Happy Houndz

13/11/2024

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TRIGGER STACKING – WHEN BEHAVIOUR HAPPENS “OUT OF THE BLUE”

We’ve all had those days when nothing seems to go right and one frustrating thing after another happens to us, leaving us feeling wound up, stressed and ready to explode at the next unsuspecting person who dares to ask us something.

This “unsuspecting” person may think we have a serious behaviour problem or need anger management therapy, when the truth is that we’ve just had a really bad day or even a few bad days and don’t usually behave like this at all.

Dogs are no different and a behaviour that seems completely out of character or happens “out of the blue” is often caused by “trigger stacking”.

A trigger may be anything that increases a dog’s stress levels and has a negative impact on their emotional, mental or physical state.

These may be small things that we may not even notice or seem insignificant to us, but they are all adding to an increasing “stack” of events that may culminate in out of character behaviour.

When stress levels reach a certain point, the next stressful event, however small, may cause an explosive reaction that is completely unexpected.

Instead of just focusing on a particular behaviour and seeing it as a problem that needs to be prevented, take a step backwards, look at the bigger picture, look at events, circumstances or environmental factors that may have played a role leading up to that behaviour.

Being aware of potential stressors and allowing your dog time to decompress, relax and unwind for a few days will often mean the difference between “normal behaviour” and a behaviour that seems completely out of character.

30/07/2024

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We worry about heatstroke, and rightly so! Temperatures like we are seeing this week are dangerous for many pets.

Fly strike is another potential summer hazard. A dog with diarrhoea, especially if hairy can get a dirty bottom! And that’s how the process begins. Maggots can burrow through skin and make a pet so seriously ill. So check those bottoms and keep them clean!

www.animallovepetfirstaid.co.uk

15/04/2024

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THE EFFECT OF PAIN ON BEHAVIOUR

On Saturday night I was round at one of my friend's for dinner, and another of our friends came with her lovely black lab Poppy (because she is besties with our other friend's retriever!!).

Now Poppy is 9 years old, and has (I believe I am remembering correctly!) spondylosis, which is where there is "wear and tear" in the spine....basically there are arthritic changes in the spine. This causes pain, and my friend is an amazing dog mum and advocates for Poppy so well. Poppy is on pain meds and is a very happy girly because of it!

However, for those of you who suffer from arthritis and other joint conditions, that doesnt mean that there is never any pain. I have arthritis in my knees due to lack of cartilage, and they flare up every now and then, but even when theyre not in a flare up, certain movements, or if I slip or do too much really hurt. Slippery floors are one area that can be SO hazardous and damaging for ALL dogs but especially dogs with arthritis.

Poppy has been to our friend's house a LOT over the years, and in the hallway there is a small area of wooden floor before you get to the living room. Fairly recently Poppy slipped in that hallway, something that has never happened before, and the impact on her behaviour has been significant.

On Saturday night she would stand in the kitchen at the entrance to the hallway and look down the hall, start to take a step then change her mind. Our lovely friend then put a runner down in the hallway and Poppy immediately and happily went into the hall and living room, and then had no concerns at all.

Despite having most likely hundreds of times in our friend's house where she has NOT slipped, and has very positive associations with the house, that ONE time where she slightly slipped and most likely caused pain was enough for her to learn to avoid that flooring because it hurts. Single event learning in action!

Think of laminate and tiled slippery floors as being like us trying to walk on ice. Not easy! And imagine how it feels when you HAVE walked on icy ground - when you are constantly slipping and unable to gain traction, it can cause pain very easily even in people without arthritic joints. That slipping with dogs can cause pain, microfractures and further damage to the joints.

And this does not only apply to older dogs. According to a study by Anderson et al (2018) it was estimated that 20% of dogs older than one year had osteoarthritis, and as much as 80% of dogs over the age of 8 suffered with osteoarthritis.

And then you watch certain appalling TV programmes who brand an elderly dog who is unwilling to jump off the sofa onto wooden floor, or walk on slippery floors as a "diva" instead of recognising the dog is in pain 😡

My friends are both excellent dog mums, and their dogs are very lucky that they understand them and listen to what they are telling them, meaning Poppy was able to communicate that she was worried that walking on that floor again would cause pain, and she only had to tell them once before the situation was rectified. Other dogs arent so lucky.....so please do listen to your dog. There is ALWAYS a reason for dogs being reluctant to do anything, and it is NEVER stubbornness or "being a diva"!

