project-fred-dog-training

All About The Basics

Thu, 07 May 2026 21:52:29 GMT

Here are the four basic cues:

* Sit

* Down

* Stay

* Come

The “Basics” form the foundation of all pet dog training. They are the building block cues that encourage manners, polite greetings and ensure a safe environment for your dog. Additional training builds from here. A solid foundation in these cues not only provides for a well mannered dog, creates a safe environment for them but most importantly…mastering these skills builds a trusting bond with your dog you will feel and enjoy their entire lives.

Sit: This is the most important of the basics as it can be used for so many situations. A sit requires all four paws on the ground. So it is useful to curb jumping, over excitement, cues a dog to accept being petted by a stranger, cues the dog for welcoming family and friends into the home and so many other uses. It is also the best cue for beginning a sequence of commands.

Down: Helps cue the dog to relax and settle. Best taught with a sit first and then cue the dog to a down. Also helps with dogs who like to enthusiastically launch into a jumping greeting as it is easier to read your dog’s body language from a down vs. a sit and takes longer for the dog to move from a down than out of a sit. Also great for if your goal is taking your dog to cafes or other outdoor dining.

Stay: This cue helps keep dogs out of trouble and for you to know where your dog is and the confidence they will stay there. Helpful for door manners to keep a dog from rushing the door and over enthusiastically greeting visitors. Having a strong stay cue keeps your dog safe and well mannered.

Come: A reliable recall is the most important of the basics for safety reasons. If your dog comes to you when called your dog will get into much less trouble.

Loose Leash Walking Using Positive Reinforcement Training

Tue, 05 May 2026 22:34:13 GMT

One of the most common complaints of dog guardians is that their dog tugs, pulls, or experiences leash aggression on their walks. Loose leash walking training teaches the dog that when they pull, tug or lunge their walk stops. And when they don't do those things, the walk continues.

What Is Loose Leash Walking?

Loose leash walking is where the 5ft or 6ft static leash is slack enough to form a letter J. This is the most comfortable walk for you and your dog. There is no pulling, no lunging, no tugging or zig zagging. The dog is loosely at one side and keeps pace with their guardian. This is the safest walking formation for the dog.

Why It Matters for Your Dog's Health

When the dog is walking with a loose leash, there is no pressure on the harness or collar; the leash is slack and neither the dog nor owner gets tangled or tripped. And most importantly there is no pressure on the dog's very sensitive neck. No restriction of air, no strangling and no injury to the dog. The position allows the guardian to reel their dog in gently in crowds or tight spaces for a temporary tighter heel for safety situations and to let the dog back out to sniff, explore the world and walk along with their guardian. This is accomplished by ensuring that the guardian is never the one to put any pressure on the leash.

How the Training Works

The leash should not be pulled, popped, yanked or otherwise used to steer the dog. Such actions actually cause the dog to pull more. Instead, if it is the dog who is causing the pressure on their harness or collar the walk stops…the walk only begins again when the dog turns back thus releasing the pressure on their harness or collar. The dog will quickly learn pressure equals walking stops and no pressure equals the walk continues. Most importantly the walk continues in a comfortable and pain free way.

Timing Is Everything

Timing is crucial in loose leash training for the dog to associate pressure with stopping the walk and no pressure with the reward of walking. This differs significantly with situations where people use choke or prong collars.

The Positive Reinforcement Approach

Using positive reinforcement in loose leash walking training, the walk is the treat and there is no pain administered by the guardian. Rather than trying to stop an unwanted behavior (i.e. tugging, pulling or lunging), the dog is actually learning to associate the pressure they are applying to stopping or walking comfortably when there is no pressure.

Why Avoid Choke or Prong Collars?

This differs significantly to instances when a guardian does not use positive reinforcement methods and instead pulls or pops a choke or prong collar when they want the dog to stop tugging, pulling or lunging. The dog actually learns to associate the pressure, discomfort and frequently pain with something or someone who is there when those negative things occur and so you tend to get worse behavior or you get a dog who will shutdown to avoid the pain but has not learned what is wanted of them.

How Project Fred Dog Training Came To Be

Fri, 01 May 2026 22:46:20 GMT

After 26 years of federal service, I'd been looking for a new direction to launch in and have always loved working with dogs. I toyed with the idea of getting into dog training and then Fred entered my life when he was 6 1/2 yrs old from a local rescue. From what was shared, he'd had the same owners since he was a puppy and around age 2 yrs, his former owners decided to put a shock collar on him to keep him off the couch. Vet records showed a happy, well adjusted puppy, then adolescent and the beginning of a happy dog becoming an adult. Once the shock collar started being used, records showed an increase in all sorts of digestive, skin and behavioral problems. Until one day, Fred tried to bite grandma and his former family surrendered him to a local rescue.

Meeting Fred

When I met Fred he was over excited, past threshold, had such a severe startle he would jump almost three feet in the air and he would snap at anything near him. He was exhibiting PTSD-like symptoms. He had several behaviors I recognized from my over 20 years in law enforcement when sentient beings are sleep deprived and on constant alert scanning for threats.

The First Four Months

And so I adopted Fred to rehabilitate him from his shocking past. For the first four months Fred never hit R.E.M. in his sleep. He "slept" with one ear up, rotating constantly listening for threats. I had to leave his harness on him for four months because I could not get anything near his neck or over his head without it triggering full on snapping with a mouth full of sharp teeth.

He was highly reactive to ALL dogs and most people, particularly delivery drivers in uniform and would latch on to cardboard boxes and rip them to shreds if he got near them. When he would see a dog, no matter how close or far away he would rear, scream and use all his might to try to get at the dogs before they could get to him. Walks were extreme tugging feats performed by Fred to go in whatever direction he wanted to go. His fear and anxiety levels were extreme.

Beginning the Work

I worked with a positive reinforcement only trainer and behavior consultant before I adopted him and weekly for his first six months which was primarily focused on looking at his behavior and addressing his over wrought nervous system. Eventually I even had to medicate him.

After four months of a calm environment where he was never punished and no harsh words or sudden movements and with a whole lot of patience Fred slept deeply and hit R.E.M. for the first time. At month six, the real training began. It was clear he knew the basics and he was calm enough now to train. Eventually he was weaned off his anti-anxiety medications except for special circumstances.

Fred's Transformation

18 months later, Fred could walk on a loose leash, pass by most dogs without lunging. He would no longer scream. His body completely relaxes and he sleeps soundly through the night through all three levels of sleep.

Fred's Legacy

Fred inspired me to become a positive reinforcement only trainer to help others who are dealing with the fallout from the use of shock collars, prong collars and choke chains. Dogs deserve to be taught in a force-free, pain-free and fear-free manner and never punished. Pain and discomfort have no place in training methods.