My top tips for training primitive breeds:
🐾 Keep sessions super short and avoid being repetitive. They get bored very easily!
🐾 Check you’re using the highest value rewards. Think pieces of meat rather than dry biscuits. And a bag of cat fur rather than a tennis ball.
🐾 Avoid putting pressure on them. They can take time to do things so give them some time to figure things out, rather than using lots of cues.
#dogtips #dogtraining #stubborndog #sharpeilife #primitivedog #sharpeilove #sharpeisofinstagram
I couldn’t resist! Teaching my very independent dog to come back to me on walks was a mission because his main goal outside is to explore and sniff as much as possible 👃
But it is possible to teach a solid recall to any dog! Some just take more time and effort than others.
Here are my top 3 tips for strengthening your recall:
🐾 Vary your rewards. If you give the same thing every single time, you’ll soon become boring to your dog. So think about what they love to do and offer some variety of that when they come back to you.
🐾 Don’t let them think running off is the best thing ever. If you need to use a longline for a long time, then do it. It will help you in the long run!
🐾 Mimic the situations you’re struggling with. Does your dog fail to come back when they’re playing with another dog? Teach them to respond when they’re excited by seeing if they can come away from playing with another person, for example. Do they run off after wildlife? Find a way to recreate that with a fluffy toy that’s thrown out in front of them. You can get as creative as you like!
If you have an independent dog and would like some structured recall training, you know where to find me! 👋
#dogtips #dogtraining #stubborndog #primitivedog #recalltraining #dogrecall #puppytrainingtips #deadpool #deadpoolandwolverine
While I don’t send all of my clients to the vet, a significant portion of them do end up having some tests, trials or investigations.
To help you understand why, I thought I’d share my dog Winston’s story of how his behaviour has been impacted by chronic pain throughout his life. (One of the medications he’s on works to help both pain and anxiety but behavioural medication is a topic for another day!)
Remember: a behaviourist cannot diagnose medical conditions. But they can help you gather evidence for your vet and collaborate with your vet to give you and your dog the best possible outcome.
Also shout out @veterinary_behaviour_support for helping us get to where we are 🙌
#caninehealth #doghealth #veterinarymedicine #dogpain #dogbehaviour #reactivedog #anxiousdog #reactivedogtraining #reactivedoglife #reactivedogsuk
A lighthearted one for today! What job does your dog think they have?
If you’d like them to switch careers, you know where to find me 👋
#dogmom #dogparent #dogmum #dogswithjobs #dogpeoplegetit #sharpeilovers #lovesharpei #chinesesharpei #sharpeilife #sharpeilover
🤔 How long does it to take to change a dog’s behaviour? 🤔
Not a question I can answer simply but I will say this. Despite some videos you may see online, it’s going to take more than one session to achieve long-term progress.
Some of my clients have had significant transformations within a couple of months and those are usually the ones who are really consistent with the plan. For others, particularly where there may be medical things going on or the dog has been practising the behaviour for years, it can take longer ⏰
I was speaking to a human therapist recently, talking about people’s expectations in his line of work and how people often want quick fixes when it comes to dogs and their mental health.
He was surprised, saying that it doesn’t work for humans in one session or even a handful of sessions. So why would people think it’s different for animals who can’t even have talking therapy for their problems? 🗣️
So remember: with behavioural issues, we are dealing with mental health. You will need time, patience and most importantly consistency to see progress.
Focus on the little wins first and watch them start adding up into those big wins 🏆
#dogtrainingtips #dogtraining #dogtrainingadvice #dogbehaviour #dogbehaviourtraining #doghelp #mentalhealthjourney #mentalhealthishealth
🏠 Next up in my moving house with an anxious dog series is getting some settled behaviour in the new house.
😌 If you’ve done settle training in lots of places, this should be relatively easy for your dog.
🐶 If not, easiest way to start is grab a settle blanket, pop it down, and reward your dog with a long-lasting item like a chew when they step on it.
When settle time’s over, remember to pick up the blanket. Practise this enough and the blanket will become a cue for them to chill out.
Winston had a couple of hours at the new house the other day so we practised exactly this. And he smashed it on the very first go and couldn’t even be bothered to follow me round.
Does your dog struggle to cope in new environments? Book a free call using the link in my bio and we can brainstorm some ways to help 🙌
#nervousdog #nervousdogs #anxiousdog #anxiousdogs #movinghouse #newhouse
Every dog is different but here are some general guidelines for when I won’t ask a dog to sit:
🚨 When they want to avoid or escape a situation. Sitting can make them feel trapped and won’t change how they feel
🩺 When their medical history suggests they may be in pain or discomfort and may therefore find sitting (particularly outside) uncomfortable
👎 When they find being still too difficult and the sit is therefore likely to fail
⛰️ When we’ve already asked them to have a lot of self-control and asking for more is likely to tip them over the edge
🐶 Ultimately when a sit isn’t going to meet their need in that moment
So when do I use it? If a dog has a default sit like Oakley here and is comfortable showing it off in lots of situations, then we can use this to our advantage and teach them to offer this behaviour in return for getting to greet another person, for example.
