Dr Teresa Tyler-Canine Behaviourist

29/05/2024

I’ve often heard people who are watching dogs meet saying things like: “Look, they are deciding who’s the boss”.
Language matters.

A welfare based approach can offer a different perspective. This cartoon is an example.

These dogs are gathering information, processing, adapting, learning and developing individual coping strategies that will best serve their own welfare needs.

Meeting other dogs can be beneficial for a dog’s welfare (behaviourally, emotionally and physically), but meeting other dogs can also be a threat to welfare. It depends!

Read more about dog welfare needs here:
https://lotsdogs.com/welfare/

© LotsDogs​

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29/05/2024

"The more you know, the more you realize you don't know"

Each new piece of information (or piece of the puzzle) uncovers new fresh paths to explore.🤓

After years of studying and years of practical experience and spending a fortune on gaining knowledge, I am still learning and evolving which I hope will never stop. This made me update this cartoon of mine. It's an ongoing process☺️

Understanding and influencing behaviour can be complex. So many influences on behaviour can be at play. Never stop learning.

Dogs are complex mammals (just like humans; you'll be amazed how many similarities there are, but of course there are many differences too).

Each dog is a unique individual and there can be many factors influencing behaviour.

© LotsDogs| www.LotsDogs.com

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Help me reach more people! Please share my image using the 'share' button (you can share in groups, on your business page, on your timeline, etc..all possible through the 'share' options). This is highly appreciated!🥰💞
Please do not download/save my content on your device and upload my work elsewhere. This diminishes my ability to reach people.📵 Many thanks for understanding.

27/05/2024

GOT A NEW RESCUE? GO SLOW TO GO FAST.

One of the most unhelpful (and most well-meant) pieces of advice about rescue dogs is that when you adopt them, you should help them get to know your rules as soon as possible.

You may have heard some of these yourself:

🐶 If they're going to sleep in a crate, put them in it, close the door and go to bed. Ignore all their attempts to get out or if they destroy things in there. They'll soon learn.

🐶 If they pull on the lead, get a head halter or a "gentle" leader and ignore all their attempts to get it off. They'll soon learn.

🐶 If they do something wrong, tell them 'no!' firmly. They'll soon learn.

🐶 Get them into routines. If you need to go out to work for the morning, just tell them 'bye!' and shut the door. Don't fuss them when you return. They'll soon learn.

🐶 If they try to get up on the couch with you and you don't want them there, push them off firmly, say 'no!'. They'll soon learn.

🐶 If they bark at you for attention, turn your back on them. They'll soon learn.

🐶 If they jump on you, push them down or pinch their paws. They'll soon learn.

🐶 If you have other dogs, don't intervene if there's a fight or tension. They'll soon learn.

You know this advice, I'm sure. It's often given with the best of intentions. I've heard a bunch of it myself.

I've also known how hard it was to deal with the fallout that this well-intentioned advice can sometimes be.

Many of these scenarios are very frustrating for a dog. Many 'unwanted' behaviours are simply how they've lived before. Maybe they result from a lack of guidance. Maybe they worked for the dog in the past.

When we immediately shut down all their attempts to have their needs met in the early days of our relationship with them, we simply make it less likely the dog will see us as a trustworthy family member. It can certainly contribute to anxiety.

I'm sure you can imagine what it must be like to go and live in a foreign country with a bunch of unusual new customs - a place where you cannot speak the language and cannot communicate your past or your needs. You can understand how you might certainly try to do things that you thought might work or were things that had worked for you in the past, only to find these shut down or even punished.

Much as we mean well with our 'start as you mean to go on' attitudes, they can create a lot of confusion or anxiety if the dog doesn't know what they're supposed to do instead. They can also cause frustration.

It is hard because we certainly don't want to let those behaviours flourish if they're unacceptable to us. We might think we're making a rod for our own back if we let the dog up on the couch, only to decide we don't want them up there.

Setting the environment up for success, showing our new dog what we'd prefer and rewarding them for doing it in those first few trials will help the dog understand what works here.

That's the best way to reduce anxiety, frustration and confusion.

That may be weird for our new dog, especially if they've never learned anything from a human before.

But even old dogs can learn new tricks with careful teaching over a few weeks rather than thinking the dog needs to adapt immediately.

In reality, when we take it easy and we go slow at the beginning, we help our dogs find their feet. That helps reduce uncertainty and anxiety, building the foundations for our future partnership. It costs nothing and has so many benefits.

And what could be more important than that?

25/05/2024

In a world where technology and convenience drive our lives, let's not forget those who give us love and loyalty—our dogs.

