Positive Dog Training and Behaviour

01/08/2024

3 years ago today I qualified as a dog behaviourist. Although I’m a qualified dog trainer too, the learning does not stop! Every dog I meet has a unique personality and gives me something new to consider. For me, working with dogs isn’t about getting them to do what we want all the time. It is about treating them as individuals with their own personalities, likes and dislikes, warts and all! Understanding the emotion behind the behaviour is vital to my work as is working with the person to help them understand their dog better and build on their relationship. Relationship and understanding is at the heart of every session I do and is the key to living a happy life alongside our companions. 🧡🐾
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23/07/2024

Just a handful of some of the lovely dogs I have had the pleasure of working with in the past couple weeks. All completely different and yet all so gorgeous!
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25/06/2024

What to do with an animal suffering from heatstroke.

• Remove the animal from the hot environment immediately.
• Place the animal in the shade and if possible on a cool surface like grass (real grass, not plastic grass as this can become very hot). Concrete and bitumen retain heat so will be warmer.
• Offer water to drink but do not force any water into its mouth.
• Shower/bathe with cool/cold water.
•Placing wet towels on the animal is no longer a recommended way of cooling an animal down as it traps the animals body heat between the skin and the towel therefore increasing the body temperature rather than reducing it.
• Place them in front of a fan if possible.
• If you have cool pack place them on the animal….If it is very cold or you are using something frozen you must wrap it in material before putting onto the skin to prevent ice burns. Never just use ice to cool an animal, the extreme temperature could cause the animal to go into shock.
• If you are putting them into a car for transport make sure the car is cool, turn on the air con, open windows to create a breeze.
• It is really important that the animal does not cool down too quickly or become too cold.
• Phone your vet to arrange an urgent appointment, all animals who have overheated are at risk of internal organ damage.

Once at the veterinary clinic the treatment will most likely be:
• Continue cooling with close monitoring.
• Intravenous Fluid Therapy.
• Oxygen.
• Blood samples to check for organ damage, glucose and electrolyte levels.
• In later stage heatstroke it may be necessary to give blood products.
• If the animal has begun to have seizures these will be treated with anti-seizure medications.
• It is likely the animal will be hospitalised for a few days.

There is a poor prognosis for animals that show brain damage ie seizures and long term organ damage is a possibility in heatstroke cases.

Early cooling by owners prior to getting to the vet greatly improves the chance of a good outcome.

It has been suggested that if the temperature reaches 20⁰C it is not advisable to take dogs out walking. Walking dogs’ early morning and in the evening is highly recommended as it is cooler then.

Do not forget that road surfaces retain heat, if you can’t hold the back of your hand on it for more than 5 seconds your dogs feet are at risk of being burnt.

There are some really great products around to help keep your dog cool. Specially designed coats that you wet with cool water and put on your dog, the material is such that your dog does not get wet and your dog will not overheat. There are also cool mats for pets to lie on which will help prevent overheating. When using these products, it is vital to follow the manufactures instructions.

Never leave an animal in a car if it is hot outside….even if you think you will not be long….even if the windows are left open….It is not worth the risk.

If you come across an animal in a car on a hot day do not immediately break the window, you could end up being prosecuted. You must prove that it was a necessary act. Take a photo of the animal in the car and also a screen shot with the time and local temperature then phone the dog warden +/or RSPCA for advice. Phone 999 in an emergency. Be aware there are some vehicles that can have air con working whilst the car is parked and locked.

04/06/2024

Blue Green Algae

This can be very toxic for dogs, for some, fatal.

It is a term used to describe a group of bacteria called Cyanobacteria. It is commonly found in non flowing water. Certain conditions in the warm/hot weather can allow it to grow quite fast and form a 'bloom'.

Don't allow dogs to swim in or drink water you suspect may contain any blue green algae. The algae can get trapped on the fur of a dog and, when they groom themselves can ingest it.

Symptoms can appear within minutes or a few hours. These can include:
➡️ Vomiting and diarrhoea
➡️ Drooling
➡️ Confusion
➡️ Difficulty with breathng
➡️ Collapse
➡️ Seizures

If you suspect that your dog has been in contact with blue green algae, seek veterinary advise immediately.

www.allwindsdogfirstaid.co.uk

07/05/2024

A lovely review from one of my clients I visited in March. Their little dog was experiencing separation anxiety since they adopted her. We kept in contact since their session and I am pleased to hear they have made great progress ☺️🐾
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04/05/2024

My lovely boy enjoying the sunshine on his morning walk ☀️ Let’s see some pictures of your dogs enjoying spring!
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14/04/2024

I don’t argue with strangers on the internet, or anyone really, about why I disagree with adverse training techniques.
I also don’t argue against their ability to work.

