Better Buddies

19/03/2024

The incredible abilities of a dog’s nose!

Just how powerful is a dog's sense of smell? Today, search dog Fern is going to test out her senses to see if she can find a canister filled with pork meat -...

03/03/2024

Our wonderful Gold graduates finished their final UK Sniffer Dog Scent Detection course this weekend! They all did incredibly well and have come on so far! I feel very lucky to have had such a great group of people and dogs complete our first round of courses up North 🐕‍🦺🐕🦮🐩

17/02/2024

I completely forgot to post out Silver graduates back in December! Our fourth pair didn’t make it for photos but still graduated! Now they’re all working their way through Gold and smashing it 😃

16/11/2023

Floof might end up being our first sniffer cat 😃

23/09/2023

Two of our Bronze graduates today - 9yr old Noodles and 2yr old Storm! Our last class attendee was sadly sick for photo day, but all the owners and dogs did absolutely brilliantly ❤️🐕

21/09/2023

21/09/2023

There is a lingering misconception that using force free and fear free methods consists of just ignoring any 'bad' behaviour and giving a dog food. The reality is that force free training is so much more than that.

It requires an understanding of the history of dogs, why they do the things that they do and how to change their behaviour. Of how to manage the dog's environment so they don't get to practice the behaviour we don't want to see while reinforcing the behaviours we do want - dogs do what works for them so reinforcing alternative behaviours makes the original behaviour much less likely to repeat.

Most of all it means having an understanding of the dog in front of us, their needs, likes and dislikes, so that we can help them with their fears or show them the behaviours their humans would like without danger of fear and pain, or of the dog becoming frustrated or scared.

05/09/2023

Spaces have come available on our September Bronze Scent Detection course starting this Saturday, September 9th!

Scent Work has become increasingly popular over the past few years, in large part due to it's accessibility for all dogs and owners. You and your dog don't have to be in top physical shape and it's an ideal 'sport' for older dogs or those with mobility issues. It also has numerous calming benefits so is brilliant positive bonding time for anxious dogs and their owners.

Visit www.betterbuddies.co.uk to learn more and book your place!

We provide various classes for puppies through to adult dogs.

29/08/2023

Once again for the people in the back…

⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
There are NO 🅂🅃🅄🄱🄱🄾🅁🄽 🄳🄾🄶🅂
⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️

🔹Dogs don’t deliberately disobey or resist their humans, just because.

🔹Dogs are largely motivated by what is rewarding and reinforcing for them, and what is aversive and punishing for them.

🔹Sometimes, what the human wants the dog to do is not as rewarding as what the dog wants to do, or perhaps the dog finds it unpleasant or scary.

🔹To train a dog that seems stubborn, you need to make yourself more rewarding and reinforcing than anything else in the environment. Plus ensure the dog feels safe.

23/08/2023

Bronze and Silver scent detection courses available in September and November!

Dogs are natural sniffers, so naturally any dog can become a Sniffer Dog!
Scent Work has become increasingly popular over the past few years, in large part due to it's accessibility for all dogs and owners. You and your dog don't have to be in top physical shape and it's an ideal 'sport' for older dogs or those with mobility issues. It also has numerous calming benefits so is brilliant positive bonding time for reactive dogs and their owners.

Visit www.betterbuddies.co.uk to learn more and book your place!

Relationship focused dog training that works on building the bond between you and your best buddy!

29/04/2023

Electric shock collars will finally be banned in England! As of Feb 1st 2024 it will be illegal to own or use these on our dogs. Better late than never!
https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/media-centre/2023/april/cruel-electric-shock-collars-banned-in-england/?fbclid=IwAR1J3yBxVHKjCfE6GfJYDX6NRA_Z0nkTStQbfxBlONCoV8wsgceY6OJRQnY

The Government has laid legislation which will completely ban the use of remote controlled electric shock collars in England, as of 1 February 2024,

27/04/2023

Do we train children with obedience? No. Do we expect human children to be perfectly behaved 100% of them time? No. Do we expect them to never have a tantrum when they're told no, are tired, or cry because they're afraid at the doctor's office? Of course not. Do we shame parents for a crying child? No. Do we offer unsolicited parenting advice while their child is face down in the middle of the grocery store? No, (and if you do you probably shouldn't.) We teach children life skills be integrated into our adult world, giving them tools for communication and understanding when they might just need a break. We teach children manners, not obedience.

