Mary_Mother_Of_Dogs

14/06/2024

What is a sensory session?
A sensory session is designed to engage all of your dogs senses by promoting exploration in a multi sensory environment.

How will these sessions benefit your dog?
They promote relaxation, increased confidence, and a reduction in stress.
They provide dogs with the opportunity to use all of their senses in a pressure free, safe space.

Humans control a huge aspect of their dogs lives. Sensory sessions gives your dog the ability to exercise choice, and explore their curiosities.

These sessions give your dog the space to learn at their own pace and be curious without any attachment to outcome.

A beautiful opportunity to observe your dog and let him just be a dog.

24/05/2024

There are many ways in which we can identify discomfort in our dogs and how they hold themselves is a major one.

Did you know that pain will reach up to 60% intensity before a dog will express its presence vocally or physically?
This is why pain and discomfort can so easily go unnoticed.

The above is a photo of one of my beautiful DD clients, Ash. His "funky sit" was just one small piece of the puzzle during our data collection but it was an important one.
What do you think? Does he look comfortable?

Have you noticed your dog holding himself or moving in an abnormal way?
Are you worried something is not quite right?

I would love to help!
Get in touch for a consultation.

06/05/2024

The importance of a shake off.🐾

Ocean did a shake off a few times on our walk today.

1. When he saw me take out his lead indicating that we were going on a sniffari.

2. When he met some of his fellow canine friends and they had a play.

Other situations I have seen him carry out this behaviour include when he gets wet or after he experiences something he perceives as stressful, like seeing his not so friendly canine neighbour from a distance or after a vet visit.

The shake off is a powerful tool nature has provided our dogs to help them calm down and re stabilise themselves.
The nervous system gets charged up from exciting,stressful, or stimulating experiences and triggers the fight or flight response.
The shake off releases this charged up energy.

I reinforce with praise every time I see him shake off as this promotes improved life and impulse control skills💜

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28/04/2024

I spent an intensive 4 days with the this week learning from some incredible people and some even more incredible dogs🐾💜
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05/02/2024

Has your dog's training suddenly stopped working?

Have you tried multiple training and behaviour modification plans only to see no improvement?

Or have you seen initial improvements and then watched your dog revert back to previous behaviours?

Wondering if something else might be going on?

Behaviour is functional. Behaviour is communication.

Get in touch for a Dynamic Dog Consultation.

28/01/2024

A study released by Daniel Mills last year highlights the common and persistent myths about pain.

These beliefs are preventing dogs from getting the help and relief they need to live healthy, happy lives.

17/01/2024

How do you feel when you haven't gotten enough sleep?

I know when I haven't had enough sleep, I am more reactive to minor inconveniences throughout the day. I am less equipped to have a conversation with someone. I am irritable. My body aches. I am anxious, moody, easily overwhelmed. The list goes on.

This is the exact same for our dogs. If they are not getting enough sleep, (when I say sleep, I mean good quality, deep sleep, not when they sleep with one eye open keeping an eye on everything going on around them), they perceive their environment differently.
They may be reactive to stimuli that would not normally bother them, they become overtired and hyperactive, and you can forget about training. Lack of sleep reduces focus and their ability to learn.

Puppies need up to 18 hours of sleep a day, adolescents need up to 14 hours and senior dogs need up to 20.

Also, just a reminder: if they are sleeping, let them sleep.

09/01/2024

How often do you just let your dog be naked without a collar on?

All equipment, even a collar, impacts how a dog moves and holds themselves.

It's good to just strip down and let them be completely free of any equipment for a while every day where it is safe to do so.

Your dog doesn't like getting the harness or collar put on? Does he back away? Drop himself low to the ground? Air snap? Get overaroused and start jumping around? Is he biting at equipment?

Why? - Maybe there's something he is trying to tell you. Get in touch and I'll help you get some answers.

06/01/2024

Thinking about getting a dog?

What does your lifestyle look like?

Breed research is so important when considering what dog to introduce to your life. Genetics is such an important factor to think about.
As visual beings we are very quick to pick a dog based on how he looks as opposed to considering whether the environment and lifestyle you can provide him suits his breed.

Today the expectation on dogs to conform to our human lives is huge, to be "good", "Obedient", "quiet". Dogs do not exist to suit us.
It's very easy to pick a breed that is not suitable and then start to get frustrated about certain behaviours that pop up due to the environmental pressures the dog must now face. This, unfortunately is when we see a lot of dogs surrendered to shelters or returned to shelters after being adopted.

A dog is for life. Choose wisely. Do your research. And please, adopt, don't shop. ❤️

11/12/2023

It's extremely difficult to diagnose pain in a veterinary setting.👇

Why?

The increase in stress hormones masks pain and makes the dog seem like he is completely fine in the short window of time the vet has to assess.