Photo of lovely Poppy for you to see the lovely girl herself!

20/03/2024

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26/02/2024

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I come across this a fair amount.....people seeming reluctant to use a high rate of reinforcement with their puppies or dogs

What do I mean? Well ....we need to remember that one of the ways dogs learn is by what works for them....therefore I'd something that they do earns them something good, the likelyhood of that behaviour being repeated increases.

But often I find myself discussing WHY it's so important to not be "stingy" with food rewards, and explaining that rewarding a LOT to begin with is actually the fastest way to get to the point where you CAN reduce the food reinforcements.

Think about your work.....if you went to work for a month, and did overtime on a difficult project, but you still only got paid a week's worth of salary....would that motivate you to put extra work in, or even go put in more than the absolute minimum effort next month? Highly unlikely?

Yet why do humans still sometimes seem to feel that using one piece of dry kibble is a sufficient enough salary to encourage a dog to learn to recall back to them in the woods, or to learn a new skill, and definitely to change a response such as fear to a trigger?

I think it goes back to old school days when dogs, and it doesn't help that there seems to be more "balanced" trainers out there (those who are essentially unqualified and using old school, outdated methods which do not take into account motivations for behaviour or how dogs learn, and aims to suppress behaviour) who make it seem like behaviour can be "changed" in the blink of an eye (again....it can't....all learning with humans and animals takes time. Suppression is not the same as learning!)

Please don't be stingy with reinforcements with your puppy or dog! It's not bribery! It's showing you understand how dogs learn! It does not mean you will have to use the same rate of reinforcement forever.

20/02/2024

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12/10/2023

https://www.facebook.com/100063680973651/posts/829035585895800/?sfnsn=scwspmo

DISTANCE ASSISTANCE
It’s not easy having a reactive dog. As much as we may feel frustrated, restricted, angry or even ashamed or embarrassed, our reactive dogs are also experiencing a range of negative emotions when they react to something that triggers them.

This reaction is usually caused by anxiety, fear, feeling threatened or frustrated.

These emotions cause high levels of stress and stress prevents both us and our dogs from being able to process information, think clearly or learn a different, more acceptable way of reacting to whatever triggers us.

This is why creating enough distance is so important.

I’m really scared of snakes and even struggle to look at them. The only thing I want to do is run away and create as much distance as possible.

If someone was restraining me, forcing me to sit down and look at the snake while trying to feed me my favourite chocolate (or any type of chocolate!), telling me there was nothing to worry about or trying to educate me about the specific species, it would do nothing to alleviate my fear and would only increase my stress levels.

Doing this at a sufficient distance, where I felt safe would be far more effective and my stress levels would be much lower. I may even eat the entire slab of chocolate!

In time, with patience and practice, I may even be able to get much closer to the snake without having a negative reaction.

The same principle applies to reactive dogs. Creating sufficient distance where they can see the trigger but still feel safe, comfortable and don’t react is the best way of helping them to cope with their feelings.

Some dogs (and people) may never be able to decrease that distance and that’s also okay.

Accept your dog for the unique individual they are, work on the things you can change and accept the things you can’t.

04/09/2023

Every so often, a TV channel brings out the latest animal training, animal behaviour based reality program. Sometimes it’s a competition, sometimes it’s a car-crash drama filled half hour or hour of snarling, barking, jumping, crazy-eyed beasts with desperate owners in floods of tears. Whatever ...

29/06/2023

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Puppies are not clean slates !
You often hear people say 'get a puppy they are a clean slate'

As a behaviourist and breeder I can confidently tell you this is not true. Both nature and nurture has a huge impact.
A puppy will inherit genes from its parents and these genes will impact the puppies genetic potential to behave in a particular way.
Such as :
Using aggression as a strategy to deal with difficult situations
Sociability towards people and dogs
Fearful responses
Strong instinctive behaviour to hunt, chase, grab and hold.
Trainability including the ability to learn self control as humans desire it
When people breed dogs they sometimes select for specific traits and sometimes not. If someone is breeding for a particular look or just money then these traits can become altered becoming stronger or weaker or unbalanced.

