All Ears Dog Training

09/12/2023

Training ethically is about being reliable as a teacher.

26/10/2023

‼️🩻 The reason trainers and behaviourist ask for your dog to be checked over by a vet before engaging their services….

Dogs cannot speak to tell you what is actually wrong, humans can but even with that this story serves as a good example of why seeing a vet before engaging any other complimentary therapy or training is insisted upon….

For a long time I have had a ‘dodgy’ ankle after I rolled it years ago. As years passed by it became more painful and I struggled to pull my toe toward my shin.
So I tried to find help to fix it. I was told by a chiropractor I needed to stretch it, I was told by a experienced weightlifter I just needed to get some big weights on the leg press and really forcibly stretch it - they even offered to set it up for me. I then sought acupuncture and massage and was told again it was tight and needed more stretching.
No one at any point asked had I had it recently x-rayed or seen by a medical specialist before merrily setting to work on it, for multiple sometimes expensive sessions, with no improvement.
Fortunately 3 years ago I had the good luck of meeting someone who asked all these questions and I ended up seeing an ankle specialist.
I had significant traumatic arthritis with bony spurs impinging on surround tissue causing massively limited movement and pain.
So no amount of complimentary treatment was going to help this.

Unlike your dog I could explain what was ‘wrong’ but even then many people happily cracked already damaged bones, attempted to push acupuncture needles through what later would be realised as bone, and even possible load so much weight on my ankle who knows what could have happened had I said yes, without once looking at the whole situation.

Please understand when a canine professional asks for a vet referral they are demonstrating a high level of due diligence to your dogs holistic well being and to you to give you the very best opportunity to get the outcome you are looking to for.

15/06/2023

Owning small dogs myself, this is something I notice very often from others… “little dog syndrome”

It is more like; “you’re not honouring my needs when I ask”

17/05/2023

Beautifully put Layne Arlina

DEBUNKING SILLY CLAIMS

Does your dog pull on the lead?

What if I told you this isn't just about training 🤔

What if I told you that you can have an impeccably trained dog in the home and yet they still drag you on lead 🧐

It appears some believe this is impossible.

Let me share a personal story.

Chester, my rascal of a bull breed who has now sadly left this world was a budding trick dog. Impeccably behaved indoors, would never steal, settled nicely, and outdoors had excellent recall, drop, wait, leave it, etc overcome resource guarding, separation anxiety, dog-dog aggression and if it wasn't for the severe pain he endured daily he would have enjoyed an abundance of close bonds with people because despite his reactivity towards unfamiliar people he absolutely adored the ones he had learnt to trust (ignored the pain around them).

Chester was a complex case but his behaviours are not uncommon. He did his breed proud, did rescue dogs proud, did me as a trainer proud, he glowed with pride. He loved to be the best trained dog in the room, he really got off on it.

And yet on the lead he pulled like a fu***ng train.

Yep. It looked like I'd never taught loose lead, didn't have a responsive dog, that I had no bond with my dog, he looked like an absolute nightmare. And let me tell you he was strong!

To have walks where I wasn't being dragged I had to put Chester in 'work mode' which meant I started before we left the house by priming his mind with a quick training session.

When he wanted to go play or when I simply couldn't have my full focus on him, when we found ourself on a busy trail, and especially when his pain meds werent enough, Chester would scream and pull. Embarrassing and frustrating - he knew exactly what to do.

Training is essential.
If your dog doesn't know what you want from them, if they don't learn that the lead should be loose enough that they can sense when you're changing speed or direction without you talking to them or pull them, we can never expect them to walk beside us. We need to teach that.

However, educated dog trainers and guardians know that the dogs emotions also need priming to get a relaxed lead walk! And the key is to gradually, systematically build up a dogs resilience to excitement/stress so they can use the skills they've learnt within different environnements.

Think about it - How many of you have learnt to do a task with precision yet make a mess of it when you're dealing with big emotions? All of us.

That is how emotions work, they flood the body with chemicals which alter the way our body behaves. We are under the control of the nervous system and the key to overcoming any big emotion is to work in union with this survival mechanism, applying techniques to lower your arousal (stress) levels, setting yourself up for success by giving yourself a break and planning for another time/day. And definitely calling on support to navigate challenging times.

