Bishops Waltham Pet Services IMDT

14/12/2024

She lived up to her name today.
Completely insane. I’m surprised her eyes aren’t going in different directions 🤪. Very good effort Crazy 🖤😁

Thank you Jo! Great fun and a lot of learning for me as always lol

08/12/2024

Emotions cause physical affects within our bodies. Think of the surge of adrenaline you may feel as goosebumps at an exciting prospect, or stepping into a a scary situation. How does it feel when frustration becomes so infuriating, it grows to rage?
The outcomes are all triggered by emotional affects doing their magic, mostly under the radar, and they operate in the same way in your dog.

Dogs don’t shout about how they feel though, because they don’t have verbal spoken language as their super power like us. They show it instead. Constantly. They can’t hide it, and they don’t lie. We just often aren’t very good at noticing it, because dogs do well despite us, not because of us, for the most part.

Being aware and accommodating of our dogs’ emotional world is vital to understanding why they do the things they do, and whether they are truly happy on the journey through the life they have been placed on by us.

We don’t own them.
We just get to walk with them for a while

Our dogs feel. Dogs experience emotions as deeply as we do, though they express them in ways unique to their species. Research shows that dogs process emotions in ways strikingly similar to humans. Gregory Berns, a neuroscientist who studied dogs using MRI scans, found that their brains' caudate nuc...

05/12/2024

Plasticine puppy.

This is one of my favourite games for puppies (adult dogs can benefit too) that teaches puppy how to follow a lure calmly, and move their bodies between positions, (plus so many other benefits to do with positive conditioning I can’t even list them all in one post. This is the most understated and overlooked puppy game ever).
Little baby micro muscles that support joint stability and allow correct movement are strengthened and puppy isn’t held in 1 position for any length of time.

It’s also very tiring, mentally and physically, and I have found a short session can help slow puppies down if they’re getting a bit wild as a fore runner for a nap 🤪

Marley had a go at plasticine puppy today. This is his 2nd little training go ❤️. He did fab.
You can see here baby Marley finds going in 1 direction much easier than the other. By helping Marley to be flexible in all directions, as well as left and right, we can help support slow behaviours that require good balance and core strength, like loose lead walking 🦮🚶🏻‍♀️😁

05/12/2024

This is great news. You can now arrange imdt consultations from a level 5 behaviourist through your insurance, and if your vet recommends behavioural help for your dog.

I am a qualified level 5 IMDT behaviourist, and I specialise in helping pet guardians understand how behaviour may be prevented, or be occurring or being sustained within your family dynamics.
By showing you how to help your furry buddy holistically, you can be confident that your method of creating good habits, or changing or managing unwanted behaviour, will not cause your dog harm emotionally, or physically but tends to improve their mental outlook and relationship with their care giver ❤️

No one needs to be a fun sponge to their dog to meet achievable realistic standards in training whilst forging better relationships with their animal companion

The IMDT have correspondence courses supported by a tutor to help you achieve a dog trainer qualification to Level Three, Four and Five

07/11/2024

It’s license renewal time again. Thank you Wi******er city Council. Inspection Visit complete and new shiny 5 star license granted 🤩😁

06/11/2024

Flirting, fawning and befriending…

Does your dog play the fool in some situations? Or greet some people or dogs with over excitement?

https://canineengineering.com/blog/the-fs-of-stress-in-dogs/

Helping our dogs learn what a mutually good choice looks like, helps remove stress and conflict from difficult situations. Misunderstanding signs of stress in dogs for more positive states is very common and I think this article is really helpful in teaching caregivers to be more aware of stress signs in dogs and how they can be misconstrued other positive states with language and labels like “naughty, silly, playful, over excited, can’t control himself, goofy, crackers, etc” when in fact, the reality may be that our dogs in that moment, are struggling. Not coping. Doing their best despite us.

Wouldn’t it be nice for them if we noticed. And next time, did something to help make it better?

