AIF project
Week 2
Research and Training Documentation
Library - E1, E3
After deciding my topic I talked to the school librarian to enquire if they had any books on dog training.
The issue that I encountered was that the librarian informed me that their were no available books on dog training in the library. However, she did say that there were some books in the middle school library that were available and that she would help me get them from the middle school.
Whilst I didn't get the books right away I was actually quite surprised that the school would even have any books on dog training and was quite grateful to the librarian for offering to bring them for me.
Whilst the internet does provide a wide variety of information I felt that perhaps training methods in the books would differ from online sources and I may discover a very valuable source.
At home - E1, E2
At home I started to take note of my dogs current behaviours and habits. This included both good and bad things. I did this because I wanted to get a baseline understanding of her natural behaviours before I started formal training.
For example, Winnie (my dog's name) enjoys sleeping and is quite clingy. She has many characteristics that are common to many border collies such as having a high value for toys.
However, this also comes with some bad habits such as herding my other dog. This may become an issue in the future as Winnie will grow to be quite large however the other dog we have is a teacup poodle and therefore is quite small.
Another issue that I have encountered is that Winnie has a tendency to bite at my ankles and feet when she wants to play. As a puppy this is currently not a big deal, but as she grows older this may develop into a bad habit.
Winnie will try to go to the toilet outside. I think this because when we take her into the backyard the first thing she does is urinate/defecate on the grass. Additionally if we have her in her pen then she will start whining for us to take her outside. However, currently she still has accidents inside the house. This may be due to her not being able to control herself due to her age but the exact reason is not clear.
Reviewing the metacognitive strategy of "Observing the baseline" - E2
This process was useful because it helped me identify areas that need improvement early on. If I had just started training without taking the time to analyse her original behaviours first, I might not have noticed certain issues until they became harder to fix. I also think that by taking a more organised approach and not rushing into training I have obtained a more clear understanding of how to plan out what to do next. I believe by doing this strategy of "observing the baseline" I am able to efficiently plan out my next steps.
Furthermore, after this it made me realise that some behavioural problems are not always so obvious. I think from now on I will make sure I observe her more carefully and make sure she does not build bad habits that may become an issue in the future. This gave me the idea that I had to not only focus on short-term training but also long-term training. I think that this event has made me understand the importance of also thinking long-term in regards to dog-training rather than just focusing on immediate results.
Digging holes - E1, PA1
One thing I noticed is that Winnie likes to dig holes. Although originally I thought that it was just her being "cheeky" whenever I took her away or distracted her with something else she'd inevitably go back to digging in the same spot. My mum said that you were apparently supposed to put pepper in the hole to disguise any smell and make it less "appetising". However, after we did this I think it actually made her want to go dig more. As this is something I wanted to prevent I decided to so some research into this.
Watching a Tiktok video on why my dog is digging holes - E3
Key Points:
- Bored
- Hunting small animals
- Lack of exercise
- Seeking a cool spot
- Anxiety or stress
- Instinct
Value - E3
This Tiktok video provided me with some valuable information on the various reasons my dog may be digging holes. This was helpful as the only reason that I thought of was that it was a dogs natural instinct.
What Next - E1
As I had a few reasons why Winnie was digging holes I went directly to the process of elimination as I didn't think that all the reasons listed in the Tiktok video would apply to Winnie.
Process Of Elimination - E2
Since digging had multiple possible reasons (according to the Tiktok) I decided to use the metacognitive strategy "Process Of Elimination". This is because by eliminating less likely possibilities I can narrow my focus to develop solutions for the more likely reasons.
Firstly, I decided to remove hunting for small animals and finding a cool spot. I think it is very unlikely that Winnie was hunting for small animal as it didn't seem like a plausible that there would be small animals near my house at the time of day. However, I decided to keep that in mind. On the day that the video of Winnie digging holes was recorded it was a relatively cool day. Therefore, I don't think she was digging to escape the heat.
One possibility is that Winnie is digging due to anxiety or stress. Since we only recently got her, it is technically possible that she might feel unsettled in her new environment. However, based on my observations of her behaviour, I think this is unlikely. She interacts comfortably with my family, seeks attention, plays normally, and doesn’t display other common signs of anxiety (such as excessive whining, avoidance, or destructive chewing). Because of this, I don’t think her digging is linked to anxiety or stress.
