DC dog Behavioural Training

24/10/2022

23/06/2022

MUZZLE TRAINING YOUR DOG
You may think “but I don’t need to muzzle train my dog he is good with everyone!” which they may be, but sometimes dogs may get frightened or incredibly stressed if they are in pain or had an accident. They may even lash out with their teeth, but it doesn't mean that they are a bad dog, just a dog in pain.

There are all sorts of reason your dog may have to wear a muzzle.
For example, your dog may not like strangers touching them at the vets or groomers so by muzzle training them you will be able to put it on and know that people will be safe from being bitten. while out on a walk if you have a nervous or aggressive dog, and too many off lead dogs put you under pressure to protect your dog.

Here are a few simple tips to get your dog comfortable with wearing a muzzle.

Step one:
Buy a muzzle that fits properly. Your dog’s nose shouldn't be squashed up to the end and they should be able to pant, drink or be sick through it. I use the plastic Baskerville muzzle It is a nice lightweight one.

Step Two:
Have the muzzle out all the time so that your dog gets use to seeing it around. Even when they are eating, playing, lying in their bed, and getting groomed. That way they will get used to it being around. If you only get it out when you need to use it your dog could associate it with a negative experience and then it becomes a battle to get it on.

IMPORTANT NOTE
Go slowly with your dog as you want them to have a positive experience wearing a muzzle. If they freak out at any stage, then go back a step to get them happy and comfortable again. Then start to move up the step

Step three:
We need to get the dog to get used to putting their nose into the muzzle and to do that you are going to put a treat (ideally their favourite treat) inside the muzzle, this will encourage them to put their nose inside to get the treat. Do this several times to the point that when you bring the muzzle out, they happily put their nose in. It is very tempting to do the muzzle up at this point but don’t push it.

Step four:
Once they are happy to put their nose inside the muzzle with a treat. Try to encourage them to keep their nose inside for longer. You can use a paste or squeezy cheese that stick to the muzzle so they can lick it.

Step five:
Now that they are happy to keep their nose inside for an extended period of time, you can put the strap behind their ears, then release it and praise them.

Step six:
Once they are comfortable with the straps going behind their ears you can clip it shut, then straight away unclip and praise them.

Step seven:
Now that they are happy to put their face into the muzzle and have it clipped on you can lengthen the time that they have it on for.

Step Eight:
Now that you can put the muzzle on easily and clip it shut, they should now wear it while you are grooming them or playing a game, so they get use to the movement of it. When you take it off give them a treat and praise for wearing it.

MUZZLES KEEP YOUR DOG SAFE!
Do not think of a muzzle as bad thing. It is a piece of equipment that can keep your dog safe also, if it is worn while at the groomers or vets’ people will be more confident handling them as they know they will not get bitten. If the people handling your dog are relaxed it helps your dog to relax too. when out on a walk you will know that you can partly relax when other unwelcome dogs come your way.

23/06/2022

HEADLINE
NEW COURSE STARTING
18th JULY

21/04/2022

New courses coming up in Bromley and New Cross 🐶

15/04/2022

Some information on What to look for when getting a dog or puppy

It is very sad that there have been some awful attacks on children and adults in the last few months some fatal. The last thing anyone would think is that their cute loving family dog would harm anyone! How wrong we all are! Our dogs can be killing machines, what we do is train them from an early age to accept us and not harm us, from the puppy biting all the way through their lives that we are out of bounds for their teeth. If you are thinking of getting a dog or puppy here are some tips that you may find helpful.

RESCUE DOG
When you get a dog from a rescue you will get some background with information on what they have lived with previously if they are good with children, cats and dogs. Some rescues will do assessments which will tell you what they where like while at the rescue. sometimes going for an older dog is better than taking on a puppy. Not all dogs in a rescue centre are damaged most are have found themselves there because the previous owner couldn't cope with their behaviour. You will have back up if you have any problems, you can always contact them for help or advice.
If you are going to go down the foreign rescue route make sure you will have help from them as some dogs coming from the street even if they are young may have problems.

