Haha! Do it during the day when they are working or inside the house where they can't hear it. :)

Awesome! I'm so happy the video helped! :)

Thanks! I'm happy the video was helpful! 😁🐶🐕

True. It helps some dogs, but not all dogs. 🐶

Awesome! I hope it helps! :)

Awesome! :)

Thanks! :)

Yes, this won't work on every dog.

Awesome!

Thanks! Here's a section on confidence from my dog training manual. I hope this helps a little. Confidence in a dog is a lot like confidence in a human. Almost universally it's a positive characteristic. As an example, would you want a confident employee or one who's unsure? A confident doctor or a frightened doctor? Do you want a social circle with friends who are confident and positive, or who are constantly having anxiety? As a trainer, sometimes owners tell me of their issues with dogs that lack confidence. An example might be a dog who's shaky, scared to try new things, fearful of ordinary situations, or prefers to ignore his owner instead of doing something uncomfortable. The solution they may say is, "I want my dog to become submissive to me, so it stops acting anxious and does what I tell it." However, contrary to popular belief, we do not want a calm, submissive dog. In a dog's mind, submission means "Look how small I am, please don't hurt me." In fact, this is NOT confidence. The dog may push itself to do certain behaviors if it's truly become submissive, but it's out of fear. At the end of the day, you have a fearful dog, not a confident one. Who would want that? By contrast, a confident dog is much easier to teach new behaviors too. A dog that is willing to try new things is much easier to train than a dog with fearful characteristics. This means far fewer problems with your dog down the road compared to having a submissive / fearful pup. Often younger and adolescent dogs will go through a period of fearful behavior, sometimes known as the fear period. During this time, the dog may appear to be easily startled, worrisome, and seemingly losing confidence. If your puppy or adolescent dog is having fear problems, there are some considerations to make. One thing you don't want to do is reinforce the behavior (petting, soothing, etc). However, you also don't want to use a physical correction to attempt to fix the problem. As mentioned earlier, this can make the fear worse. There are a few things that can be done with a puppy or adult dog to increase their confidence immediately. Similar to the Disney character "Bolt the Superdog", we can build a dog's confidence by making them believe they are a "super dog." This can be done through confidence-building activities. An easy way to look at confidence-building is to take something that the dog may be unsure about and make it predicte something pleasant instead. For example: Let’s say you want to get your dog comfortable with different sounds, so you fill an empty kiddie pool with empty plastic bottles for the puppy/dog to play with. At first, the puppy or dog may be hesitant about the situation, but if you show the puppy or dog that it’s fun by either getting in the pool first or luring the puppy or dog into the pool, they will soon discover that it’s a fun activity and the puppy or dog will associate the sound of the plastic bottles with fun. This is something a lot of protection dog trainers will do with their puppies because in many protection sports, they will use what’s called a bottle curtain. It’s basically a bunch of empty plastic bottles hanging from a pole in a curtain-like fashion that the dog will have to run through. Simply put, it’s about constantly exposing your dog to new things and making those activities pleasant by predicting something the dog enjoys. Below are some confidence building exercises that I like to do with puppies and dogs that I work with. • Having the dog walk on multiple surfaces while giving the dog treats. An example could be having the dog walk on bubble wrap or a gym floor. • Having the dog walk on elevated surfaces while providing rewards. Making sure the dog won’t fall and get hurt, which could have the opposite effect. • Playing tug and always allowing the dog to win. If I want the toy from the dog I always use the “drop it” command. I never take the toy away by ripping it from the dog. • Exposing the dog to different sounds while providing rewards. Starting at a low volume and increasing as the dog becomes more comfortable. • Taking the dog to different environments for training. This is part of socialization. Create a puppy obstacle course • Create a puppy or dog obstacle course These are just a few examples, but you can see the process and become creating when doing confidence building exercises with your dog. Confidence building helps prevent a dog from having fear issues, but what if those issues are already present in our dog? This is when we use counterconditioning and desensitization. Counterconditioning is very similar to confidence building. The main difference is that we use counterconditioning to help a dog overcome something they may be afraid of. For example, your dog is afraid of the vacuum cleaner, so you first expose your dog to the vacuum with it turned off, then you reward. VIDEO EXPLAINING THIS SECTION The idea is to be on the same team as your dog, rather than having a relationship based on fear, or the belief that the owner needs to be the "alpha". Proper socialization early in the dogs life will also help with confidence building.

Thanks! :)

Yes, it's not the same as the real thing. We do the best we can with what we have. :)

@@NateSchoemer Maybe I can take my pup to a gun range

I hope it helps and best of luck! :)

Just do your best to have a lot of fun with the pup while the fireworks are going off. You can also give high-value treats and train your pup during that time if you can. It will depend on the dog. He may be too scared to train, or he may completely ignore the fireworks. You won't know until it happens. Again, try your best to have fun with your pup and don't react to the fireworks since they often feed off our energy. I hope this helps. Cheers! :)

Hey, Tim! You can try taking him on more walks while the fireworks are going off, this can sometimes show them that it's not as bad as they think. Plus, if he likes going on walks, then it can help with the positive association. If he still seems too stressed, then you can put him in his crate. A lot of dogs feel more comfortable in their crates during fireworks. 😁🐶🐕

I hope it helps and best of luck! :)

Use counter conditioning as explained in the video. :)

Thanks! If the pup is barking out of fear, then you would have to reduce the intensity of the stimuli. So if the sound is coming out of a speaker, then turning it down should help. This is the concept behind counter conditioning and desensitization. If the barking is not out of fear, then you can teach the dog a quiet command. The easiest and fastest way to teach quiet is to treat it as a conditioned correction. Meaning, say quiet and then correct your dog with a training collar and leash pop. After only a couple of those, your dog will stop barking or making noises when you say quiet. Once that's the case, then you no longer need to correct after the command. If you would rather not correct, then this is a good option as well: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ZtykoZt_zdXKf6s.html

@@NateSchoemer Thx for your feedback! Btw can you tell me how to make training sessions enjoyable for my dog without using any food?

