Dog Talk Training MN

08/29/2024

Truth!

Here's to all of you beautiful dog advocates out there - even when it's uncomfortable. 😍

08/29/2024

In a time when many dog trainers shy away from taking a clear stand against aversive methods, ’s message is bold and unambiguous:

Either you are okay using pain, fear, and discomfort in dog training, or you are not.

For Victoria, the answer is a firm “No.” And that is based on modern ethics and evidence.

Her stance is straightforward: no dog, not even “extreme” cases, should be coerced into compliance through fear or pain when positive, force-free methods are proven to be more humane and effective.

Victoria’s words are a call to action. It’s time for the dog training community to reject outdated practices and speak out against those professionals in the industry who still defend and promote them to a vulnerable public.

Read the full post from Victoria at the link in my bio 🔥

08/29/2024

"Compassion for animals is intimately connected with goodness of character."Arthur SchopenhauerDogs are amazing. In my life as a dog advocate, professional trainer and perpetual student I have seen something really very special. Dogs who have changed people’s lives, over and over again. Different ...

08/29/2024

It's a good day to re-share this message. I think shock collars should be banned because of the risks to dogs, and I'm not the only one. Back in 2018, the European College of Veterinary Clinical Ethology published a review of the evidence on the use of shock collars in dog training. They looked at the research on shock collars, bark collars, and collars used with fencing, and concluded that they would like to see a Europe-wide ban on the sale and use of electronic collars. "There is no credible evidence to justify e-collar use and the use of spray collars or electronic fences for dogs. On the contrary, there are many reasons to never use these devices. Better training options exist, with proven efficacy and low risk." You can read a summary of the study on my blog, and that will also take you to the original paper if you'd like to read it: https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2018/06/study-outlines-reasons-to-ban.html

08/29/2024

Kick you shocking fence to the curb! It can cause so many other unwanted behaviors if you don't. Some of these behaviors include:

Property line aggression
Unknown human/dog aggression
Fearful of going in the yard
Fear of walking off the property
Redirection

How secure are electric fences?

A survey of 974 dog owners asked how their dogs were confined to the yard, whether they had escaped. The results showed that an electronic fence was the LEAST effective method of containing a dog: 44% of dogs contained by one had escaped. Dogs were less likely to have escaped from a tether (27%) or from a see-through fence (e.g. chain link or slatted wood) (23%) or a privacy fence that is not see-through (also 23%). Escape rates were not associated with how dogs were trained on them.


Ref: Starinsky, et al (2017). Escape rates and biting histories of dogs confined to their owner's property through the use of various containment methods. JAVMA, 250(3), 297-302.

08/19/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/Azm7vyfQVYHiC7JU/?mibextid=xfxF2i

08/15/2024

You need to ask yourself these questions.

1. Are you okay with causing harm both physically and emotionally to your dog. Emotional harm can erode the trust between you and your dog and erode trust of other humans

2. Do you only want to suppress the behavior or actually change the behavior. Suppressing unwanted behaviors can lead to other unwanted behaviors.

3. Are you okay with your dog developing learn helplessness? This is a risk you take when using training methods that cause pain, fear and intimidation. Trainers that use these methods claim that they have trained away your dogs unwanted behaviors.

4. If you love your dog, why would you want to do this?

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/NNWorRbMwNAyBnck/?mibextid=xfxF2i

08/15/2024

Whiskey came into their lives with a purpose! Dogs are amazing little creatures!

08/06/2024

Pittie's are BRAT!

07/20/2024

Friday funny.

06/30/2024

Baby steps forward!

When we work closely with our dogs, take small steps, we often forget to look back. We are so focused on our current challenges, that we don’t notice the huge progress we have already achieved.

While we want to move forwards, don’t forget to glance back every now and then to remind yourself just how great you are really doing.

06/28/2024

Friday funny!

06/17/2024

Most dogs will avoid conflict. We only have to see some of the videos floating round on social media to know that they will do anything not to hurt us.
Bites most often come after a thousand “no’s,” “please stops”, “I don’t like this.”
And where we have to or where we’ve missed something, we need to recognise it as something we can try to improve upon our end, not theirs.

06/15/2024

For all my "ball is Life" doggos!

06/10/2024

You need to focus on the behavior that you want the dog to do instead of getting a dog to stop the unwanted behavior. Many times a dog is showing unwanted behavior because of how the are feeling. Science based training uses methods that can help to change your dogs emotional response. Punitive methods only suppress it and this style of training can cause fallout behaviors which will make things worse.

Wanting a behaviour from our dogs to stop is common. Sadly, there are so many 'trainers' who appear on television or have massive social media followings who will advocate using devices and methods that 'will stop it fast'. Let's be honest, as humans we are often results driven, so I can see why these would appeal to people who don't know why these things should not be recommended and used. The reality is that they can make the situation so much worse.

