Therapeutic Techniques for Animals

24/04/2024

Anzac Day 2024 ❤️
We remember and respect the animals that lost their lives fighting with our soldiers to Make our country a better place lest we forget 🐾

23/04/2024

Every day we need to be fighting against and raising awareness against animal cruelty. This includes raising awareness against using punitive tools such as shock collars and choke chains in the name of dog training.

20/04/2024

Sleepy girl on a rainy day.

20/04/2024

17/04/2024

Love this. It breaks my heart when I see people pulling their dogs away from sniffing.

15/04/2024

Lumbosacral disease. What is it?

Join Dr. Em to learn about what lumbosacral disease is, what symptoms to watch for, and what the common treatments are.Canine Pain: https://youtu.be/eHBNNu7D...

11/04/2024

Absolutely. If we wouldn't approach or treat a Rotweiller like that, we shouldn't be treating a small dog like that.

09/04/2024

Oh yes. My mantra. Physical first. Behavioural second. So many times I've been told a the dog I'm going to see is exhibiting some strange behaviour and it turns out that the dog is in pain or discomfort.

‘My dog is naughty/bad/untrainable/dominant/stupid’

I hear this most weeks on intake forms. Usually I get pretty excited to see these cos I know I’m gonna get to change a dog and owners life!

So often we write our dogs off as any adjective that fits the above and honestly, I’m yet to meet a dog who fits any of those adjectives (and I have worked with 10k plus dogs over the ten years I’ve been doing this!). I do however week in week out meet dogs with health issues that contribute to their slow progress in terms of training. Did you know dogs don’t show pain or discomfort how we do? We often think ‘oh he isn’t limping or yelping so he is fine’.

Please read the examples below ⬇️

🐾 A huntaway cross who I work with who bit his owner. Reluctant to have his feet cleaned, got spicy over any intense handling, had periods of seeming insanity and relentless barking and being unable to calm down. Huntaways are vocal dogs… but…

Turns out he had hip dysplasia. This dog didn’t limp. He wasn’t lame in any way. He chased his ball and sprinted and jumped and had no issues physically on the surface however under that behaviour was pain.

🐾 A French bulldog. Resource guarding to the extreme. Bit his owners while resource guarding the knot pattern in their wooden floor. Also bombed around without a worry in the world and had no outward signs of pain.

Turns out he had a severe spinal condition causing intermittent excruciating pain.

🐾 A young spaniel owned by a very good friend who was having confidence issues. She would ‘tap out’ of training on the regular and my friend went from ‘this is my ticket dog who will represent my country’ to ‘is this even possible?’

Dog had hormonal issues and likely spikes of hormones left right and centre. A carefully timed spay and she is now grade 6 in agility.

🐾 A friends Border Collie. Owned by a very experienced and talented agility handler and trainer. Regularly ‘checked out’ of training sessions, seemed to not be able to learn things that were moderately straightforward. Described by other trainers as ‘oh she is just a border collie it’s what they are like’.

Turns out she is mostly deaf.

🐾 A black Labrador. Always social and friendly and attended brilliant puppy classes and adolescent classes. Had the best start training wise you can imagine. He started showing some intermittent aggression to his owners in the home and aggression to other dogs out and about.

Turns out he had bilateral elbow dysplasia.

🐾 Young German Shepherd. Always energetic and silly in her behaviour but suddenly got worse. Excessive zoomies, inability to settle, increased reactivity to other dogs, reluctant to get in the car, obsessive destruction at home.

Turns out she had an infection in her va**na that was causing discomfort and exacerbating all those teenage behaviours to the point of being unmanageable.

🐾 My own dog! My NSDTR started missing his dog walk contact early last year. I was tearing my hair out trying to fix it.

Turns out he had a minor iliopsoas strain and some physio fixed the issue for us.

———————————

All these dogs have one thing in common. They are not stupid or untrainable or naughty or dominant. They are uncomfortable and that is triggering extreme behaviour fallout.

None of the above issues would be resolveable with training. All of the issues will be resolveable with training ONLY when the pain is resolved. Some of them will have drastic improvement from the moment the pain or discomfort is managed!

If your behaviourist or trainer doesn’t immediately advise a veterinary visit if any aggression, excessive ‘naughtiness’ or strange behaviour is present, walk away immediately. Even if you think your dog is fine, visit the vets. Ask for a thorough examination and push for a proper evaluation of your dog from nose to tail and potentially blood tests too. If you’re still not sure, get a second opinion.

You cannot train the pain or discomfort out of your dog. Address THIS first and foremost.