What is stress? And what does it mean for our dogs? Would you recognize signs of stress in your dog? The answers may surprise you and will definitely help you understand your dog’s behavior.

20/10/2024

Free learning available from Nanci creedon ❤️

This webinar will cover the 14 steps to ensure your dog is living their best life. Webinar and accompanying Canine Enrichment Management Programme will be reseased Wednesday September 27th. Sign up below (you will NOT be asked for any payment details).

20/10/2024

This ⬇️

Most of the advice I seem to give is not training for the dog to *do* a behaviour, that produces an “obedient, compliant animal” (like Victorian children seen and not heard lol). Living with dogs and being emotionally caring for them is not like that at all!

It is usually requires that a fundamental change of attitude of the owner that is needed which teaches them to provide what their dog needs to not have to perform the unwanted problem behaviour in the 1st place, or become more tolerant, better at predicting and managing and preventing behaviours (without nagging and aversion), that aren’t desirable,once owners realise they are innate to the breed they have chosen for themselves to live with 🤷‍♀️

Just because we can doesn’t mean we should

Please get a dog who is a good fit for you.

It's not a pleasant post but a necessary one. Many of the "behaviour" and "training" issues we come across would not be issues if people had made different choices. I certainly don't mean to sound judgemental here, but with over a decade and a half of working with dogs and their people, I've seen a fair number of cases where people choose the wrong dog or type of dog for their lifestyle.

Some examples

Someone with 8 dogs. They didn't all get along, and the person was out of the house for 10 hours a day, 5 days a week. Some of their dogs were crated the full time, every time, they were out the house. Too many dogs, not enough space and time.

A retired couple who bought two giant breed dogs because "they had always had them." They did not training until the dogs were over a year old and over 60kg. Now reactive to other dogs and they couldn't physically control them.

A family with a working gundog breed. All the gear, no idea. They wanted to dog as a fashion accessory. No outlet for the dog's working needs, the dog couldn't settle as a result, so was now excluded, 20 + hours a day in the utility room. They had money and time, just not the inclination to take care of the dogs needs.

I don't think everyone has the lifestyle for a dog and I certainly don't think every person is suited to every type/breed of dog. When I'm in my 70s, despite being active and physically fit, I'll likely choose a smaller dog. If I live beyond that, I certainly will.

Ask yourself

Do you know what this dog was bred for? Cam you meet some of those needs?

Border collies and springer spaniels were bred to be active, throwing a ball repeatedly as theor exercise is not meeting their needs though.

Are you physically capable of controlling this dog if you need to? If you struggle to carry your shopping 10m from the car to the house, a 45kg labrador or German Shepherd isn't a good choice for you UNLESS your training is consistent and reliable.

Do you have the time in your life to train your dog (and no, exclusion and crating is not the answer to this)? Do you have the knowledge to do so? Or the willingness to learn? This takes time and effort and sometimes money.

Clients of mine years ago complained about the cost of lessons. The woman came to every session with false nails and the guy regularly went on weekend golfing trips with his pals (they were expensive from the description) but neither of them were willing to sacrifice their luxuries for a few months to help their dog (because what would their friends say?)

Who suffers as a result of all this? The dog. They get rehomed. They get ignored or excluded. They may develop destructive behaviours. They become fodder for some 🤡 to slap a shock collar or noose on the dog and hurt them for living.

Many people can have a dog, few (if any) can have any dog.

Having said all of the above, we work with truly amazing clients week in, week out, who rise to the occasion. They change attitudes, invest time and effort into understanding their dogs AND meeting their needs. We get feedback that working with us has not only helped improve their dog relationship but a greater understanding of behaviour has filtered into other aspects of their lives. The learned, adapted, overcame. It's truly awesome to behold.

Please choose wisely. Our dogs deserve it.

15/10/2024

Shutting down, nagging, “no-ing”, (or any other way of trying to suppress behaviours, however seemingly kind) in our pet dogs, which are carried over from their working ancestory, and are therefore innately reinforcing, is one way we can inflict stress on our dogs and cause problems within our relationship with them.

