Good As Gold Dog Training/Canine Life Skills Coaching

01/07/2024

DOG BEHAVIOUR (TIPS) #17 Separation Anxiety

What is separation anxiety? In simple terms: an extreme reaction when a separated from a close attachment figure.
Many, many dogs suffer this reaction in varying degrees from howling and barking to destructive behaviour.
Over the next few weeks, I’d like to give some tips on helping dogs with separation anxiety.
With many years of experience combined with certification and ongoing professional development within the field of canine behaviour, I have seen that some strategies and techniques have resulted in positive outcomes. The very, very last resort is medication.
The first tip I’d like to give is this: if you are sitting in a room with the dog simply stand up, look at your dog and with your palm facing the dog softly (not a hard stiff ‘stay’ sign) say “I’ll be back soon”. Take 2 steps then sit down again. Repeat this several times through the day. This is the first stage of conditioning your dog to stay in a room while you briefly leave and go back.

More on this next week. If you believe your dog struggles with being left alone, please contact me by PM.

This information was brought to you by Good As Gold Dog Training/Canine Life Skills Coaching
https://www.facebook.com/goodasgoldcaninelifeskills/

14/06/2024

If you haven’t read the book ‘Pukka’s Promise’ then please do so… for your dog’s sake 🙏🏼

Bestselling author and dog whisperer Ted Kerasote is on a quest for answers to the question: How can my dog live longer, healthier, and happier? An internationally-focused,…

17/05/2024

I recently helped a client who was having trouble walking her large Golden Retriever. This was a recent message from her. I advised using a Haqihana harness, long lead and allowing Rex to stop and sniff. Now they are both enjoying their walk together :)
"I meant to write to you many times and finally i am doing this. This is a big THANK YOU for all your guidance and articles you sent me in order to help me with Rex, our Goldie puppy, who was happily going about his puppy business, totally oblivious to the stress i was going though, by not being able to stop Rex pulling the lead and taking over our daily walks, to the point, that they stopped. It only took few sessions, stopping and letting go when the lead was tense, but it had to be done at the right time… I practiced this in the past as a similar exercise to get Rex know pulling meant we stopped, the moment he realised it and reacted, we went forward…my biggest mistake…It only resulted in Rex pulling even harder…like a Husky encouraged to pull on the sledge…this was when i got desperate and contacted you Your advice to stop immediately and not to release the lead tension was GOLD! I started stopping, Rex was stopping, then sitting, then looking at me, like Mum lets go…i was motionless and then the magic started to happen…Rex was coming towards me, and after i said YES, he was walking slowly without pulling… I am not a dog trainer, but you would know that moment, when the dog understands what you want from him… Thank you so much Gwen!!! I would like to make a thank you gift for you from the stained glass."
Here is a video of Rex enjoying his walk. And a photo of the lovely gift.

03/02/2024

I had the wonderful privilege of helping a lady in QLD who was given terrible advice from so-called 'dog trainers' who recommended 'choking' the dog with a chain collar when the dog pulls on lead.
There are far better ways to help a dog walk politely and enjoy the walk than that!
A Haqihana harness, a dog-friendly approach, some coaching and voila! The whole family and dog get to enjoy a walk :)

14/11/2023

When we welcome dogs into our lives, we often treat them as part of the family, showering them with affection and cuddles. However, what many of us don't realise is that our well-intentioned hugs might not be as comforting to our canine friends as we think. This blog explores the importance of under...

16/03/2023

Dogs are not robots - they might make unintentional ‘mistakes’. But if the right foundation has been put in place they will quickly recognise their ‘mistake’ and adjust their behaviour. Want to find out more? Contact me 😊

[SMILING LEASH WALKS ARE ABOUT QUALITY, NOT PERFECTION]
Wonderful, responsible guardians who go above and beyond for their dogs sometimes ask us whether their dog should be able to walk on a perfectly loose leash all the time, no matter the situation. 🤔

The short answer is NO. For many reasons. 🙂

Firstly, dogs are living beings, not programmable robots. Just like us, they are more sensitive to some things and when they get stressed, they might pull on the leash.