Imagine a society where every dog is treated with the kindness, care, and respect they deserve. A world where:

- Shelters are empty because every pup has a loving home.
- Breeders prioritise health and ethics over profit.
- Communities come together to ensure no dog goes hungry or homeless.

Dog welfare isn't just about basic needs—it's about understanding and fulfilling their emotional and social needs too. Every wagging tail, every soft nuzzle, is a testament to their trust in us.

Are we doing enough to honour that trust?

Let's advocate for stronger laws, support local shelters, and educate others on responsible pet ownership. Our four-legged friends depend on us to speak up for them.

Together, we can create a future where every dog's life is as joyful as the joy they bring into ours.

24/05/2024

These are some examples of displacement behaviours and serve as indicators of the dog's internal state which can provide valuable insights into their emotional well-being.

Displacement behaviours arise when an animal faces conflicting motivations/ feelings for two or more behaviours, leading to an unrelated action. For instance, birds might peck at grass when torn between attacking or fleeing from a threat, while humans may scratch their heads when indecisive.

Context matters when interpreting animal behaviour. EG: Sniffing and scratching could be due to various reasons like being itchy, exploring scents. Understanding the environment and situation helps in accurately deciphering the dog’s actions.

In interpreting body language, subtle cues matter too. A relaxed dog typically has ‘loose’ muscles, a ‘soft’ eye, and their tail held in the breeds natural carriage, and may pant gently. A stressed dog might have tense muscles, mouth shut, a lowered/ ‘stiff’ tail, flattened ears, and avoid eye contact. Understanding body language in canine communication helps distinguish between comfort and discomfort in the dogs demeanour.

These behaviours can also occur when an animal is hindered from engaging in a highly desired behaviour. Often, out-of-context behaviours provide comfort to the animal, like scratching, grooming, or sniffing.

In animal behaviour evaluations, displacement activities serve as indicators of unmet behavioural needs. For example, humans display self-directed behaviours like fidgeting in stressful situations, indicating negative emotions.

When a dog displays displacement behaviours, these are actions that seem out of place. These behaviours are often seen when a dog is unsure how to react in a particular situation.

This typically happens when the dog experiences conflicting emotions like anxiety, stress, or frustration, and serves as a way for the dog to release tension, or cope with the mixed feelings they are experiencing.

20/05/2024

Punishing dogs doesn’t work! Instead of teaching them what’s right, it only creates fear, anxiety and makes aggressive behaviours worse.
Dogs learn best through positive reinforcement, which builds trust and strengthens your bond with them.
Rewarding and reinforcing the behaviour you want them to do, encourages them to repeat it. Let’s train with kindness! ❤️

14/05/2024

Imagine the bites we could stop and the prevention of behavioural issues if this myth was shattered once and for all.✅😊
Some people are shocked that their dogs acted aggressively....because their tail was wagging at the time.
Dogs under stress can wag their tails and it is often misread as this dog being happy.....so they are not removed from the stressor.
A wagging tail does not always mean a happy dog, in fact it can mean just the opposite.
Everyone loves a wagging tail from a happy dog, but unfortunately many people only ever use a tail to decipher a dogs emotional state...it can mean so much more.
Dogs wag their tails in EVERY emotional state and may do this in many different circumstances....happiness is just one reason.

⚠️Scared dogs can wag their tails and people view them as being approachable....and the consequences can be life altering for the person and the dog.

⚠️Children especially are told this myth and continue this myth into adulthood.

⚠️The whole picture needs to be taken into account....never just a tail.

The whole body, face, ears, posture and context should be taken into account when deciding on a dogs emotional state, because a wagging tail just isn't a great indicator....especially in a dog you do not know.

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14/05/2024

02/05/2024

Module 13 Assess 3bMusic: Divergence- Filo Starquez

22/04/2024

Great visual to help you choose the right style harness. Always consider the Y-shaped harness and remember that one size or type does not fit all, so you need to consider your own dog's individual shape.

17/04/2024

WHY I START WITH REDUCING BARKING IN THE HOME

One of the first questions I ask my clients is how much time their dogs spend in the home or garden responding to the world outside. It doesn't matter if this is frustration, territorial behaviour or anxiety... if a dog is spending a large part of the day reacting to stuff that they can do nothing about, they are often unable to relax.

That ends up with them really struggling, particularly as the day goes on.

By the evening, they're often irritable and exhausted. That can fuel arousal, worsen any physical complaints and cause them to be much more fractious than normal.

And, having lived with Heston, who was sensitive to fleas farting unexpectedly five villages over, I know that if he'd spent the day responding to every single sound outside, I'd have had myself a wound-up and worn-out dog.

