Canine Navigator UK

26/08/2024

It's hard to face the reality of UK dog ownership sometimes.
They are not commodities.
They are not emotional crutches.
(A properly trained emotional support dog requires very careful breeding, appropriate breed selection and costs thousands to build the necessary skills and resilience).
We don't get to decide "I like the look of that, and I want it to do this", then discard the dog when it doesn't work.
Please folks, research, research, research. And don't entertain any breeder without a lifetime promise to take the dog back if there are issues!

12/08/2024

Coffee stencils and dogs?! Bear with me....

Our dogs are constantly learning by association - whether we are "actively training" them or not. This is why I create resources for clients on lifestyle and relationship to ensure they are aware of how influential our daily interactions and mindset with our dogs are.

There is no such thing as a day off, really. Owning a dog is a lifestyle choice that places a huge responsibility on us to be aware of our own behaviour and home environment. We often have to be the change we want to see in our dogs.

Dogs have an incredible ability to link events and actions together - this is how we train them, how we build our relationship with them.
Examples of associations some dogs form:
🐾Fridge = Cheese
🐾Recall = Fun over, home time

Our brains work the same way without us knowing it sometimes. The difference is, we can rationalise, make sense of it and realise it is happening. Your dog can't do that. This is why behaviour modification is not as simple as telling your dog over and over again "it's ok! You're ok!" (doing this can actually make things worse - fewer words, if any, spoken calmly is what I advise).

So, finally, what's all this got to do with my coffee?
It's a perfect example of our brains forming associations and it gave me the idea for this post!

We've had this coffee stencil for a long time, we use it at least 4 days per week. Many moons ago I was barista trained but never did get the milk pouring art.
Last week when Duncan sang the Imperial March at me....I knew he was asking for a coffee! Because coffee = Darth Vader to us now 😆

10/08/2024

👏👏

There is nothing specific about any breed of dog that makes them ‘safe’ around children.

When I make videos breaking down the body language of dogs around kids, a lot of commenters have some very choice words for me.

Often commenters state the breed in the video is a ‘dangerous breed’ (though they don’t usually put it that nicely), or others will accuse me of demonising them, because ‘this’ breed is special, and they know this because they:
‘grew up with them’, ‘own one’, ‘have owned dozens’, ‘breed them’, or, ‘can speak with them telepathically’… you name it.

When it comes to breed specific behaviour & temperament there are of course some differences. Some breeds tend to be more aloof, others more social; some breeds can be prone to nipping if overly-excited, or have a higher potential for animal aggression, while others have soft mouths and are more chill and lazy.

Breed characteristics usually reflect selective breeding for purpose - whether for work, sport or as lap dogs. But no breed has been selectively bred to be human aggressive.

❗️Now here’s the important part…

No breed has been bred to ‘not feel emotion’, no breed has been bred to ‘never feel stress’, no breed has been bred to ‘use completely different body language to other dogs’…

No breed has been bred to ‘not be a dog’ and ALL dogs have the potential to bite.

Individual differences ‘within’ a breed can be huge. ALL dogs can develop aggression issues, either through weak genetics or from bad experiences. But not all aggression stems from a behavioral issue.

A DOG DOES NOT NEED TO HAVE A BEHAVIOR ISSUE TO BITE.

A dog may bite due to pain, fear, defense etc.

A DOG MAY ALSO BITE WHEN THEIR SUBTLE REQUESTS FOR SPACE HAVE BEEN CONTINUALLY IGNORED.

And this often happens because people don’t recognize more subtle stress cues OR they think their breed/their dog ‘would never’ & misinterpret these communications as something else.

Some dogs may never escalate, but NO INDIVIDUAL DOG will ever ‘not’ escalate because of their breed alone.

08/08/2024

Can dogs go to weddings?
Yes!
I had the privilege of chaperoning Daphne to her owner's wedding so she could be part of their special day. She's a nervous girl, but did so well when given space to have some quiet photos then gradually investigated all the people in weird fancy clothes - then she realized it was all her favorite people and there were sausages - amazing!
worked so well with Daphne, making sure she was comfortable and managed to work around my clumsy attempts to stay out of the way!

