Kyla's Pawtastic Dog Training LLC

11/07/2024

Carter engaging in stimulating enrichment activities, featuring iceberg lettuce and preferred treats.

11/07/2024

Little bit of enrichment! Iceberg lettuce and Elsa favorite treats! I think she enjoyed

10/19/2024

Please do not print from Facebook.

Over excited, "hyper" dogs.
No amount of exercise seems to be enough for these dogs. ‼️
You just can not "tire" these dogs out without increasing amounts of exercise and even then it is often not enough.
So what do you actually do to help stop this cycle❓
What if I told you the secret to TRULY help most of these dogs is gradually decreasing exercise while increasing enrichment.
Too good to be true ❓.. or are we tapping into what these dogs actually need to lower that extreme energy.

Where on earth do you start this?
If you haven't tried enrichment using their nose and really don't know where to start...the video in the comments have instructions which are really easy to follow and implement today.
There is a reason this is the most popular video on our new channel✅

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10/01/2024

DON’T FORCE ME TO BE SOCIAL!
It may be really disappointing and frustrating when our dogs are not the social beings we expected them to be.

Many believe dogs should just naturally get along with other dogs, after all they’re the same species.

Some believe the “unsociable” dog has a behaviour problem that needs to be “fixed”.

Early, appropriately timed and correct socialisation is vitally important, but sometimes despite all of this, some dogs are just not that sociable.

Sometimes this can be improved, especially if the cause is from a negative experience, but genetics, breed tendencies, individual personalities, health and age all contribute to tolerance and sociability, which also change throughout life.

If we, as a human species, don’t get along with everyone we meet, how can we expect our dogs to?

Do we label every person that has an argument, doesn’t make friends with everyone they meet, doesn’t like every other person, prefers not to socialise - as having a problem that needs to be fixed?

Why is it so easy to accept that every individual person is different than to accept that every individual dog is different?

When we have done what we can to improve our dogs’ social skills, we need to accept and acknowledge our dogs for the individuals they are, allow and respect their choice of whether to be sociable or not and never force interactions that a dog is not comfortable with.

09/25/2024

09/15/2024

🥰......!
Ten Unknown Facts About
1. Founding and History: BMW, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, was founded in 1916 in Munich, Germany, initially producing aircraft engines. The company transitioned to motorcycle production in the 1920s and eventually to automobiles in the 1930s.
2. Iconic Logo: The BMW logo, often referred to as the "roundel," consists of a black ring intersecting with four quadrants of blue and white. It represents the company's origins in aviation, with the blue and white symbolizing a spinning propeller against a clear blue sky.
3. Innovation in Technology: BMW is renowned for its innovations in automotive technology. It introduced the world's first electric car, the BMW i3, in 2013, and has been a leader in developing advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) and hybrid powertrains.
4. Performance and Motorsport Heritage: BMW has a strong heritage in motorsport, particularly in touring car and Formula 1 racing. The brand's M division produces high-performance variants of their regular models, known for their precision engineering and exhilarating driving dynamics.
5. Global Presence: BMW is a global automotive Company
6. Luxury and Design: BMW is synonymous with luxury and distinctive design, crafting vehicles that blend elegance with cutting-edge technology and comfort.
7. Sustainable Practices: BMW has committed to sustainability, incorporating eco-friendly materials and manufacturing processes into its vehicles, as well as advancing electric vehicle technology with models like the BMW i4 and iX.
8. Global Manufacturing: BMW operates numerous production facilities worldwide, including in Germany, the United States, China, and other countries, ensuring a global reach and localized production.
9. Brand Portfolio: In addition to its renowned BMW brand, the company also owns MINI and Rolls-Royce, catering to a diverse range of automotive tastes and luxury segments.
10. Cultural Impact: BMW's vehicles often become cult

11/04/2023

Some dogs might not have the same level of sociability as others, and that's perfectly acceptable.

Each dog has a unique personality, and much like people, they have their own preferences for social interaction. It's important to recognise and respect these differences.

A dog who seems more reserved or less inclined to engage with strangers isn't necessarily unfriendly or ill-tempered; they may simply prefer a more solitary environment or choose to interact primarily with their familiar companions.

When you encounter a dog whose interest in socialising isn't immediately evident, it's courteous to give them space.

Forcing interaction can be overwhelming and uncomfortable for them. By respecting their preference to keep to themselves, you demonstrate understanding and kindness towards their individual temperament.

Recognising and honouring each dog's personality not only contributes to their sense of security but also fosters a more respectful and trusting relationship between humans and dogs.

06/23/2023

We have to keep an open mind with what can cause stress in dogs. Many people know individual larger stressors which cause an immediate change in behaviour.....fireworks would be a good example of a larger stressor.

Smaller stressors, in a short amount of time add up...these are the incidents that cause your dog to react.

"Out of the blue"
"It Came from nowhere"
"Just lost it over nothing"

These small stressors can cause a really big reaction for some dogs.

