Happy Dogs

05/10/2025

Did you know the way you train, or 'parent' your dog affects their attachment style?? 😮

It has been long recognised that a secure attachment style is the most optimum attachment style for human children, as it allows the child to feel more comfortable exploring and interacting with the world, and in the long term being able to grow into a well-adjusted adult. The same parallel has also been found in dogs, and that secure attachment provides the optimum starting place for a well-adjusted canine companion!

There is now even research showing that the pet parenting or training styles you use with your dog similarly mirror the parenting styles used for human children, and how they impact whether or not a secure attachment will form. With human children the styles of parenting are separated into several distinct styles including:

🔹Authoritative (responsive to needs, solves problems together, with clear expectations and rules)

🔹Authoritarian (demands obedience rather than working together, punishment based and little care of the child/learners needs or feelings)

🔹Permissive (no real boundaries or structure, indulgent of wants and needs of the child/learner)

And..
🔹 Neglectful/uninvolved (inconsistent boundaries, generally uninvolved and unresponsive to feelings or needs).

It has also been found that the authoritative style of pet parenting (shown through positive training, supportive and nurturing but not permissive) has the best outcome for producing securely attached dogs, and that the dogs were 'highly social, sensitive to social context and were more persistent and successful on the problem solving tasks'. Whereas authoritarian pet parenting (shown through balanced/alpha based training, strong boundaries and punishment based) had a significantly lower chance of producing a dog with a secure attachment. Permissive pet parenting styles (training with little to no boundaries or structure) also were less likely to have a secure attachment style (this research did not cover neglectful parenting styles).

This is further evidence, backed by scientific study, that punishment based training does not produce the most well adjusted canine companions, and that structure and boundaries taught with kindness rather than fear is the way to go! 👍

You can check out the study mentioned in the graphic for yourself here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36175745/

And learn more about attachment in our previous graphic here: https://www.facebook.com/DogNerdSussex/posts/pfbid02vKQKArqRNLn44TnsCQi7v4ck565piEE8idrT7rA5jEFN1SZvMGKo6aVnn9cz4yTjl

03/10/2025

Next PUPPY CLASS;
SATURDAY 11th October @ 2:30pm
🐶 book online now
www.happydogsbyronbay.com

🐶 located at Petcare Byron Bay

🐾 5 week course $295 for puppies 8 -15 weeks old. Must have proof of first vaccination

🐕 5 puppies max = small class size to ensure positive experiences and 1:1 coaching from certified animal behaviour expert.

🦴 Force -Free, positive reinforcement, science based methods exclusively used!

🥰 Location : Petcare Byron Bay
- all floors & equipment disinfected with veterinary grade products (F10)

ABN 15 370 797 491

02/10/2025

02/10/2025

🐾Although dogs descend from a common ancestor with wolves, they have undergone millennia of domestication and genetic engineering, resulting in distinct differences from their wild counterparts. Despite this misconceptions about canine behaviour persist, perpetuating unrealistic expectations and outdated training methods.

Such myths revolve around the idea of dogs as inherently naughty, stubborn, and trying to be the leader of the pack, requiring punishment for correction [1]. The original study of wolves and behaviour was conducted in 1947 by Rudolph Schenkel, who claimed that wolves hold a social position, the pack is controlled by a dominant male and female; and wolves fought within each other to establish top rank. This was disproved by Dr. Mech in 2000 [2].

The world evolves constantly yet the human race is still stuck on this notion. Qualified dog trainers and behaviourists are not trying to convince you that the world is flat, we are simply trying to improve your relationship with your dog without the use of outdated training mythology.

In reality; natural wolf groups function as family units, with parents as caregivers. Communication within the wolf group relies heavily on subtle cues, such as body language and facial expressions, rather than overt displays of aggression and dominance.

Despite scientific advancements debunking the alpha dog theory, some trainers continue to perpetuate these myths, advocating for dominance-based techniques. However, the lack of regulation in the industry allows such outdated practices to persist.

Understanding dogs requires acknowledging their individuality and respecting their preferences.

Effective training involves environmental management, systematic desensitisation, and counter-conditioning, with the use of positive reinforcement; which helps dogs understand desired behaviours without resorting to punitive measures [3]. Using modern, evidence-based methods helps build healthier, more respectful relationships with the dogs we share our lives with.

Television has also played a significant role. Many networks promote trainers who rely on dominance-based methods, where compliance is achieved through coercion and correction. While this may look effective on screen, the reality is that dogs often respond out of fear and avoidance rather than genuine understanding and willingness.

Dominance is often misunderstood as a personality trait, when in fact it is better understood as a survival strategy often rooted in fear or anxiety. Punishing a dog for unwanted behaviour does not teach them what to do instead, and because behaviour stems from underlying emotions, punishment fails to resolve the emotional challenges driving the behaviour.

Helping your dog with the emotions driving their behaviour is what truly leads to lasting change[4]. Many people turn to outdated or inappropriate methods simply because they’re often just overwhelmed and unsure of how else to cope with the problems they’re facing.