30/07/2024

This giveaway closes tomorrow!
Head to the original post to comment and enter.
You don't have to be experiencing training/behaviour problems with your dog to use this - we can discuss the best exercises and fulfillment for your dog's breed, how to help a dog recovering from surgery, how to keep some normality for them during stressful times.... endless possibilities 🐾

30/07/2024

An excellent post, describing the pitfalls of daycare and how it should be done!

🚫𝑰 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒏𝒐 𝒂𝒑𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑷𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒕 𝑳𝑪𝑨 𝑫𝒐𝒈𝒈𝒚 𝑫𝒂𝒚-𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆….. 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒚!! 🚫

𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝑫𝒐𝒈𝒈𝒚 𝑫𝒂𝒚 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒈𝒐 𝑰 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒊𝒕 🙈

You must think that is a ridiculous statement for a Doggy Day-care Business Owner to make, and yes you are probably right. However, it doesn’t sound quite so ridiculous when it comes from a Dog Trainer & Behaviour specialist does it?

I will always prioritise the welfare of dogs over financial gain, so I am here to give you some of the reasons why we don’t accept puppies at LCA Doggy Day-care to help you make an informed decision whether day-care is the right choice for your puppy.

First of all, puppies need a hell of a lot of sleep, not just at night but frequent naps throughout the day. At least 18 hours per day in fact. This sleep is essential for physical growth as well as brain development, stress reduction, physical recovery, hormonal balance and much more. The noisy, chaotic atmosphere of a commercial daycare can be overwhelming and stressful for a young puppy, potentially leading to long-term anxiety issues - just ask any dog trainer, it’s what pays our mortgage.

Puppies can’t self-regulate, they are like little toddlers that constantly want to get into mischief. Have you ever known a toddler say “right then, I’m getting a little bit over tired now, I suppose I should just ignore all this exciting stuff going on around me and go and have a nap in that quiet corner over there” Oh how we wish it was true….but it is not. Your gorgeous little puppy would be the equivalent of a toddler having a meltdown in the middle of Lidl after only a short time at day-care, and we all know how stressful that can be for everyone involved.

“BUT my puppy needs to socialise I hear you cry”. NO NO NO, it doesn’t, not like you think it does. I hate that word socialisation, it conjures up images of letting your puppy meet and greet every dog and every person that they come across and that couldn’t be further from the truth.

What socialisation actually is, is pleasant social interactions with other animals, well-mannered dogs, women, children, and men (with beards, hats & wearing hi viz - I know how scary right?) as well as careful exposure to different environments such as crowds, traffic, public transport, the vacuum cleaner, the washing machine and any other sights & sounds that your puppy will have to cope with in every-day life. Now how is sending your puppy to run around with a load of other unknown dogs going to tick all of those socialisation boxes?

Doggy Day-care also comes with the risk of injury to your puppy. Larger dogs or more boisterous dogs can easily inadvertently or intentionally harm a young vulnerable puppy during play. Some older dogs have a low tolerance to excitable young puppies and may be a little too forceful in their corrections, again leading to anxiety issues in your puppy that can have long term effects.

If you don’t believe me, ask any other dog trainer. Around 80% of the reactivity cases that I have seen, have come from dogs that have had a negative experience at doggy day-care and it’s pretty much the same for other trainers that I have spoken to.

So why do I run a Doggy Day-Care if I hate them so much? Well, I like a challenge, and I wanted to make a difference, offer something a little different, and show that it can be done with the dogs welfare needs at the heart of everything.

At LCA Doggy Day-care we have a very strict entry criteria and we turn away at least 6 dogs for every one that we accept.

All dogs must be over 12 months old.

All dogs must pass a behavioural assessment where they are introduced to a dog that doesn’t enjoy playing with unknown dogs and they must be able to read that dogs body language and give them space.

All dogs must also be able to self-regulate and settle at nap time.

The reason that our entry requirements are so strict, is that we want every dog in our care to feel safe, secure and at ease whilst at day-care. Also, dogs NEED sleep and if they can’t sleep whilst in our care, then we aren’t meeting their welfare needs and we won’t accept them. It’s as simple as that.

So, before you sign your new puppy up to your local day-care, just ask yourself if it is in the best interest of your puppy. There are so many other alternatives, such as a dog walker, pop in service etc.