Even if the dog I'm working with is struggling with something that seems unconnected - let's say resource guarding or struggling with people coming on to the property - or even the collie I saw a couple of weeks back who got progressively more and more likely to smash into the television as the evening drew on, if our dogs have become very sensitive to everything that's happening beyond the doors, this can contribute a lot to frustration, dysregulation and arousal.

Helping them learn how to relax more deeply in the home is a big part of general wellbeing that can ensure that our dogs have the mental reserves to cope better at other times.

I created the original Alert & Alarm Barking Protocol back in 2018. Since then, it's helped hundreds of my canine clients move from restless, anxious, antsy, fidgety dogs who spend large parts of the day on edge to dogs who'll simply notice only the noises worth noticing and go straight back to resting, or notice noise and let you know they heard it without barking in a panic.

Download the protocol in the link and follow step-by-step for much reduced vigilance in the home.

Once dogs can rest better because they're not spending the day responding to every flea fart in town, we often see a huge impact on their ability to bounce back from all kinds of other things too.

Win-win!

11/04/2024

BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR RESCUE DOG

My recently departed Nana had a phrase she used: 'cupboard love'.

You may not have heard of this term before - I've never heard anyone else in my life use it outside my extended family. I used to think it was just another thing she'd made up!

It simply means feigning affection in order to get something. You know, you play nice because you want a biscuit from the cupboard, that sort of thing.

You can imagine, then, how surprised I was recently to hear that the ways in which rescues and fosters advise people to build a relationship with a dog was frowned upon in some quarters. The equivalent, the criticism goes, of cupboard love.

"It's not genuine!" the criticism went.

"The dog should be able to trust you!" they continued. "This doesn't build trust. It builds dependence."

Well, newsflash, folks. I don't know what you think TRUST is but the ability to depend on someone. Good grief. We're not all Ralph Waldo Emerson living in a hut free from the rest of society like a weird self-dependent hermit.

"It's so transactional!"

Urgh. You know what a transaction is, right? It's an action BETWEEN. And social mammals have a bunch of interactions and transactions. I know they want us to think it's about the buying and selling of affection.

You know the OTHER bunch of people who don't want to depend on interactions and games and play and (heaven forfend - hold on to your hats!) food to build relationships?

The beardy blokes who say dogs should do stuff because they "respect" us. They should just want to do stuff for no good reason.

Now, no matter how many times my Nana warned us against cupboard love, our family was built around tea-times, sandwiches, days out, games and play. At no point did I ever think that I only loved my Nana because of the way she made a snack or a cherry almond cake. My Gramps didn't love her because of the way she buttered his toast. I didn't love her because she let me win at Ludo.

You can, if you like, reduce this to miserable transactions and dependence. You can tell me that none of us loved her for who she really was or that we only did things because she fed us.

Or you can see that these are the bonds that build relationships.

I'm sure it doesn't seem very important to you until you're left wondering how to build a relationship with a dog.

What would THAT look like?

Well, it looks like shared moments, interactions, grooming, being together. Yes, it involves food and care and play and safety. That's what social mammals do. Of course that involves the daily acts of kindness for us - wiping goop out of eyes and putting down clean water.

Thinking only of interactions as something we can offer in order to manipulate a dog is very sad. For the person who was suggesting that we refrain from food and toys and play and praise and gentle contact, I don't know what that leaves us with. Trust doesn't come out of thin air or just hanging about near others.

Food, toys, play and contact are not manipulative or mercenary attempts to bribe a dog into a relationship with us.

It makes me sad that some people have been so hurt in life that giving a dog a bit of hot dog sausage is seen as little more than cupboard love.

Above everything, dogs *fit* with us because of their social ties. It's HOW they fit with us. At the end of the day, our relationship with our new rescue dog takes time to establish. Sharing rituals, moments and interactions is how it flourishes.

And I don't know about you, but nothing gives me more joy than that.

09/04/2024

We got caught out with the weather this morning! It poured down ⛈️⛈️

07/04/2024

Anyone else have a garden ‘helper’?!

05/04/2024

Learn the top 5 tips for a happy and polite dog with our latest infographic! From lead walking to complex task training, we've got you covered.

04/04/2024

Cuddle time with Lenny ❤️ They’re with us for such a short time so never miss a chance for a cuddle 🥰

02/04/2024

Fear is a survival tool. It protects us. It triggers behavioural responses which keep us safe. It is natural and (when proportionate) it is, if we wanted to overly simplify it, a 'good thing'. But when fear (or its close relation, anxiety) becomes disproportionate it becomes debilitating and life diminishing.

