Pawsitive Pawrents

01/18/2025

It's that time again! You can vote everyday!

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01/18/2025

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01/09/2025

*** Rewarding the wrong behavior? ***

On a dog group I belong to, a question was asked about throwing food to a dog displaying aggressive behavior. This is still a controversial topic in the dog world, but for me personally, the jury is in and has been for over a decade. I have no question. But the two lines of thought are “you don’t want reward bad behavior. You’ll only encourage the dog to it more” the competing line of thought is, “we want to change how the dog feels about the situation by associating it with good things.”

I’m on the toss food team. Because it works. I can toss the competing theory aside.

I’ve run the experiment 100’s of times and I’ve never accidentally increased the behavior. It just doesn’t happen if you do it right.

Here is what I wrote in that group:

This is one of my favorite topics.

Let me start by saying I throw a lot of food to dogs who are engaging in threatening behavior towards me or towards others. I do it nearly every day. And it almost always reduces the behavior pretty quickly. But it has to be done right.

There’s no such thing as a toddler who lives with a dog and eats alone. The minute that kid is in the high chair he’s the dog’s best friend. Why? Because he leaks food at random intervals without asking anything from the dog in return. There is no pressure on the dog to “earn”. There is just an opportunity to get good things. The dog’s seeking system is activated creating curiosity which is the natural antidote to fear. The dog is less frightened and more curious.

I apply the same principle with dog displaying threatening behaviors all the time because it works so often.

It’s important to understand, I’m not trying to change the dog’s behavior. I’m trying to change how he feels. If I change how he feels, his behavior will change because his goals will change.

This is why people push back. “I don’t want to reward the wrong behavior.” I get it. I used to make the same argument. Dog trainers are taught to think in terms of reinforcement and punishment. And in that framework the only conclusion you can draw is that you must be reinforcing the unwanted behavior.

But here’s the deal. I’m not rewarding anything.

I’m creating curiosity and disrupting a pattern that has already been learned and reinforced to the point of habit.

To the dog’s mind, stranger = fear and conflict. I want to change that to stranger = free food. Free food. No pressure to perform, no need to dig deep and do something I don’t want to do. Just random free food. What’s not to like?

Once the dog is actively seeking the food, that’s when you make the food conditional.

A lot of people won’t try it because it doesn’t make sense to them.

Just remember, there’s two types of people who are going to tell you you can’t do something. Those who never tried, and those who didn’t succeed. Either way those people don’t know how to do the thing.

I’ve been succeeding with this approach for a very long time. It works. It’s my go to for most aggressive behaviors.

Give it a try. I think you’ll see how valuable it is.

-Chad Mackin

12/27/2024

Fun in the snow!

12/12/2024

🎄🐾 **Ho Ho HOWLiday Special! 🐾🎄

This Christmas, give the gift of a well-behaved best friend! 🎁 Whether your pup pulls on the leash, jumps on guests, or just needs a little extra help to be their best self, our **holiday sale** is here to make your season brighter!

🎅 **Special Offers:**
✨ **10% Off** All Training Packages
🌟**20% off ** All Board and Trains
✨ Free Consultation with every new booking
✨ Gift Certificates Available – Perfect for the dog lover in your life!

🎄**Our Services:**
🐾 Basic Obedience
🐾 Leash Walking
🐾 Reactivity & Aggression
🐾 Puppy Foundations

📅 Hurry – Sale ends December 31st!

🎁 **Book Now** to secure your spot before the new year rush! Click below or message us to schedule your free consultation.

Let’s make this Christmas merry, calm, and PAW-sitive for you and your furry friend! 🐶❤️

12/03/2024

🎄✨ **Holiday Cheer for You and Your Pup!** 🎁🐾

The season of giving is here, and we're bringing the joy to you and your furry friends! 🌟

🎅 **🎉 Holiday Sale Alert! 🎉** 🎅
From now until **December 31st**, enjoy:
🦴 **10%** on all training packages!
🐕‍🦺 **Special holiday-themed classes** to keep your pup's behaviour merry and bright!
🎁 **Bonus goodies** with every booking—because your dog deserves something extra special under the tree!

Whether your dog needs help with basic manners, leash skills, or calming the chaos before holiday guests arrive, I’m here to make the season stress-free and fun for everyone.

⏰ Don't wait—spots are filling up fast! Let's make this holiday season paws-itively amazing.

📲 Send me a message or visit www.pawsitivepawrents.ca to grab your deal today!