Another reason was instinct. Whilst this is definitely a plausible solution I think for now I want to rule this reason out. This is because this is not something I can fix readily. Whilst using a form of punishment in this case may be effective I don't think this solution would be appropriate as digging holes could just be her natural instinct and I think it is unethical to punish her for something instinctual.
Therefore, the reason I am going with right now is boredom. Therefore, the current plan to combat this issue is to play with her or distract her with something else.
Reviewing the metacognitive strategy of "Process of Elimination" - E2
What worked well:
✅ Helped me narrow down possible causes – Instead of assuming one reason, I systematically considered multiple factors. Afterwards I logically rules out possible reasons. This prevented me from jumping to conclusions too quickly and allowed me to analyse objectively.
✅ Encouraged deeper observation – I had to actively analyse Winnie's behaviour, looking at how she interacted with us, when she dug, and whether she showed other signs of stress or boredom. This made me more aware of patterns rather than just guessing.
What didn't work as well:
❌ Some factors were harder to rule out – While I ruled out anxiety based on Winnie's social behaviour it is possible that I am being somewhat oblivious as I am not a certified dog trainer and every dog is different (may show signs of stress differently).
❌ Needed more evidence to confirm assumptions – Even though I suspected boredom was the main cause, I couldn’t be certain without tracking her behaviour overtime.
Overall this strategy was pretty good. I think this strategy must be combined with observation and maybe some further research to make it work better. However, for my current process this will be enough.
Training Progress - E1, E2
Current Progress
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As of now she is currently able to sit and lie down with relative ease. I am currently trying to teach her how to shake hands. Finally, I also started to teach her how to wait till the count of 3 before eating a treat before her as self-control training.
Challenges I have faced
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One issue that I encountered was that I failed to remove the treat in time before saying "3." I think this caused her to think that she didn't need to wait to the count of 3 and it was more like a game where she had to try steal the treat. This made me realise that I need to be more consistent and precise in my actions to reinforce the correct behaviour.
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Another challenge is her tendency to get distracted during training. While she is clearly food-motivated, she sometimes prefers to play rather than focus on training, which interrupts progress.
Patterns in Winnie’s Learning Style
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Winnie doesn’t fully respond to her name yet which may be an issue. However, she consistently comes when I squat and spread me arms out. This may suggest she is better at visual cues than verbal ones.
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Winnie is good at learning tricks however she is less good at learning good behaviour. This could be because she is a puppy and may still be a little cheeky. However, I think it is still important to fix some of these problems. For example, things like biting my ankles when she wants to play and jumping up (leads to scratching) are things that may become a bigger issue when she’s older (long-term thing I should focus on
Reflection on Training So Far
What is working?
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Winnie is very food motivated which makes it easier to teach her tricks.
What is not working?
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Behavioural training – another note I want to make is that her behaviour varies between different people. For example, with me she is less likely to biting and scratching. I think this is because I am sterner with her. However, with my sister, who is less strict, she ends up biting and scratching her more.
- From now on I will also reinforce the need for my family members to be stern with her when she bites/scratches to ensure that she is good with everyone and not just me.
Online Research
Recognising the need for research - E1
I am quite uneducated and unexperienced in dog training. Therefore for this project conducting research will be important.
Whilst I do currently own a different dog, training was relatively unnecessary because she is very low maintenance and we received her when she was 6 months old already, meaning she had already outgrown a lot of the challenges that had come with young puppies in an environment where there was an experienced person (the breeder) to correct various behavioural issues.
Winnie, the dog I am training for this project, is a Border Collie. Prior to getting a Border Collie I did know that border collies required lots of time and energy and for this reason were not recommended for first time dog owners.
Because of these factors I recognise that self-education through research will be necessary so that I can effectively fulfill her needs.
Reading Through Google Gemini on why Border Collies are not recommended for first time dog owners. - E3
Key Points:
- Border Collies have high amounts of energy
- Border Collies are highly intelligent
- Demanding dog that requires time and effort
- May develop behavioural issues if not stimulated and excersized
- May require advanced training otherwise they may become bored
Value - E3
Most of the information about Border Collies was information I already knew. However, this source did enforce the fact that training with my dog would be difficult and required time and energy.