Or we can see if the dog can respond to something they know really well like a sit to see how they’re feeling and whether their brain has left the building.
But there are lots of behaviours we can use instead. A sit is usually not at the top of my list.
As I said at the beginning, it very much depends on the dog!
If you’d like help teaching your dog a default behaviour, get in touch 🙌
#reactivedogtraining #dogreactive #reactivedogsuccess #reactivedogawareness #reactivitytraining #dogtrainingtips #cockerspaniels #cockerspaniellovers #cockerlife
So your dog grabs your slipper. I know your first instinct will be to grab it back and pull. But what is this going to achieve? A tug game you’re almost certainly going to lose? Your dog learning that you are a threat to what they have?
None of those things are good and can end up with them being more likely to steal stuff and less likely to give them up 🤦
Dogs are scavengers so they do like to find things and pick them up with their mouths. Some breeds more than others as that’s what we’ve bred them to do! Instead of getting into conflict with them, teach a solid drop to keep your slippers and socks intact.
👅 First step: when they don’t have something in their mouth, say ‘drop’ and then scatter some high-value treats on the floor. Kibble won’t cut it. Repeat in different places until you see your dog respond when they hear the word.
🎾 Then try it when they have a low value item, like a toy they have access to every day. Say your drop cue and scatter the treats away. Repeat a few times then try saying ‘drop’ and waiting for them to drop before you bring out the treats.
🩴 Then work your way up to their most valuable items (which tend to be stolen goods!).
⭐ I have two more spaces for new clients in August. So if you’d like to teach your dog skills like this, send me a DM ⭐
#dogdrop #dogtrick #dogtricks #dogtricksofinstagram #dogtricks101 #dogtrickvideo #dogvideosofinstagram #dogtrainer #dogtrainingadvice #resourceguardingprevention #resourceguarding #dogtrainingtip #puppytrainingtips
So I posted a video the other day showing how I find it best to securely hold the lead when you have a reactive dog. A method called the thumblock. Place the lead loop over your thumb and lock it with the rest of your fingers.
Here’s the method in action when Winston reacted at a cat. The thumblock meant he couldn’t get anywhere.
So I’m just planting my feet, keeping my hand and arm steady, not yanking him back but also not allowing him to lunge further forwards as that’s a self-rewarding behaviour for him.
The moment he starts to reduce the tension, I start to move away to the side to see if he can come with me which he does.
Then you can see me in my own driveway so he’s got the full length of the lead but he’s still on the lookout for the cat. Same thumblock, same position - he’s a lot less tense so I use my recall cue to see if he’ll respond. And he does nicely to which I reward him with a food scatter to bring any arousal down before we go inside.
#reactivedog #reactivedogsunite #reactivedogs #reactivedogtraining #reactivedogsuk #reactivedogsaregooddogstoo #dogreactive #yellowdoglife #yellowdoguk #reactivedogsuccess #reactivedogintraining #reactivedogawareness #dogreactivedog #reactivedoglife #reactivedogblog #reactivitytraining
Worried about losing the lead with your reactive dog?
Change how you hold it to feel more at ease on walks.
The way that has worked for me with countless reactive and strong dogs is the thumb lock.
Place the lead loop over your thumb and lock it with the rest of your hand.
I have never dropped a lead holding it in this position despite having a highly reactive or excitable dog at the end. And I’m not a strong person by any means!
Try it out and let me know how you get on...
#reactivedog #reactivedogsunite #reactivedogs #reactivedogtraining #yellowdoglife #reactivitytraining
Want to stop your dog barking at everything out the window?
The heat really affected Winston this week and he went back to his old habit of barking at the rubbish lorry. But within less than a minute, I’d reinforced a different behaviour. (We have practised this lots so it’ll take longer if you’re starting from scratch!)
Firstly, the easiest thing to do if your dog is a window barker is block access to the window or use window film so they can’t see out. Most dogs don’t enjoy looking out the window. They have just given themselves a job.
If you can’t do that or your dog becomes even worse with that like Winston once did, then you’ll want to mark and reward smaller behaviours from your dog. This could be looking at the thing or a little huff.
Then move to waiting for them to look away and back towards you before marking and rewarding.
Eventually move yourself further away so they learn to come away when they hear their marker. If they go straight back to the window, take them out to the garden for a food scatter.
Over time, they may start to be able to look away themselves and come to you for their reward. Some may not even be bothered by the sight or noise at all eventually, though this does depend on the dog!
#dogtrainingtips #dogtraining #barkingdog #barkingdogs #dogbarking
Another year, another post on not walking your dogs during the heat of the day.
So what can you do instead when the temperatures rise? Well, let your dog lead the way.
You don’t have to have loads of enrichment activities planned for them. In fact, some of them may just want to sleep for most of the day.
They’ll let you know if they’re a little bored and need something to do. If that happens, remember to keep it cool! 🐶
#dogheat #dogsummer #dogweather #dogsun #hotdogs #dogenrichment #dogenrichmentactivities #canineenrichment #dogsafety #dogsafetytips #dogheat #dogheatstroke #doghealthtips
Whether they’re going to be taking a road trip or want to make sure their dog goes before they head off for work, people often ask if it’s possible to teach their dog to go to the toilet on cue. And it definitely is!
