Daytripper Dog Training

22/11/2025

There are changes within a dog's brain when they experience trauma. From an evolutionary perspective, its about survival. The dog's brain becomes "primed" to search out the threat in order to avoid it. "Where's the threat? Where's the threat?"

This can spread to different, yet similar triggers. For example: A dog who has gone into the yard for a potty break is startled by fireworks. The initial trigger/threat is fireworks, yet over time the dog may become more and more noise sensitive in general.

Trauma may occur as a single event learning experience -- one experience being enough to change the dog's brain. In other instances, trauma may occur through repeated exposure over time.

It's important to remember that the dog is who determines what is traumatic, not us humans. We may feel the dog should "just get over it", yet to the dog the threat is very real.

For instance, one dog may experience trauma after being barked at by another dog with no physical contact. Another dog may be attacked and injured, yet never display signs of trauma after the event. (BTW, both examples are real-life ones experienced by people we personally know.)

If your dog is showing signs of trauma, seek the assistance of a qualified professional. It goes without saying that anyone who treats trauma with aversives or corrections of any kind should be avoided at all costs.

21/11/2025

We always tell our students, "Distance is your and your dog's friend."

For those with reactive and/or fearful dogs, increasing distance from the trigger (what the dog is worried about) will reduce stress and help your dog better cope.

Don't "deep end" your dog by throwing them into situations they don't yet have the skills for.

DISTANCE ASSISTANCE

It’s not easy having a reactive dog. As much as we may feel frustrated, restricted, angry or even ashamed or embarrassed, our reactive dogs are also experiencing a range of negative emotions when they react to something that triggers them.
Reactive dogs have a nervous system issue not a training issue.

This nervous system reaction is usually caused by anxiety, fear, feeling threatened, frustrated or may even be pain related.

These emotions cause high levels of stress and stress prevents both us and our dogs from being able to process information, think clearly or learn a different, more acceptable way of reacting to whatever triggers us.

This is why creating enough distance is so important.

I’m really scared of snakes and even struggle to look at them. The only thing I want to do is run and create as much distance as possible.

If someone was restraining me, forcing me to sit and look at the snake while trying to feed me my favourite chocolate, telling me there was nothing to worry about or trying to educate me about the reptile, it would do nothing to alleviate my fear and would only increase my stress levels.

Doing this at a sufficient distance, where I felt safe would be far more effective and my stress levels would be much lower. In time, with patience and practice, I may even be able to get much closer to the snake without having a negative reaction.

The same principle applies to reactive dogs. Creating sufficient distance where they can see the trigger but still feel safe and don’t react is the best way of helping them to cope with their feelings.

Some dogs, or people, may never be able to decrease that distance and that’s also okay.

We need to accept our dogs for the unique individual they are, keep working on the things we can improve and change and accept the things we can’t.

21/11/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/1JiwRQQCLV/

Resource guarding is surrounded by misconceptions and outdated advice.
Do you know what is true and accurate?

"You need to establish your dominance" - FALSE. Alpha/dominance theory is outdated, disproven, and a dangerously inaccurate description of the problem.

"You need to get them used to being messed with" - FALSE. We should not be messing with our dogs to teach "tolerance". This most often teaches dogs that we are not to be trusted, as we continuously invade their space. We also need to get over the idea that dogs need to learn to tolerate everything.

"You need to be able to take things from your dog whenever you want" - KIND OF. While we should work on solid "trade you", "drop it", and "leave it" cues, the more we physically take resources away from them, ESPECIALLY when there is a resource-guarding issue, the more likely the problem is to escalate. Again, we are showing them we are not to be trusted.

"Resource guarding is always over food or toys" - FALSE. Resource guarding can be over anything a dog sees as a valuable resource. This can include spaces, people, and even random items they find.

Resource guarding most often stems from underlying anxiety or insecurity. We need to be able to meet their needs and make them feel safe and secure to improve. If you're unsure how to achieve that or need help, please reach out!

