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The Dog Lady

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The Dog Lady

Multiple Certified. Force Free Trainer. 8000 sessions in 15 years. Ashwini Aiyar is an award winning entrepreneur and certified canine behaviourist.
(28)

With over a decade of experience under her belt, Ashwini has worked nearly a thousand cases in her extensive career. Her methodology is gentle and humane and based purely on positive reinforcement where no force is used to train. It is her core belief that training is based on understanding and she strives to help owners effectively communicate with their dogs. Ashwini currently resides in Sri Lan

ka with her family pack of nine dogs. She offers online and in person sessions for dog owners all over the world.

29/04/2024

It is with the greatest of pleasure that I announce that I am now officially a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT). Thank you for the incredible opportunity. This feels so surreal.

04/04/2024

Need I say more?

28/10/2023

Thank you for this amazing outfit. 📸 by my Instagram husband

15/10/2023

Cody and I at our first time at

27/09/2023

When my mentor and team lead first told me this it really put things in perspective for me.

Too often we put so much pressure on our dogs for their choices, but in truth there are three things that influence dog behavior, one is certainly the dogs own thinking, the other is the environment and the third thing is us. How we behave affects dog behavior too, and mostly I find it is not that dogs to not listen, it is that they do not understand- and we do not understand them in turn.

This is especially true if you’re a trainer. We as trainers get frustrated often when people make mistakes or do not know what we know about dogs. It has been greatly beneficial for me to apply this same line of thinking to my clients- every time I think they aren’t getting it- I look at how I am teaching and see if there are ways that I can improve. As an educator it is my job to spot the error and I often tell my clients if they see something they don’t understand or something they want to work on, that their only job is to tell me, and I will be able to help them out.

Next time you see your dog do something you don’t like- don’t scold or punish them, instead see if there is something you can do to help them understand or set them up for success. This is one of the foundations of errorless learning, and errorless learning is a powerful and beautiful thing, isn’t it?

24/09/2023

Sometimes there is nothing quite like getting your hair done for no reason at all- except because it makes you feel good! Loving the cut and the colour courtesy of at

20/09/2023

What an amazing journey of learning by The Karen Pryor Academy! So pleased to be the first trainer to complete this course back here in Lanka! Clicker training is mind blowing. It is has made me a better trainer and I am excited to share this knowledge with you all! Thank you so very much I hope to do you all proud!

19/09/2023

Life is beautiful!

04/08/2023

Interested in signing up for a training programme? Then this is for you! Teach your dog in the most humane way possible with a certified force free trainer. Learn to understand your dog and have a better relationship with them as well as teach foundation cues and work on displaced Behaviour with a four time certified dog trainer! Sounds like something you would like to try? Send us a dm!

23/07/2023

Have you ever heard of a throw chain?

A throw chain was an extremely popular dog training tool that was touted by the great trainers at the time like Most and Koehler.

In the book the Koehler Method of Dog Training there is an entire exercise that teaches how to throw the chain at the dog when they delay a response to a command by half a second. This book describes throwing the chain at the dogs rear but when this was invented it could even be thrown at the dogs head.

The throw chain was invented by Herm Sprenger. You know what else he invented? The prong collar.

Throw chains are still sold on Amazon today but are described as a chain you throw on the ground to get your dog’s attention. While they are still available the premise of the device has been adapted to suit modern day ideology and science. The prong collar however is still widely used in the way it was originally invented.

Herm Sprenger clearly believed that causing pain was the only way to train a fact we now mostly refute as dog trainers. If one of his inventions have lost popularity and have evolved to suit the present day- is it not time that we looked at the others as well?

There is no excuse the train with pain.

27/06/2023

These words are in the opening statement by Linda Michaels MA in her Do No Harm Training Handbook.

When I read them, I cried.

I have worked 14 years in a country that does a whole lot worse than using a prong collar. I spend most of my time trying to convince people that there is no space for pain in dog training. It is tiring. It is frustrating. It feels like an insurmountable hurdle that I can never cross. For every one dog I help there are thousands of others who I cannot.

People fight this. They do it because they feel bad. They want to feel like they didn’t make a mistake by hurting their dog- they want to feel like they had to. Like there was no choice. I understand. I was also a balanced trainer once. But the constant battles of oh prongs don’t hurt and shocks are fine gets me discouraged sometimes. I mean who are we as a society if this is how we treat our animals? And is it even worth it when the task is this hard?

