Nice Doggy Dog Training

22/08/2024

📣 IMPORTANT SAFETY ANNOUNCEMENT 📣

At Foothills Animal Hospital, we love caring for your pets and we strive to always provide a safe working environment.

We place the safety of our valued clients and their pets alongside with our team as our highest priority.

We sadly had a traumatic incident last week, where two of our team members, a Veterinarian and a Nurse, suffered a severe and unprovoked dog attack, one of them requiring emergency surgery for a broken bone. They were fortunate to receive excellent medical care and are now thankfully recovering, however, this incident has highlighted again the importance of our safety.

At our hospital we help many large, unsociable and aggressive dogs that present a danger to our team. These dogs often do not venture outside their properties, nor do they encounter other dogs or people. It is important for the owners of these dogs to understand the stress a vet visit can cause. Due to the unpredictable nature of our interactions, we need the Owners of these pets to have full control of their animals while visiting our hospital including the carpark and particularly in the small confines of their consult room where a pet is more likely to feel trapped and stressed.

With this in mind we would like to share our hospital guidelines to help minimise the risks associated with working with animals.

• Please understand the risks we take at work and never be dismissive of a team member that is careful around your pet, until we know your pet, we might be cautious and that is ok.

• Never dismiss a Vet or a Nurse that is cautious around your pet, they might have had a traumatic experience in the past.

• When making an appointment, please advise if you have any concerns about your pet’s past behaviour and experience at home or in a public setting. We will tailor your pet’s care to ensure they feel comfortable and at ease.

• A friendly pet can behave very differently at the vets as fear overrides their trust.

• Please warn us if a pet is likely to bite or has snapped in the past.

• We ask that you bring all dogs likely to bite muzzzled, and to call ahead so that we can plan your visit in the safest manner.

• Chat to our team about calming pills for your pets to reduce their fear and make our interactions safer.

• Help us by always having your pet on a leash whilst at our hospital or safely contained in a pet carrier.

• Always present your pet with the most capable handler and never send a pet to the hospital with a minor.

• Our team will always advocate for your pet. If at any time during your visit with us, a team member advises that we need to stop what we are doing, please understand that this is in the best interests of your pet.

• If you fail to disclose the risk, you are putting our team directly in harm’s way and can be held responsible.

Our team are trained to handle pets with compassion, aiming for a fear-free experience that fosters a positive and reassuring atmosphere. We implement various measures to provide a high standard of care whilst keeping our patients’ stress levels to a minimum.

PLEASE HELP KEEP OUR TEAM SAFE SO THAT WE CAN BE AVAILABLE TO KEEP CARING FOR YOUR TREASURED PETS.

Thank you,
Foothills Animal Hospital 🐾

20/08/2024

Can you socialize an older dog? Yes, with the right help! Find out how to socialize an older dog with training tips from a dog expert.

06/07/2024

Have you welcomed a wonderful bouncy puppy into your home recently? Are you searching for a puppy class where you can trust that the exercises and environment will be tailored to suit your puppy's individual needs.

Where your new best friend's behavioural development and training will be guided by a a highly qualified and very experienced trainer?

Then look no further. I have space for your new canine friend to join my puppy classes.

Younger puppies (12 weeks and under when they start)
- Sunday 1 pm - 2 places available to start on Sunday 14 July
- Thursday 6 pm - 3 places available to start on Thursday 11 July

Older puppies (puppies 13 - 20 weeks when they start)
- Sunday 215 pm - 2 spots available to start on Sunday 14 July

Here is what one recent graduate had to say about the classes

"I would 100% recommend Simone puppy training. Great price for a number of training session. My puppy and I loved our training sessions each week with Simone!

my 20 week puppy has learnt so much and is very well behave at home and even when she's home alone.

Simone is warmth welcoming and very patiently explains dogs behaviour into details and shows the best techniques to get the best interaction with my puppy."

To book in your canine friend please message my business page.

03/07/2024

Positive reinforcement training for animals involves rewarding desired behaviors to encourage their repetition. This method contrasts with punishment-based techniques, which seek to reduce undesirable behaviors through negative consequences. Here's a brief history of positive reinforcement training:

1. **Early Foundations:**
- **Edward Thorndike:** In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Thorndike's work on the "law of effect" laid the groundwork for understanding how behaviors could be strengthened by their consequences. He used puzzle boxes with cats to demonstrate that behaviors followed by satisfying outcomes were more likely to be repeated.

