Tails Therapy

16/09/2023

In light of the news about XL Bully's being added to Dangerous Dog Act towards the end of the year, I would like to offer some advice to all owners.
Once the physical measurements that determine if a dog is an XL Bully have been decided, the register will be opened.
This means there is going to be a period of time for owners to apply to have their dogs put on the Banned Breeds Exemption Register.
In advance of this, there are several things you can do which will help prove you are a responsible XL Bully owner.
These are:
1. Have your dog neutered.
If your dog is seized, the police will have your dog neutered for you. They will then have to recover from the surgery in police kennels!!! They will not receive the care you would give them!!!
2. Muzzle train your dog.
Gettting them used to a muzzle will save your dog the stress of suddenly having to wear one.
3. Train your dog to be calm, under your control and well behaved in public.
Being able to present a well behaved dog under control will go towards proving you are a responsible owner.
4. Help your dog feel comfortable being touched and handled by strangers.
If a police officer approaches your dog and it doesn't react to their attention, it will go a long way to preventing further action.
5. Make sure your dog is microchipped and the details are up to date.
● Remember, if the police stop you and seize your dog-DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING!!!!
Doing so means your dog could be put to sleep if the police decide it is a banned breed!
● Contact a dog law specialist, many can be found on FB.
If anyone is concerned about the effects the new law will have on their dog, there is information available. If you feel you need help training your dog, please contact a qualified, experienced dog trainer or behaviourist.
I am happy to help anyone with an XL Bully or suspected one with training, behaviour, or advice around the new law.

03/08/2023

This beautiful yearling mini cob filly had been in a herd so wasnt used to being handled. I've spent a few weeks building her trust with food rewards, going at her pace so as not to overwhelm her. Today my patience was rewarded with her letting me put a headcollar on her and giving her a good pampering!
There's no rushing a youngster, go at their pace and build that foundation and their trust. It pays off a million times in the long run!

02/08/2023

First carriage driving event completed. My fantastic groom with her navigational skills and backstepping manoeuvres meant we came 1st in the novice cones section and 6th in the dressage! Not bad driving a pony that isn't used the environment and who I haven't much experience with! Hope to go back next year with my own pony to see what we can achieve!

21/03/2023

A new venture is on the horizon! Hence the silence, apologies! I have taken up driving and will be competing this year with my cracking Welsh A filly. Looks like coaching is on the cards too as well as some talks/demonstrations.
I will keep the page ticking over until summer when I will have more time to fill you in and put some dates up for the massage days.

29/07/2022

27/07/2022

A great video showing how a harness changes your dogs gait. Something to consider when choosing between collar and harness!

27/07/2022

No matter how many times I've been asked over the years, I still get a sinking feeling every time someone asks me to stop their dog barking at the doorbell or someone standing outside their window.

Or the dog barks if he hears a bump from the neighbors upstairs.

It's even worse when someone chooses a guardian breed then complains it guards.

It's natural for dogs to bark at perceived intruders they don't know the difference between the window cleaner and someone breaking in your window.

They don't know the difference between the guy delivering a leaflet or the guy trying your door handle to see if you left it unlocked.

They don't know the difference between the neighbors upstairs dropping something on the floor or someone trying to break into your house.

I have never and will never debark a dog.

27/07/2022

Training is about balance. Positive reinforcement and correction. Ignoring unwanted behaviour can achieve the desire result but not if it is self-rewarding for the dog. The behaviour will continue without positive correction being used.

How come those positive only trainers who spend their day criticising everyone else always have sad stressed out dogs they can't take places?

Proof is in the pudding 😉

19/07/2022

This is a really interesting read and helps explain the different types of aggression out dogs can suffer with.

The Different Types of Aggression in Dogs Fear Aggression: This is the most common form of aggression is one of the main reasons dogs are euthanised or rehomed. At least 30%...

18/07/2022

Very lucky that my puppy and dogs training classes have been cancelled for today and tomorrow. Too hot, especially for puppies. I don't think I could concentrate, let alone expect them to!
Just a quick reminder to check how hot your patio is in the sun. Something I hadn't really thought about until walking out to the garden barefoot yesterday afternoon!
Stay cool everyone, drink lots and chill out like your dog! 😊

11/07/2022

Myth busting Monday: “When meeting a dog, make sure you put your hand out for them to smell!”

