Tails of Connection/Tails of Connection Challenge
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Tails of Connection Challenge

Experience the magic of working with your dog for five minutes a day in our special challenge. Whether you're new to training or more advanced, this is an opportunity to reconnect and find joy.
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Daily Challenge Schedule

Welcome to Our First Challenge!

Intro: What is the Tails of Connection Challenge?
Preview
The Spirit of This Challenge
Link and Password for Private Facebook Group

Day One: How to Communicate With Your Dog

Intro: What Are Markers?
How-To: Condition Your Marker
#ShakeItUp: More Fun With Markers
Perks: Why Markers Rock
Challenge: On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!

Day Two: Nose Targeting

Intro: What Is Targeting?
How-To: Learn Targeting #SullyStyle
#ShakeItUp: Take a Selfie Like Otis
Perks: It’s More Than a Cute Boop
Challenge: Reach Your Target

Day Three: How to Get Your Dog to Respond to You

Intro: What Are Attention Games?
How-To: Use Games to Get Your Dog’s Attention
#ShakeItUp: The Ultimate Staring Contest
Perks: Your Dog Only Has Eyes For You
Challenge: Pay Attention to This One!

Day Four: How to Get Your Dog to Fall in Love With You Even More

Intro: What Is Engagement?
How-To: Win Your Dog Over Through Praise and Pets
How-To: Make Food Even More Fun
How-To: Make Yourself the Fun Part of Play
#ShakeItUp: Are You Still Interesting with Others Around?
Perks: No Diamond Ring Required
Challenge: Here’s Our Proposal

Day Five: When Resting Your Head Becomes a Powerful Tool

Intro: What’s a Chin Rest?
How-To: Lure a Chin Rest
How-To: Shape a Chin Rest
#ShakeItUp: A Little R&R on Different Objects
Perks: Rest Assured During Care
Challenge: The (Chin) Rest Is History!

Day Six: How to Walk Comfortably with Your Dog

Intro: What Is Loose Leash Walking?
How-To: Loose Leash Walking Inside
#ShakeItUp: A Walk on the Wild Side
Perks: A Parade of Puppy Eyes
Challenge: Walk the Line

Day Seven: How to Get Your Dog to Stay in Distracting Settings

Intro: Why I Revisit Stay with Sully and Otis
How-To: Learn the Basics of Stay
How-To: Learn to Stay with Food Distractions
#ShakeItUp: When the Going Gets Tough, Stay Put
Perks: The Stay is Implied
Challenge: Stay the Course

Day Eight: How to Walk Comfortably Outside on a Leash

Intro: Loose Leash Walking (Outside Edition)
How-To: Loose Leash Walking (Outside Edition)
#ShakeItUp: Not Just a Walk in the Park
Perks: Hit Your Stride Outside
Challenge: A Step in the Right Direction

Day Nine: Help Build Your Dog's Confidence

Intro: What Is Paws Up?
How-To: Teach Paws Up With a Lure #SullyStyle
How-To: Shape Paws Up Like Otis
#ShakeItUp: Have a “Paw-ty” like Otis
Perks: A Step in the Right Direction
Challenge: Put Your Best Paw Forward!

Day Ten: How to Help Your Dog Prevent an Injury

Intro: What’s a Pivot?
How-To: Teach Your Dog to Pivot
#ShakeItUp: Pivot Like a Pro
Perks: It’s More Than Just a Dance Move
Challenge: Take Those Paws for a Spin

Day 11: A Fun Indoor Activity for When It's Cold or Rainy Outside

Intro: What Is the 'Go Find It Game?'
How-To: Learn 'Go Find It' #SullyStyle
How-To: Play 'Go Find It' #SullyStyle (Next Steps)
How-To: Play a More Advanced Version of 'Go Find It' Like Otis
How-To: Play the Ultimate Game of Hide and Seek
#ShakeItUp: Send out the Search Party!
Perks: More Than a Game of Cat and Mouse
Challenge: The Thrill is in the Hunt

Day 12: How to Get Your Dog to Pass a Ball

Intro: Pass the Ball
How-To: Pass the Ball #SullyStyle
How-To: Pass the Ball Like Otis
#ShakeItUp: Bend It Like Otis!
Perks: A Soccer Star Could Be in Your Family
Challenge: Goooallll!

Day 13: How to Teach Your Dog to Treat You Like Royalty

Intro: Take a Bow
How-To: Bow Like Otis
#ShakeItUp: Bow for the Entire Royal Family!
Perks: You’re a Real-Life Royal Now!
Challenge: A Star Is Born

Day 14: How to Create Daily Training Sessions

Intro: Training for Five Minutes a Day
How-To: Create Your Own Five Minute Training Sessions
Behind the Scenes: A Real-Life Daily Training Session With Otis
#ShakeItUp: Kick Those Five Minute Routines up a Notch
Perks: The Best Five Minutes of Your Day
Challenge: Fill Your Life With Joy

Bonus Videos

Day One Bonus: How I Got My Dog to Come Back to Me at the Park
Day One Bonus: Teach Your Dog to Tap Dance Using Markers
Day Two Bonus: Teach Your Dog to Target and Follow a Stick
Day Three Bonus: How to Capture Your Dog's Attention in Real Life
Day Four Bonus: How Running Away From Your Dog Can Be a Powerful Tool
Day Five Bonus: Use the Chin Rest To Get Started With Cooperative Care
Day Six Bonus: Practicing Loose Leash Walking in a Distracting Setting
Day Seven Bonus: Practicing Stay in a Distracting Setting
Day Seven: How I Use ‘Good’ as a Marker
Day Eight Bonus: How I Use Forward Movement as a Reward for Otis
Day Nine Bonus: How I Use Paws up for Basic Conditioning
Day Nine Bonus: Paws Up Montage
Day Nine Bonus: How to Teach Your Dog "Off"
Day Ten Bonus: Why I’m Teaching Otis to Back Onto Objects
Day 11 Bonus: Why I Taught My Dog to ‘Go Sniff’
Day 12 Bonus: Playing Pass with Otis
Day 13 Bonus: Yoga With Your Dog
Day 14 Bonus: Why I Dance With My Dogs

Reviews of the Challenge

I have a lot of work ahead of me but this challenge really has opened my eyes to what my girls need. I joined thinking "eh, why not?" And it's going to be life changing for all of us. 

Jordan McAllister, Willow and Sadie's Human

I was delighted to see Christie offer multiple ways to teach what we were doing. I really liked how she showed how to break things down. I was also pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed the interaction with other people and dogs in the challenge. It was neat to see us all doing the same thing and each other’s successes and stumbling blocks.

Leslie Hardy, Stella Gene’s Human

Some days I was having a hard time (not challenge wise, just having a bad day) and doing the challenge completely changed my mood. It was like therapy! I was anxious, or sad or frustrated and after the challenge I'd be laughing and happy and in a better mood in general.

Daniela Rosenblat, Emmet and Emmy’s Human