Please think carefully when you decide whether or not to dress your dog up in a Halloween costume!
🐕 Many dogs will find even putting a harness over their head aversive (I know because I’ve worked with ALOT of clients to teach their dog to become more comfortable with this).
😬 If simply putting something over their head like a harness is stressful then imagine the discomfort they experience when wearing a costume?!
🐾 Some dogs might not mind, but trust me, they’re rare!
👻 If you’ve previously needed to teach your dog to be comfortable with their harness or with wearing a coat, then those skills may transfer smoothly to wearing a costume.
🎀 A fun alternative to a full blown costume could be a Halloween themed bandana or bow.
💭 What are your thoughts on this? Do you agree or disagree? Has your dog worn a costume before and what do you think their experience was? Let’s have a judgement-free and nuanced discussion on this!
#dogtraining dogtraininglimerick #dogsathalloween #fearfuldogs #dogtrainingtips #dogsincostumes #cooperativecare #husbandrytraining
Relieve fear and anxiety quickly ↓
1. Create a bunker to give them a safe space
This works best if you set it up before scary stuff happens and teach them that happy things happen in there by popping some treats in for them.
2. Have some treat jars at arms reach in your home - any time you hear a bang outside toss them a couple of treats to create a positive association with the noise.
3. The sound of the TV or radio can help drown out other sounds like bangs from fireworks.
4. Prepare Long Lasting Chews
These can help your dog to feel calm, happy and distract them from spooky things.
5. Talk to your vet about prescribing medication. Sadly, there are lots of negative myths out there about using medication. Know that they are safe and effective and can save your dog from embedding those potentially traumatic experiences in their memory.
6. It is ok to comfort your dog when they’re scared. Not all dogs will find physical touch reassuring however and it may increase stress. Just having you around for social support can help.
7. Ditch the walks or only go out during early, quiet times of day.
Would you like to overcome fear by next Halloween? Start the transformation process now!
Comment 👻 if you’d like to learn more about how I can help!
#dogtraining #dogtraininglimerick #dogsathalloween #fearfuldogs #dogtrainingtips #fireworksanddogs #banfireworks #banfireworksforpetssake
Do this to break their fixation and STOP a reaction before it happens ↓
This is for when you need to get some distance from your reactive dog’s trigger fast!
Practice this one at home first so that when you do need to use it, its really smooth and fluid.
If you need professional help to overcome your dog’s reactivity, why not book a free discovery call so you can learn what I can do for you?
#dogtraininglimerick #virtualdogtrainer #onlinedogtraining #reactivedogtraining #dogreactivity #dogtrainigtips #dogtrainingadvice
Share this game with your fellow reactive dog owners!
As a certified dog trainer specialising in reactivity, it’s so important to give our dogs enrichment to make them happy and manage their stress. I work on enrichment games with all my clients and here’s why..
Reactive dogs are often dealing with chronic stress and sometimes just need a break from triggers
Yet, all dogs still need an outlet to engage in fun and natural behaviours like sniffing or scavenging for food
We want to avoid the stress of going for walk but also make sure your dog isn’t suffering with boredom
That’s where these games come in, as a healthy replacement for (or even addition to) going on walks.
Not only does doing this game over your dog a break from triggers, but the activity itself can also reduce stress and increase calmness.
Will you give this game a try?
Offering eye contact is a foundation skill for any other training you want to do.
While its not necessary for them to look you in the eyes, you do want them to clearly be giving you their attention.
Start practicing with little to no distractions and then continue to practice in a variety of different situations.
Are you going to give this one a go? Save it so you have it for later!
Do you struggle to get your dog’s attention in certain situations? I can help with this! Tell me in the comments where you struggle with this!
#PlayAndTrain #ReactiveDogTraining #IrelandDogTrainer #DogsInIreland #GetEngaged #GamesBasedDogTraining #DogTrainingTutorial #DogTrainingTips
THIS actually helps to reduce the problem..
I’ve discussed this in relation to problem behaviours before - but often our dogs have an innate need to do these behaviours!
Asking them simply not to do it is like telling humans they can’t -
🥲 Chat to other people EVER
🥲 Consume entertainment like movies, music and live shows
🥲 Use creativity like arts, crafts, playing music etc.
🥲 Use tools to make and do things
🧠 ⛈If we were never allowed to do any of the above, our lives would be pretty miserable and our mental health would suffer.. These are the things that make humans human.
🐶 We need to let dogs be what dogs are too! As well as chasing, there’s chewing, sniffing, scavenging, digging and that list of things we try to make dogs stop doing goes on.
🌈 On the other hand, if we facilitate our dogs in doing these things in ways that don’t harm us, society, our homes or other animals then they will have less of a need to go out and fulfill these needs in problematic ways.
✨ When addressing problem behaviours with clients, enrichment activites like chase is always included in the plan, along with management (stategies to prevent them doing behaviour in undesirable ways) and training (teaching them new skills so they can be successful in the situations they/you are currently struggling with).
Hit follow if you’d like to learn more about dog enrichment and welfare centered training!
#canineenrichment #meetyourdog #prodogtrainer #ilovemydog #dogtrainingireland
🙋♀️Hands Up if you’ve ever been told your reactive dog just needs to get used to other dogs...
🤔 Or maybe you’ve considered trying some of these things to help your dog to overcome reactivity:
❗️Sending them to daycare
❗️Stopping to greet random dogs on walks
❗️Getting a second dog
❗️Taking them to a dog park
❗️Letting them sort things out themselves
🐶 First, here’s why that won’t help and might even make things worse.
🐕👀 Your dog already feels stressed when they see another dog in the distance. Putting them in the above situations is just ramping up the intensity, leading your dog to feel even more stressed and overwhelmed.