07/04/2024

And unfortunately, adolescence is the time when many dogs are surrendered to pounds. When you adopt a dog, you are adopting a sentient being who goes through different phases of development, just as humans do. And just as with children and adolescents, we need to have patience and understanding, to support our dogs through this phase.

Ever wondered why a puppy's behavior seems erratic during adolescence, which occurs between six months and 18 months of age?

The neurobiology of adolescence is fascinating, with some key events that alter both the structure and function of the brain.

During canine adolescence, s*x hormones are changing which effects the animals stress responses. Adolescent dogs have a decreased ability to modulate sensory processing and subsequent behavior.

The connectivity between the frontal cortex (responsible for decision making) and amygdala (responsible for emotional processing) decreases, resulting in less behavioral control.

So what does this mean? This could mean that your dog, who used to come when called, suddenly cannot. This could mean that your dog, who didn't jump up on guests, suddenly does. Your dog that walked nicely on leash is now pulling. Or perhaps it seems like some days your dog responds to behaviors you ask of them, and some days they don't, without any rhyme or reason.

We also see increased risk taking and more sensitivity to fear.

As your puppy undergoes this transition into adulthood their inner world is intense, even chaotic. Many pet owners experience an increase in undesirable behavior and find themselves becoming increasingly frustrated. In turn, frustration and impatience sometimes cause us to act unpredictably.

This adds to your puppy’s inner turmoil. When the inside and the outside are both unpredictable it can be difficult for puppies to adjust.

By understanding this we can gain greater compassion and understanding. When we approach adolescence with patience we can help create a world that is predictable and gentle so our puppies grow up to be their best selves.

03/04/2024

Memories of my studies at Northwest School of Animal Massage, Vashon Island, Seattle.

It is the first day of class on campus for 2024! Excited to meet this week's group of Foundation Level Massage students! Three straight weeks of class for small animal massage, animal acupressure and large animal massage!! 30 students in 30 days...No Fooling!!

03/04/2024

A post of mine from 2 years ago. Supporting our dogs.

It would be so easy if someone could just say a certain word to us and we’d instantly feel calm. Wouldn’t it be great if someone could just say that word and we’d feel safe? The bottom line though is that we either feel calm, feel safe, or don’t.

The same is true for our dogs. We can give them all the training we like, but we can’t train an emotion. Instead, what we can do is support them. We can assist them to feel emotionally safe, by providing connection and a sense of security. We can help build courage and self- reliance by allowing them, when they’re ready, to explore unfamiliar places and things at their own pace without prompting or guiding, but just being there as their source of comfort.

We saw this yesterday with Nala when we took her for a walk in a big carpark of a shopping centre after hours when there was no-one there. It’s actually a lovely carpark (I know that sounds weird), but it has trees, bushes, and shrubs. She’s never been there before so it was all new to her. We had her on the long line and at first, she was a bit anxious. She trotted around, not sure where to go, not sure what the different strange things were (e.g., shopping trolley and other equipment). We gave her as much time as she wanted to check things out, but she just wanted to move on quickly, at times sticking very close to me. However, the second lap around, she felt more confident. She felt secure and safe enough to sniff, to stop and look, to think. We could see her whole body relax.

Providing support will look different for each dog, just as providing me with support might be different to providing you with support. It depends on so many factors; what they have previously experienced, their level of resilience, their triggers, to list just a very few. Also, we need to be mindful that sometimes what we think they need in terms of support, is not what they need at that time. (Think of anxious dog that doesn’t want physical touch but just wants to be close to you, or who needs to be by itself in a calm, quiet space instead).

Just as our job as parents of children is to provide them with a sense of security, to comfort them when they are in need of comfort, to help them to become self-reliant and have the courage to experience new things, so it is with our dogs, if we are to help them to learn how to self- regulate and deal with the challenges they face living with us.

Denise Rettie
Therapeutic Techniques for Animals

02/04/2024

And regular massage sessions are one of the ways to assist retention of mobility and flexibility. It is important to take a multi modal approach to manage arthritis.

Canine arthritis affects 4 out of 5 older dogs.

It is an extremely complex disease that requires a dedicated owner collaborating well with their vet to control the pain, maximise mobility and ensure a full and active life for their dog.

This is not something your dog has to die of due to lack of awareness or education.

Adopt CAM's multi-modal approach to managing this condition and give

01/04/2024

Definitely. And Nala has an opinion about almost everything and is not shy about sharing.

We love a dog with an opinion. We love a dog who has the confidence to share that opinion without being worried about consequences. Let's not forget that dogs are not just 'our dogs' but unique and perfect individuals having their own experiences.

NICE loves dogs - talk to us about joining.

