The German shepherds are still in their winter coat, and are hating this warm spring weather currently.
It'll take them a couple of weeks to transition their coat to their summer coat. And they'll feel a lot more comfortable once that has happened.
Meanwhile, Loki the lurcher is doing his best impersonation of a baked potato - he is LOVING the warmth.
#lurcher #gsd #shedding #springshed #dogbehaviour #dogtraining
Sometimes owners think that I'm going to tell them off about things, or will judge them, or will hold them to impossible standards, and am just looking for places to add more rules to their life.
Not the case at all.
Here are 9 truths and one false statement about my real day-to -day life with my own dogs (one of whom used to be incredibly human and dog aggressive).
Can you work out which one is false?
#dogtraining #honesthounds #dogbehaviourist #dogaggression #dogtrainingperth
Look at the difference in Pepper in these two clips - the main thing being which direction her weight is shifted.
In the first clip, she is trying to leave. In the second clip she is choosing to put her own head into the harness.
This change happened in only 3 sessions of a few minutes each - it is so, SO easy to help your dog feel more optimistic about the equipment you choose to put on them.
If your dog runs away or hides from their lead/collar/harness/coat, you can help them out of that pessimistic mindset, and help them trust you more.
The single worst thing you can do with your dog is trick them, nothing breaks their trust faster.
If you want conflict-free starts to your walks book a free discovery call today. Whether your dog is "only" hiding or of they are biting, they are telling you there is a problem, and it is a really easy one to solve.
#honesthounds #harness #counterconditioning #positivereinforcement #optimisticdog #norfolkterrier
Using obedience to manage your way through situations with your dog can absolutely be a part of behaviour modification, but it is surface level, entry level. A temporary tool to help you MANAGE your dog through situations. If you want to truly trust your dog outside those managed situations you have to work on your relationship too.
To change your relationship with your dog you have to... change your relationship with your dog!
The #partnershipproject is the best start point to start getting organic engagement from your dog 🐕❤️
Social learning and demo dogs.
There is no greater teacher for dogs than other stable dogs!
This clip is from earlier this year during the run of collies I had to stay (this is handsome Max, who does not enjoy nail clipping).
I am using reverse psychology with Max. Nail clipping isn't something he has to endure, it is an OPPORTUNITY to earn the good stuff. Using another dog who loves this game helps Max change his feelings faster than if I didn't have him around. Minsc the shepherd LOVES having his nails clipped, because I've built this as a fun thing for him.
So, with Minsc (GSD) and Max (collie) both out. I was offering Max a turn, he was saying no, and I listened to that no. Called the bluff, sent him away, and offered the turn to Minsc the GSD. Minsc said HELL YES, came in, got a clip, got his snacks, and then was impatiently waiting for his next turn. This social interaction helps Max see that maybe, just maybe, if other dogs are actually seeing the clip as a fun resource and opportunity, maybe the clippers aren't actually going to chop his feet off after all 🐕🤔💭
#dogbehaviour #cooperativecare #sociallearning
You shouldn't just let your big dog "sort things out for themselves" just because they are large.
If you have a smaller dog, your main concern in many potential interaction may be your own dog's safety. And that is fair and sensible!
If you have a larger dog more capable of doing damage, you have even more of a social responsibility to work so that they do not harm another dog (or person.
It is the little things that matter.
The German and Belgian shepherds in this clip are all stable, and not a danger to the little terrier, but that is because all of the handlers advocate for their dogs, and the shepherds all know that it's not their job to "deal with" the incoming shouty dog. It is the humans job.
When crate training had been done right. Dogs love them!
I left Pepper's travel crates roof hatch open, and she was very clear about where she wanted to nap!
Crates really aren't a prison, they are a safe, calm, relaxing, private space for dogs.
#honesthounds #cratetraining
We see far more owners of large dogs seeking help for behavioural issues, because their issues are harder to ignore.
However, your small dog needs help too, if nothing else, then for their safety!
If one day your little dog does their usual barky lumgy bitey display to a dog who responds with aggression, that can really be dangerous.
To find out more about helping your small dog reduce their stress, check out the Education Zone on Honest Hounds (code HHJESSICA gets you a month for £1)
#honesthoundscommunity
None of the Homest Hounds Afiliates will simply tell you to avoid your dogs issues. We work on them.
Initially I get dogs moving, walking, being a dog, eating, sniffing, and getting the pressure of any chronic stress off them. Later on, we do some more traditional "training setups" to work on specific issues (resource guarding from humans and dogs in the above, see the bone in the border collie's crate). The more progress the dog makes,the nearer and nearer to real life situations we get.
A week ago Spot was growling when even just I approached his crate offering food (even without my dogs present). In this clip from a few days ago I was working on him feeling optimistic even when other dogs are around. He's starting to see other dogs and hands approaching as an opportunity to gain more food (roast chicken in the tub) rather than a threat that might take his food away.
#bordercollie #resourceguarding #foodresourceguarding ##honesthounds
Type A dogs, who love work, and will invent jobs if you don't give them a job.
I don't find this job (rock relocation) annoying or dysfunctional, so I let them carry on.
The issue is that clever dogs will find so many different jobs to do and get addicted to, and most of these jobs will be dangerous to them (car chasing), dangerous to others (guarding, chasing skateboards or cyclists), or just very socially unacceptable (e.g. stalking/herding other dogs, children, etc).
#honesthounds #dogtraining #dogbehaviour #herdingdog #germanshepherd #bordercollie
It is possible to have a guarding breed who has guarding tendencies but who trusts you to make the judgement calls on whether something needs to be barked at /growled at/lunged at/bitten.
If your guarding breed is adding to your stress around strangers, step 1 is to check out the FREE partnership project on Honest Hounds, and step 2 for customised advice is to book a zoom (or a free 15 min discovery call).
Yes, you can have a dog who has protective tendencies but who can function in the world.
#gsdstagram #gsd #honesthounds #partnershipproject
You can manage and train at the same time!
Full post over in Honest Hounds in the Education tier, which you can get for £1 with code HHJESSICA.
#management #dogtraining #cockerspanielsofinstagram #gwpsofinstagram
