Everyday Dogs

25/10/2024

GENETICS

I'm often contacted by people who are at their wits end with their dog. They exercise them for hours per day, provide enrichment toys and STILL Rover is misbehaving.

My responses typically surround what particular breed they have, and what kind of exercise and enrichment they're actually providing.

I often conclude, from this, that the dog isn't being genetically fulfilled.

For some dogs a 1+, 2+, 3+ hour walk just doesn't cut it. (Ask me how I know...)
Instead, you NEED to tap into their drives and provide specific enrichment.
For Echo- our flat coat retriever- 15 minutes of scent work does more for her emotionally AND physically than a 2 hour walk ever would. (NOT JUST your typical game of fetch...)
Less of the 'a tired dog is a happy dog'
And more of the 'a geneically fulfilled dog is a happy dog'
And no, its not 'ALL in how you raise them'- different dogs have different needs!
Gun dogs scent and retrieve
Shepherds chase and herd
Huskies pull and RUN

Need help figuring out what drives your dogs? Drop us a message!
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17/10/2024

When the park is looking a little 'samey', its training time!

Here we are testing Spirits 'turn' with increased disttactions. NOT ONLY THAT- but its a great time to test the impulse control of the rest of the pack.

I always like my dogs to engage with their handler and always throw in fun training sessions.
We've said it before and we'll say it again...Dont just unclip the lead- ENGAGE with your dog!
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27/09/2024

🧨🎇🎆🌟DONT FORGET!🌟🎆🎇🧨

Firework night (and subsequent months following...) is nearly upon us so we should be doing all we can to ensure our pets aren't stressed!

This is something we practice often with Spirit (as I have with Blue and Raven) and as you can see, she couldn't care less.

Don't wait until the week before to start inputting a system of gradual desensitisation!- these things take time and its all on the dogs time scale...not yours!

In cases like noise sensitivity- PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE! So start as early as possible and tackle it BEFORE it becomes an issue.

I think the bowl is empty now, Spirit!
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02/09/2024

The Everyday Dogs pack are on a well deserved holiday this week!
We are back on the 8th of September once the dogs are all suitably sandy.

I will answer messages when convenient so please bare with me!
💚💙🤍❤️

27/08/2024

Puppy training: 🌟Exposure🌟
Another week of getting Spirit used to the big wide world and helping her face whatever life may throw at her.

It's vital for us to get her used to busy and loud environments in preparation for shows, agility workshops, grooming competitions and so on.

We ensure to work on things like this as soon as possible while she's a sponge for learning!

Need help with socialisation? Drop us a message!
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06/08/2024

PUPPY TRAINING: Noise desensitisation

Last week we had quite a large and lengthy thunderstorm- a great opportunity to test our training.

This is the product of gradual desensitisation to all things loud and scary.

From a firework playlist on a bluetooth speaker, walks around mechanics workshops to sitting outside construction sites…this is what we have.

We're on our way to a peaceful bonfire night.

🔊Volume up🔊
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05/08/2024

Spirit has been ace-ing everything thrown at her these past couple of weeks and I couldn’t be more proud.

We continue to put challenges in her way, increase the difficulty of certain challenges and watch her successfully problem solve at every corner.

She is a perfect example of the necessity of ‘pressure’ and ‘stress’ in dog training.
Before anyone gets up in arms about these terms; let me explain:
Spirit wasn’t a big fan of the car when she first was put into it, she was sick several times and couldn’t quite get her bearings. She wouldn't willingly approach the car and wouldn't settle despite how long or short the journeys would be.

She also didn’t like her crate despite never having a negative association with it. It’s never used as a punishment (nor should they EVER be used as such) and it had her beds in it which contained the comforting scent of her mum and littermates.

Another thing she hated was water. Even in the height of the heat wave we’ve been having with a small paddling pool set up specifically for the dogs, she would avoid it at all costs, giving it a very wide birth.
All of these situations were stressful to her.
It was my job then to help her negotiate this stress.