Perhaps your dog walked past a child on a scooter....was a little uneasy but continued to walk....then down the road a loud car went past....This startled your dog a little (it was a little strange as he has heard that car before and was fine).....half an hour after that a skateboarder rode past and your dog just lost it..., barking, snarling and thrashing on the lead.

The reaction to the skateboarder appeared to be "Out of the blue"....but it started with the child on the scooter.

That is the result of trigger stacking.
With all those little frights... stress hormones are released and they were released again and again with every incident.

Your dog had multiple stressful situations in a short amount of time and it caused a reaction.

It wasn't "out of the blue" and in many ways was predictable.
If your dog has small incidents in a short amount of time....call it a day, do something calming with them and save them an incident....especially if you have a reactive dog.

06/19/2023

𝘿𝙤𝙜 𝘿𝙖𝙮𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚 – 𝙄𝙨 𝙄𝙩 𝙍𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝘿𝙤𝙜?

Dog daycare has grown hugely in popularity in recent years. And, like any new industry which has grown rapidly, the variety and quality of the provision varies greatly. So how do you decide –

• whether daycare is right for your dog?
• which daycare to choose?

𝗜𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗗𝗼𝗴?

Daycare isn’t right for every dog. Here are some points to consider when deciding if it’s right for yours –

• Is your dog anxious or lacking in confidence? While an under confident dog might grow in confidence in a smaller daycare they are likely (in my experience) to struggle in a large scale daycare. It can be tempting to think that by being around other dogs they will ‘get used to it’ but, very often, it’s totally overwhelming for them and actually makes the problems worse.

• Is your dog super interested in other dogs? And, if so, is giving him pretty much unrestricted access to other dogs likely to be helpful? Or do you run the risk of turning him into a hypersocial, overly friendly dog?

• Can your dog settle and relax around other dogs? If not they are going to be exhausted (and not in a good way…) after a day at day care. A daycare may say they have ‘quiet times’ but saying that is one thing…achieving it is altogether different.

• Can your dog tolerate rude, socially clumsy dogs? Do they have the social skills to defuse and de-escalate tension or might they react if they feel painted into a corner?

• Are you prepared to neuter your dog early? Many local authorities make neutering by a given age (often as young as 6 months) a condition of daycare licensing however early neutering can often be at odds with the health and well being of the dog, particularly for large breeds.

• Why do you need/want daycare for your dog? Is additional care a necessity? Are you out of the home for extended periods? Does your dog have separation related problems? Or are you simply looking for a socialisation opportunity for your dog? What other options are there and which would suit your dog best? For example would they get more out of spending time outdoors with a dog walker? Do they need to have access to human contact at all times? Would a trip to the park meet their socialisation needs (bearing in mind that socialisation is not just about meeting other dogs)?

• How will you mitigate or avoid the potential behavioural problems which can arise from daycare? The lessons your dog can learn in day care are unlikely to be helpful in the rest of their lives. Think about what daycare might teach them…they get unrestricted access to play with lots of dogs lots of the time, they may get little practice settling and switching off, they are kept physiologically aroused a lot of the time, they often practice using their voice a lot. Are these things that might become problematic in contexts other than daycare? How will the young, adolescent dog who plays all day with every dog in daycare react when he’s out in the world and can’t interact with every dog there? Frustration? Barking? Pulling?

If you’ve answered these questions and are happy that your dog would benefit from (NB not just cope with) a day care environment how do choose the right daycare?

𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗗𝗮𝘆𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲?

There are many different styles of daycare from small, in home facilities which take only a handful of dogs to large scale daycares operating in industrial units which can have upward of 60 dogs on site. So what should you consider when choosing a daycare?

• Size. How many dogs are cared for at any one time? There’s a world of difference between being in a group of 6 dogs and one of 60. What will your dog be comfortable with (and what are you comfortable with)?

• How many groups does the daycare normally have? Will your dog be in a small group (

06/11/2023

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06/07/2023

Please do not print this off of Facebook

You may never look at dogs playing in quite the same way once you start to recognise the signals they want to stop (or not even start to play). This is often tricky for other dogs to pick up on.....sometimes you need to advocate and stop the play they no longer want to participate in.....because if a dog keeps pestering when these signals are given, it can cause the most serious of incidents.

Sometimes these signals are given after a few minutes.... purely to let the play calm down a bit and then both dogs reengage and are happy for play to recommence (so they can be used as a quick interval and then continue).

If you notice your dog suddenly VERY interested in anything else (esp if they move away from the action), it can mean they need a break, or are just not interested.

Sniffing the ground....following a trail.
Scratching.
Yawning.
Seeking you out.
Moving away while chewing a stick.....
Showing sudden interest in ANYTHING else other than interacting with the dog in front of them, they are signaling to the other dog that they either need a break....or they just don't want any interactions (or issues).

The tricky part of this is some dogs just cannot read these signals and will persist in attempting to interact... pestering and insisting.