What next - E1
As I had never owned a Border Collie before or any other highly demanding dog I knew that I had to conduct research on how to train her to prevent bad habits from forming and ensure that she was sufficiently mentally stimulated and happy.
Crate Training
Discovering what Crate Training is - E1, E3
When scrolling on Tiktok I found a video created by a dog trainer that highly recommended crate training. However, when I was reading through the comments I found mixed feelings about crate training. Some people found that crate training helped enormously whilst other thought crate training was cruel. However, considering how a Tiktok comment section is likely not a very reliable source I did not fully trust the opinions that were given. However, I did keep crate training in mind which lead me to do further research on crate training.
note* - to view each Tiktok comment press the arrow on the side
Reading through website by the Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) about Crate Training - E3
Key points
Purpose:
- Crate acts as the dogs "sanctuary" or room
- Provides safety/security for dog
- Prevent destructive behaviour
Benefits for dog
- Dog can enjoy privacy and security
- Learn to control bowels
- Develop routines e.g. for sleep and elimination outdoor
- Can be spared loneliness when the dog is required to be separated from certain things (i.e. instead of being locked in basement)
- Learn when to calm down.
Benefits for owner
- Peace of mind when leaving dog alone
One thing I found interesting was how the article specifically used the wording "Correctly and humanely used, a crate can have many advantages for both you and your dog". This essentially points out that the way the owner goes about crate training may be the difference between it being helpful and inhumane. I think for the purpose of crate training would be that when Winnie is sick or needs some privacy she has somewhere to go. I think for my family we wouldn't want to leave her in the crate much anyways.
Value of PAWS website - E3
The PAWS website on crate training was a reliable source that provided the benefits on crate training. This was important as my prior source/s from tiktok was somewhat unreliable whilst still useful. It further explained the benefits of crate training, in specific benefits that are applicable for the dog.
What this prompted me to do next - E1
After learning a few benefits of crate training, the idea of crate training seemed quite beneficial. However, before I employed crate training with Winnie I wanted to first conduct more research on both positives and negatives (which were not included in this website) of crate training and the opinions of other dog owners.
Reading through a PDF crated by the RSPCA on the benefits of crate training dogs. - E3
Key points
- Compares crates to dens for dogs
Provides scenarios which compares a crate trained dog to a non-crate trained dog
Main ideas of each scenario
1 - Prevents destruction in the house
2 - Allows dog to be brought on holidays without the dog barking the whole night
3 - Calms dog down when needed so energy can be used for more beneficial purposes
4 - Separate dog from kids to prevent chaos
5 - Dog is calm when there are visitors
6 - Stress relief for calm and anxious dog
7 - Potty trained puppy
8 - Safe space for rehabilitation after vet visit
Value of RSPCA website - E3
The RSPCA's description of the benefits of crate training was particularly of high value in my opinion. Their usage of specific scenarios was helpful in understanding the importance of crate training. Furthermore, the 3rd scenario was specific to border collies. This allowed me to understand how crate training can be used as a strategy for border collies, which are particularly high energy.
What this prompted me to do next - E1
After conducting research from trustable sources online I felt that crate training was something I wanted to somewhat implement in my dog's training. However, I also wanted to find some perspectives from other dog owners on crate training.
Reading through a reddit forum for dog owners on crate training - E3
In a reddit forum one person posts a question and others try to respond. In this group, r/puppy, someone asked about whether crate training was necessary and other dog owners who have experienced crate training replied.
Key Points:
- teaches puppy how to settle down
- teaches puppy independence
-helps owner manage their own schedule
Necessity
-Important to start early
-Not necessary and is fine with or without the crate (however, it does make life easier for the owner)
Value of the Reddit Group - E3
Whilst a reddit group is a less trustworthy source then sources created by dog trainers or animal welfare groups I think it was very helpful. Unlike Tiktok where people gave short responses will little reasoning, the people in the reddit group included their various experiences that came with crate training. Furthermore, it was important for me to know that crate training is applicable for non-dog trainers with little experience as that is more relatable for me. I also found that it is better to start crate training early which is important as I already have my puppy with me so if I want to make changes like crate training I'd likely need to start them soon/now.