11/10/2024

🥶 chilly morning today! Time for Crazy to wear her jim jams again 💜

09/10/2024

Please stop making dogs SIT! There are so many other, more useful things you could use instead

http://www.turid-rugaas.no/sit.html?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3vOi1njW4thnWXarOS4VTm3BP9cColeUtePI25OmBLcMb4xYGpsMMdZQQ_aem_nANekMucWXTkXqz_G1Wl0w

Sit is usually the first people teach their puppies, without thinking about the consequences or why they do it. We wanted to know more about the sit, so many years ago we started the sit study...

29/09/2024

I have just realised I wrote this when I had 4 dogs and a very different life.

I miss them every day!

🐶🐶🐶

With ear bursting yaps and grumbling snores,
The dogs run this place with iron fist paws.

Their requirements are met, and they’re a bunch of dog glee.
It’s lucky for them; we know dogs should speak free.

Dogs weren’t companions or owned toys;
They chose to join humans with our insistent noise.

They were free canids once, who became our friends.
Then we fiddled and di**led them into different ends.

We made pugs who can’t breathe, bulldogs who are sore.
We created Cavaliers so poorly we can di**le them no more.

We have Collies obsessed with herding up cars,
Where life on the sofa could be life on Mars.

We have fiddled and di**led hundreds of breeds,
And we can’t possibly blame them.
We created their needs.

Biology matters; genes make their drives,
Our dogs learn and inherit, which we can see when we’re wise.

Teach your Collie gentle herding, your Dachshund to dig,
and learn to love your terrier’s bark.
Don’t let TV trainers say your dog is naughty.
Why allow a poor trainer to break your dog's heart.

Instead, find the good ones, the learned and wise.
Invest in professionals who see through your dog’s eyes.

Learn why they exist and how their genes talk,
Then meet some of those needs on your next walk.

Dogs are so different when we meet their needs.
So find what your dog likes, look into their breed.
You will find something so special, more than a dog strictly trained,
You will fill your dog’s heart by using their brain.

Final and critical, do remember their age.
Dogs’ lives are so short, and in ours, just a stage.
One day they’ll be old. One day they’ll be gone.
On that one day, without a doubt, you will want to hang on.

So let them be free, let them speak out,
Give them your graciousness,
Don’t always shush when they shout.

Learn more about your dog and how to give them the freedom they need without compromising anyone's quality of life, here: https://amzn.to/3MDAaQ2

27/09/2024

This article ❤️❤️

Be a safe person in any situation , provide what physical and emotional support your puppy needs in each and every changing moment.
manage what brings poor choices or high emotions with boundaries and barriers rather than you and your voice, and advocate for your puppy always, with anyone your puppy needs you to

https://caninetutorblog.wordpress.com/2020/09/26/what-do-puppies-really-need-to-learn/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2ABYrRNl_FLa9cQ9HeUpEVmbRk7N3zxgXB4hYdbAGR7dof_Jmjuqd557g_aem_jn9NQ9P8RHwZglCp05TVKQ

What are the important things to teach a new puppy or a new dog? When I asked this question on Facebook, these are the most popular responses that I received: Settle, walk on a loose lead, recall, …

24/09/2024

Oates & Flour have really done an incredible job of my birthday cupcakes ❤️. Thank you so much Leah!! ❤️❤️❤️ (and of course Lillie, for organising it in secret ❤️😂)

The Ruby one did make me cry (of course it did 🙈). Can any of my lovely clients recognise their own dogs in cake form? 😁🎂

22/09/2024

After a hard morning at a heelwork workshop with Kirsten becque, she’s now sound asleep at tea time, cuddling an apple 🍎 ❤️

09/09/2024

The interactions we get from our dogs are a privilege.

A dog that doesn’t want to say hello, play, interact is not rude or antisocial. They are normal.