Kool K9 Dog Training

17/02/2025

One of the things I often hear is that the dog needs to see more dogs/ peoples/ things so they get used to them. If the dog struggles in these situations it is a much better idea to to give them other activity outlets where they can enjoy themselves and you also do not feel constantly stressed, then in a structured way you can reintroduce the dog to the ‘world’.

I think this is one of the biggest realisations that can help people living with sensitive and complex dogs who struggle with things they encounter in the world around them, that the daily walk isn't absolutely mandatory.

Yes, we need to find other ways to physically and mentally stimulate them, but going out into a world they struggle with day after day so that they (and we) are never able to truly recover and return to a real sense of calm is not helping either of us.

Find a secure field somewhere they can run around and explore in safety and both of us can relax.

Do some training at home.

Try some food puzzles (pitched to a level where your dog can succeed with a little work).

Maybe a little bit of fun agility in the garden, or some doggy parkour.

Scentwork exercises around the house and garden (one of my personal favourites with all my dogs).

Anything that exercises body and mind will help to keep them contented and happy while taking a break from going out into that world they find so difficult.

Once we have both had a chance to recharge and de-stress then we can start planning a return to walking in a way that will help our dogs to feel safer in the world.

13/02/2025

This is such a good post. If you are feeling overwhelmed by your dog’s behaviour then read this post and do not give up!

How many times have I heard that same old statement: ‘You need to get that dog trained!’

There seems to be a perception amongst some (either inexperienced or simply the people that have not encountered the issues around fearful dogs) that we have never bothered to ‘deal with’ our dogs’ issues. That if we just got off our backsides and trained them, they would be perfect within days. That everything comes down to a training issue.

First off, I take exception with the concept of the perfect dog. What even is the perfect dog? My perfect dog would not be somebody else’s idea of one. Some people would state perfection in canine form is a dog that obeys every single cue issued instantly and without fail. I like dogs that think for themselves, that might question why they should do the thing I am asking of them. The ones that make me show them why it is worth their while to stick with me. We do this at home, and then work our way up through the levels of difficulty and distraction out and about. Long lines are definitely our friend when it comes to moving out into the wider world!

I do not want a dog that is shut down and unable to show their personality. I want my dogs to show me what they are thinking and feeling. I need them to tell me how they feel in every situation, good or bad. This means demonstrating if they are happy, worried, scared. Only if they tell me how they feel can I make adjustments in what I am asking of them or to what I am exposing them.

This brings me to the central problem with this concept of ‘just train them and everything will be fine!’

When you are dealing with another living being, there are all kinds of factors that can fluctuate on a daily, hourly, or even minute-by-minute basis. Dogs are far more sensitive than humans are to a variety of stimuli, and things we do not even notice can have them feeling worried or cautious. The best we can do for the dogs in our care is learn how to read their body language, and to be observant of our surroundings when out.

There will be days when either you or your dog do not feel quite right, which may mean a slightly shorter fuse or a bigger reaction to things. Something might have happened earlier in the day, or even the day before, to start the walk or training session off with an already stressed and tense dog. An encounter, even at a distance, early on can make the rest of the time out stressful and lead to a backward step.

Another issue is the question of whether it is actually a training issue at all. Is the dog perhaps not feeling well or has pain? Have they had a stressful time and need a break to recuperate? Are their needs not being met in some way that has left them to find ways to carry out natural behaviours or finding ways to deal with stress?

Nothing involving training or especially behaviour change is linear. There will be days where you make massive steps forwards, everything goes right, and you feel like the best dog handler in the world. Another day it can all go wrong and feel like you have gone right back to square one.

The message here: Do not give up. Do not be downhearted. Keep making sure that your dogs' needs are met and working at any training steps you need to make progress. There is no shame in going home on a bad day and cuddling your dog on the sofa, and going back out on another day for another try. There will be uphill days and downhill days. Celebrate the good days but do not dwell on the less successful ones. Persevere. Keep working at it. If you feel like you are struggling, consult a good trainer or behaviourist that uses positive methods for some help or to make sure that you are on the right track.

Lastly, forget this nonsense about needing your dog to be someone else’s standard of perfect. My dogs are not perfect by other peoples' standards, but they are perfectly themselves, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Aim for the best you can achieve and that works for you and, importantly, makes you and your dog as happy as possible. Anything else can be managed.

