Here’s how to get it right👇🏼
For reactive/nervous dogs especially, we need to make sure we are keeping their noses down the whole time the trigger/distraction is present, to prevent any fixation and ensure we’re getting all the wonderful soothing benefits of sniffing and snuffling.
This means as your dog is finding the food, we need to make sure we are continually adding to the forage - dropping additional treats periodically to make sure the nose stays down.
Too often, we see a dog having a nice snuffle, then looking up, catching sight of the trigger and reacting.
The aim is to keep that nose down, keep the feel good hormones coming and prevent the reactive rehearsal and avoid the build up of stress.
And of course, this should go hand in hand with a nice bit of reconditioning to triggers.
Thank you to @dogtrainerjames for the idea for this post and permission to share it on my page - such an easy change to implement with big positive outcomes! 🙌🏻 Check his page out, if you haven’t already
#goldenretriever #dogenrichment #reactivedog #dogbehaviour
Peanut butter snoot 🥜 licking is a great activity for calming your dog.
If you notice that your dog/puppy has a ‘witching hour’ try preparing some licking activities ahead of time to give them during this period. It’s likely they’re overstimulated and could do with a wind down activity.
#dogtrainingtips #canineenrichment #goldenretriever
Do you stare in your dog’s eyes? You definitely should 🧡
…and I shouldn’t need to put this disclaimer but, just in case: do ✨not✨ stare into the eyes of dogs you do not know unless you want to get bitten 👌🏼
Source: Oxytocin-gaze positive loop and the convolution of human-dog bonds. Nagasawa et. al (2015).
#goldenretriever #dogtraining #dogbond
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Puppy session
Mindy’s first 1:1 as part of her Premium Puppy Package
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Chester & Rolo’s 2nd session to settle them both into their new forever home
Paw
Bella the dachshund learning ‘paw’ at puppy class