blog/2007/08/natural-dog-training-fundamentals-how-pushing-teaches-your-dog-what-to-do-with-their-energy/comment-page-1/#comment-2196 Neil Fri, 24 Jul 2009 21:17:32 +0000 http://www.naturaldogblog.com/blog/2007/08/natural-dog-training-fundamentals-how-pushing-teaches-your-dog-what-to-do-with-their-energy/#comment-2196 Hi Amanda, Thanks for your question. The ULTIMATE goal is for your dog to feel safe interacting with you at higher and higher levels of energy. So when your dog is energized by something in the world, you dog will be attracted to you - knowing that you can show them "what to do" with their energy. Pushing is an avenue to reaching that goal with your dog. As for the actual pushing - in my experience "contact" can be a reward in and of itself, but usually when I'm actually "pushing" I am using food or a tug toy as the incentive to push. If you're out on a walk and use the technique without food or a tug toy, then when you call "ready!" - followed by your dog's name - and your dog comes your way - I would suggest running in the opposite direction, i.e. getting your dog to chase you. As your dog chases you, you can still be pushing your dog - but the chase will help amplify your dog's attraction to you even without food or a tug toy present. As you progress into the obedience work - particularly heeling - you'll find that to be a great way to channel the energy - i.e. into heeling, instead of necessarily having to push all the time. btw - your DVDs are en route - please keep me posted! Hi Amanda,

Thanks for your question. The ULTIMATE goal is for your dog to feel safe interacting with you at higher and higher levels of energy. So when your dog is energized by something in the world, you dog will be attracted to you – knowing that you can show them “what to do” with their energy. Pushing is an avenue to reaching that goal with your dog.

As for the actual pushing – in my experience “contact” can be a reward in and of itself, but usually when I’m actually “pushing” I am using food or a tug toy as the incentive to push.

If you’re out on a walk and use the technique without food or a tug toy, then when you call “ready!” – followed by your dog’s name – and your dog comes your way – I would suggest running in the opposite direction, i.e. getting your dog to chase you. As your dog chases you, you can still be pushing your dog – but the chase will help amplify your dog’s attraction to you even without food or a tug toy present.

As you progress into the obedience work – particularly heeling – you’ll find that to be a great way to channel the energy – i.e. into heeling, instead of necessarily having to push all the time.

btw – your DVDs are en route – please keep me posted!

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