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Thank you for subscribing to our monthly newsletter! We’re thrilled to have you be a part of our ever-growing community of dog lovers and training enthusiasts. Each month, you can look forward to receiving valuable training tips, behavior insights, and updates on our upcoming events and classes. We're excited to share this journey with you and your furry friend(s)! 🐾

Table of Contents

• Featured Upcoming Class: Puppy Start Right Prescho …

  • Why Choose Ready Set…Train! for Group Training Cla …

• The Lost Art of Capturing Good Behaviors

  • What is Capturing?

  • Why It’s a "Lost Art"

  • The Benefits of the "Lightbulb Moment"

  • How to Practice the Art

    • The "Settle" Capture

  • Moving Beyond the Prompt

  • Against the Odds: Finding a Lost Dog: By Elizabeth …

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Featured Upcoming Class: Puppy Start Right Preschool

Give Your Puppy the Best Start with Puppy Start Right Pre-School!

Did you know that the experiences your puppy has between 7 and 16 weeks old shape how they see the world for the rest of their life? Don't miss this critical window!

Join us for our Puppy Start Right Pre-School, a specialized program designed by world-renowned Veterinary Behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin. This isn't just a training class—it’s an investment in your puppy’s future confidence.

What’s Included:

• A Human-Only Orientation to set you up for success.

• 4 Themed Classes focusing on off-leash play, vet/grooming prep, and exposure to diverse people and environments.

• Proactive Problem Solving: We tackle house training, biting, jumping, and guarding before they become habits.

• Essential Manners: Start building a bond with Sit, Down, Drop It, and Loose Leash Walking.

The Result: You’ll learn to "speak dog" by reading your pup's emotional signals, and they’ll gain the social skills needed to navigate the world with ease.

• Duration: 5-Week Course

• Price: $200

• Sign Up Here: Book Online Now

Why Choose Ready Set…Train! for Group Training Classes?

Dogs of the Month: Zeke and Taz

Names: Zeke and Taz

Ages: Zeke 2yrs Taz 15 months

Breed: Coker Spaniels

Favorite Activity: Wrestling with each other!

Favorite Food: Cheese

Favorite Trick: “Around” and “Middle”

Best Personality Trait: They are both very loyal and expressive. They both “Talk” when they want/need something.

Fun Fact: Taz was a rescue from Akron, OH but Zeke and Taz are related…Not planned, or intentional!

Taz and Zeke have been busy making incredible strides in their training! Their owner, Kassidy, is a dedicated handler/trainer who works with the boys daily to sharpen their skills. From complex tricks to at-home agility, these two are always learning. They’ve even recently mastered muzzle training—a fantastic tool for responsible dog ownership!

While Taz and Zeke are on their best behavior individually, they face unique challenges with reactivity when they are together. Unfortunately the boys have had some traumatic experiences with dogs running up to them off leash. On one occasion they were attacked by another dog. They have had to work hard to overcome these experiences. To help get exposure they boys have enrolled in our “Out and About” and “Triggered” classes, they have shown massive improvement. Their mom takes them on all shorts of walks/adventures where they get to practice their skills. We absolutely love working with this trio and are excited to support them as they continue their training journey!

The Lost Art of Capturing Good Behaviors

When was the last time you simply stopped and observed your dog? Not just glancing their way, but truly focusing on the nuances of their body language and the choices they make.

You might be surprised by what you discover. When we step back from constant prompting and "luring," we open a window into what our dogs are thinking and feeling. In a world of high-pressure training, the art of capturing—marking and rewarding a behavior a dog offers entirely on their own—has become a bit of a lost art. Yet, for those who master it, capturing unlocks a level of cognitive engagement and voluntary cooperation that few other methods can match.

The term "capturing" in dog training sounds like something out of a wildlife documentary, and in many ways, it is. It is the art of waiting, observing, and "catching" a dog in the act of doing something brilliant—all on their own.

What is Capturing?

At its core, capturing is a marking-based training technique where you wait for a dog to perform a natural behavior spontaneously and then immediately mark (with a clicker or a verbal "Yes!") and reward it.

Unlike luring (using a treat like a magnet to move the dog) or shaping (rewarding incremental steps toward a goal), capturing requires the trainer to be a silent observer. You aren't "making" the behavior happen; you are simply waiting for the dog to offer it.

Why It’s a "Lost Art"

We live in an era of "fast results." Luring is popular because it’s a shortcut; you can get a dog to sit or lie down in seconds by moving a piece of cheese over their nose. Capturing, by contrast, requires:

• Patience: You might wait five minutes for a dog to finally decide to sit on their own.

• Observation: You have to recognize the split-second the behavior begins.

• Silence: You cannot cue, prompt, or "help" the dog.

Because it takes longer to get the first "rep," many modern trainers skip it. But in doing so, they miss out on the unique benefits of a dog who has "learned how to learn."

The Benefits of the "Lightbulb Moment"

When you lure a dog, they are often following the food like a heat-seeking missile, sometimes without even realizing what their body is doing. When you capture, the dog has to think: "Wait, why did I just get a treat? Was it because I sat? Let me try that again."

