DOGOLOGY® Dog Training Solutions

12/08/2024

Absolutely essential viewing!!!

24/07/2024

How to achieve A Smile for Life for your dog (and cat!)

Four out of every five dogs and cats over the age of three years have some sort of dental disease which becomes more severe with age. This can be a real problem for pets and owners because it can lead to more serious problems such as illnesses related to the heart, liver and kidney. You should check your pet’s teeth regularly as pets often won’t show pain.

FEEDING YOUR DOG AN APPROPRIATE DIET SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES DENTAL PROBLEMS!

If you feed your dogs a biologically appropriate raw food diet, your dog (or cat) will have great dental health compared to animals fed commercially brought pet food – especially the dry food. Feeding Raw Chicken wings for breakfast each day not only gives your dog the protein, calcium and energy it needs for the day, it gives your dog a dental treatment at the same time! The skin starts to remove the plaque and massages the gums, the bones complete the treatment by removing tartar build up. A dog with fresh breath and clean teeth will be a much happier and healthier dog!

And the added bonus is, if you feed the correct diet, you do not need to brush your dogs teeth or buy dental chew products!

Dogs naturally do not brush their teeth with a brush or use toothpaste, and doing this is a very unnatural thing to do to your pet. Feed the correct food to your dog and do not create the problems! In many cases, the manufacturer of the dog food that caused a dogs dental health problems is the same company that want to sell you the products to fix the problem! PREVENT it in the first place by following the principals of a Biologically Appropriate Raw Food Diet!

Please note: Even pets with sore gums, an infected mouth or broken teeth will continue to eat so you may not notice they have problems. Dogs are pack animals and showing weakness is not part of their nature. They need to eat to survive so won’t go off their food until the pain is unbearable. Signs of toothache or an infection in the mouth to look out for in cats and dogs include bad breath, red and inflamed gums and stained teeth. Your pet may also start dropping food when they are eating. So check your dogs teeth, gums and breath regularly. Dental checks also help ensure bacteria and poisons from dental infections do not spread to the heart, liver and kidneys through the bloodstream, which in turn overloads the dogs’ immune system. If your dog has red, inflamed gums or a cracked/broken teeth, it will need prompt veterinary dental attention.

Dogs and cats age much more quickly than humans, and it’s important to catch problems early if you want to ensure a long and happy life for your companion animal. Checking your pet’s teeth will be part of your regular health check. Including an annual dental checks when you take your pet in for it’s vaccination is an ideal opportunity for owners to find out if their pet has an existing problem which has gone unnoticed.

If you would like any further information regarding feeding your dog an appropriate raw food diet, then please contact me!

24/07/2024

An educational analysis of the dogs many and varied Tail positions.

19/07/2024

The first time ever I saw his face! Happy gotcha day to Zircon! 15 years ago you came home for the first time. My Precious Prince. My Super Dog!

Thank you to
www.AustralianCattleDogRescue.com

Zircon is 16 years and 4 months old!

15/07/2024

CULTIVATING CALMNESS

We teach our dogs all sorts of things, but maybe don’t realise that teaching “calm” is also an important behaviour that has so many positive applications for both us and our dogs.

“Calm” can be defined as the absence of agitation or excitement; a feeling of tranquility; serenity and peace. These feelings are so often lacking in both our lives and that of our dogs.

Besides teaching dogs to settle on a mat or in another place or capturing and rewarding calm behaviour, here are some other ways to promote calmness.

Scenting or sniffing is a really effective and simple way to promote relaxation. It lowers the pulse rate and creates feelings of wellbeing.

Chewing is another powerful relaxation tool. Dogs use the chewing to relieve stress, frustration or anxiety. Chewing has a calming effect on the adrenal-pituitary axis in the brain which triggers the release of endorphins. It’s like self-medication for stress or anxiety.

Relaxing music that is specifically made for dogs can also work well, especially with dogs that get over excited in a car or have storm or firework fear.

