Arlo the Bardino & Natalie Sargent

Rocky’s brought the puppy back out of Arlo 🥰 #bestbuds #dogplay #bardino

Left over cardboard packaging makes for an awesome, cheap bit of enrichment. Dissecting is a natural behaviour, if you allow an outlet for it you can help prevent unwanted destruction #canineenrichment #freedogtoys #mentalstimulationfordogs

🇮🇨 Feliz Día de Canarias!!! 🇮🇨 #diadecanarias #bardino #podencocanario #cochinonegrocanario #animalesdecanarias

This is massive for Arlo. Until very recently, unless 100% supervised, he’d react badly to any of the other dogs going for the same treat on the floor as him. I’ve done a lot of work to help him to feel relaxed doing this, to know that there’s plenty to go around and he really doesn’t need to guard. Too many big personalities under one roof can take some management, today we have harmony 💕 #multidoghousehold #mentalenrichment #scatterfeeding #canineadolescence

For some reason Arlo really likes this. This video is maybe the 4th time we did it. I’m just trying to get him to be a little bit aware of his back end and how to move it. The length he is, he really doesn’t need to move anything other than his head to reach the treat! Also, using muscle groups in a slightly different way is as good for him physically as it would be for us. Using his brain to figure it out is beautifully mentally enriching too. So much so that he’s fast asleep as my feet 5 minutes later 💕 #arlothebardino #pawsup #rearendawareness

Adolescence. A period of development that everyone should know about, but few people seem to. We all know, and expect, the puppy stage to be hard work, but few people are prepared for the teenage months. This is the time when so many dogs go up for rehoming, or find themselves handed in to shelters. Why? Hormones. Females gearing up for their first season, males flooded with testosterone. And just like in human teenagers this can have a big effect on their behaviour. The brain is rewiring at this age. From as early as 6 months until up to 2 years the puppy brain goes through massive changes causing fluctuation in behaviour. The body has also gone through a period of rapid growth, leaving you with an adult sized dog with a puppy brain. A puppy that has to relearn how to use this great big body. Even something as simple as a sit, they have to approach it differently, and may regress a bit in their training. Breed will out. Adolescence is often a time when you will see breed specific characteristics come into play. Herders start to chase movement, guardian breeds start taking on the world. And these behaviours can be quite exaggerated for a period. It’s important to remember that this period will pass, but you may need some help through it. Understanding and managing the environment can be crucial. And with some dogs, it’s really not easy. This week, Arlo’s had one day where he felt he needed to take on all the other dogs in the house. Play with his usual best mate tipped dangerously close to going over the edge a couple of times. I did have to remove him and keep contact with the others to a minimum for one day (and there will be other bad days!) Happily, for the time being at least, normal equilibrium has returned 💕 #canineadolescence #teenagedog #notapuppynotanadult #dogbehaviour #bardino

The knock in effect of teaching Arlo how is like him to behave when he’s loose with the birds (post yesterday @natalielovedogs ) is that the chickens and ducks have also learned. They have no need to move out of his way, or worry that he’s coming through. Positive results all round 💕 #lovedogslanzarote #positivereinforcement #rewardbaseddogtraining #bardino #dogsandchickens #dogsandducks

10 months old. Building up a bit of strength in that super long body #bardino #pawsup #lovedogslanzarote

Learning how to chill out and not chase the kids ball (and puncture it like he did 5 minutes before this 🙄🤦‍♀️) Set your puppy up to succeed 💪 #lovedogslanzarote #bardino #learningeveryday

Training without building frustration (actually what we’re covering in a group class tomorrow @natalielovedogs ) Holding a position can be very boring and very frustrating, especially for a young, adolescent dog. Here, Arlo has just completed 2 sits with duration and when I ask for a 3rd he lets me know that he’s getting fed up. So, we switch position and make it a bit easier. Always take your cue from your dogs. They’re not machines, and how they’re feeling is the most important thing #lovedogs #trainingwithoutfrustration #trainingwithyourdog

Is there anything lovelier than watching your dogs play? #lovedogs #dogsplaying #rescuedogs #morningplaytime

Too hot to play outside. Or even get up off the floor 😁 #whenbigdogsplay #stbernard #bardino #stbernardandbardino

Started teaching a ‘through’ 💕 #puppytraining #trainingwithdistractions #lovedogslanzarote #bardino #lovedogs

Good job I’ve got someone to protect me from that scary lawnmower 😁 #guarddog #bardino #justdoinghisjob

Herding breed that was chasing the chickens to a puppy that can just mooch amongst them. Real life dog training; teaching skills that are specific to your dog, your home, your lifestyle, your needs #lovedogslanzarote #reallifedogtraining #doglifeskills #bardino #puppyskills #puppytraining

He’ll be 5 months next week and we’re definitely leaving the puppy ‘I’ll try anything’ phase and entering the ‘if it’s new it might be something to worry about’ phase. This is why for the first few months it’s so important to introduce your puppy to as many different places and experiences as possible. After this initial period it’s starts to become a little harder, it’s not impossible to continue with introductions to new things, it’s just your puppy is not so open. This morning Arlo encountered a scary wooden bridge, that probably wouldn’t have bothered him a few weeks ago. I didn’t force him, let him take his time, and he was a big, brave boy about it 💪💕 #puppyexperiences #bardino #puppygrowingup #lovedogslanzarote #puppycriticalsensitiveperiods

I hid it while he wasn’t looking. He knows I went outside with it, but didn’t know I was hiding it. Took him a minute to realise that he had to look for it. What I love about this is that he’s clearly using his nose, not his eyes. He can smell it, but thinks the scent is coming from higher up. Figures it out though 😍#thenoseknows #canineenrichment