A dog training biz in Richmond, VA. We use gentle, reward-based training methods.
(1)
Is your dog getting enough sleep? This is a relatively new phenomenon but with all of our devices going and a lifestyle that doesn't seem to slow down, sometimes our dogs stay in a stimulated state and don't get adequate rest. When they don't get enough rest, unwanted behaviors can intensify. Here are our tips on the subject:
When your dogs don't get enough rest, it can make them grumpy. Find out if your home is overstimulating your dog.
Another new Google review from one of our wonderful clients!
"Highly recommend Jennifer and Love For Paws. She's kind, prioritizes pet's success, and is very reasonably priced. Jennifer worked with my beagle, Peter, at his pace using positive reinforcement, went the extra mile by bringing her husband and dog to our at home training sessions to work on Peter's dog reactivity, and followed up by email regularly to ensure progress was being made even on weeks we didn't have a session. 10/10 would recommend." - Janise G.
Send a message to learn more
The evolution of goofy dog names:
Our dog started out as Jupiter.
Then she became Juju.
Then she became Jujube.
Then she became Juju Beans.
And now she’s just Beans. 😁🫘
Definition time! What is “management” in dog training?
Management is controlling your dog’s environment through the use of barriers, leashes, crates, doors, tethers, etc to keep them from practicing unwanted behaviors.
Almost all training plans have some sort of management component to them. Management is used more heavily when:
1.) There are young children in the home (i.e separating the dog from the kids).
2.) When there are lots of behaviors to address. (“Since Fido’s countersurfing is lowest priority right now, let’s put up a baby gate to keep him out of the kitchen or while we focus on his separation anxiety.”)
3.) Reducing aggressive behaviors. (“Because your older dog is showing resource guarding behavior, the dogs need to be fed in separate rooms and the puppy needs to enjoy his chew sticks inside his ex-pen only.)
Fun facts about management: Depending on the situation, sometimes it is the best option. Sometimes, it is the only option.
DOGS IN PAIN STILL RUN AND PLAY
This is Twig my yorkie, as many of you know she was born with deformed back legs. She has patella issues, cruciate issues, malformed hocks and also elbow disease.
Despite all of this, Twig would play all day. She is a young dog and would run non-stop, play with toys, play with my other dogs 24/7 if she could. She always wants to go for a walk- she never wants to turn to go home, she would walk all day if you let her.
She’s never grumpy, never shows any aggression even when she’s in pain. She partially ruptured a cruciate a few months ago and despite not being able to use her leg she was still desperate to go for a walk and kept dropping balls in my coffee (obvs I didn’t let her walk or play!) 😳
She has phases where her legs are really bad and she is in pain. It would be really easy for me to think she’s ‘fine’ and not in pain as she would still play all day if I let her. My only behavioural signs of pain with her are that she wakes in the night and takes a while to settle again and she barks a bit more than normal at outside noises.
I’ve also seen night-waking with my Dalmatian, Lucky, when he was in pain and my first sign of his back issues was that he would wake up and wander around in the middle of the night. He also still wanted to walk and play.
People often think that a dog who is in pain won’t want to go for a walk but dogs in pain are often still keen to go for a walk and they will want to chase a ball etc and play if you let them. Don’t ever assume they aren’t in pain because they want to run and play!
Signs of pain can be subtle and these are some that I commonly see in dogs I work with -
🛌 They may wake in the night or find it hard to settle in the evening, pacing or moving from bed to bed
🐕 They may vocalise more (whine or bark) and be more attention-seeking (nudging your hand to stroke them all the time or following you from room to room)
🛋️ Hesitating or unable to climb on/off the sofa, go up the stairs or get in and out of the car or needing a bigger run up to get in. Being slower to get up from resting.
😔 Being unhappy about being handled (groomed/dried etc) or unhappy about people sitting next to them on the sofa or walking past their bed
🐩 Changes in interactions with other dogs on walks- less keen on interacting or less keen on certain types of play etc
🏀. Lying down on walks or walking at a slower place but also conversely running excessively (‘runners high’ endorphins make them feel good temporarily)
You may also notice physical changes (the way your dog moves or the way their body looks.
