Learning Planet Dogs

01/07/2023

**Fitness Foundations students**
REMINDER 🌟🥇

Our first Zoom meeting is on TONIGHT 🐾

Check your emails for the link.

(If you think this sounds fun and you want to join in - flick me an email ! There's still time to join us, or work through the workbook on your own 🏆✨)

04/03/2023

ALL ABOUT our next round of fitness classes. Come join us!

🌊 Class starts NEXT WEEK 09/03
🌊 All online via a private Facebook group

🌊$130 for 6 weeks of videos and feedback.

🌊 Minimal equipment required, and easy to DIY equipment at home.

Each week will build on the previous to create a circuit of exercises by week 6

Email [email protected] to book your spot 🐾

02/03/2023

Another round of our online fitness classes is ready to go 🐾

Email us to book!

07/02/2023

Back into folks!

Interested in learning ways to teach cooperative tablet taking for your pup?

Join us for a 6 week online class 🐾

🐾 New video step and ideas released each week

🐾Video submission and feedback

🐾 Perth attendees - I do have spare capsules for you to use.

Things you'll need:

- A Dog

- Gelatin capsules (size 000, 00 or smaller!) Perth folks I have some I can provide.

- High value treats (liquid / spreadable and solids)

- A video camera / phone.

- A Facebook account.

Email: [email protected] to book!

$130 per working spot (video submissions and feedback)

$60 audit spot - Access to videos released by me, no video submissions from you.

25/01/2023

Wanted to put a post out in regards to our absence from the business page and let everyone know it will be pretty quiet on here for awhile.

Last week we said goodbye to my best friend in the entire world, to say I am devastated is an understatement.... 🐾💔

I'm not ready to discuss reasons for his passing on social media with people who don't know us personally.... There will be a day in the future, when I am thoughtful enough to put it into words.

If you ever met Edison I'd love to hear your favourite memories of him in the comments below 🐾❤️.

He was the bestest boi there was, and will always be my most special canine friend.

💔 G and Lumière.

09/10/2022

Name a better trio.
I'll wait.

05/09/2022

04/09/2022

Lumiere is home ✨
He's so sweet and full of beans 🫘

Slept through the night well and woke up at a reasonable hour to go outside,

He's explored the garden, run through the grass and played on a puppy seesaw and a ball pit 🐾

So excited for our budding future together 🐕

(Ed is staying with his favourite second family at until Lumi has settled in)

14/08/2022

A bush walking adventure 🌟🐾

Follow our second Instagram account for less focus on training and tips and more focus on tried and tested tracks, trials and equipment for outdoor adventures with your pups in WA.

14/08/2022

29/07/2022

Do you?

Off-Leash areas are a privilege.... Not a right.

Be responsible, keep your dog on lead in on-lead areas, and have effective control of your dog when off-leash.

28/07/2022

This is what I call Scouts 'cheese face'
😅😂.

26/07/2022

Ear check up today for head shaking and tilting his head sideways.

He had a treatment for a yeast infection a few weeks ago (more head flicking) which I had assumed had cleared up...

Training that went into having a stress free sedation and scope. Along with support from fear free staff!

- tablet taking without food.
- stationing on platform
- standing still
- allowing needle jabs and multiple people to walk behind him
- allowing touch and holding of legs (by vet staff)
- having a 'settle' cue to lay down and flip hips out to get comfy.
- being comfortable in the general clinic environment and happy to see his vets and nurses upon waking up (after taking AGESS).

Did I expect it to go to plan. Nope

Did it? Yep 😅, trust your training!
Did I film it. Nope 🤦🏼‍♀️.

15/07/2022

Got to visit this little superstar today!

Cooper had a great time learning some scent work skills and having some fun practicing his tricks while his mum and dad were at work today.

We practiced his nose hold indication, introduced oils.... Then started searching for oils (he is quite literally a super car for learning speed!) Holy Moly!!

We both had a blast!

