I usually don’t talk about punishments but I think seeing Yoda (my current foster) the last few days has made me think about how so much of his natural expression and curiosity seem as “punishable behaviours”. Boundaries are an important part of relationships. They tell us what’s acceptable and what’s not. And when they are not upheld, one is likely to feel unseen/disrespected/disregarded/uncared for. But the problem and this is really a systemic issue, we don’t know how to set and then assert boundaries without shaming or punishing the other. Punishments are penalties that are imposed when someone commits an offence. Let the weight of that sink in. In the case of dogs, is shredding an offence? Is peeing everywhere an offence? The list goes on. These aren’t offences - these are behaviours. You may not like them but they definitely don’t deserve to be punished. What they need is to be understood for the context they are present in and for the purpose they serve the dog. Like any other relationship, our relationship with our dogs also needs boundaries. But punishments don’t teach them what the boundary is. Gentle communication does. And dogs respond and cooperate beautifully when there is communication (in ways that they understand) and clarity on what is acceptable and what it isn’t. Punishments on other hand only teach dogs, like humans, to avoid certain behaviours to avoid the consequence - fear, violence, isolation and more. If you are open to learning how to set boundaries with your dogs gently and with empathy, reach out for 1:1 consultations with me.
How does an 8 month old puppy know the hand signal? Because it isn’t a trained cue - it’s non verbal communication.
Ignore the FRIENDS dialogues in the background 🤭
But as we were chilling, this huge monster truck passed by, making a big sound. Given that this is completely new environment, little Yoda is sensitive to all the different sounds he hears. And the truck passing by is one such sound. I saw his head go up, I leaned forward and offered the hand signal. You can see how she looks at me to “check in” and then puts his head back down. The hand signal isn’t a trained cue - it’s non verbal communication. It’s a simple flick of the hand, palm facing the dog but carries such incredible weight in so many different contexts. I use it extensively to reassure dogs, including streeties that I meet; I use it when I want to let my dogs know that they need to wait before we step out of doors like the elevator doors, car doors on a busy road, or even the house gate if I know people or other dogs are going to be around. And they get it! I’m not teaching or training them something they don’t know - in fact, I am the one who’s learning how to communicate with them in ways that they already know.
PS I don’t do crate training - the crate came with Yoda. I’m consciously not going down the road of taking away the crate because he’s with me for a very, very short while. He’s a foster, it’s his Day 2 with us, he has lots of sleeping surfaces around him that he can choose, like the rug he chose to sleep on last night.
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Yoda is our currrent foster who’s up for adoption in Delhi-NCR. He’s an 8 month old spitz mix boy who’s just delightful. Super communicative, goofy, calm and just lovely. He’s perfect for an apartment - gets along with cats and children and humans fabulously. He’s scared of big dogs but seems to be very slowly warming up to Luchi. If you’d like to adopt him or know someone who would, drop a message to 98216 84093
The importance of secure attachment in humans & dogs
Join me as I sit down with Soniksha, a psychologist, to discuss the importance of secure attachments and how they can shape our sense of self and relationship with others.
Not Jumping to Conclusions: Debunking myths around jumping behaviours in dogs
Join me live with Sowjanya Vijayanagar of Dog Pawmise to discuss jumping behaviours in dogs, what they mean and how we can respond to this gently and with love.
Walk Easy - Leash Walking Prorgam
Join me live as I chat about my new program offering, Walk Easy, for humans and dogs who pull on the leash.
At the place we were staying in at our recent holiday, a streetie suddenly came up to the gate (the black, furry dog on the other side of the gate). Muttu trotted up to the gate and this interaction took place for about a minute or two. I have spoken about how Mutton can be dog reactive - so this interaction is interesting and important at so many levels.
What do you see in this video? How would you describe this interaction? What do you think enabled this interaction to be this way?
Share your responses in the comments below! 👇
Had such a lovely time at the Evening Market @ DLF CyberHub and we were all sold out! Taking a short break from making treats - but they will all be available on the website soon enough.
You can log onto www.luchiandmuttons.com and check out our fresh food offerings (available only for Delhi & Gurgaon residents) and, details on BOTH nutrition and behaviour private consults.
Here’s the thing about Zuni. This is the FIRST time she is walking in a harness, the FIRST TIME on a long leash and the first time in a long time WITHOUT a muzzle. I was told that Zuni pulls a lot on the leash and can drag anyone down on a walk.
