Snouts&Kisses

19/08/2024

Lovely feedback after another successful round of Puppy Play&Training! 🐾🎾🌾🐾

19/08/2024

DON’T TOUCH MY STUFF!
Resource guarding – also called possessive aggression

We all guard our resources, it’s a natural reaction to a threat of something we value being taken away.

It’s essential for survival and dogs or other animals would not survive in the wild if they didn’t guard their resources.

We also don’t get to decide what’s valuable and what’s not – different things have different value to different dogs and at different times.

Food is usually the most common, but toys, furniture, different items, places, or even a certain person are all things that may be seen as a valuable resource.

A dog turning their head away, freezing, a hard stare, whale eye, moving away, growling or snapping may quickly escalate into a serious bite in an attempt to protect that valuable possession.

Punishing or forcing a dog to give something up is probably one of the worst things to do.

Resource guarding is rooted in the emotion of fear – the fear of that resource being taken away.

Punishment and force further increase that fear, which only increases and reinforces the need to protect that resource.

When a dog is guarding food or an object, we can change the negative emotion of that fear into a positive one by swopping or trading something that has a similar or higher value than what the dog has.

This is one of the most effective ways to address resource guarding of objects as it works at the root cause of the behaviour by changing the emotional response.

A dog resource guarding a person is more complicated to address. A full history of the individual dog, family dynamics, attachment styles, situation and environment all have to be assessed before planning and working on a solution.

Resource guarding can usually be prevented, managed and addressed and by starting early, understanding why dogs feel the need to resort to this behaviour and doing what we can to prevent it from happening in the first place.

18/08/2024

Thank you Chirag! 🙏

16/08/2024

So many of the things that people consider 'behaviour problems' in dogs are in fact perfectly normal and instinctive canine behaviours that stretch back over their evolution. The problem is that these behaviours can be inconvenient and potentially problematic in human homes.

Understanding dogs, where they came from and the traits that were vital to their survival in the past, lets us see that we need to provide ways for our dogs to carry out these behaviours. It is a vital part of ensuring their welfare and mentioned in the Five Freedoms - the freedom to express natural behaviour.

Of course we don't want them chewing the furniture, shredding the cushions, digging up the flowerbeds etc. The key is to find ways to let them carry out these behaviours that both they and we find appropriate and acceptable.

A child's sandpit filled with dirt or sand makes a great digging spot, and you can hide things in there for them to find. Alternatively, select a specific spot in the garden and direct the dog there if you find them digging elsewhere.

Make sure they have plenty of appropriate chewing material and redirect them to a chew if they start nibbling on the sofa or the chair leg.

Provide soft toys to be eviscerated to save the cushions. The great thing with soft toys is that you can restuff them and sew them up - often several times before they are beyond repair. Charity shops can also be good sources of budget friendly soft toys for this purpose (always making sure they are safe with no bits the dog may swallow).

Shredding dogs often also love cardboard. Use the household recycling to fill a cardboard box with things like egg boxes, other pieces of cardboard, packing paper and so on, anything that is dog safe. Scatter their food or some treats through the box contents and let them hunt the food out and then have a great time shredding the box and contents. Yes there is a little clearing up that needs to be done, but it saves the furniture or other items from destruction.

With a little imagination it's simple to come up with ways to fulfil these natural drives and your dog will definitely thank you for it. 🧡

15/08/2024

Another round of puppy graduates! 🎓
Well done to these beautiful pups and their pawrents, all well skilled in discerning dog body language.
Go live your best doggy lives! 🐾🌷

11/08/2024

Choice. Let your dog choose.

If a pup wants to sniff walk for longer than the 5 minutes per month of age then they can. We no longer need to restrict the length of the walk just not subject them to certain movements like stairs and chasing a ball. But gentle walking as long as they aren’t tired is perfect!

www.animallovepetfirstaid.co.uk
All courses taught by a vet ❤️

10/08/2024

I would never want my dogs to fear me and feel they have no choice. 😪

Appearances can be deceiving.

Sometimes, a seemingly well-behaved dog is actually shut down and afraid. Is that the experience you really want for your companion?

06/08/2024

Knowing which professional you need to contact to help you with your pet is vital. Use this handy infographic to decide whether you need a trainer or behaviourist. Keep In mind, some behaviour challenges may require both training and behaviour modification so often these go hand in hand. What's great is that when you choose a COAPE Certified Animal Behaviourist, you can be sure that they have the skills to help you with both training and behaviour. ​
​
For a list of COAPE-endorsed trainers and behaviourists you can go to our website here: https://coape.org/find-a-behaviourist/

04/08/2024

Punishing an animal can have significant negative consequences for their behavior and overall well-being. Here are just a few examples of the fallout of punishment. ​

​

To learn more about training, consider completing our DogWise course https://coape.org/coape-courses/dogwise/

01/08/2024

Posting a screenshot as post wasn’t shareable. Please be on the lookout!

29/07/2024

23/07/2024

Instead of asking, “How do I get my dog to obey me?” we should ask, “Is my dog happy?” and “How can I make them happier?”

