Anything is Pawsable Dog Training LLC

06/03/2024

If you have a dog this is a must read

Cesar Millan’s influence on dog training is undeniable, marking two decades of shaping public perceptions and practices. But not everyone is celebrating.

04/23/2024

04/17/2024

🌟Trainer Tip Tuesday:

🐶Ways to help fearful dogs when walking with them.

Thank you to Canine Principles for this meme!

04/10/2024

By Ren Volpe

04/09/2024

If your dog is behaving aggressively:

🛑 Punishing the behavior is not the answer.

🛑 Putting the dog in it’s place is not the answer.

🛑 Using shock, choke, prong, training, e, “stim”, remote, whatever you want to call them because you want to believe they don’t hurt, collars is not the answer.

🛑 More obedience training is not the answer.

You cannot punish or correct your dog into not behaving aggressively. It may seem to work temporarily, maybe it will even seem to work for months or years, because you’ve effectively taught the dog that no behavior at all is better than trying something (what a great way to live, right?). But eventually this training will take its toll, and your dog will likely be significantly worse then before, after having had his warning signs trained out and learning that no one will listen to him unless he bites.

You cannot “sit stay” and “place train” the aggressive behavior out of your dog. A dog who is biting is not a dog who is disobedient; it’s a dog in crisis. I’ve met dogs who earned impressive titles in dog sports and seem perfect while working, who will put multiple holes in a stranger if they look at the dog sideways in everyday life. Obedience is almost never the answer to a dog behaving aggressively.

Dogs who behave aggressively need patience, time, consistency, routine, understanding, and thoughtful, thorough counter conditioning and desensitization. It can take a painfully long time to make real headway in fear and aggression cases. Would I love to be able to tell people who reach out to me for help “sure I can fix your dog in 2 weeks”? You bet your ass I wish I could do that. It would certainly make my life easier. But I would be lying to you. And that’s not okay.

Anyone telling you this, selling you a $350 shock collar and telling you your dog can be fixed and you’ll never see aggressive behavior again if you correct them and just press that little button for the collar? They’re snake oil salesmen. Buyer beware.

Signed,
A burnt out dog trainer who’s tired of seeing people being lied to

04/07/2024

Ever wondered why a puppy's behavior seems erratic during adolescence, which occurs between six months and 18 months of age?

The neurobiology of adolescence is fascinating, with some key events that alter both the structure and function of the brain.

During canine adolescence, s*x hormones are changing which effects the animals stress responses. Adolescent dogs have a decreased ability to modulate sensory processing and subsequent behavior.

The connectivity between the frontal cortex (responsible for decision making) and amygdala (responsible for emotional processing) decreases, resulting in less behavioral control.

So what does this mean? This could mean that your dog, who used to come when called, suddenly cannot. This could mean that your dog, who didn't jump up on guests, suddenly does. Your dog that walked nicely on leash is now pulling. Or perhaps it seems like some days your dog responds to behaviors you ask of them, and some days they don't, without any rhyme or reason.

We also see increased risk taking and more sensitivity to fear.

As your puppy undergoes this transition into adulthood their inner world is intense, even chaotic. Many pet owners experience an increase in undesirable behavior and find themselves becoming increasingly frustrated. In turn, frustration and impatience sometimes cause us to act unpredictably.

This adds to your puppy’s inner turmoil. When the inside and the outside are both unpredictable it can be difficult for puppies to adjust.

By understanding this we can gain greater compassion and understanding. When we approach adolescence with patience we can help create a world that is predictable and gentle so our puppies grow up to be their best selves.

04/07/2024

ADOLESCENCE:
As dogs go through adolescence, it’s safe to say things turn a little topsy-turvy! 🙃

If you’re currently at this stage and feeling like you’ve taken one step forward and two steps back, don’t panic! During this stage of life, there’s a lot going on in their busy little brains.

Here are three facts about the adolescent brain 🧠👇

1. The inhibitory neurons of the amygdala that help to dampen down emotional responses don’t fully mature until the END of adolescence.

2. Communication between the frontal cortex and amygdala, which is essential for skills training, decreases during adolescence.

3. Extinction memory is impaired during adolescence, so if your dog has a bad experience it’s much more likely to lead to a ‘hard wired’ fear memory.

Have patience and compassion as you support and guide your dog through this vulnerable period of brain development.

03/31/2024

This

Dogs behave the way they do for many reasons. They do NOT do things deliberately to be stubborn or ‘naughty’, nor do they aim to assert control. Outdated mythologies and training methods have detrimental effects on well-being and strain the relationship between a dog and their caregiver.

🧬A dog's breed and genetic makeup can play a significant role in determining certain behavioural traits. Dogs have genetic predispositions and breed-specific tendencies that contribute to their behaviour.
Some breeds are predisposed to specific behaviours, such as herding, hunting, or guarding.

The environment in which a dog is raised and lives can profoundly impact their behaviour. Early socialisation, which involves exposing a puppy to a wide range of people, animals, and environments during their critical developmental period, is crucial for building confidence and shaping a dog's social behaviour to reduce fear or aggression.

Overstimulation can cause all kinds of unwanted behaviours as it overwhelms their senses and can lead to hyperactivity or erratic responses. For example, if a dog is exposed to loud noises, multiple people, and various stimuli all at once, or on a daily basis, they might exhibit excessive excitable behaviour, poor impulse control, become agitated and exhibit behaviours like jumping, barking, or pulling on the leash, as their senses are overwhelmed by the excessive input.

