Blue Sol Dog Coaching and Mediation

08/07/2024

08/01/2024

Story of my life

😂

07/31/2024

🐾 Exciting News! 🐾

🐾 **North Iowa Community College Offers Dog Training Classes with Instructor Lindsey Needs!** 🐾

Are you struggling with training your dog or dealing with behavior problems? Join us at NIACC for a four-week basic obedience class where you and your dog can learn to communicate better and build a stronger bond! This course, led by experienced instructor Lindsey Needs, focuses on positive reinforcement and the special relationship you have with your furry friend.

Class Details:
📅 CLASS 1 Dates: August 13, 2024 - September 3, 2024
🕒 Time: Tuesdays, 6:30 PM - 7:15 PM
📅 CLASS 2 Dates: November 4, 2024 - November 25, 2024
🕒 Time: Mondays, 6:30 PM - 7:15 PM
🏢 Location: NIACC Canine Campus Dog Grooming Salon, Mason City, IA

💲 **Tuition:** $69.00

**Important Info:**
- Please bring or scan a current vaccination record.
- Bring treats and a mat/bed/cot/blanket for your dog.
- Dogs must be six months old.

**Registration Closes:** August 13, 2024, at 12:00 AM.

Don't miss this chance to transform your dog's behavior and create a calm, cooperative companion! Enroll now and enjoy a lifetime of better communication with your dog.

🔗 **Register Today!** Call 641-422-4358 to register.

We look forward to seeing you and your pups at NIACC! 🐶✨

06/13/2024

Adding criteria to our default behavior. Big sister Eve was more than happy to lend a supportive hand!

05/28/2024

🦴🐾Societies fast paced environment can be overwhelming and sometimes pretty scary. Aryas family has been working vigorously to create safe and secure learning environments for her and it shows!
In 4 short weeks, we’ve watched little miss Arya go from shy, and fearful to confident, and proud to show off her new skills she’s been learning! 🐾🦴

(Pics: Arya patiently waiting in a down/stay on her place mat while we set up for a little snuffle mat enrichment)

05/26/2024

🎉 Special Offer on Dog Training Packages! 🐶✨

Are you ready to transform your dog’s behavior and strengthen your bond? Look no further! For a limited time, we’re offering amazing deals on our premium training packages!

📅 Special Package Deals:

Bronze Package:

• 3 Training Sessions for Only $225!
• Perfect for addressing specific issues or brushing up on skills.

Silver Package:

• 5 Training Sessions for Only $375!
• Comprehensive sessions tailored to meet your dog’s specific needs.

Gold Package:

• 10 Training Sessions for Only $700!
• Ideal for long-term training goals and lasting results.

Here’s what you get with each package:
✅ Personalized Training Sessions: Tailored to meet your dog’s specific needs.
✅ Professional Expertise: Receive guidance from an experienced dog trainer.
✅ Flexible Scheduling: We work around your busy life.
✅ Proven Success: Join many happy clients who have seen remarkable changes in their dogs.

Why choose us?
🌟 Proven techniques that are gentle and effective.
🌟 Build a stronger, happier relationship with your furry friend.
🌟 Support and resources to continue training at home.

Spots are Limited! Don’t miss out on these fantastic offers. Our clients see real results and rave about the difference in their dogs. Whether you’re dealing with basic skills, advanced tricks, enrichment or behavior issues, we’ve got you covered.

📞 Contact us today to book your package! 📞
Message us on Facebook or call 641-732-9887 to secure your spot. Enjoy a more harmonious and enjoyable life together with your dog!

Transform Your Dog’s Behavior – One Session at a Time! 🐾

05/05/2024

🐾🐕 **Unlock Your Dog's True Potential with Expert Guidance!** 🐕🐾

Ready to cultivate a deeper connection with your beloved furry companion? Meet Lindsey Needs, our dedicated dog behavior expert, passionate about helping you unleash your dog's full potential!

