Pup in Progress

05/02/2024

Heres something I'm proud of this month! For the past year and a half I have been working on getting my CBATI-KA certification, by completing 100 hours of coursework, practicing BAT with shelter dogs, and finally this month writing the assessment! The assessment consists of a short exam, and an essay detailing how you would use the principles of BAT to deal with a given scenario.
I'm so happy to say that I passed and I now hold the title of Certified Behavior Adjustment Training Instructor -Knowledge Assessed (CBATI-KA)
I'm excited to start using this knowledge to enhance my work as a trainer, and help more clients who may be struggling with reactivity, fear or aggression.

03/26/2024

The point that im trying to make here is that we can achieve so much with a force free methodology and mindset. And to be clear: it is so much more than training! Being force free means not just training with positive reinforcement, but also ruling our health and wellness issues, and improving them! It means using careful counter-conditioning and desensitization to triggers in a low stress manner. It means setting up errorless learning protocols, and minimizing frustration where we can, but also giving our dogs the tools to better self regulate when they do encounter stress and frustration, but be there to support them when they can't. It means adjusting our expectations to be realistic to the needs of the dog, and changing their environment accordingly. Force free means so much more than just training, and because of that, we can achieve SO much with it!

03/24/2024

Hello Edmonton!
It's time to reintroduce myself to a new community after the bog move. My name is Martha and I am an Accredited Dog Trainer through the IAABC. I started training as a teenager when I lucked into having a wonderful trainer move in next door to me and I followed her EVERYWHERE soaking it all in! I've gone on to work in daycares and shelters, and have most recently taken an apprenticeship at an ADI accredited assistance dog school learning to train assistance dog and facility dog teams!

I started out offering basic training for things like loose leash walking and recall, but ended up taking many reactivity cases as there was a huge demand for it in my community at the time. This has led to me doing more continuing education in reactivity and working on my CBATI-KA which I hope to achieve in April. I have a passion for helping dog guardians to understand the emotional needs of their dogs, so that we can find a training solution that works for both of you!

I train by finding the underlying cause of a behavior, and then addressing it by changing the environment, utilizing positive reinforcement techniques, and referring to veterinarians to rule out underlying pain or mental health conditions (yes! Dogs can have those too!). I will never employ pain, fear, force, or compulsion to train your dog.

I am looking forward to connecting with the Edmonton community, and all the wonderful dog guardians here. This next month I will be working towards reopening my business here so that I can start taking clients again.

(Pictured is a longterm client who has been one of my greatest teachers! Photos are by )

10/31/2023

If you know me well, you've probably already heard this news. I love Nova Scotia, I've lived here my whole life, but the truth is, theres not.much here to help me take my career in the direction I want to go. With rising rental prices and little in the animal behavior industry I started looking for jobs in other areas. A few weeks ago I accepted my dream job in Edmonton Alberta.
What does this mean for pup in progress? The truth is: I don't really know yet. For here, I will no longer be taking new clients, given that I'm leaving so soon, it's not fair to take anyone new on when I can't give support well between the logistics of a move and settling into a new province! I'm happy to give referrals to all the other amazing trainers here! Pup in Progress will likely take a break while I settle into life in Edmonton, before it reopens.
Thank you to everyone who has supported me here. I love training, and hopefully with this new job I'll be able to do a whole lot more of it and better!

10/05/2023

Yesterday I had the joy of getting to take Cedar on a nice long hike and we had a blast with joining us with Percy!
It's funny how similar they both are in terms of personality. They both tend to be slower to warm up to strangers, and prefer to be ignored at first. We started with a great neutral greeting, and by the time we were halfway in they had a great little play session!
It's important to remember that oftentimes dogs won't warm up to play right away, and a neutral greeting is still a good greeting!

09/29/2023

One of the skills I end up teaching a LOT is loose leash walking, and it's become one of my favourites! A huge part is environmental setup and wellness prerequisites, but when it comes to training, these are just a few things that can help aid the process along!

09/11/2023

Meet Sadie!
Sadie was recently adopted, and since coming home has displayed some stranger danger to people entering the home, as well as reactivity outside the home.
Last night we worked on giving Sadie's mum the strategies to implement routines for Sadie, and help to change her feelings about other people and dogs.
We learned some pattern games to help with recovery, and found out that scatters are a HUGE win for Sadie in order to manage her reactions when distance can't be achieved.
Sadie has big feelings to change, but with some time we hope to see improvements in her comfort level.

