Capricorn Dog Training

05/06/2024

next virtual leash reactivity class thursdays may 9-30, 7-8pm
email [email protected]
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04/11/2024

03/05/2024

Sometimes this is obvious...other times it is very subtle that you may not even know what caused it ❓
Somedays your walk will turn to custard and you may have no idea why, it could very well be trigger stacking.

If your dog is normally ok with motorbikes going past them.....and today they maybe barked and lunged at a motorbike going past.....did you notice the neighbours dog barking a few minutes ago? Did you know they can actually be connected ?

Did you also see the child on the scooter a minute before that?...your dog did and individually these wouldn't be an issue but in a short space of time your dog has had their stress levels rise and and then "bam" your dog has a reaction to something they have always been ok with.

Its not the end trigger that started this chain of events....this started with the scooter going past. Did you notice your dog was just a little spooked by it but happy to continue walking...they certainly didn't bark or react but they definitely were not comfortable with the scooter.
Then a minute or two after the scooter your neighbours dog barked...normally your dog doesn't care about this dog...perhaps it always barks...and your dog then started to show some signs of stress, tension in their body and face.....then the motorbike passed and the barking started.
All we may see is the reaction to the motorbike but the whole chain of events started a few minutes ago....this is trigger stacking.

At reactive class in the arena (a strange environment for some dogs so they are a little stressed to start with)....I hear a loud car going past and I warn people your dog may be about to react....I am usually told "oh my dog is ok with cars", car goes past and their dog reacts.
That is trigger stacking.
Uncomfortable things for your dog that individually wouldn't cause an issue ...today they are barking at.

The next time you walk your dog..listen to the environment around them, watch the stress in their body and face, hear the dog in the distance barking, watch the bird land right in front, or look at the child on the bike and WATCH your dogs reactions and if they are close together....the next trigger could be the one to cause the reaction (even if they have ALWAYS been fine with it before).

If you can see it coming, you can get focus back on you, change direction, perhaps a pattern game, encourage them to sniff the ground....there are lots of ways we can interrupt the chain of events unfolding before us.

Trigger stacking is especially important in reactive dogs and it can be the simplest thing, a sound that they have never reacted to before or a cat they normally have no issues with.
Dogs are not immune to stress. They cant tell us they are stressed but they can certainly show it in their body, face, gait and behaviour..... and there is a lot to read before a reaction.

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02/29/2024

This is simple.✅
It is easy....and it works !✅
If you can be clear and precise when you reward behaviour you want to be repeated, you are making things SO much easier for your dog to understand.
Sometimes people see something they really like from their dog and they stand up, go to the cupboard to get their favourite reward, open the cupboard, get the packet out...... and the time to reward has long gone.
Have a few rewards on you at all times.✅
Pop them in a pocket (yes you will curse me on laundry day🙂)...but you can make a real difference in your dogs behaviour just by rewarding exactly what you like when they show you.
I am not talking about a sit or a down but all the other times you notice your dog has done well.
They didn't bark at the cat as it ran over the grass YES! Rewardable✅
They chose just to relax on their bed or mat YES! Rewardable✅
They kept all four paws on the ground when your guest arrived YES! Rewardable✅

If you haven't tried rewarding exactly what you want....take up the challenge and try it for 2 weeks.
I promise you.... you will see results...but you will probably still curse me on laundry day🙂

Please respect that these graphics take time and effort to make. Everyone is free to share on social media🙂, however off social media use of these marked graphics is prohibited.
Unmarked graphics are available for $ 1.20 USD or $ 2 NZD each (approx), these are then able to be used off Facebook for client handouts, posters or for personal use.
Screen shots are a violation of the copyright.
Please visit ABC Dogs Patreon Shop for unmarked graphics. All graphics belong to ABC Dogs NZ and are under copyright.

02/26/2024

Shake it…shake it off…

A recent study by two researchers in France looked at sniffing, pulse rate, and leash length on walks. Sixty-one dogs were taken on three separate walks, five minutes each walk, once with a 1.5m leash, once with a 5m leash, and once without a leash at all (walk order was randomized for each dog). Off-leash dogs sniffed the most, more than 3x as long as the dogs on short leashes. Dogs on long leashes spent nearly as much time as unleashed dogs sniffing, almost 3x as long as dogs on short leashes.