13/02/2025

Kate that instructs at Kool K9 works at the Hamilton pound. This cool boy is ready for adoption. He is a dog that needs a 'job' so if you are looking at doing agility he might be the 'one'.

You can contact Kate at [email protected] or call Adopt a Dog on 078386664 or their email at [email protected]

12/02/2025

I agree!

It is so important to give our dogs ways to work their brains as well as their bodies.

This is especially true for dogs who cannot go out for long walks to explore the world for any number of reasons, but mental stimulation is something that is massively beneficial for all dogs.

It can be as simple as some sniffing (gather items from the outside world and bring home for your dog to explore if they are unable to go out), puzzle toys for them to hunt out food, games like hide and seek, or working on tricks and training fun things.

All of these will let your dogs use their brains and can really tire them out - my dogs are Border Collies, so have lots of energy, but a 20 minute sniffing session will often be immediately followed by a good nap!

10/02/2025

Your dog will be more willing to learn if you set him up for success. It might mean you praise and reward small ‘movements’ towards the final behaviour and if it is not going ‘right’ move back a step or two so he can succeed.

This is such an important point when it comes to teaching our dogs new things.

Think back to when you were at school. What helped you to learn better - the teacher who just told you when you had got something wrong but with no explanation of what or why, or the teacher who praised you when you got something right? I'm willing to bet that the second teacher made you feel a whole lot better and more willing to learn more!

The things we'll like our dogs to be able to do when asked may not seem obvious to them, but setting up the training scenario to give them the best opportunity to succeed or make a move in the right direction gives us a student who is likely to be keen and engaged and wanting to keep learning with us, because they're enjoying the process.

09/02/2025

There are a few reasons why some dogs are not liked by other dogs - it might be because the dog is pulling hard on lead to get to a dog, they may be pulling so hard that are making ‘strange’ noises, the dog might be staring at another dog, they might look ‘different’, it might even be the way the dog smells or their communication style.

WHY DO DOGS REACT BADLY TO SOME DOGS?

Have you got a dog that really pulls on the lead or walks on their back legs as the pull? Do you find that other dogs react badly to them sometimes?

Dogs who are really pulling on the lead and are up on the back legs are sometimes not loved by other dogs as they look like they are highly aroused and a bit out of control, they may feel unpredictable to other dogs and that can be scary so dogs may bark or growl at them.

If they pull so much that they restrict their breathing and make a choking or snorty sound, that’s also a bit off putting for other dogs as they don’t sound at all at ease or relaxed. The snorting or choking may even sound like growling and that could scare other dogs.

If you have a dog that looks like this when they are walking onlead and they are getting bad reactions from other dogs it’s really worth working on loose lead walking and switching to a harness. Switching to a harness will mean they can breathe easier and aren’t potentially damaging their trachea and they will also sound a lot better to other dogs.

Other dogs who tend to get a hard time are the starers. Dogs who walk down the street staring and making prolonged direct eye contact with other dogs are often not well received and they may get bad reactions from other dogs.

Some dogs naturally do stare lots and are friendly but they are just intently interested in other dogs. If you have a starer it’s worth trying to encourage them not to stare when you are walking towards another dog- encourage them to sniff (do a ‘find it’ with treats) or get them to check in with you to break eye contact.

Staring can be a prelude to play and dogs who know each other well may stare and stalk their buddy before play bowing- that’s totally fine between friends and normal rules don’t apply between good friends. If you are trying to help your dog make friends with new dogs though, try not to let them stare.

Other dogs may get a hard time because of the way they look- certain breeds and types can be harder for other dogs to read or may have a body confirmation that makes them look unfriendly, like my Inuit (pictured). She looks permanently confrontational as she has a curled tail, prick ears and stands with her weight fowards 😂 she looks like she’s about to start a scrap even if she’s being friendly and that why she often lies down when she’s trying to get a new dog to feel at ease around her.

Flatter faced dogs and all black dogs can also get a hard time as other dogs may not understand them well.

Dogs can also be targeted by other dogs due to the way they smell- chemical messengers (pheromones) can tell other dogs everything they need to know about your dog and some dogs seem to not like the way other dogs smell. Stress hormones and other hormones are also detected by other dogs and are likely to influence how they react to each other. So much of a dog’s communication is by scent and that’s a whole world we have no access to.