So that's what we can do for our canine companions. We can be their anchor when they are a little ship on a whirling sea of emotions. We can prime their emotions before walks with calming activités involving sniffing, raising dopamine and oxytocin, strengthening our connection and communication.

We can choose a time, day, environment that will be easier to practise skills. The brain doesn't learn properly when stressed, it needs to be out of survival mode. Rest and digest (food and information). Fun has been scientifically proven to enhance learning, so using methods void of punishment, stress, and making demands they simply cannot achieve in that moment is the way through.

Don't learn to swim in the middle of the ocean, why put yourself at such a risk of failure! Use training aids, don't train for too long else the brain and body tires out, keep the fun high, choose a quiet spot. Practise makes perfect.

But like I said, yes training is essential but it is not the full picture for why your dog still pulls on the lead. Sometimes they just simply cannot cope with the activity in the environment, their association with the lead/environment, their internal goings on while trying to remember what's expected of them.

Arousal causes pulling.

To become good at managing arousal levels you need to help them learn how, and most of the training has nothing to do with being on lead. Look into stimulus control and desensitation, diet, warm up and warm down techniques (neurochemical management such as sniffing games), tug and drop to refine impulsive action and communication, non-lead heel work, etc lots of ways to tackle lead pulling.

There is also a natural behaviour called Opposition Reflex that causes pulling. In response to pressure on the lead a dog can lean away from what is applying pressure as a safety mechanism, meaning they push further into the lead and away from the direction they are being pulled. This explains why dogs lean side ways into the lead as they walk, more so when pulled out of the road and on to the pavement. I see this a lot in spaniels. It's an unconscious safety thing so this is where reinforcing a recall and walking close by through rewarding training techniques are key!

Lead pulling is not a reflection of bad dog guardians or the dogs behaviour in the home. Don't let anyone make you feel bad for needing support 👍

29/04/2023

‘Find it’ is still my number one game.

"Find it!"

This is such a useful game to help your dog disconnect with triggers in the environment.

Just today my own reactive girl started a hard-stare with another hard-staring terrier. I didn’t have her on lead as I usually never see anyone in this spot but there is always a first time! 🙈

To recall her away was a possibility, but I know in this scenario Maggie could not do that. She is desperately worried that she will be chased so to recall away from the dog and towards me is a no-no for her as it invites exactly what she wants to avoid. However, the longer a dog stares without offering any other body language the more it becomes an invite to kick off!

So what body language would be better?
A relaxed, sniffing, head down, turning away position is far better at neutralising such a stand off without inviting chase or flying at each other.

So I called out “Find it!” in my cheeriest voice and like a lightbulb going off she immediately started sniffing the ground. The other dog, without the antagonistic mirrored stare, coupled with the recall of their owner, made the decision that Maggie was no longer of any interest and trotted off.

This was only possible though because of the hundreds, no, thousands of times we had practised “find it!”.

This can be started in a snuffle mat or snuffle box, scattering food in the grass in the garden and especially on a walk.
It can also be used in the desensitisation to triggers process and even done without food, just mooching in the grass and looking for interesting mounds of grass or piles of leaves making you a valuable member of the walk. Just pairing the phrase “find it!” as you scatter food or poke about in a pile of leaves.

“Find it” for your reactive dog
1. Helps use their nose which is incredibly calming in itself
2. Helps with desensitisation around triggers.
3. Helps teach your dog how to offer a different body language that is less confrontational.

It is incredibly rewarding for your dog and will become a favourite activity with a reliable response of nose to the floor if done regularly.

06/04/2023

⚠️🐶🧡👍

Tune in tonight all!!! The Dog Academy, 8pm Channel 4!! Another fantastic episode!!!

06/04/2023

⚠️ TIRED TEENAGERS ⚠️

Dogs need sleep. Whatever their age.
Good, restful, safe sleep.

They also need exercise for body and mind.

When they are puppies we are more mindful - or should be - of them needing a nap when they start to get a bit bitey or ‘wired’. But we forget as they outgrow their puppy looks that teenage dogs also need good sleep.

My 9month old here has gone from gentle play earlier in the walk to a full on assault of teenage mania on my older girl - please note this in itself is absolutely not aggressive behaviour but sheer exhaustion which is showing itself as a manic bitey play and he is not heeding her shouts of ‘enough!’.