Things that often stress dogs are loud noises, busy surroundings, dogs or other animals nearby and similar. If we find that our dog pulls on the leash a lot in certain environments, it is best to avoid them for a while. Instead, we can build up the good habit of walking on a loose leash somewhere else. In a while, the dog may be ready for the environment she was previously stressed in. And if not, we may find that it is easier to avoid than we previously thought. 🙃

Dogs may also be going through a period of their life that is a bit more difficult and stressful, which may result in some pulling on the leash. This may be a time of changes, a time of health problems, heat in females or simply adolescence. 😉

There are of course many reasons for pulling, and many things we can do about it. You can read more about them here: https://www.smilingleash.com/blog/pulling-on-the-leash-one-problem-many-reasons

But if your dog is walking on a nice, loose, smiling leash most of the time and only pulls a little bit on occasion, it is likely not a cause for any real concern. As long as she is wearing a well fitted H-type harness which protects her health, of course. Find out more here: https://www.smilingleash.com/blog/the-importance-of-a-good-harness-fit

Smiling Leash walks are about having a good time together on our daily adventures. Aiming for improvement can be a welcome part of them, but worrying over perfection isn't. 😉

More food for thought: https://www.smilingleash.com/blog/unrealistic-expectations

26/12/2022

One of my valued clients posted this… it is equally true for the behaviour of dogs. Meet the need and the behaviour changes/decreases. Too many ‘dog trainers’ neglect to find out the need and frustrate or stress the dog by trying to change the behaviour without working out what the dog is trying to say or what the dog needs eg barking, pulling on lead or chewing the lead. This approach takes compassion and understanding ‘dog’. Want to learn more? Contact us. Our vision: to educate canine carers about how to give their dogs happy and healthy lives by using an holistic approach.

24/12/2022

To all my valued clients and friends, wishing you all a wonderful Christmas season and a fantastic new year. Stay tuned for some awesome events coming up in the new year 😊🥳🎄🎉

09/12/2022

Did you know that Good As Gold Dog Training uses an holistic approach to canine behaviour? Food affects behaviour- it's that simple! Did you know that part of the required serotonin level is made in the gut? If the food we feed is not healthy for the gut the serotonin level will be compromised therefore the brain will not receive its correct quota of serotonin... which, in turn, will not be optimum for mood, learning and behaviour. Too many dogs are too quickly put on eg anxiety medication when perhaps food(the gut biome) is the culprit. So how do we know if what we are feeding is good for our dog's overall well being? Contact us today and we'd be happy to share the wealth of knowledge on this subject we have attained over many years from reputable sources.

07/12/2022

I agree.... if my dog looked at me like this I would be seriously ashamed of myself.

THAT “GUILTY” LOOK
“My dog knows that he’s done something wrong, just look how guilty he looks!" This is something that we hear so often.
People are amused and entertained through social media and even dedicated websites where pictures of “guilty” dogs are uploaded. The “guiltier” the dog looks, the more popular these posts are and the funnier people find them. I find this really sad because it’s a complete misunderstanding of a dog’s body language.
Dogs may look guilty, but they are not feeling guilty. That “guilty” look is actually a dog showing the body language of fear, stress, anxiety or appeasement. The fear of being punished, the stress and anxiety of hearing the person’s tone of voice, demeanour and noticing the person’s body language, the appeasement behaviour in an attempt to calm the angry person down to avoid punishment.
As people, it’s natural for us to want to believe that our dogs feel guilt and remorse about whatever they’ve done wrong. Maybe thinking that they really do feel guilty somehow makes their behaviour more acceptable and is a form of an apology to us.
Dogs are capable of a wide range of emotions that are similar to that of a 2 to 2½ child, but it’s highly unlikely that they feel more complex emotions, like guilt, regret, remorse, shame or pride.
Guilt is a complex emotion and defined as an unhappy feeling that you have because you have done something wrong or think that you may have done something wrong. It’s a feeling of shame, regret or remorse. The feeling of guilt requires an understanding of cause and effect and is relative to time.
Do dogs spend the day feeling guilty, waiting for you to come home to find that chewed up couch or shoe, or are they waiting excitedly for you to come home because they really missed you and are looking forward to some attention?
For the emotional wellbeing of our dogs, let’s seek to understand them more and focus less on how we believe they should feel just because it makes us feel better.