We recognize that each dog is unique, deserving of personalized attention and tailored solutions. With Lindsey's expertise, you'll receive compassionate guidance and effective strategies to address behavior challenges while nurturing a strong and fulfilling bond with your canine friend.

**Why Choose Us?**
🔹 Personalized approach: Lindsey understands your dog's individual needs and tailors enriching solutions accordingly.
🔹 Proven methods tailored to prioritize your dog’s wellness and biological instincts: Benefit from evidence-based techniques and strategies for lasting results.
🔹 Ongoing support: We're committed to guiding you every step of the way, ensuring a rewarding journey to success.

Your dog's well-being is our top priority, and we're dedicated to helping you create a harmonious and enriching life together!

📞 Call us at 641-732-9887 to schedule your consultation with Lindsey today.

✨ 🐾Unlock your dog's true potential and experience the joy of a thriving partnership!🐾✨

04/26/2024

A common dismissive misperception of reward-based training is that it simply involving tossing food to the dog when they get something right. There are several issues with this, but here we are going to look at one - the fact that it must always involve food.

While food is a great reward to use and hugely motivating for many dogs, food is absolutely not the only potential reward that we have.

We can offer toys as a reward - one of my dogs loves being thrown a rope toy to rag around and then parade around the area showing it off before coming to request a game.

We can use interactive play such as tug (and no, the idea that tug makes dogs aggressive is not true) as a favourite game with one of their people is hugely rewarding to many dogs.

We can let the dog have some time to run and explore (where safe to do so and as long as we are not interfering with anyone else in the area).

We can use the environment itself to provide rewards. Walk beside me for a few steps and then we'll go over so you can sniff that tree.

One of my dogs is quite a sensitive soul and currently an adolescent so things can get very exciting for her quickly. A quiet word of praise and an ear rub is something she finds really rewarding but that also keeps her calm and relaxed.

The exact list of rewards we can offer as about as varied as the dogs themselves. They will all have different favourites, even within a group of rewards. My older dog is very food driven and likes almost everything we have offered to him. Topping the list, however, is cold cooked broccoli!

Take some time to work with your dog and find as wide a range of different types of things they find rewarding as you can. The more potential rewards we can find, the more variety and interest we can add in to their lives!

04/23/2024

The more value we build into a cue by rewarding the dog consistently in the early stages, the more likely they are to listen when we really want or need them to.

We don't have to keep paying out every time the cue is given for the entire life of the dog (although there are some cues where I will do that - we have an emergency recall where I want my dog to drop everything and come back to me immediately for safety, and that always earns them a big jackpot of treats). Once the dog knows the cue reliably, we can start to reward intermittently, every few times the dog does what they are asked.

The most effective reward schedule once the cue is well known by the dog is variable - the number of times the dog carries out the cue before they are rewarded is different each time. It might be the 2nd, then the 5th, then the 3rd, for example.

There is a valid reason behind this and it is often explained using the analogy of people using slot machines. After a while of playing without winning, people become reluctant to leave because surely the machine is going to pay out at some point. What if it's the next time and they have walked away to leave someone else to reap the rewards of their hard work?

Obviously if they never win anything at some point they will give up because the effort becomes not worth it. The same is true for dogs and so it is important to periodically offer a reward for your dog responding to the cue, to make sure they don't give up because of lack of reward (a principle called extinction).

The main point is, when training a new cue with your dogs, reward well and reward often - because it will definitely be worth it when you need that cue listened to in the future!

04/18/2024

One of the easiest things you can do...and one of the most powerful.🏋️‍♀️
If you have a dog that struggles to settle, I really do urge you to try this.✅
Many things in dog training and behaviour modification can be quite tricky and complex, this is SO easy peasy lemon squeezy🍋.
Some people find the concept difficult as it seems too easy.
So what is this super duper easy trick to a calm dog?
Reward the calm.
Reward often and reward the "nothing".
Say what ????
Why on earth would you want to reward "nothing" ?
Because that is exactly how you will have a dog that shows you calm behaviour.
Behaviour that is rewarded IS repeated.