𝑷𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒚𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒂 𝒗𝒖𝒍𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈, 𝒍𝒆𝒕’𝒔 𝒕𝒓𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒐 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒃𝒚 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒅𝒐𝒈𝒔 ❤

29/07/2024

It's time for some brutal honesty, maybe a bit of a brain dump.

Ask the question - does the trip out benefit both you and your dog, or is it easier to take your dog so they're not left at home, does it make you feel better to have them around but possibly not make them feel great?

I feel like I'm starting to see dogs being taken out that have barely seen the world or any busy places until the weather picked up...

Maybe it's the curse of a trained eye coming through, but it's frustrating. It's hard to see an overstimulated dog straining on it's lead, a stressed out dog panting away in the pub, dogs looking plain scared, and switch off myself. I am working on this.

I'm having to advocate for my dog more as pushy, rude dogs try to rush over to her as she chills out on her mat - which she needs for her arthritis. She LOVES the pub, we both do. But we love a peaceful pub where we can relax without space invasion. I've always been picky about where she goes and when for her comfort - but I'm having to be so vigilant now.

Of course there's so many dogs and owners just having a great time together making the most of the long summer days! But sometimes I think people need to have an honest conversation about whether their dog would have been happier at home.

Thoughts, anyone?
Does your dog rehearse the situations year round they will see more of in the busy summer months?

28/07/2024

A fab Sunday morning spent with my clients and their dogs! We chased bubbles, played musical sits, hunted for carrot treats and just chilled out 😊
Huge thank you to Carrie & Lucy's owner for organizing the Canine Navigator Launch Party and putting everything together 🩵

The party bags and pupcakes by Joys Coffee House Otley went down very well with the pooches too 🐾

24/07/2024

It's important to me my clients feel reassured, supported and optimistic from the first phone call - but especially after a consultation and assessment.

During the first consultation I will listen to your goals, observe behavior, guide you through exercises and form an action plan to move forward towards a better life for you and your dog 🐾

22/07/2024

Socialisation DOES NOT mean introducing your puppy to every dog, every person, and taking them absolutely everywhere without a plan.

Think of it as exposure to life in a critical development window, but done carefully. A puppy needs to experience sights, sounds, environments, animals and people before 16 weeks - with a supportive guide (you). Neutrality is just as important, if not more important than fun/crazy time.

It's a huge part of the dog a puppy will grow into. Negative experiences can have huge consequences which is why I never advise clients to allow strange, unknown dogs to approach their puppy no matter what the owner says.

An over socialized puppy will grow into a dog wracked with frustration, potentially leading to aggressive behavior and a limited life as a result.

An under-socialized puppy will grow into a dog with little resilience to stress, fear responses to new situations, low canine language skills, potential aggression and a limited life as a result.

The sweet spot, the middle ground is best. What's also important is to form a socialisation and exposure plan based on your lifestyle. For example, any future puppies of mine need to get used to boats, engine noise and camping.
It's also so important to consider the breed and how that influences their needs. A Golden Retriever needs very different socializing to a German Shepherd.

I guide my puppy clients through all of this, making sure they feel supported and confident in bringing up their new family member 🐾
https://www.caninenavigator.co.uk/services/pro-puppy/

19/07/2024

There have been no training sessions today - it's too hot for the dogs.

So why have I seen dogs dragged into town, panting and struggling whilst their family run errands at midday?
Why has Duncan phoned me to tell me he's seen dogs struggling in Yeadon, and some being walked up the Chevin? Just because you're heading for shade doesn't mean the walk there is safe or worth it.

Sometimes it's ignorance, people genuinely don't know the dangers of heat or simply refuse to change their ways no matter what information is available.

Sometimes dogs won't toilet in their own garden, these little walks are not the issue.

Sometimes people believe their dog "needs to chase their ball" to be easier to handle, or to get the dog to sleep. In fact, the dog is addicted to stimulation and activity, unable to rest and wind down when needed.

Sometimes a dog has separation anxiety - but that is never a reason to force a dog into problematic situations.

It's not healthy or normal to have a dog that absolutely must be on the go all the time, seeking stimulation. It's stressful for the dog and owner.

A dog which has fulfilling exercise, a healthy relationship with the owner, the right lifestyle, mental stimulation and quality rest will not boil over with a change to routine. It is possible to provide adequate activities at home in this weather until it's safe to go out the next morning or late evening.

