Happy Dogs

30/10/2024

19/09/2024

Balanced dog training using positive reinforcement (rewards-based) methods and aversives (physical punishment) is no better than simply using force-free positive methods and love.

17/09/2024

One of the main answers I get when I ask guardians what they think makes a dog happy, is "physical exercise"
A physically tired dog is a happy dog... right?
Wrong! A physically tired dog is just that, a physically exhausted dog.

A happy dog is one that has had all of their needs met!

Yes physical exercise is important, but you need to take into account, different personalities and different breed needs as to how much physical exercise a dog needs.
(Even some collies are couch potatoes)
Also take into account, how fit your dog is.
I see so many guardians with ball launchers expecting their dogs to do repetitive retrieves over and over again, when the dog is already completely fatigued.
(Not something I would ever recommend)

Have you ever given your dog a day off?
My Shepherd being a sensitive dog, doesn't want to go out into the stressful, scary, big bad world every day. He needs days off to de-stress and relax

Mental exercise is vital!
Mental exercise is very important, and there are lots of good interactive toys your can buy to work your dogs brain. Also teach them new tricks and play scent games, and have plenty of enrichment licky mat time.
Your dogs mental health greatly affects their physical health.

Happy dogs need love and affection! like us they need to feel loved, wanted, appreciated and needed

You are what you eat, so a happy dog needs a good healthy diet. Alot of people think dogs are carnivores, but they are actually omnivores so therfore need a balanced nutritional diet of fruit, vegetables and meat.

A happy dog needs to feel safe!
So give a good cozy comfortable bed, and somewhere where they can have their own space and not be disturbed.

A happy dog is free of pain and discomfort.
Most behaviour issues are due to pain, therefore have regular vet checks.

And a happy dog needs to be free from fear and intimidation, so, not having to walk on eggshells in fear of negative consequences. Make sure all training is positive and force free.

Meet all your dogs needs, then you will have a very happy dog 🐶

17/09/2024

Over excited dogs need help to be calm. Here we explore 3 ways to help these dogs relax plus many more dog training tips to help over aroused dogs. As dog tr...

04/09/2024

The myth that will not die!
The dominance/ pack leader theory started when scientist Rudolph Schenkel wrote a paper in 1947 based on an idea that wolves fight within a pack to gain dominance and the winner becoming Alpha. But this was observing wolves in captivity.
More studies was done by David Mech in the 70s and his extensive research since has proven the Alpha theory to be incorrect.
Wolf packs consist of a breeding pair and their offspring, it's a family structure.
With so much research and so many indepth studies undertaken its hard to believe that some uneducated trainers still try to force this outdated rubbish onto the public

But, dogs are not wolves and there is thousands of years of evolution separating them.

Dogs are NOT "pack" Animals
A "pack" animal, is an animal that lives and HUNTS in a pack
Dogs are scavengers, and only hunt small game on their own.
Dogs are not carnivores, they are omnivores
Dogs do not need a pack leader and do not try to dominate you. They learn best in a positive state of mind and through positive reinforcement

Dogs ARE social creatures though, and happily bond with different species
(My previous dogs best friend was our Guinea pig)
but how "sociable" a dog is, depends on many factors and, is down to each individual personality.

Using fear to try to teach a dog to respect you, is never going to work.
You need to meet all their Emotional, Physical and Intellectual needs!

If a trainer quotes anything like Alpha, dominance, pack leader or top dog...... run, and do not let them anywhere near your dog!

31/08/2024

In a time when many dog trainers shy away from taking a clear stand against aversive methods, ’s message is bold and unambiguous:

Either you are okay using pain, fear, and discomfort in dog training, or you are not.

For Victoria, the answer is a firm “No.” And that is based on modern ethics and evidence.

Her stance is straightforward: no dog, not even “extreme” cases, should be coerced into compliance through fear or pain when positive, force-free methods are proven to be more humane and effective.

Victoria’s words are a call to action. It’s time for the dog training community to reject outdated practices and speak out against those professionals in the industry who still defend and promote them to a vulnerable public.

Read the full post from Victoria at the link in my bio 🔥

08/08/2024

🧠To understand your dog’s reactivity, you need to understand the basics of how your dog’s brain works.

A dog may not have the capability of processing higher complex emotions of what humans can, however, you can’t look at a dog and tell me they don’t feel. Of course, they do! Their feelings are just not as complex as humans, but interestingly enough they do process information from all parts of the body similar to our human brains.

So, the brain is made up of soft tissue and nerve cells, and is composed of the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem. These 3 areas of the brain interprets information, controls all functions of the body, and responds accordingly. The brain does not only control physical responses, but chemical ones as well.

Now, let’s go to the autonomic nervous system. The Sympathetic nervous system originates in the spinal cord which is connected to the brainstem at the bottom of the dog’s brain. One of its main functions is to activate the physiological changes that occur during the flight or fight response. This means that the dog's neurotransmitters in the brain send chemical messages to parts of the body to release hormones, and other chemicals to prepare the dog's body for intense action when the dog is experiencing a stressful, or overwhelming event.