Then the puppy is born and the first 8 weeks learning with the breeder will have an huge impact on the development of all these genetic traits.

My six puppies have all come from the same parents and been reared in the same environment. They have very individual personalities. The training and socialisation they receive in their new homes will only influence the genes and first learning, it won't change their personalities.

So if you are looking for a puppy
Firstly learn about breed traits and instincts and make sure you pick a puppy that will suit your lifestyle. For example there no point getting a breed that is 'aloof with strangers' if you have 3 young children and lots of friends visiting.

Secondly meet the parents or (genes), see what they are like. Make sure you are meeting the actual parents, some people buy in puppy farmed litters and then 'hire' an adult of the same breed to pretend the puppies were bred there!!

Thirdly make sure the puppy has had plenty of early neurological stimulation and learning before it leaves the litter. Ask these questions.
1) What have the puppies seen?
2) Who and what have they met?
2) What have they learnt?
3) How have they learned to play?
4) What do they do if they get frustrated?
5) What do they do if they get bored?

A professional trainer can help support and guide you on the process of looking for a puppy. Don't wait till afterwards for help.

Prevention IS better than Cure. This goes for training and socialisation too, get a professional to help and guide you.

Puppies are building neural pathways with every experience, every day, make sure they're building ones you like.

First Learning is the strongest, make sure you get it right first time.


Written by Jane Ardern BSc (Hons) Dip.CABT
WaggaWuffins Canine College
Bury Lancashire

*Permission to share this post. No cutting and pasting please.

04/05/2023

Dogs need their ears, but all it takes is a few clicks in the right places to find so many dogs being sold without them.

09/04/2023

Adder Season

Adders are most active between April and July, while bites to humans or dogs are rare it is important to know what to do if you or your dog are bitten.

Adder bites normally occur when they feel they have no choice but to defend themselves, be aware of your surroundings in areas where adders are known to be and keep to paths.

Keep your dog on a lead

If you or your dog are bitten, remain calm and seek help immediately, do not wait for symptoms to appear.

Kennel Club advice
https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/health-and-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/poisons-out-and-about

Facts and advice from Amphibian Reptile Conservation
https://www.arc-trust.org/facts-and-advice-on-adder-bites

Downloadable guide dogs and adders
https://www.arc-trust.org/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=012821c3-f8dc-42d2-bdd4-9391a370e32b

22/03/2023

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WHY TRAINING MAY BE A WASTE OF TIME (if they don’t feel safe)

I went to a cafe this morning with one of my dogs. There was another dog in there and they clearly had a really committed family- they had yellow dog stuff on and the people were using loads of treats to try and ‘train’ the dog around other dogs in the cafe. The dog was barely under threshold most of the time I was there and was well over many times- barking and lunging at dogs in the cafe and sounding very stressed. I totally get why people think this sort of environment might be a good thing to take a reactive dog too- all dogs are onlead and you can practise your training while you sit with your lovely breakfast. But, it’s probably doing your dog much more harm than good if they aren’t coping well in that environment: if your dog doesn’t feel SAFE then what are they learning?

It’s really important to remember that when you are working with anxious and reactive dogs it’s not about training them, it’s about changing their emotions. We aren’t trying to teach them not to bark we are trying to change how they feel from anxious around other dogs to comfortable. We want them to change from being pessimistic and expecting that other dogs are bad news to feeling optimistic and that other dogs are a good thing to be around.

If you are training your dog to look at other dogs, to do a ‘watch me’, to lay down etc in a environment they find too difficult and too stressful then they aren’t learning anything good. Training them to do these things isn’t going to fix them. If they don’t feel safe inside and don’t feel relaxed then their learning is likely to be really slow or you risk them even making worse associations and becoming MORE worried around other dogs.

To change emotions your dog needs to feel safe and comfortable and you want to be seeing signs that they are properly relaxed- are they eating treats gently, are they choosing to settle and lie down, are they breathing in a relaxed way? If they are panting, stressy snatching treats and hyper vigilant (looking around everywhere for threats) then you are likely doing more harm than good.