1. Stronger Generalization: Behaviors that a dog "discovers" on their own tend to be more resistant to forgetting.

2. Increased Focus: It turns training into a game of "hot or cold," making the dog an active participant rather than a passive follower.

3. Building Confidence: For shy or "shut down" dogs, capturing empowers them. They realize they have the power to "make" the trainer give them a treat through their own actions.

How to Practice the Art

If you want to bring capturing back into your repertoire, start with a "do nothing" session.

• Pick a Boring Room: Go somewhere with zero distractions.

• Have Your Rewards Ready: Keep your treats and marker ready, but keep your hands still.

• Wait for the "Natural": Wait for a natural behavior—a head tilt, a yawn, a sit, or even a four-on-the-floor stand.

• Mark and Reward: The moment the behavior happens, click!

The "Settle" Capture

One of the most valuable behaviors to capture is the voluntary settle. Instead of telling a dog "Down," wait for them to choose to lie down and relax on their own. By capturing that calm state of mind, you aren't just training a physical position; you are reinforcing a psychological state.

Moving Beyond the Prompt

Capturing reminds us that dogs are constantly "offering" behaviors. When we stop talking and start watching, we realize that the dog is often trying to communicate or solve a puzzle. By reviving this lost art, we move away from being "commanders" and toward being "collaborators," building a relationship based on mutual observation and clear, silent communication.

Against the Odds: Finding a Lost Dog: By Elizabeth Tuohy

It was already a hot day when Diane left her home to run errands. Her bestie Rowdy rode along as he often did. A pit bull mix rescue, Rowdy did not like to be left at home. He didn’t really like waiting in the car either. Diane left the car running to keep the air conditioning on. Unfortunately, as Rowdy anxiously moved around the front seat for the best view of Diane’s return he stepped on the power window control. The now-open window afforded the opportunity to escape. rowdy exited through the window and took off running. Perhaps the jump from the car involved tugging on his collar in a way that loosened it. As he crossed a busy street his collar with ID came off.

Diane began searching for Rowdy right away. Initially, there were a few sightings. A group of searchers cast an ever-widening net in the west Toledo area where Rowdy escaped. Flyers were distributed as people walked around many neighborhoods. Online postings were shared to various social media groups. As the days wore on, hope began to dwindle. Then, after two weeks had passed a Lucas County Canine Care and Control Officer responded to a stray dog call. He captured a very thin, scared pit bull mix. Back at the building, an alert worker recognized the dog as fitting Rowdy’s description and notified Diane. She rushed to the Erie Street location hoping to identify her dog. He didn’t recognize her until she got close enough for him to sniff. Thankfully, this missing dog made his way home.

Many pet owners have had the gut-wrenching experience of a pet who manages to escape from a house, yard, or car. With luck, the owner spots the dog sniffing across the street happy to return home for some tasty treats. When luck is not on your side and your pet is gone there are steps to take.

Lucas County Canine Care and Control shares specific suggestions.
https://share.google/5H5oaBNrGidh2zu31

• Make flyers and post them all around your neighborhood.

• You can report the dog to K100, who will announce the dog’s description on the
  air.

• Post the pet on Facebook. There is a local page called Toledo Area Lost &
  Found Pets where you can post found animal information.

• Post a lost ad on Craigslist.

• Call your local veterinary clinics in case they receive a lost dog.

• Notify your mail carrier to be on the lookout for your dog.

• Drive slowly around your neighborhood – your dog can recognize the sound of
  your car!

• Place a yard sign in front of your house with a photo of your missing dog and
  your phone number.

• Post a photo and contact information on the online group NextD

Two important interventions can help reunite dogs with their owners. Microchips inserted under the skin can identify a dog’s owner. These need to be read by special scanners. GPS tracking devices can be attached to a dog’s collar showing the dog’s location. Ready Set Train has information about some of the brands. https://share.google/BteaNL1VjTlP68Ow8

A new service, using AI technology, is available through Petco Love Lost. People can submit photos of their missing pets to the website. The software compares those photos with the photos posted to shelter websites. Owners are notified if a possible match is found. According to Petco about 200,000 pets have been reunited with their families since 2021.
https://share.google/ucPdD10JKReSBaNFg

To read an article about the service follow this link.
https://share.google/LqVMs1mgPFU6a8z1S

For those who want to delve deeper into the subject, author Susannah Charleson wrote a book titled Where the Lost Dogs Go: a Story of Love, Search and the Power of Reunion. She combines research into the topic with her own experiences helping people in her town find their missing dogs.

Upcoming Classes/Events

4/12: 10:00 am- Puppy Start Right Preschool | First Class

4/12: 1:00 pm- Out and About | First Class

4/15: 7:15 pm- Beginner Good Manners | First Class

4/19: 4:30 pm- Advanced Good Manners | First Class

4/24: 6:00 pm- Rally Intermediate/Advanced Class | First Class

4/24: 7:30 pm- Beginner Good Manners | First Class

5/17: 11:30 am- Beginner Good Manners | First Class

5/17: 1:00 pm- Canine Good Citizenship Class | First Class

All of our upcoming class still have several spots available. Sign up today! https://www.readysettraindogs.com/group-training-classes

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