#dogbehaviour #catbehaviour #dogsandcats #housecat #devonrex
Last week over in The Shouty-Bark Dog Group I asked "Do natural calming products work for your dog?"
Opinions were very divided. Of the 65 people that answered,
🔎 29 found that the natural calming products did help
🔎 27 said that they didn't
🔎 5 said CBD products were useful
🔎 3 were undecided
🔎 1 hadn't tried them
So in my very unscientific study, around about half of the people that had an opinion thought that they helped, and half thought that they didn't.
The more I learn about the way the brain functions through the various trauma courses I've been taking, the more I understand why some products can be *really* helpful.
One product that I've come across in the last few months is Pet Remedy, and I have to say I'm super impressed with the science that backs up their claims.
🐾 Mickle is impressed too. He took his first wipe off me, made a very good attempt at opening by himself, and then settled down with it right by his nose. That's him in the picture 🙂
I'm so impressed that I've joined their partner programme - and I don't do things like that lightly!
Going back to my question, a common theme seems to be that we often need to try several different products before we find one that works for our individual dog.
So if, like me, you're impressed with Pet Remedy's reasoning and Mickle's response, try this:
💚 use my partner code STEPHIE25 to get 25% off, or click this link https://petremedy.co.uk/ref/Stephie/
💚 Introduce the product at a time when you're all feeling relaxed so that you can ask your dog:
"How do you feel about this? Do you find it helpful?"
💚 Watch for deep sighs, soft body language and true relaxation
💚 Once your dog is giving you clear signals that this is supportive for them, begin to use it when you'd like to help your dog's brain process potentially scary situations, all the while keeping them feeling as safe as possible.
**Full disclosure, if you use my code then you'll get 25% off, I'll get poin
Mickle and Beans both enjoy their free work. Today it was very much needed - Mickle is coming down with an ear infection and Beans has been for her rabies jab ahead of joining her Mama in Vienna next month.
🐾 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 🐾
My Mickle is TERRIFIED of sheep. His main aim in a field of sheep is to get through it as quickly as possible, head down, let's go mum!
Last week, on holiday (vacation) in Cornwall, UK, we were walking along the coast path when a very friendly and curious sheep wanted to say hello to Mickle. The sheep walked slowly and calmly up to him , almost nose to nose - I was totally lost in the moment - and then my sensitive boy bounced backwards with a "what the @*#£!" look on his face. I wish I'd had my camera out as his expression was priceless!
What he *didn't* need in that moment was me to intervene. He didn't need me to tell him it was ok, it was just a sheep. He wasn't able to listen to any reassurances. He just needed to get out of there.
On the beach we were able to slow down a touch, gather information, and decompress with some sheep wool. At that point he was able to listen, and we could have a chat about the sheep.
Then we went on our way, rebalanced and no longer afraid 💕
*No sheep were harmed in the making of this video
I've been grumbling about the cold weather all evening. And then the cat came and asked to snuggle in and everything was alright with the world.💕
#ChosenOne
#foraging #canineenrichment #felineenrichment #catonaleash
Rainbow Pet Portraits by Stephie Guy
"I’ve given Jess her picture, she cried ❤️ thank you so much ###x"
Go out and have some fun with your dog!
If your dog has poor recall this can be a tremendous way to improve it. Just make sure you’re in a secure area before you start.
Disclaimer : this is *my* idea of having fun with my dog. If it’s not your idea of fun, or if there’s any reason why you shouldn’t run with your dog, or if you’re concerned about falling over, don’t try this. Find *your* version of fun instead.
And if your dog is even remotely likely to catch or upset the bunnies, find something else to do!
[Video show an unfit me and a very fit yellow labrador running through sand dunes and woodland chasing bunnies yesterday evening. The bunnies were long gone and we had no chance of catching any of them. No bunnies were harmed or distressed in the making of this clip.]
Living in a small world
Living in a teeny tiny world can be damaging for our mental health. But what can we do?
😱 It’s gonna be cold, are we ready? 😱
…or…
🤩 It’s gonna be cold, are we ready! 🤩
How we frame things makes a world of difference!
