North End Dog

08/20/2023

08/13/2023

this comes up an awful lot in my life both with my own dog who does not enjoy strangers and so many other dogs I meet working in an animal shelter.

This is a repost from a few months ago....... but I know some people will find this very helpful, and we have a lot more followers than we did 3 months ago when this was last posted.
This is just a very general guide to helping nervous dogs to relax around others.
Having strangers in a home (or outside in yard) can be very confronting for nervous dogs. They don't understand why this person has suddenly appeared and the visitor may also be nervous ......which their dog will absolutely pick up on.
The quickest way to get dogs to relax around people is to ignore them.
Eye contact for many nervous dogs is extremely threatening.
I like to use my peripheral vision and may give a small glance or two.
Please note this is for adults...children are a whole different area that requires extra caution.
If you feel in anyway uncomfortable doing this.....stop and walk away. Nervous tension will only work against what is trying to be achieved.
If any aggression has ever been indicated by the guardian/owner please don't attempt this, it is best to seek help.

Body language is key to all of this. There is no rush and it can take many visits for some dogs to feel comfortable.....and if you have a nervous dog and someone doesn't feel comfortable enough to attempt this...respect that....it wouldn't make anyone at ease.

06/25/2023

Greeting a dog you don't know....some very old advice out there.
For me it is a very big NO to crouching down....and the same to outstretched hands.

Please don't approach a dog you do not know with an outstretched hand, it is just plain dangerous.
There is a reason hands are the most bitten parts on a human. They can be viewed as very threatening.

A sniff is not permission from a dog to touch them....on the contrary, many dogs will warily go in and sniff an outstretched hand and will immediately back off if they sense you are suddenly nervous around them, your respiration/heart rate has changed....and they can/will bite that same hand if they feel threatened enough.
It is in very easy reach for them

Controversial for some... but I am so over people being told to crouch down when meeting a dog. Crouching down puts you in a position where you are unable to move quickly, and because you don't know this dog.....you may need to move away very quickly.
For some dogs, crouching does nothing but make many back off and become wary, some others it may work.....but your head, neck, eyes and face will be just inches away from a dog you do not know.

Is it worth the risk ?

Eye contact is a very big no with many dogs, using your peripheral vision allows dogs to feel more comfortable. Direct eye contact can be viewed as a threat.

Listen to advice from the guardian/owner but if everything in your bones is saying "this dog does not want an interaction".....trust your own judgement not someone else......which leads me to an important point.....
A really big myth is that dogs should readily accept being patted by others.....they do NOT have to accept affection given by a stranger.

A dog WILL let you know if they want to interact or accept a pat.
Their body will tell you.
Their demeanor will tell you.

Body language and observing IS the most important part when making a judgement on a dog you are thinking about meeting and patting.

05/10/2023

Behaviours that we often perceive as, or incorrectly label “submissive”, are actually signs of fear. It’s a sign that your dog needs immediate rescue from the trigger and to feel safe. Be the hero your dog deserves. 

Here are some behaviours that often trick us into this label:
🐶 lying down and exposing their belly when they greet people or dogs
🐶 licking the mouth of dogs they meet
🐶 a tucked tail-wag when greeting people or dogs
🐶 avoiding eye contact

When your dog is behaving this way, they're not expressing that they're "ready to conform to the authority or will of others; meekly obedient or passive" - they're showing that they are nervous and not a threat.

[ : white square with red decorative lines and black text that reads: "Behaviours that we often perceive as, or incorrectly label "submissive", are actually signs of fear. It's a sign that your dog needs an immediate rescue from the trigger and to feel safe. Be the hero your dog deserves." And "Caryn Liles The Centre for Canine Education."]
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03/02/2023

All booked up until Mid April! Thanks to all who reached out.
Will be back and available come springtime!

02/07/2023

Perched over park

02/05/2023

The growl is a gift.

Never punish it or try to 'stop' it. Simply listen. Heed the warning and accept this as communication.

When we punish the growl, the dog stops growling and instead will jump from subtle signs of discomfort straight to a bite.
We do not want a silent biter!

Growls are another component of canine communication and are perfectly normal! How else were you expecting them to communicate? Words? 😉

Dogs will growl for a few reasons; play, fear/threat-response, uncertainty, discomfort/pain.

Over time you will learn what each one sounds like, I'm sure, but for now, we must combine the growl with the rest of the body language and that is the easiest way to decipher its meaning.

If a dog is growling with a lowered body and tense ears pulled back, they are feeling fearful and warning that if the threat doesn't go away, they may have no choice but to escalate to a bite. In this moment, it's best to remove the threat and give the dog space.

If a dog is growling with a stiff body and side eye while hovering over an item, they are feeling threatened or worried that their valuable resource (food, toy, "found" object, etc) may be stolen. Do not try to teach your dog a lesson here by removing the resource - instead, speak calmly to reassure your dog and move away, showing them that you are not a thief.

If a dog is growling with a lowered body but is still moving toward the "threat" with curiosity, they are feeling uncertain or apprehensive. Their curiosity is still strong but they're simply a little spooked. Getting closer is not always best as dogs in this state may be easily spooked into fight/flight mode.

If a dog is growling in play, I don't see a problem as long as their body is loose, wiggly, silly, and they have soft eyes. If the game is not as loose and silly and the dog is jazzed up (like when playing tug or fetch, you may not see as much wiggliness or soft eyes - more so excited eyes, and that's okay too. I tend to watch that it doesn't escalate too much, so play for a minute, take a break, play again, take a break. Even a 15 second break is a good reset!

If a dog is growling while being handled, they may not be enjoying the experience at all and are warning you that this is not their jam. "If you keep doing that, I will have no choice but to bite you. Please stop." Stop the handling and work with them to make it a better experience. Find another way to move them rather than forcing them - a food lure or tossing a treat or toy is fine in the interim! If the dog is in pain, this is a conversation for the Veterinarian for sure!

Always assess the rest of the components while the growl is occurring, or if you feel unsafe, give the dog space.

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01/19/2023

Hello Halifax friends! Finally created a fb page for my dog walking pet pro activity. If you are looking for a dog Walker or know someone who is in need of dog care help let me know!