Anam Canine

07/28/2024

I'm rebooting the podcast after two years of being away from it. This is an episode I recorded two years ago, and after all this time I really appreciated the reminder as I listened to this again today.

Just because I went to school and have a certificate that says I know things doesn't mean I regularly apply all those things. I forget stuff. I get distracted. I have good intentions and still can be easily misled.

If you'd like to learn from a dog person who is also flawed and works hard to be a good human, perhaps you'd like to follow me and Greer over on Substack. There will be new podcast episodes once I finish releasing the older ones, and of course other good things.

07/12/2024

Hi!

It's been ages, I know. I'm rather . . . tired of all of this stuff here.

I'm in the process of moving over to Substack. The podcast will be there (with new episodes coming after more than a year) and more fresh stuff about learning science, relationships, trading leadership, and other good things.

With generous appearances by Greer, as always.

Send a message to learn more

01/05/2023

Scientists have been studying innate qualities and skills of dog breeds for a while, with some of the most interesting stuff coming up over the last ten years or so.

You probably don't want to read the actual papers. Understandable. They can be dry unless you dig statistics.

Here's one about impulsivity you might like. There have been variations on this one I'll post separately.

This particular study compared border collies and Labrador retrievers from show and working lines. And these measurements are reported by the dogs' humans rather than the result of controlled research.

In short, working collies were more impulsive than working Labs. There were no meaningful differences between show collies and show Labs.

Why does this matter? Does it matter?

It's not responsible to draw big conclusions from one study (especially based on owner-reported data), but if we consider the ways in which these types of dogs have been designed by humans, what the results suggest makes sense.

Working collies are made to be quick, bold thinkers and movers with the stamina and high drive to complete the job no matter what because their farmers' animals are in their care. They are used to working with very little or no guidance.

Working Labs are made to be hard workers with strong swimming and retrieving skills and soft mouths. They are used to working under the direction of a human partner.

An impulsive working collie is one that probably follows her gut a lot and does things the farmer didn't think were possible. It's important for the collie to be quick.

An impulsive working Lab is one that moves before the hunting partner is ready and accidentally flushes ducks (and that's the spaniel's job, anyway). It's important for the Lab to wait.

We make them the way they are over generations of selective breeding and then we complain that they are "too much" of one thing or "too little" of another. In reality, I think it's fair to say that they deserve us to be more involved in designing lives that respond to their innate skills and drives.

Impulsive behavior is that of the sudden desire to act on the grounds of intense feeling or inability to stop and think before acting. Some dogs are actual | Plants And Animals

01/04/2023

This morning I had a video chat with someone. Greer gets excited about those because they are often opportunities for her to work. She stays close by.

In this case, she decided to sit on my lap. It appeared that she became the second party to the discussion rather than me, because she totally blocked me from view.

I don't ever want to go back to working in an office for someone else. ☺️

01/02/2023

Greer and I aren't revamping anything this year. We are who we are. We accept each other.

There is certainly room for improvement for both of us individually and as a unit. We like focusing more on the stuff that already feels good. As we continue to build strength and capabilities in those spaces, they'll spill over. There will be more available to lift up the other stuff that's not as great.

For example, I have a tendency to go egocentrically human and not fully trust Greer when she tells me something. Not all the time, but when we are in a situation where she indicates she's concerned or that she knows something and I look around and say "I don't see anything," I'm likely to encourage her to shake it off.

I have the bigger brain, after all. I should be in the know, right?

This is why wolves and humans got together in the first place. Wolf's awareness is far superior to human's.

It is an honest-to-goodness practice for me to acknowledge her concern and then act on it. It's not automatic at all and I really stop and think about it, because my initial reaction is to call it good.

On a good day for me, I am able to do the practice. I check in with Greer, pause, and choose a different direction for us if we are walking. If she tells me about something while we are home, I check it out. I might even say, "I don't see anything that concerns me, and I trust you know better. Thanks for keeping watch."