Today, qualified professionals understand that the human–dog relationship is not about asserting social rank. It’s about creating an environment where dogs feel secure. This means managing their surroundings to prevent situations where they might struggle, and consistently reinforcing the behaviours we want to encourage.

Our dogs don’t need us to be their ‘boss’, they need us to be their guide, their support, and their safe place.

[1] 2008, Position Statement on the Use of Dominance Theory in Behavior Modification of Animals, AVSAB, https://avsab.org/.../Dominance_Position_Statement...

[2]Mech, L. David. 1999. Alpha status, dominance, and division of labor in wolf packs. Canadian Journal of Zoology 77:1196-1203.
Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Home Page. http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/2000/alstat/alstat.htm
(Version 16MAY2000).

[3] Herron M, Shofer S, Reisner I, 2009, Survey of the use and outcome of confrontational and non-confrontational training methods in client-owned dogs showing undesired behaviors, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Volume 117, Issues 1–2, Pages 47-54

[4] Herron M, Shofer F, Reisner I, 2009, Survey of the use and outcome of confrontational and non-confrontational training methods in client-owned dogs showing undesired behaviors, Applied Animal Behavior Science, Volume 117, Issue-12, https://www.sciencedirect.com/.../pii/S0168159108003717...

30/09/2025

27/09/2025

Your hand can be the best training “tool” ever!
Endless reasons why you’d want to teach your dog this.
If you only use it occasionally without building it up, sure, people might ask “why bother?”
So why? Here we go ⬇️

Great for dogs that are a little hand shy.
Builds focus and gives your dog a clear job to do.
A polite way for dogs to move closer without jumping up.
Perfect for recall, redirection, and boosting confidence.
Quick to teach and fun for both of you.
A lifesaver when distractions pop up.

Even handy with possession issues (ask for a touch to redirect them away from something tempting).

Do you have to practice this first and add the word later?
Technically yes. But many dogs catch on so quickly you might add the cue much sooner , even right away.
Just remember, that doesn’t mean they fully know it yet, or that you can use it in every context straight away.

Practice. Challenge. Then expand.
You’ll both love this skill.
Use the word Touch, Hand, heck, any word you like!

How are you going to use it?

26/09/2025

Next PUPPY CLASS;
SATURDAY 11th October @ 2:30pm
🐶 book online now
www.happydogsbyronbay.com

🐶 located at Petcare Byron Bay

🐾 5 week course $295 for puppies 8 -15 weeks old. Must have proof of first vaccination

🐕 5 puppies max = small class size to ensure positive experiences and 1:1 coaching from certified animal behaviour expert.

🦴 Force -Free, positive reinforcement, science based methods exclusively used!

🥰 Location : Petcare Byron Bay
- all floors & equipment disinfected with veterinary grade products (F10)

ABN 15 370 797 491

22/09/2025

Update on grass roots action against PetSafe Brand⚡️We must stop normalizing shock collars in American culture.

What we expect from PetSafe is simple: make a clear, written statement denouncing shock/e-collars and commit to ending their sale, marketing, and promotion. End sponsorships that platform aversive methods. If leadership continues to endorse these products or strategies, they should step aside.

Want to help? Make this highly problematic brand aware of your position today. Leave factual comments on PetSafe’s newest posts, and vote with your wallet.

Here’s the backstory: PetSafe recently posted a video promoting shock/e-collars with claims that weren’t scientifically sound. Thanks to pushback from our community, they pulled it within 24 hours of our formal boycott of the PetSafe brand. You can see the now deleted video in my stories.

But that doesn’t mean they stopped selling shock collars to the public - which enables further harm to dogs and the relationships between people and their dogs.

Across veterinary and behavior organizations worldwide, the guidance has been consistent for years: shock/e-collars have no place in dog training or behavior modification. Research links these devices to more fear and anxiety, elevated stress, increased aggressive responses, and erosion of trust between dogs and their people; humane, reward-based methods meet the same goals without those costs.

The commercial success of shock collars depends on public confusion and euphemisms that rebrand pain as “stimulation” and control as “freedom”.

The boycott continues until actions, not PR, match modern standards of animal care. We’re prepared to widen the pressure to the retailers that carry PetSafe products.

Pain is not a training plan. Trust is non-negotiable. Dogs, and the people who love them, deserve better.

More info on this boycott here https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1FPLrEuu4b/

———

American College of Veterinary Behaviorists position statements on veterinarians’ responsibility when working with behavior cases, and humane and effective evidence-based training https://www.dacvb.org/page/PositionStatement

American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior position statement on Humane Dog Training Methodshttps://avsab.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/AVSAB-Humane-Dog-Training-Position-Statement-2021.pdf

More sources and a list of organizations worldwide who have condemned shock in training at zakgeorge.com

22/09/2025

Petcare Byron Bay has rebranded following Jo and Simon Arnesen’s purchase, giving the long-running local pet store a new look and feel.

21/09/2025

Do you have a large backyard, property or acreage in the Byron Shire? Would you like to earn a little extra money for very little effort? Would you like to help fearful, anxious &/or dogs in training to live their best lives? 🐶♥️🐶♥️ If you do I highly recommend singing up to SNIFFSPOT. https://www.sniffspot.com/host