Training Your Best Friend LLC

07/05/2024

Great information

ANTHROPOMORPHISM

THE GOOD / THE BAD AND WHERE TO DRAW THE LINE

This hard to pronounce and complicated sounding word – (anth-ro-po-morph-ism), means assigning human qualities, characteristics, emotions, feelings or motivations to our dogs (a non-human entity).

Advancements in canine neuroscience have revealed remarkable similarities between human and canine brain function, particularly in areas related to emotional processing.
This has given us far more understanding of canine cognition and emotion.

Although this is a great thing, it’s so important not to take anthropomorphism too far by assuming that our dogs experience emotions in exactly the same way that we do.

Dogs experience a similar range of emotions that would be seen in a 2 to 2 ½ year old child but are currently not thought to feel more complex emotions like guilt, shame, remorse, spite, pride or contempt.

Here is a link to a graphic that shows where a dog’s emotions are thought to stop in relation to the age of a child - bit.ly/canineemotions

Here are some examples of taking anthropomorphism too far:

“My dog knows exactly what he’s done – look how guilty he looks! No, your dog is reacting to your body language, tone of voice or remembers your previous reaction – this is fear, he is trying to appease you, calm you down, diffuse the situation.

“My dog chewed the couch just to get back at me for not taking him for a walk “ - No, your dog was probably bored, frustrated, lonely, had separation distress and was looking for a way to self-sooth or entertain himself.

“My dog p*es inside just to spite me” – No, there could be a host of reasons, but spite is not one of them.

“My dog is just so stubborn” – No, find what is motivating, rewarding for your dog, are there too many distractions?

“Look at how proud my dog looks for winning the competition, graduating from a class, after being groomed etc” - No, your dog is reacting to your emotional state.

Instead of assuming that your dog is feeling “adult human emotions”, learn about body language and notice the context of the behaviour. This will provide a far more accurate idea of how dogs are really feeling.

Anthropomorphism is an essential tool in recognising a dog’s emotional state and allows us to have compassion, empathy, understanding and connection, but taking it too far is detrimental and undermines relationship.

07/01/2024

Great info from Rescued By Training. Take this info seriously. Our pets are at mercy of explosive noises that are very frightening for them. I have meds prescribed for my Roxy because she is so terrified of fireworks. Breaks my heart. My other pups are frightened too but she struggles greatly.

It's that time of year again. If you find yourself dreading Fourth of July because you know it means a night of your dog pacing and trembling in fear with each loud boom, you're not alone. Noise sensitivities affect many dogs, and they tend to worsen (not fade away) with each negative experience.

But it doesn't have to be this way! You can help your dog feel safe and have a set of strategies in place to improve your dog's experience (and yours, too!). But don't wait. They're coming! Reach out to your vet ASAP if your dog needs meds!

06/25/2024

It's going to be another hot one today - and it's only June. Here's some ideas for ways to burn off some of your dog's energy without overheating on a walk.

06/25/2024

06/25/2024

Great info By Dogs Disclosed

THE SNOOZE TIME DANCE

Most of us are familiar with the sometimes amusing or maybe even irritating ritual that some dogs perform before settling down to rest.

Why do they insist on circling, digging, scratching, making mounds of cushions, blankets or mats, often with great delight and satisfaction, when they have a perfectly comfortable, neat place to sleep?

It may simply be the same urge that leads us to twist, turn and scrunch up our pillows before finding a position that feels most comfortable, but the most likely reason is that this behaviour is genetically inherited from their wild ancestors.

These pre snooze dance moves each served a specific purpose that enabled their wild ancestors to feel protected, safe and comfortable in their environment.

Even though our modern, domesticated dogs shouldn’t need to be concerned about the same things their ancestors did, many dogs simply can’t resist performing these rituals.

Sometimes excessive circling, the inability to get comfortable or crouching down and then getting up again may indicate a health issue like arthritis, back problems or other painful conditions so it’s a good idea to have a vet check if you are noticing this happening frequently.

Generally, snooze time dance moves are a completely normal, natural behaviour and allowing your dog to perform these moves to their hearts content is important in contributing to their wellbeing by allowing them to feel more in control of their environment.

