Bogi's Dog Walking

12/25/2024

The things I hear over and over again from dog professionals is that they feel like imposters because their dogs are not well behaved.

My dogs are not perfectly behaved.

I don't expect them to be.

I don't have many rules.

I can write merrily through the sound of 4 dogs barking.

I can converse with no attention on the barking dog in my other ear.

I can eat my dinner with my dog on my lap, in fact she's on it while I'm writing this.

One of the things that less than ethical dog trainers say is that a dog trainer's dog should be perfect.

Why should they be.

I would trust someone to look after my dogs so much more if their own dogs had a spark of life, shared their opinions and were not censored.

Dogs deserve a voice.

And they deserve to be dogs.

Because first and foremost that is exactly who they are.

12/22/2024

12/17/2024

🎤⬇️ BUT....the really tricky thing with this is we can also reward what we do NOT want and that can start a whole new issue.
Timing is key.
Is there another behaviour being shown when you reward ❓If a dog jumps to get a reward, have you inadvertently rewarded using paws on you?
If there is barking, have you accidently begun to reward that ? Even with touch?
Every dogs reward system is different, many dogs will enjoy food while others really do have their own currency, such as a toy or praise.
This educational handout is available abcdogsnz.com

12/16/2024

So very true...❤️🐾

Adopt: https://www.lovedatlastdogrescue.ca/adopting/meet-our-dogs/

12/07/2024

I'm tired of being told that my repulsion for punitive and aversive training is a lack of knowledge or skills. I'm tired of being told that my 7 years of studying, qualifications and experience working with dogs couldn't possibly stand up to the Facebook expert.
I'm tired of being told that force free training is limited and that it only works with some breeds. I'm tired of seeing friends and fellow force free trainers being accused of abuse because they refuse to defend those that would abuse dogs in the name of training.

I choose not to use aversives because I know how they work and their purpose. There is no magic or skill involved, it is designed to be unpleasant and its purpose is to intimidate, control and suppress. I choose to avoid punitive training because of my education and experience. Countless studies demonstrate the harm that aversives inflict and how they impact learning and welfare. Force free training is being used worldwide with a variety of species. If it works with gorillas, tigers and crocodiles, it works with any dog breed.
We will not empathise with abusive dog trainers because we do not want to give them a platform, whereby they can destroy even more dogs. We have plenty to learn from qualified trainers that do not compromise training ethics.

Qualified dog trainers shouldn't have to compete with trainers that only care about tik tok videos and forced compliance. Every force free trainer could use aversives with the same outcome. We choose not to because we understand the consequences and prioritise welfare and long-term results over followers and profit.

-Holly Leake

Please feel free to share but do not copy and paste without credit. See less

12/03/2024

❌AT CHRISTMAS YOUR DOG DOESN’T HAVE TO:

🧑‍🎄 Visit Santa at the garden centre

🎄 Be around your visitors

🎅🏽 Go to other peoples houses

🎄 Go to see the Christmas lights switch on

🍺 Go to the busy pub on Christmas Eve

If they are anxious or get worried about people, dogs or busy places or if they just don’t like doing these things. It’s not a fault if they don’t like doing these things, many dogs don’t enjoy ‘human activities’ like this (some do, I have one that loves all of it and two that would be 🫤 ).

✅ Instead they may prefer to:

🚪 Be in their safe space (see upcoming post on this), a quiet room they like being in with a dog gate on the doorway when you have a house full of people who may scare them

🐕 Have an extra trip to a freedom field on Christmas morning and some extra enrichment at home while you go and visit family for a few hours if they’d find it stressful to come with you

🐶 A meet up with a dog or human friend at a place they like rather than a trip to the heaving pub on Christmas Eve

🦴 A trip to a dog enrichment centre or a 121 in an activity they love (scent work, mantrailing etc) rather than an outing to see the Christmas lights switched on

🍖 Some dog safe Christmas biscuits you’ve made them rather than dressing up in a dog Santa outfit

Loads of these Christmas ‘traditions’ that we enjoy are not enjoyed by our dogs, especially if they are anxious or more sensitive. Even the most robust dog may tolerate these activities rather than love them.