04/07/2022

Visited a 'Sniffspace' with Charlie and her mum Jas this evening.

Charlie was SUPER clued in to listening and recalled (not once) BUT TWICE mid play with Edison!

How impressive is that! 👏👏

02/07/2022

One of the saddest parts of my job is the sheer volume of rehoming requests I get from dog owners. Several times a week I receive a call, message or email, and it is always the same - Do I “know somebody who wants a [6-18 months old] [highly energetic working dog]? The dog needs more activities than the family can provide.”
This week it has been a Heeler, a Lab and yesterday a Border Collie. Other weeks it is a German Shorthair pointer, a German Shepherd and a Goldendoodle. Or a Weimaraner, a Malinois, an Aussie, a Husky … you get the idea.
First - no, I likely do not know anybody who would be a good match for the dog. I have a list of people looking for dogs - currently it has zero names - and a list of people with high-energy breeds wanting to re-home their dogs. This list is very, very long.
Please do not get a puppy if you cannot meet the needs of his breed. The vast majority of dogs needs more than a full food bowl and a pat on the head. Especially during the first 2 years of a dog’s life, expect him to require DAILY training. Throughout the dog’s life you should plan on providing enrichment, mental stimulation and physical activities. You have work, errands to run, a family to take care off, TV shows to watch, books to read - but your dog only has YOU.
If you chose a working-bred dog, expect him to not be content with a 15 minute leash walk. Your dog needs more. He is only doing what he was bred to do - having a high energy level, intense desire to move and work, no quits.
If you want a beginner dog or a laid-back dog - there are plenty of lap dog breeds who have lower exercise needs (though they still need some!). There are plenty of adult or senior dogs in rescue. There are retired racing Greyhounds. There are shelters looking for volunteers and fosters - that way you can get your feet wet before committing to a certain breed.
If you get a puppy of a working breed, expect him to take up a big chunk of your time for many years to come!
Please don't first acquire and then rehome your dogs because of who they are - instead, invest time into researching your chosen breed upfront.

02/07/2022

My dogs know their place.

Every year, I hope the people spewing nonsense about being pack leader, about being the alpha, about how you need to show the dog who’s boss, will disappear. Every year I’m hopeful that they will pick up a book (that isn’t written in their little echo chamber), do a course worth its salt, or even just watch the most basic YouTube video explaining why they are wrong.

Every year I am hopeful that I won’t see any more dogs wearing prong collars, e-collars, being strung up on a slip lead, being yanked back, alpha rolled, pinned to the ground, shaken, prodded, hissed at, kicked. Dogs that are just babies, dogs that are traumatised, dogs with behavioural problems that, whenever they ask for help or reassurance, are punished. Dogs that are petrified of something scary, only to be told “Stop crying!” as the thing they’re phobic of is drawn closer and closer to them.

Every year, I’m disappointed.

It’s 2022. The basis of this training was debunked DECADES ago. Why do people still feel it’s acceptable to treat dogs this way? To lazily slap the word “dominant” or “stubborn” on their foreheads and take that as an excuse to now treat them however they like.

Do freaking better.

“Oh, but my dog is a German shepherd/ Rottweiler/ staffie and they need a strong hand”

No. If you are incapable of handling a powerful dog without beating the crap out of it and walking it with ligatures, sometimes spiked ligatures, constricting their throat, seriously consider getting a smaller breed. It doesn’t make you look like a tough man, walking an incapacitated large breed dog, it makes you look like a coward. Nothing screams “I’m an incompetent trainer” like somebody reliant on choking their dog just to get them to walk nicely.

One day, we will look back as a society on the people who treat their dogs like this, and be totally repulsed. We will think “how did they get away with it?” I hoped, by 2022, we would be at that point already. But clearly not.

Yeah, my dogs know their place. It’s right beside me.

TLDR: you’re not the alpha, you’re insecure.

