Sky's The Limit Dog Training and Behaviour

24/12/2022

🎄

Sky wishes everyone and their dogs a very Merry Christmas!

Well, mostly she’s been asking to be allowed to do her own Queen’s sp*ech, as befits her station in life 👑

22/12/2022

What do you think? Does your ‘lady of the manor’ judge you?

It’s frankly one of Sky’s favourite activities to assess my competence against her own very stringent criteria 😅

https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/why-your-dog-might-think-you-rsquo-re-a-bonehead/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR0MdESX9lKdEsTYQgoBUfPsPqQEBkhMBO1jlyC0oiw5cGLJYikPLa-5aew =1671649831

14/12/2022

This is really great advice for ANY dog over the Christmas period. Things can go wrong in a nanosecond, even the nicest and most tolerant dog has their limits.

Please keep your friend’s best interests at heart over the coming weeks of festivities - remember, all they have is you to advocate for them.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=677862843828231&id=100048135651184

11/12/2022

As well as helping dogs with a range of behavioural challenges on a day to day basis, I also got to have some fun today! I am blessed to be invited to teach at a lovely training club called Davis Dogsports near Wi******er, for both co-operative care/husbandry techniques and also a sport called Treibball. Rarely taught in the UK, the aim is for the dog to ‘herd’ a series of balls back into a goal and towards their handler, who can’t leave the goal area.

This is the fabulous labradoodle Bella, proving you don’t have to be a collie to have herding skills ❤️ Isn’t she wonderful?

Treibball requires a fair few foundation behaviours to be taught before you get to Bella’s level and helps work on send aways, targeting, patience, discrimination and directional cues, amongst others!

07/12/2022

Does the thought of clipping your dog’s nails fill you with horror? Does your dog turn into a Tasmanian Devil when you reach for the clippers?

Lots of dogs really struggle with this - it’s very easy to accidentally catch the quick of the nail (which is extremely painful) and can lead to a strong aversion to having their manicures done!

Teaching your dog to file their own nails can be a lower stress option that can work very well. Here is Sky playing the game!

06/12/2022

One of the things I’m required to do (and quite rightly) to keep my membership of APDT - Association of Pet Dog Trainers is to complete a minimum amount of CPD (continuing professional development) so that the advice I give is as up to date and in line with recent thinking and research as much as possible.

I really love to share that knowledge, so you will see some snippets pop up on the page now and again.

Today’s snippet is this:

Did you know that there are something like 900 million dogs on the planet? And about 700 million of them aren’t owned by anyone in particular!

That means the vast majority of dogs are ‘free ranging’ and we can learn an awful lot about dogs as a species by studying their behaviour.… this helps us think about a dog’s species needs as a whole more carefully.

Sky says she personally appreciates a sofa for her aging bones!

02/12/2022

This lovely pair are Ollie (left) and Daisy. Ollie is a recent rescue who has been finding unfamiliar people coming into the house worrying. We’ve been working on teaching him that he has other options to help himself feel safe and secure, and his response to the door knock/bell as these were very difficult for him.

He is a lovely little chap and making excellent progress, helped along by his wonderful role model Daisy (whose tail is always a blur of wagging ❤️).

01/12/2022

🎄 🐾🧑‍🎄🎄🤶🐾🌲 🛷 🧚‍♂️🐩🦮🐕🎄🍺🍸

It’s 1st December. I’m going to say the ‘C’ word. Dogs and ‘Christmas’… especially puppies 🐶 A time for festive cheer or frazzled nerves?

Like many human events, our dogs can find them a bit challenging - so what do we need to consider to help keep our dogs safe and happy, and to stop us reaching for the gin? (You’re on your own with your human family 😉)

🐾 Getting a puppy for Christmas. It really *ISN’T* a great time to introduce a puppy to a new household, unless you really don’t ‘do
Christmas. It can be traumatic for a puppy to come away from their litter and family on their best day, and the increased noise, stress, ‘stuff’ lying around for puppies to gnaw on etc during the season, are not conducive to a good start for a new lifelong friend.

🐾It goes without saying that dogs can easily be a 15 year commitment of time, money and effort - PLEASE don’t buy a puppy for Christmas (or at any time) on a whim - that’s an emotionally intelligent creature you’re inviting into your world, they’re not a mobile phone.

