Positive Pets Vet

26/08/2024

Happy international dog day !

13/05/2024

Why medications should not be a last resort.

03/04/2024

Why the teenage years can be tricky for our dogs .....

Ever wondered why a puppy's behavior seems erratic during adolescence, which occurs between six months and 18 months of age?

The neurobiology of adolescence is fascinating, with some key events that alter both the structure and function of the brain.

During canine adolescence, s*x hormones are changing which effects the animals stress responses. Adolescent dogs have a decreased ability to modulate sensory processing and subsequent behavior.

The connectivity between the frontal cortex (responsible for decision making) and amygdala (responsible for emotional processing) decreases, resulting in less behavioral control.

So what does this mean? This could mean that your dog, who used to come when called, suddenly cannot. This could mean that your dog, who didn't jump up on guests, suddenly does. Your dog that walked nicely on leash is now pulling. Or perhaps it seems like some days your dog responds to behaviors you ask of them, and some days they don't, without any rhyme or reason.

We also see increased risk taking and more sensitivity to fear.

As your puppy undergoes this transition into adulthood their inner world is intense, even chaotic. Many pet owners experience an increase in undesirable behavior and find themselves becoming increasingly frustrated. In turn, frustration and impatience sometimes cause us to act unpredictably.

This adds to your puppy’s inner turmoil. When the inside and the outside are both unpredictable it can be difficult for puppies to adjust.

By understanding this we can gain greater compassion and understanding. When we approach adolescence with patience we can help create a world that is predictable and gentle so our puppies grow up to be their best selves.

04/03/2024

Why do dogs wag their tails ?

Why do dogs wag their tails? Dr. Emily Levine discusses the nuances behind the wag.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/dog-happy-veterinary-behaviorist_l_65ddf048e4b005b85831bff5

18/07/2023

Dogs love to sniff! You might think your dog is unusual, sniffing a patch of grass, but did you know that dogs can identify smells acutely because the part of their brain dedicated to processing smell is 40 times larger ( relative to total brain size) than humans ?

Here are some awesome benefits of your dog's sniffing:
○ Mental Stimulation - keeps their mind active as a form of enrichment, reducing boredom and anxiety
○ Stress Reduction - promotes relaxation and helps to reduce anxiety.
○ Information gathering - scent is the primary way of gathering information from the environment and allows them to engage in their natural behaviours.

So next time you take your dog on a walk, slow down and let them sniff!

10/05/2023

What does it mean when your dog growls ?

23/12/2022

Merry Christmas everyone ! Don't forget to actively supervise your pets around children and If this is not possible, use barriers/gates/ crates to keep everyone safe.

06/11/2022

SMART 50 - A great game to play with any dog .

⭐️ SMARTx50 ⭐️
Interrupting habits & beginning to build a new behavioral repertoire

How this helps you and your pup:

SMART means See Mark And Reward Training. 🎉

Whether you are consciously training or not, pups are always learning. It’s imperative to reinforce behaviors you like in real life, not just in the classroom.

The goal of SMARTx50 is to capture and reward all the lovely behaviors your pup is already doing throughout the day. If you consistently reward your pup for lying down wherever and whenever it happens, your pup will likely lie down more often in many different environments because the behavior pays off. Playing the SMARTx50 game helps your pup learn to behave well in different situations. This game is great for adult dogs and puppies!

✅ How to play SMARTx50:

🔸You can use your pup’s meal to reward
In the morning, portion out what they would normally eat for breakfast

🔸When you see your puppy doing something you like, mark it!

🔸You can mark by saying “yes” or “good”, or by clicking a clicker

Some nice behaviors to mark: lying calmly, playing with a toy, chewing an appropriate object, sitting, making a cute face, lying on an appropriate bed or in the crate.

After you mark, give your pup a piece of kibble.
The goal is to "See, Mark, And Reward" 50 behaviors per day.

Thank you to Kathy Sdao for creating this fantastic game! You can learn more about it in her book, Plenty in Life is Free. 🦄