If you have a dog that cannot switch off when needed, is desperate to chase a ball even when exhausted, cannot be left at home for short periods to rest, or you know someone experiencing this - my behaviour package provides the tools and guidance to improve life for owners and dogs 👇

https://www.caninenavigator.co.uk/services/behaviour/

How does your dog manage in this weather? Are they a sun worshipper or shade seeker?

16/07/2024

I listened to this podcast whilst driving at work today. It is so refreshing to hear an honest and sensible conversation about dogs and the difficulties in the industry from Impackt Behaviour and Kamal Fernandez.
I honestly recommend it especially if you're ever wondering why you don't see me joining a particular 'camp' of dog training - it's because I value critical thinking, learning, and flexibility for my clients and their dogs!
One thing that's clear, people need to do better with their online behaviour and look inwards more.

Talking to Pamela Dempsey, of Impackt Behaviour, on her work with dog aggression and her Aggression Therapy dogs! Someone who is in the trenches doing the wo...

15/07/2024

13/07/2024

What would you ask a trainer and behaviour specialist if you had an hour to pick their brain? 🤔
I created my power hour package for anyone who's unsure about whether to invest in the larger training and behaviour packages but would like to see what is possible. Also for anyone thinking about becoming a dog owner - but seeking an honest perspective first, not the sugar coated social media answer!

A chance to be heard, begin setting goals, and see what the possibilities are. This won't fix complex issues like in person behaviour services - that takes time and dedication - however it can be the first step to great things.

All you have to do is like this post, and comment to enter. Comments can be simply "power hour", or an example of what you'd ask me about. Tag any friends this could be helpful for so they can enter too!

Closing date is 31st July

07/07/2024

Cocker Spaniel Elsa fell poorly after being bitten by an adder while walking at a reservoir.

05/07/2024

Big Carrie smiles 😁🩵
Carrie and her little sister Lucy the whirlwind have had almost daily walks with me since December and they are such a joy. It is a privilege to be trusted with someone's much loved pets during challenging times, and one I don't take lightly.
(Please note their mum is a long term friend and mentor of mine, I can't take everyone's dogs out so often!)
Carrie is a sensitive girl, and was pretty reactive when we began. She's come on leaps and bounds, now calmly walking past dogs, even the dreaded Collies, even one that stalked her this week. That's a big deal.
She does such a great job of taking direction from me, and trusting me which has alleviated her worries and also boosted her confidence when out with other people. To see her goofy side come out is lovely. I don't think even my own dog is so happy to see me in the morning!

My training and behaviour clients benefit from "done for you" training walks which boost progress, provide a chance for owners to take some time out and recharge knowing their dog is in specialist care. I also love the chance to work directly with the dogs, win win!

29/06/2024

Let me re-introduce myself...
Now Canine Navigator is live and launched - here's a little more about me and how we got here. I've been working with dogs full time since 2018, part time even longer. The past few years has been spent working hard to build experience and knowledge with Institute of Dog Behaviour & Training to ensure I can provide the best service to my clients and their dogs.

If you're curious about what you and your dog can achieve with me, you can book a free discovery call on my website or email me!
www.caninenavigator.co.uk
[email protected]

28/06/2024

I've revamped my packages to come up with a wide range of services for clients! I believe there's something to suit everyone here - but these are also not set in stone if I feel a custom package is best for a particular situation. On my website you can book a free discovery call to chat about what you're experiencing and how I can help.
www.caninenavigator.co.uk

27/06/2024

Here are some kind words from my clients who made excellent progress with their dogs after investing in my services and following my advice. From recall issues to anxiety and excessive biting - I can help!
www.caninenavigator.co.uk

24/06/2024

🐕ADVICE ON COOLING THAT COULD KILL YOUR DOG!!!🐕

Every year its the same. Some misinfromed person with no qualifications or expertise or knowledge shares this stupid and inaccurate post (or a version of it) about how to treat a dog with heatstroke, which will ironically INCREASE ITS RISK OF DYING FROM HEATSTROKE.

