Doggies Day Out Kettering and Wellingborough Branch

21/02/2025

Lot's of talk about letting dogs decompress.....but how ❓
Newly adopted dogs really need to know you and your home offer safety and security.
Here are some good tips on key areas to help a dog decompress.
Enrichment while working on all the other areas in this dog training graphic is a key area.
Enrichment HELPS decompression and you can easily do this by teaching a simple "find" and then expanding that when they are ready.
In the middle of this video (video in comments) it shows you how to start this....you may find other concepts in the video helpful too. While it isn't strictly about newly adopted dogs it has lot's of tips and hints to help a dog relax.
This dog training printout is available through https://www.abcdogsnz.com/product-page/decompression-for-adopted-dogs-abc-dogs-nz-dog-training-handouts

21/02/2025

20/02/2025

20/02/2025

"Sit"...."SIT"............"SIT"
What is so wrong with having a dog stand beside us ❓
Sit is SO overused.
It can be incredibly frustrating for them and sometimes painful for dogs to sit.
Yes, it can have it's place but how about a different low arousal activity (and only if you really need one) ?
This really is our habit to break and when we do.....they can start to listen to us MORE at other times.
This dog training handout is available through https://www.abcdogsnz.com/product-page/abc-dogs-nz-sit-often-overused?srsltid=AfmBOootM_8d1lNvaqGYwjqY5K6ZmmkD1i52al3IXacr8x7Bc5UH7Hvi

18/02/2025

.secret.dog.walker

17/02/2025

Another controversial post...
For many years now the "answer" to all resource guarding was to hand feed meals.
If only it were that simple and if only it helped every dog…..but it doesn’t ❗
In fact, it can exacerbate resource guarding for many dogs.
The comment “hand feed every bite” is thrown around on social media when the subject of resource guarding comes up.
It is time to look deeper at the issue…not just for “simple” solutions.
Hand feed every bite ⚠️
Take your dogs bowl away when they are eating ⚠️
Put your hand in their food when they eat ⚠️
Feed only in a crate⚠️
None of this takes into account a dogs individual issues and it can cause many more issues than it solves.

Some trainers still believe putting your hand in a dogs food and hand feeding dogs their meals is a magical cure for all resource guarders. Then there are the "other" trainers (and we are in a minority, or at least it seems that way). There are VERY real dangers with RG and hand feeding.
Resource guarding morphs and changes.
It can expand in many different ways….all from following a strangers advice and they may be very well meaning.
Perhaps it worked for them, but many trainers have seen the damage this advice can do.
The person is then guarded ❗
The crate has become a highly valued resource and now people can’t go near it ❗
This dog may have developed multiple areas that this show up in now, and in multiple situations.

A few of us have seen the issues "hand feed every bite" causes and thankfully there are a growing number of us pointing out the dangers of this. If you have issues with RG, you do need to be aware that this needs professional help.
Google, Ai or dog behaviour groups won't really help and can make this worrying issue even worse.
If you are looking for tips or advice in this post….there really are none (apart from seek real help) because this can be a very dangerous topic to advise on without a full understanding of that individual dog.
All the best with this, it can be a very worrying and complex issue indeed.
This dog training graphic is available through https://www.abcdogsnz.com/product-page/abc-dogs-nz-resource-guarding?srsltid=AfmBOopG0AFwrmbElmFmtsDjkBCEhZjiCIecPC7TkB1nPuY3YfAYP1bl

17/02/2025

So many reasons for this behaviour and that can make it a little trickier to stop 🛑
It can become compulsive.
It can be a way to seek interactions or attention.
Energy levels usually play a big part in this behaviour too.
Yes✅ Both females and males can show this behaviour.
Neutered or not.
Take note of when, where and what happened just before, all of this can help you decipher exactly why this is occurring.
This dog training graphic is available through https://www.abcdogsnz.com/product-page/abc-dogs-nz-why-do-dogs-hump-dog-training-handouts

15/02/2025

True

15/02/2025

For all the guys that have dogs out today, this guy is called Patch, but today he is called blot!!, which gives you a clue what it’s been like, but the dogs don’t care.
So get your pressure washers and hairdryers out!!!!

15/02/2025

Treat your dog well 🦮❤️

14/02/2025

Hang on a minute, I need a break.......
No thanks, not interested ✅
or even....Absolutely NOT❗
These can be very subtle or slap in the face obvious.
Dogs can communicate they need a break or are just not interested and they can do this in a variety of ways.
If we learn these signals, we open our eyes to how they feel and even their preferences.
They can tell us CLEARLY how they feel and they can tell others too......we just need to listen when they speak.

This dog training handout is available from https://www.abcdogsnz.com/product-page/abc-dogs-nz-playing-signals-to-back-off?srsltid=AfmBOopRPj8eONd7Wjo_ZXq8JgoZofVihu_iKAzqCbJhjFo7FjicxCD1

14/02/2025

Barney doing his impression of the lion out of the wizard of Oz!!!

13/02/2025

Always a bit controversial when I post this.
Yes I know🙄🙂...the term "over socialised" doesn't make sense if the true meaning of socialisation is looked at BUT, I find this term really does fit these dogs.
These dogs have always been allowed to pull and drag their owners/guardians towards another dog, person or anything they want to get closer to.
They run into other dogs faces, they struggle with impulse control and self regulating their own emotions.
They can struggle to read another dogs body language because no time is taken to assess.
Some people insist these dogs are friendly....they may very well be friendly but they can cause some very big issues for others and one day there may well be an incident because very few dogs like or will even tolerate this behaviour.
Socialisation isn't about meeting and greeting every other dog.
It isn't wanting to play and mount other dogs.
These dogs can be reactive which is a surprise to some as they may view reactivity only as barking and "aggression".
These dogs may struggle to be calm at other times too.
There will be some videos in the comments that can help.
If your dog is displaying signs of being "over socialised" there are lots of resources out there and a good dog trainer can help.
This dog trainer graphic is available through https://www.abcdogsnz.com/product-page/abc-dogs-nz-over-socialised-dogs-common-issues?srsltid=AfmBOorfOWsNIp657raW71sbAkoKOLeHkfEhKN-iz3OyYC5f2cJb8RKe

12/02/2025

The response is 💯 % in your lounge.
We get frustrated when our dog isn't checking in, is sprinting down the beach chasing a seagull and refuses to listen.
Do we expect too much from our dogs ? Yes.!
We can expect the same listening skills when surrounded by distractions and in new environments when we have only practiced these skills in the lounge or quiet backyard.
This covers 3 ways to help a dog to focus and listen more in a distracting environment.
BUT......
Are we expecting too much from them when we insist they stick to our hip off lead when we know they want to feel those waves lap at their feet too.
Don't forget to have some fun.
Let them feel those waves, run around and zoom.
If you have never done any eye work/look/watch me etc....SO worthwhile adding it in✅
New (ish) video in comments to show you how to start this.
It is a fundamental skill.
This dog training graphic is available through https://www.abcdogsnz.com/product-page/abc-dogs-nz-my-dog-just-won-t-listen?srsltid=AfmBOookOQMCkVAO26-j1QsE2q0x9ZbUcA3F2SpreTH1-uGpVn8-Fwfg