Fulfilled Fido

But they can't hear you when you want them to do something 😅 . . . . #funnydogs #funnydogvideo #funnyclip #dogmeme #australianshepherd #australianshepherdsofinstagram #dogbehaviour #relatable

"I got a [insert working breed here] because my family have always had them" That's not a good enough reason to consider having any breed of dog, what you perceived as well behaved when you were a child was most likely off the back of lots of time and effort put into them by their guardians. You likely only experienced the pleasant side of being around that breed, whilst someone in the background had dealt with all the difficult parts. Don't choose a breed based on what they look like, your familiarity around them as a child or because you've seen them do cool sh*t with other people. Research breeds that will actually fit into your lifestyle, how much time do you realistically have to spend training them and being with them in general? Do you know what biological and physical needs they have and do you know how to fulfill them? Do you understand the traits of the breed? Do you know what issues people have to deal with when things don't go well and have you thought about how you'll manage those situations? Is the environment you live in and around suitable for that breed? Don't get a working breed if you're not interested in giving them an outlet that gives them purpose ❌️ Make the right decision with your 🧠 and not your impulses. As trainers we deal with a lot of situations where the client simply has a completely unsuitable breed for their lifestyle and often the most positive impact they can have on their dogs is not more training, it's a lifestyle change! So do your research and choose wisely 💭 . . . . . #workingdog #workingbreed #dogtrainer #dogtraining #dogtrainer #dogadvice #puppyadvice #puppytips #workingline

Just a bit of light-hearted fun on a Sunday morning 😅 Whether you're from the FF or balanced camp, or even if you prefer not to put labels on yourself, I'm sure we can all agree that this approach to training and treatment of our pet dogs is outdated, unhealthy, uneducated and unhelpful ❌️ Let me discuss some of the points made - Jumping up- dogs jump up for many reasons, the most common reason is that it's a learnt behaviour. At some point (likely many points) they have been accidentally reinforced for this behaviour. They are not jumping up you to dominate you. They do it because it has some sort of favorable outcome for them, usually in the form of attention. However they can also jump up if they're overwhelmed, seeking comfort, over aroused, so many reasons that it really depends on the context! You can reinforce fear - this is like someone having a panic attack, a loved one comforts them and the person having the panic attack thinks 'I'll do that more often because I enjoyed the attention from it'. You can't reinforce an emotion. Not allowing them on furniture - now this really is a personal preference. It's a concern if your dog has issues like resource guarding or sleep startle, then it's important to have some boundaries in place for safety and reducing rehearsal of behaviour. If you don't personally mind them being on furniture, then let them! They're not trying to establish hierarchy within the home, they are simply wanting to be in a comfortable spot and probably near you! You don't need to put the fear of God into your dog in order for training to be effective. In fact, I wouldn't even call it training. If you're working with a dog trainer who only has one way of doing things with any dog in any situation, then that's a big red flag! 🙅‍♀️ it's important as dog trainers that we have an open mind and continue our education in order to support our clients in the most well informed way possible. Relying on theories and information

Being on a long line or flexi lead doesn't mean you can't still make the most of your outings. Whilst off lead freedom is awesome, being on lead doesn't have to be boring and lacking in fulfillment! There were a few dogs in the distance and Archie isn't always 100% around them so we decided to choose our spot and play some games, this is one of his favorites! He absolutely loves to launch himself at the speed of light to grab the tug 😂 I've stopped letting him latch onto it whilst I'm still holding it incase he whips round too hard and injures himself, so instead I tease it when him and then let him win by releasing it, giving him an outlet to express his energy in the presence of other dogs. You can utilize longer leads to play engaging games, practice recall at distance, encourage sniffing activities, scatter feeding and lots more! So don't feel bad if you're not currently at the point of having off lead freedom with your dog, there's plenty of ways to help fulfill their needs on the lead in the meantime 👌 . . . . . #dogtrainer #dogbehaviour #recall #longline #flexilead #offleash #dogadvice