Happy Holidays from my family (and pack 🐶) to yours! ❤️🎄

11/12/2024

Thrilled to announce that I've been awarded a scholarship to pursue another incredible mentorship—this time with the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC)! Can't wait to dive deeper into learning and bring new insights to my training journey!

10/06/2024

Meet My new Board and Train

He's a Cairn terrier who's just too much for his owners!

We're going to teach him to not chase everything and walk lovely on leash!

09/19/2024

that time of year again!

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09/11/2024

Understanding Dog-on-Dog Correction: Why and When It’s Necessary

Dog-on-dog correction is a natural part of canine communication. Dogs, like many animals, use corrections to establish boundaries, teach manners, and maintain social order within their group. While some dog owners may find these corrections alarming, they can be essential in helping dogs learn appropriate behaviour. However, it is important to know when and why dog-on-dog corrections are appropriate, and when they might be a cause for concern.

Why Dog-on-Dog Corrections Occur

1. **Social Learning**:
In a household, older or more experienced dogs often teach younger or more inexperienced dogs how to behave. This can include setting limits on rough play, warning against stealing food, or preventing overly excited behaviour. These corrections help dogs learn important social cues that are essential for peaceful coexistence.

2. **Establishing Boundaries**:
Dogs, much like humans, need personal space. If one dog is being overly pushy, such as getting too close during rest or being too persistent in play, a correction may occur to signal that a boundary has been crossed.

3. **Resource Guarding**:
Dogs may issue corrections when protecting resources, such as toys, food, or even attention from humans. A mild growl or snap serves as a warning to back off without escalating into a full-blown fight.

4. **Preventing Escalation**:
Corrections are often used by dogs to de-escalate a situation before it gets out of hand. If one dog becomes too excited or aggressive, a quick correction can bring balance back to the interaction.

When Are Corrections Necessary?

1. **During Play**:
Puppies, in particular, need corrections to learn the limits of acceptable play. If a puppy is biting too hard or playing too roughly, an older dog may give a quick nip or growl to indicate that the behaviour is not okay. These types of corrections are essential in teaching young dogs to control their bite strength and respect others' space.

2. **To Manage Over-Excitement**:
If one dog becomes too over-stimulated, another dog may correct them by barking, growling, or briefly pinning them down. This is a way for the calmer dog to remind the excitable one to maintain control. These corrections often happen without injury and are brief in duration.

3. **To Protect Vulnerable Dogs**:
In a multi-dog household, more balanced or older dogs may step in to correct younger, overly assertive dogs who are bothering older, injured, or more timid dogs. This correction helps maintain harmony and protects the more vulnerable members of the group.

When Corrections Are Not Appropriate

1. **Aggressive or Harmful Behaviour**:
Not all corrections are healthy. If a dog is using excessive force, such as biting with the intent to harm or pinning another dog for a prolonged period, this is not a healthy correction but rather aggression. These situations require immediate intervention and possibly professional training.

2. **Frequent Corrections**:
If one dog is constantly correcting another, it may indicate a larger issue such as underlying anxiety, frustration, or resource guarding that is out of control. In this case, the dogs’ interactions should be closely monitored, and professional guidance may be needed.

3. **Age or Health Differences**:
If a correction occurs between two dogs where one is significantly older, sick, or frail, it may be dangerous. Dogs with physical limitations might not be able to defend themselves properly, leading to potential injuries.

How to Handle Dog-on-Dog Corrections

1. **Observe First**:
If the correction is brief and both dogs return to normal behaviour afterward, there’s usually no need for concern. Dogs are excellent at reading each other's body language and often resolve conflicts quickly on their own.

2. **Intervene if Necessary**:
If a correction seems to be escalating or if one dog is not backing down after the other has shown fear, it’s time to step in. Use calm energy to separate the dogs, and give them time to cool off before reintroducing them.

3. **Promote Positive Interactions**:
Encourage positive play and interaction between dogs. Reward calm and friendly behaviour, and provide plenty of mental and physical stimulation to prevent frustration that could lead to excessive corrections.

4. **Seek Professional Help**:
If you’re concerned that your dog’s corrections are too harsh or frequent, or if you notice signs of aggression, it may be time to consult a professional dog trainer or behaviourist. They can help assess the situation and provide guidance on how to ensure healthy interactions between your dogs.

Conclusion

Dog-on-dog corrections are a normal and important part of how dogs communicate. These corrections help teach social boundaries and prevent conflicts from escalating. However, understanding when a correction is necessary versus when it’s a sign of a deeper issue is crucial. By observing your dogs closely and intervening when needed, you can ensure a balanced, harmonious relationship between your pets.

09/04/2024

08/25/2024

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08/15/2024

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