💊 Please chat to your vet if you see any changes, dogs don’t suddenly change and start or stop doing things for no reason.
Pain is one of the primary causes of many aggression in dogs. Dogs also often don’t stop running and playing when they are in pain- signs of pain can be subtle and easy to miss so please, please seek advice from your vet if you see changes
Laura McAuliffe, Dog Communication 2024
A new review from one of our awesome clients, Teresa!
"Jennifer is amazing! She knows the breeds (we have goldens and a pup Newfoundland). While my "herd" really is well behaved and gets along famously with each other, bringing a pup into the mix and a boy at that, I wanted to be sure that he would quickly be mindful and obedient and gentle to the girls he was going to in no time be bigger than! I want a gentleman! LOL! Anyway, Jennifer quickly saw what Bear needed and what I needed in order to help him grow into that gentleman. She provided tools and insights that were much more than the basic sit, stay. She gave life lessons for us and for our fur babies! HIGHLY RECOMMEND if you need anything to help your pups! And you! It's not just them that are learning....it's us! Thanks Jennifer!"
A pic of Bear....
Did you know that punishing a dog for alone-time destructive behavior can actually make things worse?
Research by Borchelt and Voith (1982) shows that punishment can increase a dog's emotional dependency on their owners. Instead of punishment, take a deep breath and remember that your dog is experiencing panic, not being 'bad.' They're just scared out of their mind.
Let's approach this with compassion and understanding.
Hey Friends- As of October 1st, we will be phasing out our dog walking and pet sitting services. Our entire focus will now be on providing top-notch dog training services to our clients. We appreciate your continued support.
Dog Training Tip: Let those cues rest.
When you give a cue like “sit”, “down” etc give your dog 8 to 10 seconds to perform it before saying the cue again. They need time to think when learning something new.
Being a mom, a dog owner, and a dog trainer has taught me many things. Among them:
1.)Patience. Patience. Patience.
2.)Both kids and dog need lots of repetition to learn how to behave around each other. Be gentle with both and ready to step in between frequently.
3.)Don't leave young children unsupervised with pets. Ever. This one is hard but it's always when we aren't looking that things happen and they happen fast.
4.)Use barriers. Use baby gates, tethers, and rooms to separate them frequently so they can get a break from each other and you can function.
5.) Come up with ways that children can interact with dogs that don't require touching: giving cues and tossing treats on the floor, hiding treats around the house, feeding the dog, participating in the dog walk by walking alongside.
Send a message to learn more
For those of you with adult dogs, if you could go back in time and give yourself one piece of advice to navigate through the puppy stage what would it be?
Puppy pic of Ms Minnie for tax.
This is so great. Flirt poles are awesome. Just make sure they can “capture and kill” to avoid frustration.
And work in a clean “drop it” cue.
Hey Friends! Please be advised that our behavioral training roster is currently full, and we will not be accepting new clients until mid-August. However, we have established a waitlist for those interested, and we are also referring to other excellent trainers in the area. We will post updates when new openings become available. 🦮🐾
⚠️ Attention Dog Owners ⚠️
Beware of blue-green algae blooms! With summer in full swing, it is crucial to watch out for these blooms in lakes, ponds, and any stagnant or slow-moving water. 💦 This algae is extremely toxic for dogs!
👀 Keep a close eye on where you let your dogs swim and drink, especially in the summer months. If you suspect a blue-green algae exposure, seek help from your vet as soon as possible. Here's to a safe pet summer!💙
Please limit your dog’s outside activity today and review signs of heatstroke. Check the water dish often.
Information about heatstroke in dogs and cats including signs of heatstroke in pets and first aid for heat stroke in pets
This heat wave means less outside activity for our dogs. To stave off boredom and mischief, try spending a few minutes teaching your dog a new skill like “go to your bed” or work on recall. YouTube has a lot of great resources. Check out channels by Susan Garrett, Kikopup, or Zak George.
