Pet Boost

24/06/2024

10/06/2024

Do you know why a quick fix is neither an effective nor a good way of resolving your pet's behaviour problems? It's because lasting and ethical behaviour modification starts with gathering a lot of information to determine why the behaviour is occurring. The "why" can be different for each animal, even when the presented behaviours look the same. Only when we understand the reason behind the behaviour can we start creating an effective modification program. So, never trust a trainer who claims they can "fix" your pet with a few simple tricks without even taking the time to understand why your pet is exhibiting unwanted behaviour.

20/05/2024

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/canine-corner/202405/new-research-confirms-dogs-really-dont-like-being-hugged

A new study of videos of people hugging dogs showed frequent signs of stress and anxiety, and two thirds of the dogs responded by nipping or biting the hugger.

06/02/2024

The key to a good relation with our pets is to understand each others languages. Often we don't realise how good our animals are at reading our body language. But how good are your skills at reading your pet?

Decoding the delightful world of cat body language is essential for every cat enthusiast.​

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Understanding the nuanced language of cats is a cat guardian's superpower. ​

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Cats are mysterious and intricate beings. Knowing their body language deepens your connection, fostering a more meaningful bond.​

Recognizing stress signals allows you to create a calming environment, promoting your cat's mental and emotional well-being.​

Changes in body language can be early indicators of health issues. Understanding these signs enables prompt veterinary attention.​

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Acknowledging and responding to your cat's communication attempts builds trust, which for our feline companions, is a must have. This creates a safe living space for both humans and feline friends.​

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In this wonderful graphic created by the great Lili Chin from www.doggiedrawings.net you can get some idea of what your cat is trying to say. To learn even more about body language and behaviour in general, have a look at our Diploma in Animal behaviour, or email us at [email protected] for more information.

25/01/2024

4 reasons why punishment should be avoided - according to neuroscience 🧠

❤️‍🩹 Neuroplasticity: Recent studies in neuroscience have emphasized the importance of neuroplasticity in learning. Positive reinforcement can effectively shape behavior by reinforcing desirable neural pathways, rather than relying on punishment which does not directly promote the formation of these beneficial connections.

❤️‍🩹 Stress on the Brain: Research has shown that stress and anxiety can have a significant negative impact on brain function and learning. Punishment in dog training can induce stress, potentially impairing the dog's ability to learn and form positive associations with training. This is in line with the understanding that a stressed brain is less capable of effective learning and memory formation, as indicated by recent neuroscience findings.

❤️‍🩹 Dopamine in Learning: Dopamine, a neurotransmitter, plays a critical role in the reward and motivation systems of the brain. Positive reinforcement in dog training can increase dopamine release, which enhances the dog's motivation and pleasure in learning. Punishment does not engage the reward system in the same way, underscoring the efficacy of positive reinforcement.

❤️‍🩹 Cognitive and Emotional Effects: Emerging research also highlights the complex cognitive and emotional responses animals have to different stimuli. Punishment has been identified as more likely to lead to fear, anxiety, and aggression - all of which are not conducive to learning. In contrast, training methods that focus on positive reinforcement can foster a more positive emotional state, facilitating better learning and stronger bonds between the dog and guardian.

Modern neuroscience research supports the notion that punishment is not necessary in dog training. Instead, it advocates for methods that leverage the brain's capacity for neuroplasticity, engage the reward system, and create a positive learning environment. These approaches are more aligned with how the brain learns and adapts, leading to more effective and humane training practices.

ℹ️ Follow .plus.dogs for more modern, evidence based advice on dogs

11/11/2023

There's been a weird dog trainer phrase developed recently.

It's based on a strange idea that dog's need an element of harsh punishment if they have extreme behaviour.

Dogs behave in certain ways because they have learned to cope that way, they are showing us something, they are struggling, in pain or excited and don't know how to regulate their emotions.

Some dogs behave in extreme ways because they are carrying the imprint of trauma in their nervous systems.

The more extreme a dog's behaviour seems to be, the less safe they may feel.

Our job is not the behaviour, it's the safeness.

Safeness is crucial.

Want to learn more? We have a fantastic library of ever growing guest webinars within NICE. They are all about ethics.