When I read this it helped me understand what I am doing here. What you- dear reader are doing here. Some of us have to take the hits so that others can step forward without fear. It gave me strength.

I always knew that dog training was not a job - it is my calling. It is what I was set upon this earth to do. So I share these words with you.

Maybe you are tired and weary like me. Maybe you had a bad day. But I beg you- do not give up. Mark my words- we will win this fight. In many ways we already have. Just hang in there a moment longer, for one day we will all know why we fought so hard, and what it truly meant for these animals we hold so close to our hearts. We will know even more than we do now- that we did it for them. And that it was worth it.

19/06/2023

When I first saw this video online I couldn’t watch for more than a second or two. I contemplated not making a post on it but I decided to do it anyway because so many of you do not know to recognize canine discomfort.

I want to say that I’ve seen trainers and owners use this device differently (I won’t use the word better) and I will admit that the people in this video genuinely seem to be completely ignorant of what they are doing.

But I stand firmly with the belief that these devices should be banned and this video is a clear illustration as to why.

I realize that my opinions are unpopular. Human nature is such that even though we are constantly embroiled in change we try to remain creatures of habit and we resist with all our might. The number of us who train like me are in the minority and are constantly belittled, ridiculed and have to do so much more to prove what we already know is true. But for every one that doesn’t agree there will be at least one who does- and if you are that person- then this is for you.

We have to change the way we see our dogs. And until my dying day I will pursue this seemingly insurmountable goal.

For after all- even Copernicus was ridiculed for his heliocentric theory of the earth. So today I will take a page from his book.

The world is waking.

So awaken.

Always remember change starts with you. I have never used a prong but I was a balanced trainer, so if I can do it, you can do it too!

13/06/2023

I am often accused of having spoiled my dogs. And I wonder what does this even mean?

Is it because my dogs like to sleep on the bed? But dogs are social animals and they love social contact and will always be the most comfortable sleeping where I sleep!

Is it because I spend money on their toys? But they need toys- if not they will destroy my house instead… and they love to play too!

Maybe it’s because I let my dogs choose and ask me for what they want or opt out if they are not feeling it. But a dog is a sentient being. It has moods and preferences and it has a right to choose!

Yes my garden has holes in it. Yes I let my dogs roll in the mud even if it means I have to clean the house after. I make activities that allow them to shred and rip up things and I give them enrichment every day. Does that make my dogs spoiled? Because in order for a dog to be happy they need to do dog like things….

My dogs are not spoiled. They are happy. Do you know what a unicorn and spoiled dog have in common? Neither one exists!

11/06/2023

Lazy Sundays.

09/06/2023

The joy in our household.

06/06/2023

The amount of pressure that we put on a dog to behave is just insane. While I find living in south east Asia very challenging I must say that the archaic dog culture is not without its benefits- most dogs are still expected to bark here or be protective of the home.

But in other countries especially ones with dense populations often times barking dogs are put under a lot of pressure and this is due to the fear of noise complaints from neighbors. And while I do know and train for barking that is displaced, it is important that we don’t put our dog in the displaced behaviour box for something that is very natural for the them to do.

I often ask clients to spend a minute with me ascertaining exactly how much barking is going on. How many times a day and for how long appropriately each episode of barking lasts. If it is under ten minutes it is very normal though we would still want to use our cues to get the dog to desist after 1-3 barks (which is my rule). If it is more than ten minutes I have found that 80 percent of barking cases are a result of inadequate physical and mental exercise and most of the barking goes away when this is adjusted.

Sometimes a dog is gonna dog. And this is one of the joys of dog ownership. In my earlier years I often interrupted my dogs when they were barking but now mostly - I just let them. I know I say this is a lot but one day you will wish to hear the sound again.

I take a lot of pleasure in letting my dog be a dog.

31/05/2023

😁

27/05/2023

Love you long time my Instagram husband.

25/05/2023

Dogs are social animals just like humans are a social species. However this does not mean a human has to like every human or even every dog it meets. And this is true of dogs as well.

Most of our relationship with dogs is forcing them to do things that are either unnatural to them or things that we think they should do. But a dog is a sentient being with moods and preferences. Their feelings matter. Just like ours.

If your dog doesn’t like other dogs it is ok. You can avoid them. If your dog doesn’t like other people this is ok too.

