Vicki Burton - Professional Dog Behavioural Trainer

15/01/2025

I recently observed a temperament test being conducted to determine whether a dog was aggressive toward other dogs. The dog in question was a large, strong breed, and there was much concern because…

15/01/2025

FB Memories reminded me that 3 years ago I did something I had always wanted to do. Design and commission an infographic from Doggie Drawings by Lili Chin 🥰🥰

15/01/2025

Listen to the whispers

Whispers are soft, subtle and so easy to miss in our often busy, hectic lives, but making an effort to listen to them can prevent situations from escalating, resulting in reactive behaviour.

A dog’s attempt to communicate is so often misunderstood or completely ignored.

Body language is one of the only ways that dogs can let us know how they are feeling. When we know how they’re feeling, we can intervene, help them feel safe and prevent those emotions from boiling over.

Body language can be subtle and fleeting, but with careful observation and knowing what to look for most of us can learn to recognize and understand what our dogs are saying.

It’s always important to look at the context, the situation and especially what the rest of the body is doing when deciphering their language.

Being able to understand a dog’s emotional state through their body language helps us to predict behaviour, prevent potential problems or simply allows us to just enjoy observing what they are feeling.

Although dogs each have their own unique personalities and distinct way of communicating, there are many common signs that can give us insight. We just need to take the time to learn and then notice them. I believe dogs would be so grateful if we make the effort to learn their language.

Here are some resources and links to learn more about body language -

On Talking Terms With Dogs - Calming Signals, 2nd Edition by Turid Rugaas
https://www.dogwise.com/on-talking-terms-with-dogs-calming-signals-2nd-edition/?srsltid=AfmBOoqj8ruQJx5bCP7qWb03TqCyAGfmAvCj988UuWk_L1_UHbYcZsES&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0AaDd_wwhSC4JEUqkvQmOG9lU5bNdbAOEeHQb0st7P_DXrdAOR-utY_-k_aem_cqU0VLHHyjrKbce9ddT84g

The Veterinary Behaviour Centre
https://www.heska.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/TVBC-Canine-Dog-Body-Language-handout.pdf?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3mKGykzNJr7_yFf1_e6mc2sRHjNvjEok2GLvKTw-OMtTxEfjtlxM6vk4I_aem_B-YAlekmE0eV03c_1x8cyw

15/01/2025

Bunny and her talking buttons
Enjoy 🐾🤍

Meet Bunny the talking dog! Bunny's human, Alexis Devine, explained to Localish how the Sheepadoodle learned to "speak" and discussed the impact of these "ta...

14/01/2025

14/01/2025

🪼The Animal Poisons Helpline is frequently called about dogs that have ingested beached bluebottles. Otherwise known as man-of-war or blue bottle jellyfish, Physalia physalis is not actually a jellyfish but is a colony of many smaller living organisms (known as zooids) which hang from a gas filled float.

Bluebottles are commonly found in Australian and New Zealand waters and are often washed onto the beach after strong winds. In some instances, certain shorelines will be covered with hundreds of bluebottles which can retain the ability to sting after washing ashore.

Dogs that ingest bluebottles may be stung in the mouth and throat. These stings are immediately painful and affected dogs may drool or vomit. Stings may result in local swelling in the mouth and throat and rarely this may lead to breathing difficulties. Allergic reactions including anaphylaxis are possible.

Please be cautious whilst on the beach with your dog this summer. Spend a few minutes inspecting the shoreline before removing your dog’s leash, particularly in the days following strong onshore winds. If there are washed up bluebottles, keeping your dog leashed is a good idea and this can also be a useful strategy to prevent your dog eating beached pufferfish and other poisonous marine creatures such as sea hares. If you come across a mass beaching of bluebottles, please inform the Helpline on [email protected] so that we can get the word out to other pet owners in the area!

If you are concerned your pet has ingested something they should not have, please phone the Animal Poisons Helpline. The Animal Poisons Helpline provides free advice to pet owners in Australia and can be reached on ☎️1300 869 738 (AU), 0800 869 738 (NZ), 3106 4216 (SG), (917) 722-5958 (US) or +1917 722-5958 (CAN). If you are a member of a veterinary team you can join the Animal Poisons Centre For Vets Facebook group which is regularly updated with toxicology tidbits and poisoning trends. To stay up to date with the latest pet poison alerts and receive updates directly to your inbox, visit animalpoisons.com.au/stay-up-to-date and subscribe.

09/01/2025

09/01/2025

Fear Period
By Ian Shivers
Bondi Behaviourist

During the fear period the dog's danger brain activates more readily than usual. Read our fact sheet on the dog's mind to learn more about their danger brain.

09/01/2025

What might seem like something harmless like playing with your child and having them “ride the dog” can become dangerous very quickly especially if they try to do it by themselves unsupervised! 😬

We never want to encourage our children to sit, climb or jump on your dog, even if your dog is seemingly tolerating it…

When this happens, we often hear “the bite came out of nowhere”

Bites can easily happen when our dog’s body language is not respected and we always want to make sure we are not putting our dogs in situations we know might make them uncomfortable like a child sitting or jumping on them!

We always want to remind our children to “Sit On The Ground, NOT The Hound” and help them find other ways to interact safely with our dogs! 🐶

✏️ Doggie Drawings by Lili Chin

08/01/2025

🐡 The Animal Poisons Helpline expects a seasonal increase in the number of calls regarding pufferfish exposure over summer. Pufferfish, also known as toadfish, blowfish or simply blowies, can be very attractive to pets. Dogs have been known to quickly eat washed up pufferfish before their owners can stop them. Sometimes pet owners may be unaware that their pet has ingested a pufferfish until they develop signs of poisoning soon after a visit to the beach.