Hey Friends! Just a heads up that I'll be taking Tuesdays off moving forward. After working 7 days a week for the last year, I need some downtime. Aaron will still provide pet-sitting and dog-walking services on Tuesdays, but training and behavioral intakes won't be offered. Thanks for understanding!
-Jennifer
Yet another reason why positive reinforcement training is the way to go.
https://the-wildest.visitlink.me/yhUOKe
The best single thing you can do to help a dog who is afraid of fireworks is to see your veterinarian. Do it now, before the noisy holidays arrive.
A quick word to our dog walking and pet sitting clients about this heatwave...
When the temperature outside exceeds 90 degrees, all walks will drop to under 20 minutes. It's isn't healthy for the dogs or us to pound the pavement in this heat. And we will do our best to keep paws in the grass!
Send a message to learn more
The concept of “the alpha” is everywhere. I’ve even seen it in the Jurassic Park franchise when Owen trains the velociraptors. 😆
It’s become ingrained in our culture. And it’s 100% false. It’s a human construct. We have bosses. We elect leaders. Dogs do not.
🐾Although dogs descend from a common ancestor with wolves, they have undergone millennia of domestication and genetic engineering, resulting in distinct differences from their wild counterparts. Despite this misconceptions about canine behaviour persist, perpetuating unrealistic expectations and outdated training methods.
Such myths revolve around the idea of dogs as inherently naughty, stubborn, and trying to be the leader of the pack, requiring punishment for correction [1]. The original study of wolves and behaviour was conducted in 1947 by Rudolph Schenkel, who claimed that wolves hold a social position, the pack is controlled by a dominant male and female; and wolves fought within each other to establish top rank. This was disproved by Dr. Mech in 2000 [2].
The world evolves constantly yet the human race is still stuck on this notion. Qualified dog trainers and behaviourists are not trying to convince you that the world is flat, we are simply trying to improve your relationship with your dog without the use of outdated training mythology.
In reality; natural wolf groups function as family units, with parents as caregivers. Communication within the wolf group relies heavily on subtle cues, such as body language and facial expressions, rather than overt displays of aggression and dominance.
Despite scientific advancements debunking the alpha dog theory, some trainers continue to perpetuate these myths, advocating for dominance-based techniques. However, the lack of regulation in the industry allows such outdated practices to persist.
Understanding dogs requires acknowledging their individuality and respecting their preferences. Effective training involves environmental management, systematic desensitisation, and counter-conditioning, with the use of positive reinforcement; which helps dogs understand desired behaviours without resorting to punitive measures [3]. Embracing modern, evidence-based methods can build healthier, more respectful relationships with our canine companions.
Television also plays a significant role.
TV networks air shows for ratings, promoting trainers whose methods align with the dominance theory. Unfortunately, these methods often rely on coercion and correction, leading dogs to comply out of fear, NOT out of genuine willingness and understanding.
Dominance, often mistaken for a personality trait, is instead a survival response rooted in anxiety and fear. Moreover, punishing a dog for undesirable behaviour doesn't effectively communicate what you want them to do instead. Behaviours stem from emotions, and punishment fails to address these emotional struggles.
Supporting your dog through their emotional struggles can effectively improve their behaviour over time[ 4]. It’s understandable that people use inappropriate methods and techniques as they are desperate and don’t know how else to manage the problems they are facing with their dog.
Today, qualified professionals understand that the relationship between dogs and humans isn't about asserting social rank. Instead, it's about creating an environment where the dog feels safe and supported. This involves managing their surroundings to prevent situations where they might struggle or fail, and consistently rewarding behaviours we want to encourage.
[1] 2008, Position Statement on the Use of Dominance Theory in Behavior Modification of Animals, AVSAB, https://avsab.org/.../Dominance_Position_Statement...
[2]Mech, L. David. 1999. Alpha status, dominance, and division of labor in wolf packs. Canadian Journal of Zoology 77:1196-1203.
Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Home Page. http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/2000/alstat/alstat.htm
(Version 16MAY2000).