This study also found that sniffing resulted in lowered pulse rates, and the more intensely they sniffed, the more their pulse rates lowered. Pulse rate was also lowered when dogs “shook off” during walks on all leash lengths. The “shake off” behavior was often seen when the dog’s pulse rate was particularly high.

Read more about it below!

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1HX77kp2HBDiTxmq/?mibextid=Le6z7H

https://www.tuftsyourdog.com/everydaydogcare/giving-your-dog-time-to-sniff-on-walks-will-literally-soothe-his-heart/

What else can we learn about dogs from their walking behavior? Take your best friend on a Sniffari and see what you observe!

02/23/2024

🐕‍🦺🧠🫁🫀 WHY MOVEMENT HELPS COMBAT THE EFFECTS OF STRESS 🫀🫁🧠🐕‍🦺

A couple of months back, a client noticed a strange thing in one of her dogs. He was struggling quite a bit in some situations where there were other intact male dogs around, so she decided to take him for a refresher of obedience classes. Her obedience instructor was really helpful and found her a space in an a class with no other intact males. He did really well in class and behaved like a model citizen.

But...

When she got him home, all kinds of stuff would happen.

At first, he just seemed pretty fizzy. He'd come back and then go do zoomies in the garden. She thought nothing of it, as zoomies are rarely anything to worry about. The odd thing, she said, was that he didn't normally get the zoomies.

Then, the winter had set in and she didn't want him creating deep mud tracks in the house and then bringing it all inside, so she brought him in from the car after class. Although he'd sometimes get zoomies around the living room, she noticed he then started to pounce on light reflections from a lampshade, or he'd try and catch moving shadows in the kitchen.

Although she had contacted me about other things, she asked me why I thought this was.

The fact is that movement can often be a good release after stressful experiences. And stressful experiences doesn't necessarily mean 'bad' experiences - not all stress is bad, right? Obedience was mentally taxing. He had to concentrate hard. He had to control his body and movement. He also had to ignore all the other dogs, even if they were barking or excited.

What her dog did is exactly what many animal species do following a stressful event: they move more. We all know that exercise and movement is good for physical health, but animals show us the way in understanding that it can help us with psychological health too.

Of course, exercise elevates mood - as long as you don't hurt yourself! It's one reason doctors are prescribing gym memberships for a bunch of mood disorders in humans, including depression. Movement certainly seems to help us regulate physiologically.

But we know it also helps enhance mood too. Not only does it make us feel better, it also reduces the impact of stress. Some of these processes may be innate: nobody has to teach a dog that having the zoomies feels kind of cool. Others may be learned. Some dogs may need a little encouragement for example to learn to love swimming, but once they've found the pleasure of swimming, they take to it easily.

Many of the dogs I work with have little bursts of movement after stressful experiences. Sometimes those movements are small - things like shaking off or increasing their pace on a walk. Other times, those movements can be more frenetic.

One dog I worked with had spent a long time getting over his fear of strangers on the property. It took him a while to find his feet. Eventually, he got to the point where he was happy with guests in the home. When they left the house, though, he'd often seem really energetic. His guardians called it his 'Victory Celebration' - as soon as the door closed, he'd go and pick up a toy and bounce from sofa to sofa.

Noticing those bursts of activity can often help us understand that movement helps our dogs feel good. I know plenty of dogs who, after a good meal, do the happy dance of having a full belly. Lidy often goes and picks up her toys right after food and she quite often looks for a game with me.

Understanding how movement can cause good feelings in the body definitely helps us understand why so many animals increase their movement after stressful events.

You didn't think your Friday night disco days were for nothing, did you?!

Our emotions and our bodies are deeply and intricately interlinked. It's no surprise then that movement helps us feel good and helps us regulate well.

The same is definitely true of our dogs as well.

01/10/2024

https://lightenupdogtraining.co.uk/5-ways-to-improve-your-desensitisation-with-your-dog/?fbclid=IwAR3aot7iiz8yjql-yUHaUcgL6yJz5TnYBKT9-zRqelhQdFZxFL223q0XZGA_aem_ATxL40ouMfXm-yEuuIXRlbZTkiQ76h5yvzNxqs84fEYW5drWHQ57oiQtITHXFDSyi6M

Whether you're working with a trainer or by yourself, knowing these five tips to help you maximise the impact of your desensitisation can really help

12/02/2023

11/13/2023

last 4wk virtual reactivity class of 2023 tuesdays 11/28-12/19 7-8pm email [email protected]
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11/05/2023

No dog needs corrections.