This does NOT make you a bad dog parent nor does it make your dog a bad dog.

22/05/2023

CONGRATULATIONS Bailey on being awarded a full scholarship for exemplary academic performance! I cannot think of a more deserving dog or family to receive this. When I met Bailey 3 weeks ago it seemed like it would take months to help her- but boy did she prove me wrong! Bailey has a disability and finds it hard to move and yet she outshone nearly every student I’ve ever had and is now doing complex cues like the heel flawlessly- and this from a dog who did not even take treats! Her parents Sandra and Prateek have tried so hard to understand Bailey better and their efforts have not been in vain! Can she get a like and a share please?

17/05/2023

My little Leo who I adore. Leo is a who I met on Goodpup all the way back in June of 2022. His mom had booked a training session almost as he arrived. We went through the basics but as time wore on we realized that little Leo wanted to greet every single person he met so we began working on our outside manners. We had a few rough starts and he is quite a big boy but thanks to his Mom he is now a very well behaved dog outside. I remember one day when we were out working and passer by asked us to tell him he was doing so well- I was so proud! Leo and I still see each other once a month to catch up but his training is more or less complete. Thank you Sarah for allowing me into his life.

13/05/2023

Thank you and for this beautiful gift. Shakti loved chasing butterflies more than anything. 💔

12/05/2023

Pack leader theory is outdated. It initially became popular due to a series of televised trainers (thank you Cesar Milan) and became a somewhat of a buzzword in dog ownership and dog training.

The studies that it was built upon hinged very much on research of captive wolves and it was believed that dogs mimicked wolf behaviour. It was through this that phrases like ‘pack leader’, ‘alpha’ and ‘dominant’ became popular and even today many dog owners still use those words and subscribe to the expectation they imply.

However in time it was learned that captive wolves showed no signs of even normal wolf behavior as they were housed in highly stressful environments which caused displaced behavior. Wolves in the wild rarely fought and this was especially true with members of their families - which brings me to my next point- family is a much better word to describe the relationships between human and dog as well as dogs who interact regularly with each other.

Dogs can form strong bonds with humans and other dogs but not every dog can do this nor does it need to- but this does not make them pack animals. And we are certainly not their leaders.

A dog in an animal in captivity. It spends most of its life in the same place, is expected to suppress all its natural impulses and has to often do things it really does not want to do. We are guardians to our pets. We do not own them and we do not lead them. We look after them. We make them happy. And we build a relationship with them so that we may communicate with them if we need to.

10/05/2023

Ear cropping is considered mutilation. It refers to the practice of surgically altering the physical appearance of a dog’s ears. The surgery is not always done under full sedation, it takes between 4-8 weeks to heal and is known to be painful- but painkillers are rarely prescribed.

It is widely accepted that ear cropping is done to achieve a certain look or to conform to a breed standard. Thus it has no medical purpose. The animal also does not consent- its agency is removed and while we do this regularly it is generally for the animals benefit like in medical care. Not our own.

However- sadly the animal also does not benefit, in fact ear cropping affects their ability to communicate using their ears and can negatively impact their hearing. I mean I’m pretty sure God gave dog’s ears and made them in a certain way for a reason.

You know who does benefit though? Greedy people. Good looks ensure more tittle wins and that means more money for offspring. The owner of the dog also benefits from feeling good about having a dog that looks ‘better’ or ‘fierce’.

But there is not one single benefit to the dog who has to endure the surgery, having to wear a brace, as well as the aftercare only to have three fourths of its ears cut off.

A non consensual non medical surgery is technically called mutilation. The practice of mutilating a dog is deplorable. Which is probably why ear cropping has been banned in most European countries. Many vets also refuse to perform the surgery due to its ethical implications.

I can’t really think of a single argument to support this, so let’s just say a big NO to it shall we?

05/05/2023

Happy Burpday, to Leia! My first student to use talk buttons and man is she talkative now! Thank you for bringing so much joy into our lives!

03/05/2023

Say hello to Herja. Arguably my favorite little girl at the moment. Herja is a young at eight months old and I have been seeing her on GoodPup since January of this year. She has taken to training like a fish to water (or a Rottweiler to a ball) largely due to the efforts of her amazing guardian and has progressed faster than I could ever have expected. Training Herja is more laughs than it is work and she is a true testament to the fact that a well raised Rottweiler is an absolute goofball, honestly they can be one of the least aggressive dog breeds ever if you make an effort to invest in their education. It gives me such pride to see her grow up into a beautiful young dog and also to be a part of her journey. Today we trained outside and we learned to stay and settle in public. She stayed while children screamed around her, while a dog dug and only got up when someone threw a ball at her and she did take it (because to Herja ball = life) but she quickly gave it back when asked! This is her just before we started our training call :) 10/10 for cuteness, no?

