Natural Rhythm Animal Training

11/19/2024

Does your dog come when you call? I find that people expect their dog to come no matter what the distance or the distraction. Playing fun games with your dog will help build that skill.

10/28/2024

https://trulyforcefree.com/class/adult-dog-good-manners-course-1-november-1st-to-december-13th-2024/2024-11-01/

GOOD MANNERS 1 Dates: November 1st to December 13th 2024 (Each Friday) Time: 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm NO CLASS 11/29/24 Instructor: Wendy Signorella This 6-week class is $185 For dogs 19 weeks and older Must be current on vaccines Handlers 14 y/o to Adult (to attend class without supervision) Good Manners...

09/06/2024

A great read especially if you’re struggling with an adolescent dog.

Adolescence occurs between six months and 18 months of age—a time when guardians typically struggle the most with their dogs. Some guardians are so overwhelmed and underprepared for this developmental stage of their dog’s life, they choose to surrender the dog to a local shelter or rescue group. In a recent study published in the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science found that the majority of the surrendered dogs (47.7 percent) ) were between 5 months and 3 years of age (M.D. Salman,John G. New, Jr.,Janet M. Scarlett,Philip H. Kass,Rebecca Ruch-Gallie &Suzanne Hetts, 2010)

The neurobiology of adolescence is fascinating, with some key events that alter both the structure and function of the brain.

During canine adolescence, changing s*x hormones effect the animals stress responses. Adolescent dogs have a decreased ability to process information they are receiving from the environment including the presence of dogs, vehicles, people, or really anything around them. They behave in ways that might feel frustrating or upsetting for the dog’s person.

The connectivity between the frontal cortex (responsible for decision making) and amygdala (responsible for emotional processing) decreases, resulting in less behavioral control. We see increased risk taking and more sensitivity to fear.

So what does this mean? This could mean that what was once no big deal to the dog now feels scary; what was once easy to do is now stressful; what once made sense is now confusing. At times, the world can feel like ‘too much’ for the adolescent dog.

As your puppy undergoes this transition into adulthood their inner world is intense, even chaotic. Many pet owners experience an increase in undesirable behavior and find themselves becoming increasingly frustrated. In turn, our own frustration and impatience can cause us to act unpredictably. This adds to our puppy’s inner turmoil. When the inside and the outside are both unpredictable it can be difficult for our dogs to adjust.

If you have an adolescent dog, what can you do? You can give your dog the time and space to observe what is going on around them when on leash at a distance away from the activity when possible. You can give your dog long walks to sniff and explore in nature, giving their brain time to decompress. You can offer your dog a quiet space to sleep so that they can consolidate memories effectively. You can continue training various skills, breaking them down into easier steps that can be generously reinforced.

By understanding what our adolescent dog is experiencing we gain greater compassion and understanding. When we approach adolescence with patience we create a world that is predictable and gentle so our puppies grow up to be their best adult selves.

08/19/2024

Had a great time at The Pooch Parade this year. Was able to promote both of my businesses ❤️NRAT and Wendy’s Furtography.

07/12/2024

Come join me in Ventura!

🐶 GOOD MANNERS 1 Class with Wendy Signorella AVAILABLE!

❗️ENROLL HERE - DON'T WAIT, THESE SPOTS FILL UP FAST❗️
https://www.supersaas.com/schedule/venturapetwellness/Wendy_Signorella

👉When: July 26th through August 30th (Each Friday)
👉Time: 10:00 am to 11:00 am
👉This 6-week class is $185

💥For dogs 19 weeks and older
💥Must be current on vaccines
💥Handlers 14 y/o to Adult (to attend class without supervision)

Good Manners 1 Class Includes:
You and your dog will learn using modern, science based training. This class focuses on the beginnings of eye contact, sit/down/release, recall, loose leash walking, leave it/mine and an introductory target behavior. Dogs must be ready to work in a class environment around other people and dogs; dogs showing signs of moderate to severe fear or anxiety should do private training to get them ready to work in a class environment. This class gets you and your dog off to a great start on your relationship together! Whether you have a teenage pup, an adult dog, or a senior pup, all are welcome in Good Manners 1!

07/11/2024

https://youtu.be/l5sonj3AVQo?si=lqzJIV8LIlVzGgw2

Working on teaching Rio to target an object. Not bad for her first session.

07/05/2024

This is so spot on!

06/18/2024

Let's talk about this photo. It's cute, except it's not. I see a dog who cannot get up without telling the child to get off. How do you think a dog is going to do that?

The 7 Golden Toddler Dog Rules:
#1: If a dog walks away from you, you DO NOT FOLLOW.
#2: Always leave room for the dog to walk away from you.
---that right there is 90+% of dog bites eliminated---
#3: We do not climb on the dog.
#4: We do not grab or pull on the dog.
#5: We do not hit or throw anything at the dog.
#6: We do not touch the dog's food.
#7: We do not go into the dog's kennel.

I promise these are not overly difficult concepts for littles, nor will they rob a kid of their bond with the family dog. It will deepen that bond, while keeping everyone safe.

"Oh, it looks like Moose is walking away from you. She is saying she wants a break. Let's play with this instead!"

"It's Moose's dinner time! Let's give her space to enjoy her yummies."

"That is Moose's room(kennel) and only she is allowed to go in there."

"If Moose wanted a break, could she walk away from you right now? No she really couldn't. Let's move away from the play house. You can keep playing but now she can leave when she wants a break."

In conclusion, ***parent your child or your dog will do it for you, and you will not like how they do it.***

05/14/2024

05/13/2024

Beautiful Rio, always game for playing. How do you play with your dog?