All Ears K9s

12/08/2024

If you have a puppy, this is a perfect explanation of “socialisation”. Let your pup experience their world first, it’s so important for their development.
If you would like more help, please message me.

What is puppy socialisation?

It is a stage of development in your puppy. It starts at 4 weeks and ends around 16 weeks. However actual socialisation should continue well after 16 weeks as your puppy will go through other development stages having different experiences.

The first thing to consider is your puppy will go through their first fear stage 7/9 weeks old. It's important not to overwhelm them. It's also important if they're struggling to be left alone not to leave them.

During the socialisation stage of development, it's not about socialisation in the context that we understand it. It's about exposure to the world. It's so important that the exposure the puppy gets is positive emotional experiences. So a nervous or sensitive puppy needs less. They can see the world but they don't need to interact with everything in it. They need exposure that they as an individual can cope with. Doing more will not turn them into a confident social butterfly it will probably make them more fearful, even reactive.

It's needs to be a slow steady pressure free pace. Slow down your walks, stop and give them time to take in the environment, there's new sounds, sights and smells. This can be a sensory overload for some. Let them sit and watch, take your time so they can take it all in and then process it.

We used to call it a critical stage of development but it's now a sensitive, because it's flexible. Your puppy is sensitive to experiences so make sure they are positive.

If your puppy is scared support them and help them. This won't reinforce or reward negative behaviours that are driven out of fear, apprehension or caution, it will cause them to relax and feel safe and then those behaviours will stop.
Yes the puppy will become a little dependent on your support but once they feel safe you can teach independence and reward brave choices. Feeling safe will activate exploratory control processes in the brain and your puppy will choose to explore and approach. This is much more powerful than being lured to something they're scared of. Luring with treats to scary things causes pressure and conflict which are negative emotional and stressful states. Timing is key and reinforcement should happen in safe places for it to be emotionally reinforcing.

Forget behaviour and think emotions and experiences at this time.

Work at the puppy's pace, don't rush 🐾❤️

Jane Ardern BSc Hons
Kennel Club Accredited Instructor in Working Gundogs Kennel Club Dog Trainer of the Year
Gundog Club Accredited Instructor and Assessor
Author of Mission Control How to Train the High Drive Dog

22/07/2024

20/04/2024

Great visual reel showing how important it is to make sure your dog’s harness fits properly.

03/02/2024

Just asked a client if they have a better relationship with their puppy now that they understand about canine body language a bit more. “Yes, definitely, I now understand him and he understands me better”.
Job done, learning canine body language is a game changer.
Contact me if I can help you understand your dog more and help you to learn to speak another language.

[email protected]

To me as a dog trainer, one of the most important gifts that I tell my clients they can give their dog, is an understanding of what their dog is saying.
Canine body language is so important to our dogs and to us. If we can notice the signs and help our friends when they need it, what better gift can you give them.

25/01/2024

“Doggie Language”! Understanding what our dogs are saying to us can help with so many struggles such as lead pulling and jumping up.

21/01/2024

Sharing this very informative post from another trainer.
The anatomy of a dog’s neck is very complicated and is where a large number of extremely sensitive and delicate organs are found.
If your dog wears a collar and pulls on lead, please teach them loose lead walking to avoid potential injuries.
Contact me via this page if you would like help teaching your dog loose lead walking.

I saw a kid walking his lovely lab having a great time and then he gave him a big old yank on the lead, which was on a collar and my heart did that achy breaky thing.

Underneath that strong looking neck, are some vital life supporting structures connecting your dog’s gut and nervous system to the brain.

If you have a big dog that lunges or pulls on the lead, a collar is not going to stop him. A harness is not going to make him lunge or pull more. However, it will distribute his weight through a part of the body designed to protect the organs instead of the full pressure being on the neck and all it contains.

A yank on the lead can cause emotional associations that lead to behaviour issues and pressure around the neck can cause multiple physical injuries some terminal.

With thanks for the illustration and we recommend https://perfect-fit-dog-harness.com/harness.html

Neck injuries include bruising, whiplash, headaches, crushed trachea, damage to the larynx, fractured vertebrae, neck and spinal cord injury and paralysis or neurological problems.

If the parasympathetic nervous system is tweaked through a tug to the neck the vagal reflex can cause instant death.

Higher intraocular pressure can cause serious injury to dogs already suffering thin corneas, glaucoma, or eye injuries.

It has also been linked to hypothyroidism as the collar rests on the area of the thyroid gland causing damage.

It can impinge the nerves supplying the front legs leading to an abnormal sensation in the feet that can present as a dog that starts licking their feet. Often misdiagnosed as having allergies.

A dog's epidermis is only 3-5 cells thick, in humans it is at least 10-15 cells thick.

Excessive pressure can cause damage to the dog's eyes, larynx and thyroid gland.

Particularly risky for puppies under 6 months, a time during which the cartilage of the trachea is still delicate.

A dog that feels pain and discomfort on saying hello to another dog, or trying to sniff the environment, is in danger of associating other dogs or other stimuli in the environment with pain and discomfort resulting in a dog that we would label “reactive” and/or “aggressive” when on lead, “but ok when off lead”.

16/01/2024

At -5 this morning, way too cold to go out so we did this little treat find instead. Kept my boy busy, happy and warm.

08/01/2024

Re-sharing this post as it has suddenly got very cold.
Please think about whether walking maybe just too cold for your dog and instead set up some scent work games indoors in the warm.
I have plenty of easy games you can play, contact me for more info, if needed.

This handy chart by Petplan gives an easy guide as to when and when not to walk your dog in cold weather. Please look after your furry family members, they can feel just how cold it is as well.

