This video shares with you guys a little glimpse of Rileyâs first dog training session. Where we worked on extending the distance and comfort that we feel when taking her out for a walk, in a way that helps us prevent pulling and on-leash reactivity. đ
Watch as we guide our pup through the process, overcoming initial hesitations and building trust. Riley is doing a fantastic job, and her progress is evident as she starts to understand the exercise and enjoy communicating with her family. #welldone #dogtraining #harmfree
The #dogtraining industry focuses so much on telling dogs what to do, but really if you prioritize what your dog is saying to you, through their body language, you will find that your dog naturally wants to listen to you more, because they feel heard and understood. đ„čâ€ïžđ¶
My number one suggestion when it comes to dog walks is that you first and foremost make them all about your dog and.. YOU!âșïžâ€ïž We like to say that walks are for our dogs but thatâs only half true. Dog walks are very much also for us.
By thinking of dog walks as an activity that is for not only our dogâs benefit but ours as well, we can then start to prioritize very important values like communication, trust and guidance.
All of which are incredibly important at helping our dogs feel safe, secure and understood. If you successfully make your walks be mainly about bonding and engaging with one another, your dog will then have an easier time making choices you can both be proud of.
In this quick video, I begin guiding Mabel and her pet parent as they strive to reconnect with one another when they step out of their home, while Luna (Mabelâs sister) and I act as a minor distraction. #offtoagreatstart #dogtraining #doglove
Bonding and socialization doesnât have to look that much more complicated than what you see in this video with @gryffythegru .
The important thing is that youâve set them up to succeed in environments where itâs easy for you and your dog to prioritize your engagement, all while feeling upbeat and safe. âșïžâ€ïžđ¶ #happydoghappyme #bonding #doglove
Thank you @patriciamcconnellphd for very simply explaining what #dominance actually means in the animal world.
As a dog trainer, I often work with pet parents who mention dominance as something that they try to describe their or another dogâs behaviour through. And itâs always a bit puzzling for everyone involved, because when I ask them to elaborate on what they think that means, they struggle to do so and it doesnât really help us understand their dog or concerns better.
So I then take a moment to discuss with my pet parents, first and foremost, how they see and understand dog behaviour as a whole, before we can then effectively begin any type of modification program. #dogtraining #dogbehavior
(Trimmed clip from The Science of Dog Behaviour: Full Presentation video on YouTube.)
Want to get the most out of your dogâs physically stimulating activities? Try the following:
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Unless your dog is already uber excited and engaged towards you, feel free to egg them on just a little and in a fun way. This will not only increase their interest but also how much effort theyâll put in, which increases the enrichment benefits of the activity youâre doing, such as the strength of your bond and motivation to give you as much of their focus as possible.
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Keep it short. Do your best to not reach the point of exhaustion in order to end the game. Rather end it a little earlier than you would and then switch to perhaps a more mentally or socially stimulating activity. This will prevent over arousal and help your dog wind down before going home and relaxing. Not to mention itâll leave them looking forward to next time!
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Assess the environment. The right type of distractions can sometimes take our dogs away from the game in different ways. To maximize your dogâs focus towards you and the activity, go somewhere where you know your dog can easily focus. Donât be afraid to start indoors, in your garage or an empty park.
Try these and let us know how it went! #dogenrichment #dogplay #doglove
The way we think about ourselves and our dogs, including the things we say matters so much more than we may think.
And itâs interesting that when we think of approaching unfamiliar dogs, we donât think so much about whether or not they will like us. At least not as much as when it comes to approaching other people.
But yet we do tend to think and say that certain dogs just donât like each other, or that theyâre not being nice towards one another, if they donât share the most positive interactions. In reality however, how dogs interact and see the world around then really isnât based on whether they like or dislike someone, but more so how they feel about themselves and their environment, and in association to their interactions.
Think of the last time you were a little impatient with a loved one, or the time where you were extra friendly with a stranger. Do you remember looking back and attributing your behaviours to something else perhaps? Like outside stress, distractions, pressure, good/bad news or something else entirely?
And if so, youâll perhaps come to realize that your actions really came about not from a point of liking or not disliking someone, but rather external circumstances and how you felt about yourself, within.
Luckily for us, dogs operate that way as well. They can have amazing relationships with us and others because we can connect on that level and share very similar feelings, but they can also be affected by their environment, which can then have an impact on their behaviour.
And so itâs important that weâre aware of how we think of our dogs and how they interact with us and one another. As thatâll make it easier for us to try to understand the motives behind their actions, reactions and feelings, allowing us to then become even better friends and pet parents that guide them towards positive feelings. #dogtraining #dogunderstanding #doglove
Although I find Mya and the way she communicates incredibly cute, in her mind itâs likely not, and also likely not the reason sheâs doing it in the first place.
Dogs communicate for different reasons and in different ways, some more than others. Some do it very little, some do it often, and sometimes it may even seem like itâs for no reason at all. But unless you feel like thereâs something you should be doing at that very moment to help alleviate and guide them (when they feel the need to bark, growl, jump, or communicate directly to you in their own way), you probably just need to pause and listen.
Donât tell your dog to stop or sit, donât tell them to be quiet. You donât want to discourage them from communicating with you, as this can cause further issues that will then only become tougher to address later on, if the bond and means of communication have been severed.
Our dogs deserve to feel heard just as much as we do.. if not more.
And if theyâre communicating in a way thatâs difficult for you to tolerate, or maybe even understand, then perhaps thereâs something that they themselves were feeling like theyâre having a challenging time tolerating and thus feel like they need to let you know, as to hopefully have something about it change.
If youâre not sure how to go about that, feel free to reach out.
But otherwise, if you know that youâve already met your dogâs enrichment needs that day, that theyâve had mental breaks, outings, bathroom breaks and their food & water, then the main thing you have to do is listen.
Thereâs nothing better for a dog than to feel like their whole world (a.k.a. you) takes the time to listen to them and guide them accordingly. Iâve found time and time again that doing this only going makes it easier for them to do the same for us. đŸ #dogtraining #doglove #doglife
