World of Woof

31/12/2023

Let’s go into 2024 with realistic resolutions we can actually keep!

Pain can be a huge contributing factor to a dog's behaviour. And pain doesn't look the same with them as it does with us. They don't need to be limping, whining, or yelping to show us they're not comfortable.
Vets are also not taught about behaviour, so they may not be aware of a dog's discomfort if it doesn't show up on an x-ray/MRI/etc.
If training & meds are only getting you so far, you feel like you're taking 2 steps forward and 10 back; have a look into people like , or a vet behaviourist to speak to those in the know about pain/discomfort your dog is potentially experiencing.

Collar?
Harness?
Flexilead?
Longline?
Muzzle?
Each dog is individual, so there is no "one size fits all" for their gear either!
No matter what you use for your dog, make sure it fits them well, they're comfortable, and happy to put it on and wear it.

Our dogs speak through their bodies, and they're fluent in it so they speak quickly! They're not able to speak English, so it's up to us humans to learn how to speak dog. You can find lots of body languages courses online, or hire a force-free trainer to get a lesson or two from them about it.

Rest days can be just as beneficial as busy ones. Our dogs are generally very adaptive creatures, but giving them time to decompress and process what they've experienced can build resilience, confidence, and overall levels of happiness. If you'd like to read more about this, I made a post on rest days that's pinned at the top of my profile!

Choice and consent are words people don't use very often when discussing dogs. Why is that?
Our pups are living, breathing, sentient beings. Don't they deserve to have as much choice in life as we can give them?
Start off easy with things like:
- Would you like this flavour for dinner, or this one?
- Which way would you like to go for our walk today?
- Have a few beds around your home your dog can choose from according to their mood/feeling
I also made a post about consent that you can find pinned to the top of my profile!

Image Description in pinned comments ❤️

13/07/2023

It's goodbye for now, but I will be back!!!

ID in pinned comments ❤️

05/07/2023

World of Woof is proud to present: The Talking Dog!

An interactive, hour-long presentation all about dog body language ✴️

🤔 Ever wonder what your dog is thinking?

❔ Do you want to learn how you can have a conversation with your dog, in a way they’ll not only understand but also love?

😮 Did you know dogs can read each other's body language in 0.7 of a second?

✔️ Ready to learn how you can hear your dog’s whispers, so there’s no need for shouting?

🐶 Join me for our hour long Interactive mini-course, where you'll learn so much about your dog you'll be saying things like:

🗨️ "I really felt like an 'expert' after one session. I now regularly look at my dog and others to see how they are feeling - even when my dog isn't around!"

🗨️ "We are able to identify our dog's body language in all situations, which allows us to effectively manage him"

🗨️ "My dog used to be uncomfortable around other dogs, and I didn't know. Now I can tell when he needs my help, and how I can best help him!"

You’ll learn:

🙌🏻 How to identify the way your dog's feeling in any situation
🙌🏻 Why a wagging tail doesn't always mean they're happy
🙌🏻 The signals dogs use when greeting each other
🙌🏻 Why a dog showing their belly doesn't always mean they want pets
🙌🏻 Why looking at every part of the dog is vital to understand them
🙌🏻 & so much more!

🦴 Special deal: 🦴
Sign up now and get a recording of your course sent to you via email, as well as access to the presentation (and its updates!), for you to keep forever!

Ready to start the newest chapter in you and your dog's story?

Book a call now on our website - link in our bio ❤️

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30/03/2023

I already made a post about advocating for your dog as a neurodivergent person last year...so here's another one - a lot more in depth!!!

Special shout out to Siân Murphy from (insta handle) for helping collate all this information ❤️

12/01/2023

This is SO important, please read ❤️

When people in positions of power claim the problem in this industry is the divisiveness of force-free/R+ based trainers, they are not understanding the real problems we see on the ground every single day, such as:

- The blatant racism, ableism, classism, misogyny, queerphobia, etc. in our industry towards both professionals and dog guardians.
- The regular abusive treatment towards dogs in the name of “training”, as well as the emotional damage guardians go through having to see their dog harmed while being told that that’s the only way.
- The confusion that dog guardians have navigating this world trying to find a humane, ethical dog trainer when professionals that use aversive tools and methods on almost every dog claim to be “LIMA”.
- The upholding of punishment culture and harmful systemic problems in this industry.

Many of us are here, helping people who really want to live with their dogs more compassionately with no shame or judgement towards anything they have done in the past, and learning to educate with compassion.