DOG FROM SOCIAL MEDIA SIGHTS
If you go to social media to find a dog, please be careful, you will not always get the full picture or story. You should always go to the home to meet the dog before taking it home. That way you can get to see how they behave in the home and see how they are treated. (Owner shouting at them, very stern, apologising for their behaviour). DON’T get sucked into thinking that the dog needs saving as you could end up with a dog that you don’t want!

PUPPIES
When you are searching for Puppies again make sure they are from a proper breeder. By that I mean go and see your puppy at a very young age with their mum. Some breeders have waiting lists for people wanting a puppy. if you see someone with a breed of dog that you are interested in go and ask them some questions, see if that breed will fit your home life and ask them where they got their puppy from. If you see someone advertising several different breeds it could be puppy farmed puppies. These are puppies that have no to very little human contact. they will not have the health checks that the breed may need. they will be living in horrible conditions. DO NOT MEET SOMEONE IN A CAR PARK to collect your puppy. You will be spending a lot of money for your new pet so DO SOME RESEARCH. If it looks a good deal (cheap) there is probably a reason for that.

You wouldn’t buy a new car before checking out its details do that with your new potential puppy.

RESEARCH
Go to local dog shows, They are great places to do some research. Talk to people about their dogs. Ask what the dogs temperament is like, how much exercise do they need?, how much does their food cost and how much grooming do they need.
Before you get a dog make sure you have the time to spend with them, walking and training and that you are able to afford the food and vet bills that will come with your pet. You are going to have your dog for 12-16 years depending on breed of dog. Just remember they didn't ask to be in your home you picked them. So it is important to make the right decision as you want to enjoy your new addition.

13/04/2022

A huge thank you to Norbert, Renata and Boris. You where a pleasure to train. My lovely presents and card were an absolute bonus. 😁

12/04/2022

⚠️ ALERTE POST TRES IMPORTANT ⚠️

Les jouets KONG rencontrent un très grand succès chez les chiens. 🐕
Ce sont d'excellents jouets, solides, où l'on peut glisser des gourmandises pour encore plus de fun. 🤪

☝️ Mais avant d'investir dans un tel jouet, il y a deux choses importantes à savoir :

- Les KONG existent en plusieurs couleurs.🔴🔵⚫️ Ces couleurs correspondent à des niveaux de résistance. 💪

- Il est impératif de choisir une taille adaptée à votre chien pour éviter les accidents... 😰

Voici, ci-dessous, la radiographie d'un chien ayant ingéré non pas un mais deux jouets KONG ! 😱

07/04/2022

This may save your dogs life by being able to walk past distractions.
Contact me on [email protected]

05/04/2022

03/04/2022

ARE YOU THINKING OF GETTING A REACUE DOG?
from the UK or a dog from abroad?
Here are some tips that will help you settle your dog into the home.
Where is the dog going to sleep? Make sue their bed is in an area where people don’t have to keep walking by. Keep away from doorways so the way in or out can’t be blocked. No need to buy expensive beds until you know they won’t get chewed, dragged outside. Just get an old duvet and some blankets.
Make sure the bowls for water and food are big enough for the dog you are getting. Use a stand if it’s a larger breed.
What food are you going to feed? If the dog is coming with food, then make sure you change the food over slowly. If they are coming from abroad, they may have not eaten properly so they may need some pro biotics for a while to help their guts. (Speak to your vet about this)
Collar and lead. Make sure the collar fits snuggly (I use martingale collars) that way if the dog pulls backwards, they are unable to slip it. Buckle collars are good (just make sure the catches are secure). YOU MUST BY LAW have a tag with your details on your surname and address on it. The lead I use is called a training lead; it has several loops so you can have different lengths of lead. You may need a house line on while you get to know the dog and them you.
Crate, you may need to offer your dog a safe place to hide. The crate needs to be big enough for your dog to stand up and turn around. It can be helpful to put a blanket over the top and sides, so it acts like a den. Again, you don’t need to buy posh blankets until you know your dog is settled.
What are the house rules? Set the house rules before the dog comes home. Will it be allowed on the furniture, upstairs? What commands are you going to use? (Keep them simple and use words that are natural to say). The house rules should start the 1st day your new dog comes home unless they are from a foreign rescue. They may have never been in a home before so they will need to decompress. It will take some dogs a long time to get used to being in a home so try and be patient.
You may think about changing their name. it may help in case they have trauma connected to it. Although a lot of dogs in rescue may only be there due to not being trained in the previous home, so don’t treat them any different unless they are traumatised.
Once you have your dog at home they are no longer a rescue dog they are the family dog. Enjoy and have fun.