Mickle enjoyed pancake day! Did your dog get pancakes too?
PROJECT PICNIC STEP 1
Recorded earlier today...
I keep seeing posts from very well-meaning dog trainers that recommend tossing treats when your sensitive dog kicks off, or tasking your dog to sit and look at you instead of shouting and barking at the thing that worries them. The theory is that your dog will learn to associate that bothersome thing with tasty treats instead, minds will be changed, and we’ll all be able to get on with our day without all that noise and angst.
The trouble is, this often doesn’t work with a sensitive dog, because a sensitive dog is too busy worrying about that thing (and about a million other things) to be able to learn anything at all. They might be able to snatch and swallow the treat, but that’s all. No learning can happen and everyone is left feeling frustrated.
Even at a “safe” distance (if you can find one) our sensitive dogs often can’t learn and ignore the worrisome thing at the same time.
Take me, for example. I'm sensitive. I really don’t like big hairy spiders but I can play this game called counterconditioning at a safe distance. “OK there’s the spider, if I try really hard I can ignore it and focus on the chocolates, but…BIG HAIRY SPIDER…it’s OK I can eat chocolates….OH 💩 IT’S A SPIDER…”. My anxiety is yo-yoing. Externally it looks like I’m doing really well at looking at the spider and then focusing on the chocolates. Internally, I’m screaming. The only way I could truly relax is if I was so far away from the spider that I couldn't see it. But then, what's the point?
Does this sound familiar? I’m not for one minute saying this never works, but, for our sensitive dogs it’s not the ideal.
So you won’t find me recommending tossing treats or asking for sits. You won’t find me dishing out one-size-fits-all dog training advice. Behaviour modification for sensitive dogs simply doesn’t work like that.
Instead, I’ll be asking you to get really clear on what’s going on underneath for your sensitive dog. Turn detective a
I have a helper this evening. We're watching videos of gorgeous Jax, working out where the hurty bits are that are making him anxious, and then his vet can help him to get better.
Isn't it fabulous that technology makes this possible from thousands of miles away?!
Festive wishes will have to wait til tomorrow because today it's HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mickle!
How did he get to be 5 years old already? Here's the boy with his birthday carrot :)
Mickle and I are on the train into Liverpool. It’s been a while since he’s ridden a train so before we got on I explained what was going to happen, then when we were on the train I got his settle mat out. He chose to sit on it while he processed the smells, sights and sounds, then settled down. I didn’t interfere with his processing - as long as he’s not distressed he can do that on his own. Good boy!
The Calmer Canines Academy Founding member Black Friday Deal
𝐵𝐿𝐴𝐶𝐾 𝐹𝑅𝐼𝐷𝐴𝑌 𝐹𝑂𝑈𝑁𝐷𝐼𝑁𝐺 𝑀𝐸𝑀𝐵𝐸𝑅 𝐷𝐸𝐴𝐿
Life with a reactive, anxious dog is hard. The dream, that beautiful dream you had when you first got your dog, is shattered and in pieces.
Maybe you dreamed of taking your dog everywhere with you; of hosting family get-togethers; of enjoying the daily dog walk with everyone else at the park. 𝐴𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑖𝑠, 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑐𝑎𝑛'𝑡 𝑑𝑜 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡.
And yet, you love your dog with all your heart ❤️
So you've scoured the internet, you've had multiple trainers, you've tried behaviourists...and nothing, absolutely NOTHING is working.
You're stuck. Your dog is STILL reactive and shouty-barky. Despite everything, your dog is still scared and anxious.
SO WHAT DO YOU DO?
Do you carry on with more of the same? Do continue to hide away, walking at odd times of the day and night so that you don't meet other dogs? Do you look forward to a life of feeling embarrassed and shamed by your dog's uncontrollable behaviour?
🔥 OR DO YOU TAKE ACTION? 🔥
As a behaviourist specialising in sensitive, over-emotional dogs, I will guide you through the steps that you need to take to calm the chaos.
𝘐𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘈𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘨𝘰 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘋𝘖𝘌𝘚 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬, 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘨 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘪