Canine Chaos

04/30/2022

This ⬇️

https://www.facebook.com/100044276537156/posts/548723889946824/

The original study: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abk0639 I’ve now read several of the articles written on this study, and chose this one as...

03/16/2022

Good article

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/06/smarter-living/the-dog-park-is-bad-actually.html?smid=url-share

Dog parks may seem like great additions to the community, but they’re rife with problems — for you, and for your dog. Here’s what to know before you go.

06/26/2020

Positive reinforcement...not just for dogs.
My sister Carla training a three week old Kune Kune piglet to sit.

06/25/2020

Buyer beware!

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/nl-alleged-pet-scam-1.5623735?__vfz=medium%3Dsharebar

People from across Canada are warning the public after they became victims of an alleged dog scam, which they believe is being run by a woman living in a small town in Newfoundland and Labrador.

05/27/2020

Highly recommend this!

Want to know more about helping puppies become the best they can be? Wonder how to polish up the genetic material in your breeding program? Need to understand how every adult dog is the result of what did -- or did not -- happen in puppyhood?

This is a fascinating webinar on THURSDAY MAY 28TH AT 2PM EST that will provide an overview of Suzanne’s Enriched Puppy Protocol. (Sorry, no puppy breath included!)

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/6115905384593/WN_SYR_wdeIT6CbVFxaRfD2Dw

We’ll cover:
• Genetics + early developmental experience = temperament
• Development periods and changes in brain, body & behavior
• Critical & sensitive periods
• The 63 day miracle – puppies from birth to 9 weeks
• Age appropriate challenges & enrichment
• Preparing puppies for their transition to new homes

CEUs available for IAABC and PPAB. Just $19.95

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/6115905384593/WN_SYR_wdeIT6CbVFxaRfD2Dw

Webinar will be recorded, including Q&A, in case you cannot attend live.

03/26/2020

Good info

Right, so you brought home your gorgeous new pup, ready with your plan to train and socialize.... and then, the s**t hit the fan!

First, some commiseration. This can't feel good for those of you with young pups right now, but I'd like to reassure you that it's really not a horrible thing. Socialization has become a really confused point in the dog world. Over-socialization often leads to over-stimulated dogs who lose their minds and are hard to control when they see other people and dogs. This will help a lot of dogs have better social skills through calculated exposure rather than interaction.

Now remember that we're humans - and we are VERY adaptable! Training is still available through online means and most of us have more time than usual. As for socialization, well - we can get through that too! This will be okay.

More good news - dogs are also adaptable. If you've ever had a dog before, you know that at some point, they've experienced a novel stimulus outside of puppyhood. You may remember your 7 year old golden seeing that big man in the hat and being concerned, or reacting to the new potted plant you brought home.... low body, light 'chuffing', stretching in to sniff, but ready to bolt away at a moment's notice. Life continued as it will when your now young dog sees novel stimulus as an adult. You don't need them to see EVERYTHING out there. That's impossible even during the best times, which these are far from.

Now, having said that - you still have work to do! Put your creative thinking cap on and go to it!

🚩 Exposure VS Interaction

I'll say it again because it's very important. The point of socialization is exposure, not interaction. Pups do not have to interact with a thing to learn from it and take it in as a safe part of life. Experiencing a person 6-feet or more away, observing through sight, smell and hearing is enough. We do not need to add touch. Petting is more for us, than it is for the dog.

🚩 This Will Help Your Greeting Manners

Seeing from a distance and not jumping all over the person will actually work in your favour to help create the manners you'll want. Dropping the rehearsal of your pup jumping all over every new person they meet in an effort to socialize will add points to the manners column! Take this opportunity to teach your dog to politely observe. Reinforce calmness and you'll start setting a solid foundation for better greeting behaviour as a side effect.

🚩 This Will Help with Manners Around Other Dogs

This will have a similar consequence for socialization with other dogs. We constantly help people who are frustrated with their dogs when they see another dog. "He becomes wild, up on two feet trying to get to the other dog", "he starts barking like he wants to kill them", "she dragged me over to get to another dog", "she's aggressive on leash."

Yup, you guessed it, all of these problems are exacerbated by allowing dogs to greet strange dogs. The frustration that is built when a dog is held back from interactions with other dogs when that's what they've become accustomed to can manifest itself in all sorts of behaviour problems you won't like. These problems, created by well-intentioned socialization, are much bigger than most anticipate. So, don't worry that your dog can't meet every dog on the street. That is far from a bad thing.

🚩 What About all of the Other 'Stuff'?

This is where you'll need to be creative. What do you have within your reach that can use to help your pup generalize exposure? The answer is, EVERYTHING!

