Young's Dog Services

09/08/2023

We are all aware that socializing your puppy is important. What does this mean though?

A properly socialized mature dog can do 6 things;

Greet other dogs/people in a gentle manner,

Understand that not all dogs are theirs to play with and deal with this emotionally,

Be able to handle when another dog is forcing a social interaction even when they do not want it

Disengage from a social interaction gently when the other dog/s is/are no longer interested in the interaction,

Disengage from a social interaction gently when they are no longer interested in the interaction,

Disengage from a tense situation calmly and with confidence.

All of these skills cannot be learnt during puppyhood however they can understand when they are, and are not, able to interact with another dog.

28/07/2023

27/07/2023

Had the pleasure of walking Denny (right) and Ted (left) today. Both bursting with character and super friendly to other dogs and people.

This can be achieved through regular training and a lot of love for your canine companions. Contact me if you are struggling with your dogs behaviour.

26/07/2023

Aversive training.

Today I would like to talk about the fallout of aversive training methods. Using a slip lead or prong/e-collar may reduce your dogs barking towards other dogs, or increase its recall at the press of a button, but how would you feel if any time you did something undesirable your breathing was constricted, or if you went out of sight of your friend group that they shocked you with a collar. Logically, I don’t think I would want to hang around those people for very long.

So on top of this, why should we not use aversive training with our canine companions. Ultimately the fallout of using them is a dog thats personality is suppressed. They will not want to try new things by themselves and seeing other dogs will still cause arousal, they just will not show it. What kind of a life is this for a sentient being? Science over the past two decades has been telling us that we no longer need these tools to help a dog that is struggling with its environment. We should listen to the evidence rather than a simple anecdote from a stranger who claims to be ‘good with dogs’.

26/07/2023

25/07/2023

Molly loves to roll on the ground. I think its because she likes the texture of foliage and dry leaves rubbing up against her giving her a full body pat. I love these behaviours in dogs, they are always so playful looking while they are rolling about.

25/07/2023

🌧️ Does your dog like the rain? 🌧️

We are all tired of it raining here in the UK at the moment 🙈

Do you have a dog who hates going outside when it's raining? 🌧️

Or does your dog not mind what the weather is doing? 🌦️

If your dog isn't a fan of the rain, here are some reasons why:

🌧️ They don't like the sound of the rain hitting the ground, because it can be really loud for them!

🌧️ They don't like the feeling of the wet ground on their feet. It's cold and damp and soaks into the hair on their paws.

🌧️ The rain can cloud their senses, making it more difficult for them to hear and see clearly which can make them feel nervous

🌧️ They may associate rain with thunder & lightning which can be scary for them

🌧️ Rain brings new smells to the area, which can feel overwhelming for your dog

🌧️ Other sounds like cars, people walking, cyclists etc are heightened when the ground is wet, which can be very over-stimulating for your dog

🌧️ Static electricity can build up in stormy weather, giving your dog little static shocks when they touch the ground!

So, if your dog is uncertain about going out in rainy weather, be patient with them and don't force them to!

Consider how the rain might be making them feel and if they might prefer to do some indoor enrichment activities instead of their walk, until the rain passes ❤️

There are loads of enrichment activities you can rustle up in a couple of minutes, with things you have lying around at home! You don't need special equipment or to invest lots of money to enrich your dog's life ❤️

Find out more in my latest book here ⬇️ books2read.com/essentialenrichment

21/07/2023

We were so touched to receive a Legacy Donation of over 11 thousand pounds from a lady who wanted to leave her estate to the rescue dogs. Her wonderful niece had been showing her the daily videos of our dogs and watching Lollipop and friends had bought her a lot of joy.

It is humbling for a small independent like ourselves to be be chosen for this gift of a lifetime and we will use the funds to help open the doors to Rescue World by Dogs 4 Rescue later this year. What a beautiful legacy for the dogs no one wants 💜

20/07/2023

Brief breed history.

