Bayside Dog Behaviour

19/02/2024

K9 Nose Work is an excellent activity for all dogs. They LOVE it. K9 Nose Fun is a great place to learn all about it. 🐾😍

The best FUN for just about ALL. dogs and their people ♥️

01/02/2024

Unlike humans who are more visual, dogs ‘see’ the world through their noses.

Sniffing can provide our dogs with important information about their environment. As well, it can be calming and lower stress levels, reduce cognitive decline, and promote overall well being.

A leisurely self paced sniffy walk can provide physical and mental exercise and stimulation for our dogs, and maybe for us too.

Whose walk is it anyway?

01/02/2024

Sniffing is life. Let them sniff!

If I could tell the world one thing, it would be:

LET YOUR DOGS SNIFF

Whilst us humans SEE the world, with vision our primary sense, our dogs SMELL the world. Their olfactory abilities are beyond incredible and they are how they navigate the world.

Imagine wearing blinkers throughout life, that is what it must be like for dogs not being allowed to sniff.

I often relate how, as a shift worker, I would sometimes walk my dogs while it was still dark. I was always looking around me, behind me, a little on edge. Because I couldn’t see very well, I didn’t feel safe.

Dogs can find out sooo much about the world by being allowed to gather that information through their noses. And that allows them to feel safe.

I am aware of recent information in the media where it was advised not to let dogs sniff. I want to be very clear, as a qualified dog trainer who has worked professionally with dogs in a range of disciplines (for over 20 years) my advice is the opposite. Let your dogs sniff. Long sniffy walks are hereby prescribed for ALL dogs. I would love for anyone who does not allow their dogs to sniff to trial a long sniffy walk each day. See how this changes your dog’s arousal levels. See how it improves their behaviour and well being.

This is more important for working dogs - it helps them decompress. I would take my detection dogs for long sniffy walks as often as I could. Let them enjoy the recreation sniffs. If a dog is motivated to do it’s job, it should be able to enjoy all of life’s pleasures, including sniffing. Working dogs deserve this. It is much more important in my opinion to become a better trainer so that your dog does not need to be deprived, in fact their non working lives should be enriched.

Here is a collage of just some of my clients herding breed dogs sniffing. These dogs live very fulfilling lives and compete in a variety of disciplines - tricks, obedience, herding, agility, and being goodest dogs on the couch too. Some are dogs who have worked through behavioural issues where sniffing has played a very important role.

Please, let your dog sniff.

18/12/2023

18/11/2023

EMOTIONS MATTER!
Dog’s emotions really do matter, far more than we may realise.

Emotions matter because emotional states drive behaviour.

Think about how our emotions have a direct affect on our behaviour – we may lash out at others because of the emotions of fear, anger or frustration. Be irritable if we are tired or in pain. Struggle to focus or learn something new if we are stressed or anxious, shut down or over react if we feel insecure or unsafe ….

When a dog’s emotional needs and well-being are not supported and not addressed, behaviour problems are often seen.

Unwanted behaviour shouldn’t be looked at independently or as a specific problem that needs to be fixed.

When needs are met, when emotions are recognised, when body language is understood and listened to, a dog’s emotional state will change, which will in turn bring about positive changes in behaviour.

These are the foundations on which behaviour change is built.

18/11/2023

📸 https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/how-the-gentle-parenting-movement-changed-the-way-we-train-dogs-20231016-p5ecko.html?fbclid=IwAR0P_Nv8pwSUVG0ORcZTrtC2gioyyKjh1cWMjg_CzH5BcDgpgftG_t1J5fk_aem_AUSOKysFmCcKn###0B7Vbg85_SWh8q5_fruB4NSZ7_Y26olj_wYMPQQY2hQ2TT594DE

According to some trainers, dogs don’t need us to be their masters – they need our understanding and friendship.