09/04/2023

We often talk about setting your dog up for success, but what does that mean? The reality is there are many factors to consider, and as trainers it our job to help you navigate them. But here are some of the ways you can start to think about giving them the environment they need to succeed in training, and make your sessions go a little more smoothly!

09/04/2023

08/31/2023

This is Patrick! Patrick is learning to conquer the world one porch step at a time. Like many herding breed dogs, Patrick struggles with anxiety about the world, and displays some reactivity as a result. We're working on slowly reintroducing him to his neighborhood, by utilizing pattern games, and allowing him to take breaks in his safe zone when he needs them. A big part of building Patrick's confidence is taking it at his pace, letting him choose when to venture further, and celebrating it when he does.

08/30/2023

When working with dogs it's important to remember that just like people they have bad days! It's normal to see setbacks in training, and it isn't necessarily a reflection on you as a trainer or pet parent. It's important to look at the overall trend vs the individual day. One bad day amidst a week of improvement is just that! If you're seeing an overall trend of moving backwards, it still doesn't mean you're failing. It just means that you need to make some changes to your training plan, and move forward from there.

08/26/2023

One of the ways I help clients with anxious or fearful dogs, is to introduce ways to bring more predictability into their dogs lives. Of course we want to offer them choice and freedom as well, in what they do. Providing predictability isn’t about taking away those choices or freedoms, but about adding in small routines or activities that are the same no matter what. No matter where you are, the up-down pattern game is the same, even when the stimuli are different. This makes the criteria easy to follow, and gives your dog something familiar to focus on. These moments are especially good for managing higher stress situations, and helping your dog recover from stressors. Even though we try to avoid them, eliminating stress altogether is impossible, so it’s important to have strategies to help your dog recover.

08/22/2023

Tongue's out Tuesday 😜

Hi there,
Your friend Copper here! I've been at the shelter for over a month now, waiting for the perfect family to come meet me and take me home.
At first, I can seem like a bit much. I'm an extrovert, what can I say 🤷‍♀️ As an only child, I grew up not sharing my things. It may be silly, but I still say what's mine is mine. Because of this, I am looking for a home with no other animals or children at this time.
Hopefully with some positive training, I can learn to share my stuff in the future ☺️

That being said, I have made some dog friends during my time at the shelter. As long as they aren't asking to borrow my favourite ball, I love to run around with other pups my size in the back yard! 🥰

Did I mention I love to run? 🏃‍♂️ Not to brag, but I would be the best hiking buddy or dog sport contestant. Dangle a treat in front of me and I am sure to have new tricks down pat in no time! 😄

Copper is available for adoption from the Dartmouth SPCA. Please contact us at 468-7877 Option 6 for more information or at http://www.novascotiaspca.ca/contact-us/

You can drop by the shelter anytime during our business hours to meet adoptable dogs. We do not accept online applications at this time.

Our hours of operation can be found here: https://www.novascotiaspca.ca/shelters/dartmouth-shelter/

08/18/2023

Meet Wesley!
Wesley is a rescue who is super smart, and super charming. Wesley's pet parents reached out as he displays reactivity out on their walks, due to his desire to make friends. They also wanted to work on his recall. During our session we talked about how we can make training fun and engaging for Wesley, and how we can build more value in being near his parents. We also talked about finding ways to help make some dog friends for Wesley, so that he still gets those play opportunities in a safe and controlled manner.

08/02/2023

A fun little surprise is coming to halifax dog owners soon!

07/17/2023

Meet Max!
Max is a cattle dog mix who is wary of letting new people into his home. His pet parents are helping him learn a new routine to help him feel safe when people enter the home, and that allows him to introduce himself on his own time! How are we doing this:
1. Conditioning safe space for Max where he can watch and listen to everything going on, without accessing the main commotion, and where he wont be bothered.
2. Letting him communicate when hes ready to come out and meet
3. Instructing visitors on how to interact with Max in ways that are safe and comfortable for him. (And that often means not interacting at all at first!)

It's important that moving forward in the process is up to Max, so that he learns that he has some control of the situations hes in, and as a result, develops more confidence!