26/11/2022

Yesterday, I had the amazing privilege of seeing someone I hadn't seen for about 13yrs. This young lady and her wonderful dog were the first recipients of an assistance dog, from an organisation I co founded in 2005. Yesterday it was time to meet this young lady's new companion and to help them with normal young dog behaviour. It was truly an awesome privilege :) I am truly blessed to have know such wonderful dogs and their people.

16/10/2022

Take note 😊

08/10/2022

Food affects behaviour! it's that simple! This event is FREE and online from the convenience of your own home. The information WILL change your dog's life - if you choose to do what the info says. It's not that scary and I am here to coach you through... for the well being of your dog :)

Online & Free | Limited Time

31/08/2022

„Meine Eltern haben mich geschlagen, als ich ein Kind war, und ich bin nicht traumatisiert“, sagt ein männlicher Alkoholiker, dessen Partnerin ihn wegen körperlicher Gewalt anzeigte.

„Als Kind wurde ich oft bestraft und es geht mir gut“, sagt der Mann, der sich jedes Mal quält, wenn er ein Fehler macht.

„Wenn ich als Kind nicht gehorchte, hat mich mein Vater in ein Zimmer gesperrt und dafür bin ich ihm heute dankbar“, sagt die Frau, die unter Panikattacken und einer Angst vor engen Räumen leidet.

„Meine Eltern haben mich zu einer Ausbildung in diesem Beruf gezwungen, wo ich viel Geld verdiene, und dafür bin ich ihnen sehr dankbar“, sagt der Mann, der den Freitag kaum erwarten kann, weil er seinen Job hasst.

„Als ich klein war, haben mich meine Eltern gezwungen, solange am Tisch zu sitzen, bis ich alles aufgegessen habe“, sagt eine Frau, die nicht versteht, warum sie mit Essstörungen zu kämpfen hat.

Es ist an der Zeit, das generationenübergreifende Trauma zu durchbrechen und sich unserer Muster aus der Vergangenheit bewusst zu werden. Es ist an der Zeit, uns selbst und unseren Kindern gegenüber mitfühlend zu werden.

Ein Kind lernt, Probleme durch Gespräche zu lösen, wenn wir Konflikte in der Familie auf diesem Weg lösen. Wenn Probleme mit Drohungen und Strafen gelöst werden, wird es eines Tages genauso handeln.

Ein Kind lernt Mitgefühl, wenn wir ihm gegenüber mitfühlend sind.

Ein Kind lernt, anderen zuzuhören, wenn wir dem Kind zuhören, wenn wir uns dafür interessieren, wie es sich fühlt und wie seine Welt aussieht.

Ein Kind lernt an sich zu glauben, wenn wir an es glauben.

Wir müssen unsere Kinder nicht erziehen, sondern sie liebevoll kultivieren. ❤

07/08/2022

07/08/2022

These are just a few gems in my dog books collection. I thought I would share them knowing that people are looking for pups. So before you get your puppy read these books. They are a good start to preparing you to raise a happy and healthy puppy. There are comments in each photo. Happy reading

20/07/2022

This is a good article explaining why ‘sit’ is not always appropriate. Personally I believe ‘sit’ is over-rated. What are we asking when we ask for a sit? Stay still. So why not ditch the sit and ask for wait, stop or stay? My favourite analogy is “would you sit on hot pavement with no pants on?”. I like the look men give when asked that one 😉

Imagine you’re really, really excited. Someone comes up to you and demands that you sit down. Maybe they even physically force you to do so. Are you calm now? Or are you just excited in a seated position, and maybe a bit annoyed or scared of the person who forced you to sit down?

What if you’re scared and having a panic attack and someone forces you to sit. Is your panic automatically over or are you just panicking while sitting? Is sitting down really a cure all?

It sounds ridiculous doesn’t it? So why do we do it so often to our dogs?

Remember, if your dog cannot behave the way you want them to behave, it’s because:

🔹 the behaviour we want is too difficult and we haven’t practiced enough (e.g. making your dog sit to enter a dog park)
🔹 the dog is upset, scared, worried or in distress
🔹 we are not setting our dog up for success

Remember, sitting just stops your dog from moving. It doesn’t change the underlying excitement, frustration, fear or other motivation causing the behaviour you don’t like.

And please, please don’t physically force dogs to sit. Not only is this putting an enormous amount of stress on their hips, but it’s putting stress on your relationship with them as well.