12/11/2023

Miranda
~Jan 2014 - 10/11/2023

From the moment she walked through our front door and into our lives on the 18th of April 2015, she captured our hearts forever. She was so skinny, having been a stray in outback Wagga Wagga, and was therefore very interested in food. This was confirmed when I left a loaf of bread on the kitchen bench during school drop-off one morning, only to find it half eaten upon my return. To her credit, once she reached a healthy weight and realised that food was no longer in short supply, she gave up counter surfing as a hobby.
She had a brilliant nose, put to good use during Nose Work courses, at which she excelled. “Find it” was one of her favourite cues. During the in-person workshop for our KPA course in April 2021, we were both terrified and way out of our comfort zones, not helped by a day of thunder - her nemesis, being a noise-phobic dog. When it was our turn to perform our 10-part behaviour chain, having seen others try and not quite make it, I was not feeling at all confident. I should’ve had more faith in my amazing dog. She performed it brilliantly, even the tricky bits at the end which were out of the usual order. She was a superstar 🌟.
Miranda seemed to endear herself to almost everyone she met, despite her “please don’t touch me” attitude. She was a big talker, frequently expressing her opinion with a loud “Woo woo woo woo” or sometimes just a single little “woo”. She was also a very effective door bell and burglar alarm… no one arrived at our house without Miranda making a big announcement about it.
Being an anxious girl, she certainly provided us with challenges along the way, but she was worth every struggle. She was so attentive and willing to work for me; she learnt so many things, despite my slap hazard approach to training her. She loved solving food puzzles, working tirelessly and trying various strategies to get at that last bit of food.
In the last few months she had become fixated on a possum living behind one of our back fences. This was not highly unusual for her, as she had always had a strong interest in small furry critters, but it was a change in behaviour that, in hindsight, should have been more thoroughly investigated. Maybe if I’d taken her for blood tests earlier, we might have discovered the tumour growing in her spleen and managed to save her. Maybe….but unfortunately I didn’t and it wasn’t discovered until last Friday when she was suffering from severe internal bleeding.
Being a tough-as-nails Kelpie, I honestly believed that she would live a long and healthy life, and had no doubt that we still had several years to enjoy together. Which is why her sudden death has come as such a severe shock. I feel so empty without her beside me; like a large part of my heart and soul has been torn out. Our house is so quiet and empty; it feels all wrong without Miranda in it.
I know that not everyone will understand how a dog can mean so much, but Miranda was an exceptionally special dog. She was a one-of-a-kind, once-in-a-lifetime dog. Completely irreplaceable.
Miranda, you meant the world to me, to all of us, and you will never be forgotten. Thank you for being the best dog. Sleep well my beautiful girl and I will see you on the other side. I love you. 💔🐾❤️

06/11/2023

This is a great example of good breeding practices. If you’re looking for a puppy, make sure you seek out a breeder who breeds for health and temperament.

🥼🩺HEART TESTING AT BLACKLASH

It has been a challenging 12 months as we have been waiting patiently for the Veterinary Cardiologist to come back to Tasmania.

Dr Geoff Nicolson from Veterinary Cardiac Services Australia has now completed his 3rd echocardiogram on our foundation bitch, Nina (CH PETLEA NINA SIMONE), now 10.5 years. We are monitoring Nina's heart for changes as she ages. The echo showed that there has been no changes in the past 12 months, so this is the best news.

We also had 4 breeding dogs heart tested.

❤4 yo Emelia (CH MATMOR FLAMENCO) was certified HEART CLEAR.

❤2.7 yo Alice (BLACKLASH ALICE WILDING) was certified HEART CLEAR

❤22 mo Louis (CH BLACKLASH LUCKY STRIKE AI) was certified HEART CLEAR

❤ 4 yo Beatriz (CH BLACKLASH MUCH ADO) was diagnosed with a grade 2 murmur. She has been removed from our breeding programme and is now being retired and desexed. Beatriz is the first of my breeding to have been diagnosed with early onset Mitral Valve Disease - yet, she comes from good, heart healthy stock, something I continue to keep tabs on as parents and grandparents and other relatives have aged. Why her? I don't have the answers and neither does the Cardiologist. "Keep doing what you're doing", he says. So we just keep pushing forward.