This post is inspired by some people watching I did yesterday.

The scene: an idyllic suburban street with loads of foot traffic

The players: an older gentleman and a young woman walking a dark brown labradoodle dog

The older gentleman approached the young woman in a calm manner, and I think probably asked if he could say hi to the dog (at least I hope that’s the conversation that took place!). It should be noted that the dog was already slightly apprehensive in his body language; he was leaning back, his tail was lowering, and he looked concerned. I assume the woman said yes to meeting the dog, because the man then approached the dog and reached his hand out to the dog for the dog to sniff.

The dog continued to back up, and when he hit the end of the leash and felt the option to move further was removed, he started to bark and growl at the man. The man looked taken aback but continued to try to convince the dog that he was friendly by moving closer with his hand.

This scene plays out every day all across the world because for some reason someone once said “when meeting a dog make sure you stick your hand out for them to smell” and now everyone in the world thinks this is the way to greet a dog properly.

Your dog has over 100 million scent receptors in their nose, compared to our measly 6 million. I can promise you, a dog can smell you from down the block, they do not need you to stick your hand in their face in order to smell you! In fact, if a dog is at all worried about you, sticking your hand in their face is just about the worst thing you can do.

So what to do instead? Well, first off, read the dog! If the old man or the owner in the story above had paid attention to the dog’s body language they both would have said “hey you know what, I’m not sure he’s ready to say hi to you yet”, and the dog never would have been pushed to bark and growl.

If the dog looks relaxed, happy, and ready to say hi, let the dog approach you, and if they seem eager for petting or contact try petting them with one hand only in a neutral area, under the chin, on the chest, or on their side for a few seconds, then remove your hand to see if they’re comfortable and would like more petting.

If the dog doesn’t solicit petting or seem eager for you to interact with them directly, just ignore them, give them space and time, and don’t try to push your interactions on them. Often times we want to convince the dog that they can trust us in ways that most fearful dogs find very scary; instead of staring at them, talking to them, or sticking your hand in their face, just pretend they don’t exist and chat with their owner. Respect that the dog may not be ready yet for more direct interaction with you.

There is literally no valid reason to make putting your hand in a dog’s face the way that you greet familiar or unfamiliar dogs, so try to retrain your own interactions with dogs, and let your friends and family know this as well!

01/07/2022

The best comparison I've seen!!!

Working line- what does it actually mean? Obviously with some show lines we forfeit functionality in the place of looks and appearance, but regardless of this, it’s best to go in fully informed when buying a pup.
The most common working line dog we see with issues due to under stimulation is the working cocker spaniel.

01/07/2022

Copied from Stephanie Lynn, all credit to her!!! 🐾

Before you get a puppy, take the Puppy Test.

Best taken in the autumn or mid winter.

1. Buy a lead and tie it to a big stone, walk around dragging the stone behind you.
2. Get up at 5am, go out in the pouring rain and walk up and down a muddy path, repeating good girl/boy, wee wees...poo poos, quickly please
3. Stuff your pockets with plastic bags and pick up all the poo you can find, obviously not your dogs as you have not bought it yet ??
4. Start wearing your shoes indoors, especially during muddy times
5. Collect leaves off the ground and spread them on the floor
6. Carry sticks and branches indoors and chop them up on your carpet
7. Pour cold apple juice on the rug and floor....walk barefooted over it in the dark
8. Drop some chocolate pudding on your carpet in the morning and then try to clean it in the evening
9. Wear socks to which you have made holes using a blender
10. Jump out of your favorite chair just before the movie ends and run to open the back door
11. Cover all your best clothes with dog hair, dark clothes with blond hairs and light clothes with dark hairs
12. Tip all just ironed clothes on the floor
13. Make little pin holes in all your furniture, especially chair and table legs
14. When doing dishes, splash water all over the place and don't wipe it.
15. Spread toilet paper all over the house when you leave the house and tidy up when you get back home
16. Forget any impulse holidays and/or breaks
17. Always go straight home after work or school
18. Go for walks no matter what the weather, and inspect every dirty paper, chewing gum and dead fly you might find
19. Stand at your back door at five in the morning shouting, "Bring Mr Bumble and Mr Lion in, its raining.”
20. Wake up at 3am. Place a correct size bag of flour on top of yourself and try to sleep, whilst wiping your face with a dishcloth, which you have left next to your bed in a bowl last week.
Repeat everyday over 6 months and if you still think getting a puppy sounds like a good idea, Congratulations, you might be ready to get your puppy.