A dynamic dog assessment means your dog can be functionally assessed in a stress free environment, making it much easier to gather evidence for the vet to be able to investigate areas of concern further🐾

19/10/2023

Pain and Behaviour🤓

One way that a dog can decrease pain is by increasing arousal/excitability levels.

This means an increase in adrenaline and cortisol, which both aid in masking pain.

This is a compensatory action the dog makes in order to get on with their day.

The impact of this is a dog that finds it difficult to deal with certain things in the surrounding environment, and a dog whose ability to learn/train decreases.

It's important for owners to have compassion for themselves if they find out their dog has a condition that has been causing pain or discomfort and they didn't notice.

Sometimes, the signs can be subtle.🐕

Pop me a message if you feel like a DD assessment is what your dog needs to get some answers.💜

22/09/2023

The Missing Link🐕

My behaviour assessments are a little different as I incorporate the dynamic dog protocol.

This includes a functional analysis to ascertain your dogs comfort levels to ensure that physical discomfort is not adding to your dogs behaviour 🐾

19/09/2023

18/09/2023

Now offering Dynamic Dog consultations 🥳

27/04/2023

Hi everyone 🐾

I am currently undertaking the very unique Dynamic Dog Practitioner Programme, which will eventually allow me to add an extra dimension and more rounded approach to how I currently work with dogs.

This course teaches us how to use science based techniques to assess a dogs comfort levels and how this can impact behaviour.

To complete my assessment, I need at least 5 case studies to carry out detailed assessments to show case my newfound skills, and that’s where YOU come in.

If you would like to put yourself forward, I would be very grateful. It does require some commitment from you and your dog to take part, but I can talk you through that in more detail should you step forward to help.

Thank you all very much in advance.💜

27/01/2023

Introducing a new puppy to the resident dog.🐾💜

Important things to consider when introducing an adult dog to a new puppy:

•Before any meeting takes place, go to visit the puppy and bring an item of clothing to get the puppies scent on and bring it home. This prepares your adult dog and can make the change a little easier.
Visiting the puppy a few times before bringing him home will also get him used to you, start to build a bond, and make the transition easier for him when he is separated from his littermates and mother.

•Make sure the adult dog has somewhere to go to take a breather. Puppies can sometimes be too much for them, and they need to be able to get some space when they need it.

•Don't be afraid to let the adult dog do some educating. It's normal for him to make it clear to the pup when they have gone too far or crossed a boundary.

•Make sure to make time for your adult dog without the puppy present.

•Make sure your adult dog has time to rest. If you feel they aren't getting this and the puppy is being relentless, hanging out of him, maybe invest in a baby gate to separate them for some of the time.

08/12/2022

If a flower doesn't blossom, do you blame the flower? Or the environment?🌻

If a dog is behaving in a way that you perceive to be undesirable, do you blame the dog?

Every behaviour has a function. Every behaviour is carried out to achieve something, whether that is relief from stress, to scare away a threat or to get food off your plate, there is a reason behind every behaviour, desirable or undesirable.

The environment your dog is in and how he perceives it plays a major role in his behaviour. Management is key. But first, we must learn and understand the why, the root cause so that we can understand better why he is behaving a certain way.

What is he trying to tell you?

This enables us to know more confidently how to manage that environment in order to help him blossom.

Taking on clients in the new year. Exciting times are coming. Watch this space👀
#2023
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27/11/2022

Space. 🐾

This is Holly. 💜
Holly has multiple beds in the house.
This particular space, her crate, is kept open at all times so that she can come and go to relax if she starts to feel overwhelmed or just needs some space and "me time".
She is not to be disturbed while in her crate.

One of the most important things owners can give their dog is space.
Allocating somewhere like a crate, bed, mat etc in a quiet area of the house, that is a "do not disturb" zone gives your dog the choice to remove themselves from a situation and go somewhere they can relax without worrying about their boundaries being broken.

Dogs should be given the choice to refuse touch and walk away if their body signals for space are not being respected. Forcing them to remain in an uncomfortable situation where their stress signals are ignored will potentially lead to an aggressive reaction.
**This is particularly important in a household with children!

23/11/2022

POV: Your dog doesn't Cope well in crowded areas, around loads of dogs, in intense social situations, in loud areas etc.

Instead of training him to just tolerate situations that make him stressed or anxious why not:
•get up an hour earlier to walk him when the environment is less intense

•Walk him late in the evening when it's quiet

•Find a nice quiet secluded area where he can happily sniff, without worrying if something scary will come along.