This expectation that dogs should have robotic performance for commands is a construct left over from the now debunked dominance theory. When dominance theory was en vogue, people wanted to prove they were in charge of their dog, so barked commands and the dog was expected to perform. It was a relationship based on fear, not trust and love. Do what I ask or be punished. Not, do what I ask because you are opting in and this is a cooperative relationship.

Read more in this week's post. https://rescuedbytraining.com/2023/04/17/manners-not-obedience/

15/03/2023

13/03/2023

Better safe than sorry, especially when it involves dogs and children. I felt I had to draw my own dogs & children cartoon which includes some common subtle signs in the top section that can be related to stress and discomfort.
I see it as our job (as professionals) to keep educating and sharing information to improve the welfare dogs and humans.

Most incidents between dogs and children happen while adults are supervising, but just not noticing, understanding and taking appropriate action when dogs show those subtle signs of discomfort.

Many dogs can be unbelievably tolerant when it comes to interactions with humans, but always remember that ANY dog can respond with aggression.

Read more about aggression here: https://lotsdogs.com/behavior/aggression.html

Many times I see interactions where the dog is tolerating, not enjoying, the primate affection communication that we humans prefer (cuddling, hugging, holding). Sure there are exceptions. Always ask questions and try to dig deep into the individual backgrounds before you judge, but my advice will remain:
Better safe than sorry.

© LotsDogs​

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12/03/2023

A BBC investigation published today has revealed that dog bites reported to the police (in England & Wales) have risen by a third over the last 5 years. And, predictably, much of the media coverage has centred around these bites being caused by ‘out of control’ dogs of certain breeds. But is that accurate? What is the real story when it comes to dog bites?

⚠️ breed is a poor predictor of aggression
⚠️ the vast majority (80%) of dog bites happen in the home and come from family dogs
⚠️ the risk of bites may be increased in the presence of pain or disease in the dog
⚠️ the majority of dogs that bite are motivated by fear or anxiety, not ‘badness’
⚠️ the use of physical punishment or physical force is a risk factor in creating a fear response and aggression
⚠️ the majority of accidents to children occur when there is lack of active parental supervision

So, how do we reverse this trend? Rather than relying on governments to act (after all previous legislation like the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act is both profoundly flawed & ineffective) we can all play a role to improve safety around dogs.....

✅ educate yourself about canine body language & behaviour
✅ ensure your dog’s fundamental needs, including exercise, social contact & access to species specific activities, are being met
✅ understand that dogs are autonomous, sentient animals and not playthings here for our amusement or social media likes
✅ understand your dog doesn’t know how to live in a human world and that it’s your job to teach them when you can and manage them when you can't
✅ understand that your dog is allowed to proportionately express their discomfort or displeasure just as you are and that you should listen when they do
✅ take the time to find a responsible breeder / rescue. Poor breeding and irresponsible ‘rescue’ results in physically and temperamentally compromised dogs being placed in unsuspecting, ill equipped homes with potentially devastating results
✅ be realistic about your experience & skill levels when choosing a dog to join your family. Match your challenge to your skills. You don't learn to drive in a Ferrari for good reason. Dog ownership is no different...
✅ follow & learn from responsible, ethical trainers who understand the roots of behaviour & not simply how to suppress it
✅ actively supervise (or separate) children & dogs

Every dog has the capacity to bite regardless of breed or size. And the consequences of a bite can be devastating for the dog and for the humans. But we can mitigate that risk by understanding and accepting our dogs for the amazing species they are. By choosing wisely, meeting their needs and listening to what they tell us. As dog owners, we all have it in our power to make a positive change to these statistics. The buck stops with us.

©️Aileen Stevenson, The Perfect Puppy Company

10/03/2023

"𝘋𝘰𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘦'𝘷𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮, 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘦'𝘷𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘪𝘯" Susan Garrett

The next time your dog does something you find challenging or embarrassing or which makes you feel frustrated or even angry, take a breath and remember this statement.

They aren't being 'bad' or stubborn or manipulative. They're not blowing you off or being a jerk. It's not a deliberate act designed to wind you up on their part.