She had to come to terms with these stressors, whether she liked it or not. I wasn't going to coddle her through it, as much as my instincts told me I should; if I had, she’d never learn
If I were to give her affection when she was actively moving away from the car/ water or crying in her crate, I would be reinforcing her anxiety in THAT EXACT MOMENT…making her more likely to avoid these triggers the next time shes faced with them.

Instead:
She actively hops straight in the car
She puts herself in her crate for a power nap
The video speaks for itself.

We HAVE to push dogs through stressful experiences for them to learn, when they’re out the other side, that it wasn't that bad after all!
We, unfortunately, can't wrap them in bubble wrap and keep everything stressful away from them throughout their entire lives.

It's so important to persevere and build confidence as opposed to avoiding things.

Look at her problem solving!

26/07/2024

PUPPY TRAINING🌟: RECALL

Recall, for most people, is one of the most important things you can teach a dog.

Getting a dog to ignore any and all distractions (some which may be incredibly self rewarding to the dog) is not an easy task!

It requires hundreds of repetitions in lots of different environments and isn't a quick trick.

When it comes to my pack, you'll notice that some of Spirits clips are separate from the other dogs- this is ESSENTIAL for multidog households as i don't want her recall to be determined by whether or not Blue and Raven are recalled. Instead, most of her recall training is separate to ensure its reliability.

After all- it's not the old dogs job to train the new dog...its MY job.
This is why Spirits recall command is different to the other dogs when out with the big dogs so I can ensure that she'd coming back when called and not only because Raven wants a biscuit!

Whilst Spirit is completely comfortable recalling without a long line now- this may indeed be incorporated when she hits adolescence and training goes out of the window. It's all about perseverance and CONSISTENCY

100% recall here we come💪


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Send a message to learn more

16/07/2024

PUPPY TRAINING

We've had a quiet week due to illness but we're back and better than ever!

One of the most common training issues I get asked about is creating a calm dog in public.

This is often a really overlooked part of dog ownership. For me, it's vital. Blue, Raven and now Spirit are dogs who have to endure busy places on a daily basis. They have to settle in a grooming salon, wait patiently in turn at agility practice and (most importantly) lay down nicely in the pub!

So how do we teach 'calm'?
When I teach it, its incredibly simple and, surprisingly, doesn't involve food or toy rewards.

I go to a location that will be slightly busy (building up to hectic locations) and simply...sit.
This is literally called 'Sit on the dog' whereby you have your dog on a lead and let them simply experience the world around them. These situations WILL evoke stress...but it's all about HOW you experience stress WITH your dog. I never over praise if there's an environmental stressor, instead I won't react- showing my dog that if IM not stressed, you absolutely have nothing to worry about.
I make sure to not use food, toys or over the top verbal praise as these reinforcers increase arousal and create excitement which isn't the goal in this exercise!

Here is Spirit staying nice and calm in several environments.

Next stop: the pub!
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04/07/2024

PUPPY TRAINING
🔊🔊🔊🔊🔊🔊
Audio ON

The exposure continues.....this time its desensitisation to 'scary noises'

Fireworks and thunderstorms are two of the most anxiety inducing situations for a lot of dogs.
One source even says that up to 45% of dogs have a firework phobia.
Sometimes this fear is so bad that dogs will try to make escape attempts and become seriously injured or worse.

So what can we do to prevent that?



Its time to teach our dogs that scary noises aren't that scary after all!
And start as young as you possibly can!

Don't leave it until firework night!
Your dog will thank you.

Good job, Spirit!
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01/07/2024

PUPPY TRAINING

ALWAYS 🌟Trust. The. Process.🌟

Good training doesn't happen overnight, nor does it happen in one session.
It takes time, patience, consistency and repetition.

Sometimes it'll feel like you're not getting anywhere but be sure to persevere. Some days will be fantastic and others will feel like you're starting from scratch!

But YOU WILL GET THERE.
As long as you're being clear and consistent in what you're asking of your dog...you'll get there.

Keep training sessions short and often and ALWAYS end on a positive.

Look how far Spirit has come since starting her lead work!
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