😱 The more your dog has experiences of fear and overwhelm around other dogs, the stronger those associations will become. It doesn’t matter if you think the other dog is being pleasant, its how your dog perceives the encounter that matters.
Instead of throwing dogs in at the deep end, I work on the following with my reactive dog clients:
☑️ Always giving the reactive dog enough space from other dogs to feel safe
☑️ Increasing exposure to other dogs gradually and at a pace that doesn’t overwhelm them
☑️ Teach them that actually the world is a happy place by providing them with games, treats and positive experiences
👩💼 Don’t go it alone, get help from a professional to overcome your dog’s reactivity!
🤳Book a FREE Discovery Call so we can have a chat about your dog’s suitability to my training program - link to book in bio!
#reactivedogtraining #prodogtrainer #helpmydog #reactivedogsofinsta #dogtrainingireland
HANDS UP 🙋♀️ if your dog’s behaviour makes you feel stressed or embarrassed sometimes?
Here are things you can do to make your dog really WANT to listen to you (and think you’re the bees knees 😉🐝)
👃 Encourage sniffing and avoid nagging them when they’ve found an interesting scent
🥳 Act excited about the things THEY find interesting..
Like...If your dog found a clump of fur on the ground or a cool stick - act excited and convince them you also think it’s the best thing ever!
🐿 Cue them to chase that critter they’ve spotted and go a little mad and join in the chase (I do think dog’s need outlets for predatory behaviour and its pretty unlikely they’ll catch it the vast majority of the time)
🧭 Take time to explore the environment instead of powerwalking your way to the next thing
My top Golden Nugget of Knowledge you NEED to remember: Your dog should see you as the gateway to things that are good in their life! If they don’t listen to you then they see you as a barrier, not a gate 🔐
That does not mean you just allow them to do innapropriate or dangerous things, but do find ways to facilitate THEIR needs and wants safely!
Do you want to learn more about this approach to training? Why not book a FREE Discovery Call with me today - booking link in bio.
#prodogtrainer #canineenrichment #positivedogtraining #forcefree #dogsofireland
Two Paws Up is a great foundation skill on to which you build up more exercises and can be done indoors at home! There are several reasons you might need this..
🌧 The weather where you live is miserable (I think that applies to all of us living in Ireland ☘️)
🪣 Your reactive dog’s stress bucket is full and you need to avoid triggers
💪🐶 You’re simply looking for more ways to improve their fitness
Can you think of any other reasons? Don’t forget to follow for more 🙂
#dogfitness #tricktraining #dogguardians #dogtrainingtips #dogtrainerlimerick #positivedogtraining
Here’s why you teaching these to your dog will make your life easier...
✨’Middle’ is like a protable oundary for your dog that you always have on you. You can use it to keep them still why you do a procedure like cutting their nails, You can use it as a recall cue so your dog knows EXACTLY where you want the to be, you can keep them out of the way of danger such as passing traffic.
✨’Off’ allows you to get your dog off furniture without conflict. Pair this behaviour with treats so your dog sees being cued off the sofa as a good thing! It’s an imprtant skill for dog’s that guard resources and can even help prevent resourcce guarding because moving away from a resource like the sofa has positive associations.
✨’Go to bed/place’ - the uses are endless. Use it to prevent unwanted behaviours such as jumping up, teach your multi dogs how to take turns, transfer the skill to lots of situations like getting in the car or stepping onto a wighing scales at the vet.
✨’Drop’ - the uses for this are probably pretty obvious. Get your dog to let go of things they shouldn’t have or that are dangerous. It also allows you to get the toy back in training so you can move on to the next repitition.
✨ A ‘Chin Rest’ behaviour is really useful for a range of procedures and husbandry work. Use it for checking their eyes, ear drops, grooming, putting on a muzzle, receiving vaccines.. the list could go on!
What are your favourite things you’ve taught your dog to do? Let me know in the comments to give more ideas and I’ll let you know if its something Scout can do too!
#positivedogtraining #dogtraininglimerick #forcefreedogtraining #positivereinforcement #adogslife
⭐️Here are my top tips! ⭐️
Engage with your dog
Speak to them, interact, make eye contact. Don’t expect your dog to want to attention to you if you don’t give any attention to them!
Show your dog you’re fun to be around
Play games with your dog while out and about. This goes hand in hand with engagement.
Do lots of direction changes
Dogs pull ahead simply to get where they’re going. If you keep changing directions than there is not ahead, there’s no destination as such.
Let them sniff as part of the reward
Dog’s explore the world through their nose and not only should we facilitate this natural canine behaviour, we can use it as part of their reinforcement for walking on a loose leash!
Use rewards to reinforce the position you’d like them to be in
When rewarding with treats, place them down in the position you’d like to be in - down by the side of your foot and reasonably close to you.
Do you dream of being able to go for walks without your arm aching? We offer FREE Discovery calls to get you started!
#dogtrainingtips #dogtrainingadvice #dogtrainingireland #limerick #dogsofireland #looseleashwalking #leashtraining
Teach your dog this, so you never have to deal with the embarrassment of your dog rushing up to other dogs again!
Reasons it’s not ok for your dog to run up to other dogs:
❌ Other dog could find it scary or stressful
❌ Other dog could be recovering from an injury or medical condition
❌ Other dog owner might be trying to train their dog
❌ Your dog could get in to a fight with the other dog and cause themselves or the other dog harm
With this method you can turn other dogs in to a cue for your dog to check in with you so you don’t even need to call them or worry about what will happen when they see another dog.
Does that happen with your dog a lot? Send me a message to learn how I can help you overcome your dog training struggles!
#dogreactivity #dogbehaviour #reactivedogtrainer #dogtrainingtips