11/06/2022

Startling a dog in order to get them to stop behavior you perceive to be undesirable can introduce fear, stress and anxiety into the equation. A dog isn't able to understand where the startling experience has stemmed from. They may associate it to you, the environment or other contextual information available at the time.

Here are just some of the ways in which we startle dogs:

Tin cans with pebbles
Spray bottles filled with vinegar or water
Compressed air
Ultrasonic devices
Rolled up towels
Shouting
Clapping hands

These types of corrections tap into a dog's autonomic nervous system, namely the sympathetic branch, putting the body in fight or flight. Chronic stress leads to the sympathetic nervous system being continuously activated without the normal counteraction intervention of the parasympathetic nervous system. The immune system, in response to the body being unable to sustain homeostasis, can lead to a weakened immune system. Illness, disease and premature aging are more likely in animals (including humans) who encounter prolonged stress.

Dogs have the ability to experience single learning events meaning that just one negative/positive event can stay with the dog creating strong connections in the brain. We know in our brains negative experiences make stronger links vs positive ones and we can see evidence of this with dogs as well.

There is no reason to use these items (often labelled as "humane", "gentle" or "kind"). They are not humane, gentle or kind. Do not be fooled, they can be just as aversive as other tools used to shut down behavior.

If you are struggling with your dog's behavior there is help available. We can figure out a better way, together. Link in bio.

✳️ Share this to help spread ethical information ✳️

09/06/2022

Observation skill practice 💁🏼‍♀️

What part of Edison is telling us he is getting a little bit over excited?

(Context- bright room, currently working on heelwork with tug as a reward)

30/05/2022

Some dogs may be incredibly extroverted and love playing with new dogs. But for the most part, it can be a lot of work and potentially stressful to figure out the play style of each new dog, and many dogs are happier making specific friends and sticking with them. A great option to consider is forming a playgroup for your dog, or carefully evaluating a doggy daycare.

28/05/2022

My dog needs space.

Please do not touch him.

He’s afraid of you.

Don’t handle him like that.

Leash your dog.

Speaking up for our dogs is often a huge part of being a responsible guardian.

It’s also incredibly uncomfortable for many of us.

Sometimes, we have a hard time speaking up for personal reasons.

Sometimes, we’re triggered by our dog’s triggers.

Sometimes, we’re dealing with people who are combative.

It's ok to be nervous.

It’s ok to be afraid of conflict.

It's ok to be worried about hurting someone’s feelings.

It's also ok to make up a reason why you’re asking for space. “He’s recovering from surgery” might be easier to say than “I’m scared of your dog approaching”.

It’s ok to practice scripts in the mirror or in the car until they are easy to say.

It's ok to put a vest on your dog that asks for space if you can’t.

It's ok for young women to speak up to men and ask for space.

It's ok to not give a reason why.

It’s also ok to raise your voice, be firm, be assertive. It’s ok to swear, it’s ok to demand.

Although they can’t tell you, your dog appreciates it!

21/05/2022

None of us went looking for fearful, aggressive, reactive, separation anxious, or medical dogs. Most of us wanted hiking partners, brew pup patio buddies, dogs who could go anywhere. We thought it would just naturally happen because of that old saying "it's all in how you raise them." They would be raised right, so it would work out fine.

Maybe early on there were red flags. Maybe you didn't notice until they became an adult. I wish it was as easy as placing a puppy or rescue dog in the right home and adding love to "fix" things. So many people struggle with how things could have gone, should have gone, what they might have done wrong. There's a lot of baggage we carry into training from the past.

Many people want to negotiate out of the problems with their dogs. "What if we don't follow the plan? What if I can't manage it? What if I just wait for them to 'grow out of it'?" It can be hard to reconcile the dog you wanted with the dog that you have. I understand. I didn't know Zelda would be epileptic and how devastating that would be.

Mourning the dog that you thought you were going to have can help you move forward with the one you have. Forgive yourself for mistakes and commit to changing patterns moving forward. Thank your dog for doing the best they can with the cards they were dealt. Forgive them for hating the strangers at the brew pup. Forgive them for lunging on walks. Understand why they don't want to meet your friends who come over for dinner.