Neither avoidance nor flooding (throwing them in at the deep end and hoping they swim, not sink) are the answer. Avoidance gives no opportunities to learn and keeps them trapped in their fear. Deliberately putting them in situations they can't cope with in the hope they 'just learn' to cope is not only unkind but also simply strengthens the existing pathways in their brain which trigger their fear response making them even slicker and stronger than before.

So what do we do? We take a holistic approach which focuses on far more than simply what we want to stop. We...

• look at the dog's overall well being - the quality of their diet, the quality of their rest, the quality of their exercise and the enrichment in their life
• teach them new skills which create confidence
• use those skills to create predictability which, in turn, creates feelings of security & safety
• build trust by listening to their choices
• step up to the plate & give them the support & guidance they need

And then, only when we've done all that, do we...

• gently ask them to step out of their comfort zone, just a little
• reinforce their brave choices
• make sure we never ask for too much, too quickly

We owe it to our timid dogs to teach them how to thrive (not just survive) in the world they live in. But how we do that is so important. Because the journey is just as important as the destination.

Image: Gorgeous Hattie who is being gently and lovingly supported to overcome her fears by her wonderful human

01/04/2024

Went to see Nevis (in photo) and Rudi (too shy for photo!) to work on their fears of strange dogs and people this morning 😍

25/03/2024

💥 WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND FRUSTRATION IN YOUR RESCUE DOG 💥

These days, we're much more prepared to rehome a dog. We know that the first few days, weeks or months might need us to take our time. We've read the books and the paperwork and we know that it takes time and patience.

What we may not be prepared for is frustration.

I remember fostering a little apricot toy poodle named Fripouille. He sat, looking forlorn and out of place in the shelter, his fur clipped neatly, his bowl and lead next to him on the chair. There was no way I could leave him there for the night. Some dogs just hit you hard in the solar plexus. Besides, I knew he'd be adopted quickly and it wasn't like he'd end up a failed foster.

Yet it was clear Fripouille was a little dog with expectations. He arrived home out of sync with how things operated. He didn't know what he was supposed to eat, where he was supposed to sleep, why he no longer went out for a walk at 8am and 6pm.

The next morning, he struggled to settle.

He'd not eaten the night before, and I put it down to nerves. Stress alters our appetite. We know that. What never really crossed my tiny mind as I put down his bowl the night before was that Fripouille had never eaten anything other than handcooked chicken or fish. He could very well have been hungry and then had to struggle with not having the meal he expected.

Surely a dog will just eat what gets put in front of them, right?

But that next morning, he was fidgety and ill-at-ease. I tried to feed him, but he wouldn't eat. I took him to the water bowl, and that wasn't the answer. I sat next to him and stroked him, but he got down from the chair. Only when he found his lead and sat next to it did I understand: this was walkies time.

Out on the walk, things didn't get much better. We did country walks along grassy paths and through fields, around forests. He didn't even seem to know where to go to the toilet anymore. Thinking of my other dogs, I know some of them struggled to know *where* to go if we did town walks, and I wondered if Fripouille was the same.

Sure enough, a quick spin around an asphalted courtyard and Fripouille found himself on more familiar ground.

No matter how kind we are and how patient, there will be times when the things our dogs are used to doing no longer happen. No matter how loving or how awful the home they will have come from, they can have strong expectations about what is supposed to happen, where and when. It can cause a lot of uncertainty and anxiety when routines change.

Dogs are much smarter than humans are at reading the environment. This is especially true if they've come from a turbulent home before. If your world is unpredictable, it makes sense that you'd get better at identifying what's supposed to happen and when.

Our dogs are also really good at forming habits. Those habits affect their eating, their drinking and their sleeping as well as other things in their life.

The problem is that when dogs move into different homes, those new homes change all the rules, meaning that old habits no longer fit as easily as they used to do.

That can cause a lot of conflict, confusion, anxiety and frustration.

Although this is normal and most dogs adapt brilliantly, there are two things that will really help.

The first is in having clear and consistent routines around daily activities. Although we feel like it'll be important to socialise our dogs and get them up to par with going out and walking around markets or sitting in cafés, these things can come later in life.

The second thing that will really help is in being able to identify signs of frustration in a dog.

Over the next few weeks, I'll be sharing content here to help you do just that.

16/03/2024

Anyone else’s dog have ESP capabilities when you secretly approach the treat jar?!

06/03/2024

Another of our favorite pattern games from the AMAZING Leslie McDevitt!!! 🦄

Pattern Games: Super Bowls 🥣

Super Bowls is a game that comes from Leslie McDevitt’s extremely popular “Control Unleashed” series. This is a pattern game. Pattern games are simple sets of exercises that provide a structured and predictable pattern to help dogs adjust to changes in their environment.