06/21/2024

Dogs & Pet Parents having a great time together at our Agility/ Obstacle Class

Check out Training Your Best Friend’s video.

06/21/2024

Great info & illustrations

Be a Dog Detective – Dogs Do Not Like Hugs and Kisses
https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/resource/be-a-dog-detective-dogs-do-not-like-hugs-and-kisses/

06/21/2024

06/19/2024

A few of my precious fur babies. They got their summer hair cuts today. Love my dogs so much!!

Check out Training Your Best Friend’s post.

06/19/2024

Awesome advice. Very True

Trainer Tip Tuesday:

06/19/2024

Did you know?

Dogs are in a constant state of learning, even when they aren’t engaged in a formal training session.

When a dog sees the mailman and reacts, he is learning that the behavior of barking/lunging or growling is likely to make the mailman go away eventually.

The mailman's’ departure in this case reinforces the growling/lunging/barking causing these behaviors to strengthen and repeat in future encounters.

06/19/2024

If it's too hot for you to comfortably hold your palm or bare foot on the pavement for 5-7 seconds, it's too hot for your dog's paws. Postpone your walk until a cooler portion of the day, walk on grass instead or choose a different form of exercise - a swim, puzzle or game of fetch inside or in the shade. Enjoy the summer safely!

06/19/2024

Congratulations to our Fearful Fido Graduates! So proud of the Pet Parents & their amazing canine companions! The dogs made great progress. Please meet Starting left to right : Tito, Cash, Harry, Marvel & Petunia. A few of our students were unable to make it out. They were wonderful as well. Great job everyone

Check out Training Your Best Friend’s post.

06/16/2024

Just had a horrible experience I went to Falls village shopping center and there was a dog in the car not running when cracked. Two girls were outside really upset. I called the police. I was getting ready to get the dog out of the car and this witch walked up and let her have it. I called the police. I’ve got the drivers license number and she skid it off and defending herself as saying I was only gone for two seconds and Dog had been in there for 2 to 3 minutes, according to the girls, they were unsure what to do. This is horrible animal abuse you can sure I gave her a piece of my mind and more .Some people are horrible people and carry nothing for their animals to leave a innocent animal, which is against the law, but not but besides that an innocent animal and a hot car with the temperature is blazing as hot today as they are the air crack and her excuses, I was only going for two seconds which was a lie, and didn’t get defensive not feel bad about it. It was all I can do not to hurt her This is animal abuse plain and simple ! Makes me sick. Poor dog.

06/12/2024

DO LITTLE DOGS TELL BIG LIES?

As people, we are likely completely unaware of the actual content and intention of the many messages left by dogs when they urinate.

“Pee mail” messages allow dogs to communicate their size, social status, health, gender, age, reproductive status & even their current emotional state.

This is conveyed through pheromones present in their urine, which other dogs are able to read and interpret.

Urine marking is generally a very “honest” and accurate scent-based message, but little dogs may have found a way to make this less accurate and less honest by aiming much higher than would be expected.

Many male dogs prefer to mark vertical surfaces. Releasing urine as far above ground level as possible allows air currents to carry their “mail” much further.

The higher the marking also makes it less likely that another dog will mark over it and delete or dilute the original message.

Although this is mostly seen in male dogs, I have a female miniature schnauzer that consistently performs really impressive handstands against vertical objects to p*e at the park, often losing her balance and falling flat on her face in the process in her attempt to mark as high as possible.

Maybe her less than trim and slim body shape plays a part in her lack of balance.

She avoids conflict or interaction with any dog that is bigger than her probably due to her being attacked by a big dog some years ago.

I believe she is telling “lies” about her size to avoid conflict, interaction and to tell dogs bigger than her to stay away – “I am bigger and stronger than I look”

Have you noticed your little dog telling “lies”?

06/07/2024

Amen! This happens alot

06/07/2024

How often do you see this?

Guardians forcing their dogs to meet or spend time with other dogs when clearly they don’t want to.