First, you’ll want to look for that sign they’re just about to go. Then say your cue - whether it’s toilet time, wee wee, whatever you like.
Keep repeating this as often as you can for a couple of weeks and then take your dog out and use the cue. If they go, then they understand what it means! If they don’t, keep practising.
Want some more quick dog training tutorials? Let me know what you’d like to teach your dog and I’ll show you how 🐶
#dogtrainingtips #puppytrainingtips #puppytraining101 #toilettraining #dogtrainingadvice
Does your dog get stuck? Here are 3 ways to get them moving:
1. Say ‘find it’ and scatter some food on the floor for them to find with their nose.
2. Teach them that when you say 123, they get an amazing treat after.
3. Strengthen their recall with jackpot rewards.
All of these strategies will need to be practised at home and in easy situations before trying to use them when your dog freezes. And if your dog’s regularly getting stuck on walks, it’s worth speaking to a professional to help you figure out why.
#dogtrainer #dogtraining #dogtrainingtips #stubborndog #dogtips #doghacks #dogtrainingadvice
My #1 tip to avoid being bitten by your dog: Do not confront them.
Almost every client I see has been told by someone to ‘show their dog who’s boss’ when they’re growling at them 😬
Thankfully, most of them didn’t try that technique because they quickly realised it’s not the most sensible thing to do to get into a fight with something that has sharp teeth and potentially a lot of power in their jaws.
If your dog is showing signs of aggression, they are having a tough time. You adding more stress to the situation is only going to fuel the fire and likely make the problem worse over time.
So the best thing to do is back away and give your dog the distance they’re likely asking for. This isn’t rewarding “bad” behaviour - it’s letting your dog know that you will listen to their warning signals so they don’t have to escalate up to biting.
Then get in touch with a qualified behaviourist who can help your dog feel better around the things that are stressing them out.
Book a free call with me if you’d like to know more 📞
#dogbite #dogbites #dogbiteprevention #dogbiteawareness #dogbitesafety #reactivedogs #yellowdogs #nervousdogs #nervousdogsofinstagram #dogtips
Reposting this because I see this myth on social media 5462737 times a day...
Can a harness cause a dog to pull?
Nope. Harnesses can make a dog feel more comfortable which can result in them seeming to pull more when wearing one.
But harnesses don’t cause dogs to pull. They’d be pulling regardless of what they’re wearing because pulling gets them something that they want, whether that’s to go to the park or to get away from something they’re worried by.
If they don’t pull while wearing a particular piece of equipment, it’s likely because that equipment is causing them discomfort. And that’s not the same as training them to walk with a loose lead.
Some dogs don’t care what they’re wearing - they’ll still pull, even if it’s uncomfortable or painful.
I don’t know about you but I think we have a duty to avoid causing our dogs pain and discomfort wherever we can. That’ll lead to a lot more problems further down the line. So let them wear the most comfortable walking equipment and hire a qualified trainer or behaviourist to help you achieve the walks you’ve been hoping for.
#dogtips #dogtrainingtip #puppytrainingtips #dogtrainingadvice #dogharness #dogharnesses #looseleashwalking #looseleadwalking #looseleashtraining #looseleashclub #dogwalk #looselead #dogwalking #dogwalkinglife #dogtrainingtools
Happy #DogBitePreventionWeek!
Here are 5 ways to help prevent dog bites:
🐾 Understand canine body language
🐾 Let dogs come to you rather than disturbing them
🐾 Supervise children at all times around dogs and be ready to intervene and redirect
🐾 Avoid using punishment or force with dogs
🐾 If your dog’s already showing signs of aggression and you’re concerned, work with a qualified professional. In the meantime, try to prevent further incidents by avoiding triggers and/or adding two layers of safety where needed e.g. using a muzzle and lead outside of the house or a lead and a gate inside of the house
If you’d like to learn more about your dog and how to train them in a way that helps prevent behavioural issues and bites, get in touch. For existing aggression issues, I can also help. Or check out @abtcouncil’s list of clinical animal behaviourists.
#dogbite #dogbites #dogbiteprevention #dogbiteawareness #dogbitesafety #reactivedogs #yellowdogs #nervousdogs #nervousdogsofinstagram #dogtips #puppytips
🐣 The perfect way to celebrate Easter with your dog using their most powerful sense 🐣
#dogenrichment #dogenrichmentactivities #canineenrichment #dogeaster #easterdog #easterdogs #scentwork #easter2024
If you were getting another dog, what would be your biggest consideration?
Would it be breed? The way they look? Their temperament? How close they are to where you live?
A new survey from The Kennel Club found that over 20% of people regret not spending more time researching breed. 30% said their dog doesn’t suit their lifestyle and 14% regret the breed they chose.
All dogs are individuals. But their breed can give you a good indicator of general traits and how much they’ll require in terms of mental and physical stimulation, grooming etc.
If you’re put off by that, it’s probably best to pick a different dog.
Do you wish you’d spent more time researching your dog’s breed? Let me know more in the comments!
#newdog #dogbreeds #dognews