It breaks my heart to remove Beatriz from my breeding programme but the way forward is always at the forefront: breeding for health. Without health, we have no Cavaliers.

We have had a bit of a gap in our breeding programme this year as we have waited all year for our dogs to be heart tested. Unlike other Cavalier breeders, I will not breed from dogs who are not certified heart clear for breeding. For puppy families, waiting can be hard. I am however, not going to compromise what I set out to do all those years ago and my commitment to the breed in the long term.

Learn more here: https://www.blacklashcavaliers.com/health

If you are interested in learning more about our breeding programme, please get in touch.



📷Photo: Alice with Dr Nicolson after her heart clearance. Alice will join our breeding programme in the coming months.

We are grateful to the North Hobart Veterinary Hospital for providing this valuable service. 🙏

28/10/2023

Recall notification on Meals For Mutts dry food.

Dear Valued Pet Parents,

We are writing to extend our sincerest apologies for any inconvenience or concern caused by a recent issue affecting our food. We want to assure you that we take this matter very seriously and are committed to resolving it.

We have become aware of a concern regarding the presence of mould in some of our dry dog products and we want to ensure the well-being of your beloved pets. While this issue has only affected a small number of bags and products from some of our recent production, we believe in taking precautions for the health and safety of your furry friends.

To address this matter, we recommend that you carefully inspect the products with a best before date listed below. It’s important to note that if these products have been stored in a cool, dry environment, the likelihood of any issue is minimal. Nevertheless, we encourage pet parents to remain vigilant.

If you come across any signs of mould in your product or if you prefer not to continue feeding your current bag of affected food from the specific best before dates listed, we kindly ask you to discontinue use and take the product back to the place of purchase or reach out to us at [email protected].

Our dedicated team is here to assist you with replacing your product. When contacting us, please provide details about the product variant, bag size, and best before date for a smoother resolution.

As a further safety precaution, we are actively collaborating with our retail partners to ensure that any affected bags are removed from sale. This collaborative effort underscores our commitment to providing the highest quality dry dog food in Australia.

We continue to be a small Australian family owned brand and your understanding and trust are greatly appreciated as we work to resolve this situation and continue to serve the needs of you and your pets. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Team MFM

Products affected and their best before details

Grain Free Salmon and Sardine 2.5Kg
3/09/2024
5/09/2024
7/09/2024

Grain Free Salmon and Sardine 20Kg
20/08/2024
1/09/2024
4/09/2024
6/09/2024
17/09/2024
9/10/2024

Grain Free Salmon and Sardine 9Kg
20/08/2024
26/08/2024
27/08/2024
5/09/2024
6/09/2024
7/09/2024
14/09/2024
26/09/2024

Salmon and Sardine 20Kg
16/08/2024
17/08/2024
4/10/2024

Salmon and Sardine 9Kg
5/09/2024

Salmon and Sardine Large Kibble 20Kg
18/07/2024
19/07/2024
12/10/2024

Salmon and Sardine Large kibble 9Kg
12/08/2024
13/08/2024

Grain Free Duck and Turkey 2.5Kg
1/09/2024
3/09/2024
4/09/2024

Grain Free Duck and Turkey 20Kg
4/09/2024
7/09/2024
20/09/2024

Grain Free Duck and Turkey9Kg
3/09/2024
4/09/2024
5/09/2024

High Performance Turkey 20Kg
13/08/2024

High Performance Turkey 9Kg
13/08/2024

25/10/2023

One of the most common mistakes that people make when trying to help fearful dogs is the tough-love style method of thinking “they need to get used to it!”

Usually this way of thinking leads to an owner exposing their dog to the thing that scares them over and over again, in the hope that the dog will figure out that it isn’t scary.

