YES to LEARN, Force Free Dog Behavior and Care

08/26/2024

Whole Dog Journal‘s mission is to provide dog guardians with in-depth information on dog food, training, behavior, health, and more.

06/13/2023

Do you feed your dog before you leave home for the day, but your dog doesn’t eat the food until you get home? That’s a sign he’s a little (or a lot) stressed at being left home alone.

06/06/2023

The factors that influence people’s choice of dog training method, according to a new study shows.

05/09/2023

Fact: Puppies have a developmental need to bite. Here’s a plan for directing and fulfilling that need – with your skin intact!

05/08/2023

Don’t use leash jerks, and if your dog pulls on leash, walk them on a harness, as research shows the potential pressure applied to a dog’s neck by the use of a flat collar.

05/07/2023

Whole Dog Journal‘s mission is to provide dog guardians with in-depth information on dog food, training, behavior, health, and more.

05/05/2023

https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/2023/05/01/vets-warn-pet-owners-about-blastomycosis-this-spring-summer/

Local vets reminding pet owners of potential for blastomycosis as warmer weather approaches

05/02/2023

Hey Holistic Dog Parents ,

We always want a reference, a number of comparison. However, trauma does not have a hierarchy. Your dog does not have a lot or little trauma. If your dog has trauma, it has trauma.” I believe this to be true for all living beings, including humans.

As a holistic trauma informed behavior consultant, I’ve seen firsthand how trauma can impact every aspect of our lives. And yet, so often we hear people minimizing their own or their pet's trauma by comparing it to someone else's experience.

But the truth is, trauma is not a competition. It doesn't matter how "big" or "small" someone's trauma is. If it has impacted them in any way, it is valid and deserves to be acknowledged and addressed.

If you or your furry companion are struggling with trauma, please know that you're not alone. I'm here to offer my online trauma informed behavior consultation services to help you and your loved ones heal and move forward.

Let's break the cycle of trauma and start living our best lives.
Rogue Valley Humane Society

05/02/2023

The risk factors for dogs being aggressive towards people include being fearful, older, small, and someone’s first dog, new research shows.

04/30/2023

EDIT: I'm going to leave the rest of this post as it was so as not to cause further confusion, but I wanted to clear up a mistake that I made. The exercise described in this document was invented by Ian and he originally named it "Retreat with Honor". I was under the impression that Suzanne Clothier took this exercise and renamed it "Treat and Retreat" but that the protocol remained the same. That is not true. I have since learned that "Treat and Retreat" is different from this exercise in significant ways. This exercise should be called "Retreat with Honor" and I will change the document, and the associated page on the Dunbar Academy website to reflect that. I am very sorry for the confusion. To be clear, Suzanne's Treat/Retreat protocol does not involve luring the dog at all.
In the post below, wherever you see "Treat & Retreat" it should instead say "Retreat with Honor". I've just replaced the image that goes with this post. The image used to have the title "Treat & Retreat"
Again, I'm sorry for the confusion.
-Jamie

One of the easiest exercises you can do to help a dog who is fearful around people is called Treat & Retreat. It's super simple, but super effective.

You alternate between 1. luring the dog to move away from the person using regular kibble and 2. luring the dog to move towards the person using high value treats.

By luring the dog further away, you can keep the dog at a comfortable distance, so when you lure the dog to approach, they are not overly stressed. You never bring the dog close enough to make them feel too anxious, and the person never moves towards the dog, which can be very scary for fearful dogs.

As you repeat this exercise, every piece of food the dog eats helps the dog feel good about the person, and the high-value treats make the dog feel extra good about approaching the person and being closer to the person.

You can learn more, as well as download the full size PNG or PDF version of this document here: https://dunbar.info/treat-retreat

If your dog is fearful of people, you should do something about it right away, so your dog doesn't have to live with unnecessary stress and anxiety, and so you and your dog can enjoy life together. This problem won't get better on its own, but it will get better with the right training techniques.

We currently have an amazing opportunity for you to get the help you need to resolve fearfulness and reactivity problems. For the next few days we're offering 50% off our Reactive Dog Toolkit, and offering 1-week of personalized support at no extra cost:
https://dunbar.info/reactive-dog-2023

Between May 8-15 you'll be able to tell us about your dog's history and we'll help you develop a training plan to help your dog. You can send us footage and we'll give you feedback. You can submit questions via our Reactive Dog Support Community page or during one of our Live Q+As and you'll get the answers and advice you need to resolve your dog's issues.

We can help you resolve your dog's fearfulness and reactivity, guaranteed. If you're not satisfied with the progress you can make using our simple strategies and easy exercises, just let us know within 30 days and we'll give you a full refund.