Communication style can also cause some dogs to have a hard time, some dogs communicate effortlessly and have a great range of communication and some are more awkward and this can also cause issues around other dogs too and they may need help to learn to communicate more appropriately.

Does your dog get a hard time from other dogs and do you know why if so?

Laura McAuliffe, 2025 Dog Communication

08/02/2025

Dogs are able to recognise our emotions. If you are having a ‘bad’ day for whatever reason it is not a good time to train your dog. Just have a cuddle and wait for a better time.

I NOSE HOW YOU FEEL
One of the most incredible things about dogs is their ability to recognize and respond to our emotions, but just how do they know how we’re feeling?

They may not understand the emotion we are feeling, but their brains are wired to understand whether that emotion makes them feel safe or not.

From an evolutionary perspective; for their survival, it was and still is, important for dogs to know which humans were safe to be around and which were not.

Dogs recognize the different chemical scents we produce through our skin or breath, our facial expressions or body language and our tone of voice.

Although we’re not aware of it, we emit different scents when experiencing positive emotions compared to when we experience negative emotions. Dogs have an amazing ability to recognize these different scents.

A dog's sense of smell is incredibly powerful and far superior to ours. Dogs have +/- 300 million olfactory receptors in their nose, sometimes more depending on the breed, compared to +/- 5 to 6 million in humans. In addition to this, the part of their brain that processes scent is around 40 times bigger than ours.

Dogs also recognize our facial expressions and body language. Just like we might stay well away from or not want to interact with someone who looks really angry and be more drawn and responsive to a happy, relaxed looking person.

Tone of voice – more info on this in my previous post.

Dogs can be such a comfort to us when we need emotional support or aren’t feeling well, but some of our emotions many have a negative effect on them.

Working with or interacting with a dog when we’re feeling angry, stressed, frustrated or having a bad day is not a good idea. It’s far better to wait until we feel more relaxed and calmer.

Dogs have rich emotional lives – just as we should try to be aware of their emotions, also be aware of how our emotions may affect them.

03/02/2025

A good recall for your dog allows them more freedom to enjoy themselves. I was recently on holiday at the Coromandel anc while my dogs were running around and swimming I met a couple who had two young Border Collies on lead. I approached them to say my dogs were good with other dogs so they could let them off lead and they said no they wouldn’t let them off because they couldn’t trust them to come back! I find this a bit sad ☹️. Join the Kool K9 Recall Class (Off lead Dog Class) and you will not be one of those people
Koolk9.co.nz/classes

02/02/2025

Do you want to find something ‘different’ to do with your dog, then enroll in the Fun Class!

In this class you will have fun with your dog – get him to go through an agility tunnel, bring you a toy to put in a box, and tricks that will build the relationship you have with your dog

The Fun Workshop runs over 4 weeks and starts on Monday 17th February at 6.30pm at Kool K9 Training, 18 Goile Road. Koromatua. The cost is $130.

➡️➡️ For more information or to reserve your spot email [email protected] ⬅️⬅️

Registration open – Fun Class 🐕
This is for *any* dog older than 16 weeks
🐶 What: Fun Class
📍 Where: 18 Goile Road 4x classes, one every Monday
📅 When: Starts Monday 17th February, final class Monday 10th March
💰 Cost: $130

30/01/2025

Tone matters sooo much! It is easier I think for a woman to use a tone that dogs respond to but not impossible for a man! Try different tones and see which one works!

SETTING THE TONE
The tone of voice we use when speaking to a dog matters!

When someone is talking to us or asking us to do something, are we more likely to respond and want to connect with them if they’re using a specific type of tone than if their tone is harsh, shouting or domineering?

The more we use positive tones of voice with our dogs, the more they will want to connect with us and be more interested in doing what we are asking.

Some examples of why tone matters –

Calling your dog to come back to you in a happy, excited, high-pitched tone is far more likely to work than using a stern, loud, angry tone. Would you want to return to someone who sounds really angry?

Yanking on a leash and shouting at a dog for reacting to another dog or situation is far less likely to work than saying “lets go this way!” in a happy tone and creating distance to where a dog feels comfortable.