What this prompted me to do next - E1
After looking through the reddit forum I believed that I had conducted enough research which gave me various perspectives on crate training. As I wanted to start crate training so that she was ready if she needed it I decided to conduct research on how crate training is completed.
Reading through humane society website on how to conduct crate training - E3
Key Points:
1. Introduce the dog to the crate
- leave the door open
- drop treats into the crate and reward the dog when they willingly go inside
- close the door and drop a treat to ensure that the door closing does not have negative connotations
2. Feed the dog inside crate
- Food is a happy thing for dogs which allows the crate to be considered a good place
3. Slowly increase the time spent in crate
- This includes rewarding the dog when they are being good in the crate with treats.
Key points: Crating caution - E3
Value of the Humane Society Website - E3
This website provided me with a step by step guide on how to crate train dogs. It further provided me on information on how not to crate train dog. I think this part was particularly important due to how misusing crate training could be considered inhumane.
What this prompted me to do next - E1
After reading through the website I felt that I was ready to start crate training. As every dog is different I feel like whilst the basic steps are there I may need to problem-solve or seek help for specific scenarios that I face with Winnie.
Her pen/crate
Setting Up the Crate for Comfort and Security - E2
Currently the crate she is using is a pen that was used for our other dog. I then added a cover on top to make the pen into a crate which gave it a more den like feeling.
I also added some toys inside her pen. This is because when she was at the breeder’s place she would be sleeping with many other dogs. Therefore, I hoped to replicate this feeling for her to make the space more familiar.
Reflection on This Approach - E2
I think by adding a cover on top of the pen it will make it more comfortable for her as I often find herself sleeping under the sofa or under chairs. Since she seeks out enclosed spaces, the covered crate mimics what she naturally finds comfortable. Also I think the toys will definitely be helpful as once we found her at home sleeping amongst my sisters toys.
A current issue - E1
One thing I was not expecting was just how smart Border Collies would be. She is currently able to escape from her crate with relative ease. I think for Winnie's crate training a big part will definitely be making her willing to go inside the crate as she is able to come out by herself. However, this may be difficult as currently she doesn't like going into the crate that much and will only do what she wants to do.
Feeding treats
Watching a video on how to teach dog to take treats
Key Points - E3
- Remove hand when feeding treats if you feel there teeth
- Bring the treat back fast so the dog knows it was because of there teeth rather then a different reason which may cause confusion
- Progression - closed hand, open hand, fingers, and increasingly exiciting treats.
Value - E3
Before watching this video I did not actually know that you had to teach dogs how to feed them treats. However, after watching this video it definitely makes sense why this is necessary. Through watching the video I also learnt the progression in which is necessary to teach the dog to take treats gently.
What next - E1
I do not believe that this requires extra research as of now. In the future I plan to use this technique where I remove the treat if I feel her teeth anytime I find myself rewarding Winnie with treats.
JOURNAL ENTRY WEEK 2
SUMMARY OF JOURNAL ENTRY - E1, E2
Focused on research and analysing Winnie's behaviour to improve training methods.
I recognised the importance of observation - tracking patterns will help tailor/adapt training to her needs.
Process of elimination was useful but worked best with direct observation, like how mind mapping could be improved with slight adjustments.
Challenges
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Faced inconsistency in training among family members - Winnie behaves differently with stricter vs. softer family members.
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Not everything goes to plan - she was able to escape the make-shift crate, which means that I need make her want to willingly go inside her crate.
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Realised that crate escape habits could become an issue so I may also need to get a new proper crate.
Moving forward
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I want to focus on adaptability, ensuring she plays before training to improve focus.
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Need to balance research with observation - every dog is different, so online methods need to be adjusted to fit Winnie’s behaviour.
Plan for next week
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Make crate more positive space (maybe get a new one)
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Address behavioural issues such as ankle biting and jumping up (causing scratching)
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Conduct wide range of research
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Continue minor trick training (not too much as I want her to adapt to the household first)