Can a shock collar stop your dog from running off? Maybe.
Can a prong collar, choke chain or lead “correction” stop your dog from pulling on the lead? Possibly.

But what I really want to know is, do these tools and techniques make a dog feel safe? Make them feel comfortable and happy? Teach them alternative behaviours in a fun and compassionate way?
Or do they scare and intimidate a dog into suppressing the behaviour?
What would happen in the absence of these tools?
I could spray my dog with water every time he barks and that might stop the bark in the moment. But what happens when I don’t have the water?
What happens if my dog is so scared, he chooses to defend himself?
He gets labelled as aggressive and sadly in a lot of cases, gets put to sleep.

I’m not arguing that these things don’t stop undesirable behaviours. In fact I’m not arguing at all. I believe you when you say the corrector spray stops them from jumping or the prong collar stops them from pulling. Of course it does. But why? Why is the dog not doing that behaviour anymore?
Is it because someone has put in the time and effort to show the dog that there are different behaviours they can do which will lead to a positive outcome? Or is it because the dog is intimidated, scared, confused and in pain?

For me, working with dogs is all about the relationship we build with them. That’s why I choose love, compassion and empathy.

By Ren Volpe

10/03/2024

My best in show. Every single day. 🧡🐾
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20/02/2024

The hard life of a dog who slept in his human’s bed till 10am, had breakfast, had a wee in the garden and was so exhausted he simply had no choice but to go back to sleep.

For some dogs, not every day has to be filled with exercise and adventure. They need down days too. Rest days seem to be Freddie’s favourite 🧡🐾

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16/02/2024

Two dogs who were nearly put to sleep. One for being too boisterous and the other for being a Pit Bull type. Now living their best lives.
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11/02/2024

How many dogs did we see on our walk today? 10. How many did Freddie react to? 0. Proud dog mum today. 🧡🐾
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23/01/2024

🚨 55% of vets in the UK say irresponsible breeding is their top animal health and concern.

Along with BSAVA, we're calling on the UK government to clamp down on unregulated dog breeding services, including canine fertility clinics.

We want to see:
✅ licensing of dog breeding services
✅ mandatory inspections
✅ tougher penalties

Find out more 👉 https://ow.ly/tglJ50QfV3G

23/01/2024

When you’re trying to get your college work done but you’ve got rescue dogs who just want to hang out 😂🐾
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24/12/2023

Behaviour is only labelled good or bad because it’s what we have perceived it to be. To our dogs, behaviour is is explored or repeated simply because it is reinforcing in some way.
When we start to think of behaviour just as meeting a need. We can start to change our response to it and work on our own reactions.
And of course tell Santa all dogs are on the good list.

24/12/2023

A very Merry Christmas from Fred and me. We hope you all have a lovely Christmas and a wonderful New Year. 🎄

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19/12/2023

Today I had my last training session before the new year with the gorgeous Ptolemy.

His human has been working with him on how to stay calm around other dogs. We have seen great improvement in his response to my dog, Ivy. It’s been lovely seeing him grow and begin to mature. His humans hard work is definitely paying off!

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15/12/2023

Anxious dog? Busy house for Christmas? Here are some of my tips for helping you and your dog get through the holidays 🎄
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26/09/2023

The short answer is yes, it can do.

Punishment, dominance ‘training’ and force all added to Freddie’s ‘aggression’. He doesn’t want to be aggressive, but he had to learn how to defend himself in the face of threats.

Positive reinforcement, relationship building and trust are much better and more successful ways to train your dog.

Dogs are incredibly loving and loyal animals. They become an integral part of many families, offering unconditional love and companionship. But when it comes to their training and behaviour, it’s important to understand that dogs respond to certain forms of punishment negatively and that their wel...

07/09/2023

07/09/2023

Yesterday I went back to college for the first time in 2 years to continue my studies to become a qualified counsellor.

I saw this quote on the wall from a psychologist and realised it was a perfect way to describe how I work with dogs, especially those with behavioural issues.

It’s no good to just look at the presenting behaviour. We need to look at the why’s and the emotion behind the behaviour. Only then can we truly start to understand and help our companions.