We often hear "train the dog in front of you." I suggest we love the dog in front of us. That doesn't mean we aren't going to be frustrated, sad, angry. That doesn't mean we aren't going to wish we had a dog who could go anywhere and do anything. But it might help us appreciate what they can do and who they are. We wish it were different, and so do they. Mourn the dog you thought you'd have and fall back in love with the dog in front of you.

20/05/2022

20/05/2022

✨ MANAGEMENT ✨

What is it? -

Well I like to describe it, (as the great Dr. Amy Cook teaches), as the monkey on the other end of the leash 'taking the reins' - to avoid your dog practicing behaviours you no longer want to see.

In regards to reactive behaviour, I don't want to see my dog lunging, barking, whining, staring (biting 😬) etc.

Management is directly linked to your 'behaviour modification' plan, in that, I cannot change emotions through training, if I am also failing to manage behaviour during the other 20 hours of the day.

Personally - my walks with Edison consist of a LOT of 'taking the reins' 'taking the wheel' 'driving the bus'

(Whatever analogy floats your boat the best 😉)

He can make some pretty AWFUL decisions himself if I allow him to at this point in his life.

So I manage them....and to be honest, sometimes I'd rather just manage behaviour, than spend every waking hour of my life in full blown training 'mode'.

💁🏼‍♀️

Our management plan (which is based on one individual dog, yours may look different!) looks like this -

- Make distance quickly from a dog/person with a 'magnet hand'

- Scatter feed and encourage a 'Go Sniff'

- Stand in front of him and block his view while he sniffs, keep an eye on dog/person and make changes depending on their path of motion.

Management (and having a well oiled plan, that's been practiced together many many times) is the key to successful behaviour change in our dogs!

19/05/2022

Using 'Go Sniff' as a reinforcer for loosening the leash and returning back to me.

My FAVOURITE cue. One I will use every walk, with all of the dogs I train regularly.

Dogs love to do dog things

27/04/2022

Raise your hand if you’ve ever been accosted by a squealing adult running towards your dogs, screaming “I NEED to pet ALL the dogs”.
🙋
I get it, they’re f-ing adorable. Answer is still no- and eww that approach is kinda creepy…

23/04/2022

“You cannot reward or punish your dog’s emotional state.”

Let’s break down what this means -

The latest scientific research indicates you cannot reward or punish emotions, you can only reward or punish behaviour, or actions.

When a dog has developed a behavioural issue, it’s crucially important before trying to fix the problem, that you fully understand what’s driving your dog to act this way.

Here’s a couple of commonly misinterpreted scenarios:

Case study 1 - A dog barks or growls at children.

Every time the dog does this, his owner yanks on the leash and reprimands the dog. The owner believes they are punishing the dog for being aggressive and with a few repetitions the dog will probably learn not to act in this way. Problem fixed? No – unfortunately, it’s worse. The dog still hates kids, possibly even more, but he’s now learned that he shouldn’t show this with a bark or growl. The behaviour (vocalisation) has been punished and may cease, but the underlying emotional state (a hatred of children) will remain. This means we’ve now lost a very clear warning signal from the dog and he is also more likely to bite instead of bark or growl next time. 

Case study 2 - A dog runs around the house frightened, pacing and panting every time there is a thunderstorm.

Owners in this situation often worry that if they give the dog any attention or rewards, they will reward him for being scared. However, if they give the dog a few treats for lying down on his bed, the dog may learn, ‘If I go to my bed during a thunderstorm, I get treats and attention.’ There is a bonus here: the dog may start to feel calmer as a result of the training and the act of lying down. When the dog feels good, the fear that was driving the behaviour of running around fades, which means you have helped your dog to feel less scared.

We can train dogs to hug each other, but we can’t train them to love each other quite so easily. Naturally, Crash and Ziggy are the best of friends and love training together with