The white German Shepard is a stunning breed of dog. They have been bred in Europe since 1882; however, the German Kennel Club, VDH, banned the registration of white German Shepherds in 1933 causing them to become less desirable in their native region which is part of the reason we do not see many of them in the UK. In 1912 a women called Anne Tracy imported a breeding pair of German Shepherds to the USA and by 1917 they had a white German Shepard pup. This puppy was then registered and by 1969 they had a White German Shepherd breed club, so it is safe to say they became popular.

It is reported that farmers could not differentiate between the white Shepherds and their sheep, this could be one reason the VDH decided to ban the registration of these beautiful dogs.

19/07/2023

Contact me for further information on any service!

16/07/2023

One of my favourite photos of Molly! I love when she does her ballerina spin. What is something that your canine companion does that you find irresistible?

16/07/2023

We cannot mitigate all stress for our dogs, however, it is important to try and minimize their stressors.

For the times that we cannot, or life has other plans, it is equally important to give the body time to regulate and reset.

And much like humans, when dogs experience stress, the amygdala, a region in their brain, triggers the release of stress hormones like cortisol.

Cortisol enables the body respond to stress by increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and energy availability (aka the fight or flight response). While cortisol is essential for survival, its prolonged presence can have negative consequences.

The half-life of cortisol in a dog's body is relatively short, typically ranging from 60 to 90 minutes BUT chronic or repeated stress exposure can disrupt the delicate balance leading prolonged elevation of stress hormones.

Dysregulation can cause changes in the structure and function of the brain. Specifically, chronic stress can result in a decrease in the size of the hippocampus, a region involved in memory and emotional regulation, while increasing the size of the amygdala, responsible for the processing of emotions.

These structural changes can contribute to heightened anxiety, impaired learning, and memory deficits as well as contribute to long-term health issues, including immune suppression and digestive problems.

Just reducing exposure to stressors is often impossible which is why working with a qualified professional is recommended for dogs who experience reoccurring acute or prolonged, chronic stress.

If you would like to work with us (the canine mental health experts) we start with a Behavior Assessment to understand your dog's history, current circumstances, routines and your life together so that we can start making immediate changes to improve your dog's stress.

Visit www.rplusdogs.com to book your assessment and put a stop to the cycle of stress for your dog - and you!

We can't wait to get started 💜

14/07/2023

A little late with this one! But a couple of days ago something incredible happened and one of our longest residents, Shades the Lurcher, found his forever home. They only had a short journey to travel and they're already super in love with him, it may take a while with some dogs, but they always get there in the end 💙

13/07/2023

Living with dogs is a privilege.

A world without dogs would be grey and sad.

A day without them would.

Yet we take them for granted.

We forget to listen to them and refuse to learn from them.

And they have so much to teach us.

Self-reflection, observation and mindfulness to be in the moment are their lessons.

Play for no other reason than to have fun.

Compassion, empathy and being fully present.

How to love and be faithful to your loved ones without expecting anything back.

Dogs teach us that we matter, every one of us.

Because when a dog is in your life, you are the best thing in the world to them.

They teach us to back off and wait while they make their decisions, but so many of us refuse to learn.

We rush them,

Because we feel rushed ourselves.

We push them,

When we feel pushed.

We expose them to trauma,

When we have known trauma ourselves and don’t understand how it’s shaped us.

Yet dogs don’t deserve to be our physical or emotional punchbags.

They haven’t earned that.

But they are easy for it.

Vulnerable.

The thing is, when we push, rush and traumatise dogs, we are also not taking in their lesson.

The lesson that all the best dog people know and are fully committed to.

The lesson from dogs is the gentle, quiet, subtle nod to our self-awareness.

Just by being with us, they can make us better,

If we let them.

But if we push and make, bully and pressurise them, nobody wins.

The dog lives in fear and anxiety.

We live an insecure, ego-based life that can never give us true peace.