When playing an exciting, high-energy game with your dog, take frequent breaks before starting up again to help your dog wind down and become calmer.

Aromatherapy, ear or other types of massage are other ways to help create calmness.

Cortisol holidays are also really important after a stressful event to prevent trigger stacking and allow cortisol levels to return to normal.

Conventional wisdom says that the ability to remain calm is a character trait that most of us lack, but Neuroscience teaches us that remaining calm under pressure is not an inborn trait, but a skill that needs to be learnt, practiced and managed and this applies to our dogs as well.

Dogs Disclosed




www.dogology.com.au

05/07/2024

TGIF!!

03/07/2024

ANTHROPOMORPHISM

THE GOOD / THE BAD AND WHERE TO DRAW THE LINE

This hard to pronounce and complicated sounding word – (anth-ro-po-morph-ism), means assigning human qualities, characteristics, emotions, feelings or motivations to our dogs (a non-human entity).

Advancements in canine neuroscience have revealed remarkable similarities between human and canine brain function, particularly in areas related to emotional processing.
This has given us far more understanding of canine cognition and emotion.

Although this is a great thing, it’s so important not to take anthropomorphism too far by assuming that our dogs experience emotions in exactly the same way that we do.

Dogs experience a similar range of emotions that would be seen in a 2 to 2 ½ year old child but are currently not thought to feel more complex emotions like guilt, shame, remorse, spite, pride or contempt.

Here is a link to a graphic that shows where a dog’s emotions are thought to stop in relation to the age of a child - bit.ly/canineemotions

Here are some examples of taking anthropomorphism too far:

“My dog knows exactly what he’s done – look how guilty he looks! No, your dog is reacting to your body language, tone of voice or remembers your previous reaction – this is fear, he is trying to appease you, calm you down, diffuse the situation.

“My dog chewed the couch just to get back at me for not taking him for a walk “ - No, your dog was probably bored, frustrated, lonely, had separation distress and was looking for a way to self-sooth or entertain himself.

“My dog pees inside just to spite me” – No, there could be a host of reasons, but spite is not one of them.

“My dog is just so stubborn” – No, find what is motivating, rewarding for your dog, are there too many distractions?

“Look at how proud my dog looks for winning the competition, graduating from a class, after being groomed etc” - No, your dog is reacting to your emotional state.

Instead of assuming that your dog is feeling “adult human emotions”, learn about body language and notice the context of the behaviour. This will provide a far more accurate idea of how dogs are really feeling.

Anthropomorphism is an essential tool in recognising a dog’s emotional state and allows us to have compassion, empathy, understanding and connection, but taking it too far is detrimental and undermines relationship.

Dogs Disclosed





www.Dogology.com.au

01/07/2024

Now we understand why females are better dog trainers!!!

KEY POINTS
🐾People use different forms of speech when speaking to infants and dogs, called "Motherese" and "Doggerel."
🐾Research has shown that a child's brain responds more vigorously when listening to infant-directed speech.
🐾Recent fMRI data shows that a dog's brain is more responsive to dog-directed speech spoken by women.
🐾This special tuning of the dog's brain may explain why women might be more effective dog trainers.




www.Dogology.com.au
Psychology Today
Stanley Coren

The specific tuning of a dog's brain to special linguistic features and to the human female voice suggests why women might be more effective dog trainers than men.

29/06/2024

Some afternoon entertainment!

The results of positive, consistent training.

28/06/2024

Treasure every moment, especially the annoying ones.

24/06/2024

THE MOST DANGEROUS PET CHEW EVER: RAWHIDE!

How can one of the most popular chew sticks on the planet be so dangerous for your pets, you ask? I mean, most dogs chew on rawhide for hours on end, and not only does it keep them busy, but they seem to last forever.

Well if you understood what it took to make this toxic “raw” leather stick, you would quickly understand what the problem is.

Aside from the horror stories circulating all over social media these days, of pets needing emergency surgery after consuming rawhide, the majority of pet parents today, especially the newbies, believe that this chew is some sort of dried up meat stick. Let me debunk that myth right away!