I don't always. On days where she barks about 28 different things in a 30-minute time period, I admit I'm not enthusiastic about accepting her "help." I know stuff is going on and on some days I'm okay with not being involved.

So when it comes to her, and myself, I'm just carrying out what I started and doing what I can to really pay attention and acknowledge. The best stuff comes from that.

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Image description:
Color photograph of a German shepherd dog walking away from the camera. She's walking down a wild corridor of blackberry bushes and the sun is low in the sky ahead. There are clouds in the blue sky.

12/30/2022

In the best circumstances, family comes together during the hard times.

I think we learn how to do that through play. I believe play is essential in relationships.

Through play we have the space to try new things and see how they'll go over. If they don't work well, there's no harm. We change tactics and try something else.

Through play we learn to read each other. We become more familiar with patterns and expressions.

Through play we understand what our partners do well and what things are harder for them. We build our play around all of that to make it the most engaging it can be.

Through play we practice the skills we need at more critical, serious times. In animals that's hunting or hiding behaviors that bring in a meal or avoid becoming a meal. In humans it's often about building communication skills.

Play doesn't measure who is faster, stronger, or smarter. Play is inclusive. It caters to everyone.

That's how we make everything else better.

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Image description:
Black and white photograph of two black great Danes running along a beach. They are looking at each other with silly grins and neither one of them has paw touching the sand - they are airborne.

12/16/2022

The relationship is the most important thing. The security, safety, trust, and love you feel with one another matters more than specific behaviors.

And when there is radical acceptance of each other, the most endearing behaviors are usually the ones that are the stickiest.

When you acknowledge each other and what you need, and how your needs might change from day to day, you'll begin to notice when the other needs a little more or a little different and respond to that.

Drilling sits, downs, and stays doesn't improve that.

12/06/2022

One of the things we do when we work together is a life audit.

It sounds absolutely awful and unpleasant, but really it's just looking at what kinds of things are important to you, individually and as a team, and what kinds of things consume your time.

It's easy to pick things you think you want to work on, but those might not be things that are going to make a noticeable difference in your lives when they change. I want to make the best use of your time that you are committing, so before we start doing we start noticing.

Noticing is a skill that comes up later, too.

I'll guide you through the process this week. To begin, what is important to you? What do you stand for? What do you feel really upset about when it's not available? What helps you feel like yourself?

I value freedom and autonomy. I do better when I have lots of space. Quiet is good, too. Oh, and a slow pace unless I choose to speed things up.

I like being outside, no matter the weather. I feel connected and like I'm part of something meaningful when I'm with trees.

I like noticing and studying more than doing.

Things that aren't fair totally suck.

Good food matters to me. Coziness matters. Being with someone who can be at ease and assume good intentions is important. Safety is important.

What matters to you?

12/01/2022

The squirrel matters here.

This is really a much longer story, but the reason Anam Canine is here is because of a squirrel. Because after taking a bunch of classes and meeting with about six trainers in the area I was beginning to lose faith in the profession of dog training. The things they were telling and showing me felt wrong.

Greer was young, and I was looking for ways I could keep up with her, engage her, and learn to be a better partner. I wasn't after obedience. I wanted connection.

It was a squirrel that introduced me to what Anam Canine is now. This business that I never intended to be a business started because instead of continuing to engage local trainers I decided to go to school on my own and get certified.

It started with the Sexier than a Squirrel challenge from AbsoluteDogs. It came up in my Facebook feed early in 2020 and it was their offer to help people connect, have fun, and build skills in the pandemic.

Greer and I did the challenge, and halfway through I knew I was ready to learn more from Tom (a veterinary behaviorist) and Lauren (an agility champion). I signed up for the professional dog training course, and then for the post-certification course called Geek, which is all about the neuroscience of behavior and decisions in dogs.

I don't agree with absolutely everything Tom and Lauren teach. There are things they do that don't feel great for me, so I switch them up. They introduced me to how much fun it could be to concentrate on building skills rather than building behavior. That's foundational for me, and will always carry gratitude for that.