2. **B.F. Skinner and Operant Conditioning:**
- In the 1930s and 1940s, B.F. Skinner, a prominent behaviorist, expanded on Thorndike's ideas and developed the theory of operant conditioning. Skinner's experiments with rats and pigeons in operant conditioning chambers (Skinner boxes) demonstrated that behaviors could be shaped and maintained by systematically providing rewards (reinforcements) following desired behaviors.

3. **Marine Mammal Training:**
- In the 1960s, marine mammal trainers like Karen Pryor began applying positive reinforcement techniques to train dolphins and other marine animals. Pryor's work, particularly with dolphins at Sea Life Park in Hawaii, popularized the use of clickers as a marker signal to precisely indicate the desired behavior, followed by a food reward.

4. **Application to Domestic Animals:**
- Throughout the latter half of the 20th century, positive reinforcement training spread to the training of domestic animals, including dogs, cats, horses, and birds. Notable trainers like Ian Dunbar and Jean Donaldson championed positive reinforcement methods, emphasizing humane and effective training practices.

5. **Modern Approaches:**
- Today, positive reinforcement training is widely regarded as a humane and effective method for training a variety of animals. It is supported by numerous professional organizations, such as the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) and the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT).

The principles of positive reinforcement have also been applied beyond animal training, influencing fields like education, parenting, and behavioral therapy. The core idea remains the same: rewarding desired behaviors increases the likelihood of their recurrence, fostering a positive and cooperative relationship between the trainer and the learner.

19/01/2023

A dog is not yours to keep forever but the memories are. 🐶

06/11/2022

Bit of a late start this morning waiting for the rain to clear but it's turning into a beautiful day to bring your fury friends for a stroll along the foreshore and a pooch-a-licious dog-e-lato.

24/10/2022

A free family and dog-friendly event.

07/10/2022

A morning sniffy walk in the countryside. 💕🐾

06/05/2022

An offer well worth taking up! 😊🐾

03/11/2021

This is a worthwhile read about kennel cough, also known as canine cough.

Did you know that kennel cough is similar to a chest cold in humans and is actually a form of bronchitis?

Link in the comments to learn my recommended nontoxic strategies for managing kennel cough.

02/11/2021

It’s a joyous day in WA! 😃💝🎉

30/10/2021

Last Hoopers workshop for 2021!
Every Saturday starting on November 13 & ending December 11

19/10/2021

OMG!

I've got news!

So it's been 1 yr since we left Bibra Lake, so much has happened and the pivotal change came about because this little cheeky pup below.

If you've been hiding under a rock for the past 12 mths, this is Storm and she lives up to her name everyday!

So what's the news! Well let's just say that Storm has had a monumental impact on me as a dog owner and a dog trainer, so impactful and insightful that I'm about make a massive shift, you should feel the ground shaking right now!

The way we coach owners to train their furry buddies, is about to change - dramatically, for the better.

I realised what was missing in your success to train your dog and it's probably not what your thinking!

Together we can take your buddy from burden to best mate!

Want to know more?

05/08/2021

Today’s The Forever Dog Longevity Tip 🐶
Add some apiaceous vegetables (e.g., carrots, cilantro, parsnips, fennel, celery, parsley) to your dog’s dry or canned food! 🥕

These gems contain polyacetylenes, an unusual class of organic compounds that has antibacterial AND antifungal benefits. They play a key role in detoxifying several cancer-causing substances, specifically MYCOTOXINS. Mycotoxins are tasteless, odorless fungal toxins found in pet food ingredients that cause organ damage and immune problems.

Eliminating mycotoxins from your dog’s body can be really difficult but serving up apiaceous veggies is a great way to enhance the metabolism of these toxic compounds!

Raw or cooked, carrots and parsnip slices make great training treats, while cilantro, parsley, and fennel can be minced and mixed in with your dog’s food.

This easy food hack is one of many simple strategies Rodney Habib and I include in The Forever Dog book to keep your dog healthy. Available now at https://foreverdog.com/dog-longevity-health-and.../

27/07/2021

It's important to let your dog be "nosey" during your walks. 😊