Saying “Yes!” when a dog has done what you ask will increase the behaviour you’re looking for instead of yelling “No!” in an angry tone when they don’t get it right.

Although these examples are based on positive reinforcement training, a study has also shown that dogs respond and pay more attention when we speak with a higher pitch and more variation, similar to how we would talk to a baby.

Given that a dog’s emotional capability is similar to that of a young child, this all makes sense and fits together, in my opinion.

Here’s a link to the study if you’d like more information -

https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-023-05217-y

29/01/2025

Registration open – Off Lead Dog Class (Recall Class) 🐕

This is for *any* dog older than 16 weeks

🐶 What: Recall Class
📍 Where: 18 Goile Road, Koromatua
⚅ How many classes: 3x classes, one every Wednesday
📅 When: Starts Wednesday 19th February, final class Wednesday 5th March
💰 Cost: $100
➡️ Sign up here: https://www.koolk9.co.nz/classes ⬅️

Over the holiday period have you noticed that your dog didn't always come when you called?

Wouldn't it be nice if you could let your dog off lead at the beach and parks and know he will come back to you?

You need to do the Kool K9 Off-lead Dog Class! It is spread over three nights so you can really concentrate on your training and get the results you want.

28/01/2025

Dogs do not set out to try and dominate you or another dog. There are many reasons why they are showing the behaviour but it is not trying to “be boss”.

"There may be a number of reasons why dogs display behaviours that have in the past been put down to an attempt to assert dominance over other dogs and humans. Fear, pain, illness or resource guarding (often from having items taken away from them in an attempt to prove that mythical ‘alpha’ status) can result in aggressive displays. It is perhaps most often due to a misunderstanding, of not understanding the causes of canine behaviour, of not understanding canine body language, and of not understanding that our dogs really are not trying to be the bosses of us."

Read the full article here: https://www.goodguardianship.com/post/why-your-dog-is-not-trying-to-dominate-you

27/01/2025

Even with your own dog but especially with a dog you don’t know so well, you need to watch and ask for consent before you pat it.

Dogs are absolutely amazing creatures and, as humans, many of us love them and, in that very human way for showing affection, want to touch and hug them. It's a big part of who we are as a species. And some dogs do enjoy hugs - both of my current dogs are lovers of physical contact. If my boy isn't getting enough fuss and love, he will grab an arm with his paw and drag it closer. My adolescent girl will hop up on the sofa and flop onto your chest and snuggle.

Many (probably most in all honesty) dogs don't. If they like much contact at all, it is more likely to be a scritch on the side of the neck or chest.

However a dog does like to receive physical attention and fuss, the most important thing to remember is that they must have the choice of whether they want fuss or not. And, if your dog is one who is less keen on contact, advocate for them. Tell the people around you how to check with the dog for consent, and to respect the signals they give.

The following is an excerpt from Building the Bond, available now (link in the comments) on how to check for consent before touching a dog.

"Frequently seen advice states that we should reach a hand towards the dog for them to sniff and ‘get our scent’ as an opening step. This is incorrect for a couple of reasons. First of all, this movement is getting in the dog’s space as the hand is usually put right up close to their face, and this could be alarming for the dog, especially if the movement is rapid. Secondly, the dog’s sense of smell is between 10,000 and 100,000 times as acute as our own according to scientists. Alexandra Horwitz, in the book Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know, tells us that dogs can detect a teaspoon of sugar in two Olympic sized swimming pools – that’s one teaspoon of sugar diluted in five million litres. They can smell us a long time before we are close enough to interact with them!

Avoid bending down and looming over the dog. People are much bigger than they are most of the time, so this can be intimidating and scary for them, especially when they do not know the person. Also avoid facing them directly and staring at them, as these signals are confrontational in dogs and could make them uncomfortable or even feel the need to be defensive.

Stand at an angle somewhere around 45 degrees away from looking straight at the dog, with your arms loose at your sides. You may want to consider crouching down and maybe holding a hand slightly towards the dog while speaking to them quietly and inviting them into your space. If the dog does approach and comes right up to you, then stroke them – not on top of their head but on the chest or side of the neck. After a couple of seconds stop, and remove your hand to see what they do next. If they do not move away, or they move in closer, stroke them again, but remember to keep stopping and ensure they are given the option to end the interaction and move away.