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30/06/2022

WHAT DO FEMALE HORMONES DO TO YOUR 🐶 DOG'S BEHAVIOUR AND WHAT TO DO TO HELP? 👇

29/06/2022

Something to think about. What are your thoughts?

27/06/2022

I'm sat reading, not for the first time, this amazing, funny, simple to follow, puppy training book. It is a must have!!!!! Steve Mann is a great dog trainer who has an amazing ability to put pen to paper.
All Puppy Owners Should Read This Book!!!!! 🐾

22/06/2022

I am seeing posts of dogs dying of heat stroke, TODAY!!! THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING!!!!!!! With all the warnings and information available, it is unbelievable that dogs are still dying! Please feel free to share any of these charts. Let's educate the idiots that still think their dog will be fine!!!

03/06/2022

This is a great way of explaining our dogs body language with regard to their stress level.

31/05/2022

Some tips to help separation anxiety in our dogs.

31/05/2022

30/05/2022

A great way of describing what is going on with our adolescent dogs!

Ever wondered why a puppy's behavior seems erratic during adolescence, which occurs between six months and 18 months of age?

The neurobiology of adolescence is fascinating, with some key events that alter both the structure and function of the brain.

During canine adolescence, s*x hormones are changing which effects the animals stress responses. Adolescent dogs have a decreased ability to modulate sensory processing and subsequent behavior.

The connectivity between the frontal cortex (responsible for decision making) and amygdala (responsible for emotional processing) decreases, resulting in less behavioral control.

So what does this mean? This could mean that your dog, who used to come when called, suddenly cannot. This could mean that your dog, who didn't jump up on guests, suddenly does. Your dog that walked nicely on leash is now pulling. Or perhaps it seems like some days your dog responds to behaviors you ask of them, and some days they don't, without any rhyme or reason.

We also see increased risk taking and more sensitivity to fear.

As your puppy undergoes this transition into adulthood their inner world is intense, even chaotic. Many pet owners experience an increase in undesirable behavior and find themselves becoming increasingly frustrated. In turn, frustration and impatience sometimes cause us to act unpredictably.

This adds to your puppy’s inner turmoil. When the inside and the outside are both unpredictable it can be difficult for puppies to adjust.

By understanding this we can gain greater compassion and understanding. When we approach adolescence with patience we can help create a world that is predictable and gentle so our puppies grow up to be their best selves.

29/05/2022

**PUBLIC WARNING**

Please do not let your dog's poo on farmer's fields, especially when you see them like this! This is winter food for the animals!!!!

You may possibly cause Neosporosis / Abortion of which could even lead to a cull.

All our fields without livestock will soon be cut for silage so we please ask you all to be super vigilant and pick up your dogs poo 🙏

Thank You in advance

21/05/2022

Could not have said it better myself!!!

Over the last few days I’ve seen a few adverts on social media claiming the secrets to dog training for a small fee

Or

Secret to recall, loose lead walking.

It’s all a bunch of s**t!

Here’s a secret…..THERE ISN’T ONE !!!!

It’s called hard work

There’s so many variables to training a dog.

Genetics, traits, handling ability and so much more

If you pay £30 you get £30 worth of knowledge, it’s that simple.

Trainers pop up all the time as all you need to say you’re a trainer is public liability insurance, T-shirt and a social media platform.

There’s no uk governing body for dog trainers so there’s so many muppets out there unfortunately.

I spent two years walking unruly dogs, shadowing and learning before I even contemplated calling myself a trainer.

I’ve still got so much to learn in this industry and I love that. It’s never ending!

The letters after my name mean f**k all if I can’t help you and your dog.

Back to work now

Brad

21/05/2022

This is a really honest read. Sometimes a dog just doesn't settle in a home. The best thing for that dog is to find it a more suitable one. This isn't a get out of jail free card for owners who want to swap their dog for a different breed or because they've had enough of the dog! This is has the dogs best interest at heart. Have a read and see what you think.