The body can fluctuate between flight and fight, and rest and digest. This is because the brain is constantly sending messages and signals from one part to another.

When the dog is feeling heightened emotions such as arousal, stress, happiness, excitement, fear, anxiety, or pain, the brain sends the body messages to react in the following ways:

1. Increased heart rate and respiration,
2. Dilation of eye pupil (to see with more clarity).
3. Inhibition of the lacrimal gland (responsible for tear production and salivation).
4. Dilated airways for increased oxygen,
5. Dilated blood vessels for blood to flow to the muscles.
6. Inhibition of stomach and upper intestinal action to the point where digestion slows or stops (The body can’t process food when in flight/ fight response, it needs to save its energy for survival).
7. The liver releases glucose,
8. The kidneys release adrenaline,
9. Relaxation of bladder.
10. Constriction of blood vessels in many parts of the body.
11. Auditory exclusion (loss of hearing).
12. Tunnel vision (loss of peripheral vision).
13. Shaking.

I want you to keep in mind that all animals (even us humans) are deeply wired to protect ourselves against a perceived threat and each individual has their own interpretations of what is scary and what is not.

For example; I am afraid of spiders and anything that may resemble a creepy crawly, where you may not be bothered at all by the sight of a spider. Fear begins in the brain, and then travels through the body adjusting along the way for the best defence, to run away, or defend oneself as quickly as possible. All these changes happen so fast that the individual wouldn’t even be aware of them or have a chance to really process what is happening.

The fear response starts in a region in the brain called the amygdala. The job of the amygdala is to detect the importance of the stimulus and how much effect it would have on the dog's well-being. This creates a cascade of events which involve the hypothalamic-pituitary and adrenal glands. This is the main driver of the endocrine stress response. The hypothalamus receives information and sends chemical signals to the pituitary gland which signals the adrenal glands to increase the production of cortisol aka “stress hormone”. This stress hormone helps to increase energy in order to deal with a stressful event.

The instant an event is happening it triggers the sympathetic nervous system which signals the adrenal glands to release adrenaline (aka epinephrine) which leaps into action and goes into the bloodstream to increase the blood flow throughout the body which causes quick responses.

The reaction depends on the threat level of the stimulus. The more threatening the stimulus the more intense the response is.
The sight, or sound of something the dog finds scary, intimidating, or threatening creates a stressful event and triggers neurotransmitters in the brain which transmits signals through the synapse from one neuron to another in a chain reaction which changes the way the dog responds to the trigger. These neurotransmitters release a chemical substance at the end of a nerve fibre and these chemicals travel throughout the body and react accordingly.

So now the brain is super alert, pupils dilate, breathing and heart rate accelerates, blood pressure increases, and glucose increases which seeps into the skeletal muscles to provide energy to move quickly.

The takeaway from this is that fear keeps us alive, and it is involuntary. Not one individual has conscious control over it. Even though it is unpleasant and interferes with our everyday lives and functioning, it should be respected not punished.

Maintaining a balance of chemicals in the body is crucial for emotional regulation and stable behaviour. A reactive dog is one who is struggling and may require assistance, possibly including medication alongside a behaviour modification program. This combination aims to establish positive associations and boost the dog's confidence. Veterinary behaviourists specialise in managing a dog's mental state in such cases.

References:

Riva J, Bondiolotti G, Micelazzi M, et al. Anxiety-related behavioural disorders and neurotransmitters in dogs. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 2008;114,168–181.

Beerda B, Schilder M, van Hoof J, et al. Manifestations of chronic and acute stress in dogs. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 1997;52:307–319.

Berteselli GV, Servidaq F, DallAra P, et al. Evaluation of the immunological, stress and behavioural parameters in dogs (Canis familiaris) with anxiety-related disorders. In: Mills D et al., eds. Current Issues and Research in Veterinary Behavioral Medicine. West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University Press; 2005:18–22.

05/08/2024

📢 LET’S TALK PUNISHMENT IN DOG TRAINING! 👇

🤔 What does it look like, and why does it seem like such a ‘quick-fix’?
🤔 What are aversive training tools and what impact do they have on your dog?
🤔 Can you really achieve total dog training success without using ANY punishment-based methods or aversive dog training tools?

Our latest blog dives deep into WHY traditional punishment-based techniques and aversive methods so often fail and how you can achieve lasting results with a force-free, positive and rewarding training approach. 🎯🐕👌

We tackle the top three reasons punishment doesn't work, and we bring you our best tips and advice to help you transform your dog's behaviour with science-based concept training that builds trust, improves communication, and grows your dog’s confidence through games-based positive reinforcement techniques. 🐾❤️

Find out why training with kindness and positivity is the key to a happier, more well-behaved dogs, stronger bonds and joyful lives with our canine companions! 🐶🤩🙌

Are you ready to revolutionise your dog training methods? 💪🏆

Check out “Why Punishment Fails in Dog Training: Positive Success Strategies Every Dog Needs!” to discover how to transform your dog’s training journey today! 🚀👇

🔗 https://absolute-dogs.com/blogs/gamechangers/why-punishment-fails-in-dog-training-positive-success-strategies-every-dog-needs

05/08/2024

What is a "Sniffari"?🐶

Sniffaris are dog-led walks! They're a fantastic enrichment activity that can be done in just about any low-traffic area. Not only will this help burn energy, but allowing our dogs to make decisions and think independently can help them build confidence in different situations. It also gives us a chance to stop and take a breath along with them AND allows our pups to do a natural, essential behavior for their mental and physical well-being.💙

05/08/2024

What are "Happy Visits" and why might they be useful for your canine or feline companion?

