Full Pawtential Dog Training

07/06/2024

Today we say see you later to Brook. She is heading home to Toronto with her family.

06/05/2024

My lunch dates.

06/04/2024

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

Here are some links for enrichment ideas -
Enrichment ideas by Laura Gendron
https://missbehaviortraining.com/blog/diyenrichment

DIY boredom busting toys by Luke Balsam
https://wunderdogmagazine.com/care/awesome-diy-dog-toys-our-dog-trainer-made-some-boredom-busting-toys-and-you-can-too/

Link to a free introduction on ACE free work by Sarah Fisher -
https://animalcentrededucation.teachable.com/p/watch-this-space

05/27/2024

This is something I do for my dogs and encourage clients to do with their dogs l, especially those who struggle on neighbourhood walks. Great read.

I first heard the term “decompression walk” used by Sarah Stremming on her Cog-Dog Radio podcast. I remember finding myself exclaiming “yes” over and over and over again as I listened to her describe it. Up until that moment, I never considered that what I had been doing with my dog, and wha...

05/15/2024

JUST SHAKE IT OFF
Dogs constantly communicate through their body language.

A “shake off” is one of the many types of body language and is one of the easier ones to notice.

The shake off can provide us with important insights as to how our dogs are feeling.

Besides being a very effective way to get rid of dirt, pesky bugs and water - dogs can remove up to 70% of water in one single shake off - the shake off is often seen just after something that a dog needs a mental reset from.

It’s a way to flush out adrenaline and could be compared to us taking a deep breath to reset our nervous system and calm ourselves down.

Dogs instinctively know they feel better when they just shake it all off!

It’s their way of saying “Phew, I’m glad that’s over, now I can put it behind me and move on”.

Shaking off is a positive way to calm down, reset and cope with stress – be that negative or positive stress.

Sometimes a shake off could be due to an underlying medical reason like an ear infection, allergy, itching or pain.

If you notice a shake off, look at what has just happened beforehand. This will provide a good clue as to what it is that your dog needs to reset from.

05/09/2024

We had an update from Benji's dad. He is doing very well and he is very smart. He is enjoying yacht life in Florida.

05/08/2024

These babies have been under my Strawberry plant for a couple weeks now. I accidently found them while trying to transplant an off shoot. They should be ready to move on soon so I can plant the rest of my garden.

04/17/2024

Thank you to all who voted in the first round. We have made the top 10 in Kitchener and Cambridge. We need you to vote 1 more time and this time you will need to create an account if you don't have one already. Both links are below and thank you so much for your support.

https://kitchenerwaterloo.communityvotes.com/2023/12/pet-and-pet-care/pet-training

https://cambridge.communityvotes.com/2023/12/pet-and-pet-care/pet-training

Official 2024 Community Voting Awards Platform for Kitchener-Waterloo, ON. Where the community votes for their favourites every year.

04/04/2024

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.

03/13/2024

Puppy Adventure Class Start's April 6th.
Small classes of puppy's 6 months and under. Space is limited.

For cost and more information click here.

Canine Adventures for your puppy. Learn to take on the world together and create a confident and resilient dog.

02/14/2024

These two are 2 this month. Only born a few days apart though Louann has only been here a few months.

02/12/2024

We have been selling the perfect fit harness for 5 years now and are so in love with it's design and fit. If you are interested please contact us via www.fullpawtentialdog.com for more information and pricing.

01/29/2024

Welcome Farroh. This little guy is from Egypt and has great concerns with other dogs while on leash. So, today we start his journey to feeling better from a distance.

01/05/2024

How can you support us? Place your vote and leave a review on Facebook or Google. This helps get our name out there so we can help more people improve their relationship with their dogs.

Official 2023 Community Voting Awards Platform for Kitchener-Waterloo, ON. Where the community votes for their favourites every year.

01/02/2024

What a great way to start the new year! An update on 8 month old Louka.

I wanted to share some (happy) updates before the end of the year, hence this little email. I hope you’re doing fine and enjoying some time off (with dogs of course).

First off, Louka is great: great health (50 lbs), amazingly jovial attitude, and really a fun companion to be around inside and outside the house (he totally sleeps on our bed by now). The work you did on him clearly made a difference: fourth dog, but first time we have this kind of relationship. Him being cooperative means we’re more inclined to spend time with him, and we do just that. Plenty of outings either at the dog park or for long walks (sky is the limit: he could walk three hours at 5 months). We run errands, go fetch coffee, etc. Soon, he’ll get on the TTC. He tends to pull a bit more when we’re going to new places (manageable with treats), but on familiar circuits I’m often surprised to have him walk by my side with no tension in the leash. He jumps a bit when we meet folks, but that’s just mean we need to work on it a bit more. “Sit” “down” “leave it” and even “let me see” all work really well. In the coming year we’ll be working on a stronger “stay” and try to introduce a call back (which he doesn’t have at the moment).

The most amazing thing for us was to slowly understand what you hinted at when you told us this would be a “work dog”. We never had a dog so focused on balls. Even with the park full of dogs, I’m able to whistle and he will just locked on me and wait for a ball to fly by, transfixed in the “pointer” position. He’s a bit a legend since he learned to pick up two balls (hence why I always carry three) when he has one, the only way to retrieve it (for now) is to throw another: transaction. So we play like that, some time for a full hour when we have the park to ourselves.

Super friendly with all human beings and dogs alike (he can play rough, but we’re there to monitor: never seen him behaving aggressively toward another dog).

We’re fully aware training is not done (never is: ongoing process) so we always have treats on us, and we’ll keep working on commands.

All of this to say: a huge thank you. No doubt in our mind the two months he spent with you paved the way to the awesome relationship we have now.

Phillippe

12/31/2023

Running out George's energy to help him settle for the evening. How are you creating a happy and quiet dog for your Happy New Years Eve?

12/28/2023

George's playdate with Atlas. Altas and his family are on week 3 of our family dog program. Visit our website to find out more about the family dog program and how it can help your family and your puppy or dog. www.fullpawtentialdog.com

12/27/2023

Welcome George.