Rhode Island Dog Training LLC

08/18/2024

07/10/2024

Stress signs, they can be very subtle or are slap in the face obvious.💥. Not all stress is bad either.
I know some people do struggle to see signs of stress in their own dogs, so I made this to help show some of the more common ones.
There are plenty of others.✅
Sniffing.
Attempting to disengage from a situation by being suddenly very "interested" in a scent.
Tail position.
Wags can mean the opposite to happy and stiff tails, high stiff "flagging" tails.
Coat.
It can bristle completely or only in parts, tail, rear rump or along the whole spine.
Hesitancy. Suddenly stopping, changing pace, lowering the head and maybe stretching it out.
Stressed or uncomfortable dogs tend to have closed mouths and tighter faces, but those closed mouths open when drooling, panting or lifting the lips to give a front mouth grin. They can even open up just enough for a tongue to flick out.
Ear positions should also be looked at, they are often a sign of being uncomfortable in many dogs...but not all.
Not all are listed and you may know your own dogs stress signals.
It is important to note that some of these signs are also shown when a dog is in a state of excitement, context and situations all need to be taken into account.
It is ok if your dog shows some signs of stress. It is communication and is very valuable information for you to quickly address what is happening, or about to happen.

I often get asked why I called our business ABC Dogs.
All
Behaviour is
Communication (ABC 😊)
and stress behaviours are certainly communication. 🙂

🙂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 etc. Please visit ABC Dogs Patreon Shop for our collection of graphics.
Everyone is free to share these posts on social media, however off social media use is protected.
Screen shots are a violation of copyright.
Please respect that these graphics take time and effort to make . All graphics belong to ABC Dogs NZ and are under copyright.

07/10/2024

07/03/2024

Every Tuesday during July, benefit the RISPCA by eating at Not Your Average Joes in Warwick! Present this flyer and we will receive 15% of your total bill. Eat some delicious food, support our animals... seems like a win-win situation! 😽

06/24/2024

https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/fishermen-mississippi-pull-off-dramatic-rescue-38-dogs-treading-water

Three men turned a normal day of fishing into a rescue mission after discovering 38 dogs treading water nearly one mile from a bank off Grenada Lake in Mississippi.

06/07/2024

Fetch on the beach can be a dangerous gameFor many of us, there is nothing better than a day at the beach with our dogs! However, there are a number of hazar...

05/10/2024

Today's theme during is "Emergencies happen: Be prepared" - a topic that has taken on significant importance over the last few years. We never know when or where an emergency will happen. As a pet owner, you need to plan ahead, and include your pets in your family’s emergency plan. Here are the essentials to include in a pet first aid kit. You can find more at avma.org/FirstAid.

Always remember that any first aid administered to your pet should be followed by immediate veterinary care. First aid care is not a substitute for veterinary care, but it may save your pet's life until it receives veterinary treatment.

05/10/2024

LOL!

05/10/2024

Starting on August 1, all dogs entering the U.S. (including those that left the U.S. and are returning, and regardless of the country they are coming from) must be:
• healthy upon arrival
• at least 6 months of age
• microchipped
• accompanied by a CDC Dog Import Form receipt and required vaccination and veterinary documents.

Additional requirements may apply depending on where the dog has been in the last 6 months and whether or not the dog was vaccinated in the United States.

Use CDC’s Q&A tool (the CDC “DogBot”) to determine what rules apply to your dog: https://bit.ly/2rww2bq

05/08/2024

Flooding....everyone has done this at some stage.⚠️🌊
The big difference is it can be deliberate and intentional or completely unintentional.
Even with the very best of intentions.... suddenly the environment has changed.
More people, more dogs, noises or whatever your dog may struggle with . 💥💥
Your dog is now faced with the very same stimuli they are afraid of and at an amount they may have never encountered before.....that is one example of flooding, completely unintentional and it is vastly different to INTENTIONAL flooding which forces dogs to comply...which leads me to a topic that seems to be everywhere on social media.
Social media is a great tool for many to learn new techniques and maybe look at something differently.
It is also one of the worst ways people get to view tiny snippets of an "amazing" transformation, a miraculous change in a dogs behaviour.
These dogs are often powerful breeds and are shown as "aggressive", "untrainable" or "about to be euthanised".