Dog trainers call this “flooding”, and it very rarely has the desired outcome. Just like suddenly throwing a bucket of spiders at an arachnophobe, forcing a dog into a situation that terrifies them is more likely to INCREASE their fear. An arachnophobe covered in an unexpected bucket-load of spiders will not be calmly rationalising the situation and realising that spiders aren’t scary – the overwhelming nature of the situation will place them into flight and fight mode, and it’s likely that they’ll walk away from the encounter with an even greater fear.

The same logic applies to dogs when they’re forced way beyond the threshold of what they’re comfortable with, like when a dog who is nervous about other dogs is forced into a busy dog park.

This method also has the added side effect of destroying the dog’s trust in the humans who forced them into the terrifying situation – just like how the arachnophobe would feel about the person that attacked them with spiders.

Instead of forcing a dog to face their fear, it is much more effective to gradually desensitise a dog to their triggers, moving carefully and slowly to create new, positive associations.

- Maddie Ross, That Dog Geek

25/10/2023

Our dogs are unable to tell us in words when they are in pain. Don’t let them suffer in silence. Watch them closely and write down anything interesting or unusual that you observe. Look at the way they sit, stand or lie down as well as how they move. Take particular note of any changes and relay these to your vet or canine physiotherapist. If you have concerns and your vet just says “They’re fine”… don’t be afraid to seek a second opinion.

Nobody should suffer in silence. 80% of dogs over 8 years old have arthritis, which is a major cause of elective euthanasia.

24/10/2023

I saw a case last month that I could not get a photo of, because the dog didn't stop moving for TWO HOURS. The owners thought the dog had ADHD, as she was always active. While ADHD could exist in dogs, I have never diagnosed it. In this case, anxiety explained everything I was seeing.

When some dogs are constantly anxious, it can cause them to be constantly active. There is normally a reason for the anxiety, but in some cases we can't ever identify it. Different dogs have different personalities, and cope with their anxiety in different ways. Some dogs are very active with their coping styles, and will seek to perform actions in response to the feeling of anxiety. Anxiety can be a very strong motivator of behaviour, and so it can be very hard to stop these dogs from being constantly active. This dog was panting on and off the whole time I was there, regardless whether she was running around or lying down and chewing a toy to pieces. Dogs always pant for a reason, and in this case it appeared to be mostly anxiety.

Why might anxiety drive some dogs to be active? Displacement behaviours (fiddling) are one example of how anxiety can make people or animals perform active behaviours. However, anxious dogs can also be more driven to play, interact with people, destroy things, or even groom themselves excessively. All these active behaviours can help them to soothe their anxiety, as it takes their mind of the worry as they focus on an activity. Anxious people can also find that focusing on an activity can also help them relax too.

So how can you tell if a dog is anxious or just active? One difference is how driven/motivated they are to perform the behaviours. I like to say that the difference is that all dogs are motivated to be active from time to time, but some anxious dogs HAVE to be active. It isn't so much a want as a need, because they are using the activity to calm themselves down. In anxious dogs, we can see this need for activity despite having far more than the average amounts of exercise and stimulation that most other dogs are happy with.

There isn't anything wrong with an anxious dog behaving actively to help manage their own anxiety. It is something we should encourage, by providing lots of resources and opportunities for them to regularly manage their own emotions in a manner that is appropriate for us, and enjoyable for them. Unfortunately, this can be very difficult and time consuming for some dogs and their owners.

These cases can be some of the most difficult I see. With this case, the owners were really struggling. There were other complicating factors such as the dog having separation-related anxiety, and the owners verbally reprimanding the dog, which also need to be addressed. The dog is also play-biting the owners at times, when she is overly anxious and they are ignoring her. I have put in place a range of recommendations and am really hopeful they will help. Sadly, this is a very severe case, and I don't know how it will turn out. Only time will tell.