06/24/2023

Many credentials in the dog training world require a certain amount of continuing education every year, and there's a reason for this.
Dog training relies heavily on knowledge of animal behavior, a field which, like all science, often sees changes in information as new things are learned. This means that in order to stay current, trainers must continue their education behind their initial learning, to ensure that they are applying the most sound and humane methods.

06/21/2023

Some may have noticed this page has been quiet lately, but I am still around!
Immediately after finishing my semester I returned to full time employment, which has been an adjustment. My job is very physically and emotionally demanding, and often leaves me with little energy left at the end of the day.
Making posts takes time that I just havent had, but I am taking clients!
As I manage to get into a better work life balance I hope to have more content posted again.

05/23/2023

I will be away from May 25th to June 3rd and will not be receiving phone communications. For any questions or queries please email [email protected] which I will be checking periodically.

05/21/2023

I know its been a while since my last post! As my school year ended I've been busy readjusting to fulltime work, as well as taking even more classes on dogs. BUT I'm coming in with the news that I have officially graduated with my BSc, with a major in biology and a minor in anthropology.
While I'm not using this degree right now, it doesnt open opportunities for me to pursue a masters in animal behavior later down the line.
Now that I'm done I'm focusing my efforts on a few things
-pursuing further education and certification
-taking on more cases
-working more consistently with the rescue pups
-joined the Humane Alliance of Rescue Trainers, and will be taking cases for them as well!
Heres to happiness with dogs!

05/05/2023

I am a bit late to the party but encouraging news as e collars are set to be banned in Feburary 2024.

Over the past couple of days I have seen so many different comments so I wanted to dispel a few myths and legends about e collars

***

#1: E-Collars are necessary for predatory chasing and after the ban in Wales sheep attacks by dogs are on the rise

This is an odd one as sheep attacks are on the rise....however....

One news article, a farmer in Buckinghamshire describes the emotional toll dog attacks on sheep are having on him which can be up to a twice weekly occurance and NFU mutual claims dog attacks on sheep are up 50% since the pandemic, claiming the Midlands is the worst hit region for out of control dogs.

Hang on here. Both Buckinghamshire and the Midlands are in England, where e-collars are not banned at time of writing. In fact, the article on NFU mutual does not even mention a place in Wales at all.

The NFU claims lack of owner education and increased pedestrian access to the countryside are to blame for the rise in attacks...e-collars are not mentioned.

In their list of ways to reduce livestock attacks, e-collars are not mentioned.

In fact when I, myself, access the countryside I see pleas to keep dogs on leads. I don't see pleas to go home and strap an e collar on my dog before accessing public footpaths.

Looks like e collars aren't doing a lot to help the overall issue of sheep worrying.

(I also do not want to make this too long but I have personally seen dogs chase animals, screaming through the shock. I have never personally seen that this is an effective method of training dogs to stop chasing animals).

***

#2: Banning e collars will condemn dogs to a life on the lead.

This is always one that hits close to home. Having had a dog with an acquired brain injury who could not learn a reliable recall he was a dog who was apparently condemmed to a life on the lead.

Except he really wasn't. He enjoyed the long line, secure fields, deserted beaches and secure woods. We went on on lead walks and enjoyed the sights and smells of the world.

It required a bit more work prehaps than the dogs I have now, who can just go off lead, but his welfare was not comprimised.

No an e collar wouldn't have helped. The part of the brain that controlled impulse control was irreversibly damaged.

Yet he lived life to the absolute fullest.

Your dogs welfare is not found in the deepest recesses of the woods. Do not confuse your wants and expectations with your dogs needs.

***

#3 Banning e collars will cause dogs to die/Force-free training kills dogs/Behaviourists just kill dogs they can't help.

I don't make it a secret I have had cases that have ended with euthanasia. 6 to be precise in my whole career (2 of mine and 4 cases I advised on as a consultant).

However, I do not make the decision of euthanasia.

That is your decision to make and yours only.

I am not dishonest about situations. We talk about risks and welfare, management stratagies and probability of behavioural modification success. I give my expert opinion to clients and veterinary professionals about management and behaviour modification stratagies available to help the dog, as is my job role.

It is not my job role to make decisions regarding euthanasia or other medical interventions.

