I have had so many calls from dog parents lately who have just moved into a close-knit community, also called subdivision, with their dog, or dogs.
Suddenly they are experiencing that their otherwise sweet and loving dog (or dogs) has started barking and lunging, either on walks, inside their house, and/or behind their fence every time they encounter another dog or people.
What do you do in this scenario? Why is this happening?
This prompted me to wanting to devote my next episode of The Dog Training Unplugged Podcast to talking about how to navigate life with your dog in what I call the ‘trigger jungle’ of subdivisions.
Tune into The Dog Training Unplugged Podcast, Episode #14 ‘Navigating Life With Your Dog In The Trigger Jungle of Subdivisions’….
Coming out this week!!
#thedogtrainingunpluggedpodcast #episode14 #navigatinglife #navigatinglifewithyourdoginthetriggerjungleofsubdivisions #subdivisions #subdivision #subdivisionlife #yourdog #lifewithyourdog #fdm #thedogtalker
Amazing SUCCESS for the three Pitmixes, Missy, Chica & Tootsie🤗🐶🐶🐶❤️🙏🤩🤩🤩
The Dog Talker is Charleston’s leading expert on Aggression and this case has been a HUGE WIN and testament to our holistic approach and Family Dog Meditation in action!!
Our WELFARE packages ( Walk & Train) have been a savior in this case where the clients, two elderly sisters with poor health, and their three female dogs, would not be where they are today without our services to help them meet the dogs’ needs.
We cannot say it enough!!! Meeting your dog’s needs has to be no.1 in ALL behavior cases BEFORE you even consider any kind of training.
Unmet needs lead to frustration, stress, ill health, anxiety, fear, aggression, etc.
🫵Are YOU ready to navigate life BETTER with your dog? Check us out TODAY! We have packages to suit every need…. And YES! We do puppy Training as well! #thedogtalker #dogtrainingunplugged #fdm #welfare #dobetter #bebetter #meetyourdogsneeds
My Finn loves his job as a squirrel hunter as you can see. I always let him take pride in this job and let him bark at them. It’s so important to let your dog engage in natural behaviors. It’s not something we should try to train out of them.
Although both my dogs are Miniature Schnauzers and belong to the Terrier breed group, and they do share many similarities, they also have very different motivations. Just look at how Milo in the video doesn’t really care all that much about chasing the squirrel.
Milo is much more laid back than Finn who is always quick to react to triggers.
Do you know what your dog’s ‘job’ is? Do you perhaps have a herder, a guardian, a hunter….. ? Does his natural behaviors frustrate you or do you find it fascinating?
You can learn so much about your dog by spending time outside with him or her. If your dog’s natural behavior is a nuisance to you, or poses a danger, find other outlets similar to what he was bred for.
This is important for every dog’s welfare.
Remember, your dog’s WELFARE should ALWAYS be your #1 priority if you want to avoid, prevent, or improve problematic behaviors!
#thedogtalker #welfare #terriers #miniatureschnauzer #yourdogsjob
The Dog Talker is turning 6 on April 9th…. So we’ve been ‘facelifted’ ( new logo, brand, website, services)!!
It’s Time for change - to help more clients!
The Dog Talker has offered very comprehensive (and successful) Behavior Programs for the past 2 years. They have especially been very beneficial to clients with multiple dogs in the household - where progress is generally slow and support is needed for a longer time frame.
I feel immense gratitude towards my clients who have been able and willing to invest in these programs - and to have been able to provide these clients with a more in-depth support than what traditional sessions and packages can offer.
With TDT’s 6th Birthday this month, it has led me to reflect on how I can offer similar, but cheaper and more convenient, options for future clients. I want more people and dogs to benefit from our very unique approach in Family Dog Mediation® (FDM) and my own innovative Umbrella Framework, Dog Training Unplugged - which both help to enhance the WELFARE of dogs and of humans.
Considering the fact that although dog training is thankfully EVOLVING, there are still more and more uneducated trainers setting up shop, both here in Charleston and elsewhere, whose methods unfortunately are not as humane and science based as FDM and the Positive Reinforcement trainers we do have here in the LowCountry.
In order not to ‘lose’ too many clients to ‘balanced’ or ‘aversive’ trainers, I want to make TDT’s services more affordable to future clients.
Hence, with the new logo and brand, our website and services have been revamped.
And throughout April, you receive 6% discount on ALL services (except our Monthly Behavior Challenge, which is already a LOW price).
To take advantage of this discount, use CODE ‘BIRTHDAY6’ AT CHECKOUT (CAN BE USED FOR MULTIPLE SERVICES to get more discount!)
THIS DISCOUNT IS ONLY VALID UNTIL APRIL 30TH - SO GO CHECK OUT OUR NEW SERVICES!!See link in bio.
