Engage Veterinary Behaviour and Training

🐾 Molly the labradoodle 🐾 Home agility with her mum 🥰 I was so happy to receive this video from Molly’s mum. Molly has come leaps and bounds in her confidence and resilience. (I have discussed Molly’s anxiety in other posts.) This transformation has been the result of a holistic approach including ongoing learning using kind, clear, and consistent communication and listening to and respecting Molly’s body language of how she feels. Molly has been shown how she can use her thinking brain by “shaping games”. “What can I do with this object? >>> Go to it? Stand on it? Go around it? Now future learning is becoming quicker and quicker. And FUN 🤩

Frankie is the most gorgeous 1 year old labradoodle, with a fear of falling on slippery floors and stairs. She has fallen before and it was scary... Non slip matting created an immediate boost in confidence in the house 💕

🐾In-home dog-dog aggression🐾 A successful outcome I saw these lovely dogs, an almost 2yo female cattle dog/border collie cross and a 4month old Aussie Shepherd, for escalating and serious conflict in the house. A lot of the aggressive behaviours were centred around food and places where the food was kept (including the freezer where valuable ice-cubes came from!). The aggressive behaviours from the older dog were also generalised in the house - she not only wanted her own resources, but she didn't want the pup to have any chance of getting anything either. She would stare and body block and charge or attack the pup from afar. And now he was retaliating and also provoking. The dogs actually got on very well with each other outside - including when toy play was involved. The older female had a history of anti-social controlling behaviours at daycare as well - and they had done a marvelous job of managing and improving her in this context. Before I came onboard, the owners had already done a fantastic job with structure and teaching the dogs life skills around food - but conflict kept brewing and worsening. I visited the house to see the house plan and the dogs' interactions. I adjusted some key areas of the management, especially the positioning of the dogs' crate and playpens, and extended the behavioural training. I was able to piggy-back my plan on some beautiful skills that had already been taught. The dogs quickly improved - with the hard work, consistency and commitment by the owners. To quote the owners - "Now the house is full of peace and love!" ✌️❤️ (Old post - needed to alter video music)

🐾In-home dog-dog aggression 🐾 Two female French Bulldogs, 3.5yo and 2.5yo Part 2 - After two months of anti-anxiety medication, pain-relief, a consistent behaviour modification plan and wonderful commitment from the owners 🥳Harmony is now being restored between these two girls🥳 They have greatly improved from fighting every day, to no fights for many weeks now.🥳 Evie and Ivy are still separated in the evenings to comfy beds and crates behind either end of the couch. However, they spend most of their time together, and they play ALOT. Play used to be very intense and often tipped over into a fight. The play is still rough and tumble, but it is much less intense. Evie and Ivy now have the important skills of self-regulating their emotions and behaviours. They have learned to disengage from the other and move away if things gets tense, instead of escalating into a fight. They are improving at sharing the owner's attention without seeing red. Life between the French Bulldogs is now much more wholesome than combative. 🌷

🐾In-home dog-dog aggression🐾 Two female French Bulldogs, 3.5yo and 2.5yo Part 1 - Before and during behaviour modification Evie and Ivy started having occasional fights around treats 2 years ago. Frequency of fights increased and then decreased as the owners could determine and sort the reasons for conflict. The fights were not intense. In the past 6 weeks before I consulted via Zoom, Evie and Ivy were fighting every night, Ivy was now engaging more in the fights and the fights were intense. The triggers were no longer just related to food. My clients needed help! I determined the likely reasons and triggers for conflict, then formulated a management and treatment plan. In this case anti-anxiety medication and pain relief were part of the approach. We worked closely together, with much sharing of videos. Evie and Ivy's parents were committed to clear and consistent management and behaviour modification, and their hard work shows. After a few months there is now a great deal more harmony in the household. 🌷🌞🌿 See Part 2 above.

