The Three D’s of Dog Training

February is National Dog Training Education Month and we want to share with you the Three D’s of Dog Training. Does your dog sit perfectly at home, but when you are at the pet store acts like it has never heard that command before? Does your dog know their basic commands at class but you are you struggling at home or in the park?

In this Episode of the Muttz with Mannerz™ Canine Academy Podcast, co-hosts Corey McCusker and Diane Purser share with you the Three D’s of Dog Training. Focusing on these three D’s will help you be confident that your dog will be able to consistently perform almost every behaviour taught under any circumstances.

In this episode, Corey and Diane cover:

• What the Three D’s are, why they are important, and how, as you increase them, it can be more of a challenge for your dog.
   
• Duration: This is the length of time your dog can maintain a behaviour, and why certain behaviours may not have a duration component.
   
• The use of rewards when increasing duration and how the timing of those rewards is crucial.
   
• The second D Distance: How far we are away from our dog while they hold a position.
   
• Some tips on how to effectively reward them while increasing the distance you are away.
   
• The final and most difficult D Distraction: Whatever else is going around your dog that might distract them while they are doing a behaviour.
   
• Why practicing with distractions is so important and some places you can go to do that.
   
• How to work with the three D’s in your dog training and how they build on each other.

Your Hosts:

Corey McCusker, Canine Coach

Corey’s passion for helping humans and dogs excel led her to take a leap of faith after 22 years working in the Financial Industry to leave her corporate job in 2006 and start two companies. Corey is a Coach at heart and works with business leaders and high-performance teams, but her true passion has always been canines. She now has created a career that supports both. 

Corey founded Muttz with Mannerz in 2006. Her foundation of knowledge which includes being a Senior Manager, Dog Trainer, Vet Assistant, World Tour Lead, and Mental Performance Coach helped her to launch the Canine Academy. The purpose of the academy is to assist pet parents build the foundation for their pups to be with them for life. 

Corey believes in giving back to the community. Over many years she has volunteered at the Toronto Humane Society and the OSPCA and is also proud to be an evaluator for St. John Ambulance Dog Therapy Program. She held the position of Director of Communications on the board for the Canadian Association for Women Entrepreneurs and Executives from 2017-2019.  She has been active with Markham Fair and been a Team Captain and on the Executive for Stouffville Ladies Floor Hockey League for over 15 years. 

Corey has made Stouffville her home for the last 18 years and shares it with Mike, her partner, two stepdaughters, Karla and Alison, and their two energetic kittens, Dino and Demi. Over the years Corey has been fortunate to be blessed to share her life with 6 wonderful canines, Tilley (Miniature Dachshund), Tiny, Kira (Great Danes), Fred (Maltese), Charlie (Morkie), and Cleo (Miniature Poodle). Corey and Mike welcomed their new puppy, Skye, a rescue Muttz from Manitoba reserves into their home in June. 2021. They have big hopes for her and look forward to Skye filling their lives with joy and being an active member of Team Muttz. 

Diane Purser, Canine Educator

Diane has had a lifelong love of animals and knew at some point she would enter the world of Animal Welfare, specifically around Companion Animals. After a long career, Diane was able to leav