Our mission is to empower you with the knowledge, tools, and resources to strengthen the bond with your canine companion

How do you help your dog cope with living with us? In this fun, illustrated, compendium guide, teach your dog six foundation life skills that enhance the teamwork and relationship between you and your dog.

Essential foundation skills:
1. The Name Game: Does your dog know his name? Does he whip his head around as soon as he hears it, or doesn’t he? Teach your dog that his name is the best “word” in the world, and soon he will be giving you as much attention as you need.
2. Target Game: The Target Game is one of the most useful foundation skills to teach your dog. Using your hand as a target, you can guide your shy dog as she navigates our world. It is also a useful skill to kickstart your dog to come to you and so much more! Teach your dog that targeting your hand or an object is a great game to play, and soon you will both be learning lots of new tricks based on this foundation behaviour.
3. Come – The Rocket Recall: Teaching your dog to come to you as fast as she can is a key foundation skill. That is why it is called a rocket recall! Teach your dog that coming when called is always a fantastic choice, and soon you are both on your way to enjoying lots of adventures – because you know your dog will come running, no matter what.
4. Nice Walking: Does your dog pull you every which way on a walk? Instead of tugging on her leash, make it fun for her to walk with you. To do this, you need to pay just as much attention to her, as she does to you. Teach your dog that walking on leash is not about control or restraint. It is a companionable walk together – and there is so much more you can do on a walk, than just walk.
5. Go to Mat Game: Does your dog get under your feet when you are busy doing something? Does he dash to the door whenever the doorbell rings? Teach your dog that he can settle calmly on his mat (or bed) instead of charging around. Soon, you will be able to bring your dog to places where his mat becomes his safe home base whenever he needs a break from the hustle and bustle around him.
6. Chin Rest Game: How do you know if your dog is comfortable? One indicator is if she willingly rests her chin in your hand or on something, and remains calm and settled. Teach your dog the chin rest, a foundation behaviour that can be applied to many situations, e.g. during grooming, at the vet’s clinic, or just because it is a great bonding game by itself.

After you’ve learnt each skill, check how you’re doing against our Team Tracker and Behaviour Scores (included).

Does your dog become scared and anxious during husbandry activities such as when you brush his coat, clean his teeth, or put on his harness? Or perhaps she reacts to triggers such as other dogs, certain sounds, etc? Dogs do what they do, because they are dogs, and behaviours that we see as problematic are natural canine behaviours. In modern dog training, we do not focus on correcting or eradicating unwanted behaviours. Instead, we teach our dogs appropriate coping skills that help them integrate happily into our family – without the use of force, without invoking fear and without causing pain and distress. In this fun, illustrated, compendium guide, teach your dog seven cooperative care skills that enhance the teamwork and relationship between you and your dog.

1. Harness Game: There is no need to struggle with your dog when you are trying to put her harness on. Instead, teach her to cooperate with you and harnessing her for a walk will be more enjoyable for both of you. Teach your dog to willingly put on her harness. Go “fear free” as a foundation for cooperative care.
2. Muzzle Game: Every dog needs to learn to wear a muzzle – willingly, comfortably and feel safe wearing it. There is no need to struggle with your dog and frighten him when you are trying to muzzle him. Instead, teach him to cooperate with you and muzzling him just becomes another bonding game to play together.
3. Body Handling – Back and Tail: Your dog can learn to enjoy the sensation of being touched on different parts of his body. But consent from him is vital so that it is safe and enjoyable for both you and your dog. Learn how to check your dog for his consent to being touched on his back and tail.
4. Body Handling – Ears: Your dog can learn to enjoy the sensation of having his ears touched and handled for different husbandry activities. But consent from him is vital so that it is safe and enjoyable for both you and your dog. Learn how to check your dog for his consent to being touched on his ears.
5. Body Handling – Paws: Your dog can learn to enjoy the sensation of having her paws touched and handled for different husbandry activities. But consent from her is vital so that it is safe and enjoyable for both you and your dog. Learn how to check your dog for her consent to being touched on every paw.
6. Body Handling – Mouth: Your dog can learn to enjoy the sensation of having her mouth touched and handled for different husbandry activities. But consent from her is vital so that it is safe and enjoyable for both you and your dog. Learn how to check your dog for her consent to being touched on her mouth.
7. Bad = Good Game: Does your dog react to triggers like people, dogs, sounds, objects, or certain situations? Dogs react when they feel threatened. If we help our dog learn that her world is safe, she will be less likely to react. Begin working through your dog’s fears using fear free behaviour modification techniques. Learn what helps to keep her “emotional” cup full so as to reduce the effects of fear, anxiety and stress. Start changing her emotional perception of what is “bad” around her to something “good” and safe.

After you’ve learnt each skill, check how you’re doing against our Team Tracker and Behaviour Scores (included).

Are you and your dog ready to do more than go for daily walks? Try our beginner’s guide to canine fitness with some workouts designed to provide mental enrichment as well as target core areas of fitness for your dog. And when you are ready for more, contact us for customised programmes specific to what you and your dog need. In this fun, illustrated, compendium guide, team up with your dog in six fitness workouts that enhance the relationship between you and your dog. Before trying these workouts, make sure to check with your veterinarian that your dog does not have a physical or medical condition.

1. Front Leg Target: The Front Leg Target Game is an exercise you can do with your dog, using household items, such as a low stool or book. It helps to enhance your dog’s sense of balance, and builds her hind leg awareness and strength. It is also a great mental exercise as a boredom buster.
2. Flexi Stretches: Flexi Stretches is an exercise you can do with your dog, wherever you are. It helps to keep the muscles of your dog’s neck and spine flexible so that he can bend comfortably.
3. Go Around Objects: Go Around Objects is an exercise you can do with your dog, wherever you are. Find a couple of objects that you can trot your dog around in a figure of 8 pattern. Maintain that pace for a few minutes and you have got a great cardiorespiratory workout.
4. Give Paw: Give Paw is an exercise you can do with your dog, wherever you are, especially if he already knows the trick. Now turn it into a workout that enhances his balance, strength, flexibility, and provides mental stimulation too.
5. Kickback Stand and Sit: Your dog knows how to stand and sit, now turn these movements into a good workout for her core and rear end muscles. Kickback Stand and Sit helps to develop your dog’s strength and sense of balance, even by elevating her front legs just a little. It is not as simple as it sounds!
6. Confidence Booster Obstacle Course: Use common household items to create an obstacle course for your dog. For puppies, an obstacle course can serve as confidence booster as he explores objects and surfaces with different textures and varying degrees of stability. For your healthy adult dog, incorporate some of the other fitness games in this Canine Fitness series to provide a full body workout.

After you’ve learnt each skill, check how you’re doing against our Team Tracker and Behaviour Scores (included).

A collection of articles for dogs with special needs.

The cheerfuldogs chronicles are a series of e-newsletters jointly produced by cheerfuldogswalking.com and cheerfuldogs.com.  We present useful information about dog training and walking, interesting snippets on dogs in our daily life, and tips and tools on dog health and behaviour. Enjoy as we share about the fascinating world of our pet dogs.