Talk to us about joining NICE ⬇️⬇️

28/08/2023

26/07/2023

THE GIFT OF THE GROWL
Dogs don’t bite if a growl will suffice

Not all growling is a sign that a dog’s unhappy. Some growls may be part of a particular play style, seeking attention, from frustration or other reasons.

They may all sound a little different and may be unique to that particular dog.

This post is not about different types of growls, but about reactive, aggressive or early warning growls.

When a dog growls, especially when it’s directed at us, our natural human response is to feel offended and maybe even angry.

Surely dogs need to learn not to growl, growling is bad, it’s not acceptable, a problem that needs to be stopped or punished so a dog learns that it’s wrong, disrespectful and unacceptable, right?

This couldn’t be further from the truth! A dog that growls has just provided us with very valuable information. In their way, they have just told us how they feel without resorting to a bite.

Dogs use growling in an attempt to avoid having to resort to biting, not to initiate it. They could just as easily not have even bothered to growl and gone straight to a bite.

A dog that growls is trying to communicate how they feel. Ignoring or punishing it only suppresses this communication. Punishment increases the level of a dog's discomfort and creates more stress.

A dog that bites without the warning of a growl is a far more serious problem than a dog that growls but doesn’t bite.

Look for any other early warning signals that may precede a growl. Learn to recognise body language. Take note of what makes your dog feel uncomfortable and create distance or give them space.

Be grateful for the gift of a growl – the growl is an early warning signal that we need to respect, understand & acknowledge.

10/05/2023

Most of our clients nowadays are border collies owners, which indicates not only still raising popularity of the breed but also (and most of all) that people who decide on buying such dogs face difficulties in meeting the needs of the breed and they end up asking behaviourists for help so often. We receive many calls from the owners unhappy with their dogs behaviours and many of them seemed not to be aware of characteristic of the breed before buying such dog.

It seems to us that the difficulties of having a dog of this breed are not talked about often enough so we've decided to make this graphic with the hope of raising awareness of what you may get yourself into if you'll decide on buying a border collie.

08/03/2023

Life is aversive enough as it is...
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What do you do to make it a sweeter deal for your canine companion?
There are so many things we can desensitise and experiences that can be made more positive... 🥰💕

13/02/2023

Taking turns chasing, biting and being chased is a sign of healthy play....but NOT if its 80/20.

Loose and Wiggly. This is often a great sign of healthy play.

Dogs that play well often have bodies that are loose and wiggly. They can have open loose mouths, and the play is even .

Stiffness in either dog should be looked at closely, a dog that goes in again and again to nip when the other is down, or a dog that wants to play over and over with a dog that is clearly not interested....is not play.

Often dogs are forced to react when other dogs pester them for play, and that reaction is misinterpreted (by us) as play.

Loose and wiggly, 50/50, and always separate dogs if there is stiffness or it is obviously unequal.

The more positive experiences your dog has, the more it will continue to play well with others. The more negative experiences your dog has will form habits of playing with others that are inappropriate, and those habits can be hard to break.

Take the time to watch your dogs play, even if you have seen it hundreds of times.

Is it Loose ?
Is it Wiggly ?
Is it even ?
Is there chasing and being chased ?
Is it close to 50/50 ?
Are mouths and faces loose or tight?

Play is often misinterpreted and sometimes fresh eyes and a new perspective can often show us what we need to see...not what we WANT to see.

18/01/2023

Experts in feline behavior and welfare at Nottingham Trent University also found that paying close attention to cats' behavior and body language and thinking about where to stroke them were key when improving interactions between cats and people.

06/01/2023

07/12/2022

Ball chasing seems to be a popular pastime with people who have fit dogs. Not only will that make them fitter but it also adds strain to their joints which could cause arthritis later on. Mix in some different activities and even the fittest dog will be more inclined to relax more often.

27/11/2022

The use of even mild punishments in training can make dogs more stressed and more pessimistic compared to dogs who are trained with positive reinforcement-based methods. That’s an important conclusion of a study by Ana Catarina Vieira de Castro of Porto, Portugal and her colleagues. They recently ...

16/11/2022

We keep facing the misconception with our clients, that resolving behavioural problems of their dogs should be conducted with more corrections and restrictions than dogs are already facing, while the real and lasting progress starts when we give them more freedom to learn in their own pace and their natural ways and when we support them in the right decisions they make on their own.