A rawhide stick is not the by-product of the beef industry nor is it made of dehydrated meat. Rather, rawhide is the by-product of the “Leather Industry”, so theoretically it is a leather chew. Sounds awesome, right?

“Producing rawhide begins with the splitting of an animal hide, usually from cattle. The top grain is generally tanned and made into leather products, while the inner portion, in its “raw” state, goes to the dogs.” TheBark.com

So, how does this leather, which is conveniently rolled up into pretty shapes, actually get made into those rawhide chews?

Follow along my friends and I will enlighten you on how this hide travels through a leathery process where it transforms from hide to a not-so beautiful, colorful, chew stick. Here is a paraphrased tutorial that was explained by the whole dog journal several years back:

STEP 1: Normally, cattle hides are shipped from slaughterhouses to tanneries for processing. These hides are then treated with a chemical bath to help “preserve” the product during transport to help prevent spoilage.

(No one wants to purchase a black, spoiled rawhide stick!)

Once at the tannery: the hides are soaked and treated with either an ash-lye solution or a highly toxic recipe of sodium sulphide liming. This process will help strip the hair and fat that maybe attached to the hides themselves.

(No, no one wants to see a hairy hide…)

Next on this glorious journey, these hides are then treated with chemicals that help “puff” the hide, making it easier to split into layers.

The outer layer of the hide is used for goods like car seats, clothing, shoes, purses, etc. But, it’s the inner layer that is needed to make the rawhide. (Oh and other things like gelatin, cosmetics, and glue as well!)

STEP 2: Now that we have the inner layer of the hide, it’s time to go to the post-tannery stage! Hides are washed and whitened using a solution of hydrogen peroxide and/or bleach; this will also help remove the smell of the rotten or putrid leather. Bonus!
(Research also shows that other chemicals maybe used here to help the whitening process if the bleach isn’t strong enough.)

STEP 3: Now it’s time to make these whitened sheets of this “leathery by-product” look delicious! So, here is where the artistic painting process comes in.

“Basted, smoked, and decoratively tinted products might be any color (or odor) underneath the coating of (often artificial) dyes and flavors. They can even be painted with a coating of titanium oxide to make them appear white and pretty on the pet store shelves.” - whole-dog-journal.com

“…the Material Safety Data Sheet reveals a toxic confection containing the carcinogen FD&C Red 40, along with preservatives like sodium benzoate. But tracking the effects of chemical exposure is nearly impossible when it’s a matter of slow, low-dose poisoning.”– thebark.com

Ok, now that these hides have been painted, it’s time for the final process.

STEP 4: Getting it to last forever!

Because the FDA does not consider these chews to be food, really it’s a free for all when it comes to the manufacturers of these leather strips, and the products they may want to add to these chews, to get them to last forever. Any sort of glue can be added here to get these bad boys to never come apart.

When tested: Lead, arsenic, mercury, chromium salts, formaldehyde, and other toxic chemicals have been detected in raw hides. So it’s safe to say that any sort of glues can be used as well!

Finally, it’s time to package and attach all the glorious marketing labels to the product.

Check out the fine print warning that’s attached with some of these rawhides:
“Choking or blockages. If your dog swallows large pieces of rawhide, the rawhide can get stuck in the esophagus or other parts of the digestive tract. Sometimes, abdominal surgery is needed to remove them from the stomach or intestines. If it isn’t resolved, a blockage can lead to death.“

(Oh, how lovely…)

And there it is! It’s now ready to be shipped to store shelves where it can be purchased for our loving animal companions.

How do proactive veterinarians feel about these chews?

Here is world-renowned veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker's take on the matter:

“The name ‘rawhide’ is technically incorrect. A more accurate name would be processed-hide, because the skin isn’t raw at all. But the term “rawhide” has stuck.

Rawhide chews start out hard, but as your dog works the chew it becomes softer, and eventually he can unknot the knots on each end and the chew takes on the consistency of a slimy piece of taffy or bubble gum. And by that time your dog cannot stop working it -- it becomes almost addictive.