29/03/2024

Happy Easter! .secret.dog.walker

28/03/2024

Wishing a happy Easter to those who celebrate it. Keep your pets safe.🌺

Keep your pets safe this Easter with these helpful tips:

No Chocolate for Dogs: Keep the Easter stash hidden and away from your dog.

No Xylitol: This is a sweetener found in candy, gum and many baked goods and can be toxic to cats and dogs.

No Easter Lillies for Cats: Cast love to chew on them but if they ingested they are toxic. Keep them out of cat's reach!

No Easter Grass in Baskets: If ingested it can be dangerous. Instead use tissue paper.

No Table Scraps: Remind your guests to not give any food to the dog as GI upset may occur if given food they are not use to eating.

🐰🍫

25/03/2024

Belly rubs can mean a whole lot more than we think.
Flopping on the ground in front of us, showing their belly and wanting rubs may not be what your dog is saying at all.

Generally speaking.....tongues licking noses or poking out, ears flat and back or tight against head, stiff posture with paws tucked in tight can all be signs your dog may not enjoying that rub on the belly.

Please don't feel badly that you may recognise your dog shows some of these signs when you give a belly rub as many people don't know these changes in body language.

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Please visit ABC Dogs Patreon Shop for unmarked graphics. All graphics belong to ABC Dogs NZ and are under copyright.

25/03/2024

Two acupressure points I used to use from time to time for Makulu and now use for Nala are Stomach (ST) 21 and Stomach (ST) 25 which are used for gastrointestinal complaints, such as stomach pain or diarrhea. As with Makulu, when I suspect Nala might be experiencing some abdominal discomfort, I gently massage over the area of ST 25 and ST21 for a few minutes. Within a few minutes, she will often pass wind and then stretch out and relax and fall asleep. Of course, if I were not to see an improvement, and especially if it were accompanied by other symptoms or I suspected bloat (swollen distended stomach, attempting to vomit etc) we would take her to the vet immediately as that can be a life-threatening condition. Fortunately, with both Makulu and now with Nala, this has provided the relief they needed.

The Graphic from Elemental Acupressure shows these points. You can watch some great YouTubes from Elemental Acupressure https://www.youtube.com/c/elementalacupressure

24/03/2024

A good article and graphic about the emotional roller coaster some guardians might experience when faced with the reality of a reactive dog. Time and space, as Andrew Hale says, as well as fulfilling the needs of the dog you have, rather than trying to change the dog into the one you want, are the elements I've found to be the most important and have been instrumental in reducing the reactivity. It's a long-term approach of patience, support, and understanding the underlying issues.

Like or comment below so our reactive dog caregivers know they’re not alone with these complicated feelings 💕

Living with a reactive dog is tough, and a huge emotional journey. This journey often involves grieving the dog you thought you were going to have, that idea of what it would be like.

Letting go of that idea and accepting the dog in front of you for who they are is one of the hardest things I think people living with these dogs go through.

Few people set out with the idea of having a dog as a companion meaning they can’t go for walks like others, their unable to meet with friends with their dogs, have visitors round, unable to go out for day trips. This can lead to feelings of resentment because they’re not like other dogs, which then leads to guilt because you love them and don’t want to feel like this.

If this resonates with you, you might be grieving for the dog and life you wanted them and yourself to have. This is ok 💕 it’s a cycle and acceptance takes time. The good news is you’re not alone 💕

20/03/2024

Although today is not National Hug Day, the message is clear. Prevent dog bites by giving dogs choice. Many don't like hugs.

Today is National Hug Day, but that DOES NOT mean for our canine companions.

Hugs are a human behavior. Most dogs DO NOT like hugs, especially on someone else’s terms.

It is vital that we teach our children this valuable lesson, as 77% of dog bites that occur happen with the family dog or a dog familiar to the child. And when a child gets bit, because of their size, the bite generally takes place on the head, neck, or face, leaving permanent physical and emotional scars.

This also leaves the dog vulnerable to physical and emotional damage.

Instead, we can model and teach our children about consent — allowing the dog to approach for pets and affection.

Together, we WILL lower the bite statistics in our country!

19/03/2024

They are not "just growing old" or "just slowing down a bit"

There is a cause behind their stiffness.
Pain

Pain, and OA, can be treated and managed to the point where your dog can live a longer, happier life.

We believe that canine arthritis is something that needs more awareness! It's not just growing old, it's a condition that can be managed and help prevent premature euthanasia.

13/03/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/YhoF8JZoUj9GKi2t/?mibextid=w8EBqM

Koala massage. I feel relaxed just watching him. I've massaged wild brushtail possums, but not a koala.