In this situation shouting or scolding won’t help (and never does in any situation so just don’t, please and thank you). I called them in a monotone voice that if the play is bouncy and carefree gets them both to bounce right back to me….in this instance it does nothing - too hyped. Here once I put my phone away I quickly separated them and popped teenage hooligan on his lead and happily skipped away to encourage him to disengage, then we headed straight home for a sleep.

What he did do as soon as we arrived home was zoomie and play-attack again - THIS IS NOT BECAUSE HE NEEDS MORE EXERCISE - he was overtired and running on fumes. If your pup zoomies when they get home they 99% of the time need to go for a nap.

Please do not think your dog/teenager/pup needs more exercise when they behave like this, they need sleep and enforcing it if you haven’t before is helpful to you and your dog.

Having a pen or baby gated area with a comfy bed, a egg box or similar to shred and a long lasting bone/chew to settle with is what they need. It’s not always what they think they want however, and if you have never given your dog a nap time they will likely protest loud and long. Make yourself available at the baby gate but ignore them (Facebook scrolling time is perfect now) and let them wind down.

We still have our pups playpen set up that he goes in at these times. He now actively puts himself to bed when he is not out of his mind tired like in this video.

Sleep will mean your dog will wake up as the angel you know and love.

02/04/2023

Dog TV shows are not created equal.

There are too many that promote the personality of the ‘trainer’ and not focusing of the dog and the training.

This show is excellent and the only one I would recommend watching on TV at the moment.

The great write up from Jane Ardern at WaggaWuffins Canine College says it better than I could.

I've always remembered as a child
'If you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all' ~Thumper

That's why I don't often comment on TV Dog Training 🙄

So last night I watched The Dog Academy on C4 and it was just everything I'd wish for on TV and how to present it to the general public.

I love, love loved it. 🥰

What did I like about it?

1) I loved how the trainers did questioning to the clients, asked them how they felt, along with some straight talking. It demonstrated the trainer's were not working as directive coaches, which is common in dog training and had a more non directive approach which is better for human learning. Victoria has grown so much as a trainer compared to her first TV appearances ❤️ I'm a massive Kamal fan anyway and Sean and Adam were just lovely and loved the training they did with the dogs. Can't wait to see Nancy and Jo do their thing next week 🙄

2) I loved how they looked at the whole situation and how it was influencing the problem. Relationship, wellbeing, needs. Seeing how shouting at the dog all the time affects the relationship. Understanding the underlying reason why the dog was behaving like it was and supporting it.

3) I loved the Freework, Scentwork, Positive reinforcement training and Desensitisation.

4) All the trainer's were fabulous, I loved how each team had the lovely one and the straight talking one.

5) I loved that things did quite go swimmingly at the start, that's how dog training happens.

And finally the stooge dog that was used was just perfect to support the Chi's needs. It's play behaviour was really lovely to watch. It takes a very special kind of dog to be a stooge, this was definitely one of those very special dogs.

Can't wait till next week 🐾🐾

We really need to encourage more TV like this as the public will often try stuff they see on the TV, so watch it and talk about it as when it comes to TV it's all about the ratings.

Massive well done to the trainer's and the production company for making some brilliant dog training TV that's going to help both dog owners and dogs too 🐾 ❤️❤️

Jane Ardern BSc (Hons) Dip Cabt
Author of Mission Control
Kennel Club Dog Trainer of the Year 2015
ICAN Accredited Behaviour

https://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-dog-academy

23/01/2023

Length of a walk or distance covered is less important to your dog.

What matters most is the quality of their experience.

This includes
🔸Great sniffs
🔸Different feeling underfoot
🔸Digging and scrambling opportunities
🔸Clambering and climbing opportunities
🔸Exploring with you, and opportunity to explore safely without you.

🔶 and YOU. Unadulterated attention and matched excitement and interest from you is what your dog find the most wonderful.

Dogs young and old will find these interesting walks satisfying and enriching and leave them content and able to truly rest.

14/12/2022

Space = safety.

We can all feel a little overwhelmed at Christmas, your dog is no different.

Great advice here

27/11/2022

Once learned, forever committed to memory.

Those memories if unpleasant for whatever reason will always remain so.