Yet everyone can change.

It’s uncomfortable, but it’s possible.

Through self-examination, education, and willingness.

Because if we bully dogs, pressurise dogs or force them,

We can never be our best selves,

Like magnets that won’t join at their ends.

Aiming force at dogs makes us less than we could be.

The effect is bigger than you might think when you put that prong collar on that dog.

Not only are you denying the dog their potential,

You’re also denying the potential you have in yourself.

And here's my biggest life lesson dog so far.

12/07/2023

What is our reason for training animals?
I think it should be to strengthen the bond between people and the animals in their life and to empower the animals to make better decisions.

11/07/2023

'Begging Behaviours'

The issue with this term is it implies that your canine companion is pressuring you intentionally to give them a desired result. Dogs do not have the ability to do this. They simply behave in such a way as to receive a desired outcome. When we consider their behaviour in this way, it is much easier to stop these behaviours.

An example of this can be seen in this photo. Thomas is ‘begging’ for more treats, or he is more accurately, behaving in a way that has gained him access to treats previously, not from me personally but during his life experience. If we do not reward this behaviour with the desired reinforcer it will extinguish. I just waited for Thomas to step down from my leg and beginning doing something new before giving him a treat.

11/07/2023

10/07/2023

Molly hiding from the rain on one of our recent walks.

Listening to our dogs through observing their body language to gauge what they are trying to access will help us build a stronger bond with our canine companions. This closer connection with our dogs can often help us in other aspects of our life with pets on top of the benefits you will see during the walk.

09/07/2023

ATTITUDES TOWARDS ANXIETY

Something I see regularly on social media is requests for advice and opinions on over-the-counter remedies and supplements for canine anxiety. Often, there are comments such as, “my dog’s anxiety isn’t bad enough yet to warrant medication”, or, “I’d prefer not to medicate my dog, so I want to try other things first, to see if it helps.” This really begs the question, when is the right time? How much anxiety is acceptable, then, before we take action, and how do we gauge when it’s the right time?

As a sufferer myself, I have to say that any level of anxiety is really difficult to cope with, and is often quite debilitating. It is tiring, physically and mentally; it affects appetite, concentration, mood; it impacts everything. Other symptoms include not wanting any social interaction, not feeling able to cope with things that normally don’t present a problem, and constantly feeling nervous and on edge. It is quite isolating because, on the whole, nobody else would guess that there is anything wrong, as it is so internalised. Most would probably only notice that something is wrong when we are no longer able to function at work, we have to cancel plans, or we struggle to eat, and so on. With all this in mind, by the time that we actually notice anxious behaviours from our dogs, they will already be struggling quite considerably. We know that anxiety results in very similar brain chemistry in both dogs and humans, so it is safe to assume that the condition is at least as distressing for them as it is for us, if not more so.

https://www.sciencealert.com/anxious-dogs-have-measurable-differences-in-their-brains-that-are-similar-to-ours?fbclid=IwAR069qxeN601TtbAwMppNAmXDA8Kx2LtG1IhIzJsFfbEYrSFoOMpqsTqdzs_aem_th_Af8tjIwM70Pu77VaibbOaMdWxieOxJwgLFCAM-dS-CWyTzftC5m7DQWgbRZOFbwgqDs

The topic of medication versus "natural" products for the treatment of canine anxiety is something which often crops up in online dog forums. CBD in particular is frequently recommended amongst guardians and trainers, with the benefits often being both hotly supported and debated. Many swear by its use; some attest that they saw improvement and that it really helped their dog, whilst others state that there were no visible benefits. Some don't quite feel comfortable with the idea of medicating their dog, and prefer to pursue other avenues first, such as CBD products, supplements, remedies, and other "natural" treatments available over the counter. It is also not uncommon to come across people who are fervently against giving their dog any kind of anxiolytic medications.

