Canine Connection

10/24/2023

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03/18/2023

Food works as positive reinforcement by activating the brain's reward system, specifically the mesolimbic dopamine pathway.

When a dog receives a treat for displaying desired behaviour, the brain releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure, motivation, and learning. This process reinforces the neural connections related to the behaviour, making it more likely to be repeated in the future.

Food's inherent value as a primary reinforcer stems from its biological importance, satisfying hunger and providing energy. Consequently, using food rewards in training capitalises on this innate value, effectively shaping and strengthening desired behaviours through neurochemical reinforcement.

Learn the science behind reward based dog training with the ISCP https://www.theiscp.com/challenge-page/online-dog-trainingcourse

02/27/2023

Part 2: So, you want your dog or cat to be a social media star- first your need to understand cat or dog body language! 🐈 🐕

Your goal should be that your dog or cat are always relaxed and content if you want to feature them in your clips or photos on social media.

Many dogs and cats are scared of cameras or phones as it looks like big eye that is being directed towards their face, which is threatening in their body language. Often when taking a photo of your pet, they might show subtle signs of stress such as lip licking, yawning, or moving their eyes or faces away.

Also, how you move your body, the lean in and crouching over as you take the video or photo can be perceived as intimidating body language by your pet. So, always have a treat near or even perch a treat or toy above the camera to create positive associations and reward your pet.

Perhaps you want to show your cat or dog being frustrated when they can’t access their toy or get into their home- but is this really funny? Frustration that is not addressed can escalate from medium levels of stress to higher levels of stress, fear, anxiety for your pet to the point of a pet being in distress or learned helplessness.

Maybe you want to show your dog or cat in the bath…. But if your dog or cat have not been properly desensitized or counter-conditioned to the bath, then the excessive handling, smells, sounds, slippery flooring, water and loud noises from the dryer can place your dog or cat into very high levels of stress such as learned helplessness, where your pet has completely emotional and physical shut-down.

If your cat or dog show signs that they are stressed, uncomfortable, fearful or anxious, do not post- this is not funny! And if you see an animal that is stressed, being abused or suffering on social media, report it and unfollow the person- there is nothing cute about an animal in distress. Sharing, liking or saving such a post only furthers the animal suffering.

For next week’s “How to humanely feature your dog or cat on social media” we will cover- how to keep it positive.

02/27/2023

Do you want to feature your dog or cat on social media? 📸
Or do you have concerns about how dogs and cats are featured on social media? Such as seeing pets featured who are

Do you see a lot of stressed and fearful dogs and cats on social media? We do!! So, let’s address it!

Over the next few weeks our weekend posts will focus on how you can feature your or other companion animals on social media!

Our weekly posts will focus on the following topics:
- Understand dog or cat body language
- How to keep it positive – for your pets and you
- How to find your pet’s voice (humanely) on social media
- Staying safe- not putting your dog or cat into any situation that makes them feel unsafe or scared

We hope you enjoy following along over the next 4 weeks as we go over these topics! Your dog or cat can be a social media star, but they need to feel safe as you post their antics online.

08/11/2022

Dog Scouts is celebrating dog snouts this September. Join us on a scent safari that provides opportunities for your dog to seek, search, sniff and snuffle for a full thirty days this Fall.

Nosey dogs of all ages and abilities can learn, develop and hone their skills in finding target odor and as you participate in these aroma adventures you’ll add another dimension to understanding your dog’s world and his communication of it.

The Right On The Nose Scent Challenge is on Thursday September 1, 2022 to Friday September 30, 2022.

07/20/2022

Cornell University researchers have provided the first documentation that dogs' sense of smell is integrated with their vision and other unique parts of the brain, shedding new light on how dogs experience and navigate the world.

07/17/2022

Registration for DSA's Right On The Nose Scent Challenge is now open. Registration closes August 15th to allow us time to send everyone their scent kit (which is included with registration) before the fun starts on September 1 with daily scent challenges for beginners and advanced nosey dogs. DSA membership is not required to participate, so feel free to share the runsignup link with your dog-friends.
https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/SaintHelen/RightOnTheNoseScentChallenge
Note: Once you get to the payment confirmation page click on the button near the top right of the page to join the Challenge's Facebook Group 🙂

07/03/2022

It happens. For lots of reasons. An off-lead dog heads towards you and your dog.

