K9 Care Dog Training

02/10/2024

Not my words but this my dog training philosophy.

For those of you who are not already aware, I am a reward-based dog behavioural trainer. I focus on finding incentives for the correct behaviour with EVERY dog I work with, whatever issues it has. However, sometimes although aware of the reward being offered, the dog disregards it, as it has already chosen what it considers to be a more profitable one. Some of you reading this may have already found this. You offer your dog a treat to stop it barking at another dog, but it ignores the treat as it finds the barking more rewarding. Or you offer it a toy to stop it from chasing a squirrel, but it ignores the toy, as chasing the squirrel is much more fun.
Much as I would love to train the dog using only rewards, sometimes there is no reward I can offer greater than the one the dog can get itself. So what do I do now?
A force-free or reward-only trainer may tell you to ignore the bad behaviour and it will just go away given time. But you've probably already found that although a great theory, it really doesn't work well in practice. In reality, the training that works the quickest, and the most effectively in my humble opinion, is if the dog is aware of both the benefits AND the costs of the choices that it makes. This will help it settle for the reward the owner is offering, since it understands it can't ignore them.
So when I work with owners, I will try to create effective rewards for whatever the dog gets right, but I will also create effective, non physical consequences should the dog choose to reject the reward the owner is offering.
This is not rocket science. I believe that pretty much everyone is aware that reward only training is only effective if you can always offer better rewards than the dog can get itself. If you are not aware of this, I hope you are not charging people for dog training. You might be the last chance for the dog you are working with.

13/08/2024

Not my words but well worth sharing.

I want my dog to be Sociable!
This is a phrase that I often hear from clients and indeed from many other dog owners. Perhaps it is worthwhile investigating exactly what “Being sociable” really means.
Do we really want our dogs to interact with everyone that they see? Is that a good thing? I think not.
If we encourage our dogs to interact with everyone that they see, then we are teaching them that the correct thing to do is make every effort to approach all and sundry regardless of the circumstances. The result then is the dog that may run off in the park to greet a perfect stranger or when on the lead may pull determinedly towards any passerby.

Surely the correct way of encouraging sociability in our dogs is to set the rules as to who they can and cannot interact with and indeed, how that interaction should take place.
There is no way that I would allow a stranger to interact with my dog by fussing, petting, making encouraging noises or even giving tit-bits. The only persons allowed that privilege are myself and my inner circle of family and friends.
There are many people who feel that they have a God given right to interact with every dog that they see. They do not! At the very least permission should be sought from the owner before interacting with any dog. If the wish of the owner is that their dog does not interact with strangers then that wish should be respected.
Whilst it is everyone’s choice what they want their dog to do with regards to “Being sociable” I do feel that that choice should be made having full regards to the possible outcomes. Surely our dogs should tolerate people but do they have to be their best friend?

07/01/2024

I rarely post on Facebook but so many dogs and their owners are being failed by some trainers that I felt compelled to share this video. It seems to me that common sense is now a rare thing in dog training. Make your own mind up.

23/01/2022

What does it mean when a dog training or dog behaviour course calls itself 'accredited' or says that you will receive a 'qualification' on completion?
Should you only use an accredited or qualified trainer/behaviourist?
There is no national standard for either dog behaviour or dog training in the U.K. So when a course offers a qualification or a certification, or a behaviourist or trainer says that they are qualified or accredited, it won't mean nationally. What it means is that an organisation has asked another organisation to recognise its course, and normally for its structure, rather than its content, since there is no national standard to which the course can be compared.
So a course or individual that says that they are accredited or qualified, are only qualified by another organisation, and not by any national governing body, as there isn't one.
Many academic and/or online courses never require you to work with a dog, or to have even owned one, or even seen one - but only that you can look up the answer to a series of questions before you 'qualify', and this is often the case right up to degree level. And many of these courses never actually tell you how to train dogs. So you finish the course with a degree, but still don't know how to stop a dog from resource guarding, or how to address its separation anxiety, or stop it pulling on the lead.
So when choosing an 'expert' to help you, spend a bit of time finding out what their background is and what they have to offer, and then choose the one that you think best offers what you think that you need. Simply having letters after a name may not be enough.

14/09/2021

A beautiful tribute to Archie, a very special dog who I had the privilege of working with a number of times. He had a huge personality and made a lasting impression on everyone who met him - none more so than me. Please feel free to share.

04/09/2019

Can anyone help find a home for these two friends? Please share, thanks.