These types of videos deliberately flood dogs.
However much that "compliance" looks like a success, the fallout and emotional damage can be lifelong and extremely damaging.

Watching videos of trainers with dogs scared out of their minds suddenly and "miraculously" change and "obey" when systematically and deliberately flooded is one of the worst things out there on social media.
Beware of the quick fixes, the flooding techniques and the "amazing" one minute videos.

It is abuse.

It is a conscious and deliberate choice to flood, create fear and force a dog to comply.
One minute videos cut and slickly produced give the impression that in just a few minutes you can change an aggressive, scared, or reactive dog forever.
and yes your dog will be "changed".

The change you may get though will be everything you never, ever wanted.

🙂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 etc. Please visit ABC Dogs Patreon Shop for our collection of graphics.
Everyone is free to share these posts on social media, however off social media use is protected.
Screen shots are a violation of copyright.
Please respect that these graphics take time and effort to make . All graphics belong to ABC Dogs NZ and are under copyright.

05/08/2024

It’s probably no surprise, but there’s no one-size-fits-all approach or magic remedy to help your pet shed excess pounds. What works for one pet doesn’t necessarily work for another pet.

During today's theme of "Nutrition and exercise matter," here are 6️⃣ helpful tips to keep in mind if you're looking to reduce your pet's weight: http://bit.ly/39G82HB

04/26/2024

A little learning theory. Here are the four quadrants of operant conditioning. Thoughts? Questions?

04/12/2024

Putting this back up in recognition of Dog Bite Prevention Week. 💥
A very important topic. ‼️‼️
Bites...they can change everything for you and your dog.
This escalation may only take seconds.

"My dog bit out of the blue".
"There was no signs at all"
"She just bit out of nowhere"

Many of these comments are because the signals and signs given were not received, either by us or not received by the other dog involved.

Just as some humans may struggle to read these signals, some dogs struggle too.....especially if over aroused or "over socialised/poorly socialised" as a puppy or young dog.
Some people think all dogs are able to read other dogs signals clearly......most do not and there are a variety of reasons for that.

Breed differences.⚠️
Dogs may not be able to recognise facial tension or posturing in dogs which have vastly different shapes than them.

Over excitedness.⚠️
Overly aroused or "hyper" dogs may interact immediately rather than waiting to read the circumstances and watch how this dog interacts.

Hormones.⚠️
Hormones have the capability to change a dogs behaviour drastically.

Not learning when enough is enough.⚠️
This is a skill and needs to be taught early. Every dog should learn when play is too rough, one sided and is turning.

Learning to be calm.⚠️
Calmness is a skill and cannot be expected if your dog has not learned this either naturally or taught by you.

Bites will change everything in your world and in your dogs world. Please take bites seriously, especially in smaller breeds. Sometimes when people have smaller breeds, the damage a bite can do may be minimal...that isn't an excuse not to address the behaviour.

No matter what the size of the dog....a bite is a bite.

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.

03/27/2024

Belly rubs can mean a whole lot more than we think.
Flopping on the ground in front of us, showing their belly and wanting rubs may not be what your dog is saying at all.

Generally speaking.....tongues licking noses or poking out, ears flat and back or tight against head, stiff posture with paws tucked in tight can all be signs your dog may not enjoying that rub on the belly.

Please don't feel badly that you may recognise your dog shows some of these signs when you give a belly rub as many people don't know these changes in body language.

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.

03/23/2024

Please Share!

❌ Rabbits are not good pets for children & are most definitely not a good Easter gift ❌

Rabbits might look like a cuddly toy & therefore be attractive to children who see a cute, fluffy bunny and decide they want one. However the reality is that Rabbits are rarely cuddly and children often lose interest quickly.

When purchased as a gift for a child, rabbits are often left alone in a hutch at the end of the garden or even abandoned. This is why it’s important to educate yourself on their needs before committing.