Socialization is about creating positive or neutral associations with novel stimulus. Expose them to new and creative things. At first make them simple and build to the point where they are more complicated (bigger, bolder, louder). If the pup has an extreme reaction to something, you know it's too much too soon. Make it easier for the pup to be okay with that 'thing'. As an example, if they spook at a hat and have limited or no recovery, get a smaller hat and reinforce until they're fine with the small one, gradually make it bigger and keep looking for the same calm reaction. Remember, in this and every case - a hat can be a bowl turned upside down with 'stuff' attached. You don't need to sit this one out because you don't have 8 different hats. Be creative! It's all novel to your pup.

🚩 Wander around the house and find things to work with.

- pop the toaster
- put on a big outfit (make one if you don't have one)
- move furniture around
- make funny noises
- if you have kids, they are GREAT at this - and you can teach them all about proper ways to socialize in the process. That's a win-win!
- place objects that don't belong on the floor in the middle of the room
- roll an empty garbage can around the garage
- get Halloween and Christmas decorations out of storage

🚩 Use noise to your advantage

- turn up the TV
- change channels until you find weird noise
- hit YouTube and search for weird noise - there are a LOT of results....
- make strange noises (this should be easy with all of our sitting and snacking 😏)

🚩 Walk Them Over Novel Things

- put down a tarp
- break down a cardboard box
- walk them over sewer grates (assuming you can go out)
- put down placemats with different textures
- place broomsticks on the floor and walk your dog over them

If it jumps into your head as a novel thing for your dog, use it and add your ideas in comments to help other's expose their puppies.

🚩 And if you CAN Go Out

If you are in an area where it is safe to do so, take your pup to novel locations and work on your current training efforts. When our lives once again resemble what we are used to, all of this exposure without the rehearsal of bad behaviours will be of benefit and you may have even changed the way you think about socialization for the better.

Happy training and be well!
~Shannon

03/25/2020

03/10/2020

I highly recommend CARAT!

"Because of CARAT, I became a much more astute observer of my dogs behavior and interaction with other dogs."
Donna W., Ann Arbor, MI

The CARAT profile defines what lifestyle, job or demands might be most suitable for this dog, and what situations or handlers or expectations might be unfair, distressing or unproductive for this individual animal. CARAT aids professionals in making better assessments of the dog as an individual, aiding in the creation of effective, humane training plans suited to that individual. Additionally, CARAT can aid in the selection of dogs for a specific purpose, handler or environment, and helping handlers understand their dogs in a nuanced, truly holistic way.

The Introduction to CARAT Webinar is coming up on Thursday, a great way to learn what CARAT is, and learn different ways to look at dogs, and observe them as individuals. You can join us live or watch a recorded version later.

Join us Thursday, March 12th at 2pm EST - register at the link below!

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/3815837735656/WN_8QPDTqSYS56KkzJio-t2DQ

This webinar provides CEUs for IAABC and PPAB, and registrants will be able to participate live or watch a recorded version later.

02/07/2020

Good article.

“Dog parks, unfortunately, are often more about humans than they are about dogs.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/06/smarter-living/the-dog-park-is-bad-actually.html?searchResultPosition=1

Dog parks may seem like great additions to the community, but they’re rife with problems — for you, and for your dog. Here’s what to know before you go.

11/30/2019

I highly recommend this - Treat-Retreat is a brilliant and effective technique!

Looking for a reason to join us for the Treat-Retreat Webinar on December 12th? How about this testimonial from someone who attended the Treat-Retreat six week class.

"If I could put one thing in the hands of every rescue and shelter it would be Treat-Retreat. It is the Suzanne Clothier technique I use the most, it is simple, and it is effective." - Alissa Mosier, CPDT-KA

Treat-Retreat is a powerfully effective technique is used to help socially shy dogs master the intricacies of feeling comfortable interacting with and being around people. This is a dog-centric technique that is force-free, and one that does not use negative reinforcement. Instead, respect for the dog's boundaries, arousal and abilities are combined with nuanced observation and engagement of SEEKING to help build the dog's skills. Using thin slices, Treat-Retreat helps the dog develop skills in comfortable ways that are readily generalized.

This will be a popular webinar, follow the link below for more information.

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9lbQtHYDShy_lyoL-wDfaA

10/19/2019

Great video!

07/22/2019

Anyone involved with raising puppies (breeders, rescues, fosters) should sign up for this webinar!

Have you registered yet for the next webinar? Early Puppy Development, from 0 to 63 is coming up on Wednesday, July 31st, 2pm EST.

What does -- or does not -- happen in the two months of life sets up a life path for the dog as a social, cognitive, physical and emotional being. We can make the most of a puppy's potential, or create long-term problems.

This webinar will provide detailed information on the developmental timeline, crucial inputs and common failures by caretakers, and how the adult dog can reflect what did - or did not - happen in the first 63 days.

You can register and find more information at https://bit.ly/2YZzfPn We will record this, and all registered will have access to the recording afterwards even if you cannot attend live.

1.5 CEUs are available for both PPAB and IAABC.

07/02/2019

Upcoming Suzanne Clothier webinars!

FOUR great webinars coming your way!

Register now to save your spot. Registration includes access to a recording of the webinar, so even if you can't attend live, you can still benefit and watch at your convenience.