Most pufferfish are toxic when ingested. They contain a highly potent neurotoxin known as tetrodotoxin in their organs and skin. Pufferfish ingestion can be life-threatening and result in a rapid onset of paralysis which typically begins in the back legs and progresses forward to the respiratory muscles. Other signs of poisoning may include vomiting, tremors and possibly seizures.

We would like to remind all dog owners to be cautious with their pets whilst visiting the beach. Keeping your dog leashed is a good idea and can be a useful strategy to prevent your dog eating beached pufferfish, jellyfish and other poisonous marine creatures such as sea hares. Whilst on the beach, always observe your pets and do not allow them to approach washed-up fish. To the fishing enthusiasts, please immediately return any pufferfish that are caught to the water rather than leaving them behind where dogs may eat them.

If your pet has ingested a pufferfish, they require urgent veterinary attention. Do not wait for signs of poisoning to develop. Whilst ensuring the wellbeing of your poisoned pet is paramount, veterinary care for poisoning can often be costly. Pet insurance provides peace of mind and protection in these events. The Animal Poisons Helpline is proudly sponsored by Bow Wow Meow Pet Insurance, who are currently offering two months of their Nose-to-Tail Cover for free in the first year of coverage for Helpline followers. Visit https://quote.bowwowinsurance.com.au/?promo=AP368 for more information.

☎️ The Animal Poisons Helpline provides free advice to pet owners in Australia and can be reached on 1300 869 738 (AU), 0800 869 738 (NZ), 3106 4216 (SG), (917) 722-5958 (US) or +1917 722-5958 (CAN). If you are a member of a veterinary team you can also join the Animal Poisons Centre For Vets Facebook group which is regularly updated with toxicology tidbits and poisoning trends.

08/01/2025

I don't think many people haven't had this issue occur at some time, and it can be for a few different reasons.
One of the reasons is fear, something out there has caused a sudden and immediate change in their behaviour....and they have immediately refused to continue with their walk. .....you may not see it, hear it, smell it or sense whatever your dog is afraid of....but THEY do.
Maybe they are picking up on the urination of "that" dog they had a run in with a few weeks ago, maybe the last time they were in this area they scraped their nose....maybe they were startled by a noise they have never heard before.....the fearful association has been made.

Even though we may not physically be able to see it, our response should be supportive and helping them through this fearful time.....if you ignore this, and insist on dragging them through.....the next time they will likely remember and stop at that same spot again, or stop further back.
Your dog may start to view your decisions as not to be trusted.

You can help them through this....
You do need to help them through these times but a little more slowly. The next time you walk that area, a few metres before "that spot" bring out a toy, play for a few minutes and continue that play a few metres in. Sometimes that is all that is required for a dog to make a breakthrough...other times you will need to repeat the process and go a little further each time.

The key is to do all this BEFORE the spot and (most importantly) without any signs of fear being shown.....if the fear is there and showing, there is very little even the most exciting toy or treat will do to help....retreat, play down the road, take the pressure off. Try again a bit later or the next day. Letting them smell freely in these areas is also helpful.....that is how they get more information.
Scatter a few treats before the area and let them find them. If they are happy....scatter a few just into the area...but again if they are already showing signs of fear/stress this is likely to not work.

Physical pain is often disregarded as an issue, both older dogs and younger dogs have reduced physical ability, tire easily and their bodies can ache.

Equipment should be checked.
Harnesses are fine... but for some dogs having a tight harness which digs in after a few minutes can cause a lot of pain. Collars can have buckles which can cause contact issues which irritates skin. If your dog has a harness that restricts movement (and is designed that way for dogs that pull)...they are often the most problematic for walks....consider a good walking technique.

Change the equipment to something more comfortable, some people still squeeze their dogs into harnesses that should have been retired years ago.

07/01/2025

TRAINING TUESDAY

A favorite pastime in summer is taking our dogs to the beach. But not every dog likes the water.

So what can we do to help them?

Here are some steps to help your dog become comfortable with the sea:

🐶Start with a calm environment: Choose a beach or shoreline with gentle waves and calm water. Avoid busy beaches with strong currents at first.
🐶Play near the water: Play fetch or other games on the beach near the water's edge to help develop a positive association with the water. Encourage them to approach the water by making it fun and rewarding.
🐶Gentle water exposure: Let your dog explore the water at their own pace. You can gently wade in with them, but avoid forcing them into the water. If the dog feels too nervous, allow them to stay on dry land.
🐶Use a life vest (if needed): Some dogs may not be natural swimmers, so using a life vest can make the experience safer and more enjoyable. Consider also a long line for extra safety.
🐶Find a friend: Some dogs gain confidence by seeing other dogs enjoy playing in the sea.

Training your dog to enjoy the sea is a gradual process. With patience and positive experiences, most dogs can come to love the beach and the water!

07/01/2025

Zoomies 💨💨💨🖤

The Zoomies ❗
They can be a shock😲 for some people with new puppies , rest assured they are completely normal for dogs and puppies....BUT they may need to be investigated a little more too.
FRAP's (Frenetic Random Activity Periods), all puppies and dogs can show them and some more than others.
What needs to be looked at is why they are occurring.
✅ Have all needs been met, physically and mentally.
❓ Is there enough physical exercise during the day.....or too much. Over arousal needs to be looked at as a cause and over tired pups and dogs can show this behaviour.
❌ Are you a target ? Some puppies and dogs will aim their bursts of energy at you....that can be an issue.

The good news is most times they are actually quite predictable...and you can help your puppy burn off some energy by engaging their brain or nose. Enrichment before the Zoomies (and VARY the enrichment...the same puzzle which is now boring won't help).
Zoomies can sometimes be a reminder we may not be meeting all their needs..... or they can just be the Zoomies....put your feet up and enjoy the show !

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