Maybe your dog needs space. Maybe they are injured. Maybe they are just on lead and you don't want to deal. It doesn't really matter.

I know it's annoying when people allow their dogs to run up to yours and it is especially stressful if your dog is likely to react poorly or is sick, elderly or injured.

But......the only thing you have control over in those moments is you and your behaviour. It's not the time to influence others or try to get them to see the error of their ways.

When you need to protect your dog, either physically or behaviourally, it helps to have a plan and to have rehearsed it both mentally and physically so that when you're under stress, you can do it without panicking.

Here's my plan for when an off -lead dog comes hurtling toward us.

1- MOVE 🚶‍♀️🏃‍♀️🚶🏃

Early and with purpose.
Don't wait to see if it will be OK, or for the other person to realise what's about to happen. Assume they will not help.

Distance is your friend. Not only in helping your dog, but by increasing the distance from the other person, often the other dog will at some point reach their critical distance from their person and head on back.

It really doesn't matter that much whether you do a full about turn or just increase distance laterally. Get the distance.

2 - GIVE EXPLICIT INSTRUCTIONS 📣📣📣
Like "Get your dog", "Put your dog on lead".
It's not the time to get into a discussion about why your dog needs space or what good dog walking etiquette is.

You're stressed. They are likely embarrassed and/or defensive. It's not the right mixture for a considered discussion and to influence them enough to change their behaviour.

Besides, behaviour change is about what's going to happen in the future and you need to worry about what's happening in the moment.

You can even give an instruction to the approaching dog. Like "Sit!"

No, they probably won't actually sit, but it might stop them just enough for you to create enough mental space for the next step.

3 - THROW FOOD 🤾‍♀️🤾🤾‍♂️
At the approaching dog. Aim for the front end, bonus points for hitting them with a few pieces (I'm assuming small pea sized soft treats here, don't pelt them with hard bonio biscuits or something).

This can often distract them enough to give you some time to increase distance and get you and your dog out of there.

I actually have a 4th step too - KEEP MOVING

It's not your responsibility to look after their dog. If their dog keeps coming, keep doing steps 1-3 over and over. It's really rare that people don't either come running eventually or the dog gives up.

If neither of those things happens, enlist some help if you can for someone to grab the other dog (if safe to) and then wait for the owner. Or if your dog will be OK, you can grab the other dog yourself. Personally, I wait until the owner comes and gets them. I make no move to go to them because I'm hanging on to their dog and my own - it's easier for them to move.

Of course, all of this advice pertains to the usual kind of dog approach, which is from an affable dog whose recall may be rubbish but isn't out to cause harm to you or your dog. However, it's still fairly useful for dogs that may be using their behaviour to increase distance for themselves. In which case, moving away will actually help.

Have a plan and execute it. Don't try to change the other person's behaviour right then. Your dog needs you.

From: Tails We Win

07/02/2022

What are you so afraid of?
I take treats with me every time I walk out the door with my dogs. Whether we are going to the vets, on a walk, doing boring chores......
Because I want to be able to reinforce their behaviour at any time.
It's why I also have pots of treats around the house so that I'm never more than a few steps away from a decent reinforcer.
Do I use other reinforcers? - Yes. Of course. Access to the garden or other places they like to go - like the front garden. I have no idea why it's so special since they visit it every day too but, they like it, I use it. Scritches. Play. Whatever, it's all on the table.
But there's always food somewhere nearby in the house too. Because it's a potent reinforcer for my dogs so I'd be a fool not to use it.
Do I think my dogs are well -behaved?
Well, they have their moments, but sure on the whole they are not too deeply bad.
So why do I need to keep giving them treats?
Because I'm not on an ego trip to show the world how great my dogs are without the need for reinforcement. Because behaviour needs to be reinforced to maintain it. If I didn't keep reinforcing it in some way, it would decrease and I don't want that. And I want to reinforce new or weaker behaviours to grow them too.
I use it to enrich our walks and help de-stress through scent games and foraging.
Mainly though. They like it. And I like giving them things they like.

- From : Tails We Win

06/18/2022

05/29/2022

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