🐾Toxins. Hopefully most people know that dogs mustn’t have human chocolate, grapes, raisins etc - which also means fruit cake, mince pies etc. Ingestion any of these need urgent veterinary attention. Make sure any plants in the house aren’t toxic if chewed

🐾 Changes of routine. You may be a total hermit for 364 days of the year but have a mass party on Christmas Day - consider that your dog may find this a shock to the system with more comings and goings than they’re used to. Make sure they have a safe place to be where they can relax if it all gets too much.

🐾 Changes in sleep patterns. Overtired dogs can be more irritable/busy/less tolerant.

🐾 Don’t leave gifts that might contain food or anything potentially dangerous in your dog’s reach, or children’s toys that you’ll get upset over of your dog picks them up.

🐾Alcohol. Obviously don’t let them drink it, but also, our behaviour can seem wildly random to some dogs when we’re sozzled- your dog may find this unpredictable behaviour upsetting. We might be more thoughtless about making sure doors are shut etc. Make sure they have safe places to take themselves to and they can’t get out and get into trouble.

🐾 Remember baubles on a tree might look like inviting toys to a dog - prevent access by using a barrier or put it up high. Please don’t use sheets of tin foil to prevent them from stepping near it as it could be a chew/ingestion risk. ‘All I want for Christmas is a vet’s bill’.. said no-one ever.

🐾 Children. If your dog hasn’t had much exposure to them and you have small visitors, make sure you have a plan to keep everyone safe. Even if your dog has been used to children, the high emotions of the day can get the better of them - close supervision around dogs and children at ALL times.

🐾 Dressing your dog up. Unless your dog is very tolerant and gives permission to have strange things put on them, probably best not to as they can find it stressful. Definitely don’t drape your dog in fairy lights.

Remember, your dog is part of the family and they deserve to have their needs met too

30/11/2022

Does your dog struggle to cope with being groomed? They don’t have to find it so stressful- I can highly recommend Daniella, who will put your dog’s emotional needs first.

My six week cooperative grooming programme isn’t just for puppies! It’s for any dog who needs a gradual introduction into the grooming environment.

Not sure the programme agenda is right for your dog? It can be tailored to a more bespoke plan.

At just £25 a session plus £5 off all future grooms it’s definitely worth considering!

For more information please take a look at our page or website:

https://woodysplace.godaddysites.com/services

24/11/2022

Old dogs and behaviour changes…

We often focus on behaviour ‘problems’ in the young or adult dog but our seniors need an empathetic approach to their mental well-being too.

Here are some considerations for the ‘grey of muzzle’

🐾 Conditions like arthritis are very common in older dogs and can be very painful. Being more grumpy in old age can be due to pain, so talk to your vet about managing this if you are concerned. Dogs are never lame/change their gait or posture without reason and a change in behaviour can be one of the first signs that something isn’t right.

🐾Be mindful of the activities you ask them to do. Their minds and bodies still need appropriate exercise, but you may need to make adjustments to make it achievable and comfortable for them.

🐾Manage their environments carefully. Your older friend may not want to be bowled into by younger dogs, or may be less tolerant of dogs approaching them.

🐾A change to their senses (eye sight/hearing etc) may increase or cause some anxiety. Be patient with them if they need time to adjust and keep their environment predictable (chairs in the same place etc) if their eyesight fails. They may need to time to adjust to light/dark environments so you may see them hesitate more before moving forwards.

🐾Dogs can experience dementia type symptoms much like people, which can be confusing for them. You may notice a change in house training, sleep disturbances or vocalisation, withdrawal from company, among others. Talk to your vet if you have any concerns.

I consider it a privilege to share my life with a ‘golden oldie’ - they give us so much throughout their lifetimes, they deserve a bit more TLC as they age ❤️

21/11/2022

🐶 🦈 🦖 🐊

Puppy? Or a shark/velociraptor/crocodile in a puppy suit??? 🤨 🤔

Puppies are wonderful beings (of course they are, they turn into adult dogs, and they are the business!)

But they can bring with them their share of angst and drama into a household.. here are some totally normal puppy behaviours that come with the territory:

🐊 Biting. Puppies bite. Sometimes hard. Their teeth are like tiny razors. You will bleed. This does not mean they will automatically turn into savage adults. They have a biological need to wrap their gnashers around stuff, especially when they’re teething (ouch). They are not being ‘dominant’ they are being puppies. Manage, meet their needs, re direct them onto better things. Remember the last time you had dental pain??? Remember how crabby you were? Exactly…

🐶 Puppies need you to be around. A lot. They have just been hoofed out of everything that was familiar to them and now they’re in an alien land where they don’t know the language, or whether the new humans are safe, or whether they can survive alone without you. Don’t isolate them from you on the first few nights (or until they’re ready) - be with them and let them grow their confidence in being alone slowly

🚽 Your puppy will likely p*e and poo indoors a few times at least. They don’t know your carpet is brand new, set them up to succeed by being vigilant and giving them loads of opportunities to get it ‘right’. Never punish an indoor toilet moment - it won’t help.

