Where are all the Shiba Inu fans? We absolutely LOVE this breed’s independence, and their general tendency to assess whether a human seems competent and capable before offering up their trust and affection. Don’t miss this week’s episode of Dogs Unknown, “Exploring Our Breed Stereotypes,” where four experienced Instinct behavior consultants explore their personal breed stereotypes. Learn what we love - and what we find challenging - about some of the most common breeds we work with at Instinct! (Link in bio)#shibainu #dogbreeds #dogbehavior
How do you lead your dog through situations that are scary, uncomfortable, or confusing for them?
One huge component of healthy leadership is stepping into a role as our dog’s Protector and advocate when things get tough.
That can be as simple as helping them move away from an uncomfortable situation, or using your body to provide them with a little extra buffer from whatever is bothering them.
Don’t miss this week’s episode of Dogs Unknown, “Does Your Dog Need a Leader?” with Instinct co-founders Sarah Fraser & Brian Burton, joined by guests Ayelet Berger (co-owner & behavior consultant at Instinct Nashville) and Taylor Snead (behavior consultant at Instinct Portland)! Available wherever you listen to podcasts.
#leadershipdevelopment #dogtraining #dogbehavior
One of the most powerful ways to become an effective leader to your dog is learning how to LISTEN to what they’re telling you. But this stuff isn’t intuitive - we’re different species, and we communicate differently. That’s why learning dog body language is one of the greatest gifts you can give your dog, and yourself. In this week’s episode of Dogs Unknown, “Glorified Cattle?”, we explore all the ways we can best honor dogs for who they are: dependent family members of a different species. #dogtraining #dogwhisperer #dogbodylanguage
It’s okay if you don’t like Nickelback. And it’s okay if your dog doesn’t like fetch.
Acknowledging and accepting your dog’s individual preferences - their likes AND their dislikes - is part of treating them as a true family member, with their own wants and needs.
Don’t miss this week’s Dogs Unknown episode, “Glorified Cattle?”, where we have a sometimes uncomfortable conversation about the strange duality of pet dogs, simultaneously cast in roles as both family members and captive animals.
Juju the Rolling Bulldog
TFW you spend your life working and creating thoughtful educational content to help people understand their dogs better, but the video of your client's bulldog gets you 50 million views 🥲. Love you Juju 🥰
It can be helpful mindset if you’re on The Struggle Bus with your dog, that you can get to a much better place if you can be flexible with what that might look like; it can be better for you, and better for your dog if you remember that life doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful. #dogtraining #dogbehavior #aggressivedog #fearfuldog
It is 100% NORMAL and expected that your dog would want to mill about under your feet while you prepare food in the kitchen (what better spot to snag some tasty dropped scraps). But dogs in the kitchen present a tripping hazard, and not everything we drop is safe for them to have.
Our favorite, simple solution: Keep your dog out of harm’s way by setting up a Kitchen Supervisor Station for them.
Get started with these tips:
1. Put a bed or mat in an out-of-the-way spot in (or just outside) your kitchen. Ideally, the placement of the bed will allow your dog to see at least some of what’s happening in the kitchen.
2. Ask your dog to go to their station as soon as you walk in the kitchen, then reward them with a small treat. We love rewarding dogs with small pieces of whatever we’re preparing (so long as it’s safe/healthy for them), but you can use treats or kibble if that’s your preference.
3. At first, reward your dog frequently for staying on their station (every 3-10 seconds, depending on your dog’s skill level with a “go to bed” cue). Over time, you can reduce how frequently you reward them for staying in place.
4. If they get off, just cue them back using a combo of a verbal cue and a pointing gesture to direct them back toward their spot; depending on your dog, you may find it helpful to also have them wear a lightweight leash during the learning phase.
5. Be consistent! Ask your dog to go to their station EVERY time they enter the kitchen with you.
Give it a try, and let us know how it goes! And remember to be a kind, patient & predictable teacher to your pup. Happy Training!
#instinctdogtraining #dogtraining #positivedogtraining #naturedrivennurture #dogsarefamily #dogtrainingtips