🐕PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE....
🐕DO NOT RE-SHARE THESE POSTS
🐕PLEASE REPORT TO FACEBOOK

🐕HEATSTROKE IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY WHICH IF NOT TREATED IMMEDIATELY WILL LIKELY BE FATAL!🐕

🐕Here is accurate and uptodate advice that will reduce the risk of an over-heated dog dying from heatsroke. https://drdavidmarlin.com/managing-dogs-in-hot-weather/
🐕PLEASE SHARE THIS INSTEAD! SHARING THIS COULD SAVE A DOG FROM DYING FROM BAD ADVICE!

thank you

22/06/2024

Only 8 days left to snap up this celebration offer on all services on my website (link in comments!).
Next week I'll be doing some social media 'housekeeping' so you'll see more information about me, services and client testimonials.
Until then, everything is on the website including contact links and discovery call booking 😊

18/06/2024

Chevin Pet Services is now...
⭐Canine Navigator!⭐

It's still me, Suzy, with Spider helping out. It's time for a new look and identity.

Why?
This reflects a new direction and progress made after years of working with dogs, investing in myself, canine education and experience. The services I provide will also be changing to full time Dog Training and Behaviour Management.

What's my goal?
To improve the lives of dogs and their families! Growing relationships, building communication and empowering owners to do the very best for their dogs to create confident and safe canine companions. It is hard work, but so rewarding and worth it for those who will invest in the journey with me.

My brand new website is now live!
www.caninenavigator.co.uk

You can find all links to socials and how to contact me there. I'll be making changes on social media pages and posting more information about services this week.
And to celebrate the launch, I'll be running an offer:
⭐20% OFF ALL SERVICES IN JUNE!⭐

I have to give massive thanks to those who have helped me build this since January:
The Yorkshire Marketing Company for helping me create a brand I love and mentoring me in the process.
Cambridge Institute of Dog Behaviour & Training for such excellent courses, support, a community of canine professionals and mentorship from my tutor, Ross.
Madeby7 for creating such a brilliant website.
My wonderful friend Laura for capturing some great photos.

17/06/2024

Almost there! I'm back at work tomorrow and diving straight in.
Tomorrow afternoon will be the full launch, here's what to expect:
⭐A name change across social media and Google.
⭐A brand new logo and identity.
⭐New website going live.
⭐New canine services which I'll post details on soon.
⭐An offer running through June to celebrate the launch!

I'll take care of everything, BUT if you want to make sure you see everything and don't lose out, please make sure you have liked or are following me on Facebook and Instagram today! That way you'll be notified (Facebook only) or see everything happen. Just because I appear in your feed, doesn't mean you're following the page.

16/06/2024

Happy 11th birthday Spider!

She may be a senior girl now but she's still full of life and has spent her holiday bouncing around between naps 🩵
She's had the best time and we're heading home to Otley today, away from the big Norfolk Skies and back to the valleys of Yorkshire.
We're also in the final few days of her face being the main image of the business, it's bittersweet.
You'll see some announcements from me in the next couple of days about changes to the business and brand! Lots of new and exciting stuff on the way!

15/06/2024

Something new and exciting is fast approaching. I've been working hard behind the scenes since January and launch day is almost here!
A new image and range of services to help dogs and owners thrive...make sure you're following and all will be revealed soon 😁

13/06/2024

Yesterday I joined a meeting kindly hosted by Pupstarts Breeders and Cambridge Institute of Dog Behaviour & Training on effective social media use and collaboration with fellow canine training & behavior business owners.
This is exactly the type of social media use I love to see - not arguing and mud slinging!
Huge thank you to the hosts. I may be on holiday but I'm still passionate about my business and what I do, so if I need to join from a beer garden - that's what I'll do! After all, I've got to earn money to pay for my dog's nice holidays 😂

10/06/2024

The Holiday Library 📚
This is what my partner Duncan calls it anyway.

I like to take a few books to choose from away with me. Unusually, there's only two dog ones there this time. I actually haven't done much reading so far having been slightly distracted by nice pubs, watching birds, walks with Spider, paddle boarding and naps (I never, ever nap at home!). I sometimes dip in and out of the books but have just started Entangled Life and suspect I'll stick with that and finish it before I get home (we're stepping back from the pubs for a few days!)
6 days til I'm home...
8ish days til exciting changes happen...