Owners elect for euthanasia using the information given to them by a variety of professionals. They do not do this lightly and I have only known the people involved to have the best interest of their dogs at heart.

Every case of behavioural euthanasia I have had, the dogs had a medical issue that caused or influenced the behaviour. In every case the dog either posed a significant risk to the owners and the general public (and I am talking a very significant risk) or the welfare of the dog was so poor and was extremely unlikely to improve and medical intevention had a high risk of failure and worsening welfare.

Stating that an e collar could have saved their dogs, when it could not have done in any way, is nothing short of cruel. E collars cannot shock away brain tumors.

I still burst into tears when I see a certain dog toy because of one of my euthanasia cases. If I could have done anything to save them I would have done it. Behaviourists do not 'just put dogs to sleep' and it is cruel to accuse us of that.

(Also worth noting that in 5 out of the 6 cases that I have personally been involved with, aversives played a role).

***

#4 Deaf dogs need e collars to go off lead.

This is not true at all. It is completely possible to train a deaf dog. You can use sign language, automatic check ins and light and touch signals. There are also people using olfactory cues to train their deaf dogs. There are some amazing trainers in our industry.

***

#5 People who want e collars banned don't understand the tools

Not so. I was a balanced trainer and I have been properly educated on how to use the tools by professional trainers. I have never been comfortable using them myself but I have been around professional trainers using them. This means you absolutely cannot pull the wool over my eyes. I know what goes on behind the scenes.

***

#6 E collars are only used as a last resort for dogs who would otherwise be put to sleep

Truth: E collars are used to train dogs for dog sports. People want their dogs to compete.

E collars are used to build drive and get dogs to 'out'. They are also used in force fetching where the dog is chained to a bench, a dummy is put into their mouth and they are shocked if they drop the dummy. The shock is usually applied until the dog has the dummy in their mouth again.

Just watched a video of a dog dropping the dummy and the collar being pressed over and over again while the dog whimpers and fights against the string holding their paw to the table.

E collars are also used in every day dog training, you know the dog training you do every day without an e collar. Including stay, dog distractions and recall.

Nothing to do with saving lives

***

#7 E collars don't shock, they are like TENS units.

In the instructions for use of a TENS unit it says 'Do not place on the front or the sides of the neck'. This is because the unit can interfere with the laryngeal and pharyngeal muscles and can cause your heart rate to increase exponentially, as the nerves that control your heart rate are in your neck.

It also states you should not use TENS units where consent and communication around pain levels in relation to the TENS levels cannot be given.

***
In order to try and stop this, e collar trainers will try and appeal to emotions. They will claim that dogs are dying and only e collars can save them. That dogs are condemmed to misery unless you shock them repeatedly. These are not true.

Hopefully the law is passed shortly and the ban comes in to place 1st Feburary 2024.

I'm thrilled at the prospect.

I will post links in the comments to the articles.

[A liver and white spaniel stands looking at a herd of brown cows through an open gateway. It is Leah being livestock proofed without an E collar]

04/29/2023

There are many behaviors dog owners see that can be frustrating, but it's important to remember that many of these behaviors are perfectly natural for dogs! It's important that we give them appropriate outlets for these behaviors in order to keep both parties happy!

04/21/2023

Meet Billy! Billy is a 12 year old rescue pup, who has some big feelings about other dogs, and isn't so sure how he feels about having his collar and harness taken off. He has two wonderful pawrents who are super excited to learn how to help him manage his fears! They are learning how to read his body language, and help him have some more positive feelings about other dogs. They're also working on cooperative care with him, so that he can feel more comfortable with his gear!

04/15/2023

Certainly, dogs will learn to avoid things that have frightened or harmed them in the past... But fear itself is not a learned behavior that the animal can choose to “perform” or not—it is a neurobiological and involuntary response.

04/12/2023

Jimmy graduated from puppy class foundations 1 last night! Jimmy and his parents have both been eager to learn over the past few weeks, and have made lots of progress! One of the biggest things with puppy class is giving pet parents the tools to handle anything that pops up themselves, and they did a great job taking all of that in. Way to go guys!

04/06/2023

Dog training is a completely unregulated industry, so it's important for us at The Academy to be fully transparent about where we stand on training methods.

You can read our complete position statement here:https://www.academyfordogtrainers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Methods-Position-Statement-1.pdf