WARNING! CONTROVERSIAL OPINION AHEAD!

WHEN DOING THE RIGHT THING MEANS A NEW HOME FOR OUR DOGS

Last week, friend and follower Ann said such a brave thing... sometimes doing right for our dogs means admitting our home (and our skills, sometimes) aren't right for the dog.

Such an important message and one that is hard for everyone to hear among all the well-meant but thoughtless and uncompassionate comments about dogs being for life and other such.

Just so you know, I've been that woman who's had to take in surrendered dogs at the shelter. I've been the one who has hard to return foster dogs there too. I know how hard it is for the dogs and, more than you might, how hard that can be for the guardian too. You can't work in a large, open-access shelter taking in surrenders and think that it's black and white for very long.

That said, it doesn't mean there aren't idiots and knobheads. That goes without saying!

But I've also seen desperate guardians trying to do the right thing.

The dog in the photo behind my handsome boy Heston is Effel. He died earlier in the year at a grand old age having spent 4 years in his adoptive home. He lived with me for 18 months in foster.

Why didn't I keep him, dear follower?

How cruel I am for letting him go! What kind of dog trainer am I?

Firstly, I'm the dog trainer that helped him settle after he lost one guardian, and then another. I'm the trainer that stopped him chasing cows and sheep. I'm the trainer who changed his mind about cars and bicycles. I also got him to play, for the first time in his life.

So, you can keep your Judge Judies to yourself on that score.

How could I be so cruel?

Because the camera here, it lies. It shows you two dogs who look like buddies, doesn't it?

They weren't.

I mean, they didn't have daily or even monthly confrontations, but Effel could not tolerate Heston. There was a constant, residual tension that emanated from Effel that needed a fair bit of management. I couldn't let Heston off lead, for instance, because Effel could not tolerate Heston running.

I often thought that Effel was the reincarnated spirit of a dead friend, Mark. He too was a larger-than-life nightmare-on-legs. I rehomed him at 17 and fostered him in his 40s. Dog, gerbil, cat or human, my home is there for those who need it.

But living with Mark was also hard work. Let's not talk about being woken up by 14 stone of bloke crashing around at 4am because he'd rather wander through a dark, strange house and try and get out for a cigarette rather than smoke out of the bloody window like I told him to.

I loved Mark very dearly, but I couldn't live with him.

I felt the same for Effel. I loved him dearly. He is my kind of dog. Big appetite, absolutely nutty, also liked crashing about in the night. Also scared off potential burglars. Couldn't live with him, either.

Or, more precisely, he couldn't really live with Heston.

So, dear follower, I know what it is to relinquish a good dog who struggles in your home and who'd thrive, as Effel did, in another. I know what it is to weep because it's just not working, even though it's okay.

We all deserve to live our best lives, and if a dog can live their best life somewhere else, then not a one of us should stand in judgement over that. It is often the toughest choice we can ever make.

Did I feel hurt that Effel lived a better life somewhere else?

Not at all.

Did I feel shame for having fostered for 18 months and never adopted?

No, although people tried to make me feel shame about it.

Being a dog trainer is often to be party to the most intimate aspects of a client's life... it's to know their sadness, their disenfranchised grief, their frustration, their despondency. It's to know just how hard they tried.

It's also to know that sometimes they didn't try, really.

And that's fine too.

Ain't nobody's business but theirs. I know that they're probably still living with shame and a sense of failure, with the 'what ifs'.

I don't reserve my understanding simply for people who pass my arbitrary level of "How Much Trying Is Enough Trying That I Don't Have To Feel Judgey But I Can Feel Compassion."

If you're at the point where you're wondering if a different home would be better, don't worry. I get it. I really do. Been there. Felt that. Totally get it.

PS If you're at this point because your dog is a teenager, I think that is perfectly normal. If you haven't wept with frustration living with a teenage dog, then I would like to know where your dog came from please, and what you did.

Peace out, dog lovers. Let's remember the love. We're all just sinners sinning differently.

Emma
Lighten Up Dog Training

13/05/2022

Dogs aren't robots, they have feelings and moods. Ask yourself why your dog isn't doing what you've asked, don't just think they are being deliberately disobedient 😉

I train my dogs to be disobedient.