This is my first walk with her - can you see any of the challenging behaviours?
There’s so much content out there on how to train your dog to wear a harness/how to train your dog with a long leash. It’s really not so much about the dog as it is about: 1) using the right equipment, 2) the HUMAN having the patience to learn how to walk with their dog (and most importantly, how not to walk with them).
I do want to add a caveat - sometimes making these changes can be extremely helpful, sometimes we need to dig a bit deeper. It completely depends on the dog and their caregiver.
If you want to know how to walk better with your dogs or need help with your dog’s behaviours on a walk, sign up for a behaviour consult! You could also sign up for a FREE discovery call and learn more about my approach and whether that’s a good fit for you. Leave a comment & I will share the link with you!
When we got Mutton home, she needed a lot of reassurance. But not in the way we humans understand this. She didn’t always want to be close to us, and have us pet her. She didn’t understand when we told her that there was nothing to worry about. Learning how to use the hand signal to reassure has been a game changer for us.
This is NOT a trained behaviour. This is communication and dogs understand this very well. It’s extremely effective in letting the dog know “it’s okay, there’s nothing to worry about”.
It’s simple and versatile! Besides reassuring our dogs, it can also be used to ask them to wait for a minute before getting out of doors/it can be used to set boundaries around something you don’t want them to access or don’t want them to do.
But like all communication, sometimes it’s understood and responded to; and sometimes it’s not. This isn’t a command - this is a request to let them know that they don’t have to worry. There are some days when Mutton doesn’t respond to the hand signal - I recognise that those are days when she’s really struggling to cope. That’s a cue for me to make more of an effort to make her feel safe.
In this video, you can hear Muttu becoming alert to some loud construction sounds. I use the hand signal, I continue to sit calmly, she quickly makes an assessment that there really isn’t anything to worry about and goes back to napping.
Enrichment is a new idea/concept for a lot of us. And so it’s only natural to have lots of questions about why, what and how of it.
In my new blog, I answer some of the questions that I have been routinely asked on enrichment for dogs. Check out the link in bio and let me know what you think 🌈
#luchiandmuttons #enrichmentfordogs #letthemsniff #letdogsbedogs #learningtolearnfromdogs #dogsofinstagram #dogsofinsta #dogwellness #dogbehaviour #dogsnaturally
4 years since we got you home from the shelter, my now senior puppy. Thank you for always showing the way, Luchamma. Without you, none of this would have been possible ❤️❤️❤️
#luchiandmuttons #mymuse #dogsofinstagram #gotchaday #rescuedog #adoptdontshop #rescuedogsofinstagram #rescuedogsofig #rescuedogsarethebest #adopt #adoptadog #adoptdontbuy
Thank god Luchi approves of our ANCHOVY PASTE 🐟🐟🐟
Anchovies are great fish to add to your meal bowls. Rich in omega 3 fatty acids, they support heart, skin and cognitive health. The paste can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days and for about a week in the freezer when properly sealed.
Available in 150 g packs. Deliveries will be made on Friday.
#luchiandmuttons #fishpaste #freshfood #feedreal #dognutrition #dognutritionist #dogfood #freshfoodmatters #fooddeliveryservice #dogs #dogsofinstagram #gurugram #dogsofinstagram #dogsofgurgaon
So grateful for @galenmyotherapy for showing the way 😇
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Posted @withregram • @surabhivenkatesh Luchi asked for some massage tonight. She seems to have discomfort in her neck, possibly caused by excessive whiplash. Could have happened because of collar pulling, could have happened because of skidding - very hard to say.
The massage techniques involve a choice based approach where the dog is an active participant in the massage and can choose to opt out any time in the treatment.
You will notice that at one point when I start applying a bit more pressure on one side, she gets a little stressed/worried. A few lip licks and a head turn tell me that I need to pause and check in if she wants me to continue. She turns around and offers me her neck which she now feels comfortable with being massaged - 5 months ago, not a chance!
Our dogs communicate with us every moment - all we have to do is pause and listen!
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#caninemyotherapy #galenmyotherapy #massagefordogs #choices #dogconsent #canine #caninewellness #caninewellbeing #luchiandmuttons #caninecare
So grateful for @galenmyotherapy for showing the way 💛
