Flea and Mouse had lots of fun on the beach this morning. Much cooler and the water was so refreshing. Well done Mouse, some excellent swimming this morning.
What plans have you got for your dogs today?
There is a lot of conflicting and misleading information around separation anxiety in dogs. This misinformation not only doesn't work but can actually make things a whole lot worse for you and your dog.
I have put together an e-book containing proven information around this misunderstood behaviour.
For a FREE copy then please just pm me with your email address. 🤩🐾
Slow mo videos of your dog are lovely to watch.
They can also be a great way of observing how your dog organises themself.
Love this one of Mouse & Flea rolling. Flea likes to roll on his back and Mouse likes to rub his neck and shoulder in his favourite scents! 🐾
Whistle Recall.
The whistle recall that I initially taught as a back up recall cue, is fast becoming my favourite way to recall my boys. Scamp is completely out of sight in this video & look how fast he comes!
I just love teaching recall! 🤩🙌
Many dogs will not show their pain physically, but show it emotionally instead through their behaviour.
This does not make their pain any less valid to that of the dog whose pain is more obvious.
Most people recognises the dog that skips or hops when out walking, that sometimes yelps as they jump down from the sofa, that occasionally limps or is slower and more awkward coming down the stairs in the morning. However, many of these dogs still don’t have their pain needs met, because their humans don’t witness these situations often enough, loudly enough, because it’s something the dog has always done or because it’s common in that breed (common doesn’t mean normal). Since when should pain only be treated when it fits into our, human, criteria.
However, not many people recognise that the dog that barks excessively, or is super busy and can’t settle, that howls in the car, that struggles being home alone, that shows aggression to other dogs and/or people is also most likely to have an area of pain. Just because many don’t see it, doesn’t mean it isn’t there.
These are dogs that not only don’t get their pain addressed but are labelled as ‘naughty’, ‘untrainable’, ‘stubborn’ or ‘dominant’. These dogs are at high risk of ending up with aversive, unethical ‘trainers’ who will use unkind methods to suppress their behaviours, whilst all the time not addressing their pain. Ultimately these dogs may well end up being euthanised.
Therefore, please be your dog’s advocate, if there is a behaviour that you need to address with your dog, find a behaviourist who has the skills to spot areas of discomfort and who will then work together with your vet, physiotherapist or other professionals.
Dogs with hidden pain deserve so much better from the people around them
Remember that I am a qualified Dynamic Dog Practitioner, meaning I am qualified in canine gait and posture and as such, can support you with any behaviour that you haven’t
Transitioning behaviours.
Transitioning behaviours from home to different environments can be tricky & many dogs need a multi layered approach.
After all knowing how to drive in a supermarket car park is a long way away from driving on the M25 at peak time!!
A very wobbly video of Mouse practising Middle on the Move on a walk. It has taken him a long time to manage going backwards so I’m super proud. (& remember that me holding the phone is also a distraction to both of us! ) 🤩🙌 ♥️
Love this video of Scamp.
A backup recall cue is really useful. I have a verbal cue which the dogs respond to really well, however, they may be a day when I’ve lost my voice, when it’s really windy and it’s hard for the dogs to hear or they are so engrossed in something that my voice doesn’t get their attention. This is why I have introduced a whistle.
As we know repeating cues only ends in the dog learning to ignore it, so having a back up plan is a really good idea. I think that Scamp agrees with me!! 👏♥️
Meet gorgeous Blue.
Blue is a dog from abroad and sometimes, going out can be very overwhelming for him. He was very nervous of unexpected events such as people coming round corners, joggers, people passing from behind etc. During a walk he was always hyper vigilant, as was his guardian.
After, just a few sessions, Blue is already more relaxed. Today he even wasn’t bothered by someone pushing past us from behind (someone neither of us had noticed).
The guardians are doing such an amazing job and just knowing that they didn’t need to walk their dog everyday has been an absolute game changer for all! 🙌👏🤩♥️
Mouse trying out his whistle recall for the first time off lead.
As always I introduced the whistle at home and that’s where I built up a really strong association between the sound of the whistle and good things happening. I initially used Free Work for this.
As you can see I didn’t recall over a great distance and I tried to time the whistle blow to a point where Mouse was very likely to respond. Just like us, dogs need some easy wins first before we start to gradually increase the challenge of any task.
Whatever you do, keep it fun! 🤩 ♥️
Always aim to keep your recall fresh and fun.
I have recently introduced a whistle recall. As always this was introduced at home so they can build up a strong association between whistle and good things happening without distractions.
This was the first time I’d tried it outside and they did brilliantly!! Fabulous job Scamp & Flea!! 🙌♥️🐾
National Rescue Dog Day
A huge big 'thank you' to all the precious souls, past & present, who have taught me so much and got me where I am today.
🩷🩷🩷
My full ‘thank you’ message to Laura. So pleased that she has finally been recognised for everything she does! The drones looked amazing ♥️♥️
Mouse at Tilley Farm.
On the second day at Tilley Farm Mouse couldn’t wait to get in. We’ve extended the set up and included another person. Thi is all about building confidence around unknown people in a familiar set up. He did so well ❤️🐾
Middle is a great position to teach your dog.
Middle is a great place for your dog to go if they are anxious about something in the environment, if you are at an ATM, you have stopped to chat with someone. It’s helps a dog be comfortable with proximity, with loose lead walking and with recall. We all love ‘middle’ here.
It’s a great starting place for other tricks and games too.
Have fun with your dog! 🤩♥️
Let's talk crates.
Yesterday, in one of the groups I'm in, there was a post about whether puppies should be crate trained or not. The responses quickly became quite heated and, it absolutely should be debated, as in some countries (Finland, Sweden), crates are illegal to use except to transport dogs of if the dog is recovering from injury/surgery.
However, for many dogs, safe places provide a retreat from situations that are overwhelming, worrying or a place to go when tired or feeling unwell. And a safe place should be just that, somewhere where they are not going to be disturbed, so make sure that everyone in the household understands that (& this can be difficult for some children to grasp).
Many people will provide a crate as a safe place and put it in a convenient place. However, just having a crate and putting your dog in it doesn’t mean that the dog feels safe there. Is the convenient place, convenient for dog or the guardians? Is it in a high footfall area like the kitchen: is it too near a radiator or draughty back door, bearing in mind that dog’s aren’t great at regulating their temperature. Is it what and where the dog would choose? Crate training can be really useful, especially if, in the future, the dog is unfortunate enough to need crate rest after surgery but it still doesn’t mean that it is where your dog feels safest.
As with many things in life there are no blanket rules. Some dogs absolutely love their crate, whilst others will never love a crate. Instead, you can use room dividers, pens, baby gates etc to support your dog’s need for a safe place. Always go with what is right for you, your dog & your home.
Crates need to be big enough for the dog to comfortably stand up in, turn around and lie flat out in them. However, if you put a puppy in a crate that is too big for them then they may well start to use a corner as a toilet.
Crates should never be used for ‘time outs’, never force a dog in or out, never leave a dog for l
Separation Anxiety can be really isolating, please reach out, let me show you how to support your dog so that you get your life back.
Mouse sniffing out a tiny bit of catnip on my car!
How amazing is that! 🙌👏🙌
