FURRY FRIENDS INN & DOG DAY CARE

02/19/2024

"Oh they just want to play."❗ ..... its not enough.

Just because dogs may look like they want to interact doesn't mean they should.
They have just met....and that's the important point here.
They have JUST met.
🔵Does this dog listen to the owner/guardian/handler. People often forget that is a really important consideration because if this handler has no control, that needs to be weighed up. They won't have control if anything happens, and you may not either.
🔵Observe the dog and handler before you decide. Observations are really important and easily forgotten when dogs just want to interact. Forget the words the handler is saying and watch the interactions....they speak volumes.
🔵Is it worth the risk ? The risk is very real (and many people may automatically think of injuries or fights) but reactiveness is a very common occurrence after just one bad interaction with another dog.
🔵Is the other dogs playstyle similar to yours, are they calmer, hyper or are they well matched. Matching styles is an important part of healthy play. This doesn't mean that differing styles won't work but if one of the dogs is hyper...they will just dive into play rather than wait on some social cues given. If they don't wait on them initially, they are unlikely to stop play when disengagement signals are given either....no one appreciates a pushy dog.
🔵Are these really signals to play or do they just have maladaptive ways to greet others ? Many dogs will dig in, straining on the lead, desperately wanting to get close to meet another dog...then stiffen when they manage to get close, that stiffening can be taken badly by the other dog.

The most important point of all....dogs do not need to interact with other dogs they have just met.

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02/16/2024

1.....2...3...Separate.
If you watch dogs you will see this can be a normal pattern of behaviour that many dogs display when they naturally encounter others and we can mimic this.
You may have even experienced meetings which suddenly turned about 5 seconds after they met, one dog suddenly got snappy. They may have hung around too long and social cues may have been ignored.
The 3 second "rule" is a good way to help dogs that struggle with reading other dogs.
However, this is NOT for dogs that are hyper excited and are "digging" in to meet others....this likely won't help.
🔵If you have a puppy/dog that is calmer and perhaps unsure, this can help.
🔵Choose your dogs wisely for this and watch the body language of BOTH dogs.
🔵Just because 3 seconds is mentioned....if you see an issue before 3 seconds, advocate and remove your dog.
🔵You can do this on a lead BUT remove the tension on the lead, Tension creates tension.
🔵You can repeat this if signals are good after the first meeting. Some dogs will need 4 - 5 micro meetings over a few minutes to be comfortable.
🔵Don't even attempt if either dog is giving a very clear "No"
🔵Dogs do NOT need to meet every other dog they encounter and encouraging that can be dangerous as you know nothing about the other dog....be choosy with this.
✅If your dog doesn't want to engage with any dog, that is just fine. Every dogs sociability is fluid and many do not enjoy the company of other dogs, and even when they do, they can be very choosy.
If you haven't tried this give this a go.... with a well thought out calmer dog to help your puppy or dog that may be struggling.

🙂Unmarked graphics are available for $ 1.20 USD or $ 2 NZD each (approx), these are then able to be used off Facebook for client handouts, posters etc. Please visit ABC Dogs Patreon Shop for our collection of graphics.
Everyone is free to share these posts on social media, however off social media use is protected.
Screen shots are a violation of copyright.
Please respect that these graphics take time and effort to make . All graphics belong to ABC Dogs NZ and are under copyright.

02/15/2024

There are many things we put in place for dogs that seem to have no off switch.
You cannot exercise these dogs enough.
You "need" to walk them huge distances as their physical exhaustion is the only sign they have had enough....It will be exactly the same day after day.
These dogs are also incredibly hard to walk, pulling hard and you are often dragged behind.
They jump, spin, bark, react and won't stop....so they are walked harder and faster.
All that does is build more stamina.
Physically exhausting a dog does not mean you have a calm dog that is now able to show emotional self control.....they are just physically exhausted.
There is a very big difference between the two.

You probably throw that ball again and again for them and they are truly ball obsessed.
That ball just cannot be thrown enough for them....they will only stop when physically they just cannot continue.
One thing is very clear with many of these dogs...they don't have opportunities to use their brain or their nose to scent.
They have often forgotten how to use their nose as their world is all about movement and pace.

Why do we talk about enrichment so much ?
Because it works...if you give this a few weeks, it works.
Start limiting their exercise and ball play and add in ways to challenge them.

Stop thinking about time as a measure of a good walk and start thinking quality.
Let them sniff and smell...take them to places where that incredible nose will find interesting scents and watch the changes over time.
You have to start smaller when encouraging nose work and feel free to start encouraging with some tasty treats.
Many will just stare back at you when you start scent work and they need encouraged. Scatter their meals on the lawn to eat....over a few days scatter it everywhere on the lawn.
They will find it.

If you add enrichment and nose work in a few times a day (and vary it)....Watch what happens over a few short weeks...you will have a calmer dog, a dog that doesn't need enormous amounts of exercise to "tire" them out.
Start thinking about the time you walk them and start using a large portion of that time to use that incredible brain and nose.
Smelling and using their brain tires them out and more importantly enriches their lives.

🙂Unmarked graphics are available for $ 1.20 USD or $ 2 NZD each (approx), these are then able to be used off Facebook for client handouts, posters etc. Please visit ABC Dogs Patreon Shop for our collection of graphics.
Everyone is free to share these posts on social media, however off social media use is protected.
Screen shots are a violation of copyright.
Please respect that these graphics take time and effort to make . All graphics belong to ABC Dogs NZ and are under copyright.

02/15/2024

02/14/2024

02/10/2024

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02/09/2024

More adventures with Jax’s

02/08/2024

Practicing recall in the sun.

02/08/2024

Jax’s says yes to snacks instead of panic attacks!!

02/07/2024

Snow banks kept everyone busy today

02/06/2024

The road is not plowed but is passable with an suv or truck. Call or message me if you don’t want to drive up the hill

02/04/2024

What a weekend!!!

02/04/2024

This is most definitely one of the most important parts of training your dog.✅✅✅
I know many of you just want your dog to listen when they are at the beach and you call them.....but if they barely listen to you in your own home, there is no way they will listen to you elsewhere.
It doesn't just magically happen. There are no short cuts (no matter what 1 minute "fix" on social media says).

If your dog doesn't listen to you elsewhere, go back a few steps with training...really solidify exactly what you want in your own home, then your yard, then on your local walk.....gradually increasing those distractions helps everyone....including yourself.

You start to see momentum, and momentum is so important with training for both yourself and your dog.
Momentum builds confidence, for both of you..

🙂Unmarked graphics are available for $ 1.20 USD or $ 2 NZD each (approx), these are then able to be used off Facebook for client handouts, posters etc. Please visit ABC Dogs Patreon Shop for our collection of graphics.
Everyone is free to share these posts on social media, however off social media use is protected.
Screen shots are a violation of copyright.
Please respect that these graphics take time and effort to make . All graphics belong to ABC Dogs NZ and are under copyright.

02/01/2024

02/01/2024

Didn’t get pictures of everyone today. I will make sure I do next Wednesday

01/30/2024

Crafting Canine Comfort: A No-Sew Dog Sweater Tutorial
see full instructions in first (c.o.m.m.e.n.t)

01/29/2024

We love the SNOW!!! It was fun to get away but I missed my gang and I think they missed me too.

Starting this Wednesday I will have time for off the farm dog walking and private training.
If there is enough interest I could possibly add another day a week. Minimum of 4 weeks to sign up for.

Send me a message for more details.

01/29/2024

Weekenders having a good time.