Dog by Rosie

30/07/2022

I'm back - had a makeover and am now back in action. Sessions available in person in Taupō/Tūrangi or online

26/07/2022

26/07/2022

30/06/2022

Hurricane Her

30/06/2022

Ah ah ah! With a little jerk of the lead 🤦🏻‍♀️

That is not going to improve the way a dog feels about the trigger they're reacting to. It's just going to punish them for expressing how they feel.

Do you know what happens to dogs who get punished for showing how they feel? They escalate, they snap, they bite. The feeling is still there rumbling. It's still dictating their behaviour.

If a trainer EVER tells you to tell your dog off for expressing a feeling of stress or anxiety or even frustration, go elsewhere.

You can't make a dog feel better by telling them off for the way they are feeling. You're deepening the problem. Ask the behaviourists who have to deal with cases of dog aggression after having been to trainers who ask you to punish your dogs emotional expression.

SAY NO TO:
-Physical corrections
-Verbal corrections
-Aversive tools
If you really want to help your dog feel better.

28/06/2022

Sad reality for so many!

11/06/2022

21/04/2022

Choosing the right equipment for your dog and their needs can make all the difference for both progress and safety, looking at the walking equipment we use is a great place to start.

08/02/2022

It’s always good to have lots of positive “tools” in your training tools box. Counter conditioning is one of them! 🐕

BAT is another, and they play well together. I prefer to use CC/DS for sounds and things like trucks that a dog doesn't need to have a nuanced conversation with. BAT is awesome for having a dog learn real social skills. If you really like CC/DS, you can do that first and then finish off with BAT.

This graphic is from the Ahimsa Dog Training Manual.

Get this handout in printable form for FREE, along with several other handouts, on my Academy site. Most of those are available in different languages, too. school.grishastewart.com/courses/handouts

20/01/2022

The more I do this work the more I’m convinced that what’s at the core of the most rewarding and joyful dog-human relationships isn’t training experience, or exceptional handler skills, or having raised dogs your entire life. It’s basic compassion and common sense.

It’s the ability to see the world from the point of view of another living being, in this case, from the point of view of our dogs.

It’s taking a moment to decenter ourselves and see our dogs’ behavior not based on how it impacts us, makes us look or feel, but from their point of view.

Dog training info and social media can be downright scary—pseudoscience, egos, fear mongering, and constant assertion of power and control.

People are made to feel guilty for showing their dogs basic acts of kindness or indulging in small moments of pleasure like sharing food or cuddling on the couch.

Our time with our dogs is so brief. None of us are going to look back and say, “wow, I’m so glad I never let my dog on the couch!” or “I’m so happy I didn’t comfort them when they were scared.”

Yes of course teaching life skills matters, but please don’t forget why you’ve chosen to share a life with a dog in the first place.

Don’t forget the joy and give them the compassion you’d want to receive if you were navigating a foreign world that wasn’t designed for you.

[ID: A screenshot of a tweet and tweet replies by Jack Herrera that read We give dogs a hard time for overreacting to normal things, but I think I too would react poorly if someone grabbed me and started trying to give me a bath. A stranger suddenly walks into my house? My reaction likely wouldn’t be quiet and calm. A massive explosion and a shower of sparks suddenly fills the sky for reasons I do not understand? I’d also be concerned!]

Original tweet: https://twitter.com/jherrerx/status/1483310435466153984?s=21

13/12/2021

23/10/2021

18/10/2021

Percy caught a wild bunny yesterday, and ate it. It's his second one so far, and there will probably be many more in his life.

I have spent this morning doing lots of research about it. This is what he was bred for, and his dad said he had a grin from ear to ear. Most dogs don't hunt to eat, more for the game/play aspect of it!

We can't be mad at our dogs for doing instinctual things, our job is to make sure they are safe when it occurs. There were no roads around, or other possible hazards.

Percy doesn't get put in situations where he gets to do this very often, so I also make sure he gets lots of outlet for digging, and chasing other toys to replicate this - to make sure he is enriched.

Small critters often have worms... so I'm off to the vet to make sure he gets the appropriate treatment so he doesn't get unwell!

16/10/2021

Working dogs are prevalent throughout our societies, assisting people in diverse contexts, from explosives detection and livestock herding, to therapy partners. Our scientific exploration and understanding of animal welfare have grown dramatically over the last decade. As community attitudes toward....

10/10/2021

❤

10/10/2021

Sniffing is vital to the way dogs gather information and interact with their environment. Scent is the predominant way in which dogs make sense of their world.At times, depending on the context, a dog is not just sniffing a scent; he is communicating. What he is communicating can vary according to t...

10/10/2021

Look at him smile 🥰
Join the Disnerds group! ✨

07/10/2021

This is a card that the little girls wrote to Michael Whitty of Journey Labradoodles asking for their puppy back. They are devastated and heart broken and do not understand why their best friend has not come home from the vet. Please help us with any information at all to get Michael Whitty to return the puppy to its family.

07/10/2021

Myth: A dog needs to “earn” their place in the family to receive love by doing what is asked when it is asked.

Such mentality and concepts are outdated, inhumane and do not take into consideration that dogs are sentient beings, or helps a dog’s emotional states at that time.
Dogs do not need to “earn” our love. If a dog needs to “earn” our love or our love is conditional on them doing what we want when we tell them to- that is not love- it is control.

Dogs are our family, not robots to do our bidding.

If you hear a trainer or animal professional saying something along these lines run the other way. Training should be humane, science-based, and addresses a dog’s emotions, behaviours, and welfare.

06/10/2021

www.caninecare.co.nz

06/10/2021

A trip to the vet is often stressful enough for some pets and their guardians, but when your dog barks, lunges, or growls at unfamiliar dogs and/or people, it can become even more upsetting for everyone.

Ensuring our reactive dogs have minimal exposure to stressful stimuli prior to a veterinary visit will allow for more comfortable and successful veterinary exams, and prevent a cascade of fear, anxiety and stress.

What can you do to help your reactive dog have a more positive vet visit?

✔️ Ask for an appointment at non-peak times of the day
✔️ Provide your vet with your dog's behavioural history when booking their appointment
✔️ Keep your dog in the car until the exam room is prepared to minimize exposure to unfamiliar people or animals
✔️ Ask if your vet clinic has an alternative entrance or exit to avoid unfamiliar people or animals
✔️ Bring your dog's favourite treats and use them to transfer your dog from the car into the clinic, onto the scale, and into the exam room

If you feel your dog will be stressed in the veterinary clinic despite the above recommendations, discuss anti-anxiety supplements or medications with your veterinary team!

04/10/2021

03/10/2021

25/09/2021

Even though dogs are usually a social species., not all dogs are social. They won't like every dog they meet, just like we don't like everyone we meet. Therefore, they shouldn't be expected to meet every dog. Regardless of whether your dog is friendly or not, it's not fair to allow an off lead dog to run up to dogs that are on lead.

We have to remember that some dogs are rescue dogs, thus they may have trauma and severe anxiety. Others may suffer with stress and anxiety around other dogs, through no fault of their guardian. These dogs will feel threatened whether or not your dog is friendly.

25/09/2021

The enduring appeal of showing your Chihuahua who is boss.

23/09/2021

🐑🐕
-Do you own a breed that was developed specifically to do a job or task?
-If they aren’t doing that specific thing- what do you do for/with them that scratches that genetic itch?

I’m sure other breed owners would love to learn about new ways to meet their dog’s needs. ❤️

Great post by SpiritDog Training!!