28/04/2023

Canine enrichment is a relatively new word in dog guardianship and dog training. Especially in Sri Lanka I find myself having to explain it a lot- so I figured why not do a series of posts talking about what it is, why it matters and how to do it.

Let’s start with what it is- Canine enrichment also called decompression or mental stimulation is any activity that improves the quality of a dogs life. Generally it is done in the form of various food toys like Kongs, lickmats, snuffleMats and chews. It is generally any activity that keeps the dog licking, sniffing or chewing, but can include digging and some trainers even say that spending time with your dog is enrichment too.

All my training programmes begin with ensuring the dogs needs are met and enrichment is something that is discussed on the very first call. I think as dog owners we all want to ensure our dogs are happy and this is one way to provide them that in their day to day routine.

More posts on enrichment to follow, and if you have any questions on how to provide enrichment for your dog get in touch I would be happy to help.

25/04/2023

💔 you were my best little girl and I loved you so. Till we meet again.

15/04/2023

In general euphemisms irritate me. If we’re going to go ahead and electrocute your dog because you aren’t seeing responses then we may as well call a spade a spade.

Electric Shock Collars are used as an aversive in dog training. The principle is that every time the dog does something the handler doesn’t want then they get electrocuted.

The reason I find this one particularly difficult to swallow is that if I as a dog trainer or even an owner for that matter hit your dog with a stick every time they did something I didn’t want, or say I kicked a dog in the stomach to get them to comply the internet would be appalled.

But how is that while hitting and kicking are not ok- ELECTROCUTING your dog is somehow ok?

It seems so illogical. Fortunately more and more countries are jumping on the bandwagon and outlawing these devices, and it won’t be long before they are banned worldwide.

Advocate for your dog. Choose force and fear free. Let’s all stand up and say a big collective NO to shock collars!

09/04/2023

What is a head collar? A head collar is a training tool that goes around the dogs snout and neck- it looks very similar to a horse’s bridle.

The thinking behind it is that in order to control the direction of the dog you must control the direction of the dogs head so by design the head collar causes discomfort to the animal if they pull. This makes it an aversive and thus it’s propensity to misuse is quite high.

I have used a head collar less than five times in all my years of training. These were cases where it was determined that the safety of the owner and the dog would be compromised in such a way that it warranted the use of the device as an interim strategy (like a very large dog that needed to be walked or an owner that was frail or very old). For me it is an absolute last resort. In addition as much as eight weeks can be invested in training the dog and owner how to use it and most of the dogs who used it did not like it all.

If your trainer is saying you need this device to teach exclusively then that trainer is definitely not force free and also probably doesn’t know any other techniques to teach.

Training tools like head collars can be used but they should not be abused. Prolonged and improper use of a head collar causes physical scarring and it is supposed to be temporary- your dog is not meant to wear it forever.

How your dog feels about training is important so if they are actively trying to communicate to you that they do not like the way in which they are learning then you should try different techniques.

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I set up a DIY forage activity at home for the dogs and they loved it! Dogs are natures most famous scavengers and their olfactory senses are far superior to ours. This is why they find activities like this so interesting. Twenty minutes of this and they were tuckered out for hours!

So my dog booked a suite at a hotel and had a party. This was how it went. Socialization refers to the practice of exposing your dog to new situations, people, dogs, places and stimuli. It is vital for giving your dogs the tools to cope with daily life in our world. There is a window for socialization that expires at four months so you ideally want to do as much of this as you can before they are that age. Often times we take our dogs along with us for events designed for us and the dogs find it difficult to cope. Remember- your puppy does not know how to behave in these situations until you teach them so it is far better and more practical to cater to the dogs needs separately by throwing an event just for him or her. I hate parties. But I got through this one for the dog. I sent out a rule sheet beforehand so people would know what to do and how to be around her. While she was a little overwhelmed by the people she did amazing in a hotel and actually did not destroy a single thing! I was really proud of her. Has your dog had a party? Let me know in the comments below. #fearfreetraining #forcefreetraining #dogsocialization #pawty #puppyparty #pandashepherd #pandagermanshepherd #pandagsd

We do daily slow feeders/lickmats at home for our dogs and the dogs in our care. It takes a bit of prep but the dogs love it. Licking is a very dog like activity that helps them self soothe. They also really enjoy it!