Make sure they ARE actually calm though and not "bursting out of their skin excited"....which dogs certainly can be and their bodies can be still but they are about to explode with energy at any second.
Don't equate stillness with calmness.
You can have a dog moving and being calm. Reward that too !

Carry rewards on you and capture that calm...often.
In a week or two (or even in a day or two for some) watch what happens !

🙂Unmarked graphics are available for $ 1.20 USD or $ 2 NZD each (approx), these are then able to be used off Facebook for client handouts, posters etc. Please visit ABC Dogs Patreon Shop for our collection of graphics.
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04/18/2024

Scent is the primary sense dogs use to analyse and interpret their world, and it is something we can use to add so much to their lives.

Using their noses is excellent brainwork for dogs, and that can be useful in so many ways.

We can use it alongside regular exercise for high energy dogs, the ones who seem able to run and run and never tire. A bit of brainwork alongside their walks and other activities can finish tiring them out so they will rest and relax for a while.

Scentwork is great for those dogs who can struggle with the outside world, who are on a break from going out and potentially encountering triggers.

It is fantastic for dogs who are on restricted exercise, perhaps following an injury or operation. We can control the difficulty and make it as accessible as needed to allow the dog to be able to take part. Even for a dog who is on medically necessary crate/pen rest can use snuffle mats or food toys that need them to use their noses.

It is also something that any age of dog can take part in, from when that puppy first comes home to the lovely sugar nosed senior dog and we can find ways to make it work around mobility issues or restrictions on where the dog can go yet.

We can set up scentwork at home, or hide things for the dog to find in an area on a walk.

There is so much variety with scentwork, from scattering treats in the house or garden right up to competitive scentwork, and it really is an activity that will benefit every dog.

04/12/2024

When working with a qualified educated professional like myself, I'm going to teach you how to avoid punishment - not how to do it "the right way" -

Using punishment as a method to change behavior has been widely debated in dog training and behavior.

Punishment is avoided by educated professionals in all fields because of its limitations and negative effects.

Here are fasons, grounded in scientific research, why it is NOT advisable to use punishment to change behavior:

1️⃣ Negative Emotional Effects
Punishment can lead to negative emotions such as fear, anxiety, and resentment towards a guardian. These emotions can damage the relationship between the punisher and the individual being punished, leading to a lack of trust and open communication (Skinner, 1953).

2️⃣ Does Not Teach Behaviors
Punishment often fails to teach or reinforce the desired behavior. While it might stop the unwanted behavior temporarily, it does not provide a model for positive behavior nor does it teach the individual what they should do instead (Kazdin, 1987).

3️⃣ May Increase Aggression
Research has shown that the use of physical punishment can increase aggression in children (and dogs). Studies suggest that children who are physically punished are more likely to exhibit aggressive behaviors towards others because they learn to use aggression as a means to solve conflicts (Gershoff, 2002).

4️⃣ Increased Abusive Outcomes
You may have been told that corrections are not abusive, but d punishment is being used with a vulnerable being. Distinguishing between "acceptable" punishment and abuse can be highly subjective and lead to harmful outcomes for the individual being punished (Straus, 2000).

5️⃣ Psychological Damage and Reduced Self-Esteem
Punishment, particularly when harsh and frequent, can lead to psychological damage, including increased anxiety, depression, and a lack of confidence. The more punishment used on a dog, the more likely they are to experience pessimistic outlooks (Casey et al., 2021)

Regardless of what you have heard positive reinforcement CAN and IS used to change behavior - and it is the safest, kindest approach.

When working with a qualified educated professional like myself, I'm going to teach you how to avoid punishment - not how to do it "the right way" - because I know there is no right way.