I am able to offer the Sexier than a Squirrel course challenge thingy to you as a reseller. Lots of the games are ones that Greer and I use regularly (she really likes Funder mixed up with Middle), and they tend to be some of the favorites of the families I support.

If you are wondering what it might be like to concentrate just on play for a while and not drill or actively teach behaviors, this may be a good fit for you. It's good stuff for you dog, and the underrated part is that it's good stuff for you. Humans often feel like they need to keep things serious for training and this will definitely pull you out of that.

There are 25 games in the challenge - one per day. There are actually more, but that's the secret bonus you aren't supposed to know about yet.

Each game is quick to play, and the recommendation is playing a few times throughout the day. So maybe a few rounds of two or three minutes each, three times a day. Greer and I often play while I'm making dinner and she reminds me to take breaks earlier in the day when I'm at my computer.

Sexier than a Squirrel is $32. You tell me you want it and I'll make it happen for you - once I receive your payment I'll send you the activation link and the information is yours for as long as you remember the password you set. 😁

Or is that just me? I have massive trouble remembering logins.

It's hard for me to think of a circumstance when I wouldn't recommend Sexier than a Squirrel. For more advanced partners that already know these games, no. But for everyone else I think there's a lot of good stuff here, and for an awesome price.

Many of these games rely on mobility to play. I have experience adapting them to suit different needs and would be glad to chat with you about that so you can get the most from them.

Below you can find more information about the offer and all the splashy marketing. Honestly, that stuff hurts my eyes and I really don't like sales pages, but I want you to feel like you have access to what you need to make a decision.

You can purchase directly through the link below to buy from AbsoluteDogs (in which case I don't receive any part of the sale, and that's totally fine). If you'd like to purchase through me, I'll have to send you a separate link (and in that case I receive 100% of the sale).

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Image description:
Digital watercolor graphic of a squirrel holding an acorn. The squirrel is facing the left of the screen and her tail is up against her back and curled out a bit.

11/28/2022

A few days ago, I crumbled under stress and took it out on those around me. There was a lot of shouting hurtful words, and it was all coming from a nervous system that was tired of working under conditions that sucked.

Greer got the brunt of it. She gave me space because I told her to, but not without coming to check on me every few minutes.

Greer is very uncomfortable with emotional unrest. It goes against her shepherdy tendencies to need order and stability. Conflict and difficult emotions are extra hard for her.

While I can't speak for her and don't know exactly what's happening, when stuff like this unfolds it feels like she wants to offer an apology as quickly as possible so we can move on. Not because she wants to deny or minimize my emotional experience, but because for her things are about the present. I tend to get hung up on the past.

I'm very pro-grudge. Not in general, I mean, but it's my natural tendency.

Eventually, every relationship includes tension. It's impossible to avoid.

We fight. We feel hurt. We may feel resentful. We refuse to compromise. Maybe there is a little silent treatment worked in there.

How we come back together to repair the damage is far more important that the discord.

Yes, it's necessary to have a critical look at how blow ups happen and what can be done to take them down a notch or two. Especially when they happen often - that's a sign that multiple things are adding pressure that needs to be relieved. Doing this part is entirely our job as humans.

The repair rests with both species. When we have conflict, the dog is likely to be the first to approach with an apology. A wiggly, face licking apology. She'll gracefully let go the hurt and give the space to start over.

I remind myself to accept her apology. She really means it.

I also remind myself that the work of managing the conditions that created the conflict is mine. Her behavior may have been what pushed me to the limit, but what are all of the other things that contributed? How can I take better care of myself so I can take better care of her? And how can I help my partner be the very best partner for me?

She already is, honestly. And I owe her more.

This is one of the parts of typical "dog training" that gets left out. This is a relationship. It requires relationship skills. It's not just me the human acting on Greer the dog to change or manipulate her behavior to my whims and designs.

I have to invest in the relationship, not the behavior. A big part of that is accepting responsibility for my own behavior and making changes that suit both of us.

I made my repair. I still feel crummy about the whole thing. I'm embarrassed and remorseful because I know I know better. And I'm also human, which comes with ample opportunities to be a butthead.