At this point, there’s no longer any dental benefit to the chew because it has turned soft and gooey, and, in fact, it has become a choking and intestinal obstruction hazard.“

P.S. Ready for the jaw dropper?

An investigation by Humane Society International stated in their report, “In a particularly grisly twist, the skins of brutally slaughtered dogs in Thailand are mixed with other bits of skin to produce rawhide chew toys for pet dogs. Manufacturers told investigators that these chew toys are regularly exported to and sold in U.S. stores.” – dogingtonpost.com

Rodney Habib Pet Health Site

"An educated, informed and well-researched community of pet owners can only put more pressure on the pet food industry to be better! When pet owners know better, they will only do better!"

21/06/2024

Today is National Dog Day, a special day for all dogs and dog lovers.

Celebrated annually, it’s a day when we can celebrate our favourite animal by showing them love, respect, and care.

Anyone who has ever had a dog knows just how much love and joy they can bring into your life and a national day to celebrate dogs is a great way of bringing us all together to appreciate these animals that many consider as members of their family rather than just pets.



Take Your Dog To Work Day

18/06/2024

❌❌ ATTENTION ❌❌

1080 TOXIC POISONING
WARNING

BY NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service

Applies from Wed 5 Jun 2024, 7.03pm to Sun 25 Aug 2024, 7.19pm. Last reviewed: Wed 5 Jun 2024, 7.37pm
Other planned events: Notice of 1080 baiting program

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is conducting aerial and ground baiting programs. Aerial baiting is scheduled from 10/06/2024 to 17/06/2024. Ground baiting is scheduled from 10/06/2024 to 18/08/2024. The operation will use 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate) poison for the control of Foxes and Wild Dogs.
Aerial and ground baiting will occur in:

Bagul Waajaarr Nature Reserve
Banyabba Nature Reserve
Banyabba State Conservations Area
Bindarri National Park
Bundjalung National Park
Captains Creek Nature Reserve
Carrai National Park
Carrai State Conservation Area
Cascade National Park
Chaelundi National Park
Chaelundi State Conservation Area
Cottan-Bimbang National Park
Cunnawarra National Park
Dorrigo National Park
Dunggir National Park
Gumbaynggirr State Conservation Area
Jobs Mountain Nature Reserve
Koreelah National Park
Kumbatine National Park
Mount Clunie National Park
Mount Hyland Nature Reserve
Mount Hyland State Conservation Area
Mount Neville Nature Reserve
Mount Seaview Nature Reserve
New England National Park
Ngambaa Nature Reserve
Nymboi-Binderay National Park
Nymboida National Park
P*e Dee Nature Reserve
Ramornie National Park
Serpentine Nature Reserve
The Castles Nature Reserve
The Cells State Conservation Area
Tooloom National Park
Werrikimbe National Park
Willi Willi National Park
Yabbra National Park

12/06/2024

ESSENTIAL ENRICHMENT

Imagine being kept in the same space each and every day. You know every blade of grass, every scent, every brick, every piece of fence. You have no books to read, no TV to watch, no one to talk to, no interaction with the outside world and absolutely nothing to do.

Would this situation begin to affect your behaviour and influence your emotional, mental or physical state? What about our dogs?

Many dogs live in this type of environment and yet we wonder why they develop behaviour problems, bark excessively, destroy the garden, become over excited, over aroused or maybe just shut down or sleep all day having completely lost interest in the world.

Many behaviour problems are caused by boredom, a lack of mental and physical stimulation or being confined to the same space every day.

Providing enrichment for dogs is so important for their wellbeing and really doesn’t require that much effort from us.

There are so many simple ways to provide enrichment. An online search for DIY enrichment ideas will provide lots of ideas.

Older dogs may enjoy a ride in the car, sitting at a window watching the world go by, bringing the outside in – sticks, cones, grass etc. from different areas placed in a box for them to rummage through and smell, dinner in the park, or even just playing some doggie music will make a difference.