🐾Anxiety 🐾 This little Jack Russell, Jack (not his real name) was having a hard time with anxiety with apartment living. He was constantly hypervigilant and worried about what scary things may come through the door. After he was triggered by noises in the foyer outside, he became very agitated and could not be calmed. Part of Jack's treatment plan was practicing a predictable pattern game. Then when Jack was triggered by a noise, instead of being lost in a muddle of anxiety where he was focussing on what bad things may happen, and over which he had no control, he could instead focus on an easy, safe, predictable movement pattern that he knew well. Playing this pattern game with his guardian also provides Jack with the good feelings of safety and social interaction and the pleasure of food rewards. Look at the difference in Jack's reaction to outside noises before and after he has started treatment! His guardian is adapting beautifully to his behaviours to keep him focussed on the pattern game, whenever he is drawn to the entry door. A much calmer and more confident Jack.😊

🐾Severe resource guarding and also body handling sensitivity in a young cattle dog border collie cross.🐾 Early intervention is so important! I first saw this lovely boy when he was 4.5 months. He had so many positive behaviours thanks to the great job his owner had been doing in meeting his needs and raising him to be a great suburban dog. However, he had some “Big Feelings” of high anxiety, stress and frustration around his food. This led to some very concerning resource guarding behaviour including snarling, snapping, lunging, biting. Resource guarding (possessive aggression) is a common behaviour. It is normal to want to keep access to your valuable resources. Think back to COVID toilet paper fights to remember that stressed humans can feel this way too. However, the intensity of this boy’s emotions were not normal. His behaviours then extended to guarding random objects placed near him (metal bracket, can of squash), and he became more wary and avoidant of body handling including harnessing for walks. With the help of anti-anxiety medication, behaviour training, and learning to listen to him when he says “please take things slower”, he quickly made great progress. Now at 6 months of age, there is no resource guarding and happier harnessing. He is so well loved and a great mate to his young owner!

🐾Predatory play in cats - one of their five behavioural needs🐾 Maslow was presented for spraying throughout the house. He was living under stress, as “his needs weren’t being met.” This led him to spray his territory to help feel safe and secure. We addressed his needs and Maslow no longer sprayed through the house. Predatory play is one of the 5 Pillars of Cats Needs. Maslow’s wonderful owners had tried to play with Maslow before - but unsuccessfully - he wasn’t interested in any toys… With a bit of persistence, creativity and experimentation, they found what type of play Maslow needed and enjoyed!

Jessie the adolescent Labrador My first meeting-what a whirlwind😳😅 Jessie is a non-stop bundle of emotions who wants to be in your space the whole time! I needed to see where we could meet her adolescent dog needs, but also provide some clear structure, so she didn’t keep rehearsing unwanted behaviours. At this first encounter I had to use up some of that excess energy. I did this in a structured way and gradually asking more from Jessie in self control and stillness. Her mum has taught Jessie a great sit. I didn’t ask Jessie for a sit until I felt she “could” sit - I did this within the game “go crazy and freeze”. Jessie did so well! 😍 Later at the end of the session we did settle training. There is a video further down this feed.

Muzzle Conditioning I believe that many dogs should be conditioned to wearing a muzzle from early on. It is much less stressful for a dog to have it's own well-fitting muzzle that has been conditioned slowly, to a scary muzzle put on at the last moment, perhaps by a stranger, if it is needed. If you condition the muzzle early - you have the time to make it just another game. "Put your snout in the basket". It is best taught like a game with the dog having choice- she puts her head in the muzzle rather than me looming forward and putting the muzzle on her. If you do this, then your dog has choice on proceeding as fast as she feels Ok with, and that will build her confidence and trust in you. There are many ways to break down the steps - and some great videos out there. This is an older video of my German Shepherd Ava doing some first steps but with a long history in "learning how to learn". She enjoys the game and the interaction immensely.🙂

Leave-it Training Leave-it can be a very useful cue that helps your communication with your dog. I like to teach it by first “capturing “ a voluntary leave-it on a set-up on lead. I also like the dog to know what to do after she leaves-it. By marking the moment Ava leaves-it with “yes”, she knows to come to me to get food. “Yes” has previously been taught and used 24/7 in my communication with Ava. I don’t use Leave-it very often, because I prefer to set Ava up for success and show her what to do in each situation, and she has gradually learned what is off-limits in life. But when she needs that extra bit of information, to take her attention off something and turn away/move away , then Leave-it is very useful.