By that, I mean:
-Nine times out of ten, when I ask my dogs to do something, I do just that. I ask, I don’t tell. If they don’t do it, they’re giving me information as to why. Perhaps my dog isn’t sitting because the environment is too distracting, maybe my dog isn’t jumping because her leg hurts, maybe they aren’t doing perfect loose lead walking because they’re afraid of something and want to move away from it. Perfect obedience removes a level of communication, and I want my dogs to feel comfortable saying “I’m struggling with that request,” instead of just obeying.

-I want my dogs to be free-thinkers. I want their training to be habitual, not always prompted. Many dog trainers want to control their dog’s every movement, but I want my guys to have more freedom, I want to trust them to make good decisions instead of micromanaging everything. Through positive reinforcement of those good decisions, such as disengaging from something exciting, checking in with me on walks and applying their impulse control by not chasing everything that moves, they are more likely to make those same good decisions in the future.

-I actively encourage my dogs to be “naughty”. Or, as I see it, adventurous. I teach them how to swim so they can go wading through streams, I show them how to climb trees, to jump on benches, to crawl over furniture. I encourage hole digging, rolling in the grass, ripping up cardboard, howling sessions and ingenious ways of stealing treats. I want them to be confident, intelligent and innovative in their thinking.

-My dogs are allowed to tell me what to do, to make decisions and to tell me off. They can request a play or training session, they can choose where to go on walks, they can tell me if they don’t want me to move them when they’re sleepy, if they don’t want to be picked up, if they aren’t feeling up for a walk today. They’re allowed their own opinions, and those opinions are valid.

When you share your life with a dog, there are two individuals in that relationship. Your dog shouldn’t have to do exactly what you say and cater to your every whim, regardless of how they’re feeling. And vice versa. Dog ownership should be symbiotic, allowing dog and owner to be their best selves.

So many people think that we need to exert control over our dogs, but good training is all about providing freedoms.

09/05/2022

I absolutely love this!!!!!!!

My dog doesn't want to say hi.

Period.

Full stop.

No, it doesn't matter that your dog is friendly.
No, we don't care that you've owned dogs your entire life.
No, I don't owe you an explanation for why he needs space.
No, I don't need to defend my dog's boundaries to satisfy you.

My dog needs space. That's a complete sentence. That's all you need to know.

It's your responsibility as a human to hear that and respect that. There could be 100 different reasons why I am making this request - those reasons don't matter.

Please respect our space. Respect our words. Respect our boundaries.

My dog doesn't want to say hi.

30/04/2022

This is a long read, but highlights just how important it is to choose the right dog trainer! So many adverts offering a "quickfix" or video's of "before and after" with no mention of how the trainer helped the dog get to the end result! Ask what methods the trainer uses, if they use training aids or still believe in dominance and pack hierarchy. Choose wisely!!!

😎 DON'T BE SEDUCED BY MAGICAL 'BEFORE' & 'AFTER VIDEOS OF DOG TRAINING'
.. especially if they promise you miracle results in 3 minutes and you can't see what they're doing.

🤬 On Thursday evening, I had a chat with a lovely friend about her dogs. We talked about a trainer who lives locally to her. He is known for kicking his dogs. In fact, he's really not supposed to be training anymore. He passed his training enterprise on to a young associate, but unfortunately this thug can't see his way clear to stopping his interference.

🤬 His solution for reactive dogs is to bring in another dog and kick the dog in the ribs if there's any reaction. I wish I were kidding.

🤬 A client told me her dog bit him in the calf for doing this. I won't tell you what he did when the dog bit him. One thing is that he didn't report it, which he's supposed to. Why? Because somewhere there'd be a record of how often he gets bitten.

🤬 Another client told me how he pinned her stranger-reactive dog down to be handled by unfamiliar humans. He bit the trainer over twenty times.

Oh, you think this is bad?

🤬🤬 On FRIDAY morning, I had a catch up with a student. We talked about the PROLIFERATION of abusive videos. She told me that one trainer near her puts a plastic bag over the head of dogs who bark!!! 🤬🤬 🤬🤬 🤬🤬 🤬🤬

🤬🤬 On FRIDAY evening, I had a chat online with a colleague who told me her nearest trainer charges £700 and won't even tell his clients what he does to the dogs in his alleged BOOT CAMP.

