Potential Unleashed Blog
All things dog fitness, training and other fun!
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Do You Suffer with Pet Parent Guilt? Here’s How to Deal with It.
by Brittni Heywood | Sep 7, 2023 | Uncategorized
As a pet parent, do you ever wonder if you’re doing enough? Or do you ever find yourself comparing your parenting with what you see other pet parents doing? Are you consumed by guilt every time you have to leave them alone or decide to say no to something that would...
5 Benefits of Canine Swimming
by Brittni Heywood | Jun 14, 2023 | Outlet, Skills, Uncategorized
All dogs can benefit from swimming, no matter age or breed. Yes, some breeds like the water better than others but once they get comfortable around it, you can’t keep most of them out of it. Here’s a list of 5 that are great for the dog and the humans! Physical...
5 Fun Easter Activities to Share with Your Pup
by Brittni Heywood | Mar 2, 2023 | Uncategorized
5 Fun Easter Activities to Share with Your Pup April 9 is Easter this year! Soon we’ll see blooming lilies and poppies (hopefully), and it’ll be time for Easter festivities! Easter is a beautiful and colorful holiday that I enjoy spending more time outside. Running...
7 Products Puppy Parents Can’t Live Without
by Brittni Heywood | Feb 7, 2023 | Uncategorized
Life with a new puppy is an adventure! I remember when my husband first brought Tank home. He was a pretty fun, easy chunk of a yellow lab. Things we already got and/or had on hand to start including him into the day to day life around here. A comforting crate Your...
Local Pup-Lover’s Guide for Boise, Idaho
by Brittni Heywood | Jul 25, 2022 | Uncategorized
Local Pup-Lover’s Guide for Boise, Idaho Life in the Boise area is beautiful; it can be as relaxing or as busy as you and your pup want to be while having fun, taking yourself less seriously, and feeling better together. There’re tons to do together around here, so...
How to Crate Train Your Pup
by Brittni Heywood | Jul 7, 2022 | Behavior, Skills, Socializing, Training
Crate Training Make sure puppy or dog has had Exercise, Enrichment, food, and has pottied also start with a tired, satisfied pup. Blanket over the crate Soothing music Chewies and toys Snuffle mat Action for moments of Desperation: What do you think your pup might...
How to Capture Your Pup’s Attention
by Brittni Heywood | Jul 7, 2022 | Behavior, Skills
Teaching your dog to "check in" with you Start practicing in a non distracting environment Watch your dog, without talking or saying anything to your dog as soon as your dog orients toward you or looks at you - mark/treat Verbally praise your dog and take your...
Teaching Your Pup “Touch”
by Brittni Heywood | Jul 7, 2022 | Behavior, Skills
Teaching a Nose to Hand Target aka: Touch Hand targets are useful behavior for so many reasons, leash walking when we need our dogs to change directions, move around, stay close and you can use to reset when your dog moves ahead, end of a recall, when other people...
Teaching your Pup “Place”
by Brittni Heywood | Jul 7, 2022 | Behavior, Training
Teaching your Dog "Place" Teach your dog they have a place and to go and relax is the final behavior. Take this anywhere you go or just hang out at home using it. To start and help your dog understand this behavior and that the mat is part of the exercise, make sure...
How Pups Learn
by Brittni Heywood | Jul 7, 2022 | Behavior, Skills
How Dogs Learn Association: is it safe or not Make training fun Dog will develop a positive emotional response Dog enjoys being with you and returning to you Consequence: good or bad for me Reinforcement increases behavior Always reinforce a recall with high value...
Teaching Your Pup Name Recognition
by Brittni Heywood | Jul 7, 2022 | Behavior, Skills
The name Game: Teaches immediate "look" to you the handler when the dog's name is said Your dog's name means, "look immediately at me and wait for further instruction." It does not mean, get out of that, stop doing that, etc. You always want your dog to "feel...
What is a Marker/Clicker
by Brittni Heywood | Jul 7, 2022 | Skills, Training
Marker training helps you keep clear and consistent communication with your learner (your dog). Plus it keeps it as easy as possible for your dog to understand what you want. A marker can be a clicker or a verbal marker. Remember it should be the same sound every...