“Chronic inescapable boredom can be extremely aversive, and under-stimulation can harm neural, cognitive and behavioral flexibility.” - A biological perspective on animal boredom and suggestions for its scientific investigation by Charlotte Burn - The Royal Veterinary College.

From Dogs Disclosed

07/06/2024

TGIF!!!
I've got that Friday feeling!!

Have a wonderful day and a fabulous weekend with your happy, well-behaved dog!



www.Dogology.com.au

03/06/2024

Be patient.
Be kind.
Teach them.

Give your puppy the best opportunity to learn and develop with the Dogology Puppy Head Start Program!

Designed especially for puppies from 9 weeks old and onwards.

For a happy, we'll behaved dog.





www.Dogology.com.au

30/05/2024

Canine Anthropology: A Major Shift in Dog-Human Relationships.

Marco Adda calls for a significant change in how dogs are viewed and trained.
Updated December 6, 2023
Reviewed by Michelle Quirk

KEY POINTS
🐾Canine anthropology calls attention to the psychophysical and kinesthetic roots of dog-human interactions.

🐾Humans enter an empathetic state of listening instead of seeking obedience and assuming to know everything.

🐾Dogs are emotional partners able to form deep bonds with humans via canine participated somatic experiencing.






Psychology Today

Marco Adda stresses that dogs are emotional partners who form deep, attachment-based bonds with humans only by positive training, not by dominance-based punishment and fear.

29/05/2024

I'm exactly like my dog, and that is a very good thing...




www.Dogology.com.au

28/05/2024

If your dog is struggling , then please help them to understand with positive training techniques.

Contact DOGOLOGY® Dog Training Solutions today for a free behavioural analysis.




www.Dogology.com.au

27/05/2024

"I think DOGS are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the ROLE MODEL for being ALIVE." - Gilda Radner, Comedian & Actress



Pic of Janene Branc with Zircon and Zeta

23/05/2024

TGIF!!!
Have a wonderful day and a fabulous weekend with your happy, well-behaved dog!



www.Dogology.com.au

23/05/2024

THE BEHAVIOUR PUZZLE

Changing behaviour is like building a puzzle.

All the different pieces need to be looked at and put together for the result to be successful.

Trying to stop a behaviour with a quick fix, is unlikely to have lasting results last and often results in an unwanted behaviour surfacing in a different way.

Behaviour needs to be looked at holistically.
Understanding what the function of the behaviour is, what a dog is trying to communicate, using management to prevent the behaviour from being rehearsed or practiced, ensuring that a dog’s needs are being met and showing dogs what to do instead of what not to do are some of the important parts of solving the behaviour puzzle.

Changing behaviour takes time, it’s not a quick fix, it requires understanding, consistency, patience and commitment, but the results of solving the puzzle properly are worth it.

From Dogs Disclosed

20/05/2024

Happy Monday!!!
Enjoy your day!

17/05/2024

Happy Friday!
Have a fantastic weekend with your dog!

16/05/2024

How Spending Time With Dogs Can Benefit the Brain
Relaxation, concentration, mood, and more.
Posted March 24, 2024
Reviewed by Abigail Fagan

KEY POINTS
Recent research found that playing with a dog boosted both relaxation and concentration.
Participants recorded lower levels of fatigue and stress after different types of interactions with a dog.
It is imperative that we learn more about what emotional and cognitive effects dogs can have, and why.

Many of us have dogs whom we consider to be cherished members of our family. In fact, pet ownership increased during the pandemic and shows no meaningful signs of slowing down. Dogs in particular are often said to be mood-boosters-- companions that show unconditional love, are loyal and affectionate, and provide opportunities for exercise and play. The medical field has taken interest as well and seems to embrace the notion that time with a dog can potentially decrease stress and boost mood. No doubt this is why dogs have been enlisted to play therapeutic roles in high-stress environments, like schools, correctional facilities, and health care settings.