There is never a reason to correct a dog.

When corrections "work" they do so by scaring, startling or otherwise interrupting behavior. They do not teach the dog anything other than potentially to be afraid of us.

So what do we do instead? We as guardians need to do a better job at understanding the motivation behind why dogs do what they do and we need to do a much better job at reading body language, managing their environments and teaching them alternate behaviors when they do something we would prefer them not to.

All of these things are on US, not the dog.

10/25/2023

last 4wk virtual reactivity class of 2023 tuesdays 11/21-12/12 7-8pm email [email protected] (may move to 11/28 start)

10/03/2023

next otat 4wk virtual leash reactivity class tuesdays 10/17-11/5 7-8pm email [email protected]
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09/29/2023

🐾 Why does chronic pain have an affect on behaviour? 🐾

The emotion of pain is a form of fear-anxiety and it can directly affect behaviour by increasing vigilance and leading to behavioural responses that are designed to keep the individual safe. For this reason an animal in chronic pain may show avoidance behaviour and try to keep distance from anything that it perceives to be a risk in terms of exacerbating its pain. This may lead to the pet being less engaged in social interactions and showing less interest in play or making very obvious attempts to get away. Painful animals may also show less obvious behaviours of inhibition or appeasement.

Inhibition involves the animal taking in information by watching and listening but not giving anything away. The result can be a pet who is very quiet and can easily be misinterpreted as being relaxed. It is important to watch for signs that the pet is monitoring the environment, for example by watching for ear movement and staring, and not to simply accept that they are "being very good". Appeasement involves exchanging information with others and because dogs are socially obligate animals they will often use this behavioural response when they are in pain. These dogs will seek information from those around them as well as give information back. This is often done through touch and these dogs may lean into people or nudge at them in ways that are misinterpreted as "attention seeking" and seen as unwanted or naughty behaviours.

Dogs may also sniff and lick at people in ways that are misinterpreted as affection. It is therefore important to be aware of changes in social interactions and not to dismiss increased interaction which might signify an emotional change. The other potential response to pain is repulsion and this involves behaviours which are designed to make the perceived threat stay away. Anything that the animal perceives to be a risk in terms of inducing pain can lead to a repulsion response and these responses can vary from a low grumble, to a significant growl, to an air snap and even a bite. While these repulsion behaviours are often considered to be the most serious, because of the potential consequences, it is important to remember that the pain can be equally significant for the pet regardless of which of the four behavioural responses it gives. It is very important to take repulsion seriously and to take steps to avoid the potential consequences of these behaviours but we must not disregard avoidance, inhibition and appeasement which are also important signs that an animal may be in pain.

In addition to the direct effect on behaviour chronic pain can have an indirect effect by reducing an animal's emotional capacity. The chronic pain uses up some of the animal's emotional "space" and means that they are more likely to react to other stimuli, such as noises or social interactions. When this happens the main thing that a caregiver may notice is a change in behaviour but the underlying pain also needs to be treated.

09/20/2023

https://www.sit-pretty.ca/blog/all-played-out

Our dogs go through various stages of physical and social development through their lives. From the adorable days of puppyhood, to the gangly and uncoordinated time as a juvenile…

09/14/2023

08/26/2023

next 4wk virtual leash reactivity class thursdays 8/31-9/21 7-8pm email [email protected]
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08/24/2023

When our dog’s behaviour changes or something challenging arises. We need to remember that it can come from many places. The main thing is not to blame ourselves or our dogs, but instead go into detective mode.

Rule out pain, medical, developmental changes. Look at changes in their lives and if they are getting enough. Sometimes we can work on the problem without even directly working on the problem. But by simply addressing what’s needed in our dogs lives at the time.

07/20/2023

Dogs don't do things AT you, to get back at you, or to make you mad- but they will do things to meet a need that's unmet. Whether that's chewing up your shoes (because they *need* to chew), zooming out the door you left open (there's a whole world to sniff out there!) or peeing on the rug (it was BY the door to the yard). And if you know their needs, it's easier to find ways to meet them.