❗You Need
✅2-5 plates or bowls
✅High value treats
✅Your dog 🤗

Step 1: Teach the Game

⭐Set out 2-5 plates with a 6’ distance between each plate

⭐ Place a treat on one plate and let your dog eat it

⭐When your dog looks at you, return eye contact, smile, and walk to the next plate

⭐Place a treat on that plate

😀When they look up at your, return eye contact, smile, and walk to the next plate

▶️ Repeat until you can go all the way down the line and back to the first plate

Once you have completed the sequence three times, proceed to Step 2.

Step 2: Change the environment or stations

🔂 Repeat the game in a very mildly distracting environment. Instead of using plates, use any station outside that is naturally recurring like park benches, cars parked along the sidewalk or poured cement sidewalk blocks, trees, or lamp posts.

💡If your dog engages with something in the environment prior to looking up at you, just wait. Let them process the environmental change before returning their attention to you.

💡If your dog is unable to return to the game, they are not ready to be this close to distractions yet or the environment is too overwhelming.

Your pup must be having fun in low distraction and low-stress environments before moving to more stimulating environments. 😄

06/03/2024

Little Lenny loving life!

06/03/2024

06/03/2024

05/03/2024

Working with the lovely Hollie this morning who is a super smart dog who unfortunately drives everyone mad with her excessive barking! She was soon tired (and quiet) after an active session though 😴

04/03/2024

Helping reactive dogs requires patience, consistency, and a gradual approach. Reactivity in dogs can manifest as aggressive or fearful behaviour in response to various stimuli. Here are some general guidelines to help you work with a reactive dog:

1. **Understand the Triggers:**
- Identify the specific stimuli that trigger the reactive behaviour in your dog. It could be other dogs, strangers, certain sounds, or environments.

2. **Professional Guidance:**
- Consult with a professional dog trainer or behaviourist who specialises in reactive behaviour. They can provide personalised guidance based on your dog's specific issues.

3. **Positive Reinforcement Training:**
- Use positive reinforcement techniques to reward calm and non-reactive behaviour. Treats, praise, and affection are powerful motivators.

4. **Desensitization and Counterconditioning:**
- Gradually expose your dog to the trigger stimuli at a distance where they can remain calm. Reward them for calm behavior. Over time, gradually decrease the distance. This process is called desensitization.

5. **Create Positive Associations:**
- Pair the presence of triggers with positive experiences. For example, if your dog reacts to other dogs, have them associate the presence of other dogs with treats or playtime.

6. **Controlled Environments:**
- Initially, work in controlled environments where you can manage the exposure to triggers. Use a leash, harness, or other tools to maintain control during training sessions.

7. **Consistent Commands:**
- Teach and reinforce basic commands such as "sit," "stay," and "focus." These commands can help redirect your dog's attention and manage their behaviour in challenging situations.

8. **Exercise and Mental Stimulation:**
- Ensure your dog gets regular exercise and mental stimulation. A fulfilled and mentally engaged dog is less likely to react negatively to stimuli.

9. **Avoid Punishment:**
- Avoid using punishment as a means of correction, as it can increase fear and anxiety, leading to more reactive behaviour.

10. **Patience and Persistence:**
- Progress may be slow, and setbacks are common. Be patient, stay consistent, and celebrate small victories.

11. **Health Check:**
- Ensure your dog is in good health. Pain or discomfort will contribute to reactive behaviour, so consult with a veterinarian if needed.

Remember, working with a reactive dog can be challenging, and progress may take time. Consistency and positive reinforcement are key components of successful training. If the issues persist or worsen, seeking professional help is advisable.

25/02/2024

Part of training in an environment where there are other dogs & people present is having an awareness of what’s going on around us to ensure we make fair & responsible decisions not only for us but for those around us too.

Today I was working at the park and saw a dog wearing a prong collar and I immediately decided we were going to avoid that dog.

I didn't avoid him because I was concerned that he was a danger to my dog (he was on lead and far enough away that he posed no threat). And I didn't avoid him because I was concerned about my dog's behaviour. I gave that dog space because I didn't want to be the reason he was corrected on that collar. I wanted to make it as easy as possible for him to remain calm and avoid punishment.

If you see a dog being trained on a prong collar, or a shock collar, or a slip lead, or a choke chain help them by giving them space. Help them by diverting your own dog's attention from them to you. Help them by making it easier for them to keep calm and remain under threshold. Help them by not giving their handler anything to correct.