Dog Training Vermont

12/21/2024

A cartoon by Sarah Kempa.

https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/t28YWG

09/24/2024

This is something everyone should see. This xray is of a 2 week old puppy.

When you get your 8/10 week old puppies, please keep this image in mind. Their bones do not even touch yet. They plod around so cutely with big floppy paws and wobbly movement because their joints are entirely made up of muscle, tendons, ligaments with skin covering. Nothing is fitting tightly together or has a true socket yet.

When you run them excessively or don't restrict their exercise to stop them from overdoing it during this period you don't give them a chance to grow properly. Every big jump or excited bouncing run causes impacts between the bones. In reasonable amounts this is not problematic and is the normal wear and tear that every animal will engage in.

But when you're letting puppy jump up and down off the lounge or bed, take them for long walks/hikes, you are damaging that forming joint. When you let the puppy scramble on tile with no traction you are damaging the joint.

You only get the chance to grow them once. A well built body is something that comes from excellent breeding and a great upbringing-BOTH, not just one.

Once grown - around 12-18 months depending on their breed, you will have the rest of their life to spend playing and engaging in higher impact exercise. So keep it calm while they're still little baby puppies and give the gift that can only be given once.

09/11/2024

We often hear people being reprimanded for “treating their dogs like children”. Well….following is an excerpt from a scientific paper that tells us exactly why we treat our dogs like children and why that may not at all be a bad thing. Looking at ourselves as gentle parents to our dogs creates the secure base effect in them that helps them better problem solve and resolve conflict. So, next time someone shames you for seeing yourself as a parent to your dog, share this post to remind yourself that what you feel is valid.

“For the survival of infants in social species it is essential that infants develop a strong affectional bond with their primary caregiver. There are 4 ways to discriminate an attachment bond from other affectional bonds :
1. staying near to and resisting separation from the attachment figure
2.feeling distress upon separation from the attachment figure (separation distress),
3. using the attachment figure as a base for exploring the environment free of anxiety (secure base),
4. seeking out the attachment figure for contact and assurance in times of distress (safe haven).

Although attachment theory had been developed in regard to human children, the unique relationship between dogs and their humans bears a remarkable resemblance to an infant attachment bond. (Horn et.al. 2013)

At Canine Essential 101, we teach you how to deal with your dog that relies on strengthening this secure attachment, not undermine it. https://courses.bharcs.com/

09/11/2024

Invisible fence, what's the harm?

08/17/2024

Alexis Devine's book I Am Bunny: How a "Talking" Dog Taught Me Everything I Need to Know About Being Human explores what it means for dogs to talk, delves into the science of animal communication, and is a personal take on trauma and communication. It's a refreshing and exciting account of what she learned from teaching her own dog Bunny to "talk" using buttons. Full of empathy and wit, it's a must-read if you're interested in the cognitive abilities of dogs.

I've just published an interview with Alexis on my blog. Check it out here: https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2024/08/i-am-bunny-interview-with-alexis-devine.html

You can also hear her talk about the book at Bark! Fest, the book festival for animal lovers. She's on a panel called Canine Blockbusters with Alexis Devine, Kerry Nichols, Teresa J. Rhyne. Details via the link.

07/20/2024

07/18/2024

Thank you to The International School for Canine Psychology and Behaviour - ISCP for this reminder that your dog doesn't have to be friends with every other dog it meets.

06/21/2024

A picture is worth a thousand words...image credit International Canine Behaviorists