Kool K9 Dog Training

28/08/2024

For those of you who have trained in Kool K9 classes Natural NZ Pet Food is where the yummy treats that your dogs get comes from. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1040343444763950&id=100063649114582

You will find treats in both Dog and Cat food on sale, on those pages on the website and on the bulk treats page if they come in Bulk

27/08/2024

On lead greetings can be a problem but if your dog is sociable and you can read the body language of the other dog then a brief greeting is ok. Read this article for more advice.

26/08/2024

The last night of the Level 2 class was ‘out and about’. Practicing the skills the dogs had learnt where there were distractions and in a different environment.

25/08/2024

So very true!

22/08/2024

I have met this pup and he is a relaxed little fellow and gets on well with other dogs.

Tucker-dile 🐊

Our poor pup Tucker is still homeless!
He is such an easy puppy who is fantastic with kids, cats and other dogs.
He is approx 6/7 months old now and has been looking for a home for over 3 months!
No idea what breed he is, a true rescue special. He will be medium sized (Labrador sized).
His foster mum said he’s a super easy relaxed pup who will be suitable for first time dog owners.

Currently in Hamilton.

21/08/2024

Today I worked with little Arlo. He looks so cute but he is a bit reactive when he sees other dogs. We have been working on keeping him below threshold so he can learn and giving him alternative behaviours to do.

20/08/2024

If your dog is anxious you need to help them feel safe.

20/08/2024

In the level 2 class we practice the dogs being calm near one another and being able to stay.

20/08/2024

Registration open – Out and About With Your Dog Class 🐕

🐶 What: Level 2 dog training
📍 Where: Hamilton Hounds Day Care, Grasslands Place, Frankton
⚅ How many classes: 6x classes, one every Wednesday
📅 When: Starts Wednesday 4th September, final class Wednesday 16th October
💰 Cost: $175
➡️ Sign up here: https://www.koolk9.co.nz/classes

Already done some basic training but might feel that you need a little more help? Enrol in the Kool K9 Level 2 Class.

This class is much more than the standard sit, down and stay.

You will learn to teach your dog some life skills. For example what to do when your over-excited dog wants to pull you over to see everyone you encounter in the street. Or how to help your dog that is worried by "strange" people or dogs and barks at them.

On the final night, we will take a small field trip so you have the opportunity to use those skills in real life.

Joanne of Kool K9 can help with all kinds of dog training and behavioural problems.

14/08/2024

Another post on dog body language . People often worry when they see hackles up on a dog but there are several reasons why hackles may be raised.

Hackles refers to the line of hair that runs along the spine of the dog, from the back of the neck to the top of the tail. In certain situations, these hackles will be raised, also known as piloer****on (pilo meaning hair and er****on meaning raised).

It is commonly thought of as a sign of aggression. While raised hackles can be a warning sign that the dog is bothered by something and may resort to aggression, hackles can raise for a number of reasons. The real definition of why raised hackles occur is a rise in arousal levels.

Arousal in behaviour terms relates to the level of interest, excitement, or reaction that the dog is experiencing. An over-excited dog who is bouncing around, jumping up at people, maybe mouthing their hand is over-aroused. The dog who is trying to run away from something that scares them is over-aroused. The dog who displays aggressive behaviours towards something that they feel is too close to them is over-aroused.

Hackles are a good sign to look for to judge how relaxed your dog is in a situation, together with the rest of the signs and signals they are showing at the same time. You can find more information in this article from my blog: https://www.goodguardianship.com/post/can-you-tell-how-your-dog-is-feeling

It's so important to take time to familiarise yourself with canine body language and, in particular, how your dog's body language appears.

12/08/2024

Last night in the Level 2 class we did some work on calm walking.

10/08/2024

Today it was Sunny’s turn for training. Sunny gets very distracted and wants to go and say hello to people and dogs. I went on a walk with his mum and gave her some techniques to help Sunny stay calm and focussed. Sunny did very well because it was such a nice day there were lots of people out walking and biking!

10/08/2024

Yesterday I met Charlie who gets a bit excited when visitors come to his house. We looked at ways to keep him calm and also behaviours that give him something else to do - other than jumping all over the visitors!

06/08/2024

I travel with my dogs a lot as I compete in agility and take them lots of places. I hate seeing dogs hanging out car windows and on their owners laps as they drive, it really is very dangerous. My dogs travel in a crate but I know that is hard to fit in alot of cars, so at the very least have them in well fitting harness and tethered to a car anchor point.

06/08/2024

Registration open – Basic Dog Training Class 🐕

This is for *any* dog older than 16 weeks

🐶 What: Level 1 dog training
📍 Where: Hamilton Hounds Day Care, Grasslands Place, Frankton
⚅ How many classes: 6x classes, one every Tuesday
📅 When: Starts Tuesday 20th August , final class Tuesday 24th September
💰 Cost: $175
➡️ Sign up here: https://www.koolk9.co.nz/classes ⬅️

Spring is here! 🌼 Time to get your dog out and about in public – but first it needs some outside manners! Let's get your dog walking nicely on a lead and coming back when you call.