We are already here taking on the emotional toll to create change, transform mindsets about dogs, and push against a pervasive culture of punishment and control that is the norm in our world. At the same time we are also constantly learning to do better, trying to survive in this industry while scrambling for inaccessible education and resources. And we do so because we care deeply about both people and dogs.

In what other industry would we say that causing emotional and physical harm to other beings is just a “difference of opinion”?

In what other industry would we say we have to “build bridges” with those that are negligent and causing direct harm to other beings they are responsible for?

We are here to help, educate, and create change and we can and should do so particularly for dog guardians without shaming or judgement. But we do not have to click and treat harm that is being done in our industry.

Thank you and shoutout to for the inspiration with their “I’m not going to click and treat racists.” post from 23 July 2022.

Edit to add: Think about the unethical trainers that have been platformed by high profile trainers in our industry and how they get to have personal support and education from them, and likely for free, while so many “new” force-free/R+ based trainers who are trying so hard and looking to learn more don’t get that same level of support. And think about how many of those unethical trainers continue to train unethically but have now simply learnt the language to make things sound “nicer” or more “sciencey”.

I’m not saying we have to call anyone out. But we also don’t have to platform people still committed to use harmful methods. We can improve the welfare of dogs and people by supporting and amplifying those that are already ready to make the change and go against punishment culture.


ID: On a light beige background, the text in the middle says “We don’t have to click and treat harm in our industry.”

05/01/2023

🥳 Exciting news!!!! 🥳

We have a new program coming out, aimed at adolescent (or nervous) dogs and neurodivergent guardians ❤️

The launch date will be Wednesday 25th January, and has 10 places total - only 6 left though!

Go to our bio to book a call, let's chat about your pup's needs and see if this program would be perfect for you 😁

I'm so excited to get this journey started 🙌🏻

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01/01/2023

Misbehaving or Misunderstood?

Adolescent dogs are not being difficult, they're not trying to "test boundaries" they don't even know exist, they're not giving you a hard time.

Adolescent dogs are figuring out where they belong in our world, they're trying to see what works for and feels good to them, their brains are literally rewiring themselves.

The next time you feel exasperated by your dog's behaviour, try to remember what it felt like to be in that stage of life - was it easy? I'd imagine probably not.

And if people had been kinder to you, shown you more compassion, and given you more grace, do you think it would have been easier?

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22/12/2022

"Why does my dog..." Is a good place to start when going through behaviour modification.

Curiosity is what gets us to the root of the obstacle, understanding WHY our dogs do what they do to see whether change truly is necessary, and how we can compassionately help them alter the way they feel ❤️

❤️ Double tap to show love
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💾 Save this post to refresh your memory when you need it!

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19/12/2022

Is it Nature or Nurture?

Spoiler: It's both!!

Ever wondered whether your dog's behaviour was down to genetics or environment?

Well there's a lot more to it than that, so read the slides to find out more 😁

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19/12/2022

Being a teen is hard...and raising one can feel just as awful!

Feel like you've tried it all, but still aren't getting anywhere with your adolescent dog?

Need help feeling like you've got more control over your own life?

Not sure where to start, who to speak to, or what to do?

Book a call with us via our bio or on our website ❤️ IT'S FREE!!

in comments

08/12/2022

❗ WARNING: "SPOILT" DOG ALERT ❗

What does spoilt mean?

❔ Does it mean comfort, security, needs met, enrichment, compassion, trust, empathy, safety, and understanding?

I hope so, because that's what Boo (pictured) gets.

❌ I used to believe the myth that if you are too affectionate or "soft" with your dog, that they won't know their place.

😂 Talk about a load of bu****it.

Love your dog, do your best by them, understand their needs and desires, listen to them.

Dogs always try their hardest. They're not malicious, vindictive, stubborn, or any other human based term some people might want you to believe.

🤔 What are some of the ways you show your dog how much you love and care about them?

Let me know in the comments!! ⬇️

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05/12/2022

What does becoming force-free mean to you?

Let me know in the comments, I'd love to hear your point of view ⬇️

❤️ Double tap to show love,
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💾 Save this post to refresh your memory when you need it!

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18/11/2022

"Quality, not quantity" is a hard one to listen to sometimes!

Here are a few tips on how you can add even more quality into your shared life with your pup ❤️

Were these helpful?
Double tap to like ☑️
Leave us a comment of what you thought 💬
Share wit your friends 👯

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23/09/2022

Do it, sign up, you won't regret it!!

FREE WEBINAR! Reactivity: Easy Mode Activated.