04/12/2024

Let them sniff 🐶🐾

Ever heard of a sniff-ari? It's when you let your furry friend take the lead during walks, ditching the leash tug-of-war and letting them sniff to their heart's content. 🐶💨 Not only is it pure joy for your pup, but it's also an amazing stress-reliever and decompression session. Perfect after vet or grooming visits, or during hectic times like holiday gatherings at home! Give your dog the gift of exploration and watch them thrive. 🌟

02/27/2024

What is mat work? Mat work is a way of approaching a "place" style cue that works from a position of voluntary relaxation. It's the introduction work to a relaxation protocol (such as Dr. Karen Overall's.) And it's a wonderful way to help busy minded dogs learn how to "turn it off" and settle down for periods of time for much needed rest.

This is a brief overview of how I begin mat work with dogs. I use this protocol for almost every dog I work with (as I tend to work with dogs who desperately need help understanding how to slow down.) And I teach it to foster dogs. It's the frame work of teaching a dog to "Do nothing." And the frame work for helping dogs settle in unfamiliar, or intimidating spaces (like the vet.)

Unlike how a traditional "place" is taught (and especially when place is taught with punishment) mat work is a voluntary association. The mat is the offering to chill. You would be amazed how many dogs, once they understand what the mat signifies, will opt to settle down, and wait, and relax. Often times because the way we live in our modern world doesn't invite that for humans, much less for dogs. This is an especially valuable skill for puppies to learn but also for those dogs who are Extra, those high energy, high intelligence always ON dogs ... For them this is something they often need so much more than we realize.

02/27/2024

Training Tip Tuesday! 💡🐾

Feeding your dog during and/or after scary events is a good practice! You can't make fear worse by sharing treats. It actually helps bring dogs out of fight-or-flight and into rest-and-digest mode.

https://paws4udogs.wordpress.com/2012/05/25/can-you-reinforce-fear/

02/27/2024

Over threshold. Under threshold. At threshold.

These are terms used often in the animal behavior industry. But what do they really mean?

Before you start typing YOUR definition of each term in the comments, keep in mind that I can find at least 3 other definitions that contradict yours. And that's the problem.

Here are some examples I found recently:

Threshold:
- the point where a stimulus is at a strong enough intensity to cause a reaction
- crossing from one emotional state to another

Under:
- Dog shows no signs of anxiety or aggression
- dog can split attention between trigger and handler

Over:
- stimulus is strong enough to cause a reaction
- dog can no longer eat or focus on handler

At:
- The point a dog notices stimulus, but doesn’t show signs of anxiety
- Close to going over threshold

These wildly different definitions are all from professionals who adhere to science-based practices. But these are not scientific definitions.

And, depending on the professional, the dog, and the severity of the behavior, the difference in definitions could result in ineffective to disastrous results.

If I'm mentoring a trainer who is working with an aggression case and instruct them to "keep the dog below threshold," a faulty interpretation could get people hurt.

Even if we agree on the definition of "under-threshold" as the dog not showing signs of anxiety or aggression, there still won't be consistency because of the differences in knowledge and experience of each professional. Some may be able to spot the obvious signs of stress, but miss more subtle signs. Others may miss signs because they are just out of sight, like a dog lying down who starts pressing their tail a little closer to their body.

The absence of aggression is not a sign of safety. This was a meme I posted many years ago after a recently-adopted dog killed the adopter 24 hours later. The shelter said they had not seen any signs of aggression from the dog. And I'm not questioning their observations. But I am willing to bet the dog showed a LOT of subtle indications that they were uncomfortable with people. Without knowing what to look for, the shelter and the adopter would not have known.

"Not showing signs of anxiety or aggression" isn't a description. It's like saying, "the person picking you up at the airport doesn't have red hair."