This class is held indoors, and there is a maximum of six dogs attending so you’ll get plenty of direct contact with the trainer. We’ll also give you handy training information you can take home and use.

06/08/2024

Teaching ‘Middle’ in the Kool K9 Level 2 Class

31/07/2024

This dog could be anywhere, so please keep an eye out!

Where is Tu? Please help us find this dog - $800 reward offered for information that results in the safe return of TU

This is an update on yesterdays post regarding the missing therapy dog Tu. Tu is the companion and support for 13-year-old Naleigh who went missing from his home in Manaia on 10 July.

Coromandel’s CFM with the support of locals, Adam Dobbs ($100), Jill ($300), and Scottie Mackrell ($100) have issued a reward of $800 in total for information that leads to the safe return of Tu. If you know anything about this dog then please call us on 07 280 0540 option 7, or private message our FB account, leave a message on our website or email us at [email protected].

Tu is a special dog, trained to be a Therapy dog for Naleigh a 13-year-old boy who has autism. Naleigh is beside himself with worry for his beloved dog and goes for daily walks hoping to spot his friend and companion.

How can you help?

Continue to share and talk about this missing dog. We know that someone will have information regarding him. The more this message is shared and the more we talk to friends and connections the higher the likelihood of someone who knows something hearing this and giving us a call.

Please do your bit and share to groups, pages and anywhere that increases the message that we need the safe return of Tu.

29/07/2024

Watch this play between a big dog and a tiny dog and learn what to look out for.

26/07/2024

Management is using anything really in order to prevent your dog rehearsing a behaviour - it could be a door barrier, a vinyl on a window to prevent your dog seeing out or simply putting your dog away to avoid it barking at visitors.

MANAGEMENT MATTERS

I frequently come across a multitude of questions from people seeking help with training their fearful dogs to do or not do various things:

*Not to bark at goings on outside windows.
*Not to bark at the doorbell.
*Not to bark at outside noises.
*Not to door-dash the moment it opens.
*How to teach them to cope with visitors.

The list goes on, but often, all that is needed to prevent your dog from rehearsing those unwanted behaviours is to have some well thought out management strategies in place.

I just want to stress here that management is not a dirty word, or cheating, or taking the easy option; nor is it about suppressing natural behaviours, or spoiling your dog's fun. Minimising stressors in the home as much as possible is really important as it will help to prevent trigger stacking, and with just a few small changes, you can make a big difference in how safe your dog feels in his home environment. Reducing stress so that our dogs can relax, decompress and feel safe is essential to their wellbeing, as well as in providing a good baseline from which to start any training.

Read on to find out more!

https://www.trailiepawsforthought.com/post/management-matters

Avoidance of triggers while not training, and having sufficient decompression time afterwards to process and recuperate, are both vital components of behaviour modification.

Management is key!

©️ Trailie Paws For Thought
www.trailiepawsforthought.com

I'm very happy for all of my content to be shared, but please do not copy and paste (to avoid sharing from source), screenshot, or download any part of it. THANK YOU! 🐾 🐾

24/07/2024

Puppies are loveable but they are also hard work! Even if you have had a puppy previously you forget what it is like!

Breeders must play a role in matching expectations with reality, preparing both puppy and guardian for what is to come. Preparation may never match the actuality, but sufficient and appropriate preparation for new guardians is essential. If you are on your own, its hugely beneficial to seek support, maybe someone to sit with your puppy, or even just to talk to.

This obviously doesn’t just apply to puppies, but adult dogs too. Those initial stages of living together can be confusing, isolating, stressful, but also joyous, for both dog and guardian.

21/07/2024

I have one place left in a Level 2 - Out and About With Your Dog Class. It starts Monday 22nd July at 7.15pm. This is a great opportunity to continue your training journey with your dog and learn what to do when you dog shows behaviours such as barking or running up at people or dogs. Email [email protected] for more information or book https://www.koolk9.co.nz/classes

20/07/2024

If you walk your dog around Hamilton Lake please do not let them even touch the water!

19/07/2024

Evan needs a new Home

20 month old neutered male Rottweiler called Evan requires a new home. Evan is a playful, friendly and loving boy who will make a great companion. He would enjoy another doggy friend. Preferably needs child free home with owners who are experienced dog handlers as still needs brushing up on basic manners.

I have worked with Cheranne and Evan a few times and he is a very friendly boy and wants to meet everyone!

For more information call Cheranne Ph 02102586720

18/07/2024

If you want your dog to be happy when you approach him when he is eating, a far better way is to toss a treat as you walk past, or just put your dog in a crate, outside or in another room to eat in peace.

It's sad to see people being told to invade all areas of their dogs life. Let's assume that like us, they want agency, undisturbed rest and that they have the right to manage their meal without strange human interruptions.

18/07/2024

A lot of people ask me about how appropriate play looks between dogs. This is a really good video showing appropriate play between a big dog and a small dog.

17/07/2024

I have certainly heard it said that an e collar is just a like a tap on the shoulder. It is also perceived that it cures a problem such as lunging at dogs because the dog stops doing it. But this is a big but - the dog has stopped doing the behaviour because it is scared and do you think that makes the dog feel happy when it sees another dog? There are better ways to work with this problem!

