Happier Dogs - Training & Behaviour

30/04/2024

A dog's paws can tell us so much. 🐾

04/04/2024

*Enrollment closes on April 7* Join Scotti Harvey in collaboration with veterinarian Dr. Emma Harvey to learn how to raise a well-socialized, confident, and happy puppy with skills that will serve the dog well throughout life.

This LIVE virtual class is designed for trainers, breeders, and pet guardians who have a puppy or are thinking about getting one! Puppies can be as old as one year and as young as six weeks. Classes meet weekly on Zoom, with a coordinated video-based curriculum and an online discussion group for sharing progress and feedback.

Enrollment closes on April 7; spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
https://karenpryoracademy.com/live-classes/

While participating in the class live offers certain advantages, you can also participate in an on-demand format; you'll have access to the recordings and materials for a full year after enrollment.

13/01/2024

Why does Channel 5 think this kind of training is acceptable?

22/10/2023

After having a life threatening incident with my dog 12 years ago, never would I ever buy rawhide again…

25/07/2023

Count 1, 2, 3 and off we go

Thanks to Mighty Dog Graphics
Apparently there is a tendency for female dogs prefer to greet at the front end, males at the back end! I am going to do my own survey over the next couple of weeks.

27/06/2023

You cannot reinforce an emotion, only a behaviour.
🤔Think about it…

Behaviour and Emotion are two very separate things.

A behaviour is a way your dog acts in response to a stimulus or situation.

An emotion is an involuntary response to a stimulus or situation. This is the result of psychological and physiological changes that influence behaviour.

Emotions do not respond in the same way that behaviour does.

You can reinforce fear by actively doing something that could scare your dog when they are already afraid.

For example:

😫If your dog was sound sensitive and afraid of things like thunder, fireworks, truck/ or bike sounds, vacuum cleaner sounds, children shouting/ screaming etc…. by adding something the aversive like a cross face or scolding and shouting at the dog to not be ‘ridiculous’ or startle the dog by adding another loud sound, your dog will only continue to be scared and you would then be increasing the experience of fear by adding more fear.

👀 If you were afraid of heights and I forced you kicking and screaming near the edge of a cliff and told you to stop being ridiculous and get on with it, would that make you less fearful? Would your kicking and screaming behaviour be unacceptable behaviour or are you just trying to protect yourself?

👫 If we were on the edge of the cliff and I gently took your hand, and moved you away from the edge and said, “Come on, it’s ok, let's go this way so you don’t have to see it”, would that reinforce your fear, or would it make you feel a bit safer which would reduce your fear?

🧠 Dogs are not humans, and whilst animals do certainly have emotions, they are not intellectually advanced enough to experience the ‘higher’ more complex emotions that human’s experience. You do not need to over analyze or over complicate everything your dog does behaviorally. Comforting or distracting your dog when he/ she is genuinely scared can only help them to feel safer.

🐾You can distract your dog from a scary situation with some treats or toys. This can give your dog a moment of relief which can potentially reduce the experience of being scared. By repeating these interactions, you can pair a scary situation with something pleasant. This intern may reduce the emotion of fear.

🥓🤹‍♀️😘 By using treats, giving your dog affection, or distracting your very scared dog will not make their fear worse! They are a part of your family and comforting your dog when they are seeking reassurance can only help them to maybe feel a bit safer.

🐩If you are struggling and don’t know how to help your dog when your dog is behaving in a fearful manner then seek the advice of a force-free, positive reinforcement professional.

10/06/2023

Keep your dogs indoors in the cool 😎

Dogs don’t need a walk when it’s hot - welfare first

07/06/2023

In this episode, we are hanging out with returning guest, Kiki Yablon, to talk about a strategy, or a collection of training strategies, that fall under the umbrella of “stimulus-stimulus pairing”. This is a very nerdy-sounding term for a super practical concept that is perfect for lazy, impatient dog trainers like me! Plus it pulls in some of our favorite topics, like the interplay between classical and operant conditioning.

https://hannahbranigan.dog/podcast/176/

07/06/2023

07/04/2023

Easter is upon us. I don’t know about you but I love chocolate - especially crème eggs!
Most people love chocolate but it is highly
toxic to dogs. ❌🚫⚠️

There is a naturally occurring alkaloid in chocolate called Theobromine
Theobromine is the primary ingredient that is dangerous to dogs. This compound affects the heart and nervous system and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, seizures and even death at high doses.

