Tails About Town

11/30/2024

Understanding the ethology of dogs offers a glimpse into the world through their eyes. Knowing this, there is no need or place for aversive tools such as prong collars, choke chains or shock collars.

Science has proven over and over again there is no need for these obsolete tools that are designed to cause pain. If it wasn’t painful, it wouldn’t work, period.

Not only is it immoral to hurt your dog while training, it’s extremely unethical and dangerous to your relationship.

Think deeply before you decide to go the route of using aversive tools and techniques to train your dog.

We have come a long way from using shock treatment in humans and dogs. Shock therapy was used for hyper children 50 years ago. Today, a hyper child is labeled with ADHD. Imagine all these children being treated with shock today. It would never happen. However, shocking dogs is still being used in dog training, despite all the science debunking it.

When we know better we can do better.

This page is about positive reinforcement and there is no debate on the use of shock collars so refrain from debating it.

06/15/2024

Happy 3rd birthday 🥳 Maisy Mae!! You bring us lots of laughs, joy & love 💕 Thanks for being our “little red dog”. We love 💗 you so much 😘

01/16/2024

Cold Weather Guidance for Your Dog:

11/22/2023

As we get into the holiday season, let's remember that consent is a huge issue for dogs. For example, while you may know and trust your human framily and want to be close to them, your dog's boundaries may be different and they need your help. Your dog may need space and time to get acquainted or may not want to be there at all.

Dogs and people can learn to navigate consent in both directions:

- Entering a dog’s space bubble (including touch, sound, with body or devices.)

- Dog entering someone else’s space bubble (including touch, sound, etc.)

Dogs often enjoy touch and invite us to enter their space bubble for play or affection. Different dogs have a different bubble, ranging from -1 meter (“I want to crawl inside your belly and be your baby”) to hundreds of meters away (“All humans terrify me, please go away!”). The size of the space bubble is contextual, meaning that it changes based on the situation.

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You can learn more about consent in my webinar, "Don't Just Grab the Pussycat" - school.grishastewart.com/courses/consent

As always, this webinar is included with a Diamond membership.

For Accessibility:

Image: cat rubbing top of head into the face of a Golden Retriever, who is lying down.

Text: "Consent is not a one-and-done. It’s an active flow of permission back and forth." - Grisha Stewart

11/11/2023

Thank you to all - human and animals for your efforts and lives. On this Remembrance Day and always we owe you our freedoms.

10/19/2023

07/29/2023

If your dog is off their lead, they shouldn't go near on-lead dogs unsupervised.

It's important to always give them the space they need 💚

06/08/2023

Love ❤️ this!! We need to work on changing our language when we talk about dog training!

04/26/2023

Its ok to say NO..... In fact I encourage it. (One year since last posted).

If someone wants to pat your dog but you are unsure...and more importantly your dog is unsure...., be your dogs advocate and just say "No sorry".

Too many people think they have the right to pat every dog they see, especially little dogs. This can cause dog guardians/owners/parents to feel feel pressure to allow patting.
This can also put enormous pressure on dogs to comply when they feel deeply uncomfortable.

Your dog needs to trust that you will make good decisions with ALL interactions they have with others, and if there is a negative experience... it can affect your dog for a long time.

If your dog is just learning socialisation skills or is in training, its ok to say no to anyone wanting to pat your dog. In fact at any time, you can just say "No sorry" you don't have to explain further.

Dogs are not on this world to comply with another's desire to touch them.....and I know smaller dogs and puppies are unequally represented in these requests.

Dogs need repeated positive interactions to build up their confidence and learn how to interact appropriately and they mostly learn this from you.

Control the interactions your dog has with others while its learning. Set your dog up for success by controlling situations they have with others.

This photo shows an extremely uncomfortable dog.... and forcing dogs into uncomfortable situations while socialising can have the exact opposite effect to what you want to achieve.

Advocate.
Say no.... and your dog will learn to trust your decisions more and more.

04/01/2023

Flea season is coming. Try this all-natural repellent to keep fleas (as well as ticks, mosquitoes and other pests) at bay! 👍🐕

For more tips to protect your pet from pests, visit our new website: http://bit.ly/3TBP2kC

03/14/2023

Dogs who wear muzzles are good dogs. Dogs who aren’t dog friendly are good dogs. Dogs who are leash reactive are good dogs. Dogs who need space are good dogs. Dogs who are scared of strangers are good dogs.

If you see someone clearly making steps to avoid you or your dog while you are out walking, please respect them.

If someone lets you know that their dog needs space or isn’t dog friendly, please respect them.

If you see someone clip their dog on lead when you approach, clip yours on too and give them space.

Some dogs don't want to interact with other dogs or people and that's fine. I'm sure you don't want to interact with everyone you see either! They still deserve to have a great quality of life and go everywhere yours gets to go as long as they are taking the right precautions.

Having a dog that needs space is a challenge all of its own, but we are doing our best to advocate for them to insure they live the best lives we can give them. Training can't happen at all unless we take these dogs into public places. To everyone with friendly dogs, please don’t be offended and please don't judge. A nervous dog can happen to anyone at anytime. Instead of playing the blame game, let's all try make that dog's life more comfortable and its owners life much easier by being understanding 🖤
Picture credit : whole dog journal.
- hope, the rescued street dog ❤️🐾

🌟For help with barking/ lunging or aggression towards other people or dogs on walks our online or in person reactivity course is available on our website.

Want to take part in a dog sport with your reactive dog? Come join us at mantrailing!

🖥️ www katiescanines.co.uk

02/15/2023

Fear.....Completely individual, complex and what your dog is afraid of needs to be noted (even if we do not understand it, it seems irrational...or if they are afraid of something we view as harmless).

I have seen people laugh when dogs are afraid of something that we view as "innocent"....it is not innocent to your dog.
Sometimes the objects dogs are afraid of are shown again in front of others...almost like party trick to make their dog have the same reaction.

Social media is full of these videos too.

New objects or situations can make some dogs extremely nervous and afraid, and it makes no difference whether we understand it....we need to respect it.

This graphic is about the 4 F's and the first F covers a lot and is a bit more in depth than what is shown on the graphic....dogs may disengage, fiddle, "faff" about, fidget or show behaviours to self sooth.
There is a lot of movement in the first F.

The others are more self explanatory.

Many stress signals or calming signals precede or accompany these 4 F's ....even freeze.

Important to note is the fight.....All dogs, of EVERY breed given a unique set of circumstances are capable of fighting.
It doesn't necessarily mean your dog is aggressive....it is simply your dog feels forced into action.

If your dog is fearful.....you need to help.

Repeatedly exposing your dog to fear is never a good idea...and we can do this all the time, and we justify it.

Dogs that need to be groomed are often forced into the car .....you may know they are really afraid of the car but they need to go, so a highly stressed, scared dog is forced into the car......
They will never get over this fear if they are continually forced to confront their fears (or even phobias) again and again.
...it can morph outwards.
The car is in the garage and now suddenly your dog refuses to go near the garage or even near that side of the house.

Fear needs help.
It needs understanding, often unique solutions.....but your dog deserves the time and effort to help them through this.

02/04/2023

🤣🤣🤣

06/13/2022

Always good to remember during the summer months!!

Is It Too Hot for a Walk? ☀️🐕

Heat rising from asphalt, concrete and brick not only hurts your pet’s paws — it also puts them at risk of overheating. So before going outside for a walk, follow this simple tip. 👍



For more tips to keep your pet safe during the heat, read today’s free article: https://bit.ly/3zCbnqa