Best Friends Dog Academy

08/19/2024

It can be all too easy to look at a behaviour, particularly one that we find problematic, as an isolated thing that just occurs, or is put down to false and outdated ideas like 'dominance' or 'stubbornness'.

Think of behaviour as a symptom - underlying that behaviour there is an emotion driving that behaviour. Behaviours don't happen just 'because', there is always a reason for them and so it's up to us to learn how to understand what they are trying to tell us so we can work out what that emotion is.

And at the root of it all there will be a need. Something that is causing the dog to feel that particular emotion and so lead them to show the behaviour that we are seeing. Once we have discovered the emotion the dog is feeling, we can work out what the dog needs and help them to get whatever that may be.

The three pictures here give an example:

Behaviour: the dog is barking at something. If you look at their posture and body language the body is leaning back, away from what they are barking at. The ears are back, whiskers flared, and eyes fixed on something. The front paw is slightly lifted and there is a back paw in the air, and the back end of the dog may be lowered towards the ground a little.

Emotion: what the overall picture of the body language is telling us is that the dog is scared of the thing they are barking at, so the emotion they are feeling is fear.

Need: What this dog needs is immediate space from the thing that is bothering them, so they can feel relief from that fear and feel safer again. What they need going on is an increased feeling of safety and security, more trust in us to help them if they need it or get them out of a situation if it's too much for them.

When we can understand the need and emotion driving the behaviour we can understand our dogs far better and see where they need our help.

08/15/2024

Stock up on your dog’s favorite chew!

Our goal is to prevent, treat and effectively manage behavior problems in companion animals to enhance and strengthen the human-animal bond. If you have any questions about your pet’s behavior please contact us.

08/06/2024

New research!

🌟 New research alert! 🌟

New research has found that human stress affects dogs’ emotions, leading them to make more pessimistic choices 🐕

Dogs experience emotional contagion from the smell of human stress, leading them to make more ‘pessimistic’ choices, new research finds. The University of Bristol-led study, published in Scientific Reports on 22 July, is the first to test how human stress odours affect dogs' learning and emotional state.

Find out more here: https://bit.ly/3SwMdlJ.

08/01/2024

08/01/2024

This makes my heart happy! ❤️☺️
Jack, newly adopted, likes to watch out the window. He was putting his paws on the window sill (scratching the wood).
Rather than punish or restrict him, they added a little bench at a perfect height for comfortable paw resting. They understand that Jack has a need to be informed about his new neighborhood so they made sure to arrange his environment to meet that need.
Jack is happy, they are happy.
Winning for everyone! 🥰🐾

07/30/2024

WHAT THE F?

Recognising stress responses in dogs.

Fight or flight are well known reactions to fear or stress, but these other “F” words are also important to understand and be aware of as they may not always be so obvious.

Freeze, Fawn, Fidget or Fool around are also responses to stress or fear and are also commonly seen in people.

Some dogs may have a genetic predisposition to one type of response while some react based on previous experience - what has worked for them before or what hasn’t. Some dogs have different reactions depending on the specific context.

Recognising and taking note of situations or circumstances where these responses are seen is important in understanding how our dogs are feeling.

When we recognise a fear or a stress response, we are able to intervene and advocate for our dogs.

07/26/2024

My two newest clients, Gus & Meika. Gus mostly slept through the first session 😴😆
Meika was excited to have new flesh to try 😳🥰
Puppies will be puppies!
I don’t often get the opportunity to work with puppy parents because I book fairly far in advance but these folks both planned ahead.
Positive reinforcement based puppy classes are fantastic and I highly recommend them AND one-on-one sessions really help with the basics and foundation skills needed to get the most out of those great puppy classes and beyond. ❤️

07/24/2024

Our goal is to prevent, treat and effectively manage behavior problems in companion animals to enhance and strengthen the human-animal bond. If you have any questions about your pet’s behavior please contact us.

07/19/2024

How awesome! Local shelter provides digging pit for shelter dogs. 👏👏👏

07/15/2024

Absolutely this.

07/14/2024

07/13/2024

Did you know, something as simple as sniffing a pile of leaves can have a calming effect on your dog? 🍂

Engaging a primary scent or carrying out repetitive actions such as licking or chewing (providing there’s no threat in the environment) are considered meditative processes. Why? Because they support appropriate gating of sensory integration.

This damping down of activity between neurons means there’s less traffic between the different brain areas, making communication much more ordered and rhythmical.

07/13/2024

All consultations are conducted in person (at our Portland office) or virtually (for current clients) via video or phone conference, and include a written summary of information and recommendations covered, provided to both client and referring veterinarian.

07/12/2024

Though it may seem like a fun thing for kids, dogs are NOT meant to sit on. EVER!!! Please do not ever encourage a child to sit or step up on a dog. This can cause pain, fear and conflict. All can increase the chances of a dog bite.

Is your dog “tolerating” what is happening in a situation? Or is the dog really telling them they're uncomfortable and want this to stop? We encourage families to observe their dog's body language so that they can understand what their dog is telling them.

How do I know what to look for if they’re uncomfortable?
❗Half moon eyes, your dog is leaning their body away from what is going on,
❗Yawning when they aren’t tired
❗lip licking

There are many body language signals that dogs display to us if they are uncomfortable, and even if they are enjoying something. Dogs use their bodies to communicate discomfort, stress and joy. Maybe they are happy and content and come over to you while you are holding your baby and get some pets, or they are happily wagging their tail with a loose body.