So please be extremely careful with dogs around chocolate. Store them high up or in a secure tin or drawer.
If your dog does consume chocolate by accident get them to the vet straight away as ingestion can be fatal. Happy Easter 🐣 everyone. Have a great weekend ⚠️

23/03/2023

Why don’t I use these tools?

Because I just haven’t met a dog who needs them to create transformative results.

…and neither have you 😉

"Hello Dog Lovers from around the world and dog lovers from every pet-related field.

My name is Linda Michaels. I have a Master’s degree in Psychology and Animal Behavior and I’ve conducted research in a laboratory of Behavioral Neurobiology. In my private practice, my specializations in behavioral consulting are wolfdogs and domestic dog aggression cases.

Anyone who has studied animal behavior in earnest knows that using shock, prong and choke devices for dogs is not only unnecessary, but will typically elicit aggression or shut down behavior. This may well result in medical injuries, and very possibly in psychological damage that is “undoable”. That’s the saddest part. This isn’t the type of training that you can try and see if it works, and then decide, “Well, I think I’ll try something else”.

The dog training industry is sadly, entirely unregulated. So we must say “Buyer beware.” Nothing says, “I have no skill” like a dog trainer who uses a shock collar.

So, we’re going to take the shock collar that was just relinquished to me by my client a couple of hours ago...and throw it in the trash. Along with the remote that has 100 levels, and six levels of “boosters”...and throw it in the trash. This lovely dog was also wearing a prong collar. It looks innocuous – the prongs are hidden – but these prong are sharp and they hurt. Let’s throw it in the trash.

We ask you to please join us in the Do No Harm Dog Training Facebook Group. And also to use the Hierarchy of Dog Needs Standards of Care and Best Force-free Practices (available in seven languages) Please support the Pet Professional Guild Shock-free Coalition. And have a happy dog. Thank you."

23/03/2023

23/03/2023

Great information about socialisation

Socialisation doesn't mean socialising. It doesn't mean allowing your puppy or adolescent dog to interact with every dog they see. It doesn't mean they get to approach them, say 'hi' to them or play with them.

Socialisation means -

• teaching your puppy how to be relaxed about and unfazed by all the things (including, but not only, other dogs) they find themselves surrounded by on a daily basis
• teaching your puppy that they can ignore these things and NOT interact with them
• teaching your puppy that sometimes stuff is 'just there' and it's nothing for them to either be concerned about or excited by

Of course we want our puppies to learn how to interact politely but equally important is teaching them how NOT to interact. One of the single biggest things most puppy owners could do more of is teaching their puppy to ignore things instead of encouraging their puppy to interact with things. It will set you in good stead for the future and help keep your puppy safe.

"𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘈𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘯. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘠𝘰𝘨𝘪 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘰! 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘯𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘷𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘶𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 ‘𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵’ 𝘵𝘺𝘱𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘠𝘰𝘨𝘪 𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘰𝘨𝘴. 𝘞𝘦’𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘬. 𝘏𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘶𝘦𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯!" 𝘉𝘦𝘵𝘩, 𝘑𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘠𝘰𝘨𝘪 𝘹

23/03/2023

20/03/2023

This looks like fun

http://www.classicfestivalstickets.co.uk/

20/03/2023

Finally a tv programme with real trainers

Breaking news! A brand new series called The Dog Academy starts on March 30th on Channel 4 at 8pm (UK only). Watch some of the leading experts in dog training and behaviour tackle some complex doggy dilemmas and help repair fractured relationships between dogs and their people. You will laugh and cry at these beautiful stories and get some really cool teaching tips along the way. So tell your friends and come on this amazing journey with us. I hope you love it as much as we loved making it xx

20/03/2023

Anyone else’s dog manage to hold two balls at once?