[3] Herron M, Shofer S, Reisner I, 2009, Survey of the use and outcome of confrontational and non-confrontational training methods in client-owned dogs showing undesired behaviors, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Volume 117, Issues 1–2, Pages 47-54
[4] Herron M, Shofer F, Reisner I, 2009, Survey of the use and outcome of confrontational and non-confrontational training methods in client-owned dogs showing undesired behaviors, Applied Animal Behavior Science, Volume 117, Issue-12, https://www.sciencedirect.com/.../pii/S0168159108003717...
Quick Tip: If you’re going to hire a dog trainer to change an undesirable behavior in your dog, be prepared to answer a couple of questions:
1.) What happened immediately before the behavior started? Who was in the room? What was everyone doing?
2.) What happened immediately after the behavior? Did you intervene? If so, how?
This helps us figure out your dog’s motivation and how we can effectively change the behavior. 🐕
Does your dog grab treats from your hand too harshly? Are you worried you will pull back a nub? Here is an excellent video from Kikopup on how to train that away.
Teach your dog or puppy to take treats nicely and gently. Set yourself up for success by teaching a calm settle first before playing the games if your dog ta...
If a dog is repeatedly not following a cue, it's important we don't decide they are being 'stubborn'. Dogs are not stubborn because they choose to be.
It may be that they haven't actually learned the cue properly.
They may be feeling unwell.
There may be distractions in the environment that mean they can't concentrate and respond to the cue.
The reward on offer might not be motivating enough for them in that moment.
Look at the environment for distractions, look at the coaching history to see if the cue has been fully established and proofed in the wider world, and look at the value of the rewards you are offering.
When given the choice not all dogs choose to be social and that’s perfectly normal.
I know it might not feel that way, BUT…. your dog can truly have a wonderful life without dog friends.
Some dogs just won’t want to be social with other dogs no matter how hard you try… and that’s ok!
For whatever the reason, sometimes it just doesn’t work out.
So, of this is your dog and you’re feeling guilt about this I want you to stop. And I want you to make a list of all the things your dog DOES enjoy!
⬇️ AND share that list below!!
This is such an excellent study. When dogs are given the choice, what do they do?
TIME WELL SPENT: A GLIMPSE INTO ACTIVITY BUDGETS IN DOMESTIC DOGS
A time activity budget is a detailed record quantifying how animals distribute their time across various activities. These budgets are typically represented as proportions or percentages of time spent on activities such as feeding, resting, grooming, or social interactions. Time activity budgets are essential for understanding the natural behaviour patterns (also known as ethograms) of animals.
Out of the 900 million dogs worldwide, only 15-25% are kept as pets, which equates to approximately 135-225 million dogs.
Comparing time budgets of free ranging dogs to pet dogs has its limitations but can provide a valuable blueprint for functionally assessing behaviour issues in pet dogs. It may help in identifying deficits and can also play a role in understanding stereotypical behaviour.
Several studies have been conducted on Free-Ranging Domestic Dogs (FRDD) but creating comparable data sets of time budgets in pet dogs is much more challenging due to individual variability ,regional and cultural differences.
However, a paper by Griss et al, 2021, comparing the movement-specific activity of healthy adult FRDD, farm, and pet dogs across three continents using a Fitbark monitor revealed some interesting findings:
• A bimodal activity pattern was observed in dogs under the least human control, showing two peaks in a 24-hour period, similar to findings in other canids such as wolves and foxes. In owned dogs, the activity pattern was more adapted to humans.
• The second important finding was that dogs in all categories (FRDD, farm, and pet) were equally active overall across all sizes of home ranges. The pet category showed little bimodal activity; however, the total activity levels was similar across the groups.
• Pet dogs had high activity and higher rest compared to FRDD but their moderate activity was shown to be lower.
These new findings are relevant because they impact our understanding of locomotory effects such as exercise, movement, as well as confinement ( link to study in the comments)
Other studies, such as by Banerjee and Bhadra 2019, have examined FRDD dogs’ time distribution in areas such as feeding, resting, grooming, and social interaction ( ref pie chart) We might compare some of these data sets to pet dogs, but how can we know pet dogs are fulfilling their role as ‘dogs in their environment’? It is a complicated and nuanced issue.