Unfortunately, there is still much misunderstanding surrounding mental health difficulties in both people and canines, and the way in which anxiolytic medications work. There is a huge stigma against medication, for both humans and animals, and while we try supplements and over-the-counter remedies which may or may not work, it delays having our dogs properly assessed and treated, and they continue to struggle. Untreated anxiety can lead to chronic stress, which will impact the digestive and immune systems; it can cause elevated blood pressure, cognitive dysfunction, and it will shorten the life span of the dog.

In this blog, I discuss the topic further, and investigate whether there is any scientific evidence to support the use of CBD products for the treatment of anxiety in dogs:

https://www.trailiepawsforthought.com/post/cbd-products-for-canine-anxiety-what-does-the-science-say

As always, a change in behaviour always warrants a thorough vet check to rule out pain and discomfort. Anxious behaviours might well be the result of an increased sensitivity to noise, which has a strong correlation with pain, so it's vital that veterinary advice is sought in the first instance; if left untreated, or not adequately addressed, it will result in further decline. We know that up to 80% of behavioural cases have a pain component, which just goes to show how important it is to seek help early on.

© Trailie Paws For Thought
www.trailiepawsforthought.com

08/07/2023

Had the pleasure of meeting and training Bear, a German Shepard and Cane Corso mix, who loves everything and can sometimes become over excited.

The session consisted of playing games for short bursts and walking slowly, allowing him to experience the world at his own pace. If you are looking for compassionate dog training contact me for an appointment.

05/07/2023

The fallout of aversive tools.

Using aversive tools such as a slip lead, or worse, can lead to a desired behaviour, but it will also cause a decrease in many behaviours as well. This is because when you punish one behaviour you punish the dog for doing something different than normal. This punishment discourages the learner from trying anything that differs from the norm in the future. This can make training new behaviours more difficult and will make the learner apprehensive to engage in familiar training as well.

If you want up to date, ethical dog training that does not use any tools other than reinforcement, contact me for a consultation.

30/06/2023

BEWARE OF THE QUICK FIX!
There are no quick fixes when it comes to lasting, successful behaviour change, whether with ourselves or with our dogs.

Want to lose weight? The quick fix of diet pills, meal replacements or slimming machines may initially be successful, but is unlikely to last. Long term success will require effort, a change in mind set, being mindful of emotions, eating less or differently and exercising – there is no quick fix.

Want to get a qualification? Hard work, long hours, commitment and effort is the only way.

The same principle applies to bringing about a change in behaviour.

We live in a society where we want and expect quick fixes. 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.

Why not just use a shock collar, choke chain, spray bottle, shake can or send them off to a board and train facility to quickly sort them out without us having to put in any time or effort? What about a trainer that guarantees quick results? There are never any guarantees when it comes to behaviour.

Stay away from quick fixes – they usually come at a great cost. Yes, they may suppress that particular behaviour but it is likely to surface in another way and we won’t like that either.

Changing behaviour takes time, it requires understanding, consistency, patience and commitment, but the results of “fixing” something the right way, are worth it.

This quote by Wayne Muller sums this up perfectly “In the soil of the quick fix is the seed to a new problem….”

29/06/2023

Speed, latency, accuracy.

To continue from yesterday, there are three further categories for improving behaviour though they are less general than the 3D’s.

Speed is the measure of how quickly the behaviour is performed, such as the speed at which your dog recalls, does it slowly recall or come running too you? There are other factors that may be at play with a slow response for some behaviours i.e., older dogs may not move as spritely as a young dog/puppy.

Latency is how quickly the learner responds after the cue for a behaviour is presented. An example of this would be how long after you cue ‘sit’ does your dog begin to sit down. This can be affected by understanding of the cue as a stronger understanding will produce a lower latency.

Accuracy is primarily required for competition dogs. It is the measure of how ‘perfectly’ a learner can perform a behaviour such as a strict show sit. Most dog owners do not need to concern themselves with this aspect of behaviour improvement as it just adds more pressure to the dog.