Dog Only Knows - Behaviour & Training

23/01/2025

⚠️❗️🛑 ✋❗️✋ 🛑 ❗️⚠️

Before a dog bites, there are plenty of potential warning signs telling you to STOP.

Don’t ignore them.



Edit: these are just examples of how things can escalate, each dog is individual.

It’s also important to note these escalations can happen very quickly. Especially if warning signs have been previously missed and the dog has had to escalate their behaviour, for example when a growl hasn’t worked previously so the dog skips the growl and goes straight for the biting.

21/01/2025

Love this! There are so many ways to reward our dogs, many of which are freely available in the environment. Just watch your dog to discover what they would consider a reward.

A common misconception is that rewards only mean treats ❌ 🧀

Food is usually an easy motivator because all dogs eat 😂 therefore theoretically all dogs should be motivated by food (but we know stress, type of food, hunger etc. etc. can influence food motivation).

Food rewards are also convenient because they allow for fast and easy positive reinforcement, for instance, I could give 10 food rewards faster than one game of tug.

However, the most effective reward is what your dog enjoys the most. And that is unique to the dog in front of you.

18/01/2025

There is often a discussion of certain training practices providing "safety" for dogs. Particularly in the use of shock collars, that shock collars provide 'safety' for a dog being off a leashed line. The truth of the matter is that these things fail, often in spectacular, dangerous fashions. But the key that is missed in these discussions is that physical safety is not the only priority in dealing with our dogs. Emotional/Mental safety are JUST as important. Some might argue in many ways they are even more of a priority.

The feeling of being safe, emotionally, reduces reactivity, aggression, distraction, and things like bolting/disappearing/escape. It is not enough that our dogs are just physically safe, we need to ensure they FEEL safe as well. For me my top priority is always; everyone is safe. First and foremost. But in that umbrella I consider the emotional well being of the animals and their human counterparts as just as significant as the physical safety of their dogs. Because when we feel safe, confidence, exploration, bonding, and strong relationships follow.

It is not possible for a living being to feel safe in an environment where physical harm for 'wrong' action is ever-present. That is not how punishment avoidance works. (The brain cannot seek to avoid punishment AND seek reinforcement, it can only do one at a time.) As part of my commitment to Safety First I actively avoid punishment techniques, force and coercion in teaching, because it allows my learners to always feel safe with me.

Safety First: Physical. Emotional/Mental. For everyone involved.

17/01/2025

The Dogenius Institute exclusively teaches positive reinforcement methods because these techniques are supported by modern behavioural science and are considered the most effective, ethical, and humane way to train animals. We prioritise these principles to ensure training is effective, ethical, and enjoyable for both animals and their guardians. This approach reflects the latest advancements in behavioural science and animal welfare, making us a leader in modern animal education.

17/01/2025

Looking back at the history of our dogs, many breeds were deliberately devloped by humans to carry out specific jobs. This was done by selecting the dogs who had the right traits and were the best at those jobs to breed together.

Due to this, over time, the result was breeds of dogs who all tend to have these particular traits. In the times when dogs were needed to carry out these jobs this was ideal, and they would spend their working day doing the very things they had been bred to do.

Fast forward a few hundred years and, while there are still working dogs today, the proportion of dogs working at the role for which their breed was developed is much lower. A great many of these dogs from working breeds are now in companion roles. (In my case, I started out working sheepdogs on the farm and, although we are no longer on the farm, the Border Collies remain).

The fact of no longer performing their roles does not mean that those traits have gone away. A terrier is still likely to dig. A scent hound will follow their nose. Retrievers want to carry things around in their mouths. A herding dog will often find something to herd - possibly the kids in the home.

When we look to find a dog to join our family, it is vital that we think about their history and whether our home can honestly provide the things they need. If not, a different breed or type of dog would be a better choice for all concerned. If we think we can, then it's time to think about exactly how we are going to meet those needs.

When we bring these dogs with history in specific roles into our homes it's so important to think about the breed and what they might need. Find ways for them to carry out these behaviours that for many generations they have been bred to carry out.

Give your terrier a digging spot - either a patch of garden where they are allowed to dig, or a sand pit.