Yes, professionals need to know the signs of stress. But we can't rely on that to guide us. Also, the list of stress signs I've learned about over the 20+ years of my career has grown considerably. And we're still learning new ones. Not to mention the individual dogs who may have their own, unique behaviors that might not be on our list....yet.

In stranger-directed aggression cases, the stakes are high. There isn't a lot of room for mistakes. If we keep moving forward until we see signs of stress, we've messed up.

Instead of relying on the big labels of over, at, and under threshold, I focus on what calm and relaxed looks like for each dog. And when I see any deviation from that, I stop and reassess. Before I see signs obvious signs of stress.

Thresholds are in the eye of the beholder. And that could lead to big problems if we're not careful.

Learn more about this and how to support your clients and their dogs and how to keep yourself safe in stranger-directed aggression cases on March 10, 17, and 24th.

https://www.serenitycanine.com/sda

Yes, it will be recorded!

Yes, CEUs are approved for CCPDT and IAABC!

You can also hear me speak with friend and colleague, Marissa Martino CDBC, about thresholds on her Paws & Reward podcast: https://pawsandreward.libsyn.com/episode-73-stranger-directed-aggression-with-lisa-mullinax

02/27/2024

Sniffaris will change you and your dogs lives! Let them do dog stuff, let them sniff, let them explore and follow their nose, let them dog ♥️ -Lindsey

Shake it…shake it off…

A recent study by two researchers in France looked at sniffing, pulse rate, and leash length on walks. Sixty-one dogs were taken on three separate walks, five minutes each walk, once with a 1.5m leash, once with a 5m leash, and once without a leash at all (walk order was randomized for each dog). Off-leash dogs sniffed the most, more than 3x as long as the dogs on short leashes. Dogs on long leashes spent nearly as much time as unleashed dogs sniffing, almost 3x as long as dogs on short leashes.

This study also found that sniffing resulted in lowered pulse rates, and the more intensely they sniffed, the more their pulse rates lowered. Pulse rate was also lowered when dogs “shook off” during walks on all leash lengths. The “shake off” behavior was often seen when the dog’s pulse rate was particularly high.

Read more about it below!

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1HX77kp2HBDiTxmq/?mibextid=Le6z7H

https://www.tuftsyourdog.com/everydaydogcare/giving-your-dog-time-to-sniff-on-walks-will-literally-soothe-his-heart/

What else can we learn about dogs from their walking behavior? Take your best friend on a Sniffari and see what you observe!

02/27/2024

Sitting often takes away your dog's choice to move away from a trigger or a threat. I see this when dogs meet children. People put their dog into a sit, presumably so the dog won't jump, but then the dog can't move away if the children scare the dog. Now we've potentially created a situation where we have a dog unable to move away and if that dog is scared then their only option might be to growl or snap. This isn't ideal. I'd much rather have a dog standing, where if a child reaches and the dog is unsure, the dog can take a step backwards or decide they're free to move away. And then the person has a clear read on that dog's body language.

Quit the sit...my topic on this week's post. Let's think about when and why we ask dogs to sit. And reconsider, does it really have to be a sit? Could be a stand instead? Read my post here:
https://rescuedbytraining.com/2024/02/19/quit-the-sit/

02/27/2024

Did you know.... the IAABC has created graphics which are FREE for anyone to download to educate people on proper dog park etiquette and safety. Check them out at https://iaabc.org/en/dog-posters

02/06/2023

Is your dog getting enough quality sleep?

😴 Sleep is characterized by being in a state of altered consciousness, during which time sensory activity is inhibited, muscle activity is reduced and interactions with surroundings are decreased. During sleep, essential functions, such as memory consolidation, neuronal pruning, cellular repair, and restoration of vital resources for metabolic functions occur throughout the brain and body to maintain healthy brain function and physical health.

From dolphins sleeping one brain hemisphere at a time, to fruit flies having deep rest periods, nature acknowledges the importance of sleep, ensuring all animals benefit from the restoration that occurs during sleep. In dogs, sleep has been shown to play critical roles in vital functions such as immune, metabolism, and cognitive health, and disturbed sleep can act both as a trigger for disease processes and a diagnostic indicator for disease.