Key to helping anxious and reactive dogs is gradually building up their exposure to the things they find scary but at a rate they can cope with. Of course, even with the best will in the world things will go wrong and dogs will come too close on a walk etc and we manage that situation and move on but we don’t want to ever set them up to fail. Making them ‘face their fears’ just results in flooding and a dog who is worse after the experience rather than better.

I have 3 dogs and only 2 would cope in a cafe, the one that wouldn’t- I just don’t take her, she wouldn’t enjoy it and she’d find it stressful and I wouldn’t be happy knowing that she wasn’t coping well. I regularly take a puppachino home for my dog that doesn’t like cafes so she doesn’t miss out ❤️ (top tip- don’t forget you have a puppachino in your coat pocket and sit down)

It’s crucial when we are living with and helping anxious dogs that we try and think about the things we do with them- is this helping build their confidence and resilience or is it making them more stressed?

If you do need to visit a cafe (as you are on holiday and can’t leave dogs etc) with an anxious dog then sitting outside rather than inside is normally less stressful, give yourself as much space as possible, don’t sit by the entrance so everyone has to walk past you etc and keep it brief so that it’s a successful exercise for your dog rather than a stressful one and most importantly listen to your dog and what they are trying to tell you. I’d rather get take out than expose a dog to something they can’t cope with right now.

Laura McAuliffe, 2023 Dog Communication.

28/02/2023

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=741382230961094&id=100052679716093&sfnsn=scwspmo

Puppy socialisation is NOT just about playing with other dogs.

In fact, too much uncontrolled exposure to other dogs can cause so many unintended consequences.

If you have a puppy, make sure you try to work on ALL aspects of socialisation, as listed in the bottom graphic.

08/02/2023

https://www.facebook.com/100063680973651/posts/646133377519356/?sfnsn=scwspmo

THE MARVELS OF MANAGEMENT
Management in dog behaviour terms is making changes to an environment so that a behaviour can’t be practised. It’s a simple, often over looked way to prevent unwanted behaviour. Management can replace the need for long, complicated training methods or can be used to stop the behaviour from being practiced and reinforced as you work on teaching your dog an alternative behaviour.

The longer an unwanted behaviour continues the more reinforced it becomes and the harder it is to change, like changing a bad habit that has been going on for a long time.

Think about how parents manage the environment of a toddler. How do they stop their child from opening a cupboard where chemicals are kept, prevent access to a swimming pool, or prevent little fingers being stuck into plug points? Would they spend time and effort in teaching the child not to do these things, while always feeling stressed that they might still do it, or do they manage it by using a cupboard where the child can’t reach, put up a pool fence or use plug covers.
These are just some simple examples of how we already use management without giving it much thought. Why then can’t we do the same for our dogs?

So many dog owners insist that their dog needs to be trained not to steal food, not to run out the door, not to drink from the toilet, not to overturn dustbins, not to steal clothes etc.

There are many behaviours where the simplest and most logical solution is just to manage it, prevent it from happening and then decide if it’s really worth the effort and time it may take to train our dogs not to do these things, without any guarantee that it will work.

I’m a big believer in management because it works so well, makes such a difference in setting our dogs up for success and reduces stress in both ourselves and our dogs.

13/12/2022

https://www.facebook.com/100063710406295/posts/575380264595649/?sfnsn=scwspmo

Christmas Plants and Pet Safety 🎄🎅🐶

"Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree how lovely are your branches"

For us, gorgeous, the smell of the fresh pine, the glow of the lights and the sparkle from the tinsel and baubles, it gives us a sense of joy, we feel warm and cosy, happy to be home, but for our pets maintaining safety around seasonal Christmas household plants is very important to prevent that emergency dash to the vet this Christmas.

Christmas trees
If the pine needles from Christmas trees are chewed, the oils released can cause irritations in the mouth and upset the stomach. Due to the prickly nature of the needles, it could also be hazardous to the mouth, throat and stomach if ingested.

The water around your Christmas trees can be noxious. Bacteria, moulds and fertilizers can cause your pet to become extremely sick with only a few laps of water. Keep the water covered or block off to prevent pets from drinking it.

Amaryllis
The whole of the amaryllis plant contains toxic substances, but even higher quantities are contained in the bulb. If consumed, your pet may experience vomiting and abdominal pain, loss of appetite, lethargy and tremors.