20/11/2025

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What is your dog trying to tell you? 🐶

It's normal to feel frustrated by your dog's behavior at times. However, all behaviors serve a purpose - to meet their needs.

So, when you notice a behavior you don't like...

👀 First: What are they doing?
Describe the behavior(s) you see. What are they trying to access or get away from?

👀 Second: Dig!
What body language do you notice before, during, and after the behavior(s) are performed? Based on your observations, can you tell what they might be feeling?

💭 Third: Plan
What actions can we take to help meet their needs? How can we prevent the unwanted behaviors from being rehearsed? How can we set them up to succeed next time we're in this situation?

Even when you're feeling frustrated, remember that all behaviors serve a purpose, and your dog is not doing something to spite you. If you are struggling, please reach out to a qualified, positive reinforcement-based behavior professional for help.

17/11/2025

https://youtu.be/m83QSW1dZKI?si=gD2q5k79QqmPWm7d

Researchers have captured video footage of what they say is possible tool-use by wolves after the animal was seen pulling a crab trap out of deeper waters in...

17/11/2025

WARNING!!!!!!!!!

Until this past weekend, I'd never heard of Zyn or similar ni****ne pouches. Zyn pouches come in a multitude of flavours. Intended as a ni****ne replacement, teenagers (and possibly younger) are using these pouches, then spitting out in public places.

The dogs of three people I personally know encountered Zyn pouches this past weekend. One ingested a pouch. His owner contacted poison control. Given his size it was deemed he was safe from possible toxic effects. Another dog was a toy breed puppy who picked up a Zyn pouch. Thankfully, her owner was quick to remove it from the puppy's mouth. Apparently, had the puppy ingested the pouch, it could have proved fatal. The third dog's owner recognized the pouch and retrieved it before her dog could digest it.

Zyn pouches are small and easy to miss. With winter coming, the snow will make spotting them even more challenging. My guess is the flavouring attracts dogs.

Here's a link to info about Ni****ne poisoning in dogs. https://www.petmd.com/dog/poisoning/tobacco-ni****ne-poisoning-dogs

Contact your vet immediately if your dog ingests a ni****ne pouch.

14/11/2025

Whether you have a foster dog, newly adopted dog, Houdini dog or puppy, let's talk LOSS PREVENTION.

✅Creating AIR LOCKS at points of entry/exit is an effective loss prevention method. Keeping the airlock (baby gate, ex-pen, etc) closed when humans are entering/exiting is a sure fire way of preventing a dog from slipping out the (even slightly) open door.

Even those who live in an open concept home can institute an airlock, search online and you'll find many effective options that WILL work in your space. :-)

13/11/2025

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?mibextid=wwXIfr&v=2349177515428266&rdid=Nm7P0GvZ0DTnXp0I

13/11/2025

Folks, let's set the record straight once and for all.

These dogs are not exhibiting "guilt". What you are seeing is appeasement gestures. Why? Because dogs learn from association. At some point in the past these dogs have been scolded or punished for having destroyed something/making a mess in the house.

What's the association? Their owner entering the house! It's ambiguous -- sometimes good things happen and sometimes bad things happen. They are unsure of what to expect.

Here's an excerpt from the conclusion of a 2015 study: "The dogs’ behaviour as perceived by their owners was not affected by the dogs’ own action or evidence of the misdeed. Thus, our findings could be taken to suggest that these two cues do not trigger the ‘guilty look’ in dogs, at least not in situations in which they are not paired with concurrent scolding by the owners."

Should you see your dog behaving this way, please don't scold them. The most you might accomplish is to damage the bond between you and your dog.

Full study in this link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4310318/

10/11/2025

You may be wondering how a lowly kitchen whisk made it's way into this photo. Well, because it's your secret weapon against snowballs stuck to your dog's fur.

It's easy peasy! Give it a try!

09/11/2025

Wow. This is big.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/17fJfF5zJh/