South Paw Doggie Daycare & Training Center

11/06/2024

Did you know that the way we greet as humans and the way our dogs greet is very different? 🧐

This is why we often see signs of discomfort, stress and uncertainty when we are trying to force introductions between our dogs and new family members! 🐾

We usually go in multiple times for hugs or kisses at a close proximity and our dogs usually enjoy a quick sniff and a greeting from behind 🐶

Often when bringing home a new baby or a new family member it is a HUGE event for us, but we don’t want it to be a huge event for our dogs!

Stay tuned for a reel tomorrow that shares some tips and tricks on bringing home a new family member in a way that is safe and comfortable for everyone involved, especially our dogs! Spoiler alert, it doesn’t involve bringing home a blanket!

10/24/2024

Differential reinforcement (DR) is a process where a desirable behavior is reinforced and an undesirable behavior is extinguished by withholding reinforcement. Using the principles of operant conditioning, the desirable behavior will therefore be more likely to occur in the future while the undesirable behavior will be less likely to occur in the future. Slowly, the undesirable behavior will become extinct as the reinforcement has been removed. There are 5 types of DR. I will briefly cover two types: differential reinforcement of other behaviors (DRO) and differential reinforcement of alternative behaviors (DRA). When doing DRO, the animal is reinforced for doing any behavior other than the undesirable or target behavior. For example, the target behavior is a dog showing interest in a guinea pig cage. If we were to do DRO for this behavior, we would reinforce the dog for doing anything other than paying attention to the guinea pig cage. This could include laying down, chewing on a bone, playing with their toy, etc. For DRA, the animal is only reinforced when doing an appropriate alternative behavior. In this case, the alternative behavior must have the same function as the target behavior. If the target behavior is a dog chewing on shoes. We will only reinforce the dog when they are chewing on their bones, an appropriate alternative behavior.

10/16/2024

ABILITY TO COPE MORE IMPORTANT THAN OBEDIENCE.

🟡In today’s fast-paced world, there’s often too much emphasis on ensuring dogs are obedient, while their ability to cope with an increasingly chaotic environment is overlooked. While being well trained is important, it should be secondary to helping our dogs develop resilience and emotional stability. The modern world presents dogs with constant noise, busy streets, and frequent changes to their environment, which can lead to anxiety or stress if they aren’t prepared to cope with these challenges.

🔴Research supports the idea that emotionally balanced dogs are more adaptable and capable of learning. A 2019 study from the University of Helsinki found that training that focuses on a dog’s emotional state, rather than just their behaviour, leads to a stronger overall ability to handle stress and unfamiliar situations. Dogs that are trained solely for obedience without addressing their mental resilience can often struggle in unpredictable environments, which increases the risk of behavioural issues.

🟢When dogs are allowed to learn to cope first, their ability to navigate a busy world with confidence vastly improves. And more confident dogs respond better to training cues, not out of fear or command alone, but because they trust us and understand how to manage their environment. Building that foundation makes all other training a natural extension, rather than the primary focus.

🟣If we want our dogs to be truly well-adjusted, we must prioritise their emotional well-being and coping abilities. By shifting the focus, we are ensuring that dogs not only follow commands but also feel calm and capable in an ever-busier world.

10/08/2024

10/07/2024

"Dogs don't understand don't, because don't is a concept. Dogs understand DO. They understand behaviours.

Create a behaviour that you DO want, so that your dog can be right and you're setting him up for reinforcement.

This makes for a much better relationship for you and your dog, and for anybody else who comes in contact with your dog."

- Susan Garrett

10/04/2024

Obviously, there's a lot more to resolving dog behavior problems than what we can fit onto a single sheet of paper, but this illustrated flow chart provides a great overview of the concepts you'll need to resolve almost any dog behavior problem.

And if you do have a dog behavior problem and you're looking for help, we want to help you and we want to help you for FREE:

https://dunbar.info/oct2024TDA

For the next few days you can join the Top Dog Academy with a 1-month free trial and you'll get instant access to all of our online courses and training resources PLUS we will provide you with a personalized training plan to ensure that you have the guidance you need to achieve your goals and resolve any behavior problem you are struggling with.

This is an amazing, limited-time opportunity to improve your communication and relationship with your dog and enhance your quality of life together, using simple, thoroughly tested training techniques that are easy to use and thoroughly enjoyable.

As you can see from the flow chart, we have four basic concepts that you'll use.