Meeting the needs of your puppy/dog doesn't have to be complicated, there a lots of simple changes and activities you can add into your daily routine that provide mental stimulation 🧠 These changes/additions are essential for the wellbeing of your companion, providing purpose and opportunities for them to display more of their natural behaviours and as a result, reducing their stress. Sniffing will never not be stimulating, so try using their food to encourage searching and finding. Using toys out in the environment can help to build focus and engagement and is an awesome way to bond with your dog! (And I don't mean just playing fetch!) If you enjoyed this rap, I might have some more for you up my sleeve 😏 . . . . . #dogtrainer #dogbehaviour #mentalstimulation #dogadvice #puppytraining #rapping #mc #mcing #drumandbass #dnb

First of all, let me clarify what the difference between enthusiasm with toys and play is compared to what an unhealthy obsession is 🥎 Enthusiasm for toys and play is great! It's a great way to reward dogs and can be utilized in lots of training scenarios, play can also help to build confidence and drive. However, if you have toys around the home and your dog can't physically settle when they're around, then this is a problem. If your dog constantly whines for toys they can see but can't get to, is always dropping a ball at your feet or on your lap, barking at the ball, being frantic and impatient when toys are around but you're not engaging with them, constantly pushing toys onto guests to engage in play, never resting when toys are around, aren't sleeping much or at all during the day, then you've got an unhealthy obsession on your hands! This is super common with guardians that predominantly play fetch with their dogs, as soon as they go into the garden or as soon as they get them into an open space. People also make the mistake of giving in and kicking the toy towards them if their dog is persistent. Your dog knows you well, they know that whether they do it for 1 minute or 45 minutes, you will kick that toy! Quality rest and sleep is essential for their development, mental health and capacity to retain information (especially when training!)🧠 Here are two things you need to stop doing: 1. Giving constant access to toys around the home. Get them completely out of sight and only bring toys out when you're actively engaging with them 2. Playing fetch constantly. Break your walks into sections of play and then put the toys away so they can engage with the environment more. Implement more interactive games with toys that involve engagement from you. If you need some ideas of different games you can play with a ball, I posted a video recently about it, check it out! . . . . . #dogtrainer #dogbehaviour #fetch #gamesfordogs #dogtraining #dogadvice #dogti

It's all fun and games until the lab of the group smothers themselves in fox 💩 And yes, it got onto me (including my face) 👌 . . . . . #funnydogs #labradorretriever #blacklab #aussiesofinstagram #aussiesherperd #dogtrainer

Are you walking your reactive dog on a short lead? Providing a longer lead can have relieve some of the tension from an already tense situation. If your dog is fearful and nervous but they're also struggling to move anywhere in the environment without straining and dragging, then try using a longer lead to provide more freedom of movement. This freedom of movement will give them more opportunities to access the environment and give them something else to do rather than frantically scanning around for triggers. Do you have a story to share about changes in your dogs behaviour after swapping your short lead to a longer one? If so, I'd love to hear about them in the comments! 😊 . . . . . . #dogreactivity #reactivedog #reactivity #dogbehaviour #dogtraining #dogtrainer #anxiousdog #nervousdog

Have you tried using the environment to rewards your dogs behaviour? Here's a few things you can try as a reward for your dog successfully recalling: 1. Trees, bushes (scents they're approaching) if your dog is heading towards somewhere in particular to sniff, recall them back and release them to the scent 2. Their dog pals, if there's places that you go often to meet up with dogs that your dog is familiar with, recall them before they run over to them and then release them to go and greet/play them them (familiar dogs only!) 3. A favourite spot of theirs to head towards on a walk, like Mabels in the video, without fail she heads to this particular area of water, your dog may have a spot they always head to on their walk, recall them before they get there and then release them to the spot If your dog hasn't learnt a release cue yet, go with them to direct them to the area, joining them and encouraging them to go do the activity they wanted is a great way of bonding 🫶 it can also increase value of being around you if they build as association with you and their favourite activities . . . . . #dogtrainer #dogbehaviour #dogtraining #dogtrainingtips #dogtrainingadvice #puppyadvice #puppytips #recall #recalltips #premackprinciple

The result of two dogs that love to zig zag and follow scents 😅 . . . . . #dogwalker #cockapoo #dogsofinstagram #cockapoosofinstagram

