this is your reminder 🫶
that even if your dog is difficult, or has challenging moments
that time with them is precious
and sometimes we can get so caught up in changing their behaviour
that we forget to enjoy them whilst we can
yes, working on things so you can enjoy them more is important
working on things so THEY can enjoy life more is important, too
but there is something special in
embracing the journey, accepting your dog for where they’re at now whilst working towards a better future
& no matter how much of the ‘hard’ work you’re doing
there should also be plenty of fun, enjoyable time together 💗
#germanshepherd #belgianmalinois #DogTraining #dogbehaviour #dogtrainer #dogbehaviourist
Making this made me laugh. Sorry to my clients who have to put up with my annoying dog voice, it can’t be helped 🤣
#dogtraining #dogtrainer #dogbehaviour #dogbehaviourist #rescuedog
Coming to the close of one year is a nice time to re-evaluate things, set goals and get clear on intentions for the new year
Out with the old and in with the new shall we say 💃
So here’s what I’m leaving behind in 2024 (& what I encourage my clients to leave behind too)
🚫 Trying to get things perfect all the time - progress is always better than perfection & trying to get things tip top every time leads to procrastination and self criticism, messy training is still training ✨
🚫 Overlooking successes no matter how small they are. Often in dog training (and pretty much every area of life…) we set goals, achieve them, but don’t acknowledge those achievements because we’re constantly raising the bar
🚫 Giving a single thought to other people and what they think of me as a dog owner, trainer, or person. Everyone is on their own journey, not everyone is going to understand that and also- what anyone thinks isn’t my business
And here’s what I am bringing into 2025 🥳
👏 Priotising consistency over everything else and just showing up regardless of how I feel, what the weather is like, or how little time I have - I always feel better having just done a tiny bit of training (so does my dog) and those small moments add up to produce big results
👏 Reading my dog and advocating for her- setting her up to succeed, putting her needs first and above others expectations of her
👏 Releasing the pressure and just having fun together. Realistically it’s what having a dog is all about, but sometimes we get so caught up in the things we have to fix or change. I just want to enjoy all the time we have together 💗
What are your ins and outs for 2025? ⬇️
#happynewyear #dogsofinstagram #belgianmalinois #dogtrainer #dogbehaviourist
Christmas is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year 🎄
But for a lot of spicy or sensitive dogs it can be quite challenging
Because it’s also a time that comes with a lot of stress and change of routine- this can be a lot for almost any dog to handle, but especially if they already find day to day life difficult to handle
& so when it comes round to festivities
We need to be making a few accommodations for them to make our celebrations a little easier to manage
(This is will look a little different for every dog but might involve)
These accommodations might look like
✨ Giving them a safe space to hang out away from the hustle and bustle
✨ Not taking them round family and friends, and giving them a chance to just chill out at home
✨ Using baby gates, crates, different rooms
✨ Using sniffing, licking, and chewing activities to help them decompress (maybe a long lasting kong or a raw meaty bone)
And most importantly
‼️ learn to read your dogs stress signals
‼️ ADVOCATE FOR YOUR DOG- people are not entitled to touch them, interact with them etc (even if they are cute)
‼️ don’t push them further than they are ready for
Your dogs Christmas might not look like other dogs Christmas and that’s okay ❤️
#dogbehaviour #dogbehaviourist #dogtrainer #dogsofinstagram #spaniel
I think when we have a difficult dog
It’s so easy for us to get into a self critical headspace
& we end up blaming ourselves for where we’re at with our dogs
Especially since it’s often perpetuated that dogs problems are solely a result of their owners shortcomings
But if you need a reminder
It isn’t your fault ❤️🩹
Behaviour is complex. I see dogs with behaviour problems every single day and every case is complicated, there is rarely one sole cause of their dogs issues and more often it’s lots of moving parts
We can see behaviour problems because of genetics. Early life experiences. Diet. Lifestyle. Breeding. Maternal stress. Environmental factors. It’s so, so complex
And hey, if you’ve made choices that you wish you hadn’t
Or you’d like to go back and do things differently
Thats okay. I’ve made so many choices with my own dogs that I wish I hadn’t
We do our best with the information we have at the time and that is more than enough ❤️
#dogtrainer #belgianmalinois #dogbehaviourist #DogTraining #dogbehaviour #dogsofinstagram
My best efforts at a whistle stop tour into genetics and behaviour problems🧠
This is such a big topic so it’s difficult to squish it all into a short video but the important takeaways are
🐕 Numerous mutations to our genes have been associated with behaviour problems such as separation anxiety and aggression
🐕 The genes identified modify the normal structure and functioning of the brain which we know is what dictates behaviour
🐕 Many of these genes were associated with a number of behaviour problems rather than just one - it isn’t a case of ‘I have this gene therefore I will have xyz behaviour problem’ - presence of certain genes will impact pathways that may then result in a certain behaviour problem or collection of them
🐕 However genetics alone do not impact behaviour- as our environment impacts what genes are ‘switched on’ and ‘switched off’ - this complex interplay impacts the resulting behaviour
if you want to read more you can find the paper here: Deciphering the genetic basis of behavioral traits in dogs: Observed-trait GWAS and latent-trait GWAS analysis reveal key genes and variants https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2024.106251
#dogtraining #dogbehaviour #genetics #neuroscience #dogsofinstagram #dogbehaviourist #dogtrainer
Yes our dogs breed comes with different traits… But actually this is all in their brain and how it is structured 🧠
One study showed that different dog breeds had different areas of the brain that were developed and this was associated with the roles that these dogs have been historically bred for. For example, the lovely board collie, who has been known for being easily trained has a larger mesolimbic reward system. This is the circuit in the brain responsible for motivation and drive for rewards. 🐕
As dog owners, we don’t need to understand exactly what our dogs brain looks like but we do need to appreciate what their breed has historically been developed for and how that impacts their natural instincts and behaviour. Our dogs breed treats are not something that we can train out of them but instead of something that we have to learn more about and learn how to work with.