Suppressing a behaviour doesn't mean that the reasons that behaviour happened aren't still there, just that the dog can't do what they feel they need to in that situation. That can lead to increased frustration, stress, fear - depending on what the driver for that behaviour is. Think of it like a pressure cooker, adding more and more pressure, with no way to reduce that pressure. Eventually there comes a point where the pressure is just too much and boom.

If a behaviour is something we can't live with, there are things we can do without suppressing that behaviour. Manage the situation so that the dog is not in a position to practice that behaviour - for example baby gates to stop them jumping up at arriving guests or finding quiet areas to walk if your dog is uncomfortable with other dogs close up. If there is something you would prefer them to do in that situation keep using the management and then, using kind and ethical methods, teach them what you would like them to do instead. If the behaviour is not something that we can simply train an alternative for - a dog who reacts to other dogs around for example - find a behaviour consultant who uses modern and kind methods to help the dog no longer feel the need to use that behaviour.

Behaviour suppression is never the answer.

There are links to a couple of blog posts exploring the topic further in the comments.

06/09/2024

Our sweet Tig has her corrective surgery this coming Thursday. Here's hoping it will help with her frequent urgency to go and her incontinence. Until then, she'll be sporting her "glamour" pants.

06/08/2024

06/08/2024

https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2022/06/manners-cues-management-and-language-of.html?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1IPpGbZG_l2rDMoImW_0cbUVlIw2ApuDEkr3t2yIl7At8OLSy1b-yr2_w_aem_AcQacNJyd1Y4L_n-CPzEYbnxnjiOMI2VlS17apR6bqXCofnwj9O-f8kep7r1SGIvifVEKYigkJvZJXB6dtawriZ8&m=1

The language we use to describe dog training is changing to reflect our changing relationship with dogs.

06/02/2024

If a dog is repeatedly not following a cue, it's important we don't decide they are being 'stubborn'. Dogs are not stubborn because they choose to be.

It may be that they haven't actually learned the cue properly.

They may be feeling unwell.

There may be distractions in the environment that mean they can't concentrate and respond to the cue.

The reward on offer might not be motivating enough for them in that moment.

Look at the environment for distractions, look at the coaching history to see if the cue has been fully established and proofed in the wider world, and look at the value of the rewards you are offering.

06/01/2024

This!

06/01/2024

Training your dog is more complex than just sit, down, stay, come. There are many factors that can prevent learning.

BARRIERS TO LEARNING – WHY SOME DOGS STRUGGLE TO LEARN

“My dog is stubborn, doesn’t listen to me, a slow learner, not the smartest, tries to be in control, will only do it at home, will only behave sometimes, is uncontrollable……” – these are comments that are often heard.

Just like us, dogs need the right kind of conditions to either be able to learn something new or to bring about a change in behaviour.

Dogs are not robots that can be programmed by a set of specific inputs that guarantee consistent results. They are individual, sentient beings that need to be understood.

If we’re feeling stressed, anxious, tired, over excited, too distracted, not feeling well, have no motivation etc. we will find it really difficult, if not impossible to learn something new, change our behaviour or change a habit. The same applies to dogs.

A dog’s emotional state, the surrounding environment, motivation, age (pups, adolescents, seniors) or any health issues all have a significant impact on their ability to learn.

If your dog is having a hard time learning something, look at these factors and see if there is a reason that may be preventing progress.

Maybe your dog is just having an “off” day, just like we do.

Try again tomorrow or next week and set your dog up for success by having realistic expectations.

Learning or changing behaviour takes time, patience, consistency, understanding and the right conditions.

06/01/2024

Amen! Puppy brains need time to mature!

Puppies need to learn the skills of being comfortable in the world around them, not obedience.

Start with preschool and slowly teach the next appropriate grade.
No boot camp required.

When you think of puppy training, think preschool not military boot camp.

05/30/2024

Muzzle up and make it fun! You can teach a conditioned emotional response to the muzzle. Lil' Miss gets just as excited to see her muzzle as she does when she sees her leash. Does she need to be muzzled? No, but there may come a time or situation where she needs one and she will be happy to put it on.

05/30/2024

Did you know that forced touching without giving an animal the choice to interact is the leading cause for dog bites? This article will help you to learn ways to let your dog choose and give concent to interactions. It will also show you how to set your dog up for success.

Erin Jones's new book calls for developing and maintaining positive dog-human partnerships, using humane best practices, and honoring a dog's point of view and autonomy.

05/29/2024

Check this out so you can have your game plan before the 4th of July.

Ad-hoc counter-conditioning and relaxation training work, say owners, but many other treatments don’t.