Complete details: https://suzanneclothier.com/events/webinars-july-august-2019/

06/10/2019

by Suzanne Clothier Resource Guarding & Rule Setting One says “I’m worried” One warns, “Do not think about it.” Do you know the difference? Resource guarding […]

06/08/2019

Free Suzanne Clothier webinar!

03/22/2019

A young dog imported from South Korea into Western Canada last fall brought along a dangerous hitchhiker: the Asia-1 strain of canine distemper virus (CDV), which had never before been reported in North America.

03/21/2019

In an email to veterinarians sent today 3/20/19, Hill's Pet Food expands their recall for excess Vitamin D.

03/14/2019

I went to see a new training client last week whose dog has separation anxiety. She lives in a two-story house, and whenever she goes upstairs even for a moment without the dog, he panics and barks…

01/27/2019

Great article!

NOTE: I began this blog about 7 years ago when I first sustained my head injury, and I never finished it. I have a number of these in the queue, as you may notice if you read about Eco or D& #8217…

01/22/2019

A trainer friend recently asked my advice about a situation involving three dogs who live in the same home. One of the dogs belongs to a young couple who are living with the girl’s parents, and the…

01/18/2019

https://www.facebook.com/180822951963857/posts/2123027321076734/

Dog owners sometimes need a little extra help. Maybe no one is home during the day and the dogs need to be exercised, or there are behavioral problems and training is needed. Turning to a professi…

11/27/2018

Interesting discussion with another trainer who asked me, "Since the the writing of your book Bones, have your thoughts, philosophies, definitions changed in regard to leadership, status/hierarchy?"

I finished Bones in 2000. So 18 years later, would I go in and change my comments re status/hierarchy and leadership? Nope. Social animals are still social animals, and social status and hierarchies are still very real, though "positive trainers" would really like that not to be true.

Have I ever subscribed to the notion of a rigid "pack" hierarchy? Nope. Healthy social groups are far too fluid, and status can be both relative and dynamic as well as situationally responsive. I may be in charge during the seminar hours, but you bet that status granted to me by attendees goes right out the window when a cop pulls me over for a broken taillight.

Status is real. But it only matters when there is conflict (or potential conflict). My goal remains finding the path to a conflict free, cooperative and mutually satisfying relationship. My book, Finding A Balance, has been updated and is now back in print. It addresses head on the realities of power in relationships.

Sapolsky and deWaal are two great starting points for thinking about status and its fluidity in the social animal. For Sapolsky, he's looking at wild olive baboons; deWaal did a lot of research with captive chimps and other primates. The individuals involved, the situation(s) they find themselves in, the availability of resources and so much more play a part in the complex dynamics. Endless fun, watching and learning about the complexities and paradox inherent in social animals.

Our dogs live in a world of nuance. We understand them best when we also seek nuanced understanding. Pretending status does not exist in social animals does not help them. Throwing out overly simplified constructs - well, that's always a good idea!

Thanks, Gregory Lagios, for the interesting question.

10/19/2018

https://www.facebook.com/205372299547882/posts/1942828339135594/

03/03/2018

Victoria people - local clinic participating in a study of tick borne disease. Also providing free testing of ticks.
https://www.facebook.com/VCACanadaFeltham/posts/1595359103833950

03/01/2018

Great info and example of how to prepare your dog for surgery.

January 1, 2018 Diva will be spayed in a couple of months and I'm already dreading it.  I'm not looking forward to leaving her at the vet, or waiting anxiously to hear that the surgery went well. I won't be able to get to the vet's office quickly enough to put my eyes on her and k

01/08/2018

Suzanne Clothier

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1584756268276138&id=205372299547882

From my friend Cindy Knowlton, great advice on what to do if your dog is lost.

Been there, done that, and really appreciate Cindy's hard-won experience.

http://seespotgrin.com/swift-return

12/25/2017

10/13/2017

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1519661371452295&id=205372299547882

Ever wish you could just Ask Suzanne? Well, here's your chance!

We're collecting your questions, and will keep turning them into video segments.

So, speak! (You can enter as many questions as you like... but be kind & fair.)

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Z3D9YSX

09/28/2017

Book Review: Let Dogs Be Dogs

Patricia McConnell's review of The Monks of New Skete's latest book....NOT recommended.
http://www.patriciamcconnell.com/theotherendoftheleash/book-review-let-dogs-be-dogs

Patricia McConnell, Ph.D., a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, has made a lifelong commitment to improving the relationship between people and animals.

08/26/2017

New puppy joining your household soon?
This will be worth attending.
This Sunday in Langford.

https://www.facebook.com/ethicalcaninetraining/posts/1073679482767686

Kelsey from K9HQ Doggy Daycare Plus and I are holding this educational event for all new or prospective puppy owners! Sunday August 27 at 2pm at K9HQ in Langford. All welcome (humans only) and admission is by donation (donations to help some awesome puppy fosterers) Please share!