This is why I love dog walking 😂🩵 I am a qualified trainer and love helping people understand their dogs better, but I also offer dog walking because I know how much of an impact a fun and mentally stimulating walk can have on your dogs overall behaviour. I see Doogie and Kraken 3 times a week and now that I've had the modifications done to the inside of my car, I can safely take them to new places to explore. This was one of them! It brings me so much joy watching the dogs I take out truly enjoying themselves 🥹 some dogs may prefer sniffy quiet walks, some like doing scentwork, some like tug and games, some like chasing and some, like these boys, love playing and rough housing! Whatever it is that your dog enjoys or prefers to do, I've got them covered 👌 mentally fulfilling your dogs breed specific needs, making sure they're safe and their boundaries are respected is really important to me 🫶 . . . . . #dogtrainer #dogwalker #dogtraining #dogbehaviour #dogwalking

... 👏 USE A LONGER LEAD 👏 Why does using a longer lead help? Because it gives your dog more opportunity to practice walking on a loose lead. People often use a shorter lead because they feel it will keep their dog closer and in the position they want them to be in, but often they're still pulling even if they're at your side! The more they pull through the tension, the more normal that tension will feel for the dog, especially when they're pulling to reinforcements out in the environment (smells, people, dogs etc) in a lot of cases, it's a learnt behaviour because they've never been taught how to walk on a loose lead properly. Your short lead, along with no guidance is reinforcing pulling every time you take them out on it. Using a 1.5-2 metre lead can give them more opprtunities to feel what being on a loose lead is like, this alongside rewarding the position you want them to be in, turning with you, accessing more things when the lead is slack, teaching them that lead pressure (not corrections!) is a cue to respond to your movements, could be an absolute game changer for their lead walking skills! . . . . . #dogbehaviour #leadwalking #looseleadwalking #dogadvice #dogtips #dogtrainingtips #dogtrainer

Group walks should be a fun and pleasant experience for your dog. However, it's important to constantly observe their behaviour and body language to make sure everyone is enjoying themselves. More often than not, there will be differing dynamics within the group, for example, high energy rough playing dogs with more reserved and perhaps less confident dogs. So it's important to advocate for their space and be able to indicate when a break is needed to ensure behaviours don't escalate and to communicate to the dogs that they're in a safe space with you! Mabel the black lab for example, often retreats to me when play becomes too intense as she's learnt that I will make sure space is created when she's with me. I love that she trusts me in that way 🫶 As a dog trainer and walker, making sure your dogs are safe, fulfilled and limiting their ability to practice undesirable behaviour is a priority to me! I want to make sure they have a positive experience so that they can go home and relax 😴 P.s group walks aren't suitable or enjoyable for all dogs, so your walker should be communicating this to you if they genuinely prioritize the welfare of your dog 🐶 . . . . . . #dogwalker #dogtraining #dogwalking #groupwalks #dogbehaviour

Is your puppy getting enough sleep? Sleep is important for helping your dog's development, physically and mentally. Puppies grow quickly! Having enough sleep helps to give their muscles, central nervous system, immune system and brain time to develop and recover. It helps them to retain information which is important for learning, something they'll be doing a lot of in those early stages of life. Here's some tips to encourage more rest for your puppy: 1. Chewing, licking and sniffing are naturally calming behaviours. Providing activities, chews and enrichment that encourage these behaviours can help reduce arousal levels and promote better rest. 2. Providing breed specific outlets, such as digging, chasing, retrieving and play, helps to fulfill your puppies needs. Mental stimulation is such an important factor for tiring your puppy. Remember, whilst physical exercise can be great, it shouldn't be solely relied upon for stimulating your puppy. 3. Utilizing a crate or playpen, where they can be temporarily separated can be a great tool for encouraging rest. This helps to keep them away from distracting situations to give them the opportunity to settle down. Using long lasting chews when they're isolated can help them to settle when they're separated from you. A good quality chew, lasting them around 5-15 minutes (or longer!) encourages use of the back teeth, chewing releases endorphins which can relieve stress and anxiety. Follow for more tips and advice! . . . . . #dogtrainer #dogtraining #dogbehavior #dogtrainingtip #dogadvice #dogsofinstagram #dogtrainingadvice