Those memories that feel good will always remain so.

We can practise other things to help a dog 'remedy' their 'problems' but those first experiences will never be totally erased.

Consider this when with your dog.

They are watching and learning all the time, especially in new situations.

17/11/2022

Sorry things have been a bit quiet over here lately.
Bringing a puppy into your life is a big undertaking, whoever you may be.
And it’s certainly no different for us; having this little champ settle into our home has been an utter joy, at times a challenge and definitely an all consuming pastime!
We are still here and busy and living through exactly what you all are too
✅ new puppy
✅ multi-dog house
✅ reactive dog

20/10/2022

Your dog does not, repeat, DOES NOT need to play or interact with every dog it meets for it to be socialised.

Socialisation for dogs actually means to be contently indifferent to their surroundings.

Give yourself permission to just watch the world go by and not meet and greet everyone and everything in it.

26/08/2022

National Dog Day 🐾💕

We have a new addition over at AEDT HQ and the reason we have been so quiet lately.

Meet Mull 🤎

Maggie will always be my best number one girl but Mull is bringing more than his fair share of fun and love into our days.

Enjoy your dogs today and everyday.
😘

22/06/2022

Teens ♥️

Image description: A red adolescent Alaskan Klee Kai looking directly at the camera, tongue out.

Text Reads: I’m not being naughty, it’s my neurons! Brain function, and therefore behaviour, is a delicate balance between excitation and inhibition. But did you know that inhibitory neurons, unlike excitatory neurons, do not fully mature until the end of adolescence, so a young dogs ability to balance its own behaviour is not yet fully developed.

25/05/2022

All the yes’s!

Image description: A brown GSP dog with a collar and lead staring intently behind the camera.

Text reads: Adolescence is a time for patience, not push. The frontal cortex is still developing during adolescence and so a young dog’s ability to control its own behaviour is not yet fully developed. This can be mistaken for naughtiness.

02/05/2022

Well worth watching: sound on 🔊

3 mins of 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘊𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 and 𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗜𝗡𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗖𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚

Written and filmed in the 1970s about events and attitudes during the 1930s to 1950s, by a vet.

Yes it is fictitious and slightly dated, but the ideas and underlying attitudes are not.

Training with respect and kindness is as old as when partnerships were first forged; 𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗜𝗡𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗖𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗜𝗦 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗡𝗘𝗪.

A trainer who tells you to be harsh as a way to get your dog to ‘cooperate’ is showing a lack of skill, and impatience.

02/05/2022

Fully booked! Thank you!
I have been inundated with 1-2-1 requests recently, I am very grateful, and now fully booked so I will now have to shut my new client list for a while.

25/04/2022

The brilliant Laura Anne Broadhurst at PetMind has designed and produced a superb long training line. Just the ticket for working on connection and communication on lead as well as training safely in distracting environments.

16/04/2022

A conversation is always preferable to being lectured.

Using training methods that give you and your dog the ability to clearly express yourselves to each other means to truly understand each other.

A dog that can say ‘yes’, ‘no’, ‘not right now’, ‘I’m ready to go!’, ‘not right here’, or ‘brilliant, this is the place!’ gives your dog agency.

A dog who feels heard will want to do more, learn faster, remember longer.

14/04/2022

Do you have polished floors or laminate in your home? Are you about to welcome your new puppy into your home?

All puppies are born with perfect hips but certain environmental factors coupled with breed disposition can cause laxity in the hip joint resulting in hip dysplasia.

Slippy floors are one such factor.

They should be covered in non-slip flooring such as washable runners to prevent long term joint problems in your growing pup.

The video below shows this beautiful little cocker spaniel pup struggling to stand and causing over extension of his back legs which may cause damage to his hips which will likely cause joint issues in the future.

Some cheap washable runners will protect your dogs good health, and save on pain medication and veterinary intervention later in life.

Stair gates are also a good idea for the same reason….

“Puppies raised on slippery surfaces or with access to stairs when they are less than 3 months old have a higher risk of hip dysplasia,while those who are allowed off-lead exercise on soft, uneven ground (such as in a park) have a lower risk (Krontveit et al 2012).”

31/03/2022

I talk about flooring A LOT. This is a wonderful example of why it is important.