Their behaviour is what it always is. A reflection of their learning and their environment. If they are doing something we don't want it's either because we haven't taught them what we do want well enough or because they just can't (not won't) do it under the current conditions. And both of those things are on us, not the dog.

They're doing the best they can with the cards we've dealt them. If we want them to do better then it's only fair that we need to do better, too.

26/02/2023

I have a huge passion for reactive dogs.
They are challenging but SO rewarding. They are complex, challenging and their behaviour can be a puzzle to piece together.
It has been six months since I last shared this post, since then there has been a few thousand more followers....(thankyou to each and everyone of you 😊) and boy...some big names too.

Anyway...this is a post about thresholds, but more than that it is about deciphering body language and that is so important when working with reactive dogs.

I hope you find it helpful if you have a reactive dog or need help deciphering some body language in your own dog.

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I get asked a lot about what is a THRESHOLD.

What doesn't help with anyones clarity, is everyone has a slightly different interpretation of what a threshold actually is. So this is my interpretation.
What is over or under threshold ?
For me, there is a point where your dog is either so hyper focused or reactive to whatever trigger it sees that it will now no longer listen and distraction is almost impossible.....OVER threshold.
If your dog is calm and relaxed, it is UNDER threshold.

Why is this helpful?

Knowing the signs of when your dog is starting to show its discomfort is KEY. If you can see the signs of stress rising (BEFORE) your dog goes OVER threshold....you can keep your dog from getting to the next level....where distraction becomes difficult and in some cases ...impossible.

So the key to thresholds is to work out those subtle signs that ALL dogs have...
The happy dog you know may be loose, bouncy and its tail wags in a certain way.
Your stressed dog behaves in a completely different way, it stiffens, may stare intensely, its tail may stiffen or "flag"....and there is a point that you can STOP the escalation...and that's why thresholds are important. So you can recognise (and STOP) when your dog is soon to go OVER threshold.

25/02/2023

All the dogs did absolutely brilliantly on our first Bronze Scent Detection course in the North!

24/02/2023

Loving and living with a reactive dog can be an emotional and exhausting journey.

As a dog guardian of a formally reactive dog, I understand how frustrating it can be when your dog's behavior makes it hard to enjoy outings or spend time with them.

The embarrassment, the fear, the shame. It's not what you pictured!

Hiring a qualified dog professional isn't just about resolving your dog's reactivity; it's about investing in the future of your relationship with your dog. It's about investing in the mental health of you both!

With our guidance and support, we can work together to turn your dog's reactive behavior into calm and confident behavior.

Don't let your dog's behavior hold you back from the joy of sharing your life with your dog.

Take the first step towards a happier life for both you and your dogs.

Scheduling an Assessment with us is the starting point to waving reactivity goodbye! 👋

⭐ Visit www.rplusdogs.com to book

Share this with a friend who needs some support!

24/02/2023

Humans have about 5 million olfactory receptors, which is significantly less than dogs.

A dog's nose is highly specialised, containing up to 300 million olfactory receptors.

These receptors enable dogs to detect even the slightest scents, and their brain is designed to quickly analyse and identify them.

Additionally, dogs have a specialised structure in their nose called the vomeronasal organ, which helps them detect pheromones and other chemical signals. When a dog sniffs, they inhale air through their nostrils and exhale it out through slits in their nose, allowing them to maintain a constant flow of air and maximise their scent detection abilities.

Let's not pull them away from that interesting lamppost.

15/02/2023

Fear.....Completely individual, complex and what your dog is afraid of needs to be noted (even if we do not understand it, it seems irrational...or if they are afraid of something we view as harmless).

I have seen people laugh when dogs are afraid of something that we view as "innocent"....it is not innocent to your dog.
Sometimes the objects dogs are afraid of are shown again in front of others...almost like party trick to make their dog have the same reaction.

Social media is full of these videos too.

New objects or situations can make some dogs extremely nervous and afraid, and it makes no difference whether we understand it....we need to respect it.

This graphic is about the 4 F's and the first F covers a lot and is a bit more in depth than what is shown on the graphic....dogs may disengage, fiddle, "faff" about, fidget or show behaviours to self sooth.
There is a lot of movement in the first F.

The others are more self explanatory.