#thedogta
The overall welfare of our pet dog population is hanging in threads. Are you aware of that?
Every single day dog trainers help clients change or modify a dog’s behavior - without seeing or understanding the bigger picture…..Without understanding the dog’s WHY - what is going on from the dog’s perspective.
Too many dog trainers claim to be experts without actually having ANY educational background in dog behavior or science-based methods. Too much harm is being done to dogs in the name of training.
This is a MAJOR problem and YOU, as a dog parent should be concerned about that.
Before you decide to get professional help for your dog, PLEASE question the validity of a trainer’s “expert knowledge”:
1. Check their credentials on their website. Do they even have an education or certification in dog training and behavior?
2. The dog training profession is unregulated so do NOT take anyone’s assertion at face value! Anyone can claim to be a Dog Trainer!!
3. Do not be impressed by cool videos of trainers parading dogs around like circus monkeys!
Your dog does not NEED training - Your dog has the same needs as you or your child.
Contact a Licensed or Certified Family Dog Mediator, who has special training and education that goes ABOVE and BEYOND dog training - to learn WHAT your dog’s needs are.
Your dog’s emotional & behavioral WELFARE should be your priority, so choose wisely!
#thedogtalker #thedogtrainingunpluggedpodcast #fdm #welfare #dobetter #bebetter #dogtraining #dogtrainingtips🐶🐶 #doglifenavigation
Actions speak LOUDER than words than words!!!❤️🐶😍🤩🫵🥰🙏👏
I couldn’t be more thrilled for this little Nugget and her Family (read my previous post for details)
#thedogtalker #fdm #dogtrainingunplugged #win
Lots of success and progress for this little Barker!!! 🤗🐶👏👏👏
Arriving for session no. 4 and Nugget hardly barked as I entered…. SO much progress in just 3 in-home sessions!!!
This case is such a clear example of the HUGE difference it makes when the humans in the dog’s life are willing to change their behavior and patterns:
When I started with this family:
- Nugget ( a Chihuahua/ Russell mix), 7yrs old was very depressed and hiding in a closet for the 4 days of the week when “ her person (dad)” was gone at work.
- Nugget would only come out for dinner ( reluctantly) and had started having poop accidents at night.
-Nugget would bark at visitors to the home
-She would no longer go through the doggy door and was a very anxious dog
-Nugget’s parents had used an aversive can shaker to try to silence her barking and other methods that were doing more harm than good.
It was clear that Nugget suffered from Separation Anxiety every time her dad would leave - but it was also clear to me that what we needed to work on the most was building confidence in her and helping her feel safe when her dad was gone.
Mom was clearly stressed with the whole situation and did not have a good relationship with Nugget. To me, THIS was the key to changing everything: Transforming the relationship between Nugget and mom.
Yesterday, when I arrived, I saw a completely different picture….
- Hardly any barking
-Mom looked relaxed and smiley, dad was all smiles
- Mom told me no accidents and Nugget now sleeps in her bed and goes out for a last bathroom check no problem.
-Nugget now has a dog walker 3 days a week which has taken pressure off mom ( they also have a big black lab)
- Nugget LOVES her ‘Place’ and searching for food ( instead of her food bowl) in her blanket
…. I could go on…. But one last victory for little Nugget:
In just a few minutes she learned Touch yesterday, which we had to give up on during our first session)
A true testament to how Fam
If you have a reactive dog, one of the best things you can do is take your dog on a nature walk or trail, far away from triggers and stressors.
Use your long leash and let her sniff, it’s her agenda. She will spend so much energy on sniffing and will be nicely tired after.
It’s a WIN WIN…. Good for her mental ( and overall) health, as well as yours!!
#thedogtalker #dogtrainingunplugged #fdm #legs #sniffing #decompressionwalks
Walk & Train with Midnight.
It’s absolutely normal for dogs to pull when you first take them out for a walk, especially when ( like Midnight here) they haven’t been able to go out for a few days due to bad weather, or if they have been locked in a crate all day.
Be patient with your dog and try to understand what is going on from her perspective. Different breeds will have different motivations on a walk, for example.
#thedogtalker #dogtrainingunplugged #walkandtrain #motivations #bepatient #understand #conversations #conversationsonawalkandtrainwithtdt #leashwalking
Walk & Train with Chica.
If you have a reactive dog and need help from a behavior expert, check out our ‘Walk & Train Your Reactive Dog’ from The Dog Talker. See link to our website in bio.
Follow @the.dogtalker or @dog_training_unplugged to watch more conversations on walk & train.
#thedogtalker #dogtrainingunplugged #thedogtrainingunpluggedpodcast #leashwalking #walkandtrain #conversationsonawalkandtrainwithtdt
