Pawsative Steps

Pawsative Steps Dog trainer North Cork. Force free, accredited, insured science based dog trainer. I'm fully insured.
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I developed a passion for dog walking and training after adopting and fostering a number of dogs and helping them overcome their struggles. Helping owners overcome struggles with their dogs and build an amazing relationship is my life purpose. I have QQI in dog training, absolute dogs pro dog trainer, canine first aid and have diploma in canine behaviour. I offer half hour and full hour walks cate

ring to the dogs and owners needs, training walks(I join you and teach you new skills to overcome any difficulties), home boarding (based in Banteer/Mallow area) and training consultations across Cork to overcome a range of unwanted behaviours such as pulling on leash, barking, reacall or setting a new rescue or puppy up for success

Very well written and 💯 accurate post ❤️
07/11/2024

Very well written and 💯 accurate post ❤️

𝙅𝙪𝙙𝙜𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩.

Yesterday a passer by at the park felt the need to pass loud judgement on a dog I was working with when they were having a 'moment'. It wasn't kind, it wasn't helpful and it wasn't necessary.

Something I often hear from clients is how aware they are of the judgement of others when they are out with their dogs.

If their dog is lunging, barking or otherwise seen as behaving 'badly', they feel the weight of strangers' eyes on them. Sometimes the judgment is just an eye roll or a tut....sometimes it's more explicit - being shouted or sworn at. Either way they feel shamed and embarrassed.

I can say, almost certainly, that those doing the shaming have never had a reactive dog themselves. They have never had to deal with not getting the dog they hoped for. Never had to walk their dog at the crack of dawn or late at night in an attempt to avoid other people. Never felt their heart sink when something unexpected happens and their best laid plans go wrong. Never felt the mixed emotions of embarrassment, sadness and frustration when their dog kicks off yet again. Never cried when they've had to abandon another walk. Never felt dread at the sound of "it's ok...he's friendly". Never felt the pressure to correct their dog because they need to be seen to be 'doing something'.

For those feeling judged remember that other people's opinions affect you only as much as you let them. Take a deep breath, shake it off and move on. Easier said than done at first but, like any skill, it gets easier with practice. Don't compare your dog to others. No two dogs are the same and, as the saying goes, comparison is the thief of joy. Ditch the shame. It's corrosive and toxic. Do the best you can in any situation and seek help if you need it. If you do that no one can ask more of you. And know that you're not alone. For every eye roll you receive there's probably also someone who's watching sympathetically because they've been there.

And if you've caught yourself eye rolling and tutting and rushing to judgement try to put yourself in that person's shoes. No one enjoys being the person with 'that' dog. It's never what people planned and they are generally trying their best in a bad situation. When you see a reactive dog kicking off know that, in that moment, both the dog and its owner are having a hard time and ask yourself whether a critical comment from you is going to make things better for anyone?

Being the owner of a reactive dog is hard enough. Let's not make it any harder.

The dog training and animal behaviour industry is absolutely completely bonkers! With no regulations, people claiming to...
06/11/2024

The dog training and animal behaviour industry is absolutely completely bonkers! With no regulations, people claiming to be qualified behaviorists with no accreditations what so ever, cliques, online battles between different types of trainers, bullying, bad mouthing and online wars.

Here at Pawsative Steps we don't do drama! (anyone that knows me knows I'm a pretty easy going and open minded dork!)
I also have zero interest in competing with others and dont need to. I regularly recommend other trainers, dog sports and behaviour professionals and businesses in the animal care industry. I'm also a massive fan of collaborating with other pros. I have two very simple reasons to do what I do and this is my focus

Help dogs and their people
Spread education about ethical dog training methods.

Simples 🤷‍♀️

Yesterday I was behind the counter in a vetinary practice with a dog I had just finished assessing for a rescue.  Someon...
06/11/2024

Yesterday I was behind the counter in a vetinary practice with a dog I had just finished assessing for a rescue. Someone visiting the practice came right in behind the desk and went to pet the dog without asking😬. I calmly moved him as far away as I physically could as he did startle at her very direct approach. Luckily the dog is friendly.

Please always check first that it's okay to say hello to a dog especially in a vetinary setting where dogs are often already stressed and may not be their usual
selves😉

02/11/2024
We had a quite peaceful day today to recover from yesterday's Halloween antics with lots enrichment and rest.  Stress ha...
01/11/2024

We had a quite peaceful day today to recover from yesterday's Halloween antics with lots enrichment and rest. Stress has a cumulative effect for our dogs so recovery is important

01/11/2024

Check out this great podcast with pet paws physio. This is something we discuss when teaching play skills in puppy class. High impact exercise is one of the risk factors that will increase your dogs chance of getting osteoarthritis and it can start before the geriatric life stage

Happy Halloween everyone!  A lot of pets go missing on fright night.  Please make sure your pets are safe and secure thi...
31/10/2024

Happy Halloween everyone! A lot of pets go missing on fright night. Please make sure your pets are safe and secure this evening. Walk dogs early in the day and not while trick or treating (this can be terrifying for even the most confident dog).