1. Don't Feed Your Dog From a Regular Food Bowl. If you want to modify your dog's behavior or temperament, there's a very good chance you can use your dog's food to accelerate the training process. You don't have to use all your food in training, but for the food you aren't using in active training, you're much better off feeding from hollow chew toys, snuffle mats or puzzle feeders, all of which will stimulate your dog's brain, give them an enjoyable activity to pass the time, and preserve the value of your dog's food. This is particularly true if your dog has any sort of fear or anxiety-based problem, because food, and lots of it, can be really useful for rehabilitating these problems. Speaking of which...

2. Classical Conditioning. If your dog has a problem that is caused by fear or anxiety (including a lot of reactivity and aggression), then you need to train your dog to FEEL more comfortable, confident, and relaxed in specific situations. Expose your dog to the scary stimulus at a low level that isn't overwhelming, and when you do, give your dog things that they love, like praise, food, play, and good vibes! Put on a big smile and do a happy dance and your dog will start to associate all this good stuff with the stimulus they used to be scared of. Repeat x100! Pretty soon, they'll be looking forward to the used-to-be-scary stimulus appearing, because they know what comes with it.

3. Crate Training. If your dog is getting into trouble when you're not around, your training options are limited. There's a lot you can do to teach and reinforce good habits when you are present and supervising your dog, but you also have to prevent your dog from getting into trouble when you do have to leave them alone, especially if it's the sort of trouble that is going to be self-reinforcing. Teaching your dog to LOVE settling down in their crate makes this easy. You can leave your dog in their crate with a food-filled chew toy so they have something to do, and if you tire them out before hand with some training or play, they'll probably be ready to settle down for a nap. The first step is teaching your dog to LOVE going inside their crate and settling down there and in order to do this, you'll need to be present at first, but once you've achieved this goal it makes managing your dog and keeping them safe much easier. Teaching your dog to LOVE settling down in their crate also makes it easy to resolve Separation Anxiety.

4. Lure Reward Training. Teach your dog to perform useful behaviors on cue, reliably and promptly, in any situation, without the need for lures or special equipment. Teach your dog to understand verbal instructions so you can tell your dog what you want them to do. Motivate your dog so they WANT to listen to you and do what you ask, by rewarding your dog with a variety of truly meaningful rewards (not just food!), and provide the rewards in a manner that is interesting and exciting. Test your dog's comprehension so you have a realistic understanding of what your dog is actually capable of, and in what situations, and so you can measure their progress as you continue to train. Practice in progressively more challenging scenarios until your dog listens to you even when they are off-leash, at a distance, chasing a squirrel or playing with other dogs. Yes, this takes time and lots of practice, but when you make it fun, and you make it into a game, it becomes one of the most enjoyable and rewarding ;-) parts of living with a dog.

Wow, did you really read all this? If so, tell me something about your dog in the comments, what do they do that you like? Or that you dislike? At any rate, you deserve a cookie!

And if you have a dog behavior problem and you'd like help, join the Top Dog Academy today. In one month, using our methods, you can resolve this problem, or your money back.

https://dunbar.info/oct2024TDA

Oh, and if you want to download a PDF version of this flow chart, or read more, you can do so here: https://dunbar.info/problemflowchart

09/26/2024

09/20/2024

Thought I'd share this link - Great job girls!
https://www.youtube.com/

This channel was created by Girl Scouts for their Silver Award project. Their goal is to educate people on the different aspects of owning a dog and provide resources to find dogs in need of homes within our community.

This channel was created for our Girl Scouts Silver Award project. Our goal is to educate people on the different aspects of owning a dog and provide resources to find dogs in need of homes within our community.

09/20/2024

As summers continue to get warmer year-over-year, new research from the Penn Vet Working Dog Center (PVWDC) reveals the best way to prevent dogs from overheating.

After comparing various cooling methods, researchers found when a dog voluntarily submerged their head in clean, room-temperature water to retrieve a treat or toy, they not only cooled off faster, but also avoided dangerous post-exercise temperature spikes.

“During heat stress, blood flow to the head, nose, tongue, and ears is increased,” said Cynthia M. Otto, VMD, PhD, lead author of the study and executive director of the PVWDC. “Cooling the tissues of the head allows for rapid cooling of the whole body with limited amounts of water.”

🔗 Learn how to correctly teach your dog this game-changing method by visiting: https://bit.ly/4eajKuy

09/11/2024

Featuring a thrilling mix of waterslides, thrill rides, aerial adventures and dry attractions, Big Rivers Water Park is more than just a water park!

08/16/2024

LIFETYLE NEWS - In 1947, Rudolph Schenkel,...

07/19/2024