Low-intensity herding games for a corgi who likes to herd things... including dogs This gorgeous 10yo corgi Apollo LOVES to herd and control movement - of balls in fetch…and running dogs. She is a bit of a controlling police lady in other aspects of her dog social life as well… The young corgi in the family doesn’t like being herded, and now that she has socially matured she is saying “no more!” … and fights are happening. Strategic separations play a large part in the family now. Separations are hard emotionally and physically for a family. One of many issues was that Apollo’s family was worried that Apollo was left out of the family fun in the yard with the other two dogs, who have a more appropriate play style and social skills. But Apollo is actually very happy to play with her humans. She used to run and fetch - again and again - but she has arthritis and this is very painful now. She loved the dribble and block soccer type games ⚽️ 🥅 that I played with her in a small area (unfortunately not caught on camera), and also loved blocking the balls in short low throws. I brought my big box of toys, but these yellow balls were a clear favourite! These simple little games fulfill her motivation to control movement in an appropriate way with balls and not dogs, and also without becoming an obsessive repetitive activity that can be harmful physically and mentally. Apollo was also a very engaged and intelligent little lady in games with food to teach her alternatives responses to her leash reactivity.😍

Molly the labradoodle 😍 See previous post - Even more tricks!!! ❤️🎉👏

Molly the labradoodle 😍 Molly’s mum has done an amazing job teaching and maintaining Molly’s life skills and fun behaviours! Before I met Molly, she already had a fantastic sit, wait and watch on cue and a great settle in the crate routine at night ❤️. I tweaked the communication system, criteria and timing and keep adding new behaviours. For a long time, Molly was unable to learn anything new quickly, as she was anxious with any new training. She didn’t eat her normal dinner, let alone food with training, and she would become anxious in a different/unpredictable routine or trying anything new. We had to break any new task into the smallest baby steps. This training is different from her past experiences with trainers. Now she has “ learned how to learn”, and we have a teaching “language”. Molly has become a confident learner! ❤️ Look at her go now! (and Molly is getting a non-slip mat so her legs don't slip and slide!!!)

Molly the labradoodle 😍 See post below - when I met Molly last year, she hadn’t been in the car since about 2022. She was anxious about getting in/out, the car drive, scary things outside, and the destination. Just look at her now ❤️

Molly the labradoodle 😍 Thus is Molly’s first walk with a strange dog since she was much younger. It takes a village to raise a dog, and this lovely lady and gorgeous labradoodle lent a hand this day. There were lots of reasons that Molly wasn’t getting out on walks… Firstly - she wouldn’t go into the car since 2022…this was from a combination of anxiety getting in and out, feeling nauseous of the car ride, seeing scary people and dogs outside that she needed to yell at to go away, and the destination provoked anxiety as well. Molly also did not know how to walk on a lead without pulling people over at points of increased anxiety or excitement. Molly was very anxious in new surroundings and with strange people and dogs around. With a lot of time and patience Molly has become sooo much more confident - and loves to fly into the car and go for walks!

Jessie Settle Part Two (See me at Engage Veterinary Behaviour and Training for Part One)

Molly 😍 The “kangradoodle labradoodle” has a lot of bounce😄 Molly is always so excited to see me, and she waits so patiently as I talk with mum inside. But then all that bottled emotion has to go somewhere - and that is up up Up 😄 But Molly can still think and do the behaviour that is the “gateway to pats from me” - and that is to go to her table/station. Such a good girl 😊

Honey-2 Honey the big anxious Bull Arab being happy and confident with loose leash walking, sniffing, exploring and rolling in the green grass

Video of different clips of Honey doing a 1,2,3 Pattern Game, in various settings where I want her to stay engaged with me and confident as we negotiate some areas of the walk as a real team. There is a lot more I could say about this wonderful game! Honey is a big rescue Bull Arab cross who was extremely fearful when she was picked up by the rescue as a pup/adolescent. Honey is the loveliest dog who is very friendly to visitors to the house and the few dogs she has played with.🙂She is very calm and relaxed when inside her house. Honey loves going for a walk and exploring…but she is fearful of moving dogs, bicycles, scooters and strange noises, and sometimes there is just something in the air in a quiet forest that makes her worried and hypervigilant. But Honey is not at all worried by strange objects! I think she enjoys “hard rubbish” week where there are old sofas and mattresses on the curb to investigate😄 Her mum has done a great job in getting her out to the quiet places, and she also is no longer worried by scary barking dogs behind fences and not worried by most moving things - just the occasional scooter…as they appear so suddenly. But we can’t control the environment and unexpected triggers - even in the “quiet places”. We need to increase Honey’s confidence, build her trust in her human to keep her safe, and develop new behaviours where she looks away or moves away from a scary thing - rather than lunging forward. Anti-anxiety medication is on board and being tweaked, to help reduce Honey’s fears and anxiety when she is outside her safe house. If anyone who has had anxiety knows - it is very hard to believe everything is OK when you are anxious, and it is very hard to learn and remember new things.