Set up a safe area such as dog bed in utility or crate when trick or treaters call
Give a long lasting chew, bone or frozen food toy such as a stuffed kong
Play relaxing music
Close curtains and blinds
You can put a note on your door and leave treats out front

30/10/2024

Wondering if your dog can safely enjoy pumpkin? You’re not alone! Pumpkin can be a healthy addition to your dog’s diet when prepared properly. Packed with essential nutrients and fibre, it supports digestive health, skin, coat maintenance, and even acts as a natural dewormer. Read on to find out...

30/10/2024
29/10/2024

With Halloween this week and Christmas right around the corner, it’s a good time to remind people that Scared Dogs Aren’t Funny.

Social media posts, usually videos, of clearly scared dogs and people laughing at them make me sad. Dogs startling at lawn inflatables. Dogs backing away from people in costumes. Dogs barking at toys or decorations that move or make sounds. Dogs barking at or giving Santa the side eye.

And people laughing at them or worse, pulling on the leash to force the dog to have an interaction with the scary thing. People trying to get the dog to sit next to the scary thing and then getting frustrated when the dog won’t sit.

Let’s reduce dog bites this holiday season by being thoughtful and understanding of our dog’s fears and what they’re communicating.

https://rescuedbytraining.com/2022/12/19/scared-dogs-not-funny/

Didn't get many pictures in yesterdays classes.  My apologies to those I missed 🙈 I'll try to get some more next week.  ...
28/10/2024

Didn't get many pictures in yesterdays classes. My apologies to those I missed 🙈 I'll try to get some more next week. It's wonderful to see the puppies learn play skills and see their confidence increase each week.

Our adolescents worked on greetings, loose leash walking, recall. Engagement and building more duration, distance and distraction into their down stay

28/10/2024

The risks of oppressive dog training methods.

Dogs subjected to harsh and aversive training may develop fear of people or situations and why wouldn’t they?

For dogs who suffer mistreatment and go unheard, the World can look like a dangerous place.

A dog taught using overpowering methods may initially comply with the perpetrator because they are too scared to do otherwise.

Over time though the trauma sets in and the dog may become withdrawn or exhibit aggressive behaviours and insecurity.

In addition...

If a dog trainer has a strong presence which overpowers the dog (even emotionally) the dog may behave differently for the trainer than the guardian.

This not only undermines the dog’s safety and welfare but also the self-belief of the dog’s guardian.

It can cause conflict in the relationship between dog and guardian too. If a guardian sees a dog ‘behaving’ for the trainer, they may become frustrated with the dog – believing they are just being naughty with them.

Our role is to build the relationship between dog and guardian and empower them both.

26/10/2024

In the age of the internet, we are lucky to have so much information available to us right at our fingertips, and this means that a lot of people choose to forgo in-person training when they feel that they can get the same content from a quick google search. There is no point, they think, in spending the money when they can just figure it out for themselves! 🤷‍♀️

To an extent this is true, you can teach 'sit', 'down' and 'stay' at home if you like, but puppy classes are SO MUCH MORE than that.

🐶 A good puppy class should give you a huge variety of useful information, not just basic training - we cover basic first-aid, nutrition, and confidence-building in our classes (to name but a few).

🐶 The trainer will know you and your puppies as individuals and give ongoing personal support - something that no online video, or google search, can do.

🐶 They will know a wide variety of tricks of the trade from working with so many different dogs on a daily basis. These can be revelations to new, and old dog owners alike.

🐶 The class gives you the opportunity to meet other local puppy owners at the same stage as you, and make friends and a support group for both you and your puppy, for life.

🐶 You can practice behaviours your dog may already know in a distracting but controlled environment - something which is key for 'proofing' cues, whether learned in class or at home.

The fact is good, scientifically endorsed puppy classes have been scientifically proven to have a positive effect on the development of your puppy, something that is not worth missing out on!

You can check out the study mentioned in the graphic for yourself here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/248578004_Training_engagement_and_the_development_of_behavior_problems_in_the_dog_A_longitudinal_study?fbclid=IwY2xjawGDUVRleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHd4kxguSqP0rzGOmctj0_CK-ClCfBlnezQPWCg2plHxj2tiHds0dU_nPAQ_aem_zWE2wErI8600XRzaXBVM0g

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Cork

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