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26/08/2023

It’s so here’s some pictures of my best friend who is always by my side 🧡
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22/08/2023

⚠️ Please read all your labels! ⚠️

03/07/2023

Looking after a senior dog.

Today is my dog Patsy’s 15th birthday and although she still has a spring in her step, the way we care for her has changed.

It can be hard to see your beloved pet age. They look and behave differently and they need additional support.

Patsy is almost completely deaf, so verbal communication is not possible. Instead we rely on clear hand signals to communicate to her. This is helped by us training her using hand signals when she was younger.

Her joints are not what they used to be, so we help her get on and off the human beds and in and out of the car. Luckily Patsy is a small dog so we can pick her up, but for bigger dogs you can use ramps and steps to help them. To reduce stiffness in her joints she has anti inflammatory medication. Some dogs may also undergo hydro therapy or massages.

We have to accept that she’s not the same as she was. This means sometimes she has accidents over night, or that she doesn’t want to go for walks like before and she’d much rather sleep than have a play.

Although Patsy is still steady on her feet, other older dogs appreciate mats on the floor to prevent them from slipping.

Although our dogs change as they get older, our love for them stays the same. A senior dog needs someone with patience, compassion and understanding.
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22/05/2023

I am now a qualified dog trainer! Almost 5 years ago I began my studies and in 2021 I became a qualified dog behaviourist. I have been running my own business ever since whilst continuing to educate myself. As of today I can officially add ‘dog trainer’ to my list of qualifications!

I studied with The ISCP as they only use force free and scientifically proven methods. No dominance or being the alpha of the ‘pack’ here but rather education, experience and compassion.

Thank you to my friends and family for your support and to my dogs, who make it all worth while. 🧡🐾
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09/05/2023

Thunder, loud noises and dogs... There is a common misconception that when your dog is scared, you should not comfort them because this rewards the behaviour. However, when a behaviour is emotionally driven (in this case the emotion is fear) we first need to look at adjusting the emotion. Freddie hates fireworks, thunder and other loud noises. He looks for a place to hide or a person to get close to. I always provide him with either of these when possible. I want my dog to feel better about the situation and for him to feel safe. I make a den and give him access to me when he feels he needs additional support. This is not rewarding the behaviour, it is simply supporting my dog through a stressful situation. Playing classical music can also help calm a stressed dog. My dogs have always given me support and comfort when I’ve needed it, so why wouldn’t I do the same for them?
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29/04/2023

This is a huge win for dogs! I am so pleased to see this news today. Purposely hurting a dog as a form of communication is never acceptable and I will continue to use and advocate force free / positive reinforcement methods.
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In a historic moment for animal welfare, we’re welcoming news today that the Government is completely banning the use of remote controlled electric shock collars in England, as of 1 February 2024, following our ten year campaign. To find out more, visit thekennelclub.org.uk/shockcollarsbanned

20/04/2023

Today I’m working with the lovely Dale. Me and Dale are currently working together to help me gain a canine training qualification to add to my canine behaviourist qualification. He’s the perfect assistant!
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13/04/2023

We often refer to dogs as our pets. An animal that the kids can play with. A captive friend whose fur we can cry into on a bad day. We often hear them called ‘it’ and expect them to fit into a little set of rules to be a good family pet. And if they don’t meet our expectations or stay enthusiastic and trouble-free housemates, we have cultivated a belief that we must train them, and then they will behave better.

But what about what the dog wants?

Or how they feel?

And what about all the lessons we can learn from them? What if we stop trying to impose our will onto them? Imagine if your dog could do so much more than being a good family pet.

I urge you now to give pause on the idea that your dog might just need more training and instead step back and watch them better, learn their language, question their beliefs, and improve their agency.

Dog training has been the go-to response to the family dog simply showing us their needs for too long. It’s time to rethink the place of dog training.

It’s time to have a much better and more enriching relationship with our dogs, where creating different responses and behaviour through training is a small part of the bigger picture -and not the whole canvas.

30/03/2023

A sad loss to the dog world. Paul O’Grady was a fantastic ambassador for animals, in particular for rescue dogs. He will definitely be missed. 💕🐕

The 11th series will go ahead as planned.

15/03/2023

As dog guardians, we all want our loyal companions to be well-behaved and happy. But when our dogs exhibit undesirable behaviour, we may be tempted to resort to quick fixes like punishment collars or trainers who use forceful techniques. However, these methods come at a high cost to both the dog and...