Download your free copy of 'The Hop' to learn more: https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-care-booklet/

03/23/2024

03/23/2024

Over excited/over arousal/hyper arousal IS a form of reactivity.
I know many may struggle understanding that having a dog that is desperate to meet others is a reactive dog...because they don't appear "aggressive".
They can be described as "friendly" or "just LOVES other dogs".
It is also incredibly stressful for these dogs.
Stress hormones can be released with both positive and negative stimuli....a difficult concept for some to accept that their "friendly" dog can be stressed.
This is not about dogs that get excited when they see a dog they know...this is purely aimed at dogs that go straight to over arousal at the mere sight of a dog/cat or person...whatever their trigger is.

Bite risks...
Yes even these dogs can bite (or be bitten).
There is no emotional self control and things can change in an instant with these dogs....they do pose a bite risk...and I appreciate that is hard to hear for many as their friendly dog would "never" bite another.
EVERY dog has the capability to bite given certain circumstances and over arousal puts dogs into positions where their emotions take over.
Many dogs bite when over aroused.
Bites can also be redirected back onto their guardians/owners or the nearest person/dog/child present.
They also fail to "read the room", there is no time taken to assess the other dog they desperately want to interact with....so the lead is taken off that friendly dog so they can meet their new "friend".

This is a new graphic based on another I made but this is specifically for over aroused dogs.
Your dog will also have their own unique changes you can see as they go over that all important threshold.

You are not alone with this issue...it is very common.
Reactive dog guardians/owners are some of the most dedicated I have ever met.
These dogs can be incredibly hard to live with.

You can make a difference.

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.

03/09/2024

Courtesy Post: A man has terrminal with six months to live and he is seeking a home for his nine year old Pitbull. She lived on a tree farm and is use to having alot of space to run free.

03/06/2024

Oh the dreaded slurping, munching, licking sound of a dog chewing on their own paw, again and again❗
Self soothing....sometimes not as helpful as it may sound.
When does self soothing become obsessive ❓
Simply put....when it becomes excessive. What excessive means from one dog to another may be completely different.
Every dog is individual.
Mouths are used in many (but not all) self soothing behaviours. Self soothing can be an attempt to reduce anxiety....and it works for many dogs.

However....there is a point where this can begin to turn and become damaging.

Licking paws.
Dogs that continually lick paws until they are red, inflamed or raw need help. Veterinary help must always be sought FIRST before behavioural reasons are looked into. While you may be convinced it is just a "habit" that habit has lead to chronic dermatitis, a yeast infection or maybe that compulsive licking and nibbling at paws is actually from a grass seed and is now infected and is scouring its way internally up your dogs leg.

Nibbling/sucking bedding.
You may have a dog that suckles or nibbles their blanket...maybe there are some "cookie cutter" mysterious holes in the blanket....your dog has likely ingested the material. Teeth rubbing continually against textured fabric can cause big dental issues.

Biting/chewing objects.
This is something that very few people see as an issue, as dogs chew. If your dog is spending a long time chewing a toy and does this at various times during the day....observe them, there could be a pattern of seeking comfort after something they found stressful. We may not see the preceding event as stressful...but your dog did. There could very easily be a pattern.
Your dogs teeth may be becoming blunt and worn away from continually chewing....they may then feel they need to chew more as they now have pain in their mouth.

Nibbling/biting themselves.
This often looks like something is annoying them, they may nibble or chew holes in their own body, tails can be a target too. Your dog can actually start to nibble off their own tail, it may get shorter and shorter and you may start to see destructive biting on what was once a healthy tail.

Have you come home and your dog has chewed a piece of furniture or a door?....there is a reason for this behaviour.
Instead of looking at your dog as "naughty" or "bad" perhaps your dog was highly anxious when you left and attempted to self soothe?

Some dogs that are destructive have underlying high level anxiety issues. They are attempting to feel better the only way they can in that moment.

Self soothing behaviours are fine...your dog has managed to figure out how to calm themselves and feel better emotionally.
BUT..... there is a point when they are far more damaging than we think.

Vet check first, then you can look into behaviour modification.

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.

02/14/2024