•Maybe he would be more comfortable playing games and doing enrichment at home

Adjust your life around your dog, not the other way around.
His emotional experience should be the priority.
His reactions are his way of communicating -

"I'm in pain"
"I'm not comfortable here"
"I'm scared"
"These dogs are not listening to me"
"These humans are not listening to me"
"I don't want to be touched"
"I'm stressed"
"This is too much for me"

He already lives in a world where he has very little choice.
A world where his humans decide when he eats, what he eats, where he sleeps, when he gets a walk, where he walks, who he interacts with...

Wouldn't it be nice to give him a say in some aspects of his life?💜🐾
Sometimes, it's that simple.

21/11/2022

Whale eye - a term used for when a dog shows the white of his eye.

Whale eye is a very clear message from a dog that he/she is feeling extremely uncomfortable or afraid and is often followed by a lip lick or head turn or even a bite if they feel that is the only option they have left.

Before I started my education in canine behaviour I considered this photo cute. I didn't consider that Ocean may have been feeling overwhelmed or anxious or even fearful of something in the surrounding environment.

Yes I feel guilty that I spent so long not listening to or understanding what he was communicating to me but I didn't know at the time.💔

Now I understand. Now I observe his surroundings and ask why he's feeling like this and how can I help him feel safe. How can I provide relief?

It's so important for canine caregivers to educate themselves on canine body language so that they can understand their dog better and also be a voice for them when they need it💜

20/11/2022

Let's have a chat about fetch.⚾️

A seemingly harmless game that the majority of people play with their dogs.
While it looks like great fun for your dog, there is so much more going on, both physically and emotionally.

🐾Fetch can be a major strain on your dogs body with all the twists, turns, and sudden stops. This is particularly important when it comes to puppies as they are not fully developed yet.

🐾It can cause an obsession to develop, and your dog can actually become a ball ju**ie. Dopamine is released when playing games like fetch, and dogs can become extremely stressed when a game suddenly stops or is interrupted.

🐾You can end up with a dog who is in a constant state of stress, and this can have a knock-on effect on his overall health. It leads to issues like reactivity, skin issues, coat issues, joint issues like arthritis and more.

🐾If you have issues with your dog not being able to settle after a walk and you have spent that walk flinging that ball back and forth, your dog is struggling to come down from the fetch high.

🐾Try swapping the ball for some environmental enrichment. Allow your dog to get some natural endorphins by slowing down and sniffing on walks.

Prioritise your dog and his walk enjoyment rather than mindlessly throwing a ball, trying to tire him out and wanting the walk to be over.

Give your dog the OPTION to have a nice calm sniffathon at his pace and you will have a much calmer canine and less vet bills.
Happy days🌞

13/11/2022

Sleep😴

Why is sleep one of the most important factors to look at when it comes to behaviour?

Lack of sleep causes:
-Poor focus
-Anxiety
-Irritability
-Over arousal

Sleep provides recovery time for the body. It helps our brain function and, in doing so, aids our learning and memory.

Have you ever lost sleep and been super moody the next day? Reacting negatively to tiny things that wouldn't normally set you off? Would you take in new information efficiently?

So sleep is something that should always be looked at when trying to get to the root cause of certain behaviours.

On average, puppies need up to 18 hours of sleep a day, adolescents need up to 14 hours, and senior dogs need up to 20.

PS. Even if they look so unbelievably, irresistibly cute, don't disturb a sleeping dog.🐾

10/11/2022

Attachment to outcome.🐾

Something that I have struggled with on my canine behaviour journey but something that needs to be let go of in order to see the bigger picture.

Before any behaviour plan can be implemented, it's important for both the owner and trainer to remove any unrealistic expectations that they may have.

Each dog is an individual.
Each dog learns at a different pace.
What works for one may not work for another.
These are things we need to respect and adapt our approach accordingly.

If we obsess over the end goal, we cannot possibly be present with our dogs, understand things from their perspective, and appreciate progress, big or small.

08/11/2022

Puppyhood to adolescence💜

🐾A challenge for alot of owners and unfortunately the reason for alot of dogs being surrendered to shelters.

🐾What does your dog need during this transition?
Patience,understanding and support.
Behaviours change dramatically during the adolescent stage. Your puppy is still developing.
"Inhibitory neurons do not fully mature in your dog until he exits adolescence so a young dogs ability to balance his behaviours is not yet fully developed." .brains

🐾What do the owners need?
Perspective and education. It's important that owners see this as a normal progression and not a stage that must be "endured" or "gotten through".
Adolescent dogs need support the same as human teenagers do.💜

07/11/2022

07/11/2022

07/11/2022

Hey👋

Remember covid and lockdowns?👀

Remember when getting out for a walk or a run was the best part of your day? Or any other activity you did to stimulate your brain like baking,reading, training etc?

If you couldn't even do that, how would that have affected your mental health and therefore, your behaviour?🧠

Now you know how your dog feels.🐾

Be sound, let them sniff.💜