Amy's Canine Kindergarten

08/14/2024

This guy is looking serious….

08/13/2024

Sweet Chestnut and Kola working on a range of things. Good changes are happening ❤️

08/12/2024

Food, water, comfy bed, mental and physical outlets = happy pup!

08/08/2024

Love my time with Lou Lou!❤️

08/07/2024

Working on her “ place”❤️

08/06/2024

Training Tip Tuesday….

If your pup jumps on you for attention, turn away and give no attention at all. Give attention when all 4 paws are on the ground.
Dogs do what gets them what they want!

07/29/2024

Those lazy days of summer!

07/24/2024

Hangin’ with the Grand Dogs!!!

07/18/2024

Great new website for Family Paws!!! Check it out!

https://www.familypaws.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1OeSVCCBapTIzwybEPl7InG0AA3ykE-WUIzU5UZVjBa9Q-sr7E0PG4UWs_aem_hScxMBnRi4VqPLtAh5ZlFA

Preparing your dog for baby, introducing your dog to your new baby, we know you have questions! Trust our 20 years of experience!

07/05/2024

Connection, trust, bonding….. your first priority with your dog.

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.

07/04/2024

06/23/2024

This guy….. 😂

06/19/2024

Puppy Love!

06/18/2024

Getting a closer look!!!

06/15/2024

Love it!

Knowledge about dog behaviour is important. It's a no brainer. But why? 🤔

Well, understanding dog behaviour is crucial in effective dog training for several reasons. A deep knowledge of canine behaviour allows trainers & behaviourists to create effective, humane, and tailored training programmes. Here are the primary reasons why this knowledge is essential:

⚠️ Understanding Canine Communication.

Dogs communicate primarily through body language and vocalisations. A deep understanding of these communication methods helps to interpret what a dog is feeling or intending, which is crucial for effective training.

Body Language. Knowing the nuances of a dog’s body language, such as tail position, ear orientation, and posture, can indicate whether the dog is relaxed, anxious, or aggressive. For instance, a wagging tail doesn't always mean a dog is happy; the context and type of wag are important indicators of the dog's emotional state.

Vocalisations. Different barks, growls, and whines have distinct meanings. Recognising these sounds allows trainers to respond appropriately to a dog’s needs and emotions, facilitating better communication and training outcomes.

⚠️ Addressing Behavioural Issues.

Behavioural issues such as aggression, anxiety, and excessive barking can stem from various causes, including fear, territoriality, or past trauma. Understanding the root causes of these behaviours is essential for developing effective intervention strategies.

Anxiety. Recognising signs of anxiety and understanding its triggers (e.g., separation anxiety, noise phobia) helps in designing desensitisation and counterconditioning programmes to alleviate the dog’s stress.

⚠️ Understanding the importance and relevance of health and wellbeing vs behaviour.

Physical & mental health do impact dog behaviour more than people realise. Considering possible pain, discomfort, nutrition, appetite amount of physical activity and mental health is absolutely critical before any training can start.

⚠️ Implementing Positive Reinforcement Techniques.

A comprehensive knowledge of dog behaviour supports the use of positive reinforcement techniques, which are based on rewarding desired behaviours to encourage their repetition.

Timing and Consistency. Understanding the importance of immediate and consistent reinforcement helps trainers effectively shape and reinforce desired behaviours. This is critical as dogs learn best when there is a clear and immediate connection between their behaviour and the reward.

Motivation. Knowing what motivates a particular dog, whether it’s food, toys, or affection, allows trainers to tailor their approach to each dog’s preferences, making training more effective and engaging.

⚠️ Building Trust and Relationship.

Effective, kind and modern dog training is built on a foundation of trust between the dog and the trainer. Deep knowledge of dog behaviour helps in establishing this trust by ensuring that training methods are humane and respectful.

Avoiding Negative Methods. Understanding the detrimental effects of punishment and negative reinforcement encourages trainers to avoid these methods, which can damage the dog-trainer relationship and lead to fear or aggression.

Empathy and Respect. Recognising and respecting a dog’s individual temperament and limits fosters a positive training environment, enhancing the bond between the dog and the trainer.

⚠️ Customising Training Programs.

Dogs, like humans, have individual personalities and learning styles. Knowledge of dog behaviour enables trainers to customise training programmes to suit the specific needs and characteristics of each dog.

Breed-Specific Traits. Different breeds have distinct behavioural traits and predispositions. For example, herding breeds may require more mental stimulation, while scent hounds may need activities that engage their sense of smell.

