So Fetch Dog Training
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Effective, fear-free dog training that builds stronger bonds through play. Dog training made fun for you and your dog!
📍Long Beach, OC, Surrounding areas
At So Fetch Dog Training, I am dedicated to fear free, science-based training methods. This means I do not use aversives such as prongs and e-collars. Studies show that these tools lead to negative behavior fall out and only appear to work by shutting the dog down creating the illusion of a calm dog. Instead, I focus on making training fun (for you and your dog). This way your dog will WANT to listen to you!
Pongo loved his hard boiled egg pupsicle Woof Pet 😋 Next time I’ll definitely have to freeze the egg because it was gone to way too fast lol 🥚
Video sped up. Working on the engage disengage game so Harley can learn to be calm when people pass by. Also learning to settle in public in general and check in with me when there’s an exiting distraction vs. going towards the distraction.
You do not need to have your dog on place for this, however sometimes having a specific place and behavior to perform can give more clarity on what we’re asking them to do.
Great job Harley! 👏🏻
🌙
is back! She had an injury so I didn’t get to see her for a few weeks while she recovered. Her newest trick we’re working on is cleaning up her toys!
She already knows fetch on cue and hold which really helped. Such a superstar! 🤩
06/12/2026
The 3-Second Rule: Giving Your Dog the Gift of Space 🐾
I love living in dog-friendly Edinburgh, but when you’re out on a walk—especially with a reactive or shy rescue dog—unplanned dog-to-dog meetings can be stress inducing!
I want to share one of the most powerful tips from Turid Rugaas’s amazing book, On Talking Terms With Dogs: Calming Signals, 2nd Edition: The 3-Second Rule (often used alongside the 'curve' approach).
What is it? It's a method to help dogs feel less threatened and prevent conflict when approaching another dog or person. When your dog is intrested in another dog who is approaching or being approached:
🐾Stop or Pause: Take a brief 3-second break. This pause gives both dogs a chance to use calming signals—like yawning, lip-licking, or sniffing the ground—to show they have peaceful intentions.
🐾 Observe: Watch your dog and the other dog. Are they looking away? Are they tensing up? A 3-second pause gives you time to read these critical signals. These will let you know whether to continue the metting or move away.
🐾 Move On (in a Curve): After the pause if you continue, approach in a curve rather than directly head-on. The dogs will most likely do this naturally where you see them curve around to go and sniff each others backside! Direct approaches can be seen as confronting!
Why does this matter for my reactive or rescue dog? By pausing and encouraging a non-confrontational approach, you are actively helping them feel safe, building their confidence, and showing them that you understand their language. You become their "reactive wing woman"!
You also praise their calm behaviours, so it is clear they are making good choices.
Then after an initial sniff, gently guide your dog away to allow them a chance to process the interaction. Then see if they want to continue the interaction or move on.
Remember your dog should be calm and relaxed meeting another dog.
Give the 3-second rule a try on your next walk!
Harley Jane learns down. Such a smart pup, she learned it in 2 minutes!
Start by taking a treat to your dogs nose and slowly moving it down between their paws. Hold it there and wait for your dog to offer a down. Then mark “yes” and reward.
Once consistently following the treat lure, begin using a hand signal instead and verbally saying “down” as your pup lays down.
Once consistently with that, then say “down” and wait for your pup to lay down. After about 10 seconds you can help your pup out with the hand signal if needed.
Pro tips:
🐾Practice on a comfortable surface like a fluffy blanket, dog bed, or even couch.
🐾Reinforce in position a few times to prevent popping up after the treat.
More loose leash walking with Harley Jane. Here she is learning the cue “let’s go”. Get your dogs attention, say “let’s go”, and start moving away from them. Mark “yes” and treat as soon as they start moving towards you. I also call this the follow me game or tag. Once your dog knows the game you don’t even need to say “let’s go” just reinforce when they follow you and have fun!
Pro tip:
🐾Play this game off leash or on a 15’ long line.
First lesson with little Harley Jane! In this clip we are working on loose leash walking and I am talking about the importance of having a leash long enough to allow your dog the freedom to move at their natural pace (7’ length can make a world of difference. I love for adjustable length leashes).
Pro tip:
🐾To prevent the pattern of your dog getting a treat and going straight back to pulling, continue to reward your dog several times as they are still close to you. Also, drop treats behind you as you move forward to further reinforce them not hitting the end of the leash and engaging with you.
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