25/10/2022

Do you know how to speak rat? Our rats are telling us how they are feeling all the time, whether or not we know it! Not all communication involves vocalizations. We can help improve our rats' lives by familiarizing ourselves with their body language. Check out this infographic that the incredible Doggie Drawings by Lili Chin made for Second Chance Heroes that shines some light on what our rats are communicating to us through their body.

09/10/2022

If you're not sure what's right and what's wrong in training your dog, stick to one rule and everything will go well. You won't harm your dog with empathy, but you can harm it with the lack of it.

30/09/2022

We cannot stress this enough.

When we punish dogs for growling, we aren't helping them feel better about whatever it is that is threatening them. Instead, we are teaching to stop letting us know when they feel unsafe.

The result? A dog who stops giving warning signs and "bites out of the blue."

20/09/2022

The real change of behaviour that has been practiced for a long time requires a long time the same as it is with changing any of our own habits. No quick fix is going to give you lasting results.

THE QUICK FIX AND THE UNICORN
Neither exist – especially when it comes to changing behaviour.
Want to lose weight? A quick fix of diet pills, meal replacements or slimming machines will be short-lived even if it initially appears to be successful. To succeed we will need to put in effort, change our mind set, be mindful of emotions, eat less or differently and exercise – there is no quick fix. Want to get a degree – hard work, long hours, dedication and effort is the only way. The same applies to changing behaviour, whether it be that of our dogs or ourselves.
We live in a society where we want quick fixes for everything. Our lives are often so busy, stressful and complicated enough without having to even think about spending time and effort in trying to “fix” our dog’s problems. Just slap on a shock collar, choke chain, use a spray bottle, a shake can or send them off to a board and train facility to sort them quickly, or why not find a trainer that guarantees quick results? These are not quick fixes and will come at a cost.
The cost of not addressing the reason and the emotion behind the behaviour. The cost of destroying trust, bonds and relationship, the risk of creating other problems by using fear and pain to control and train a dog. The cost of creating a fearful, anxious and reactive dog because of the “quick fix”.
Changing behaviour takes time, it requires understanding, dedication, consistency and patience, but the results of “fixing” something the right way, are worth it.

29/08/2022

Isn't it already good enough reason to practice positive training methods?

When dogs are trained with methods such as leash jerks, yelling, and shock collars, they have worse welfare than dogs trained solely with food rewards

28/07/2022

Do you always check the temperature of the ground when you walk your dog on hot days? Paw burns are more common than we think.

20/07/2022

Sounds like the perfect solution... kids itching to walk their new dog + over-stretched parents thrilled that their children are taking responsibility and lightening the workload! What's not to love?

Actually quite a LOT.

I can't tell you how many disappointed faces I see when I try to explain why a child walking a dog ALONE *might NOT be* the best idea for anyone!!?

And I get totally it.

If this is your first family dog, a quick spin around the block may look harmless enough - until you consider ALL of the things that can (and DO) go wrong.

Even (mentally and physically) FULLY-GROWN ADULTS get pulled down to the ground, or dragged over to squirrels, skateboards and the neighborhood cat. They accidentally drop leashes, or watch helplessly as their pup slips their collar. They struggle to control their dog around other dogs, or conversely, they panic or freeze when an off-leash dog comes sprinting full-speed towards them (friendly or not friendly.. who knows? They’ll likely find out when it’s too late!)

And this is ONLY a handful of the things that can happen to GROWN UPS… so for kids the stakes are simply exponentially higher.

As a trainer, I’m pretty calculated about where I go, and when I walk my dogs my radar is always activated. Even still, I’ve personally had to dash after my loose dog, I’ve been bitten by a dog who was attacking mine, I’ve seen a dog run over in a school parking lot, and watched a child be literally dragged for 50ft against her will!

So, I hope by sharing the potential risks with you, you can make informed choices about your family dog walking situation:

Here’s my hotlist of things to consider:

Size - of child and dog
Strength - of child and dog
Maturity - of child and dog
Training - of child and dog
Temperament - of child and dog

Then download, print and share our poster.
THESE are my questions to help families size up the COMBINATION of their dog and child to see whether WALKING ALONE together is a SMART call.

For more info for kids, dogs and making EVERYONE'S life SAFE and HAPPY - go to thefamilydog.com/families