That can lead to very big issues.

To read these signals, the playful dog needs to have had prior instances when these signals were given. This would have been a normal part of litter life and is also part of early exposure to other dogs and puppies....if they have had limited experience playing with other dogs while growing.....they may not read these signals.

So the next time you are able to watch dogs play.....look for these signals they give.
Are they disengaging from play?
Is the other dog respecting that?
Is this just a quick break or is this "nope not interested anymore".

If you are in any doubt that another dog isn't listening to your dogs signals....... advocate and separate.

That helps all dogs involved.

06/05/2023

Please do not print this off of Facebook.

How do you introduce dogs ?
Carefully🙂.

Your emotional state will also play a part in introductions. Your nervousness needs to settle as much as your dogs does.
Your emotions are contagious to your dog.
If you are nervous.....nervous and wary dog
If you are calm.....calm and relaxed dog.
So if you have a friend or family member and want your dogs to meet... YOU need to be calm and confident.

This is why we start at a distance, not only for your dogs emotional well being but after a few minutes of having the other dog walk on the opposite side (in the same direction)....YOU will start to relax. Your breathing will be lower in your lungs, your heart rate will decrease and your dog will be aware of ALL this.

There is no rush to meet....you may need to repeat this over a few days, a week or longer. The more your dogs can be in the same vicinity and KNOW you are calm....the easier your dog will accept this new dog.

Neutral territory
I cannot stress this enough.
Not your yard, not their yard.
Not your house.
Not even your street.
Not your car as you drive to a neutral territory.
They need to see each other in neutral territory for the best chance at accepting their possible new friend.

Dogs do not need to accept or like other dogs and for those in the small percentile that have a truly social dog ....this is often difficult to understand.

If you do take your dog to the dog park (not my favourite place but some do enjoy this)....the dog that is running around engaging with all the other dogs, imposing themselves into every situation is NOT usually friendly.....they are over aroused and being pushy. They have no idea of the subtilties of dog to dog interactions. Dogs may respond to this energy badly.

Dogs that ignore most dogs but interact with a few calmer ones is a dog that MAY be ok to interact with. Talk to the dogs family and ask what that dog is like with others.
How does this dog play?
What does this dog like?
What dogs does this dog NOT like?

However there may be those dreaded words .....
"Its OK my dog is friendly"
IGNORE the words and OBSERVE the dog and the interactions with others.

Arrange to meet up next week to attempt a play.....most dogs appreciate being around others to get a feel for this dogs play style and energy.....even at the dog park there is NO rush. They may need a few meetings before they interact.

Don't just judge the breed because it may be the same as yours, that is no guarantee of success.......observe the behaviour....watch the behaviour.....watch the body language.

Dogs meeting can go very wrong.....but just remember there is no rush. If you prepare, observe and look at the body language you can see all the subtle tells dogs have.
Always remember it is OK for your dog to not want to play with others, just being around other dogs is enough for some. Some older dogs are firmly where they want to be socially and will be very reluctant to expand their social circle.....respect that.

05/30/2023

Please do not print this off Facebook!!

I don't think there would be many trainers out there that would disagree that dogs "playing" can be very misread.
Sometimes what may look like play is often highly stressful for one or all dogs involved.

Puppies need little and often exposure to play, however if the play styles they have been continually exposed to has been problematic, there may be issues with play going forward.
If they have limited exposure to dogs/puppies, they have limited experience and may struggle with appropriate play.

With grown dogs.... play is often encouraged with others they have just met...often without taking the time to assess and watch the play style and energy levels.

Playstyles matter
Energy levels matter

Supervising and stopping play is so important. If you have a dog that changes their own play style the longer it goes on (perhaps it starts to get more frantic and far more physical)....stop play before it gets to that stage.
I am all for dogs learning appropriate play with each other and allowing communication between them to signal "hey...thats enough"....the difficulty is you need to trust implicitly that the other dog involved can GIVE those more subtle signals that play is getting too rough....and you need to trust your own dog will read those subtle signals BEFORE a much larger and possibly damaging incident .

If these dogs have no history together.....neither will have any knowledge of those individual signals given.

Being excited to play....does NOT mean the play about to follow is going to be a healthy interaction for all involved. In fact dogs which are "bursting" to play often will not wait for signals from others that they are reciprocating...they will just charge in there....and that can cause an immediate fight.

This is just a guide.
There will be many people that have dogs that have stiff bodies when playing....it is very individual...however it is a good "rule" to be wary of stiff posture, especially from a dog thats energy is vastly different from yours.
Many larger dogs do a beautiful job "handicapping" when playing with smaller dogs.....they will continually drop/tuck a front leg to continue to play with another much smaller buddy, this is a great signal to watch....but generally speaking there are real and obvious dangers of a much smaller dog and a larger dog play.

Healthy play is a fantastic uplifting and joyful experience for all involved, participants and onlookers.....always advocate if needed,