02/04/2022

New course’s starting soon! Check out my website www.dcdogbehaviouraltraining.co.uk

06/01/2022

STILL A FEW PLACES LEFT

02/12/2021

News Flash

05/11/2021

Some photos of my graduations. They have all been a joy to help. ❤️

02/11/2021

10 WAYS TO HELP YOUR DOG THROUGH FIREWORKS SEASON
1. Avoid letting your dog outdoors at times when fireworks are likely to go off
Take your dog for a nice long walk well before dark. For most of the year it’s against the law to set fireworks off after 11pm, but this curfew is extended to midnight on Bonfire Night so try to tire your dog out before it gets dark and then take them out for final toilet walks once the fireworks have stopped. If your dog is particularly scared of fireworks, you may want to feed them early too. If you have time, introduce these changes gradually over a few days so you don’t suddenly disrupt your dog’s routine.
2. Create a ‘safe place’ inside your home for your dog to hide from fireworks
A table draped with a blanket is a great retreat, or if your dog is used to being in a crate, cover it and leave it open with blankets inside. Don’t lock your dog in the crate, as this can be even more stressful for them. Give your dog options so they can choose where to hide.
3. The sudden bang of fireworks can be masked by keeping a radio or TV on, which can reduce the impact noises may have on your pet
Classical music will help to calm dogs in general, and music with quite a h4 bass will be ideal for masking bangs when played at a volume that your dog is happy with.
4. Always draw the curtains or cover the windows to minimise the lights from the fireworks
It’s not only the sound of fireworks that can cause distress for dogs, it’s also the light and flashes across the sky. Leave lights on indoors to reduce the impact of the flashes too.
5. Don’t confine your dog to one room as they may hurt themselves trying to get out, particularly if they become stressed
Dogs may also be most comfortable curled up in their usual spot with you rather than a designated ‘safe place’, so allow them access to all safe areas of the house.
6. Make sure that your dogs are microchipped and that their microchip details are up to date
In the worst-case scenario, any dog that does get out or run away from home while fireworks are going off can be reunited with its owner much more easily if it has been microchipped. Microchipping your dog is now a legal requirement, as of April 2016.
7. If your dog can see that fireworks have no effect on you, this may help decrease their anxiety
Animals are highly perceptive and will notice if you’re behaving unusually. Following your dog around or being overly affectionate may cause them to feel nervous or confused. You can still reassure your pet, by playing with their favourite toy for example but try to behave as normally as possible. The more you change your behaviour, the more anxious your dog may become.
8. Make sure your home and garden are as escape-proof as possible
Make sure all doors and windows are closed firmly. If possible, make sure your dog doesn’t have access to doors that lead outside, especially when people are coming in or out of the house. Secure any escape routes in your garden, just in case, and make sure everyone in the house knows they need to be quick opening and closing external doors.
9. Provide dogs with a long-lasting chew to help keep them distracted

You could also try stuffing a puzzle toy such as a Kong with layers of food to keep your dog occupied. A marrow bone from the butchers or a good chunky rawhide chew(make sure they are not the bleached ones)

10. If your dog is still extremely stressed by fireworks after following our advice, you may want to consult your vet A vet may be able to provide medication to help reduce your pet’s anxiety – however, any medicinal treatment should always be accompanied by a behaviour management plan.

28/10/2021

Have you just got a new puppy? or have a dog that needs some fine tuning with training. Why not get in touch and join me in my Classes, We have lots of fun and the dogs and owners go home learning new skills.

29/07/2021

Exciting news check out my new website www.dcdogbehaviouraltraining.co.uk

One to One Dog Training, Dog Training Classes, Dog Behaviour. Dog Behavioural Training, Dog Training in London, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Essex.

06/05/2021