Here's an example of how a strong reinforcement history results in your dog continuing to offer those behaviours, even without prompt! Behaviours can become extinct if we stop rewarding them all of a sudden for long periods of time, so it's helpful to give them a little reminder to let them know they're doing something that we like 🫶 . . . . . #dogtraining #dogtrainer #dogtrainingadvice #dogbehavior #dogtips #dogadvice #labrador

People often label their dogs as 'tolerant' "Oh my dog is so tolerant, bless her, the kids tug at her ears and tail and climb all over her and she just takes it, they go into her crate, she's never gone for them, she's so good" I have literally heard these words and similar from various people. Please let me clear this up, just because a dog doesn't bite, does not mean they never will! The most important thing you can do for your dog is learn how to read their body language, learn when they're giving off subtle signals that they're uncomfortable and need space. I'm not talking about just children, it could be guests, strangers, other dogs, physical touch, any interaction your dog is having... Unfortunately when a dogs subtle stress signals are ignored time and time again, this can cause them to escalate their behavior in order to get the response they're seeking. Now your dog has learnt the most effective way to create space from someone is to snap/bite, great! Just because your dog 'tolerates' something, does not mean you should allow it or force it to happen. Advocate for your dog and their desire to have space when they're seeking it. In a world where we control everything in their daily lives, they deserve to have the choice to opt in or out of interactions. Taking some time to learn about their body language will help you to advocate for them and help to build a more trusting relationship 🫶 . . . . . #dogadvice #dogtrainingadvice #dogtrainer #dogtraining #labrador

What happens during your dogs outings whilst out with your dog walker has a huge influence on their behavior, so it's important to pick the right match for your pooch! Here are some dog walker green flags you should be looking for: 🐕 They have a good understanding of dog body language, this is important for ensuring that they understand when things are too intense for your dog and to avoid putting them in situations that may impact your dogs behavior. Understanding dog body language means they can also advocate for your dog and remove them from situations that they aren't enjoying. 🐕 Giving honest feedback about interactions they have during their outings, this feedback is useful for if you notice any behavior changes in your dog at home. 🐕 Placing them in suitable groups (if group walking) that match your dogs energy and personality. For example, if you have a dog that is more reserved, having them in a group with an intense dog who doesn't read social cues well and has a tendency to harass other dogs, will likely have a negative impact on your dogs behavior and can create negative associations with being around other dogs. 🐕 Having an understanding of breed specific needs, so that they can implement mentally stimulating activities into the outing, making it more enjoyable and fulfilling for your dog. (Not a necessity really, but definitely is a huge bonus!) . . . . . #dogwalker #dogwalking #dogtrainer #dogadvice

Having a strong bond, built on relationship and trust should be at the top of your priority list when it comes to helping your doggy companion navigate through our human world! 1. Sniffing is a biological need, your dog isn't trying to annoy you or control the walk just because they're stopping every few seconds to sniff something, their scent is like our eyesight, they use their scent to pick up lots of information! Constantly dragging them away from a sniff can cause frustration and makes the walk far less stimulating and enjoyable. 2. Punishing them when they do something undesirable and never teaching them what it is you'd prefer from them is completely unfair to the dog, leaving them confused and setting them up for failure. How are they supposed to fully understand what you'd like instead if they're never shown an alternative and more rewarding behavior? 3. Dogs are not robots, very rarely will they ever just learn to be okay with a situation they're clearly uncomfortable with, it's up to us to guide them and work at their pace so that they can trust that we'll step in when things become too much. Often forcing them into these situations leads to behavior escalating and issues becoming deeper routed than before. 4. Dogs are social animals, so social interaction/ affection with their humans is often a need. They do not need to earn your affection, and withholding affection as an intended punisher isn't going to clearly communicate to your dog when they've done something wrong. If you live with a dog with particularly difficult behavior, I understand the desire to want space from them when a situation has become too much, that's different to purposely withholding affection as punishment. Take a breather and some space away from them if you need to, give yourself some time to reset! 5. Some dogs are tolerant, until they're not. Just because your dog doesn't snap at the kids when they're tugging at their ears, tail and climbing all over them, doesn't mean y

Kraken's become quite the local celebrity, famous dad problems 💅 . . . . . #crufts2024 #crufts #vikingaussie #australianshepherd #aussieshepherd #aussiesofinstagram #dogsofinstagram #famousdog