Living with reactivity issues in a dog is understandably challenging and emotional. How can we make the work that we're doing with our dogs easier on both them and ourselves, so that we don't burn out and our dogs still get the help they need?

Find out more in this free live webinar I will be doing on Every Dog Behavior and Training's platform on 15 October 2022. The link to RSVP to the event is in the comments below Thank you Every Dog Behavior and Training for having me on!

I’m really excited for this one because helping both ends of the leash is so so important to me. Hope to see you there! ☺️


ID: The graphic shows an 8-bit style scene of a person standing next to an orange and white dog with some trees and a car in the background. The speech bubble near the person and dog says “Make things easier on yourself and your dog! (Heart icon)”. On the top right corner is a health bar like in a game with the green covering 75% of it. In the middle is the text which says “Reactivity: Easy Mode Activated. 5pm UK / 11am CDT. 15 October. everydogaustin. org/webinars.

09/09/2022

My top 5 training accessories!

Please note I am not affiliated with any of the brand's listed. These are personal preference and recommendations.


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06/09/2022

World of Woof is going away on vacation!

We will be out of the country from 5th - 30th October.

We'll still be responding to emails, calls, and working with our clients, at a lower capacity than normal.

We'll be on the Canadian West coast so the time difference will be significant as well, please be patient with us as we deal with your enquiries.

First holiday in 3 years, it's exciting to say the least!

Thank you all!



Slide 1:
On a pale beige background, a blue splotch in the middle with small white and brown spots on top right and bottom left. Text in the middle says "we're going away! World of Woof will be out of the country from 4th - 30th 0ctover! We will still be operating at mi imal capacity and enquiries will be responded to, albiet with some delay!". The World of Woof logo is in the top left of the post.

Slide 2: Brown background with blue text that says "enjoying our content?" with a column of symbols on the left. From top to bottom: a heart, a text box, a phone, and a silhouette with a plus symbol. Each symbol has text attached. From top to bottom: "like our posts", "leave us a comment", "get in touch", "follow us". The world of woof logo and handle are on the last slide.

31/08/2022

Quila's rehoming story. It's a long one.
Thank you to everyone who supported our journey ❤️
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25/08/2022

The moment we put a label on our dogs, such as stubborn, dumb, dominant, aggressive, picky, etc we stop being curious about our dog's behaviour.

😔 A dog sitting half way into a walk isn't "stubborn" or "lazy", they might be tired, in pain, or afraid of something ahead.

😔 A dog who walks away from a training session isn't them being "dominant", they probably need a break.

😔 A dog who walks ahead of you isn't "wanting to be the alpha", they've got 4 legs and walk faster than we do. Loose leash walking is a skill they have to learn.

😔 A dog who seems to have endless energy isn't "crazy", they probably haven't been taught to settle (dogs aren't born with this ability!)

😔 A dog who growls when people come near their food isn't "aggressive", they need reassurance that they're safe

😔 A dog who turns their nose up at food isn't "picky", there might be an underlying digestive issue we don't know about

🙅🏻‍♀️ When our dogs display behaviours that we say are "embarrassing" or "wrong", we automatically take away any sense of individuality in our animal by putting a label on them.

🤷🏻‍♀️ How is that fair?

Just because we don't understand right away why our dog is doing what they're doing, doesn't mean we get to give them a label that decides how people see them forever.

❤️ Be less impatient, be more curious.

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12/08/2022

If you’re hearing yourself (or others) constantly yelling at Spot to knock off his jumping, it’s quite possible your pup has a bit of a jumping problem. 😅

I can help with that! 🙌🏻

Join me for our FREE 2-hour Interactive Zoom webinar! 🤓

“You Jumping at Me!?” on Friday, 26 August at 3 PM BST. 🐶

I will share the most effective tips & tricks to help stop Spot from jumping!

Click the link in my bio to register ☺️

I can't wait to see you there!

ID:

Slide 1: Background image of a white and brown dog, on the smaller side with a wire coat, jumping up with an open mouth. Behind the dog is grass, a large wooden fence, and trees that make up the garden. Overlapping the picture is text in white and blue that says (from top to bottom) "You jumping at me? Zoom webinar Friday, 26th August at 3pm BST, worldofwoof.org/webinar, register today". To the right of the get is the world of woof logo.

Slide 2: Brown background with blue text that says "enjoying our content?" with a column of symbols on the left. From top to bottom: a heart, a text box, a phone, and a silhouette with a plus symbol. Each symbol has text attached. From top to bottom: "like our posts", "leave us a comment", "get in touch", "follow us". The world of woof logo and handle are on the last slide.