Initially the piglets are hesitant and slipping about, this is not only dangerous for their bodies but also for their minds. Anxious behaviour and limitations expressing themselves has a negative impact on an animal - consider walking down the pavement on an icy day you feel far more safe and secure when you are off the ice.

Non-slip runners over any smooth floor surface for your dogs is an absolute ESSENTIAL, not only for musculoskeletal health but also for their mind……feeling safe to go get a drink of water, safe to greet you at the door, safe to jump on and off the sofa is a fundamental part of a dog being able to feel secure and settled in your home.

Physical instability creates mental instability which is seen as anxious, fearful and unwanted behaviour. Give an animal places they are stable and safe and they can regulate themselves far better.

🤎🐾

21/02/2022

Went for a walk in the sunshine. The winter sun as it stretches and yawns into spring is beautiful and quiet.

I took a minute to open the boot and take in the view and it occurred to me how much I take for granted Her peace and calm at the start of a new and exciting walk.

This hasn’t happened by accident but it has become something I do take as a given; until this moment.

I have always delayed the start of a walk; changing my shoes, tucking in my trousers, fishing out my phone to snap the view, taking 20 or so photos to get the ‘best’ one, finding my water bottle, finding her water bottle….all the while popping a treat in between her feet as she lies patiently waiting for me to do my slow and unexciting ritual.

As we clip on our long line to keep us in touch, she stands and waits again as I mutter under my breathe ‘how many knots!’ as I untangle the 5mins-ago perfectly wound long line, and thank her for waiting yet again, with a treat.

This consistent, predictable beginning to a wonderful walk together encourages a dog to hang around and walk with you.

If your dog jumps out the back of your car like a jack-in-the-box and shoots off like he’s sprinting for his life, have a think about slowing down the predictability of the start of your walk……be slow, dull and ponderous. Reward the calm behaviour you want to see more of and begin a walk with a new calmer connection.

08/02/2022

01/02/2022

Why dogs DO NOT behave very badly.

The recent episode of the lovely mature girl golden retriever has quite rightly stirred some discontent in the dog world.

What the presenter - I will not refer to him as a ‘trainer’ because no decent trainer would act in the way he did - failed to acknowledge is that she NEVER was being ‘very badly’ behaved.She was behaving for a reason and for this lovely girl it was most likely due to physical discomfort.

Treating an animal as though it is behaving in a way to deliberately spite us is outdated and thoughtless and simple untrue.

Pain is a genuine physical event and causes an emotional reaction. Think stubbing your toe, I for one turn the air blue in momentary rage as the sudden pain makes me react.

Chronic, long-standing pain will cause emotion just the same; feeling low, unmotivated and anxious about moving so as to avoid feeling pain.

To imply a dog is “behaving very badly” because it is in pain is utterly shameful and deeply unprofessional.

When you choose to watch shows like this do remember they are heavily edited to make the presenter look like some kind of magician.

Any decent behaviour modification is paced at the dogs speed, takes into account the emotional state and ALWAYS should be considering underlying musculoskeletal, GI issues or disease causing pain.

If your trainer is not wanting to know your dog has had the all clear from a vet before engaging in behaviour modification, that is a red flag they are not putting your dog first but putting their ego and bank account first.

29/01/2022

Do you feed fermented vegetables to your dogs? 🥕🥬

Full of pre-, pro- and postbiotics, they can really benefit your dogs gut health as part of a species-appropriate diet.

A happy, health gut contributes to a happy, health mind, and who doesn’t want a happy, contented dog?!

The following articles have some great information.

https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/fermented-veggies-why-dead-is-best/

https://doggysdigest.com/can-dogs-eat/sauerkraut/

https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2014/08/31/pet-fermented-vegetables.aspx?fbclid=IwAR3WxyEZEhBF3nZ6dA9crDLOVpJhdwwX49hV_MJaQIY7jYnQA30P_CvvuKY

The best thing is it is easy to make at home.

🥕 Here I have cabbage, carrot and spinach in 3% salt.

⚖️ Weigh your finely shredded veg into a large bowl

🧂 Scatter 3% veg weight of fine salt through veg

💦 Crush and squish together, releasing water

⚓️ Weigh down for 24hrs then tip everything into an large jar

⏱ Ensure brine covers contents and leave for at least 3days before adding a little to each meal 🥗