🤔 If trainers are happy to video themselves yanking and jerking dogs and stick it on Facebook, or they won't show you (or tell you!) their methods, then the likelihood is they'll doing much worse things OFF screen.

If they'll do THAT on screen, WHAT are they doing off screen? 🤔

If they won't TELL you or SHOW you in advance, WHAT are their methods?

Get the hell out of there!

* * * * * *

I work with reactive dogs every single day.

I NEVER video clients' dogs reacting to put the video on social media. You'll NEVER see a 'before' and 'after' video from me.

Sometimes, I video some behaviours so we can unpick what's happening. Yesterday morning, we videoed a client's dog so we could rule out a couple of different things and identify precisely what will change behaviour. The barking at the window, he told me this morning, has stopped completely.

1 day.

Solution? Freely available on Woof Like To Meet along with how to videos. And an 'after' video of my own dogs. Every single step is available for public scrutiny.

No surprises.

Sometimes it takes a few days of consistent application and a bit of management as well, but it works. 1 day is not the norm! It's great but it's not THAT quick!

I don't video my clients for social media because I've not got a fragile ego the size of China that needs feeding. I don't need adulation. I don't even need the advertising, actually. I share for free because it helps. When there's stuff that works to make dogs' lives better, we shouldn't be having to pay for it without knowing what it is.

There's a simple reason trainers do this. It's because they know if they published video ...

A) it would leave them wide open to prosecution. Video is how most trainers in France have been 'retired from service' let's say. That's a polite way of putting it.

B) Even if they kept within the law, they'd have no clients. They know they've seduced to you in with their 3-minute miracle wonder pill advert and they're playing with the way you think of them as an expert. They rely on our fear and our manners.

Most of the clients I have who've had these experiences are afraid because their dogs bit the trainer and if they prosecute or protest in public, they fear their dog would be seized and euthanised. They're too afraid to even go to the police to register the bite. It's a shame, because if they did or they had,
then there would be a record of just how many times the 'trainer' had been bitten. Unfortunately, there are risks of 9 month sentences and 15000€ fines in France, as well as being strong-armed into euthanising or relinquishing the dog, so you can see why they're afraid.

Also, and no offence, the kind of people with £700 to fix a dog are affluent, middle-class people who tend not to make a scene. It's why they like female clients. They despise women as much as they despise dogs. They play on our weaknesses just as they play on our dog's restraint.

These guys are slamming out hundreds of cryptic and magical paid adverts because 3-minute wonder pills are illegal, abusive and ineffective. They're cashing in before laws change, before they're caught or before someone gets video of them sticking a plastic bag over a dog's head and shares it on social media. Careers are ruined on abuse footage and social outrage is huge.

If we can't tolerate footballers kicking cats, or women putting cats in bins, then why are we tolerating thugs who terrify our dogs?

Please don't be so set on the promise of a quick fix that you'd go along with this crap! If there really was a 3-minute wonder pill, I promise you I'd give it you for free.

You're not a bunch of animal abusers. Demand better.

26/04/2022

HOW TO FIND A GOOD DOG TRAINER!
With so many dog trainers around as well as online training, it can be difficult choosing a good dog trainer. Here's a few tips to help you.
● What are the trainers qualifications - have they just done an online course and called themselves a dog trainer/behaviourist? A person can learn a lot about the theory of dog training and behaviour online and there are some great courses available, but not all courses are equal! Check which your trainer has done and if they studied dog training and behaviour specifically.
● What experience do they have of working with dogs and people? - Experience goes a long way! Have they shadowed at training classes and taken classes supervised before? Have they worked with other peoples dogs and not just their own?
● Do they have insurance for times when things go wrong?
● Do they claim to be able to fix any issues in a short time? - Training a dog takes time and consistency, there are no short cuts!!!!
● Do they use a "one technique fixes all problems" attitude? A good trainer will adapt their training to suit each dog. No two dogs learn the same or are motivated by the same things!
● Do they use training aids - slip leads, headcollars, spray collars or any other device to "cure" behaviour?
● Most importantly - do they use kind, reward based training that you and your dog will find fun and easy to understand?
Please do your research before going to a trainer/behaviourist. That person may end up doing more harm than good!