Please be mindful of your dogs wants and needs and don’t put them into situations they find stressful just because we want them to be part of Christmas. It’s your Christmas, not your dogs, they really won’t mind not being included in everything you do ❤️

Laura McAuliffe Dog Communication 2024

11/29/2024

Enrichment...just a buzz word or does it really help dogs behaviour ?
One of the MOST important skills you can teach is find.
It relaxes✅
It calms 💤
It helps overarousal and over excitement💥
If you are unsure where to start with find there is a video in the comments that goes over how to introduce your dog to this easy skill that enriches, soothes and engages their brain....win, win, win !
Graphics available abcdogsnz.com

11/26/2024

Apologies, bit of a rant.😑💥and this will be a bit graphic.
Yesterday I was watching a post implode with bullying and misinformation...the issue?
Someone decided to muzzle train their dog.
Would these commentators rather see a dog eat away at their own flesh?
Perhaps they don't want dogs to heal from injury quickly and with less infection?
Maybe they would rather see a beautifully trained dog die from incessantly eating rocks?
Would they rather be bit by a dog that doesn't wear a muzzle?

Way too much discrimination and misinformation about muzzles out there.
So to the "I would never be so cruel", "how could you"....and the "I hope he bites you" commentators on this persons post....a well fitted and CONDITIONED muzzle shows a responsible guardian/owner/handler, it means this is a well thought out decision taken by a truly responsible person.

They take their responsibility and their commitment to ensuring everyone's health and safety seriously.....because if they didn't it really can be life or death for some.

Muzzles are used by the MOST responsible people.
End of rant.

Graphics available abcdogsnz.com

11/23/2024

ARE YOU MANAGING?
Are you managing your dog’s environment to prevent or improve unwanted behaviour?

As people, we tend to prefer and look for the more complicated solutions to problems. This tendency is termed “complexity bias” - the tendency to prefer complicated explanations and solutions instead of looking for the simpler ones.

Surely a complicated, time consuming, detailed solution has to be more effective, superior, impressive, or correct?

Complexity bias is so relevant when it comes to changing a dog’s unwanted behaviour. We often get so stuck on trying to modify behaviour through counter conditioning, desensitization or detailed training plans when sometimes the simplest solution to the problem lies in simply managing the environment.

Dogs will do what dogs do – when an opportunity arises to help themselves to food left on a table, to bark at the gate at anyone passing by, to have a drink from that big water bowl at the perfect height, that we call a toilet, to running off with irresistibly smelly dirty underwear, to rummaging through bins in search of anything that may or may not be edible, to running out an opened door in search of adventure - the list is long - dogs will be dogs.

Parents of little children use management all the time without giving it much thought. Baby locks on cupboards, covers on electrical sockets, valuable or dangerous items put far out of reach, fences and locks around pools, etc.

We wouldn’t just train a toddler not to stick their fingers in an electrical socket, not to open cupboards, not to touch a hot plate – it’s far safer, simpler and logical to first manage the environment, to prevent potential incidents.

The same principle should apply to managing a dog’s environment to prevent unwanted behaviour.

The more a behaviour is practiced the more difficult it is to prevent. The more a behaviour is rehearsed the better dogs become at it.

Preventing the behaviour from happening in the first place by using management is the logical, simple and effective way to address it.

Be a good manager – it’s far less stressful, for both us and our dogs.

11/22/2024

Yes!

11/09/2024

Bark!: The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog

11/07/2024

Puppies need to be gently guided into making good decisions, allowed to investigate their environments, and given reinforcement for the good behaviors they offer.

10/23/2024

Over excited, "hyper" dogs.
No amount of exercise seems to be enough for these dogs. ‼️
You just can not "tire" these dogs out without increasing amounts of exercise and even then it is often not enough.
So what do you actually do to help stop this cycle❓
What if I told you the secret to TRULY help most of these dogs is gradually decreasing exercise while increasing enrichment.
Too good to be true ❓.. or are we tapping into what these dogs actually need to lower that extreme energy.

Where on earth do you start this?
If you haven't tried enrichment using their nose and really don't know where to start...the video in the comments have instructions which are really easy to follow and implement today.
There is a reason this is the most popular video on our new channel✅

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10/06/2024

PLEASE SHARE FAR AND WIDE, DO YOU KNOW US?!

These pups (both female) were found near 256th Street and Dewdney Trunk Road. They were brought to us late yesterday. They do not have any identification on them. They are safe at the Maple Ridge BC SPCA. If you know these dogs, or any information about them, please call the shelter at 604-463-9511. If you don’t get through, please leave a voicemail and we will call you back. ID 19+ and proof of ownership is required to redeem.

10/06/2024

The muzzle you choose depends on your dog’s facial structure, their specific needs and the situation in which it'll be used.
💡 Here is a cheat sheet with tips and info on muzzles.

To learn more about the different types of muzzles, their benefits, and all the details visit the BC SPCA AnimalKind website: https://animalkind.ca/muzzles/