Positively Behavioral- Dog Training

04/18/2024

Never be this person.

Never be this person.

Running a small business is hard work. There are no paid sick days. No paid holidays. There’s little job security. If it rains and you can’t run classes for a week, that’s a week’s groceries you can’t afford.

We don’t get paid for the hours of travel, we don’t get our fuel subsidized. We have to pay venue hire, even if nobody turns up. We go home after a long day at work and instead of switching off, it’s time to do admin, advertising and lesson prep for the next day into the early hours. It quite literally is non-stop.

If somebody who is running their own small business doesn’t answer an email, there’s probably a reason. Maybe they’re totally snowed under. Maybe they’re sick. Maybe they (god forbid) have taken a bit of time off to relax. Maybe they didn’t see it. Maybe it went into the junk box. Maybe they accidentally overlooked it. Maybe, and with my lack of object permanence I do this a lot, they fully formulated a response and forgot to press send.

A one star review, for a small business, is the difference between a 5 star reputation and a 4.8 star reputation. What justifies a one star review? If I took your money and never showed up. If I did a really shoddy job and made your dog worse. If I was rude or unprofessional. If I promised something and put no effort in to deliver. One star is the lowest review you can give. Receiving this review from somebody I’ve never met is appalling.

Because to them, it’s faceless. It’s ’this will show her for ignoring my email!’ For a small business owner, it might be the difference between getting more work or being overlooked. It’s reputation. Because if someone is willing to give the lowest possible review, surely that must be justified?

Realistically, I would never want to work with someone like this, who is willing to drag a business through the mud at the slightest inconvenience. I’ve saved myself the stress of likely working with someone rude and entitled, probably somebody unwilling to wait for results and instead wants a quick fix- something that just doesn’t work in my business. And if this person needed instant responses, it’s probably a good thing we didn’t work together anyway, because I can’t possibly deliver on that.

This was 11 months ago. It’s fine. But next time you’re considering leaving a one star review, just put yourself in their shoes. Have a bit of compassion. Do you really want to attack a business that, in this current climate, is probably just trying to stay afloat? Do you want to potentially destroy the reputation of someone you’ve never actually met? What good can come from leaving this review, because I promise all it will do is ensure I send any subsequent emails from them straight into the deleted folder.

Just try to be the kindest version of yourself. Something minor like this, which they probably forgot they did a few days later, can leave a lasting impact on others.

03/20/2024

Come to think of it, we're all doing the best we can.

03/14/2024

This 100%!

03/08/2024

How incredibly disappointing. I will also be removing their products from my recommended products list to clients. Our dogs deserve better. Promoting someone with laughable credentials and knowledge in canine behavior in a professional field is wild.

UPDATE: I've posted the reply from Lickimat in the comments. So disappointing to see a brand I previously recommend - Lickimat- is promoting a trainer renowned for using aversives.

I do not support businesses that claim to enrich dogs' lives, but then choose to platform such harmful figures.

02/22/2024

01/16/2024

When consuming dog training content, on social media, YouTube, etc, I ask you to consider this:

Forget what the trainer is saying. What is the DOG saying.

I just saw a sponsored post from a local trainer showing their "off-leash" (euphemism for "dog wearing a shock collar so the human doesn't have to deal with a leash") dog training in a home improvement store. The caption read something like "Wow, look at Fido! After his two week board and train he's already off leash heeling around all of these distractions!" Etc. Etc.

But you know what I saw? I didn't see a "focused" dog training in public. I didn't say "wow!". Instead, I saw a doodle, walking with a crouched posture, ears held close against his head, and tail held close to his body. He was in "heel" position wearing his electronic shock collar, and the owner was marching onward, shock collar remote in hand, while her dog did everything he could to stay within the permitted range and avoid getting shocked (or "stimmed" as they like to call it). His movements were jerky and uncomfortable, and he looked around anxiously the whole time.

This was not the body language of a happy, relaxed dog. This was the body language of a dog who was genuinely experiencing terror. And there he was, being proudly paraded around by a trainer claiming a well trained dog after a $3,000 board and train program.

I cannot express this enough: a lot of dog trainers make a lot of money by selling quick fixes and magic collars. And they'll tell you "the dog is fine", "the dog is being over dramatic", "he'll get used to it", even if that's the furthest thing from the truth.

When you are consuming media put out by dog trainers, always ask yourself this before believing what is said: what is the dog saying?

