We ❤️ a snuffle box!
Snuffle boxes are a great way to allow your dog to express their natural sniffing and scavenging needs.
Allowing your dog to engage in a wide variety of species-specific behaviors (like sniffing and scavenging) regularly is an essential piece of welfare and behavioural health.
The best part is, it doesn't cost anything to make a snuffle box and you have everything you need already in your house!
✨️ Snuffle Box Instructions ✨️
1. Find a box or container to hold your objects and food. You want it to be shallow enough your dog can comfortably access the food. (In hindsight, I probably would have cut this box down a bit for Hawk).
2. Toss items for your dog to scavenge among in the box - I used smaller boxes, toilet paper tubes, tissue paper, and paper bags. You could use dog toys, rolled up towels, egg cartons - there are no rules!
3. Sprinkle some treats or dog food into the box.
4. Give to your dog and enjoy! They can engage with this however they want - shred stuff, sniff treats out, tip it over - there are no rules as long as your dog is enjoying.
** if your dog has a habit of ingesting items, ensure this is a supervised activity
Let us know if you try out a snuffle box and what your dog thinks!
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😬 Are you stressed that your walks don't look "right?"
😵💫 Worried that you're doing it wrong? You heard dogs are supposed to walk by your side but yours isn't? That yours is sniffing like... too much?
✨️ We are here to reassure you that those rigid expectations about what a "good" walk is are honestly, ass-backward. That pressure you might be putting on yourself based on things you've heard from friends, family, and that guy on Instagram can GO! You do NOT need to have your dog walk beside you the whole way. If they are walking ahead of you, it's OKAY! Letting them sniff as long as they want is IDEAL!
☠️ These old-school expectations about dogs heeling and paying attention to us for the whole walk are rooted not in the well-being of the dog but in ideas of power and control that are primarily human-centered. Forcing our dogs to comply to this unrealistic standard can cause a ton of problems down the road (future post!)
✨️ Sure, it's helpful to have some skills to connect with your dog while out and about but a walk should primarily be to allow your dog freedom of movement, the opportunity to sniff, walk at their desired speed, and enjoy themselves.
If pressure about what your walks look like is getting you down, please know that a walk that allows your dog to express themselves as much as safely possible IS the ideal walk. We love seeing dogs sniffing, leading the way, and choosing speed and direction. 🙌
And if some guy feels the need to ask you "who's walking who?" we won't judge you for whatever your response may be 💅
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#yegdogs
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#dogwalks
#letthemsniff
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#dogtraining
The big question should always be asking ourselves when it comes to behaviour - WTF?!
What’s the function?? What need is this behaviour fulfilling? It is then that we can achieve lasting change that also supports and honours our dogs and cats.
Some common areas we want to explore when trying to create our behaviour support plans are:
✅ is my dog/cat experiencing any physical pain or discomfort?
✅ are there species or breed specific needs that they do not have a healthy outlet for?
✅are they experiencing stress that they are trying to cope with in the best way they know how?
And remember that behaviour is not “bad” and there is always a reason for why it is occurring.
If you or your dog/cat are struggling with behaviours that are problematic for them or for you, reach out! We’d love to help!! Email or DM us to find out more 🐶🐱
#yegdogs #forcefreedogtraining #yegcats #cattraining #forcefreetraining #yegdogtrainer #dogtraining #dogtrainingjourney #ilovemydog #dogmom #catmom #ilovemycat
❗️Don't wait for them to be calm ❗️
Anyone who has a dog with separation concerns has heard this advice: "Wait until they're calm and then go back in".
For dogs with separation concerns, this well-intended advice can do more harm than good.
Thats because for dogs who struggle being left alone, their responses to alone time (chewing, barking, howling, urinating, etc) are not consciously decided on behaviours. They are involuntary behavioural responses to extreme discomfort/fear. I can't control how my body responds if a spider lands on me - same thing.
By waiting until they are "calm" we may be unintentionally making their alone-time concerns worse as they practice feeling scared and panicky. They are confirming that alone-time does suck and is something to worry about. We are ignoring their very real panic and distress.