Recognizing how your dog uses their body to communicate is an important way to build and strengthen bonds. Looking for more information? Join us on July 18 at 7pm ET/4pm PT for Dogs & Toddlers webinar taught be a licensed Family Paws Parent Educator! This is perfect for those whose baby's who are becoming more mobile (crawling, walking and all those exciting milestones!). We have some wonderful ways to safely include your family dog in this journey. Sign upbit.ly/registerdogstoddlers

07/10/2024

The opportunity to carry out natural behaviours, those innate and instinctive things that trace all the way back to the very first dogs and beyond, is one of the most important things we can give our dogs.

It is a major part of the foundations of welfare, stated in the Five Freedoms that were first published 45 years ago and created from an animal welfare report in the UK 14 years before that. These freedoms are part of law in the UK through the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

The truth is that some of these natural behaviours can be inconvenient for us. Nobody really wants their flowerbeds dug up or their furniture chewed, for example.

This is why working out ways to let them do those natural dog things is so important and so useful for us – because we can set the situation up so they can do their thing in a much less inconvenient way.

Your dog wants to dig? Give him a patch of garden where he can dig, or something like a child’s hard paddling pool with sand in so he can dig there. Hide fun stuff in the ‘legal’ digging spot and, if you catch him digging elsewhere, redirect him to the assigned area.

Your dog is shredding your belongings? Make sure she has plenty of safe and suitable chewing material available and, again, redirect her to one of those when she starts to chew something you’d rather she didn’t. Keep things you don’t want chewed out of reach or put away.

Sniffing is one of the easiest natural opportunities to let our dogs carry out. In most cases, we are going out for a walk with them every day, so it’s simple to build in a little time to let them sniff and explore their world in the best way for a dog.

If your dog is not currently able to go out for walks, perhaps recovering from an injury/surgery, or recovering from a stressful experience out in the world, we can bring the world of scent to them. When out, gather some items you find to being home. Leaves, bits of wool or animal hair caught on fences, for example – anything that your dog might encounter on a walk naturally – and bring them home. You can then put them in a box or spread them around an area and let your dog investigate them.

We can also combine sniffing with food to offer the dog a chance to go foraging. Scatter some food or treats around, either in the home or garden and let the dog search them all out. (Sadly, in some areas people will leave harmful items like poisoned food out to harm dogs, so some people will teach their dogs a cue to let them know it’s safe to forage).

These are some simple ways to let our dogs be dogs and do those natural dog things. Simple but they have a massive impact on the dog’s mental wellbeing and welfare.

07/09/2024

Truth!

07/08/2024

This is why we love working with fosters. They learn so many things that can benefit their own dogs and future fosters! Shout out to Fur Fun Rescue for encouraging their foster families to learn more/do better all the time!
❤️🐾🙌
From a Fur Fun Rescue foster:
“Just thought I would reach out and tell you that our new adopted dog Mavis has benefitted so much from your lessons with us with Clark. She was slightly reactive at the window to people and dogs going by. I started as soon as she sees them give a treat away from the window. The Amazon guy just delivered six packages. Mavis barked once ran to me for a treat I wasn't paying attention. Went back and barked lightly once and then ran to me for a treat. She now thinks people walking by the window and strangers are super good things. 🤣 We are fostering a shy guy right now too and Mavis has taught him the fun game of spot a person get a treat!”

07/07/2024

Understanding canine communication can prevent a bad situation.

07/05/2024

Connection is absolutely central to being the best people for our dogs we can be. Understanding and empathy help us to see what they need and how we can meet those needs in any situation, and when we have both of those things between us, we have connection.

That connection can make training so much easier. Because we understand each other much better and are truly listening to each other, we can move in harmony as we go through the world.

In potentially scary or tricky situations, having a strong connection means that our dogs will trust us to help them and keep them safe. They will feel more able to listen to us and do what we ask of them to navigate the sitaution with a minimum of stress and difficulty.

How then do we go about making that connection?

We respect their choices as much as possible (in a dangerous situation we may have to manage their choices more for safety, but should try to make sure choices are respected outside of these situations).

We make sure their needs are met.

We help them to feel safe and secure.

Most important of all, we listen to them.

The importance of learning about canine communication and body language is often mentioned, and with very good reason. It is the central pillar of understanding our dogs, and so forging that connection.

Make the central focus of life with our dogs about connection, honouring them as the individuals they are and ensuring we give them agency and choice. While we need to be able to have our dogs under control when in public places, this is very different to controlling their lives. We have control over so much of their lives in this very human world, and so it is important to give them control of their own lives as much as possible.

Connection, not control.

07/05/2024

Huge thanks to all the veterinarians and clinic staff who go slow when it’s needed and get things done quickly and quietly when it’s needed!
Thank you allowing “happy visits” where pet parents come in during a slow time for practice. And thank you for allowing me to come along to help my clients know how to handle visits for their fearful or anxious dogs.
Pet parents feel supported and as though they have a “team” setting them and their dog up for success. 👏👏🐾🙌

07/03/2024

06/29/2024

Had a little time between clients today and I was right by the Iowa City Animal Care & Adoption Center so popped in and did a quick play date with Gooding and Roberta. ❤️❤️🐾🐾
Both are still available for adoption!