More thoughts on a prong collar!

When I first saw this video online I couldn’t watch for more than a second or two. I contemplated not making a post on it but I decided to do it anyway because so many of you do not know to recognize canine discomfort. I want to say that I’ve seen trainers and owners use this device differently (I won’t use the word better) and I will admit that the people in this video genuinely seem to be completely ignorant of what they are doing. But I stand firmly with the belief that these devices should be banned and this video is a clear illustration as to why. I realize that my opinions are unpopular. Human nature is such that even though we are constantly embroiled in change we try to remain creatures of habit and we resist with all our might. The number of us who train like me are in the minority and are constantly belittled, ridiculed and have to do so much more to prove what we already know is true. But for every one that doesn’t agree there will be at least one who does- and if you are that person- then this is for you. We have to change the way we see our dogs. And until my dying day I will pursue this seemingly insurmountable goal. For after all- even Copernicus was ridiculed for his heliocentric theory of the earth. So today I will take a page from his book. The world is waking. So awaken. Always remember change starts with you. I have never used a prong but I was a balanced trainer, so if I can do it, you can do it too! #forcefree #fearfree #ditchtheprong #theprongiswrong #thedoglady #onlinedogtrainer #animalrights

Welcome to the family Ninja! Ninja is a German Shepherd with a piebald coat- known as panda! So she is a rare panda shepherd! Nothing quite like the new puppy feeling!

So puzzle toys are not really a thing in Sri Lanka- and this is due to the fact that they have to be imported at a great personal cost and hand carried by someone (no shipping). As a country in an economic crisis we have severe import restrictions. My own dog smoke found it ‘too advanced’ so mother had to think on her feet! #diy #ninaottoson #forageactivities #isabelladoberman #thedoglady #srilanka

Tinkerbelle is still the most important dog I will ever have. I lost her four years ago and I could barely make this reel without bursting into tears. Tinkerbelle was a service dog. She was the first dog in Sri Lanka to be admitted into cafes and restaurants, to be admitted into a newspaper office when I was interviewed, and even the first to be let in (albeit secretly) to five star hotels that did not typically allow pets. She was an incredibly intuitive and well trained animal and she alone did so much to change how business owners felt about letting pets into their property. But Tinkerbelle did not know to walk nicely on a leash. Did this stop her from being a service dog? No. Did it stop us from going everywhere together? No. Did that make her a bad dog? No. Did that make me a bad parent? No. Handler awareness has nothing to do with the equipment or even finesse but everything to do with your relationship with your dog. She liked to go first always. So I let her. I would give everything I have to have her pull me on the leash if even for just a second. However your dog behaves I promise you he or she is a great dog and you are a great owner. Learn to let the little things go and embrace every second. One day they won’t be there, and wouldn’t you do anything to have them back? #esa #emotionalsupport #dalmatian #servicedog #srilanka #thedoglady #onlinetraining

Been quite a ride!

What kind of dog trainer am I? A short video about dog training techniques

Training Tips Three tips on how to get a better response during training.

Thank you @pulse.lk for allowing me to share my story. #daretobeinked

Thoughts on Losing a Dog A few things that helped me cope after I lost my dog Tinkerbelle, earlier this year. I hope you find it helpful :)

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Our Story

The Dog Lady's House is Colombo's first behavioural facility, run by Ashwini Aiyar- a UK certified canine behaviourist. Ashwini started her career five years ago, when she opened up Haven- Sri Lanka's first and only dog hotel. She has since gained her certification from the Cambridge Institute of Canine Behaviour and Training, where she was praised for 'raising the bar' and a high standard of work presented, particularly in the area of Canine Communication. Ashwini specialises in basic training, as well as diagnosing problem behaviour. She uses only positive methods and has a thorough understanding of the dog's mind. She believes that all training is simply communication, and empowers owners to learn to effectively communicate with their dogs. The Dog Lady's House is run located in Rajagiriya. Training sessions are booked in advance and by appointment only. They can be either in the home or at the facility depending on the requirement.

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