Juma's Joy

04/26/2024

Had a nice little adventure with Kevin and two of the girls today.

12/04/2023

It’s time to debunk this myth.

The outdated concept of pack leadership and dominance in domestic dogs has not only been proven incorrect, but also promotes a harmful relationship dynamic. Born from flawed studies of captive wolves in the 1940s, this theory has been wholly discredited by modern research.

Believing a dog is trying to dominate can foster negative emotions towards confused dogs and lead to unfair interpretation of their behaviour. This, in turn, can provoke inappropriate responses from the humans involved, escalating fear and anxiety in dogs, and creating a cycle of adverse behaviour.

Current understanding of canine behaviour underscores the importance of empathy, respect, and positive reinforcement. Canine Principles champions these evidence-based practices, offering an enlightened approach to dog-human interactions.

Don't let misconceptions taint your relationship with your dog. Join Canine Principles, debunk the myths, and cultivate a more compassionate bond with your dog, based on understanding their true nature and empathy towards them.

https://www.canineprinciples.com/online-dog-courses

12/01/2023

Healthy adult dogs need at least half an hour of active exercise every day, and most need more. Here’s how to give your dog the exercise she needs for optimum health and happiness.

12/01/2023

Vision loss in dogs is common in senior pets. Here's how to help your dog adjust so they can continue to enjoy a high quality of life.

11/28/2023

Just as it's important to respect the personal space of people and refrain from touching them without their explicit invitation, the same respect should be shown toward dogs.

Dogs, much like people, have their own comfort zones and may not always welcome unsolicited physical contact. They communicate their boundaries through body language.

A dog that is open to interaction typically appears relaxed, may approach with a wagging tail, and have a generally friendly demeanour.

On the other hand, if a dog does not wish to be touched, they might turn away, move back, or show signs of discomfort such as stiffening, looking away or licking their lips.

It's crucial to observe and respect these signals.

Forcing interaction upon a dog who has not invited contact can lead to stress for the dog and, in some cases, may provoke an anxious or defensive response.

Understanding and teaching others to recognise and respect a dog’s personal space is part of responsible behaviour around animals. It ensures that interactions are positive and consented to by the dog, fostering a safer and more respectful environment for everyone involved.

11/20/2023

Taking a dog for a walk or hike off-leash must be done appropriately and legally in order to prevent any number of risks to the dog, other dogs, or humans who may encounter the off-leash dog, as well as livestock or wildlife in the area.

11/18/2023

Great article! My dogs love frisbee and ball, but one of them can easily become over aroused. If this happens I cue a sit after each retrieval to settle down. If this doesn’t work we end the game and try another time.

Physical exercise is necessary and healthy for all dogs. However, there are a few common problems we see in client’s dogs who are not exercised properly. Today we’ll discuss one of the …

11/17/2023

You can actually see these pictures. I have so many books on body language with fuzzy pictures.

11/17/2023

I’m slacking 🥲

Learn what the most common cat parent mistakes are and how to prepare for them or how to avoid them, shared by a veterinarian.

11/17/2023

This is a great example of helping a dog overcome their fear in a kind and gentle way.

Last week I wrote a post that included Sage’s fear of the car. Many of you wanted to know more about what we’re doing and how to handle the issue in general. Here you go! Sage’s Protocol We have a carport but no garage. At first, my car (actually a Toyota 4Runner SUV) had been positioned direc...

11/17/2023

🐶🐶🐶

At Canine Principles we focus on dog welfare and ethics. When training is relevant, we concentrate on how to change behaviours easily by using positive reinforcement and learning systems that work alongside it. Today we focus on jumping up.

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Jumping up is a natural behaviour for excited dogs, often a form of enthusiastic greeting. However, it can be dangerous, especially for young children or frailer people who can be knocked over and potentially injured. Even for adults, there's a risk of accidental scratches or falls. Despite its root in affection and excitement, jumping at people is not a good behaviour to encourage and most guardians would like to avoid their dog jumping up. Here's how we can teach that with kindness and good communication for the dog.

𝐉𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐔𝐩 & 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

Differential reinforcement in dog training is basically a method of promoting one behaviour in place of one you would rather discourage. It works quickly and doesn't expose the dog to punishers or force.

1. DRO (Differential Reinforcement of Other behaviour): You reward the dog whenever he does anything other than jumping up while greeting. He might decide to wag his tail, bark excitedly, or simply sit and wait patiently. In all of these cases, he gets a treat because he's not doing the thing you don't want him to do (jumping up).

2. DRI (Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible behaviour): This is when you reward behaviour that is physically incompatible with the unwanted behaviour. So, if your dog is busy sitting or lying down when he greets you, he physically can't be jumping up at the same time. So, you reward him for staying seated or lying down.

3. DRA (Differential Reinforcement of Alternative behaviour): This is where you train your dog to perform a specific alternative behaviour in response to a certain trigger. If your dog tends to jump up when he's excited to see you, you might train him to sit and give you his paw instead. Every time he does this, he gets a treat.

In all these cases, the idea is to positively reward the good behaviour, thereby increasing the likelihood that the dog will repeat this behaviour in the future. This way, you're effectively guiding your dog away from the habit of jumping up and towards the preferred habit of keeping all four feet on the ground.

𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐨𝐠𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬? 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬..

https://www.canineprinciples.com/online-dog-courses

11/17/2023

Cool, but it seems like a lot to ask of an older dog. My 13 year old Rottweiler is losing her hearing and I’m so glad I trained her with both verbal cues and visual signals. We can still communicate.

Hearing aid for dogs are available, but expensive. Vibration collars and additional care are the more affordable option for deaf dog owners.

11/15/2023

“Walking with Leo is stressful and embarrassing! He randomly barks and lunges on-leash. Otherwise, he is a great dog and we love him to bits!” Why would a friendly, social dog act so aggressively? If this is your dog, rest assured you are not alone. On-leash dog reactivity is a common challenge ...

11/12/2023

🎄🐾❤️

11/12/2023

11/10/2023

My favorite video of Halle doing agility. Her spirit and energy are so clear. I love the end where she’s going too fast and slides right off (but jumps back up).

11/09/2023

My # 1, patience.

Here are 13 dog training tips from some of the best dog sport trainers. From consistency to working on the canine-human bond, here's their advice.

11/08/2023

No antlers for dogs!

Although they are sold as dog chews deer, elk, and moose antlers aren't safe for dogs. They can break teeth and damage a dog's GI tract.

11/07/2023

By Ashleigh Warner

11/07/2023

My dad and my first dog, Gunther. He was such a character ! Share your childhood dog.

11/07/2023

Parvo in puppies is unfortunately a common disease with deadly consequences. Here's what to know about parvo in puppies and protecting your dog.

11/06/2023

Dog Bite Prevention Tips:
https://doggonesafe.com/