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Image description:
Color photograph of a German shepherd dog walking away from the camera along a gravel road next to a meadow. There is a tree in the center of the meadow and several trees lining the meadow in the distance. It's a sunny day with a slightly hazy, blue sky.

11/26/2022

When you learn from home, you are close to snacks.

It's exactly the right temperature for you.

You have what you need, and hopefully it feels safe.

You don't have to load up your dog and try to work on calm behavior in a novel place with loads of distractions.

You don't have to split your attention among the instructor, your dog, and the other dogs in class.

Things happen at the pace that suits you as a team.

And the snacks. The snacks are important. Plus pajama pants, if you like those.

--

I'm offering individual, virtual sessions in support of the relationship you and your canine partner share for $40. These sessions are usually about 45 to 60 minutes long and responsive to what you need rather than set curriculum.

Here's how it usually works.

We schedule our first chat after I ask you a ridiculous amount of questions to get to know you and your dog. That way we can dedicate the time you pay for to addressing the stuff that matters to you.

We'll talk a bit about brains and bodies, and then we'll take a play break. If Greer's available (and if food is present, she's available), she'll help me demonstrate something for the two of you to do together that's fun and helps build a skill. That will be a few minutes, and then we go back to talking for another 10 minutes or so. Then another play break to try the first game again and maybe add another. One more time through the cycle.

So in one session we have three sections of talking about stuff and understanding the sciencey bits of what might be behind the things you are experiencing, broken up by three sections of play.

I provide text and email support to people doing individual sessions because I know stuff comes up between sessions.

Because these sessions are virtual, you don't need to get anybody ready to travel or to host someone at home. They are a wonderful option for dogs who have a hard time adjusting to new people.

We talk about what accommodations your family needs before we start, so all of that is sorted as well.

This offer is valid through December 1, 2022. The regular price for a virtual, individual session is $60. If you'd like one (or more) please send me a message and we'll chat first to see if we are a good fit before I take your money.

If this is still out of reach for your family and you need support, please send me a message and we'll work something out.

11/25/2022

I encourage Greer to use her nose as often as possible.

I leave food for her throughout the house so she can track it down.

I carry metal, magnetic tins for scent work in my bag so I can place scent for her when we are away from home. She scents frankincense, by the way.

I hide her toys in places she can access.

People ask me how many more problems we have because of all the scenting. They assume that because I encourage her to use her nose that she must also track down and take things I don't want her to have.

Nope.

I can leave food on the counter and know she won't bother it because I asked her to leave it alone. She also knows she gets the last bite of anything I have that's safe for her to eat.

I can't leave food on the counter because of the cats, though. Whole other issue.

I can drop something on the floor that she's not supposed to have and ask her to give space or leave it there and she does.

I haven't scared or threatened her into any of this. There were never punishments. It's a boundary. I have my stuff. She has her stuff. Some things we share and we make that clear. Some things we don't and that's also clear.

11/24/2022

Here's to the dogs who can smell every ingredient in the foods we make and have every ability to sn**ch them off the counter and don't. They chose not to because we asked.

Here's to the dogs who are the sn**chers. I love you, too.

11/22/2022

'Tis the season for deals. I have some.

I'm offering individual, virtual sessions in support of the relationship you and your canine partner share for $40. These sessions are usually about 45 to 60 minutes long and responsive to what you need rather than set curriculum.

Here's how it usually works.

We schedule our first chat after I ask you a ridiculous amount of questions to get to know you and your dog. That way we can dedicate the time you pay for to addressing the stuff that matters to you.

We'll talk a bit about brains and bodies, and then we'll take a play break. If Greer's available (and if food is present, she's available), she'll help me demonstrate something for the two of you to do together that's fun and helps build a skill. That will be a few minutes, and then we go back to talking for another 10 minutes or so. Then another play break to try the first game again and maybe add another. One more time through the cycle.

So in one session we have three sections of talking about stuff and understanding the sciencey bits of what might be behind the things you are experiencing, broken up by three sections of play.