Individual Differences. Beyond breed traits, individual dogs have unique personalities. Some may be more timid or excitable than others. Tailoring training to these individual differences ensures more effective and humane outcomes.

⚠️ Preventing and Managing Problem Behaviours

Understanding the natural behaviours of dogs helps in preventing and managing problem behaviours before they become ingrained.

Early Intervention. Recognising early signs of behavioural issues allows for timely intervention, preventing the escalation of undesirable behaviours.

Environmental Management: Knowledge of dog behaviour informs environmental management strategies, such as providing adequate exercise, mental stimulation, and safe spaces, which are critical for preventing behavioural problems.

06/07/2024

Canine Problem, Reactivity, Anxiety, Recall, Pharma

06/02/2024

Beautiful Olivia!

05/30/2024

Good information!

Some of you may have heard me talk about the “stress bucket”. It’s an analogy I use a lot during behaviour consultations to help my clients understand what every day things might be contributing to the expression of unwanted behaviours in their pets.
It is also very relatable to people and many of us get it when we look at our own lives and behaviours and what might be filling our own buckets.

What fills your dog or cat’s bucket ?
What fills your bucket ?

Taking some time to reflect on this opens the doors for change.

05/26/2024

Honoring those who gave all.

05/14/2024

Sweet Petie! Making his way through changes in life!

05/04/2024

I can’t even……that face. ❤️❤️❤️

05/01/2024

Those Zoomies!!!!

Zoomies (aka The Witching Hour)
Zoomies, or to give them their official term; Frenetic Random Activity Periods (FRAPs) are well known to most puppy and dog owners.
The official term actually describes them really well – random, frantic activity periods. These periods usually occur after walks, sometimes after meals and on an evening. They are really common in puppies as adult dogs often out grow them, although you still do see the occasional zoomies as adults too.
Not much is known scientifically about zoomies, there have been very little studies on them, so we are unsure what causes them or why they occur, but logically, it is an outlet for excess energy. Marc Bekoff, an American Biologist and Behavioural Ecologist has written a little on the subject, as have many Dog Trainers/ Behaviourists, but no formal studies as of yet.
The excess energy theory fits with zoomies occurring after walks and on an evening. We restrict our puppies exercise levels to protect their joints. Walks are also exciting and a bit scary for many puppies, with lots of new sights, smells and sounds each time. They therefore have a build up of energy from this that comes out once they get home and are off their leads.
Similarly, evening is the most common time for zoomies and is that outlet for the excess energy left over from the day’s activities, before they settle down to sleep.
Zoomies take many forms, from running, shaking and tugging toys, digging, biting at their owners or other animal companions and hu***ng to name a few. Basically, whatever activity your dog finds enjoyable as an outlet for that energy!
If their chosen outlet is safe for them, you and other residents of your household, then simply enjoy the fun. Let them have their zoomies to release that energy, then they will settle and sleep. They may need a chew/ kong, or likimat, or scatter of food to encourage that settle towards the end of zoomie time.
If, however, the zoomies are dangerous to our dogs or take an unwanted form (usually biting), then we need to channel that energy into other outlets.
This could be simple redirection to a safer area, so let them zoom in the garden, rather than the house. Cue them to dig a pile of old blankets or their own bed, instead of your sofa.
It can also be setting up activities to have ready for them when you get home from your walk, or during their regular zoomie time on an evening.
Many enrichment activities (see Exercising your Dog’s Mind in Unit 7) can be used for this, as they use that energy in mental instead of physical activity and often a combination of the two.
You could also have a small training/ play session with your dog, again to channel that energy into a more constructive way, but do be aware that in zoomie mode, your dog will find it very difficult to listen to you and concentrate, so keep skills simple, or engage that energy and attention BEFORE they hit full zoomie mode!
As our dogs mature and manage their energy levels better, and the world becomes less exciting and scary and more ‘normal’ to them, zoomies will naturally reduce in frequency. Some dogs lose their zoom totally and some still have occasional, shorter ones. Teaching them how to channel that energy at a young age, will ensure your zoomies are safe and fun for you all, however long they last.
By Abby Huxtable

To get free dog training advice, please visit our group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogtrainingadviceandsupport/

04/26/2024

Charlie had a great lesson. So proud of the progress he is making.

04/23/2024

Tank is rockin’ that mustache!

04/19/2024

So proud of Coco! Building self confidence takes time, but she is doing it!

04/14/2024

Leo! Love this athletic guy!