🧠 Your puppy’s brain is a developing sponge - they learn from every single interaction they have - yes - every SINGLE interaction. Make sure they’re good ones.

🥷 Like stealthy ninjas, they get hold of absolutely anything and shove it in their gob. It’s how they explore the world, and learn about ‘stuff’. If you don’t want it chewed, don’t leave it in their way. Don’t ‘steal’ things off them, teach them it’s safe to let you have them instead.

😴 An overtired puppy is no fun at all. Puppies need plenty of good quality sleep (undisturbed) in a comfortable place where they can fully stretch out, lie flat and re position themselves. A lot of ‘manic’ behaviour can often be linked to lack of quality sleep - and trying to physically exhaust them is not the way forward.

🤢 💨 Windy puppy? Explosive bottom? 💩Good gut health is really important to your puppy’s development, behaviourally as well as physically. Talk to your vet about any concerns you have about any health issue that might be impacting on your puppy’s behaviour.

The good news is - these things generally pass.. and then they turn into teenagers, which is a whole other conversation 😁

Be kind to your puppy, keep your expectations realistic and remember - you invited them to live with you, and not the other way around.

18/11/2022

Celebrating ‘Black Friday’ with my own black dog (well.. black, white and a very greying muzzle!) ❤️

Feel free to share your own ‘Black Friday Specials’!

16/11/2022

If you were planning on join in with the Facebook Live over on Woozelbears (Whitney) page about cooperative care this evening, this will now be done via Teams..

We tried really hard to make it work on their page but it was not to be!

Hope to see you there!

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=856897845730366&id=112152230204935

14/11/2022

I’ve had a fabulous weekend teaching the lovely people of Davis Dogs - a bit of Treibball (a sport that teaches dogs to herd balls into goals) and some cooperative care/handling - there’s lots we can do to help make routine healthcare less stressful.

Here is Sky learning how to file her own nails - much less stressful for her than clipping them as she’s had some poor experiences in the past.

31/10/2022

🎃Halloween and dogs 🎃

🧟‍♂️🧙‍♀️🧛‍♂️👻 🐕

I personally am quite a fan of Halloween - but our dogs may not be. Here are some basic things to consider to help your friend feel safe and secure this evening.

🎃 Many dogs find some Halloween costumes scary, and not in a good way. Consider not allowing your dog access to your front door if you’re going to open it to trick or treaters. They could panic and bolt, or react towards the visitor because they don’t feel safe. Be particularly careful around children.

🎃 Walk your dog before it gets dark or where you are less likely to see people in costumes out and about, if these bother them.

🎃 If (like my own dog!) your dog barks a lot at the door knock/bell then several repetitions can be become stressful and exhausting over time, especially if your dog is worried by strangers to the home. Consider a notice on the door asking people to skip to the next home who would welcome them. Your dog should be able to feel safe at home.

🎃 Make sure their identification is up to date - ID chip and collar tag, in case they do escape (as fireworks also seem to be common at the moment!)

🎃 Dressing your dog up in costumes. Many dogs may *tolerate* having clothes/costumes put on them, but please spare a thought for whether they’d choose them for themselves (we’ve all done it!). Remember, dogs should be able to give consent to what’s happening to them, and if they avoid you while approaching to put something on, please listen to them.

🎃 Keep chocolate, sweets (anything containing xylitol) and anything containing raisins/sultanas well out of range, as these can be fatally toxic to dogs

🎃 Keep them away from lit candles.

Have a suitably spooky but dog-safe evening!

20/10/2022

Welcome to Sky’s The Limit Dog Training and Behaviour! My name is Donna, and I have been working with dogs with various behavioural challenges for over 18 years. I am committed to providing ethical, kind and proven effective strategies to help you and your dog have a happy life together. I am a full member of the APDT UK - no 01200.

I cover Cirencester, the South Cotswolds, Gloucester, Stroud, Cheltenham, Swindon, Marlborough, Faringdon, Highworth and other local areas.

The business is named after my own ‘project’ dog Sky, who after living with her for over 12 years is still teaching me every single day ❤️