Find out about scentwork for your scenthound - mantrailing is a popular pastime where dogs learn to follow scent trails and find people.

Let your retrievers have something to carry to greet visitors or returning family at the door, and maybe look at finding some activities involving retrieving for them to do. Avoid lots of repetitive ball throwing for fetch as this can cause issues with joints. Instead look at maybe getting some of the gundog training dummies and doing a few gentle tosses with those or asking your dog to wait while you throw. You can also hide the dummies and send your dog to find them.

Herding games can be fantastic for herding dogs. Look at Kay Laurence's Sheepballs, or Treibball, both of which involve balls to let those herding moves and instincts be used (links to both in the comments). Think about finding games that involve them following and controlling movement such as a flirt pole - a stick with some cord attached and a lure or toy attached. These can be bought from a store or made at home.

For every type of dog there are activities and games that are breed-appropriate and will let them do those things humans have bred them to do. Take some time to find out about the history of the breed (or breeds) of your dog and find these activities that are designed for them and their traits - you will both be happier for it!

17/01/2025

A super post about positive training, well worth a read. Thanks to Cosford Dog Training.

02/01/2025

Super video!

Dog body language can be complicated. Canine signals can be tricky, as we look at dog cues and the signals they give each other. Dog interactions together ca...

24/12/2024

Wishing all our friends, family and lovely clients a very Merry Christmas, with love and best wishes, June, Andrew and Robbie (and our foster pup Dasher). xx 🐾🎄🐾

23/12/2024

Amazing infographic. This is why I've been teaching you guys the settle at Class and this great illustration shows in simple terms what I was explaining to you all.
Credit to Absolute Dogs

23/12/2024

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS ….

Not just for Christmas, but every day of a dog’s life – these are some of the things I believe dogs would want -

Gifts of love, kindness, compassion, understanding and knowledge.

Gifts of helping them feel safe, secure and protected in their environment

Gifts of unconditional love, second chances and a forever home

Gifts of allowing appropriate choices

Gifts of mental and physical stimulation.

Gifts of proper nutrition and health care.

Gifts of never using punishment, force, fear, intimidation or tools that cause pain.

Gifts of acceptance for the dog that they are.

Wishing you and dog’s everywhere a very Happy Christmas filled with the gifts that really matter!

16/12/2024

fans
I would like to extend you a special invitation -
The Tellington TTouch method is an incredible way to work with dogs and other animals, to build trust, calmness and to enhance the relationship with your animal. The method is easy to learn and to implement with your dog to achieve incredible results. Our work includes observations, hands-on body touches and leading methods that can really help dogs who pull on the lead.

I am ALEX WILSON a senior Tellington TTouch practitioner and I would like to invite you to join me to learn this incredible work on a 2-day live stream workshop in February. Click the link to learn more and find out how you can register for a discounted ticket when the box office opens. https://xdog.me/ttouch-intensive - Hope to see you there.

10/12/2024

Maybe they are meant for us, the journey we are on. They help us grow patience, compassion, empathy. They make us look at ourselves more deeply.

Or maybe they are showing us a path we are destined to go down.
When we look this way at situations that challenge us it can sometimes help us make more sense of them.

09/12/2024

Behaviour is only labelled good or bad because it’s what we have perceived it to be. To our dogs, behaviour is is explored or repeated simply because it is reinforcing in some way.
When we start to think of behaviour just as meeting a need. We can start to change our response to it and work on our own reactions.
And of course tell Santa all dogs are on the good list.

07/12/2024

This really needs investigating and a veterinary check up is needed...and yes I am going to get stuck into all the "remedies" people offer on social media.....many will not help and will only prolong the issue and suffering.
Is it behavioural? Anxiety? Situational stress? Separation issues?
Is it fungal?
Is it bacterial?
Is it allergies? Environmental ? Seasonal ? A contact allergy? A food allergy or a drug interaction?
Is it skeletal? Muscular?
What worked for your dog does not mean your remedy will work for a dog whose photo you have seen on social media.
It can prolong that dogs pain and discomfort.
I know you are well meaning, but as you can see the causes are very varied.
Dog training posters available abcdogsnz.com