Sleep impacts learning and memory, both directly and indirectly through changes to processes within the brain and body. By understanding the internal mechanisms associated with sleep, you can actually impact the animal's neurobiology, thereby creating a training plan to support this.

You can learn more about sleep and its impact on learning by joining us for this webinar: ⬇️

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tired-minds-how-sleep-impacts-learning-behavior-what-we-can-do-about-it-tickets-504848634857

01/06/2023

❄️ 🐾 For the whole month of January we are offering $40 virtual training sessions!🐾❄️
Sick of this terrible weather and do not want to drive? Or maybe you’ve had a long day at work and want to keep up with your dogs training, but don’t want to commit with having to travel? We are offering virtual sessions! Buy a pack of 6 sessions and get one free! Message or call today to schedule!

12/20/2022

Training Tip Tuesday:

12/19/2022

Need an easy & fun indoor enrichment activity for your dogs? Try these muffin tin brain games suggested by our guest blogger Sharon Middendorf, CNWI! See videos on how to play here: https://aercmn.com/the-senior-class-enriching-the-lives-of-our-silver-muzzled-dogs-pt-ii

12/03/2022

Genetics, Personality, Neuroscience, & Resilience 🧠

Join us for this 2-part series with the brilliant Dr. Jessica Heckman and Dr. Kathy Murphy as they explore the intersection of genetics, personality, neuroscience, and resilience!

✅ Part 1: The Genetics of Dog Personality

Saturday December 10, 2022
11am to 12:30pm EST

What do (and don't) we know about how genetics affect canine personality traits like sociability and aggression? In this webinar, Dr. Jessica Hekman will guide us through her area of research; how genetics affects behavior traits in dogs. She’ll answer the questions: How much is canine personality due to genetics vs. the environment? How do researchers identify genes related to personality? Have any such genes been found? Can we expect a genetic test for dog aggression any time soon? What are all the factors that go into the development of a personality?

Whether you’re just starting to wrap your head around genetics or are a confirmed science geek, there will be something for everyone. So come listen, ask questions, and discuss canine genetics with Dr. Jessica Heckman!

✅ Part 2: The Genetics of Resilience - Breeding, selecting for, and developing resilience in dogs

Saturday December 17, 2022
11am to 12:30pm EST

Resilience is an individual's ability to withstand and recover from adversity. For companion animals, resilience might refer to a dog’s ability to cope with changes to routine. For sports and working dogs, that might mean the ability to continue to focus after slipping or tripping. Whatever the example used, resilience is associated with improved well-being and performance.

There are many factors involved in resilience, from genetics to the environment (including training methods & learning history), and the interaction of the two (i.e., epigenetics). In this webinar, we will explore what is known about factors from these three categories and their influence on an individual’s resilience. Can we selectively breed for increased resilience? If so, how would we do that? Is it possible to select a dog based on its resilience? How does a dog’s personality relate to its resilience?



These webinars are suitable for veterinary professionals, animal trainers, animal behaviorists, dog sports teams, shelter and rescue staff and volunteers, and anyone with an interest in evidence-based behavior intervention.

This is an online event. This webinar will be recorded.


CEUs pending:
KPA
PPAB
IAABC
CPDT
RACE

Tuition:
👉 Early Bird, 2-Part Package – before November 20, 2022: $89

👉 2-Part Package – after November 20, 2022: $129

👉 Shelter/Rescue/Vet Student/Vet Tech, 2-Part Package - no expiration date: $79

Discounts are available for groups of 5 or more. Please contact [email protected] for more information.

Cancellation policy: No refunds


https://www.eventbrite.com/e/genetics-personality-neuroscience-resilience-tickets-453479367997?aff=ebdsoporgprofile