Heaven forbid your dog doesn’t like a person they meet!

Let’s be honest. We don’t like everyone we meet. So why are we trying to force our dogs?

✅ If you aren’t sure when your dog isn’t interested in another dog or person please take our FREE Body Language Course.

🐕 It’s just as important for dog guardians to recognize when OTHER dogs aren’t interested in your dog, or you for that matter.

06/07/2024

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06/06/2024

ESSENTIAL ENRICHMENT

Imagine being kept in the same space each and every day. You know every blade of grass, every scent, every brick, every piece of fence. You have no books to read, no TV to watch, no one to talk to, no interaction with the outside world and absolutely nothing to do.

Would this situation begin to affect your behaviour and influence your emotional, mental or physical state? What about our dogs?

Many dogs live in this type of environment and yet we wonder why they develop behaviour problems, bark excessively, destroy the garden, become over excited, over aroused or maybe just shut down or sleep all day having completely lost interest in the world.

Many behaviour problems are caused by boredom, a lack of mental and physical stimulation or being confined to the same space every day.

Providing enrichment for dogs is so important for their wellbeing and really doesn’t require that much effort from us.

There are so many simple ways to provide enrichment. An online search for DIY enrichment ideas will provide lots of ideas.

Older dogs may enjoy a ride in the car, sitting at a window watching the world go by, bringing the outside in – sticks, cones, grass etc. from different areas placed in a box for them to rummage through and smell, dinner in the park, or even just playing some doggie music will make a difference.

“Chronic inescapable boredom can be extremely aversive, and under-stimulation can harm neural, cognitive and behavioral flexibility.” - A biological perspective on animal boredom and suggestions for its scientific investigation by Charlotte Burn - The Royal Veterinary College

Here are some links for enrichment ideas -
Enrichment ideas by Laura Gendron
https://missbehaviortraining.com/blog/diyenrichment

DIY boredom busting toys by Luke Balsam
https://wunderdogmagazine.com/care/awesome-diy-dog-toys-our-dog-trainer-made-some-boredom-busting-toys-and-you-can-too/

Link to a free introduction on ACE free work by Sarah Fisher -
https://animalcentrededucation.teachable.com/p/watch-this-space

05/25/2024

What an absolutely incredible class Reactive Rover had this morning. Exceptional progress with our pups. We were missing a few due to the Holiday. These pooches and parents were awesome. Our canines have learned excellent focu/attention skills as welll as improved perception of life around them. I could not be more proud of how far they have come. More photos to follow

05/23/2024

Have more than one pet? Some great tips from Dogs Disclosed.

05/21/2024

THE LOOK AWAY
Looking away is one of the calming signals in dog body language.

Just like a hard stare or prolonged eye contact may be a sign that a dog’s about to react, looking away is meant to calm a situation down.

The head position when looking away will vary – from side to side, holding in one position or subtle quick turns are all common variations, all while avoiding direct eye contact.

I have often watched in fascination when one of my dogs uses this form of communication with an insect! Her favourite thing to do is to hunt, catch and then play with a Parktown Prawn (King Cricket).

She means them no harm (I think) and just wants to engage in a game of how high can you jump before I can catch you.

She will carefully carry the cricket in her mouth without hurting it to the middle of the garden where there are no bushes where it may escape to.

After a quick play bow (from her, not the cricket!) the games begin. The game can go on for some time and when the cricket gets tired or plays dead, she will stop playing, sit quietly, avoid eye contact and keep looking away before starting the game again.

By this time, I usually feel really sorry for the cricket, will rescue it and put it out of reach, but I think this is a good example of how she uses the body language of looking away to try to calm the situation down, even if her intentions are completely selfish! I have no idea if the cricket understands what she is trying to communicate.

Body language can be subtle and fleeting, but with careful observation and knowing what to look for most of us can learn to recognize and interpret what our dogs are saying.

It’s always important to look at the context, the situation and especially what the rest of the body is doing when deciphering this amazing language.

Being able to understand a dog’s emotional state through their body language helps us to predict behaviour, prevent potential problems or allows us to just enjoy observing their language.