Agency, or lack of it, is likely the largest difference between the groups. But also highly relevant, that within the time budget of FRDD, they are rarely observed alone; one or more members of their social group are always present ( which may include humans) Compared to dogs under full human control, FRDD have a higher prevalence of agency. Both these factors fundamentally affect behaviour diversity in all groups, as behaviour diversity has been shown to be a robust measure of positive animal welfare. That said, lives of FRDD aren't all rosy despite higher levels of behaviour diversity and agency, as the mortality rates are high from disease, accidents or culling.
Interestingly, in FRDD, as seen in the chart, vocalisation behaviours make up a significant part of their repertoire. While this might be considered a nuisance in some areas, these vocalisations are largely accepted and even warranted as many of these dogs serve multiple functions in their ecology, such as guarding and alerting. In stark contrast, pet dog owners spend considerable time and resources trying to prevent or stop this behaviour. Descriptive phrases such as ‘demand barking,’ ‘boredom barking,’ or ‘anxious barking’ are commonly used. But, it goes without saying that convincing pet dog owners to accept an hour of vocalisation per day as normal, is unlikely!
One other point of interest is the high proportion of moderate movement activity, which Griss et al have identified in their study also . Again any comparison to pet dogs should factor in variables such as breed , location, age, health, but it's so starkly different to FRDD who are not only moving and exploring but are doing so with a high degree of agency. It's almost impossible for a pet dog to achieve in the average home.
It is clear that the FRDD time budgets are quite different to pet dogs and likely to remain so. Though by being guided by them, we might narrow the gaps between these groups while maintaining high levels of welfare.
One way to delve into this would be to create an activity budget for our own dogs or clients’ dogs, by using the pie chart example in the image. This can easily be done using Word or Excel. You would need data on all the categories beforehand, though if kept a simple exercise, it need not be extensively collected.
If anyone would like a document with more detailed information on time budgets and how to create a chart, please drop us a message with your email.
Boo Blackhurst, CDBC
References:
Griss et al 2021,If they could choose: How would dogs spend their days? Activity patterns in four populations of domestic dogs, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Volume 243
Banerjee & Bhadra, 2019 Time-activity budget of urban-adapted free-ranging dogs
Miller et al, 2020 Behavioral Diversity as a Potential Indicator of Positive Animal Welfare
Majumder et al, 2014, A dog’s day with humans – time activity
budget of free-ranging dogs in India. Current Science 106, 874–878
4401 Jacobs Bend Drive
Richmond, VA
23236
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Love For Paws Dog Training posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Send a message to Love For Paws Dog Training:
My phone created a little montage of three very special dogs we used to care for in Pasadena: Snowball, Minnie and Blue. We miss these pups and their awesome owners! ❤️Happy Saturday! Go have a blast with your dog!
The first quick tip in our upcoming series on how to keep your dog safe at the dog park featuring Ms Maia! Dog parks aren’t suitable for every dog but for highly social dogs who play politely they can be a lot of fun. (Music is ”Like A Sundae” by Black Moth Super Rainbow)
Dogs are superheroes! Their senses of smell and hearing are so much stronger than ours and allow them to accomplish amazing feats such as detecting seizures and cancer in humans. Share this with your kids and give them a greater understanding! #dogs #dogstagram #loveforpaws #dogtraining #dogtrainer
Both humans and dogs get burnt out! Remember to take a day off here and there and just have fun with your doggo. 🐾 . . . . #loveforpaws #dogtraining #dogtrainer #dogtrainersofinstagram #dogs #dogsofinstagram
Maia’s first trip to the ocean today. That water is cold!! We’re keeping her on leash because her recall isn’t solid enough yet. By the time we left she was meeting other pups and enjoying herself. Another big step for Maia! #dogtraining #loveforpaws #dogsofinstagram
Richmond Dog Obedience Club - RDOC
Tomlynn Street