If you’re interested in reading more, you can read the paper here: Significant Neuroanatomical Variation Among Domestic Dog Breeds https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0303-19.2019
#neuroscience #DogBehaviour #DogTraining #DogBreed #behaviourist
Pain and discomfort has a huge effect on behaviour, and can often play a role in issues such as aggression, reactivity, hyperarousal, resource guarding, separation anxiety, noise sensitivity, and so much more. It’s often overlooked because our dogs aren’t able to communicate about their pain in the same way we can. Just because our dog isn’t limping, yelping, or crying out doesn’t mean they’re not in discomfort. Infact, a number of studies have investigated the impact of pain on behaviour, one even suggesting that 80% of behaviour cases may be impacted by an underlying health problem
When we’re working through a behaviour problem, often that involves working closely alongside the vet or other veterinary professionals to rule out any discomfort, or treat what is there. Without doing this, behaviour modification is often one step forwards and one step backwards because we’re missing out on addressing a key cause.
If I could ask one thing of my clients, it would be to be open minded when considering if our dogs have discomfort. Often as owners we don’t want to even consider that it might be impacting our dogs! And yet, we know so many of our fellow humans who suffer with back pain, IBS, and more- often not showing any signs without us asking.
#behaviour #painindogs #dogtraining #dogbehaviour #dogbehaviourist
Three misconceptions about reactive dogs… ❤️🩹
People can be so quick to label reactive dogs bad dogs. They can be so quick to label their owners as bad owners who haven’t raised their dog in the right way or haven’t put the time that’s needed into training. They might see these dogs as those that need punishment and “corrections“.
In reality these dogs are those are struggling with the world around them. They may be anxious, fearful, frustrated and more. Most often they have big feelings that they don’t know how to cope with. Their owners have often poured more time and effort into their dog than most other owners. They may spend hours training, and hours spent learning how to help their dog cope. Every reactive dog owner that I know is incredibly committed to their dog, cares deeply about how their dog feels, and has put absolutely everything into improving their behaviour. These dogs do not need punishment or corrections or harsh training techniques. They need understanding. When we understand how our dog feels, we are able to help them. Through kind and gentle techniques that improve their behaviour without neglecting their well-being.
#DogBehaviour #DogTraining #ReactiveDog #Aggression #Reactivity #Behaviourist
If you are a perfectionist or someone who struggles when things don’t go perfectly, it can be easy to slip into the trap of trying to train perfectly. When we’re training our dogs, we are looking for progress and not perfection. We will get better progress from imperfectly training on a regular basis, then training in frequently but setting up the perfect session. ❤️
Imperfect training could look like a mini training session while the kettle boils, heading to the park for 10 minutes to work around distractions or drilling exercises whilst you’re waiting outside the vets.
All of these tiny moments build up and very quickly we then poured loads of time into our training. Especially if you are working through behaviour problems, or you have a challenging dog, training is not always going to go perfectly all we are looking for is steps in the right direction because that tells us we’re on the right track! 🤩
#DogTraining #DogBehaviour #DogBehaviourModification #Behaviourist
Your reactive dog is not a bad dog. No matter what some people might think, a dog that barks, lunges, bites, or displays other challenging behaviors is still not a bad dog. When I work with you and your dog, regardless of the extremity of their behavior, I see the incredible dog they are and all their fantastic attributes. And you should, too.
Dogs with challenges are often misunderstood. They don’t need to be reprimanded, judged, or labeled. What they need is curiosity and compassion. Their reactions—whether they stem from pain, frustration, fear, anxiety, or stress—are not a reflection of their worth or character. Instead, these responses are products of their emotional state.
We don’t have aggressive dogs; we have dogs that display aggression. Sometimes, we need to look deeper, understand them better, and help them manage their world more effectively.
When you work with me, I will always see the good in your dog. I will never judge you or them. Together, we will explore their needs and build a path toward understanding and trust. Every dog has the potential to thrive with the right support and love. ❤️🐾
#ReactiveDog #aggression #DogBehaviourist