Holly
If the berries or spiked-edge leaves from a holly plant are ingested, they may result in irritation of the mouth, drooling, vomiting and diarrhoea. They may also cause excessive head-shaking if consumed in large quantities.

Ivy
Ivy can cause severe skin irritation if your pets come into direct contact with this plant. If ingested, ivy can also cause stomach upsets.

Lilies
This plant is dangerous for both cats and dogs. If any part of a lily is ingested even in small quantities this can cause severe gastrointestinal damage, which may lead to serious problems including kidney failure for cats.

Mistletoe
Mistletoe berries, contain chemicals which are harmful to both dogs and cats, when ingested in small quantities they may cause vomiting and abdominal pain. Consumed in large quantities, they may cause abnormal heart rate, low blood pressure and lack of coordination.

Poinsettia
These gorgeous Christmas plants are widely known for their bright red and green festive foliage, but the sap contains a dangerous chemical. This could cause not only nausea, vomiting, drooling and diarrhoea, but also irritation in the skin, mouth and oesophagus of your pet.

Snowdrops
These small white flowers look beautiful but they contain toxins in their stems and leaves, with the highest concentration in the bulb.

When ingested, they can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, lack of coordination as well as a drop in heart rate and blood pressure.

If you are concerned your pet may have eaten anything they shouldn't always call your vet for advice.

Have a safe and Merry Christmas 😊

© Decorum Dogs Walking and Training 13.12.2022

03/12/2022

https://www.facebook.com/100055548892539/posts/638707267990897/?sfnsn=scwspmo

Should you be afraid of this dog?

One of my missions as a dog trainer is to educate owners (& more specifically - parents of small children), on dog behaviour, cognition & the subtleties of dog body language.

Unfortunately, when I make posts on these topics, comments inevitably want to focus on the breeds that are presented in the images & if that post includes a bully-breed (Pitbull, Staffy etc) the comments can be extremely emotive & polarized.

There are so many myths and conflicting messages out there when it comes to bully-breeds, so let’s separate fact from fiction.

I currently have a post showing a black Staffordshire Bull Terrier resource guarding a new born baby. Despite the caption stating resource guarding behaviour is NOT a breed specific behavior, the post gets numerous comments DAILY that state:

• Pitbulls should be banned
• Pitbulls are all aggressive (insert link to news article about pit bull attack or bite stats)

or:

• Pitbulls were bred to be nanny dogs
• ‘I’ve owned pit bulls all my life, they would never hurt anyone’

The list goes on.

So what’s the truth?

Let’s cover some of the most common perceptions:

* Pitbulls rate highest in bite statistics

Yes & no.

Firstly, ‘Pitbull’ is both an umbrella term & a breed term. The American Pitbull Terrier (APBT) is the only ‘true’ pit bull. In the U.S.A the pitbull umbrella term was created in the 1980’s by lawyers & politicians to cover Staffordshire Bull Terriers (aka English Staffies), American Staffies before other bully breeds & mixes were added over the following decades. While similar in the UK, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is considered distinct from ‘pitbull type, and other countries also differ. But although numerous bully breeds have been used in fighting rings, the APBT is the only breed specifically line-bred for dog fighting to the greatest extent, and do have a higher ‘potential’ for ‘animal/dog’ aggression.

Bite stats are incredibly unreliable for numerous reasons. Many mixed breed dogs with no pitbull or staffy in them ‘look’ like staffies & subsequently get labeled as such.

Bully breeds are powerful, athletic dogs. If they ‘are’ aggressive and bite, they will more likely cause damage, subsequently more likely to have the bite reported.

Media sensationalism:
“Pitbull Attack” makes a great headline, so bites & attacks regarding any dog that looks remotely like a bully breed is far more likely to be published, subsequently, bites from other breeds rarely make the news.

For example, insurance company research showed Labrador bites rate HIGHEST when it comes to dog bite insurance claims, yet you don’t see many news articles or reports when a lab bites someone as it’s dismissed as an isolated event.

* Breed is a large predictor in behavior & bully breeds are more aggressive

Yes & no again

The only behavior traits that are truely breed specific are ‘instinctual motor pattens’.
This is why border collies herd and retrievers retrieve.

