Dogspeak

05/07/2024

Macey the baby French Bulldog wins the title of cutest client of the day.. 😍

13/02/2024

What a champ! Peppa the young GSP is not only beautiful but a very clever quick learner as well.

22/01/2024

My workday today. Spending time with the gorgeous Miss Moomin. Just in case you didn't know, she is a Sharpei and learning to pay more attention to her owner...

25/02/2023

Little Lucy has been having a hard time. In her short life she has learnt that humans can't be trusted & sometimes cause fear & pain.
She is now learning how to trust humans again.
Such a clever spunky little dog.. 😍

10/10/2022

If YOU are not training your dog
then the ENVIRONMENT most certainly is!!
Changing the environment will change the behaviour.

20/09/2022

This beautiful young lady has found herself in a great new home and is now having to learn all about new environments and that life is not always scary. She did so well..💖

13/07/2022

There really are lots of alternatives.
A Walk Break is a good start - but help with training your dog needs to be the next step...

What do you mean, don't walk my dog??! 😯

For certain dogs, daily walks are not the best choice for their well-being.

This is a controversial statement, but it’s true for some. This can be an incredibly alien concept for those of us with high-energy breeds, that are stereotypically impossible to wear out. Yet, it’s most commonly these intense, high-drive breeds who benefit from skipping a walk most of all.

If your dog becomes stressed when they leave the house or if they’re reactive and fearful of the outside world, then being walked every day can be too much for them to cope with. They have no chance to recover from their stressful encounters before they find themselves reliving them again the next day.

Choosing not to walk your dog every day is often met with horror. Won’t they destroy the house? Aren’t they hyperactive? How do you cope with all their extra energy?

It’s not as straightforward as simply stopping daily walks and not replacing them with anything else. That would be a recipe for disaster! Instead, you need to fill their time with mental enrichment, relaxation opportunities and ample chances to feel calm.

If your dog enjoys their daily walks, then great! But don’t feel guilty if this routine is not for your own dog, after all you know them best!

Charlotte Principles

12/07/2022

Bernese Mountain Dog day today..😍😍
Freya and Monty.

20/12/2021

Rory is learning to offer a paw to have his nails trimmed. This can only happen when your dog has trust and choice in the process..

21/10/2021

It's just not necessary - let the dog sniff you. Most prefer a leg anyway.

🛇 Use your Manners! 🛇
The Sniff test - Stop doing that!
The sniff test - a badly engrained habit that society has been taught, without a clear understanding of what they're actually doing.

🚩When you reach out towards a dog, you are using body pressure AT them, giving them no time to assess whether you are safe & whether they require further investigation to pick up your information. You are forcing an interaction of a relationship that hasn't had time to develop. To some dogs, this is quite rude & the reason a lot of dogs snap at or bite people. This can cause alot of behavioral issues because of layered stress due to forced interactions.

🚩If they are on lead, they have no where to go if they are sensitive to spacial pressure, so can end up shutting down, shying away or snapping at your hand so you back off. This is an example of how a dog is now using pressure to turn off pressure & make you back off so they aren't so stressed.

🚩People think by offering your hand it can give the dog time to sniff to know you're friendly... they can sniff without being forced to sniff your hand.Their noses are far more superior than ours & they don't need close contact forced upon them to smell you.

🚩Some dogs might not want to know you. You have no relationship with them and that's perfectly fine. They aren't your dog so you don't need to touch them or steal pats for your own satisfaction.

🤔 If you are meeting a dog, what should you do?
⚠Ask the owner if you can interact with their dog. Not all people want strangers touching their dogs. Especially strangers who you are unlikely to see again.
⚠Stand up straight & relaxed, with your hands at your side.
⚠Ignore the dog & talk to the owner.
⚠Don't stare at the dog & don't try to force an interaction by going in for a pat. If the dog wants to know you, it will come up to you & sniff around. Usually they will move away & then come back for a second sniffathon. Some dogs will bunt your hands & wag their tails, which are good signs that you're likely an accepted new friend. Give them a few slow pats down their back (NOT THEIR HEAD) & then stop. Is the dog happy? Has it accepted your interaction? This will determine whether you can give it more pats.

🐶This is a more stress free option for dogs & a reason why in consultations we can develop a good level of trust, especially with fearful dogs & aggressive dogs, without a bunch of negative side effects from forced interactions.

01/07/2021