Have you seen trainers who use Ecollars say that they are just used for communication and that they don’t use aversives? They may describe an ecollar as a ‘tap on the shoulder’ to get a dog’s attention. An ecollar is designed to be aversive, it’s a form of punishment and at a minimum it causes discomfort and at higher levels it causes pain. If you just want to get a dog’s attention and their focus there are a thousand other ways to do that which don’t cause pain or discomfort.

Using an ecollar may well stop your dog doing things you don’t like as it’s a form of punishment and that’s what punishment does, it reduces behaviours. Punishment reduces behaviour as the dog finds the consequence unpleasant. They may stop barking and lunging at other dogs/kids on scooters/joggers but you won’t change how they feel about things they find scary in a positive way and you won’t make them less fearful.

You may suppress behaviour but you may also remove the only means they have to communicate with you and if you are working with fear-based behaviours this can be incredibly risky. You may have stopped them barking and lunging (as they are now scared to bark or lunge) but what will they do now that you’ve removed those behaviours- are they going to feel happier about the kid on the scooter going past them? How do they feel about the world around them- have you helped them to feel more or less safe? There’s always a risk of fallout and creating new fear-based behaviours that weren’t present before.

I hope trainers who use punishment can at least be honest about what they are doing, some absolutely are but some try and pretend they aren’t using aversives at all.

12/07/2024

To prevent dog bites you need to get good at reading dog body language and act on what the dog is trying to tell you!

Children represent a massive proportion of reported dog bite cases.

These pictures, selected from a massive library of similar stock photos of children with dogs, show some of the reasons for this.

Humans like physical contact. We're generally huggers, particularly with a gorgeous animal like a dog - that soft coat and gorgeous faces just look perfect for a hug, especially to a child.

Dogs are definitely not like us in this way. True, there are some dogs who may enjoy cuddling up with their people, and even like or don't mind hugs. One of my dogs is very much in favour of physical contact. Importantly, however, it is only with the people he chooses. The ones he knows and trusts.

Kids often cannot read canine body language. The signs are here in the photographs used of a tense and unhappy dog, but the children in these pictures can't see and interpret them.

It's up to us as adults, whether parents, dog caregivers, or both, to make sure that we are educated on canine body language and can see the signs of stress.

That we make sure to advocate for the dogs so that they are not put in this position.

To make sure that the children around us are educated and taught about the likes and dislikes of dogs.

To stop putting children and dogs into potentially dangerous situations for the cute photo or video (the videos of babies propped up against dogs make most behaviour professionals shudder because that is so not fair on either species!)

Let's be fair to both dogs and children and use education and understanding to keep children and dogs happy and safe together.

09/07/2024

When a dog becomes very excited or very fearful they are obviously not calm and they cannot even think they just react. We need to teach our dogs to be calm, they as very often cannot do this by themselves.

CULTIVATING CALMNESS

We teach our dogs all sorts of things, but maybe don’t realise that teaching “calm” is also an important behaviour that has so many positive applications for both us and our dogs.

“Calm” can be defined as the absence of agitation or excitement; a feeling of tranquility; serenity and peace. These feelings are so often lacking in both our lives and that of our dogs.

Besides teaching dogs to settle on a mat or in another place or capturing and rewarding calm behaviour, here are some other ways to promote calmness.

Scenting or sniffing is a really effective and simple way to promote relaxation. It lowers the pulse rate and creates feelings of wellbeing.

Chewing is another powerful relaxation tool. Dogs use the chewing to relieve stress, frustration or anxiety. Chewing has a calming effect on the adrenal-pituitary axis in the brain which triggers the release of endorphins. It’s like self-medication for stress or anxiety.

Relaxing music that is specifically made for dogs can also work well, especially with dogs that get over excited in a car or have storm or firework fear.

When playing an exciting, high-energy game with your dog, take frequent breaks before starting up again to help your dog wind down and become calmer.

Aromatherapy, ear or other types of massage are other ways to help create calmness.

Cortisol holidays are also really important after a stressful event to prevent trigger stacking and allow cortisol levels to return to normal.

Conventional wisdom says that the ability to remain calm is a character trait that most of us lack, but Neuroscience teaches us that remaining calm under pressure is not an inborn trait, but a skill that needs to be learnt, practiced and managed and this applies to our dogs as well.

02/07/2024

Registration open – Basic Dog Training Class 🐕
This is for *any* dog older than 16 weeks
🐶 What: Level 1 dog training
📍 Where: Hamilton Hounds Day Care, Grasslands Place, Frankton
⚅ How many classes: 6x classes, one every Tuesday
📅 When: Starts Wednesday 31st July, final class Wednesday 4th September
💰 Cost: $175
➡️ Sign up here: https://www.koolk9.co.nz/classes ⬅️
It’s winter ❄️ Your dog is probably spending a lot of time indoors and needs to learn inside manners. Outside manners would be good too – get them walking nicely on a lead and coming back when you call.
This class is held indoors out of the weather, and there is a maximum of six dogs attending so you’ll get plenty of direct contact with the trainer. We’ll also give you handy training information you can take home and use.