🌿 Enrichment Essentials
Simple ways to meet your dog’s needs—so they can feel good and thrive
Welcome! This page is your go-to guide for understanding the why behind your dog’s behaviour—and how we approach training with that in mind.
Understanding these core ideas will help you train more effectively, avoid common pitfalls, and support your dog with confidence—whether you're teaching something or working through some challenges.
Inside, you'll find lessons on:
How dogs learn (and how we make behaviours stick)
Why reinforcement matters—and how to use it well
Timing, cues, and communication that actually work
The real difference between management and training
What calm actually means—and how to build it
These aren’t just theories—they’re the foundation for everything else we do.
🎬 Videos
Short, practical lessons that explain the why behind what we do—so you can train with clarity and confidence.
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Catch a behaviour your dog offers on their own—then mark and reward to build it up naturally.
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Use food or a toy to guide your dog into a behaviour—like drawing a path they can follow.
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Mark and reward small steps toward a behaviour to help your dog figure it out—one success at a time.
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🥩 Reinforcement - What It Really Means in Training
Discover what reinforcement actually is—and why it’s the backbone of all behaviour change. When you understand what truly motivates your dog, training becomes clearer, more effective, and way more enjoyable for both of you.
📚 The ABCs of Behaviour
Learn how the ABCs form the foundation of behaviour change. Once you understand what comes before and after a behaviour, you can start to shape better outcomes in daily life.
🔄 The Premack Principle – “Do this, get that.” Want your dog to come when called away from a squirrel? Or sit before going out the door? That’s the Premack Principle in action—using something your dog wants (like sniffing, chasing, or play) as the reward for a behaviour you’ve asked for.
📚 Operant Conditioning - The Science of Behaviour
Learn how behaviour is shaped by consequences. This video breaks down the four quadrants of operant conditioning and shows you how to use them to build real-life skills without punishment or pressure.
🔔 Classical Conditioning - Why Associations Matter
Explore how your dog’s emotions shape their behaviour—often before they even do anything. Understanding classical conditioning helps you change how situations feel, so your dog can feel safer, calmer, and more connected.
👩🏼🏫 Training Methods
Explore the core techniques we use to teach new behaviours—like shaping, capturing, and luring—so you can train in a way that’s clear, effective, and fun for both you and your dog.
🎯 Training Setup & Success Strategies
Explore the core techniques we use to teach new behaviours—like shaping, capturing, and luring—so you can train in a way that’s clear, effective, and fun for both you and your dog.
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How often you reward matters. A faster rate builds momentum and helps your dog stay in the game.
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Where you deliver the reward can change what your dog learns. Use it to reinforce the position or movement you want more of.
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Short, focused, and clear sessions work best. This covers timing, environment, and keeping things fun and doable for both of you.
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Training is easier when the environment works for you. Learn how gates, leashes, routines, and structure prevent unwanted behaviour and support learning.
📥 📄 Printables & Training Tools
Downloadable guides, worksheets, and quick-reference tools to support what you’re learning and help apply it in real life.
✅ Training Session Checklist
Keep training simple and stress-free. This one-page checklist helps you plan, stay focused, and make the most of every session—so you and your dog can work smarter, not harder.
📈 Training Progress Tracker
Progress doesn’t always look like a straight line. This tracker helps you spot trends, celebrate wins, and adjust when things get tricky—so you can train with more clarity, patience, and confidence.
🍖 Canine Nutrition & Behaviour Guide
Good food fuels good behaviour. This guide covers the essentials of feeding your puppy well—from choosing the right food to supporting growth, digestion, and long-term health. A solid foundation starts in the bowl.
📅 Everyday Habits: Setting Up for Success
The little things you do every day add up fast. This guide helps you build simple, sustainable routines that support your puppy’s well-being, prevent problem behaviours, and make training easier from the start.
🔁 Coming Back to the Basics
Understanding these core ideas helps you troubleshoot setbacks, avoid overwhelm, and recognize real progress. Use this section anytime you feel stuck, or just want to reset and rebuild momentum.