06/08/2022

Client Love ❤️

Clive, a Jack Russell cross, was finding life difficult and scary.

After seeing previous trainers with whom things didn't work out, his parents Molly and Tom, sought out our help.

They worked so hard on making sure Clive felt as safe and happy as possible when new people came into his life, and when being in public places.

They learnt about how they can give Clive opportunities to just be a dog, how to enrich his life, and how to show Clive they understand his needs and wants.

Clive is now thriving and happy! Having more predictability and choice in his life has allowed him to embrace the human-set world he lives in, and knows his pawrents always have his back.

GO TEAM CLIVE! 🙌🏻🥰

Video ID:
A femme presenting person and male presenting person (Molly & Tom) are talking about their experience working with World of Woof. They're in a bedroom and Clive, their Jack Russell terrier cross is on Molly's lap as they speak.

04/08/2022

After 16 rollercoaster-feeling months, I have officially graduated from The Victoria Stillwell Academy's Online Dog Training Course 🙌🏻
I'll be looking to do the in-person track next year as well, but I'm so bloody happy I finished it!!!!


Image ID:
Slide 1:
On a pal blue background there is a while and purple image of the Victoria Stillwell Academy's (VSA) logo with the words "certified dog trainer" in the middle and bottom of it. In the top middle of the post there is the World of Woof logo. Under that is written "I am very proud and happy to announce that..." in mud brown writing, and continues at the bottom of the image with "I am officially a VSA certified dog trainer!". There are confetti, spiral, and star elements on the top right and bottom left of the VSA logo.

Slide 2:

Slide 2: Brown background with blue text that says "enjoying our content?" with a column of symbols on the left. From top to bottom: a heart, a text box, a phone, and a silhouette with a plus symbol. Each symbol has text attached. From top to bottom: "like our posts", "leave us a comment", "get in touch", "follow us". The world of woof logo and handle are on the last slide.

29/07/2022

Lexi and her sniffy box ❤️

ID: A box full of shredded paper, toilet paper rolls, and cardboard is being loaded with treats. It also includes a small white and grey snuffle mat. The box is placed on the floor and a brown & white cocker spaniel forages through the items inside the box for treats. The cocker spaniel's collar is taken off. The cocker spaniel takes the cardboard and paper items out, then ripping them using her paws and teeth. She removes the snuffle mat upside down so throws it around until it's right side up again.

22/07/2022

❤️ Every dog should be given the opportunity to say yes or no when possible and safe to do so!

🐶 Giving this chance means your dog will feel heard, understood, and in turn will trust you more.

🧐 How can you ask your dog for consent?

☑️ Learning about body language:
- Honing in your observation skills to see how they feel when going to the pub/going for a picnic/going to the beach/walking around town/etc
- Finding out what their play style is like, what food they prefer, how they like to be pet (every dog is individual!)
- Seeing if your approach isn't wanted, or if they'd like to be next to you but not touched
- Learning to ask your dog if they'd like to greet someone/another dog who wants to engage with them

☑️ Pet pet pause:
- Pet twice and then gently move your hands down and away from your dog
- Do they enthusiastically ask for more?
- Do they move away?
- Respect their choice

☑️ Cooperative care for grooming and body handling:
- Bucket game
- Chin rest
- Muzzle training
- Foot/mouth handling
- So much more!

☑️ Work with a Force & Fear Free trainer:
- Find someone you connect with on a personal level as well as professional
- You'll probably be vulnerable when talking about how you feel about your dog, so you want someone who will uplift, encourage, and support your journey
- Choose science based methods over ones that are outdated, aversive, unnecessary, and harmful to your relationship with your dog.

❔ Want to learn more about how you can give your dog the chance to say yes or no?

💌 Drop us a comment below or get in touch and DM us!

ID in pinned comment.

14/07/2022

Happy International Non-binary Day to all my enby friends! 🥳

In the last 6 months or so I started telling people that I identify as non-binary. It wasn't easy.

A lot of people don't understand why I feel this way and want me to live up to expectations they have of me.

A lot of people say "but you look like a girl", "they/them is plural though", "why make your life so hard?".

I simply say that the way I feel about myself won't be altered by the view others have of me. I let that happen far too much in my life, and no more. I know myself. I love myself.

The ones who love me the most don't get it right all the time, but they try. They don't mind me correcting them and I don't mind reminding them.