04/27/2023

Want to be able to make friends with new dogs when you meet them? You can signal that you’re friendly by using canine body language!

We often hear that you’re supposed to offer a dog the back of your hand to sniff, but the body language of this move is actually quite threatening. When we lean forward to offer our hand, we’re facing the dog square on, looming over them, making eye contact and invading their space. All of those signals combine into an intimidating message, and as a result many dogs will become uncomfortable when greeted in this fashion. Confident dogs will usually respond with a couple of signals like turning their head away, yawning, or licking their nose, which means they’d like the human to ease up a bit. Shy or anxious dogs will back away, cower, or even growl, snap or bite.

The best way to greet a dog is to either stand side on to them and invite them over by patting your leg or calling to them, or crouch down on the ground and let them come to you. This method ensures that it’s the dog’s choice to come and say hello – they’re moving up to you, rather than you moving up to them.

If the dog chooses not to approach, it means that they don’t want to say hello. It’s important that you respect that choice, and leave them be. If you’re going to be spending some time with the dog, be patient and hang back – the best way to win the trust of a shy dog is to avoid putting pressure on them to interact. Move slowly, blink your eyes a lot to avoid staring, and don’t speak loudly. If they approach to sniff you, don’t pet them right away. Let them sniff, then when they’re finished move away from them and try inviting them closer again.

Best of luck making some new doggie friends Dog Geeks! We’d love to hear how being conscious of your body language has helped you greet dogs, or if you’ve ever won the trust of a shy dog by being patient and avoiding pressuring them.

- Maddie Ross CPDT-KA

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For more graphics and videos on training and behaviour, check out our library: https://www.beacondogtraining.com.au/thatdoggeek

04/21/2023

How long should you walk a puppy depends on her age. A new puppy should go on a walk for no more than five or 10 minutes – here’s why.

04/20/2023

Dogs who have issues with other dogs can learn to be calm around other dogs – and maybe even make dog friends.

04/17/2023

The best way to remove a tick from your dog will depend on if it’s loose or attached. Learn each technique here!

04/16/2023

When you choose to use an in-ground fencing system, the emotional and safety cost to your dog can be high. Here's why.

04/15/2023

⭐ DOG BITE PREVENTION WEEK ⭐

Attention parents! Do you have a furry friend at home?

When it comes to navigating tight spaces like doorways, hallways, and stairways, it's important to consider your dog's needs and avoid creating grumble zones.

To prevent accidents or conflicts, it's essential to supervise your children when they are in close proximity to your dog. Observe your dog’s body language. Help them become aware of your dog's boundaries and how to respect them. Teach them to give your dog space and avoid approaching them when they are in a grumble zone.

Want to learn more about navigating Dogs & Toddlers? Join us for our Dogs & Toddlers Webinar, tomorrow (4/13) at 7pm EST. 🔗 in bio to sign up now!

04/14/2023

Option 1: Improve Behaviour (Operant Conditioning) This option focuses on training your dog to do something else in response to noticing a trigger. Looking at you Disengaging from the trigger Looking at the trigger on cue ("look at that") Management/prevention behaviours All of these should be done....

04/13/2023

https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/health/critical-signs-of-stress-in-a-dog/?utm_content=buffer148b7&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Learn the signs of dog anxiety so you can avoid having your dog shut down.

04/10/2023

Reward versus discipline training affects the bond between dogs and owners.

04/10/2023

Showing that you're alpha to your dog is a flawed approach to dog behavior. Learn more about how to build a better relationship with your dog.

04/10/2023

Why do dogs growl at people? Your dog is probably trying to protect himself, but there are some ways to alter their aggression.

04/07/2023

It’s a rollercoaster and not many of us would choose to be on.

If you’re feeling more like the left side than the right these days, we’re here to support you. We still have spots open in our dog guardian support group.

Learn more and sign up here: https://app.squarespacescheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=24409674&appointmentType=43820396

04/05/2023

The impact of training methods on dogs.

04/03/2023

So you brought home a new shelter dog. Here are some tips for welcoming and training your new rescue dog.

04/02/2023

A brief introduction to communicating and working with dogs who are hearing impaired.

03/30/2023

Learn first-aid techniques now – including the Heimlich Maneuver – so you can save a choking dog in an emergency.

03/29/2023

When a lot of people think about therapy dogs, their minds may automatically go to therapy dogs who visit nursing homes. This is for a good reason. Therapy dogs provide so much love and companionship to those who may be separated from their loved ones or pets.

Read more about how beneficial therapy dogs are to nursing homes in today's blog post:
https://www.therapydogs.com/therapy-dogs-in-nursing-homes/