Companion:ABLE Behaviour Training

01/03/2025

🐾 Struggling with your dog's behaviour? Discover the power of force-free residential training! 🐾

We specialize in force-free, science-backed training methods that help to change those struggles, while ensuring your dogs happiness and well-being. 🐶✨

Force-free training focuses on positive reinforcement, building trust and confidence in your furry friend. Unlike traditional methods that rely on punishment, our approach is proven to reduce stress and anxiety in dogs, leading to long-lasting results. we also have continued support after your programme ends so you can also continue the training after your dog comes home.

📚 Research, such as studies published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, highlights that positive reinforcement is not only more effective but also strengthens the bond between you and your dog.

Whether it's excessive barking, pulling on the lead, or recall issues, our residential training programs offer a safe and supportive environment for your dog to learn and thrive. 🏡🐕

Did I mention that you'll receive personalized guidance to maintain their progress at home?

Ready to see the difference? Contact us today to learn more about our force-free residential training and how we can help you and your dog live your best lives together! 💕🐾

01/03/2025

Is Balanced Training Abusive to Dogs?

Balanced training, a method that combines both positive reinforcement and aversive techniques, has been a topic of heated debate among dog trainers and pet owners.

While some argue that it offers a comprehensive approach to training, others believe it can be harmful to our furry friends. In this post we will explore the scientific evidence surrounding balanced training and its potential impact on dogs.

What is Balanced Training?
Balanced training involves using a mix of rewards (positive reinforcement) and corrections (aversive techniques) to change your dog's behaviour.

This approach might include the use of tools such as prong collars, choke chains, obedience collars and electronic collars to correct unwanted behaviours, alongside treats and praise to reinforce desired actions.

The Case Against Balanced Training:
Several studies have raised concerns about the use of aversive techniques in dog training. Research has shown that aversive methods can lead to increased stress, fear, and anxiety in dogs. For instance, a study by Ziv (2017) found that dogs trained using aversive methods exhibited higher levels of stress-related behaviours compared to those trained with positive reinforcement.

Moreover, the American College of Veterinary Behaviourists (ACVB) opposes training methods that cause pain, discomfort, or fear, stating that such methods can endanger both people and animals and hinder learning. The use of aversive techniques has also been linked to a weakened bond between dogs and their owners, as well as an increased risk of aggression. 1.

The Benefits of Positive Reinforcement:
On the other hand, positive reinforcement training methods have been shown to be highly effective and beneficial for dogs. Studies have demonstrated that positive reinforcement not only promotes good behaviour but also enhances cognitive development and problem-solving abilities in dogs. Additionally, positive reinforcement helps build trust and strengthen the bond between dogs and their owners. 2.

Conclusion
While balanced training may seem like a comprehensive approach and a rapid solution when you feel like you need the help the most, the scientific evidence suggests that the use of aversive techniques can be harmful to dogs.

Positive reinforcement methods, which focus on rewarding desired behaviours, offer a safer and more effective alternative. By choosing positive reinforcement, we can ensure the well-being of our furry companions and foster a stronger, more trusting relationship with them.

1. Psychology today. 2.dog.behaviourist.com

22/02/2025

Bedtime behind the scene's.

It's about progressing the skills. No one starts at perfect behaviour. Not a trainer, not a dog!

Don't let someone's perfected skills put you off progressing yours!

Don't confuse fast fix suppression with of a behaviour for choice based learning.

Enjoy the journey, enjoy your dog. 🙂

05/02/2025

Thank you dogs disclosed for this..

03/02/2025

🐾 Dog Trainer Tip Tuesday 🐾

🎩Top Tip for a Happy doggo🎩
Ever wondered if your doggo's love for your slipper collection is a sign they fancy becoming the next Sherlock Bones? 🕵️‍♂️ It's not far off! Dogs explore the world through their noses, so let's channel that curiosity into a fun game that'll keep them engaged and entertained.

Sniff-tastic Hide and Seek!

How To Play:

Gather some high-value treats (think of them as your doggo's favourite bikkies).

While your pup is in another room, hide the treats in a few sneaky spots around the house.

Bring your doggo in and let the sniffing spree begin! Use a cue like "Find it!" to get them on the trail.

Why it works: This game taps into your dog's natural scent-tracking abilities, providing mental stimulation and physical activity. Plus, there's a shared feel good factor in watching them hunt for hidden treasures!

💡Trainer's Tip: Start simple with easy hiding places and gradually increase the difficulty as your pup gets the hang of it. Remember, patience and positive reinforcement are key!