So much love to you all on this day of recognition. You are not alone, you are seen, you are understood, and you are loved 🥰

ID: Non-binary rainbow colours against a light blue background, text above says "happy international non-binary day" and the text below says

11/07/2022

🤯 Formal training sessions tend to not work well for neurodivergent brains!

🤔 We like novelty, variety, and an approach that engages the different way our minds work, as well as our dogs'.

😅 We don't tend to do as well with prioritising, planning, organising, and setting up when all we want to do in that moment is TRAIN.

🙋🏻‍♀️ Training will of course looks different from person to person, even within the neurodivergent community, we are all individuals.

🧐 But with the way neurodivergent brains work, it might look a bit "weird" to the neurotypical eye.

Things like:

- Consistency might look like training whenever the opportunity presents itself in your mind as well a situationally, sometimes seeming "random" to others

- Going through periods where you just can't get yourself to do training, and you feel absolutely awful about it. It's okay, going at your pace is important too!

- Post-its everywhere with ideas on what you can do differently to help you and your dog

- Having 50 different timers and alarms on your phone depending on how much energy you have, what you want to work on, how you're day has gone, etc

- Treats...everywhere... (Out of reach of pup!)

- Dog training DOOM boxes (don't organise, just move). You know what's in them...mostly

- Creating a 20 step plan, and then not looking at it once when you start the session

- Stopping and starting to adjust timing, type of reinforcement, distraction level, etc. These variables apply to you as well, not just your dog

- Getting a burst of energy and intense desire to train, even if you're doing something else/busy with someone

- Getting distracted in the middle of training, and losing that desire. It's all good! Have a little play or a treat party, your dog isn't going to love you any less

🤗 Do training in whatever way works for you.

🥳 Training is meant to be fun!
It's meant to make you and your dog smile.

"Just because our brains work differently doesn't mean we can't be great guardians too" ❤️

Have some questions need some guidance as a neurodivergent person?
Drop us a DM or book a call! 💌
ID in comments 😁

04/07/2022

5 Tips for Neurodivergent Dog Guardians (ADHD inclined)

- Set an alarm when you start training (keeping training sessions short & sweet is good for you and your pup). After you're done, have a play with your dog! It's been proven to help solidify their learning 😁

- Have treat pots around the house, so you can train whenever the inspiration strikes (also good for capturing trainable moments). Having visual reminders will help with working memory issues! 🐶

- Create a list of the achievements you've accomplished with your dog so far, not just the work you have left to do. Colour code both sections so you can distinctly see the progress in your training journey. It's normal to find it hard to see the positives, but even more so with neurodivergent folks! 🧾

- Get a strong support system around you! Find yourself a community of like-minded people who understand what you're going through and will not judge your mistakes as "shortcomings" in a way that's typically viewed by neurotypicals. 🥰

- Remember how original you are! Folks with ADHD tend to think outside the box, come up with new and creative solutions to things. This also applies to dog training! Our brains have also given us super powers! 💪🏻

Have a question about this post? Drop us a comment or send us a DM! 💌

ID in comments

07/06/2022

So you know when you’re having a bit of a s**t day? 😶

You woke up feeling like crap. You missed your train into work. Your work day is stressful, and on your way home, it starts raining heavily, but you don’t have an umbrella, so now you’re soaked as well. ☔

You’re quite on edge at this point, and you know that just one more issue could tip you over. 🤬

👉That’s called being AT threshold. 👈

You can feel your body is reacting to the stress of the day/experiences. Your heart is beating faster, you might be frowning unconsciously, trying to slow your breathing down.

You eventually get home. In that exact moment, your partner jumps out at you, wanting to play a harmless prank.

And you snap. 😬

You can feel the blood rush to your face, the frustration and fear burst out of you, and you can’t help but shout.

“You scared the absolute s**t out of me! What the hell⁉️”

This is called being OVER threshold.

You’ve been triggered over and over again all day, trying to keep it together. Each time something stressful happened, it lowered your threshold and made you more likely to react.

Our dogs experience all of these things, too. 🐶

Thing is, it can take DAYS for our dogs to decompress from the fear, anger, frustration, and anxiety they feel once they’re over threshold.

Their triggers can also be what we see as "not a big deal." We don't get to decide what is upsetting to them. They do. We then decide to understand and try to help them feel differently about those things. 💗

If we don’t know what their triggers are, we could accidentally be stacking them without giving enough relief.

Want to find out more about what your dog looks like AT or OVER threshold, and how you can help them relax and decompress?

👇Drop us a comment or send us a DM! 📩

ID in comments!