Up until now, much of the research that seeks to explore the effect of animals' presence on humans has focused on general characteristics. In other words, the effects that were looked at represented overall benefits to mood or emotion that come from spending general time with a pet or canine companion, no matter what exactly people were doing during that time with the pet. Now, however, there is exciting new research that delineates among different types of activities that people engage in with dogs, to see if certain types of time spent are better, or have different effects, than others.

In this recent study, by Yu, Woo, Han, and Park and published in PLOS ONE, eight different types of interactions were categorized, and 30 adult participants with an average age of about 28 performed those activities with a well-trained dog. The eight types of activities were meeting the dog, playing with the dog, feeding the dog, massaging the dog, grooming the dog, taking photos of the dog, hugging the dog, and walking the dog. The participants were scanned via EEG while they engaged in these interactions with the dog for three straight minutes, and were then asked to rate their mood afterward.

It was found that while participants played with and walked the dog, alpha-band oscillations in the brain increased in strength, which suggests a relaxed and wakeful state among participants. When participants were massaging, grooming, or playing with the dog, beta-band oscillation strength increased, which was more indicative of heightened concentration, though without stress. This suggests that when playing with the dog, both relaxation and concentration were boosted. The mood assessment showed that the participants recorded significantly lower levels of fatigue, depression, and stress after all of the different types of interactions with the dog.

With not only popular culture embracing time with dogs as potentially playing a role in the fight against ever-increasing stress, anxiety, and depression, but also the medical, psychiatric and gerontology fields taking dogs seriously for their potential role in well-being, it is imperative that we learn more about what emotional and cognitive effects dogs can have, and why. This research helps start the conversation about what types of activities might be more correlated with what types of brain effects, and it could potentially help target different types of interventions for people suffering from different types of psychological woes.

It's important to note, of course, that this study was relatively small. Also, people volunteering to be in a study that involves spending time with dogs might represent something of a skewed sample, as they themselves — if they seek out time with dogs more frequently or with more enthusiasm than the average person — might be prone to receiving more of the benefit of time with dogs, which could be a potential confound. Perhaps further research can elucidate whether these effects still stand across a more general and diverse population, including people with different levels of experience with animals and different levels of liking of dogs. Nonetheless, this study provides a positive sign that the widespread beliefs of the potential positive psychological effects of our canine companions can indeed be backed up by the data.

By Andrea Bonior Ph.D.
Psychology Today © 2024 Sussex Publishers, LLC



Psychology Today

15/05/2024

"A DOG is NOT 'almost human', and I know of no greater insult to the canine race than to describe it as such". - John Holmes, Author.

A dog is first and formost an ANIMAL. Then type of animal - dog. Then type of dog - the breed. After that it is your pet. Not a fur kid or any other anthropomorphic term. - Janene Branc, Dog Trainer, Dogology.

14/05/2024

"Don't say Hello
To a dog
Wearing Yellow”

The Yellow Ribbon Project.

Please give the animal wearing yellow space. This allows people whose dog needs space the opportunity to take their dog outside in the neighbourhood and have people know to give them space.

Around the year 2000, Australian dog trainers recognised the need to protect dogs that needed a little more space. These clever trainers used yellow ribbons or bandannas to indicate that a dog needs space. The Yellow Dog Ribbon Campaign was born and is now worldwide with 19 countries currently implementing the project in their communities.

Why do some dogs need more space?
An older dog may be in pain from arthritis, another may have discomfort following surgery.
Recently adopted dogs may feel scared in new surroundings and need more time to adjust to their new life.
A bitch may be in season.
Some dogs just don’t want other dogs in their personal space.
Some dogs that have been attacked just don’t want another dog in their face.
An over-excitable dog may need more space while being trained.

If you need help, contact Dogology.

13/05/2024

Remember, it is the Dogs' walk. Be aware of their environment, let them enjoy it!
Put your phone on silent and in your pocket! Engage, communicate and be mindful with your dog!



www.Dogology.com.au