I provide text and email support to people doing individual sessions because I know stuff comes up between sessions.

Because these sessions are virtual, you don't need to get anybody ready to travel or to host someone at home. They are a wonderful option for dogs who have a hard time adjusting to new people.

We talk about what accommodations your family needs before we start, so all of that is sorted as well.

This offer is valid through December 1, 2022. The regular price for a virtual, individual session is $60. If you'd like one (or more) please send me a message and we'll chat first to see if we are a good fit before I take your money. ☺️

11/22/2022

This seems unfortunately accurate.

Image description:
White text on a black background that reads "Dogs are fun because you put all your time, energy, money, effort, and sanity into one thing and then they just spend all their time trying to hurt themselves and you get to pay for the outcomes of their extracurricular activities."

🫶🏽

🛒 | canineaesthete.etsy.com

11/21/2022

Earlier today I posted this video on my other business page, Slobbered Lens.

I replayed it a few times and noticed something new. In real life I thought I was noticing all of the things that mattered, and I kinda was.

This is Greer and The Boy running back to me when we were out for a bit of recreation. I remember adoring the look on Greer's face as she came back to me. I didn't call her - she just decided it was time.

She looked so happy. She was full of joy.

It wasn't until I watched his video a few times that I noticed Greer's tail. It was steady for most of her run to me. As she approached it swished a few times. When she was steps away, she did a helicopter wag. Twice.

You know the kind that goes around in a circle? That's the big happy with big (manageable) arousal.

This few seconds of video is now endearing in a new way, and I'm so glad I have it.

It's a reminder for myself that using video during interactions, whether they are meant to be entirely recreational or you are working on playfully learning, is really helpful. It's impossible to take in everything that matters at the speed of life, and having several opportunities to view what happened can give you more information about arousal, engagement, and a bunch of other things.

Plus you'll have the video to cherish.

11/19/2022

"How do I get my dog to . . . ?"

"How do I stop my dog from . . . ?"

Two big questions that people have with many variations.

I don't want to be in a relationship where someone is regularly trying to change my behavior. I'd like to be accepted and supported.

If I'm doing something that's irritating or troublesome for my partner, I'd like to know about it so I can figure out how to make changes. I don't knowingly want to frustrate my partner.

Dogs don't do things to aggravate us. They do what they know to work.

When we concentrate on changing their behavior, we are micromanaging the situation. And if you've ever had that boss we can agree that is a serious drag. It doesn't feel good. Nothing says "I don't trust you or your decisions" quite like a whole lot of rules, interventions, and consequences that don't always make sense.

It's so much nicer for everyone to work on building skills.

The dog who is likely to bark a lot may need to learn how to deal with excitement in other ways. Not through a person telling them what to do, but through exploring other options that also work well and feel good.

The dog who pulls on walks is likely in a similar situation. The leash walking skills are great to have, and before those can make a real different the dog needs to be able to practice some co-regulation with a trusted partner. That's you.

Woking on managing the behavior through specific instructions is okay, but what happens when you aren't available? Would your dog be able to make choices that feel good for both of you? It's hard to learn how to do that when you are being micromanaged.

11/18/2022

Play is the foundation of learning.

Play is experimental. It has no agenda. It's a free, safe place to explore, make mistakes, and recover. That's what makes it the ideal learning space.

When things are fun, the brain is able to make new connections between neurons with fewer repetitions. And those fewer repetitions are stickier, so the new wiring in the brain is less likely to become disconnected (I call this "loose wire syndrome" :D).

Young animals of all species play because that's how they learn life skills. Adult and older animals play because it feels good and promotes strong bonds between family members.

That's why we play in our sessions.

You may come to me looking for help with your dog who is painful to walk with because of all the pulling. Rather than dive into "leash manners," we're going to start with playing games. Your dog may need help building skills like disengagement and connection, and you may need help building skills in recognizing the early signs of super high arousal. We'll play at home where the distractions are minimal and it's comfortable to experiment.