07/01/2023

https://eileenanddogs.com/blog/2023/06/30/when-treat-training-doesnt-work-operator-error/?fbclid=IwAR1CvX1jwxVfyWhqoCwG2hTdTmbbV1DgRK1zLQyABohcaTO4ga4SwZ6nbLQ_aem_AfHHIoDSBEEoCzMMs3ajBDT3ZbDbSGH668AuZRc9UekF4Y-ahK6ft-rTzUK7mqioMqg

Positive reinforcement training using food works. It's fun and helps build a great bond with your dog. Here's what's wrong with articles that say otherwise.

06/21/2023

IS YOUR DOG “STUBBORN”, OR STRUGGLING?

It is all too easy to describe our dogs as stubborn when we are feeling frustrated that they don't seem to be listening to us, or aren't being very cooperative. “Nose down, tail up, ears off!” is often repeated when it comes to scent hounds. However, if we aren’t achieving the response that we are looking for from our dogs, we need to consider why and how we can help them out. Are we being clear in what we are asking of them, and do they understand? Are we asking too much of them too soon and not building solid foundations first? What is happening in the environment which may be impacting them? Are they trigger stacked and not in the right frame of mind to be able to focus and learn new things? Are they suffering from undiagnosed pain?

When our dogs aren't able to do as we ask, we need to consider why, and understand that they are not purposely being difficult, but need some help from us. We may not always be aware of potential problems: a worrying scent, a noise in the distance that we are unable to hear; to dismiss this behaviour as stubbornness is a disservice to our dogs. Being unable or unwilling to do something is vital information that we need to acknowledge, take on board, and respond to appropriately.

With any behavioural concerns, it is really important to get a thorough vet check to rule out any pain and discomfort; we know that up to 80% of behavioural cases have an underlying pain component. If in doubt, always get checked out!

© Trailie Paws For Thought
https://www.trailiepawsforthought.com/

06/10/2023

There are a lot of different reasons for your dog's behaviour, intentional vindictiveness or naughtiness isn't one of them.

All behaviours have a function. They serve the individual in some way. Behaviours are the observable actions of any number of underlying environmental and internal processes. Assumptions are not only unhelpful, they are potentially damaging and neglect to address your dogs' reality.

Step back and take a moment to observe what your dog is telling you. If you need help, reach out to a certified and qualified professional.

06/01/2023

new 4 wk virtual leash reactivity session mondays 6/5-26 7-8p
email [email protected]

05/26/2023

https://www.drjensdogblog.com/its-not-all-in-how-you-raise-them-the-role-of-genetics-in-behavior/?fbclid=IwAR1m2emWzn6GPTssE6i7pqql4VinykbKm0h7_SRA13Da-u-Mc-JMtGgG2MQ

If you’re a dog owner, I’m sure you’ve heard this refrain. Conventional wisdom says that young puppies come to us as blank slates. Full of promise and limitless potential, ready to be molded into …

05/18/2023

“I WANT TO BE CLOSE, BUT DON’T TOUCH ME”

Dogs who display what we call “conflict aggression” will display aggression in situations where they are having an interaction with a person - usually someone they know - even if part of the interaction seems “friendly.”

With these dogs it’s important to know and respect their history as being “one of these dogs.” Maui, is one of them. And like many of them, he wants to be close to me and share space with me, but that does not mean he wants to be petted by me. And that’s fine! By acknowledging that aspect as part of who he is, we can coexist together peacefully, and that in turn builds trust.

It’s very challenging for people to wrap their heads around the fact that a dog may want to be close to you, but not want you to touch them further. Yet, we as people do that all the time. You may squeeze in tight next to someone at a bar and sit arm to arm with them. But that is not an invitation for them to touch you elsewhere on your body. You may also lean in close to someone to talk to them, but that is also not an invitation for them to touch you all over the rest of your body. You may sit close to someone new you’re on a date with, but again, it’s not an invitation for them to put their hand just anywhere.

It’s not far fetched for dogs to also want to be close, but not be touched. And once we can identify that as a certain individual’s trigger, we can easily alter our interactions to remain predictable and structured, to alleviate any concern on the dog’s part.

04/24/2023

Please note Clever Paws didn’t carry out this highly scientific research 😂