UPDATE: We have had a great response and are following up on a home. We hope this will all go well. We will update as and when we can. We do have other dogs looking for foster though so please consider volunteering to foster another dog with us so that we can save more dogs like Shanti xx

Sadly we have been unable to find a suitable placement for Shanti and her best friend in the whole World, Olive who is a 2 year old neutered house cat.
If you would like to be considered please apply using the foster link below.
If you are unable to foster but would like to help this adorable duo, then please share. 💕
Hi supporters.
This is a plea for a foster home or foster with a view to adopt for a dog with a very sad yet interesting story to tell.
This is Shanti. She is a retriever cross Jindo. She was rescued from the meat trade in South Korea by a kind lady who lived there at the time and has since moved back to Scotland bringing the lovely Shanti with her
Sadly due to work commitments the family are again having to move over seas.
They feel that this would prove too stressful for sensitive Shanti and would like with our help for her to remain in Scotland where she has settled.
She adores her best friend her cat and would just love if she could stay with her.
We know this is a big ask but ideally a home where her cat can go too.
We may consider a home with another cat if we can't find a home for both.
Shanti has been fully assessed and very gentle with people but she can react to dogs on walks so a dog free home is essential.
We would welcome enquiries from homes with older children 10 plus.
Shanti is clean and non destructive in the home.
If you would like to be considered please fill out a foster enquiry form (http://www.anydogildorescue.org/fostering-enquiry-form.html) giving all your current details and our foster coordinator will be in touch.
Please share. ❤️

06/07/2018

Please share to help raise awareness.

Yesterday after a day filled with fun, fetch and swimming in Lake Windermere, Myself, Lucy & Tiggy had to say goodbye to our best friend Max.

He collapsed and was rushed to the nearest vets where he was diagnosed immediately with Water Intoxication and put on drips of sodium, potassium and mannitol to increase his electrolytes and relieve pressure on his brain.

After 7 hours of determination from the vets and nurses, Max was unable to pull through.

“Water Intoxication is a relatively rare but frequently fatal condition in dogs. At highest risk are dogs that enjoy playing in the water for long stretches.”

We are so unbelievably devastated that a simple game of fetch in the water, something we had done a hundred times before, resulted in such a perfect day turning into our worst nightmare.

Water Intoxication was something we knew nothing about. At this time of year, so much awareness is spread about not leaving dogs in hot cars but no one ever mentions the hazardous effects of your dog ingesting too much water whilst playing.

We have had to learn the hard way and all we can do now is spread awareness of this terrible condition in the hope that other dog owners are informed.

Please share this post to spread awareness of Water Intoxication and save lives

We Love You Maxy ###

Beware of water intoxication in dogs! This is caused by excessive water intake by the dog while playing in the water Symptoms to look out for are loss of coordination, glazed eyes, lethargy, nausea, vomiting and excessive salivation. ... if you suspect your dog is suffering from water intoxication, they need immediate medical attention.

04/07/2018

Top Tip

Homebase storage containers make excellent plunge pools to keep your dog cool during this hot weather.
Mollie couldn't wait until it was re-filled this morning, she jumped in as soon as the hose was in it and sat there until it was full.

07/12/2017

Poke My Heart

Brilliant. Amazing what can be achieved with time and patience.

The dog days of Christmas 🎄💞

15/01/2017

Warning to all dog owners who walk their dogs in the Maidenbower/Craigs area.

My dog Mollie was caught in an illegally set snare this morning. Fortunately she was uninjured as the snare caught her round the body and she just immediately lay down and waited until I freed her. I shudder to think what the outcome would have been if it had caught her by the neck and she had panicked.

The snare was set in a fence bordering the wood at rear of Craigs Farm and my concern is that there could well be more of them set elsewhere in the area. The police have been informed and are investigating the matter.

18/07/2016

Lottie has now been re-homed, thanks everyone for sharing and all who enquired.

20/06/2016

Dog Training Dumfries | K9 Care Dog & Puppy Training, DG14XS

One to One Dog Training & Puppy Training in your own home.

Designed to give your puppy the the best start in life my puppy training covers, clicker training, toilet training, stopping biting, good manners, recall, lead walking, sit, down and introduction to target training.

Adult dog training is designed to help owners with dogs who have developed behavioural issues such as pulling on the lead, jumping up, separation anxiety and lunging on the lead etc.

Call me for a friendly, no obligation chat, message me on Facebook or visit my website for prices and further information.

http://k9care.net/

Professional dog trainer providing personalised one to one dog training services, dog & puppy training classes and dog behavioural services in Dumfries

14/06/2016

This is what happens when you throw stones in the river for Mollie

12/06/2016

Puppy socialising today at Topdogz. An enjoyable session for the puppies and their families.

07/05/2016

Coolest Dog in Town. I saw this dog in Morro Bay, California.- How cool is he?

07/04/2016

I am looking for a securely fenced field or large yard to rent as a secure area for training dogs. If you have one or know of somewhere that might be suitable please get in touch.

27/03/2016

Congratulations to Rex and Walter who successfully completed the Grade 1 Foundation Level Course.

20/03/2016

Training Classes - K9 Care Dog Training

We have 2 new classes starting on Monday 4th April and Friday 8th April at 7pm . Classes are small and availability is limited - book now to secure your place. Full details on our website. http://k9care.net/training-classes/

K9 Care Puppy Training Classes Our puppy classes take a new approach to puppy training. Classes are designed to make training fun, mixing play with training keeping your puppy happy and eager to learn. The methods used are effective and are guaranteed to give your puppy the best possible start in li…