If the dog does not approach, they instead move backwards, or they turn their head or whole body away, respect their choice and their signals and do not keep trying to interact."

27/01/2025

Have you been out with your dog during the holidays and noticed that he is pulling you towards other dogs or people or his recall isn’t as good as you thought it was. Join me in the Kool K9 Level 2 class starting tomorrow evening at 6.30 pm. This will be the last Level 2 class run outside at my place where there is lots of room until next Spring. Email [email protected] or book at koolk9.co.n

24/01/2025

It is good manners to not allow an off lead dog to approach one on lead. There is a reason that dog is on lead and it probably doesn’t want another dog to run up to it. Call your dog away and if you can’t call your dog away it shouldn’t be off lead!

A big issue for many walking their dogs on leads (for any one of a number of reasons) can be uncontrolled loose dogs running up to their dogs. Three of the most common reasons are shown in the image - an older dog who may be hurt in an over-enthusiastic and excitable greeting, a dog recovering from illness/injury/surgery, and a dog who is scared - perhaps the victim of a previous dog attack.

There is a misconception that 'good' dogs will love all other dogs and, if in a public area, should be prepared to play and interact with any other dog in the area. The truth is that, just as we are, most dogs are at least a little selective in who they want to interact with. They will show this in their body language which - subtle as it may be to humans - a socially competent dog will be able to read and respect.

The problem is that these 'good' and 'friendly' dogs as their humans perceive them are generally not actually all that socially competent, and don't respect those subtle signals asking for space and to be left alone. They can keep pushing and pushing until the on lead dog (who is not able to avoid them because they are on lead and can't get away) feels they have no choice but to defend themselves. And then it's often the poor on-lead dog who is labelled as 'bad' when they were just trying to get out of the scary situation.

An off lead dog should not be allowed to approach unknown on-lead dogs. If you see your dog approaching an on-lead dog, call your dog back and keep them close by, either by calling them to heel or putting them on the lead. For the sake of everyone's enjoyment of the space you are in, keep your dog under control for the few minutes it takes to give the on-lead dog space, and then carry on.

If your dog cannot be called back from approaching an on-lead dog, they are not ready to be off-lead in a public place. Use a longline while working on strengthening their recall around distractions - for their own safety, as well as that of the other dogs around.

22/01/2025

Three of my dogs can eat relatively close to each other but the fourth dog needs space. Mostly I feed her in a different area to the other three but if there is no other area (if we are travelling) I feed her a long distance away from the others and make sure they cannot walk up to her. I recognised this when she was a puppy as she would eat really fast if another dog came close, or more obviously make a ‘face’ and I did not want her to escalate to a fight.

20/01/2025

Trying to change behaviour takes time and should almost look boring because ideally we do not want the dog to show the undesirable behaviour. Somtimes people choose to only do one session with me (and that is their choice) but I do worry that the behaviour has not changed and I certainly do not use any punishment based training methods.

This is something so often seen on social media, trainers claiming that they have sorted out a behaviour problem in a single session, or just minutes. Often they will show videos of before and after, seeming to indicate that the dog is perfectly behaved in the after clip.

The problem comes when looking at these videos and claims with an educated eye. So often the 'perfectly behaved' dog in the second clip is showing lots of signs of stress, scared to do anything, or looks absolutely shut down and has given up, just waiting for it all to be over.

What is rarely shown is the bit between the before and after. That part where the dog finds out not doing what this trainer wants will result in something that causes them fear and/or pain. The methods or tools that might be used (although with a close look, the shock collar or prong collar or similar tool can sometimes be seen). The effects of using tight slip leads on the dog's neck and the physical damage that can be done there.

The picture text sums the whole situation up: there are no quick fixes in behaviour, and certainly not ones that will result in lasting changes in behaviour. If someone claims that they can change an unwanted behaviour fast, take a step back. Think about what they would have to do or use to stop that behaviour so quickly, and about the effect that will have on your dog and the relationship you have with them.

19/01/2025

Following on from the previous post about giving your dog something to do - scatter feeding is a great activity. My youngest Border Coliie eats quite fast and also is high energy she daily gets her meal by scatter feeding or putting the food in a treat dispenser.