Sharon West Dog Training & Behaviour

12/11/2024

I wish people would think carefully before getting a dog, especially cocker spaniels, I have seen so many being rehomed at the moment, they are beautiful dogs, I love them, but they are working dogs, and they need to be busy, if not they are destructive, can become aggressive, so if you are not an energetic family with lots of time, forget it, it's cruel to get these dogs and then get rid of them because you haven't done your research. (This can be said about a lot of dogs, but just seem to see cocker all the time at the moment)

06/11/2024

Understanding and Managing Resource Guarding in Dogs

Resource guarding is a common behavior among dogs, yet it's often misunderstood. It’s natural for dogs to want to protect what they see as valuable, whether it’s food, toys, or even a favorite resting spot. But when this instinct results in aggressive behavior, it can create stress for both the dog and its family. We’ll dive into what resource guarding is, why it happens, and how to manage it safely and effectively.

What is Resource Guarding?
Resource guarding is a behavior where a dog defends an item they value. This can range from mild behaviors, like a dog tensing up when approached, to more intense reactions such as growling, snapping, or even biting. Dogs may guard a variety of resources:

Food – from their bowl, treats, or even scraps
Toys – especially high-value ones like bones or chew toys
Spaces – beds, crates, or a favorite spot on the couch
People – sometimes, dogs can even guard their favorite person

Why Do Dogs Guard Resources?
Dogs guard resources for a few main reasons:

Instinctual Behavior: In the wild, animals often need to protect their food to survive. Even domesticated dogs may show this instinct to protect what they see as valuable.
Fear of Loss: If a dog feels uncertain about whether they’ll lose their resource, they may act preemptively to secure it. This is common in dogs from rescue situations where resources may have been limited.

Reinforcement of Behavior: Sometimes, when a dog guards and others back away, they learn that this behavior "works" to keep their items safe, which can reinforce the habit.

Signs of Resource Guarding
Recognizing the signs of resource guarding can help prevent incidents. These behaviors can vary in intensity and include:

Stiff body language or freezing when someone approaches
Growling, snarling, or baring teeth when near the resource
Lunging or snapping if someone reaches toward the item
Defending an area, like blocking access to a certain spot

How to Manage Resource Guarding
Identify Triggers and Monitor Behavior Start by observing what items or situations trigger your dog’s guarding behavior. This knowledge is essential for creating a management plan.

Implement Safe Management Practices,

Create Boundaries: Feed dogs separately if they guard food, and provide each dog with a private space for eating.
Avoid Confrontation: Never try to forcibly take an item from a dog that’s guarding. This can escalate fear and aggression.
Exchange System: Use treats or another valued item to encourage the dog to give up the item voluntarily.

A Trainer / Behaviourist can help you with a desensitization and Counterconditioning process, and these techniques work by slowly reducing your dog’s reaction to a perceived threat.

Know When to Seek Help If resource guarding is severe, don’t hesitate to seek help from a professional. A certified dog trainer or behaviorist can provide guidance and create a tailored plan to ensure both safety and progress.

Preventing Resource Guarding in Puppies
For puppies, practice handling them gently and teach them the game of "swap" gradually introducing positive experiences around resources, this can help prevent guarding from becoming an issue in adulthood, never pulling it out of their mouth, or chasing them as this all becomes a game, makes the resource more valuable, and pups will swallow to stop you taking it from them.

Conclusion
Resource guarding doesn’t have to be a permanent problem. With understanding, patience, and the right techniques, it’s possible to manage or even eliminate this behavior. By respecting your dog’s boundaries, providing training, and, when needed, working with a professional, you can help your dog feel more secure and ensure a safe and happy environment for everyone.

29/10/2024

This is a "dog trainer" helping a dog not to pull using a prong collar.
DOG TRAINERS worth their salt do not need aversives to teach their dogs not to pull, look at the discomfort of that poor pup, be wary of anyone who says they can "fix" your dog in a day, dogs can't be fixed, that would be like saying I can potty train your child in one day and smacking them everytime they have an accident. Training your dog requires patience, time, love and practice, stop letting people like this man promise you something at the cost of your dog, problem is there are a lot of people claiming to be dog trainers like him. I don't blame owners, if they are desperate and this "expert" comes and helps them, but look at your dog, are they enjoying the experience, are you building relationships with your dog, that family above certainly isn't, trust your gut!

25/10/2024

Loving the snuffle ball and snuffle mat, we made tonight.

25/10/2024

One place left!!

21/10/2024

There is a young black German shepherd running on the road to lisbellaw, the Dublin road, it's bleeding from its mouth people have tried to catch it but it's going to get killed on this road

19/10/2024

19/10/2024

Lola's human contacted me way back in February looking for help to tackle Lola's reactivity towards dogs and people. But our first session only took place a couple of weeks ago. Why the delay?

Pain. During our initial chat Lola's human mentioned many things which suggested to me that pain might be playing a role in Lola's behaviour. So many that I advised that before any training could take place she'd need to have a thorough vet check to get a clearer idea of what might be going on. And, unfortunately, the vet did find significant issues requiring surgery. So, while these were being dealt with and Lola was recovering, training was postponed.

A trainer should ALWAYS ask you for a lot of information about your dog before they start working on behavioural problems. They should ask not just about your dog's challenging behaviours but also about your dog's health, their lifestyle, their diet, their exercise. They should delve into the history of the problem behaviour...when it started, how quickly it developed, when it happens, what patterns there might be. If they don't they might be missing a crucial piece of the behavioural puzzle which will ultimately compromise your training and place unfair and unreasonable expectations on the dog.

Good trainers ask questions. Lots of them! And some may seem irrelevant to the issue at hand. But we're asking for a reason.

19/10/2024

I have to say this was an absolutely amazing class, the owners had done their practice and their foundational skills were on point, such a pleasure to teach x

19/10/2024

Last session with this gorgeous bunch, we started with recall, and they did amazing x

16/10/2024

Canine trauma can occur for so many reasons:

Harsh or Punishment-based Dog Training
Abandonment
Repeated Rehoming
Abuse (Physical, Emotional, or Verbal)
Chronic Stress from Unstable Environments

BUT the primary opportunity we need to create for our dogs to facilitate healing is safety.

Pre Order my book Trauma Informed Dog Training here: https://amzn.to/3XTj7jo

15/10/2024

I tend not to get caught up in the world of dog training any more. I was a dog trainer for many years and now I'm way more interested in dog wellness and welfare. That said, I do know that dog guardians need results sometimes. I also know, that when a dog's needs are met, training isn't a difficult task, especially when we work on our own skills with the intention of learning to really communicate with dogs, to the point that we understand each other better.

Here's how you do it: https://amzn.to/4gDF2mb

15/10/2024

This 💔