Hi Amir. No, it doesn't work on every dog, but from my experience, it helps most dogs handle the 4th of July way better than if they didn't go through the conditioning. Thanks! :)

@@NateSchoemer this method though does work on most dogs. This is basically the same method I use. My Ruby absolutely loves fireworks. I will be making a video on this here soon myself. I will cover a few things you did not mention. Its a pain to make a video that covers everything. Like the beginning part of your video does an absolute great job at defining things. I hope I can do just as good at that part if I dont I will just have people refer to your video :) .

Yup. Mine only howls at one rescue vehicle that is at a different frequency, and only briefly. Thankfully it isnt all as we are between 2 fire stations. ; )

If she seems okay with the fireworks, then it may not be an issue taking her along. You have the right idea by trying to make it fun by bringing her favorite toys and treats, but it's not a guarantee that the fireworks won't scare her. If you take her and you notice it's causing an issue, then it may be best to take her home. If you're worried about it, then I would leave her at home. Best of luck and thanks for watching the video.

@@NateSchoemer THANK YOU for your reply! We live in a neighborhood that sets off fireworks all weekend 4th of July, so we hung out at home, opened a window so she could hear them while we carried on as normal, played with her, etc. She didn’t care at all! Lol. Took her outside while we did smoke bombs/sparklers & she was curious but not bothered. Even when the neighbors set their fireworks off, as long as she was next to me on a leash she was totally fine. We decided to forgo the crowds this year at public displays. I appreciate your input!! 😊

You can try using those small poppers and treat it like a marker. Here is a video reference: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gqx7lJSLsZPFgqs.html

@@NateSchoemer Ah that’s smart, thanks!

Or go close to a gun range and practice from a distance, if she's afraid of the colours or light then it might be a good idea to try to counter condition that aswell.

yes. Also with the vacuum just have it out all the time when you are awake and are able to watch. Do not have it on just have it out. Feed meals closer and closer to it with out it being on. Then once they get used to being right next to it with it off move the vacuum father away when you feed and turn it on.

Yes, Pawsuasive Dog Teaching said it perfectly. :)

@@NateSchoemer this answers my vacuum question.

Anytime you're working with a dog that has fear issues, you want to use counter conditioning and desensitization. :)

Lol!

If you have a private yard, then it shouldn't be an issue. I just wouldn't take the puppy to any high dog traffic locations. :)

Nate Schoemer thank you, I was worried. Keep up the great content, and I hope you stay safe and healthy

Check out this video: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/grmRdJSE08CdYIU.html

Yes. Just be sure to start the dog far away from the vacuum and gradually get closer to the vacuum while it's on until the dog/puppy is comfortable with it. If the dog becomes reactive at first, then you'll know that you are too close to the vacuum and you'll need to back up. If it's still too much for the dog, then start with the vacuum turned off. I hope this helps and thanks for supporting the channel. 🐶😁🙏

@@NateSchoemer I have been avidly watching your videos because my pup is going to be my service dog, and I am working on his basic obedience. With a few exceptions, he has been responding very well to the techniques you have shared.

Can be used for ANY sound. Fireworks, sirens, air brakes on lorrys, doors slamming. Etc

Hi Marcus, You don't need both the continuation marker and the terminal marker. A lot of people have been able to train their dogs using just the terminal marker and then using verbal praise when working on duration. I like to use both, but it's not 100% necessary. You should be okay as long as you have at least one marker.

@@NateSchoemer thanks for replying me ! And man, your job is amazing,... i just want to do whatever you are doing ! haha another question: i need reward a dog every time i say the markers? if yes when i want for example make the dog sit, stand, down, roll over, etc i have to say the markers ever command or just after the last one?

Lol! Thanks! Yes, every time you say your marker, you should reward your dog. Check out this vides on spacing out rewards: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/l5h_ddKh2czYiac.html

You can try using something similar to fireworks, such as the poppers that kids through on the ground. You can also go outside of a gun rage and get your dog used to those sounds, which is similar to fireworks. Just start at a distance that doesn't stress your dog out and decrease the distance and the dog becomes more comfortable and desensitized to the sound. I hope this helps and thanks for watching and supporting the channel. Cheers!

@@NateSchoemer Thanks for the reply and the suggestion. I'll give it try!

@@susanjarvieMesaCommCollege did you try it?

@@mikearmstrong1796 Not yet. I've been working on some other techniques, as well as with a Vet Behaviorist. Soon. Thank you!!

I'm sorry to hear that. I hope it ends up being nothing serious.

Check keep track of giving him flea/tick treatments. One of my dogs was so bad she even had seizures from Zeresto collar after just 48 hours wearing it. We switched to natural oils treatments for her. Clove oil. Can be obtained at Walmart even. Use monthly.

Yes, some dogs will shut down and try to hide during the 4th of July. I hope he's doing better now and eating again. You'll have to do the training before the 4th, so he's conditioned and ready for when the fireworks start. :)

@@NateSchoemer Ok thank you!

If your dog is stressed out by fireworks, try following the steps in this video and make any adjustments necessary for your own dog. Cheers! :)

Best of luck!