11/07/2022

Vet visits. Today Maddie had to have a blood test. Usually the vet asks to take the dog “to the back” where vet nurses can assist. But Maddie and I have worked on ‘give me your arm, let me gently find the vein and just pressing lightly with my finger nail’. For this ‘trick’ she gets some yum yums that she likes. So today’s blood test was a sinch with not even a flinch - just watched me like I asked her to and then got some yum yums. 😊.

I encourage all my clients to teach this helpful and practical ‘trick’. 😉

03/07/2022

Dogs do have voices so we need to understand what they are saying. If we ignore, we get more persistent barking. If you have a 'barking' issue contact me.

22/03/2022

I know it's been a while since I posted... this article is worth a read :)

I believe the emotional synchronisation between humans and dogs is the most significant, yet often overlooked aspects of dog guardianship. Dogs use their already heightened senses to sense how we are feeling; visually, olfactorily, auditorily, some even also suspect extra-sensory capabilities! Multiple studies in recent years have explored dogs’ affective empathy and hormonal interchanges in relation to emotional exchanges with humans.

This cycle of contagious feeling is often most apparent during times of tension. We have all experienced those times when our dogs are experiencing sensory overload or otherwise struggling with their environment. Wondering how we can change, control or differently channel those moments, it can feel very overwhelming. To be then told how our own emotions can contribute intensely to such situations, rather than being empowering, clients often say it adds to the seeming impossibility of the moment. I get it, I have been there many times. However, resolving stress, frustration, fear, anxiety or tension for our dogs will also require the management of these emotions within ourselves. If it feels difficult, not within our control, imagine how difficult it is for dogs with their heightened senses and instincts. Their actions and behaviours subject to misinterpretation and expectations daily.

When it comes to dealing with our own emotions mindfulness, affirmations, breathing techniques and other forms of stress/anxiety management can help immensely with this. Remembering that it is not the situation but our perception of the situation that matters most. Although it may not always feel like it (anxious dog owners, I see you!) dogs are masters at improving the mental health of their humans. The therapeutic nature of the relationship being multifaceted, though unfortunately not always bidirectional.

If we devote a lot of energy attempting to modify the behaviours, emotions or perceptions of another, without primary assessment and challenge of our own, we miss the great lessons and teachings that each unique relationship can bring. The human-canine relationship (as with other inter-species) is one where this is of prime importance and what a wonder to behold it is.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33090854/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC8277847/

08/09/2021

Wow! Scammers new low- review by someone calling themselves Amanda McGill disparaging my service. I’ve never had a client by that name. Beware of scammers ! 🤦‍♀️

26/08/2021

One of the real joys of my work with dogs is my contribution to the benefits of dogs in schools.

12/05/2021

Puppy’s first walk: Puppies, with their developing joints, don't need lots of road walking. Rather, they need to go on little adventures somewhere they can be safely on a long line, where they can run, play and explore, then sit, rest and watch the world go by. - Sally Bradbury outlines some basic training steps to help a puppy get used to the big wide world as well as how to walk on a loose leash.
Read it now in May BARKS: https://barksfromtheguild.com/barks-digital-membership-2021/

Not yet subscribed? Sign up for your lifetime digital subscription today! https://barksfromtheguild.com/subscribe/

14/03/2021

While I'm not a big encourager of high energy sport for dogs I do encourage some fun learning which enhances the human/animal relationship. Here is a video of my nephew Fletcher with his Cavoodle, Wilson. Very proud Aunty moment :)

10/03/2021

08/03/2021

Well worth a read.. so we can do better

Author : Turid Rugaas , ©, 2013. For species who live in packs it´s important to be able to communicate with its own kind. Both in order to cooperate when they hunt, to bring up...

07/03/2021

Hi All Raw Food Workshop attendees please find links to some of the references here or in the comments:
Dr Ian Billinghurst's
The barf diet book:
https://drianbillinghurst.com/product/the-barf-diet/https://drianbillinghurst.com/product/the-barf-diet/

Maggie the 30 year old dog
https://www.planetpaws.ca/2016/04/29/30-year-old-dog/

Pukkas Promise:
https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Ted_Kerasote_Pukka_s_Promise?id=YsEJgifvNrAC

Mixing Kibble With Raw? Here's the Problem
https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/can-you-mix-raw-dog-food-with-kibble/