Instinctual motor pattens are behaviors that have been selectively increased or decreased from the ‘predatory sequence’.

To be a successful predator, the ancestor of the dog, the wolf, uses the full predatory sequence which includes:

orient > stalk > chase > bite/hold > bite/kill > consume

As dogs evolved & were selectively bred, certain factors of the predatory sequence were bred out or strengthened. e.g. a border collie has been bred for strong: stalk > chase but reduced bite/hold, bite/kill.

American Pitbull Terriers ARE more prone to animal/dog aggression because the bite/hold, bite/kill components of the predatory sequence were selectively bred to be stronger in them.

BUT, that doesn’t mean they are more ‘human’ aggressive. In fact, in purest dog fighting rings any dog that exhibited any form of human aggression was quickly culled as they posed a risk to the handler.

Furthermore, according to UK Trainer & Staffy owner Danny Wells, who consults with government on distinguishing ‘true’ APBT’s from other bully breeds states: “Not all are the same and while great dogs, some more ‘game bred’ dogs need to be managed more around young children as they move & ‘squeak’ like small animals which can trigger prey drive in dogs”.
This combined with a genetic disposition to animal aggression can be dangerous.

On the flip side, Staffies & APBT’s are renowned to be very human social, a trait I can attest to after working with dozens, if not hundreds of them. All things being equal they are friendly, affectionate & biddable companions. But they are still dogs & dog behaviour, not breed behaviour is my main focus as a trainer & behaviour consultant.

* PitBulls/Staffies were bred to be Nanny Dogs

This is a hard NO. It is a myth & there is no evidence to suggest otherwise.

While Staffies are often very human social dogs, they were never bred to be, or used as nanny dogs/baby sitters.

The term ‘nanny dog’ wasn’t seen in any literature until the 1970’s when a newspaper article coined the term when discussing how Staffies were great kid/family dogs (in present tense).

There are also numerous photos from the late 18th/early 19th century with Pitbulls posing with children. This is because before the breed discrimination started Pitbulls were a popular breed, but they were NEVER nanny dogs.

In the early 1900’s some rural American families would leave dogs with children, but this wasn’t breed specific.

Because the term nanny dog is so endearing, people have run with it.

* Breed Specific Legislation

Many counties & states have brought in BSL as an attempt to reduce the rate of dog attacks, but research is showing again & again that BSL doesn’t reduce bite statistics.

This is one of the biggest indicators that the problem of rising bite rates (especially in young children) is complex & not a matter of pointing fingers at specific breeds.

The reality is bully breeds are physically powerful dogs. Many DO have a genetic history in dog fighting but the media hysteria surrounding them is unwarranted & as a result they are demonised & any post showing one with behavioural issues is used to confirm this bias.

With regard to bite stats (in children specifically) it’s not a ‘dangerous’ breed issue, it’s a ‘human’ lack of education issue.

Most people are unable to read subtle body language cues dogs exhibit when uncomfortable & ‘out of the blue’ bites are not out of the blue at all. Dogs communicate clearly & ARE quite predictable ‘when you know what you’re looking for’.

‘Dog culture’ is NOT based around an understanding of dog behaviour & what dogs need to live fulfilled lives. Instead, human emotion is projected onto dogs & everything they do is anthropomorphised to make US feel validated.

Examples are:

A dog that licks a child in appeasement when they’re uncomfortable is labelled as giving kisses.

A dog rolling onto their back when approached by a new person is ‘asking for a belly rub’, when they’re in fact saying they’re ‘not a threat, please don’t pressure me’

A dog that’s still when a child leans on them is ‘accepting/enjoying’ the interaction, because ‘if they weren’t they’d move away’, when what’s actually happening is ‘freeze’ (fight/flight/freeze/appease).

We say: ‘if came out of the blue’. But it doesn’t.

In my personal experience as a professional dog trainer specialising in behaviour issues, Staffies/Bully Breeds are some of my favourite dogs. But they are powerful breeds & we need to respect their strength & genetics.

We need to stop labelling breeds as the ‘danger’. Your child is just as likely to get bitten by a Labrador, border collie or husky. The problem isn’t breed, it’s the lack of education in DOG BEHAVIOUR. That’s the issue.