Happy visits are oftentimes recommended if your pet has any sort of fear or anxiety surrounding going to the vet or groomer. During these visits, it's important to take baby steps, repeatedly, without actually having a procedure or groom done! This could look like:
▪walking up to the door, or walking into the lobby for a couple of minutes before leaving
▪walking through the back of the clinic, near or onto a scale, exam room, etc
▪finding treats or being given/tossed treats by different staff members who never try to approach you or your pet

Happy Visits are only one piece of the puzzle when we are working towards long-term behavior change and a pet's comfort at the vet and groomer. Cooperative Care and practice preparing them for procedures and grooms, once we get to that point, will also prove beneficial. This can be a great preventative practice for puppies and kittens without behavioral concerns, too!

If you think this may benefit your pet, please talk to your vet/groomer about your pet's needs and see if this is something they can help coordinate and accommodate, maybe while the doctors are on lunch and no patients are in the building!

02/08/2024

The trouble with ‘training tools’

Force free trainers are firmly opposed to using training tools that are aversive in nature, including slip leads, electric collars and prong collars as some of the most widespread that are seen.

Proponents of their use will point to how well they ‘work’ – for example we’ll often see people proclaim that using a prong collar has completely revolutionised their walks with their dogs and they go on to say that ‘used correctly’ it’s an excellent training tool. So let's use that as an example to see what the issue is with these tools.

The problem is that it’s not actually really training the dog.

Look at how positive reinforcement is used to train a cue in dogs. When the dog makes the right choice, does the right thing then they get a reward. They like the reward and so are more likely to do the same thing again in an attempt to get that same reward.

Once the association is firmly made and the dog is able to reliably respond to the cue in the way we’d like, we start to fade out the use of the reward. If using treats, the dog might start getting a reward every second time, third time, then randomly so they are never quite sure when the reward is coming (but it might be the next time they do that thing, so they will keep trying). Eventually we are using the reward very little, but the dog is still responding to the cue in the desired way.

Ok, you might say, how is that different to the prong collar?

The prong works by contact of the prongs on the skin of the dog’s neck (remember that a dog’s skin is 3-5 cells thick compared to the human’s at least 10-15 cells thick). This is uncomfortable. Some people will say they tried it on themselves and it was fine – look at the difference in skin, and also remember that the dog has no way to know when the collar is going to be tightened.

I’ve had people tell me that the dog’s neck is the strongest muscle in their body equivalent to the human thigh. Not only is this physiologically incorrect (to say the very least!) it is also dangerous. Think about the delicate structures in the human throat.

The windpipe.
Oesophagus.
Lymph Nodes.
Carotid artery.
Jugular vein.
Thyroid.

All of these are in the dog’s neck as well and are very vulnerable to injury. The result of pressure on the dog's neck, especially firm and rapid pressure like a 'lead pop' (even from a flat collar) can be potentially catastrophic.

Danger and discomfort aside, the fact is that, while these collars might stop pulling while being worn, they fail as training devices because no actual training takes place. Take that prong collar off of the dog, put a normal flat collar back or a harness back on, and see how long it takes for the dog to realise they are able to pull again without the pain?

What the slip lead, prong collar (or electric collar if used to shock the dog when they pull) does is suppress the behaviour in that moment. It does nothing to show the dog what they should be doing or deal with why the dog is actually pulling - which is generally because they have not been taught properly to and so don't really understand what we want from them. And also dogs often naturally move faster on their four legs than we do on our two, so again they need to be taught how to match themselves to the pace that's needed.

The absolute best way to do that is to reward the dog when they do what they want, when they are in the right place for loose lead walking. Yes, this can take time and so the 'quick fix' can seem appealing, but the danger of using anything that the dog actively seeks to avoid is that it could damage their trust in the people around them and have serious consequences for the relationship between you.

Teaching them what we would like them to do and how we can both be comfortable during the walk is so much more effective than trying to just stop a behaviour, and using positive reinforcement and force free methods build their confidence and trust in us.

And no, I’m not expecting people to immediately take off the tools, but what you can do when you become aware of the problems of relying on aversive measures that cause discomfort, pain and fear, is find a force free trainer who can help you see how to show your dog where to walk nicely and comfortably for you both, or find other tools that are not aversive, for instance a harness with 2 points of attachment so the dog can be walked from the back clip but the front clip allows for steering the front end if needed while training is ongoing.