23/10/2023

Many dogs dislike close physical contact from humans, especially hugs and kisses. Observe your dog’s body language to determine how they feel. 🐾

I don't like saying this to people when I see it.
For some its a revelation, a lightbulb moment and for others I feel like the bearer of the worst news in the world.
Many dogs do not enjoy hugs.
Some do, many do not. Some may tolerate them and some dogs really dislike them
Worse still is when a dog is giving clear signals they are really uncomfortable....and the person knows this, the dog is told "don't be silly" and is pulled even closer or hugged harder.
The "kisses" given by their dogs are "proof" they like hugs.
Unfortunately, those kisses given are not a sign of affection....at all.

In saying all that..... some dogs do enjoy hugs and will use their tongue to show affection. If you have any doubt, look at older videos and watch for all the tell tale signs in their posture.

They will show us if they want to be hugged or not...we just have to listen.

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20/10/2023

Another pain-related post from AniEd

Normal things in weird contexts can certainly cause spooky responses. Another’s fear won’t be your fear, and vice versa. The dog’s behaviour is information telling us about their …

19/10/2023

This is a really important message. Dogs hide pain very effectively and it’s difficult for vets to detect in a clinic environment. A Dynamic Dog assessment can help to identify possible signs of pain which need to be investigated.

https://www.dynamicdog.co.uk/dynamic-dog-assessment

What is ‘Silent pain?’ 🤔

Did you know that dogs are genetically predisposed to hide pain because in the wild, weakness or injury would make them vulnerable to predators.

According to some experts, more than half our dogs suffer from ‘silent pain’ that their owners are unaware of. Dogs will rarely vocalise even moderate pain and often just run through it and don’t show any signs.

Silent pain is difficult to diagnose as it is subtle and develops slowly over a long time and any slight changes in the dog are often just attributed to normal ageing.

Things to consider with your dog-

✳️ Dogs are very loyal animals - they will follow you for as long as they can- on walks, up the stairs, onto the bed, ignoring any pain because they want to be with you

✳️ When doing zoomies, playing, chasing squirrels etc your dog won’t feel pain as their endorphins (their powerful natural pain relieving hormone) will be at released - the pain will come later when the dog is home and resting.

✳️ Your dog will not, however, be able to make that connection between the earlier exercise and the pain they’re now experiencing due to the time delay so they will repeat it the next day and the next and so on…..

✳️ Ball orientated dogs will ignore pain and continue to chase the ball as long as you throw it for them until they tire

✳️ Over a period of time and as your dog ages, the joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons become less able to deal with these demands and that’s when injuries start to happen.

✳️ You may at this point start to notice some changes in your dog, they might start to move a little
differently or be less enthusiastic on walks but again, it might not be physical signs. Your dog may develop behavioural problems, become noise sensitive, nervous or agressive with other dogs or may just pant more or find it harder to settle.

✳️ So …..just because your dog can leap for the ball/ jump up and down off the bed/ do ten zoomie laps of the field etc doesn’t mean you should let them and it does NOT mean they are not in pain!

Please share to increase awareness

And just to finish - a pic of my gorgeous arthritic girlie enjoying some autumn sun ☀️ !!

27/09/2023

27/09/2023

🐾 Why does chronic pain have an affect on behaviour? 🐾

The emotion of pain is a form of fear-anxiety and it can directly affect behaviour by increasing vigilance and leading to behavioural responses that are designed to keep the individual safe. For this reason an animal in chronic pain may show avoidance behaviour and try to keep distance from anything that it perceives to be a risk in terms of exacerbating its pain. This may lead to the pet being less engaged in social interactions and showing less interest in play or making very obvious attempts to get away. Painful animals may also show less obvious behaviours of inhibition or appeasement.