Many stress signals or calming signals precede or accompany these 4 F's ....even freeze.

Important to note is the fight.....All dogs, of EVERY breed given a unique set of circumstances are capable of fighting.
It doesn't necessarily mean your dog is aggressive....it is simply your dog feels forced into action.

If your dog is fearful.....you need to help.

Repeatedly exposing your dog to fear is never a good idea...and we can do this all the time, and we justify it.

Dogs that need to be groomed are often forced into the car .....you may know they are really afraid of the car but they need to go, so a highly stressed, scared dog is forced into the car......
They will never get over this fear if they are continually forced to confront their fears (or even phobias) again and again.
...it can morph outwards.
The car is in the garage and now suddenly your dog refuses to go near the garage or even near that side of the house.

Fear needs help.
It needs understanding, often unique solutions.....but your dog deserves the time and effort to help them through this.

15/02/2023

WHOSE WALK IS IT ANYWAY?
Imagine going on a long-anticipated walk, through new scenery and enticing scents after being cooped up in the same place all day, but you have been fitted with a blind fold and are being dragged or yanked along at a quick pace.

I imagine that this is how dogs feel when we don’t allow them time to stop, sniff and explore the environment. Dogs largely perceive their world through scent and it’s how they collect and process information and make sense of the world.

Taking away an opportunity for sniffing on a walk really isn’t fair and as much as physical exercise is important, the mental stimulation that sniffing provides is equally, if not more important.

Allowing dogs to choose when to stop and sniff provides so many benefits – increases self-confidence, promotes calmness, lowers stress and anxiety levels, lowers pulse rates, reduces cognitive decline in older dogs and provides important mental and environmental enrichment.

Make time for a slow sniffing walk when you can, where your dog is allowed to choose which direction to go and allowed time to just investigate, interpret the environment and follow wherever their nose leads them.

It may take far more time and patience as we wait for them to finish smelling that particular blade of grass, but the benefits are well worth it – after all, whose walk is it anyway?

12/02/2023

When we seek help for our dog's behaviour we tend to focus on stopping something unwanted.

Our aim is to make that behaviour go away.

But there's much more to it than that.

Dogs act how they do based on their feelings and their motivations.

They can’t tell us what either of those things are unless we know their language.

Unless we identify what they need.

Then work out another way to meet that need for them.

Ethically, we can't dive in to make the dog stop doing something.

We must start by watching and listening.

Learning from the dog.

Asking the following questions.

24/01/2023

Sounds like the perfect solution... kids itching to walk their new dog + over-stretched parents thrilled that their children are taking responsibility and lightening the workload! What's not to love?

Actually quite a LOT.

I can't tell you how many disappointed faces I see when I try to explain why a child walking a dog ALONE *might NOT be* the best idea for anyone!!?

And I get totally it.

If this is your first family dog, a quick spin around the block may look harmless enough - until you consider ALL of the things that can (and DO) go wrong.

Even (mentally and physically) FULLY-GROWN ADULTS get pulled down to the ground, or dragged over to squirrels, skateboards and the neighborhood cat. They accidentally drop leashes, or watch helplessly as their pup slips their collar. They struggle to control their dog around other dogs, or conversely, they panic or freeze when an off-leash dog comes sprinting full-speed towards them (friendly or not friendly.. who knows? They’ll likely find out when it’s too late!)

And this is ONLY a handful of the things that can happen to GROWN UPS… so for kids the stakes are simply exponentially higher.

As a trainer, I’m pretty calculated about where I go, and when I walk my dogs my radar is always activated. Even still, I’ve personally had to dash after my loose dog, I’ve been bitten by a dog who was attacking mine, I’ve seen a dog run over in a school parking lot, and watched a child be literally dragged for 50ft against her will!

So, I hope by sharing the potential risks with you, you can make informed choices about your family dog walking situation:

Here’s my hotlist of things to consider:

Size - of child and dog
Strength - of child and dog
Maturity - of child and dog
Training - of child and dog
Temperament - of child and dog

Then download, print and share our poster.
THESE are my questions to help families size up the COMBINATION of their dog and child to see whether WALKING ALONE together is a SMART call.

For more info for kids, dogs and making EVERYONE'S life SAFE and HAPPY - go to thefamilydog.com/families