21/07/2024

A puzzle feeder is simply a food-dispensing toy. The cat figures out what movement of the toy is required to get a food reward and a game is born. You cat doesn’t technically need a puzzle feeder, but for many cats, it can be a very effective tool for adding mental stimulation into daily life. In the wild there are no stainless bowls filled with mice or serving trays holding beautifully prepared birds and chipmunks. For hunters to get their meal they must first stalk it, pounce and then capture the prize. For the hunter, a successful meal requires mental and physical stimulation. Many of us want our cats to stay indoors for safety reasons but then we don’t supply enough environmental enrichment to keep the cats mentally stimulated and physically fit. Using a puzzle feeder is just one aspect of an all-around enhancement of your cat’s day-to-day life.

There are many types of puzzle feeders, from the most basic to more challenging. Remember, it should always be fun so don't pick one that will frustrate your cat.

18/07/2024

Too much too soon WILL cause issues.
It is a really common occurrence with newly adopted dogs.

Congratulations on your new dog.
I know you want to take them to the beach, the pet store and your café....however can I ask for a few minutes so I can explain just what your dog has gone through.....and why you need to take the next few weeks SLOW.
Your new dog has had it's whole world turned upside down.
They don't know you.
They don't know if they can trust you.
They don't know if they are with you for an hour or forever.
They may have been in various scary places.
Other houses, rescues, the pound and likely ALL of these in the past few days or weeks.
Your dog has stress hormones surging through their brain, they are STRESSED....they need to decompress, they need STABILITY in their environment and from you.
They need time with you and their new environment.
They need to know that the tree outside may rustle against the house and that's OK.
They need to know that those normal creaky noises in your house are OK and that at 3.45 the neighbours bang their door shut.
They need to know when it rains that tapping sound is OK.
They need to know that when the door opens they won't be moved somewhere else again.
They need to trust that YOU are safe even when you have had a bad day, you will still give them food and that they can close their eyes around you.
You know what your good intentions are with your new dog, your dog however has NO idea what is happening.....only that everything has changed and it is scary.
They do NOT need other new environments yet. Take it SLOW.
Dogs that have just been adopted need TIME. There is no need to rush out the next day and take them to all the places you want to go with them.....They need the opposite.
Let them decompress, let them inspect a new area of your house or yard every day or two. Walk them up and down outside your house for a few days (and only there), let them sniff, and sniff some more. Let them p*e freely.....it may be boring for you, but not for your dog. They need to know what is happening around them and they learn that through their nose, eyes and ears.
They NEED this.
They need to learn to TRUST you.
The long walks can wait, the café will still be there in a few weeks and you can visit the pet shop alone until they are ready.
Your bond together is the MOST important thing to concentrate on right now.
You will never regret taking it slow and it can save your dog and yourself from making the very same mistakes that can lead to people rehoming in the first place.
All the very best with your new dog.

16/07/2024

Heartbreaking 💔. My heart goes out to the owner of this dog. If you are in the area please help by keeping a lookout.

13/07/2024

Positive reinforcement training involves presenting a motivating item or response (like treats, praise, or rewards) after the desired behaviour is exhibited, making the behaviour more likely to happen in the future. To effectively start training, especially using positive reinforcement, you'll need a few key elements and principles.​

​

To learn more about training, consider completing our DogWise course https://coape.org/coape-courses/dogwise/

12/07/2024

Losing a dog is one of the hardest things you can go through in life 💔, but I think for dogs, it’s so much worse losing you. 🐾

Just One More Walk..❤️🐾

07/07/2024

Meet your dog where they are at. Appreciate your dog for what they are.

04/07/2024

Congratulations to these very clever puppies! Now totally skilled in dog communication.
Why do I focus so much on puppy play? We all know your brain grows rapidly when you are young forming connections and learning about the world. Playing with other dogs while puppies are young is vital for them to learn social cues and boundaries.

04/07/2024

Behaviour has a function and emotions.

02/07/2024

The vast majority of people moved on from believing the earth is flat. I hold hope for the day that the vast majority move on from believing in dominance and pack theory.

30/06/2024

Science! Research has been done. Comparatives have been made. The results show there is no grounds for using these devices.

Back in 2018, a review paper in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior outlined the reasons why, in their words, "there is no credible scientific evidence to justify e-collar use and the use of spray collars or electronic fences for dogs. On the contrary, there are many reasons to never use these devices. Better training options exist, with proven efficacy and low risk.” If you want to know more, you can read about the study on my blog: https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2018/06/study-outlines-reasons-to-ban.html in a post from the archives.

28/06/2024

Got to see these two cutie pies 6 months after they graduated from Puppy Play and Training. They are healthy, happy boys who interact so well with other dogs!

26/06/2024

Calling all puppies and their owners!

Puppy parties at Hilltop vets!! Do you have a puppy aged between 8-16 weeks, who has received their FIRST vaccination? If so, why don't you join a small group of puppies supervised by a qualified dog behaviouralist, where you can allow them to mix in a calm environment. It is free of charge to come along and join the fun. The next puppy party is on Wednesday July 3rd at 18:45, at Hilltop Vets. To book, either call the practice on 01865 736060, WhatsApp us on 07519 474782 or feel free to arrive on the day.