Inhibition involves the animal taking in information by watching and listening but not giving anything away. The result can be a pet who is very quiet and can easily be misinterpreted as being relaxed. It is important to watch for signs that the pet is monitoring the environment, for example by watching for ear movement and staring, and not to simply accept that they are "being very good". Appeasement involves exchanging information with others and because dogs are socially obligate animals they will often use this behavioural response when they are in pain. These dogs will seek information from those around them as well as give information back. This is often done through touch and these dogs may lean into people or nudge at them in ways that are misinterpreted as "attention seeking" and seen as unwanted or naughty behaviours.

Dogs may also sniff and lick at people in ways that are misinterpreted as affection. It is therefore important to be aware of changes in social interactions and not to dismiss increased interaction which might signify an emotional change. The other potential response to pain is repulsion and this involves behaviours which are designed to make the perceived threat stay away. Anything that the animal perceives to be a risk in terms of inducing pain can lead to a repulsion response and these responses can vary from a low grumble, to a significant growl, to an air snap and even a bite. While these repulsion behaviours are often considered to be the most serious, because of the potential consequences, it is important to remember that the pain can be equally significant for the pet regardless of which of the four behavioural responses it gives. It is very important to take repulsion seriously and to take steps to avoid the potential consequences of these behaviours but we must not disregard avoidance, inhibition and appeasement which are also important signs that an animal may be in pain.

In addition to the direct effect on behaviour chronic pain can have an indirect effect by reducing an animal's emotional capacity. The chronic pain uses up some of the animal's emotional "space" and means that they are more likely to react to other stimuli, such as noises or social interactions. When this happens the main thing that a caregiver may notice is a change in behaviour but the underlying pain also needs to be treated.

16/08/2023

TRAINING TUESDAY - Jumping!

Jumping can be a frustrating & problematic behaviour. Dogs can jump on us, our visitors or even strangers on the street. Responding with attention, even negative attention, can make the problem bigger. From the dog's point of view, jumping gets results!

This article takes you through some simple steps to alleviate problem jumping, including:
* decide on an alternate, and incompatible, behaviour that you can reward (e.g teaching your dog to have 4 feet on the floor)
* start with low level distractions then practice, practice, practice
* get your timing right - be prepared & ready!
* a lead or baby gate can be useful while learning

Delve into more detail here: https://ppgaustralia.net.au/Jumping

15/08/2023

Jose Gomes of Train me please has produced another excellent video explaining and demonstrating Leslie McDevitt’s “1-2-3 Walking Pattern Game”. Definitely worth watching! Also check out his YouTube channel which contains many other great videos. 🐾❤️

NEW VIDEO!! This is a step-by-step tutorial of the 1, 2, 3 Pattern Game. Pattern Games were introduced to us by the brilliant Leslie McDevitt and can be super helpful in a variety of situations.

This specific game can offer the dog a known and predictable pattern and allow you both to move from point A to point B when in a changing situation, such as something potentially scary or exciting in the environment.

Were you already aware of this game and do the step by step suggestions in the video make sense? I would love to hear from you.

https://youtu.be/b-h7KNd_3ik

14/08/2023

This is a great class for baby puppies!

10/08/2023

This is a great opportunity to introduce your dog to K9 Nose Work. Don’t miss it! 🐾

🐶 Treat your best friend to an enriching experience! 🐶

Are you looking for something to keep your curious hound entertained on a cold, wet, or stinking hot afternoon? Something you can do indoors or outdoors, and uses very little equipment? Does your perfect pooch like to sniff?

K9 Nose Work® is a fun search and scenting activity suitable for nearly ALL dogs and their people! It's easy to learn and helps build confidence and focus in many dogs. It's a safe way to keep them mentally and physically fit, no matter their ability. It's also ideal for shy or reactive dogs, because only one 'K9' works at a time, while the others are kept out of the working area. Our next session will be held at our Cheltenham HQ on the 26th of August.

No experience or obedience training is necessary for your tactile tail-wagger! But this event is limited to 15 participants, so we recommend registering A.S.A.P for this exciting experience.

Don't delay in booking a spot now at https://loom.ly/pBXJqv0