Fit-Click / Online R+ fitness & rehab training

27/09/2026

This is going to be fun weekend. See you there!

LESS THAN ONE WEEK TO GO❗️

There is now less than a week to go until we open the doors to Kiruna Sleddog Symposium 2026!

This year, we are welcoming a record number of participants and exhibitors along with a fantastic line-up of inspiring speakers from the world of sled dogs.

We are looking forward to a weekend filled with new knowledge, shared experiences and stories, plenty of inspiration and, of course, the opportunity to discover and upgrade your equipment for the season ahead.

A very warm welcome to Kiruna, see you soon!

16/09/2026

Hundeerziehung spielend einfach put into words what has been going through our heads, not only the past few days but since Nadine Hehli and Simone Fasel began to collaborate with Vito Cieca
I could not say it better, so thank you for putting this information out there!

I will just add or emphasize my personal experience, how much these exercises have helped our dogs grow their skills, especially the ones who did not grow up with us.

It also has inspired me to think of ways how I could use some of the games for other purposes. ➡️ And I asked Vito what he thought about it and directly got feedback and adaptations to the game, that would make it fit the needs of what I had in mind even better!
💡And these Ideas will always be the one time I use labels!
➡️The "Vito Dog Academy" label.

💜 Vito even took the time this past weekend to explain everything in detail (over Zoom), and I'm just really thankful to the best team, that made all this possible!

And last, I also would like to share that the two bowl game is actually not a very easy game for animals. Even if it looks super easy, and even if there is animals that will understand this right away, from what I have learned this is not a beginners exercise suited for every dog. I have had several dogs struggle with this game, they needed a different game to start with - they needed an easier way to build some prior skills to make the two bowl game easy and frustration free.
So if my dog struggles with this game I dont keep repeating it.
I ask what other games do we need first.

💡Not every dog has the same starting point and not every dog starts with the same Vito Game!

12/09/2026

We love Vito Games! And naturally I began wondering if I could use this for rehab, specifically for rehabing sleddogs. The exercise is targeting dogs emotions and their mental state during a difficult time where they may not move much but have to watch their friends go out for runs on a daily basis.

Thanks to the Creators Nadine and Simone and Team member Sabrina, an online meeting and training with
was made possible!
And I will present this great exercise as part of my presentation at this year's Sleddog Symposium in Kiruna

04/09/2026

The video I posted earlier might seem a bit strange, as all the steps leading up to that moment weren't explained. So, let me try to sum it up! 😊

Let's start with the white boxes. These are not supposed to be targets; they usually act as distinct-looking food bowls for when we play "Vito-Games" by . ➡️ So, in a perfect scenario, the dogs would not be standing in them.

💡 I used these "food bowls" for this "start situation" to trigger a specific emotional response established while playing the so-called "Vito's Two-Bowl Game." Because these bowls have such a distinctive look, and because we played the "two-bowl game" most recently with the bike as part of the setup, my assumption was that using them in this start situation—while playing a game similar enough to the "two-bowl game"—would "produce" a positive emotional response from my dog. And it worked perfectly!
(The dog on the left can sometimes get so overstimulated that it's clear she can't cope; she vocalizes loudly and can't interact with me in any way. ➡️ So, I was really happy, even though she was standing in "the bowl" 😅.)

The biggest change in the setup for the dogs was the presence of a second dog. ➡️ Usually, they would (to put it simply) go from one bowl to the other, left to right, and so on. This wasn't going to work at the start (especially as I plan to take it a step further when we hook up five dogs), so I had to adapt the original game into something else. ➡️ I'm calling it "Cookie in the Box."

The goal was for the setup to remind my dogs of the "two-bowl game," and for the large area of the bowl to make throwing treats easier for me (😅 though, well 🤷🏻, I guess I need to train my throwing skills without the dogs first 😅).

The one thing I didn't account for was my dogs believing that, since the game had changed, the "food bowls" must now be targets. So, before we repeat this, I'm going to practice "Cookie in the Box" as a separate behaviour block and test a few things. This will allow me to improve the setup and give the girls more clarity on their role 😊.

Hope this provides a bit more insight!

30/08/2026

During our live demo for the Hoopers Community, I really felt so happy about the way we have built our foundation.
Erin Lugh has never been lured with food. I also don't use food in my closed hand as a follow target.
We were able to briefly show a nice step up - step down in quite a nice form with out prior experience for this exact set-up. And it wasn't just pure luck. I was confident that with all the skills (behaviour blocks) she had AND with a clear setup she would have enough information to perform the movement i was asking for.

So what might feel like more effort in the beginning, will totally pay off in the long run.

And it will bring so much joy for both of you 💜

10/05/2026

Looking forward to a weekend all about sleddogs 🩵

Kiruna Sleddog Club is happy to announce Alexandra Sgier - Rehabilitation Therapist, Canine Fitness Specialist, and Reward-based Animal Trainer as speaker for this falls symposium.

Alexandra has a solid background and a strong passion for everything related to rehabilitation, fitness, and behavioral training for animals. Since 2001, she and her family have lived and trained with sled dogs, giving her a deep understanding of animal physiology, endurance, and teamwork.

Since 2012, she has run her own business focusing on animal rehabilitation and fitness training. It is important for Alexandra to create an emotionally aware training approach that promotes the most effective recovery, physical fitness, and boosts self-efficacy and mental development.

With certifications such as R+ Expert, Canine Fitness Trainer, and "Fear-Free" Elite Professional, along with extensive continuing education in animal behavior, rehabilitation, and training, Alexandra is a highly regarded and dedicated specialist in her field. Her driving force is to spread knowledge and help animal owners create sustainable and joyful training processes for their four-legged companions.

22/04/2026

Sometimes, you just need to hit pause. To look at where you stand, trace the path that brought you there, and decide what comes next. After seven years on a rollercoaster, I’m taking a proper break to catch my breath and draft a new plan.

We love the life we have, even if we've drifted quite a way from the blueprint we made eight years ago. That’s perfectly fine; the best discoveries usually happen when you wander off the map. Still, it’s time to regroup. For now, we are stepping back to focus entirely on the farm and our animals—a full-time adventure in itself.

Catch you later 👋🏻

24/12/2025

Happy Holidays! 💚🎄❄️

05/12/2025

Many people think that if the dog follows their closed hand with food inside, and they only give the treat after marking the behaviour, then it isn’t luring at all.

“It’s fine — the reward comes later, so the dog must be learning the movement… right?”

❓But what is your dog really learning?
▪️They are learning to follow the reward. - They arent primarily learning how to use their body. -

▪️They are learning that information will primarily be given through handler movement - They are not learning to activate the motion pattern solely through the set-up, making it harder to transfer motion patterns over to every day life.

▪️They are learning to mainly pay attention to the reward, resulting in learners falling over or off equipment.
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➡️ STRUCTURED TRAINING (aka modern shaping) changes everything.

When the dog understands the desired movement (even if it is through the help of targets):

▪️Their brain can target the corresponding muscle groups through efficient pathways
▪️They learn to move with intention
▪️They will gain bodyawaerness and control faster
▪️They will have overall more clarity, no frustration and a best possible emotional experience

➡️The reward becomes a consequence for the motion — instead of beeing part of the reason for the movement.

If you want to connect the best emotions with learning, have efficient sessions, better form, safer movement, and stronger muscles, focus on your set-up and the information you can provide your dog with.