By coming back when your dog has a hard time, we are not reinforcing any of those behaviours - don't worry. Instead, we are helping them feel safe and reduce stress and anxiety overall, which is critically important to the success of an overall training plan.
✨️ If your dog is struggling with alone-time, we know it can be rough to navigate life together.
Comment COMFORT below 👇 and we'll send you a link for a FREE 30 Minute Discovery Call with a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer.
#dogtraining
#separationanxietytraining
#yegdogs
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#forcefreetraining
#separationanxiety
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#CSAT
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#dogmom
We will never stop learning.
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🙋♀️ Wait... what?
Aren't crates supposed to be a dog's safe space? If we help them like their crate, then they should feel comfy in it no matter what... right?
Unfortunately, crates are not the magical solution to separation anxiety training that a lot of popular media and general advice would have you believe. In fact, one of the most common questions I get working with separation anxiety clients is if we need to focus on crate training.
⚠️ The answer is a resounding "NO!". While crate training can be a helpful skill for some dogs in some contexts, it is never the crux of our work together.
That is because dogs with separation concerns feel concerned about being alone. We want to help them learn that being alone is safe and nothing to be afraid of.
Crates can often get in the way of those feelings of safety and security and lead to increased anxiety. Being confined when feeling anxious tends to exacerbate anxiety, not reduce it.
With any sort of behaviour change plan we listen to what the dog is telling us feels good and go from there. Typically, dogs tell us that more freedom of movement is better than less 💁♀️
If you have a dog that struggles being left alone, we want to help. Comment WANDER below and we'll send you a link to set up a ✨️FREE✨️ Discovery Call with a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer!
Separation, Confinement, or Noises: What is Scaring That Dog? Vet Clin of No Amer: Sm Anim Pract, May 2018, Vol 48(3), pp 367-386. Author: KC Ballantyne
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⚠️ Don't miss this!⚠️
Having enough food easily available to you when you're out and about with your dog is ESSENTIAL to success!
Pockets don't cut it when we're working with dogs who have some big behaviors out on walks. You can't put enough in there, it's hard to get the treats out, and you tend to leave your clothes smelling like 🌭!
Treat pouches are a MUST but they don't need to be fancy or expensive! Here are some of our favorite pouch options!
✨️ Fanny packs from the dollar store
✨️ Chalk bags for rock climbing
✨️ Tool belts with multiple compartments
✨️ Treat pouches from pet stores or Amazon
🙅♀️ There are small AF treat pouches out there that can only hold a small handful of food. Stay away! You want to be able to put at least one cup of food in your pouch!
Once you convert to a treat pouch you will never go back! It is so much easier for you making walks better and more enjoyable for you and your dog.
📨Share this with a friend who is still busy trying to put treats in their pocket. Help them see the light!
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Dogs are the best 🤷♀️
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😬 Have you heard this myth before?
It's SO common for me to hear from folks with separation anxiety dogs that they worry that their dog follows them around the home, sleeps on the bed with them, gets pets when they ask, and generally is stuck to them like glue.
Luckily for us, shadowing behaviour like this has NOT been shown to be related to anxiety when left alone.
🤓 64% of non-separation dogs display shadowing behavioir with their humans compared to 84% of separation anxiety dogs. So is there a difference? A bit. Is it enough to base our whole training plan around? Nope!
😩 This is especially true because training plans based on reducing shadowing also tend to reduce a whole lot of other beautiful things, too. Like snuggling with your dog. Or giving them scratches if they ask. Or having your friend check in with you just because. That sucks! We don't believe that's a way to live with your dog and we know you don't either!
✨️If you have a dog who struggles being left alone and you want effective support from a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer, comment "SHADOW" below and we'll DM you a link to set up a FREE Discovery Call 💖
BONUS! All separation anxiety treatment is 100% virtual meaning we can work together no matter where live! (And you don't have to get out of your sweats for a session 💁♀️)
#forcefreedogtraining #separationanxietydog #separationanxietytraining #yegdogs #yegdogtrainer #yeggers #dogtrainingcommunity #dogtrainingjourney #csat