Maybe stay indoors instead of walking and play, train or set them up some mental enrichment activities instead. Pop their meals into an interactive food toy such as a kong or a lickimat, drop treats into an empty cardboard box, hide treats around the house for them to sniff out. Just 10 minutes of mental enrichment for your pup each day can be the equivalent of an hours physical exercise.

02/01/2024

May I wish everyone a very Happy New Year.

My services are below, please let me know if I can help you and your dog in 2024 to make this the best year yet for you both.

13/12/2023

It’s that time of year when we are all rushing around organising and thinking of what presents to get all those we love.

The best present for your dog? Easy! YOU!

Time spent with you, your dog will love it, be that a lovely walk, playing together, scent work or just a cuddle on the sofa!

Go on, give your dog the best present ever!
🎁💝🐕🐾

10/12/2023

Wonderful ❤️❤️

01/12/2023

The build up to Christmas can be a confusing time for puppies as their humans start acting weirdly!

Think about your puppy and if they will adapt to all the novelty around them. Can they deal with the chaos that Christmas can bring or do they need routine and predictability?

Manage the situation for your puppy as best you can, remember to give them their special “safe place” where they can go and relax and process all this weirdness.

If you need any help with your puppy, please feel free to contact me.

Merry Christmas everyone!

24/11/2023

Bringing home a new puppy is one of the most exciting times of your life. But, there is so much to think about.
Let me help you, if you have a new puppy or are about to bring home a new puppy, this presentation is exactly what you have been looking for!
Don't wait, book your FREE spot now!

19/11/2023

Please always choose a qualified trainer for your dog.

13/11/2023

Does your dog have endless energy? Are they losing focus for you when out on a walk?
If yes, then try some simple scent work games such as scatter feeding, it’s a great way to get them using their brain.

20/10/2023

Excellent graphic, please don’t spoil someone else’s walk unnecessarily.
If you have a solid recall, no problem. If you don’t, please keep your dog on a long line.

'It's okay he's friendly'

➡️Dog Owner Etiquette

For some a dog walk is a time to switch off from the world and watch your canine companion get some physical and mental stimulation running, sniffing and exploring.

But for some owners dog walks can be fraught with anxiety. Why? Because off lead dogs are being allowed, without prior authorisation, to approach their dogs.

We all know that some dogs simply adore playing, and there is nothing more wonderful that those brief encounters with strangers on a walk when your playful pooch gets a chance to let off some steam and play. Chasing, rolling, play fighting. But this activity must be undertaken after first speaking to the owners.

No matter how kind and playful your dog is you must NOT allow them to approach others dogs (even if they are on or off lead).

There are a huge number of reasons for this:

🐩 In season
🐕 Sick or injured
🦮 Assistance dogs needing to concentrate
🐕‍🦺 In training
🐩 Nervous, anxious, fearful
🐕 Reactive or aggressive

What you need:

✅ Excellent recall before you let you dogs off. If not then you need to practice positive recall training, go to a rented dog field to let your dog blow off steam, use a lead or have them on a long training line.

✅ Always keep your dog in sight. You do not know what is round the corner. There could be children, livestock, vehicles, hazards or dogs that should not be approached.

✅ Watch out for a yellow warning.
Yellow Dog UK is an initiative when a yellow lead, bow, lead cover, coat can mean STAY AWAY. Please spread the word about this and be aware of your surroundings and mindful of others when walking your dogs.

Read more below 👇

https://www.vetvoices.co.uk/post/dog-owner-etiquette

17/09/2023

Some of today’s work.
Both dogs were absolute superstars and very tired at the end!

17/09/2023

Today I attended a Canine Body Language and practical training day workshop with Adam Daines.
The eagle eyed of you may recognise Adam as one of the trainers from Channel 4’s “Dog Academy”. He also runs Avon Dog Services.
Lots of useful information on the subtleties of dog body language and tips for practical training gained.
Great day and thank you to Shannon Porter of Dorset Dog Services for arranging.

12/09/2023

Does your dog jump up at you, guests, other people?
If the answer is “yes”, as far as your dog is concerned, jumping up is a perfectly normal behaviour.
Consultation today with a young Cavapoo who also sees this as a normal thing to do. By the end of the session, the dog had 3 new behaviours to practise instead of jumping up, happy dog, happy owner!

Let me know if I can also help you and your dog with this common behaviour problem.

26/08/2023

It’s National Dog Day so let’s celebrate our wonderful dogs.
Here is my handsome boy, who is my world!

09/08/2023

Isn’t this the truth! I was definitely lucky!

31/07/2023

Being able to read our dog’s body language is key to helping them grow and thrive in our human world. This is especially true for puppies.
The attached YouTube video by “Fear Free Happy Homes” is a great short tutorial on what some of the body positions are communicating.
If you would like to train your puppy or dog using reward and games based methods, please contact me via my website
www.allearsk9.co.uk

Animals speak all of the time, as spoken through their body language, but many times their messages are misunderstood or go unheard. As a result, a dog may b...

25/07/2023

On lead greetings should always be kept short and sweet as shown perfectly in this great graphic by Mighty Dog Graphics.

29/06/2023

There is a misconception out there that puppies are better than older or rescue dogs, not always the case as beautifully explained in this post.
If you need help with your puppy, I am happy to help you.
Please contact me and we can start straightaway.

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.

20/04/2023

My clients will know how much I go on about listening to our dogs’ body language and this is a perfect video as to why. Dogs behave in certain ways for a reason and we should listen to them and understand that reason so we can help them.

25/11/2019

All Ears K9s's cover photo