Sentient Dogs Training & Behaviour

15/12/2024

I had the pleasure of working with this beauty, Bailey, in what is a complex case involving a Clinical behaviourist, Vet and Physiotherapy.
My role as the trainer was to help Bailey overcome her concern when out walking where she will put the breaks on if she feels overwhelmed (pain already ruled out). We put together a simple plan based on her natural motivations to create anticipation for good things happening👌 Anticipation is powerful and I use it a lot in my training techniques.
Bailey is a super sweet girl and deeply loved by her family. I have no doubt she will make great progress very quickly👌 I had the best kisses and cuddles ever!🥰 It was a pleasure to be part of you journey Bailey🐾🥰

10/12/2024

Frosty fun with our adventure pups 🥶☀️😃🐾

02/12/2024

Memory lane pic when 'baby Morse' was learning engagement skills in a highly distracting environment with the big boys n girls ❤🐾 Sadly Radar has since passed to the rainbow Bridge but is always with us in spirit 🌈🐾 Max, Thor, Asha, Morse and Radar 🐾

28/11/2024

Frosty fun with our adventure pups. 🥶☀️🐾😀

27/11/2024

Meet puppy Atlas ❤️🐾 I had a consultation to help this cutie pie settle in to his new home with his big sister MJ (who doesn’t think he’s as cute as we do just yet lol 🙈🤣)
We put some positive strategies in place and I had a lovely update (in comments) as they are starting to become friends ❤️
Just look at that lil face, oh my beating heart ❤️🐾❤️

22/11/2024

A dusting of snow overnight = fun n games for the adventure pups ⛄️⛄️⛄️🐾 Happy Friday friends ⛄️🐾⛄️

22/11/2024

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21/11/2024

Dogs on logs 🐾🥰 Morse Thor and Asha 🐾🐾🐾

15/11/2024

🥳🥳 A very happy 7️⃣ birthday to the babe that is Bella Boo! 🥳🥳 feels like only yesterday she was a tiny pup running about the forest 😱 Have a great day beautiful from all your adventure pals hope you have a great day 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳❤️🐾

14/11/2024

Life without dogs? I don’t think so 🐾❤️ Cooper Asha Bella Max Thor and Morse 🐾❤️

12/11/2024

Fun in the Autumn sun 🍁☀️🐾😀

10/11/2024

Lest we forget 💜♥️

08/11/2024

Really sad to hear the news that Jake the cuddle monster is now at the rainbow bridge 🌈😢 I worked with Jake on severe human aggression many years ago and at session 2 we made the breakthrough that changed everything 🥰 Jake and I were the best of friends and all he wanted to do was cuddle and share his big heart ❤️ he will always hold a very special place in my heart ❤️ Run free Jake your were the softest cuddle monster who will be hugely missed 🌈🐾

03/11/2024

🥇 Congratulations Team Ruben! 🥇
Well done team Ruben for successfully completing your bespoke training package - especially in the drizzly weather!
Lots of positive learning for both ends of the leash and lots of progress and improvements 👌 I'm very proud of you both and all that you have achieved. A very well deserved certificate and rosette ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

01/11/2024

When good dogs bite – let’s talk about human-directed resource guarding.

➡️There are 3 main ways a dog manifests resource guarding:
• Retreat/turn away (creating distance to block the human from accessing the item in their possession);
• Rapid Ingestion (gulping down and swallowing items quickly when humans approach) and;
• Directed Aggression (hard stare, stiff body, growls, snaps and bites).

➡️Human-directed aggression can be a death sentence for a dog with many being relinquished to specialist rescue or ultimately euthanised. Living with the risk of a bite from your otherwise loving dog is hugely stressful and often comes as a shock when it first occurs.

➡️Unfortunately it is common for owners to default to a ‘I need to show him who’s boss’ attitude believing this will resolve the issue. Research suggests that using punishment and dominance-style methods actually increase aggressive resource guarding behaviour thus further increasing the risk of a bite.

➡️Thankfully behavioural science has provided a better way to resolve this issue in the long-term. Therefore it is crucial to work with a professional who has the knowledge and skill to turn things around without resorting to dominance-style methods which are ineffective and dangerous. Yes you may win the battle but you won’t win the war, and who wants to live their lives fighting battles? It’s both unethical and comes with huge risk. The dog usually will pay the ultimate price.

✅Thankfully my client did not resort to ‘dominance’ methods and now has some effective non-confrontational protocols in place (including vet health checks), to turn things around 👌

⚠️Human-directed resource guarding is serious and comes with a high risk of injury so please seek the help of a professional. Your vet will be able to provide a referral.

📌Sources:
📖Factors associated with canine resource guarding behaviour in the presence of people: A cross-sectional survey of dog owners Jacquelyn A. Jacobs et al (2018)
📖Human directed aggression in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris): Occurrence in different contexts and risk factors Rachel A, Casey et al (2014)

31/10/2024

Happy Halloween 🎃🐾 Morse and Max do the Monster Mash 🎶🐾😀🎃🎃🎃🎃

37 likes, 20 comments. “The monster mash 🎃🎶 A Morse Mash and Max Mash edition 🐾🎶🤣 happy Halloween 🎃”

25/10/2024

Happy Friday friends 🐾😀

23/10/2024

Stunners 🐾❤️ Morse Asha Bella Max and Thor 🐾