Share your pup's best hide-and-seek moments with us using and let’s see those nose-to-the-ground detectives in action! 🐶🔍 see the reels for a video demo

02/02/2025

Monday Musings- Have you set a small training goal for the week. Maybe it's mastering the "leave it" cue or getting your dog to walk calmly on a leash.

Breaking down training into manageable goals makes it more achievable and fun.

Remember, training your dog is all about consistency, patience, and love.

Here's to a marvellous Monday and a week filled with wagging tails and happy trails! 🐶💖

15/01/2025

Help Lincoln university research separation behaviours.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1EQpwBEPeE/
It only takes 20 minutes. Xx

15/01/2025

Weird wildlife - Sloths only p**p once a week: Sloths have a very slow metabolism, which means they don't need to p**p very often. In fact, they can go up to a month without p**ping!

14/01/2025

"Training isn't just about teaching commands, it's about building a bond." Victoria Stillwell. I'd like to add to this that it's also about creating lasting memories with your companion.

08/01/2025

What isn't talked about often enough is timing and how we can inadvertently cause some very real issues with rewarding.
Training ❓
Have rewards with you ? Great ✅
How you use them is KEY.
Common issues are rewarding a behaviour you may like but they are jumping or pawing for the reward.
You could have rewarded the jumping and pawing...and that can be repeated.
Rewarding walking beside you but from the opposite hand which causes a dog to cross over in front of you.
You could have rewarded crossing or walking in front of you....and that can be repeated.
Only reward the behaviour you want (or the smaller steps towards that behaviour).

Be clear when rewarding, because what is rewarded WILL be repeated and you may not like what you have accidentally caused your dog to repeat
This dog training graphic is available abcdogsnz.com

08/01/2025

Hi, remember I said to watch this space?

So here is the news that I promised, Companion:ABLE Behaviour Training has joined with Paws Training to bring a whole new and exciting way to help you build the relationship with your dog that you've dreamed about.

Using ethical, modern, welfare based training methods focusing on positive reinforcement we now have new and improved board and train programs that offer a superior training experience for you and your dog.

This includes an extensive support package, and our online training courses will continue.

We have a training program that is suitable for every family and their dog.

Our online members section is still being developed and will be ready February (keep watching this space guys.)

This is a monthly subscription service combining hands on advice and "how to" video vaults giving you a great foundation training your dog, from puppy to adult.

2025 is going to be an exciting year, as we help more people and their dogs. I'm continuing my work with RDUK as my community support project of choice.

I'm looking forward to an exciting new year full of new challenges with the existing Four Paws Team and through both their professional development and team expansion, so we will be able to offer an outstanding bespoke service for every dog family.

06/01/2025

Such a damaging and difficult never ending loop‼️
More exercise❓More ball throwing ❓more, More, MORE ‼️
The stamina these dogs have is incredible and the exercise they require is unsustainable.
Many people get stuck in this loop where they have to constantly keep their dog moving, entertained or focused on play.....because if they don't their dogs can start to show unwanted behaviour.
You CAN stop the over arousal loop.
More exercise is usually never the answer to these issues and can FUEL this behaviour.
Get some calm into their lives.
Teach them HOW to switch off.
One of our most popular videos about this subject has over 16,000 views and can help you start the process, link in comments.
Make 2025 the year for real change.

This handout is available abcdogsnz.com

14/12/2024

Are you passionate about dogs and committed to their welfare? Do you have a dog training qualification but feel over whelmed travelling around from client to client.

Do you have the skills and experience to train dogs in your own home?

We are looking for a compassionate, ethical, and licensed Residential Dog Trainer to join our team.

We provide you with full Trainer support including a development group, for all our trainers to chat, get idea's, and support each others growth.

1-1 support when you need it, for personal or professional development.

Induction process, with first aid, canine body language and done for you admin templates.

Do you want to know more? Get in touch...

07/12/2024

BIG NEWS and CHANGES in the New Year peeps...

It's super exciting....

I can't spoil it BUT watch this SPACE...😁

04/12/2024

Love this so much...

A very misunderstood communication signal.❗
Play ?.... or is a fight about to occur ? 💥
It can mean anything and everything BUT play.
There are a few signals that are misread by us.
The most common is that a wagging tail means a happy dog and that bowing dogs want to play....of course these two things can mean happiness and wanting to play but these communication signals can also be shown (either separately or together) when there IS or is about to be a very real issue that can affect your dogs (or another dogs) safety.
Context.
Ears.
Eyes.
Face.
Stiffness in gait.
Leg position.
and what happened just before...are all good ways to help you decipher exactly what is about to happen.
Dog training posters available abcdogsnz.com

03/12/2024

Trainer tip Tuesday is in the reels. :)