12/11/2023

Have you heard that your puppy needs to stay inside until they're fully vaccinated?

This is frankly dangerous advice. We need to shift the focus away from fear mongering that puppies will get sick or die if they go outside and instead focus on socialization as prevention for later behavioral issues. The latter presents a much greater risk of dogs being surrendered or euthanized.

For a deeper dive, check out this blogpost: https://rescuedbytraining.com/2020/09/21/myth-busting-socialization/

11/24/2023

There is a lingering misconception that using force free and fear free methods consists of just ignoring any 'bad' behaviour and giving a dog food. The reality is that force free training is so much more than that.

It requires an understanding of the history of dogs, why they do the things that they do and how to change their behaviour. Of how to manage the dog's environment so they don't get to practice the behaviour we don't want to see while reinforcing the behaviours we do want - dogs do what works for them so reinforcing alternative behaviours makes the original behaviour much less likely to repeat.

Most of all it means having an understanding of the dog in front of us, their needs, likes and dislikes, so that we can help them with their fears or show them the behaviours their humans would like without danger of fear and pain, or of the dog becoming frustrated or scared.

11/14/2023

There are many different types of trainers. There are some who will use physical punishment and aversive pressure to teach and there are some, like me, who won't.

There are endless arguments about what is ethical & humane and what isn't. But one thing that I think it is hard to argue against is that a trainer should ALWAYS aim to use the least aversive/unpleasant approach possible. The first step in any ethical pathway should always be the most benign.

Which means that even a trainer who chooses to use aversive tools like slip leads, prong collars or shock collars should only ever resort to these if they already tried & failed* to achieve effective change using a less aversive approach. To do otherwise is neither ethical nor humane.

If a trainer chooses to skip these steps and jumps straight to the use of aversive based methods they are doing you & your dog a disservice. If a trainer's first answer to a problem is to put a slip lead, choke chain, prong collar or shock collar on your dog without first using less invasive, positive reinforcement based approaches they are making an active choice to be more heavy handed and punitive than they need to be.

Trainers may have different views on how far down the road to punishment they will go but there is no valid argument for skipping the first steps & jumping straight to the use of punishment.

*if (and this can be a big if) they have the requisite skill in applying these methods

09/13/2023

Rant
As I have gotten older, I have withdrawn from most social media groups.
My bandwidth needs protecting.
I am tagged in various groups, pretty much daily. Some are professional training groups, and most are city and town groups.
Most tags are for regular training, and group and puppy classes, and some are for aggression.
I appreciate each and every referral.
BUT HOLY HELL! I AM CONSTANTLY OVERWELMED BY THE BAD ADVICE THAT IS STILL BEING GIVEN ON LINE.

It is exhausting.

Here are the Top 5 Red Flags to avoid when you see or hear random dog training advice.
These are especially true with dog aggression.

*1st of all, a true dog behavior professional, won't even offer aggression suggestions without gathering lots of information.
Read that again.

*2nd Shock collars are never recommended for aggression.
In a nutshell, pain does not address the root of the issue, and suppresses behavior. The risk of fallout- a dog who bites without warning is very real.
Dogs associate pain with what they see when they feel it. Read that sentence again.

*3rd Showing a dog who is Alpha is not a thing.
The term Alpha comes from a flawed wolf study. Dogs are not wolves. An Alpha wolf is part of a breeding pair. That is all, nothing more.

*4th Showing a dog who is boss is not a thing. It can be a very big thing if your goal is to elicit aggression.

*5th Please do even just a little bit of research before recommending or booking a trainer to help people solve complex aggression issues.
What education do they have that makes them qualified?
What degrees, or certifications do they hold that makes them qualified? How many years have the trainers been training, and working with aggressive dogs?
While we are in a non regulated profession, we self regulate with certifications and continued education.
Animal training is a BEHAVIOR SCIENCE.
Please keep that in mind.
Behavior has a reason, and in the majority of cases it is fear and pain.

Nancy Freedman-Smith CDBC, CBATI- KA

08/26/2023

Sharing with client's permission.

I was recently contacted by a woman who sent her 8 month old Golden Retriever, Moose, away for a 6 week board and train with another trainer for leash skills and over-friendly excitability that presented as jumping, mouthing, barking, and hu***ng.