We'll add a few games here and there so you've practiced and played a bunch and when you need them, you'll have options.

Then we go outside and play in a whole new environment.

If it's a behavior that is bothering you, we aren't going to work specifically on the behavior. We're going to work on building the skills, through play, to make that behavior less likely.

Building skills to improve your overall abilities by playing games is way more fun than repeating an exercise many times over.

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Image description:
Color photo of two black great Danes wrestling in a meadow. They both have weight on their back legs to rear up on each other. Ears are flapping and mouths are open in playful attack mode.

11/17/2022

This is the kind of stuff that softens me.

With scenting abilities that seem very ordinary to them, dogs can do what we consider extraordinary. They have this super sense that is so far beyond what we can imagine with our limited sniffers.

Greer's nose has tended to me well on many occasions. She's tracked down The Boy when he was lost. She was able to find Max when I couldn't. She smells changes in hormones and responds with compassion.

It's a beautiful gift to be sensed by someone.

Trick Woofs has a knack for illustrating important considerations in simple, poignant ways.

11/17/2022

When you hire someone to help you improve the communication between you and your dog, you of course want to make sure you find a good fit. That person needs to be someone who creates a comfortable space for you and your dog to work in, and someone you both enjoy being around (even if you meet only virtually).

I think the most important thing is how you feel with the person.

Do they offer explanations that make sense to you?

Do they discount what you share or seem to dismiss your experience?

Do you feel like they are receptive to your experience?

Do they answer your questions?

Do they seem to be relaxed and relatively unflappable, or do they present a lot of charged up energy?

Do they consider your dog in a way that feels respectful?

At the end of the session or meeting, do you feel . . . good? Do you look forward to being with the person again?

The conventional suggestion is to first look for a professional who is certified. That's a great thing to do because dog training is unregulated and certification can filter people.

On the other hand, some people are certified without being skilled (it's totally possible - I've seen it across many industries, including dog training). Or they have great skills with dogs and few skills with people. Or they don't consistently uphold the ethics of the certification they earned.

Formal education is valuable and definitely something to seek in a professional. You are looking for a professional, after all.

Trust your intuition about the fit. This stuff is supposed to be fun and engaging. If it isn't, you won't stick with it and it will be a poor use of your dollars.

Plus you are trusting this person with your vulnerability. Please take care of yourself and your dog and hold out for someone who feels good for both of you.

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Image description:
Black and white photo of a white, brunette woman sitting on a sofa. Her left hand is to her chin and she's looking down at the blur of a dog in the foreground with raised eyebrows and a curious, surprised expression.

11/15/2022

"My dog is so manipulative."

When people talk about others who are manipulative, the issue is that they feel they are being manipulated. They feel someone else is trying to get them to do something they wouldn't otherwise do.

Which kinda seems like the whole goal of dog training, yeah?

Beyond that, there is a connotation that goes with manipulation that's icky. Those who manipulate are looking for control, and controlling someone else is wrong. It feels crummy to be the focus of that. We tend to think of manipulators as being self absorbed, inconsiderate, and totally out for themselves.

So it's natural to push back when we feel like we are being manipulated. With dogs, that happens because dogs are indeed manipulating their environment to gain the most favorable outcomes for themselves.

Not because they're horrible. Not because they're self absorbed or inconsiderate.

The act on their environments because that's what curious, intelligent beings do. They are looking for things to try to get the results they'd like.

Let's also remember that we humans control nearly everything for the dogs we love. We determine what they have access to and when. We choose what they eat. We decide when they can have exercise and where that happens. We leave them alone when it works for us and expect them to roll with it.

And we want them to do certain things at certain times to demonstrate their commitment to us.

I'm pretty sure your dog isn't trying to manipulate you in the way you usually think about manipulation. My guess is that your dog is looking for ways to meet needs and desires, and has learned there are a few things that work. It's not malicious or disrespectful behavior.

Photo by Orlando Allo via Pexels, because I didn't want to use a photograph of a dog I know to illustrate this discussion about manipulation. ☺️