Previous experiences and learning consequences can influence a dog's behaviour. Traumatic experiences, in particular, can lead to fear, anxiety, or aggression.

How a dog is trained and educated by their caregiver or handler can significantly affect their behaviour. Consistent, positive reinforcement-based training can lead to desired behaviours, while harsh or inconsistent methods can result in confusion or fear.

A dog's health, including their physical and mental well-being, can influence their behaviour. Illness, pain, or discomfort can lead to changes in behaviour.

A dog's emotional state, including fear, anxiety, and excitement, can affect their behaviour. For example, a fearful dog may display unpredictable defensive reactive behaviours or might avoid any encounters and run away trying to hide. While a confident dog may exhibit playfulness and a relaxed demeanour.

A dog can become frustrated and destructive if their mental and physical needs are not met. This dog, full of pent-up energy and boredom, may become frustrated and exhibit poor impulse control. In their frustration, they might resort to destructive behaviours, such as chewing furniture, digging up the garden, or incessant barking. This destructive behaviour is often an expression of their frustration and an attempt to alleviate their built-up energy and mental stress.

The type of diet a dog receives can significantly influence their behaviour, with high-quality nutrition promoting better energy levels, mood, and overall well-being, while poor diet choices can lead to issues like irritability, hyperactivity, or digestive problems.

As dogs age, they may experience canine cognitive decline, which can manifest as changes in memory, learning, and behaviour. This condition can lead to increased confusion, disorientation, and altered social interactions in older dogs.

It is really important to understand that each dog is unique, and their behaviour can vary widely, even within the same breed. Dogs use body language, vocalizations, and other forms of communication to express their needs, emotions, and intentions. Understanding a dog's communication cues is essential for interpreting their behaviour.

03/25/2024

Research shows that asking a fearful or worried dog to sit in order to prevent barking or lunging is not effective. This is because dogs, like humans, have limited self-control resources which can be depleted by exerting self-control. Studies have shown that when dogs have to use self-control, they are more likely to make impulsive decisions that put them in harm's way.

Therefore, asking a fearful dog to sit may use up their limited self-control resources, potentially impairing their ability to control their behaviour in the future.

It is important to consider alternative methods for managing a fearful or worried dog's behaviour.

03/18/2024

If your furry friend feels uneasy on walks, Walks are not the only enriching activity you can do with your dog. It's vital to find alternative activities like a flirt pole, hiding and finding treats or toys. Stay away from monotonous activities like fetching a ball. Too many activities like this can do the opposite. Most definitely stay away from a laser light. It's BAD BAD BAD!

02/19/2024

This is a sad incident that wasn't the little girls or dogs fault. It's sad both were put into this situation. The adult is at fault.

02/11/2024

At the moment a Vet telling an owner their dog is physically fine after less than 15 minutes, it's a behaviour problem is nothing more than a false sense of security. It delays finding out about any potential pain or discomfort until the condition has severely progressed. ‘It is almost impossible ...

01/31/2024

Okay, the final version of the LIFE article is published! I have placed two links below: One to the paper on my ResearchGate profile, and one to the publication with the Journal of Veterinary Behavior. This will also be a shareable version of the post, so feel free to share away! Comments and discussions are most certainly welcome as well, as this is how we keep the conversation going. :)

ResearchGate link:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/376288769_The_Least_Inhibitive_Functionally_Effective_LIFE_Model_A_New_Framework_for_Ethical_Animal_Training_Practices

Journal of Veterinary Behavior link:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2023.12.001

01/20/2024

The first step to any training plan is to manage the environment to the best of your ability. Behavior change in particular is dependent on management strategies to ensure the undesirable behaviors are not practiced and perfected. Often times when I get contacted by someone about inter-household conflicts the first thing I say, before I even sign someone up to consult on the case is that the offending parties absolutely need to be kept separate until we can come up with an intervention plan. That is because I do not want the dogs or other animals in the house continuing to practice, and build the tension in their interactions that are going to make changing those feelings and underlying motives harder to change and heal.

Step One is always management, and often that can (and should) be done prior to discussing plans and programs with a professional!

01/19/2024

❤️

01/18/2024

https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/puppies/the-puppy-socialization-exposure-checklist/?sc=TC20240117-SocializingYourPuppy&st=email&MailingID=2801&utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=The+Puppy+Socialization+Exposure+Checklist&utm_campaign=TC20240117-SocializingYourPuppy

Whole Dog Journal‘s mission is to provide dog guardians with in-depth information on dog food, training, behavior, health, and more.

12/31/2023

Walking your dog should be fun - it should relaxing and enjoyable. Not all dogs like strange dogs running at them. If your dog is off lead and you see a dog on lead, call your dog back- they could be on lead for a reason.

12/23/2023

12/06/2023

Tail Wagging Wednesday!

"All Dogs Learn Differently" - FALSE

All dogs learn the same way!
Individuals vary in their temperaments and motivations, but they don't learn differently and they don't need different methods.

Reward-based training, by it's very true nature, adapts to the needs of the dog and it's owner. No additional methods necessary.

Reward-based training considers and adjusts to:
-Dog's temperament
-Dog's learning history
-Dog's preffered motivations
-Enviromanet
-Owner's strength and mechanical skill

If your dog isn't "getting it," don't grab a bigger stick, re-assess your training plan and adapt to your dog's needs
- Lisa Mullinax