Initially she signed him up for 2 weeks but the trainer said they were having a hard time teaching him the concepts and wanted to keep him longer. When she got her dog back, he was skinny, shut down, and scared of strangers, worse so with males. They claimed they used only positive reinforcement but she got him back with a shock collar on. The trainer said she would need to keep up on the training with the collar so "he knows who's boss."

When I came out to meet this boy on Saturday, I expected a typical hyper and happy bundle of ball loving golden energy. What I encountered was just the opposite. Poor Moose was terrified.

We quickly worked through that once he realized I had no intent to invade his space or scare him and worked on all the skills that he initially went to the other trainer for. He did get excited once he knew he could trust me, so we jumped right on capturing and creating calm greetings.

By the end of the session, Moose could sit to say hello to the whole family and he could keep all 4 feet on the floor even when he got excited. We were able to meet the male neighbor who moved in while Moose was away with the other trainer. When they attempted to introduce them previously, Moose would growl at him.

We worked on relaxation exercises, leash walking games, "look at that", impulse control, and gave his human a training plan that's easy to follow.

Today's report? Moose made another new male friend without issue and got to say hi to a small human friend after not seeing them for months without a single instance of mouthing, jumping, barking, or hu***ng.

THIS is the difference training with science makes. Two days and success vs 6 weeks and worse.

Thank you Moose's human Lynn for being an advocate for Moose, and thank you for letting me be a part of this journey with the two of you. 💛

If you're struggling with your dog's behavior, don't hesitate to reach out with questions. I have a network of wonderful trainers I can refer you to or you can train with us virtually (anywhere!) or in person (North Florida).

Happy training!

Sabrielle, Fear and Aggression Specialist
The Canine's Voice - Dog Training and Behavior Solutions
386.336.2469

06/29/2023

I don't know who needs to hear this but..

Buying an i.d. or service dog vest or badge online does not make your dog a service dog.

Google "service dog" and you will be bombarded with scams and people trying to sell you these things.

Carrying the card or putting the vest on your dog doesn't make it so. Airlines have caught on to this trick. Others are slowly catching on.

Please support the service dog community by not trying to trick people into believing your dog is a service dog. This hurts people that require a service dog.
And no, emotional support dogs are not the same as a service dog.

06/21/2023

You cannot replace the relationship you build with your dog by training them using force free methods. You are investing in lifetime of trust and understanding. You are investing in a life without stress from “bad behaviors” frkm your dog which you need to constantly micromanage because you didn’t teach them how to make good choices. You are investing in the prevention of potentially exacerbating serious behavioral issues. Invest in an experienced and experienced professional. It’s worth it and in the long term it will save you money.

05/17/2023

🤣🤣🤣🥹

[the chronicle flask]

05/10/2023

07/17/2022

Do you know that having a good walk with your dog is a stepping stone to solving other behaviors?

Are you not enjoying your walk with your dog?

Or are you not doing a walk because it isn't relaxing?

Let's start with these simple rules.

The importance of walking your dog calmly.

In order to have a calm walk you have to have a calm state of mind --> calm body, calm energy.

That means the moment you decide to do a walk, before you grab the leash, before you put on your shoes you are in a calm state of mind.

Every action before your walk, during your walk, and ending your walk should have a calm mind and body.

That energy will be like a mirror for your dog's energy.

1. Start Off Right: Before you go out that door, make sure your dog is calm and waiting for you to lead. No rushing the door, getting frustrated with your dog for not listening, etc.

2. Avoid Practicing Bad Habits: Each time we allow our dogs to continue moving forwards while pulling on the leash, it will becomes a stronger and stronger habit. Leash pulling is a self-reinforcing behavior. If you don't have any training tools under your belt yet, the minimum you can do is plant your feet and not allow your dog to continue moving forward when pulling. Wait until your dog realizes that you are not going anywhere.

3. Allow Your Dog To Check His Pee-mail: Sniffing is an excellent activity for your dog to engage in. There is a lot of information in smells that require your dog's brain to process which will tire your dog out. A moderate amount of sniffing is healthy and always encouraged as long as your leash is loose.

4. Excessive Sniffing: If the sniffing is so intense your dog is dragging you around, your dog isn't in a calm state of mind. Remember, we aways want the leash to be loose.

5. Boundaries Are Healthy: If you don't feel comfortable when someone asks to pet your dog or have their dog say hello, No is a perfectly acceptable answer. Your dog's energy will mirror yours.

Are you only physically attached to your dog by the leash during walks? Or are you also connected mentally? Let me know in the comments!