Dogs like to learn and do things!
Have you been told to ignore jumping?
Ignoring and walking away when your dog jumps may address part of the problem but why is your dog jumping in the first place?
Maybe there is an unmet need for enrichment, games, and activity!
This is a fun way to bond with your dog and teach them specifically where they CAN do this behavior if it is something that they want to do!
This activity can also build confidence in dogs who are a bit hesitant in new environments.
Be careful with this one if your dog is a breed prone to hip/joint issues or if your dog is still early in their physical development. You can always ask your veterinarian if you have questions about what your dog is ready to do physically.
Find what your dog loves to do and use THAT to train them and build your relationship!
#dogsocialization #bigdogproblems
#puppyintraining #trainingdogs #dogtrainingrevolution #dogservices #dogtrainingpaysoff #dogschool #dogadventure #dogtrainerlife #gooddogs #dogsofgreenville #southerndogs #dogsofsc #dogtrainer
“Babies grow, dogs age, adjust at every stage.”
-Jennifer Shryock Family Paws
It is important to remember that your baby will grow and reach new milestones faster than you realize! How will your dog feel about these sudden changes? Are you prepared?
What about the changes that occur in your dog as they get older? Dogs go through many ups and downs throughout puppyhood, adolescence, maturity, and as seniors. If your dog was tolerating something at one point, that may change later on.
You don’t have to worry though! There are resources that can help keep your family prepared and dog aware!
We now have TWO Family Paws Parent Educators on our team at Horizon Dog Behavior. Please reach out to us with your questions about dog/child safety!
@familypawsofficial
#FamilyPawsOfficial #familypaws #dogaware #dogsandkids #dogbehavior
🍁🍂🍃Sweet Leo enjoying his leaf pile play! We hope that you have enjoyed fall enrichment Fridays! Let us know in the comments which enrichment you have been doing this fall with your pup! 👇
#enrichment #happyfall #fallenrichment
#professionaldogtraining #dogproblems #onlinedogtraining #petservice #dogintraining #dogbehaviorist #trainingdogs #offleash #dogtrainersofinstagram #dogbehavior #dogtrainerlife #carolinacanines #dogsofgreenville #southerndogs #dogtrainer
Over the last few weeks we have been discussing the LEGS model and we have made it to S-Self!
Each dog is a unique individual and when we are determining why your dog may behave a certain way we need to consider their own unique experiences!
Your dog’s age plays a role in their behavior, whether you have a young puppy who is still wanting to play bite, an adolescent experiencing hormonal changes, or a senior dog who is displaying signs of aging.
A visit to your veterinarian can be beneficial at any age to determine if your dog is experiencing chronic pain or anxiety or even pain due to something like an ear infection. Pain causes more sensitivity and can intensify reactions or avoidance. Dogs can mask pain very well and you may think that your dog feels fine, when they really don’t!
Your dog’s reproductive status influences their behavior as well. Could your dog be coming into a heat cycle? Are they highly interested in other dogs at the moment? This could be a factor to consider.
The LEGS model was developed by Kim Brophey and we use it as a guide to help us learn more about why your dog is behaving a certain way so that we can better formulate a plan to address your behavioral concerns! At Horizon dogs we are all certified Family Dog Mediators and we are here to help!
Reach out to us for more info- visit horizondogs.com!
#professionaldogtraining #dogproblems #onlinedogtraining #petservice #dogintraining #dogbehaviorist #trainingdogs #offleash #dogtrainersofinstagram #dogbehavior #dogtrainerlife #carolinacanines #dogsofgreenville #southerndogs #dogtrainer
Fall enrichment Friday: Leaf pile play!
Does your dog like to play in the fall leaves?
You can encourage them to dig, sniff and play by hiding treats in the leaves!
Happy Fall! 🍁🍂🍃
#happyfallyall #enrichment
#professionaldogtraining #dogproblems #onlinedogtraining #petservice #dogintraining #dogbehaviorist #trainingdogs #offleash #dogtrainersofinstagram #dogbehavior #dogtrainerlife #carolinacanines #dogsofgreenville #southerndogs #dogtrainer
Over the last couple of weeks we have discussed learning and environment and how these factors play major roles in your dog’s behavior. The next one is genetics!
Your dog’s genetics are another factor to consider when we look for why your dog behaves a certain way.
If your dog’s needs are not being met, you may see problem behaviors! Does your dog like to run, chase, retrieve or sit and guard/watch from the top of a hill? If so, you will need to find ways to allow them to express their needs! These behaviors are often tied to what they were bred to do.
Some breed types are more sensitive to environmental changes or require a smaller social circle. Keep this in mind when you select a dog and make sure that the type of dog you choose matches your expectations and goals for them!
Remember- there are other parts of the LEGS model that influence behavior as well so it doesn’t ALL come down to genes. However, genetics do influence behavior!
The credit goes to Kim Brophey for her LEGS model and if you want to learn more, check out her book- “Meet Your Dog”.
@thedogdoor
#caninegenetics #dogbreeding #dogbehavior
#dogsocialization #bigdogproblems
#puppyintraining #trainingdogs #dogtrainingrevolution #dogservices #dogtrainingpaysoff #dogschool #dogadventure #dogtrainerlife #gooddogs #dogsofgreenville #southerndogs #dogsofsc #dogtrainer
Fall enrichment Friday: Turkey Toppl!
We used:
Turkey pate
Pumpkin spice goat’s milk
Plain Yogurt
Pumpkin/apple treats
Freeze it and let your dog enjoy their special holiday treat!
#enrichment #holidaypup #thanksgiving #turkeytime #dogsocialization #bigdogproblems
#puppyintraining #trainingdogs #dogtrainingrevolution #dogservices #dogtrainingpaysoff #dogschool #dogadventure #dogtrainerlife #gooddogs #dogsofgreenville #southerndogs #dogsofsc #dogtrainer
Last week we discussed the LEGS model and the Learning part just a bit.
Today we want to focus on E-Environment.
What kind of environment do you think your dog enjoys being in most? If you don’t know a lot about the type of dog that you have, it may be helpful to learn more about their breed and what they were bred to do. If you don’t know your dog’s breed, you can get them dna tested to find out! Whatever group makes up 30% or more of their genetic makeup will likely contribute the most to their behavioral tendencies. There can always be dogs that don’t fit entirely within their breed description but this is often a good place to start.
Many dogs need some time in nature to explore and express their natural behaviors. Don’t live on a farm with several acres of land? That’s okay! Take them to dog friendly parks or hiking spots and bring your long line to give them more freedom! You can also check out the sniff spot app to book a place for your pup to roam that you will have all to yourselves!
Predictable patterns and routines can help many dogs feel safe in their environment as well. Try to set up a routine that includes some enrichment, exercise, nap time, and play time!
Every dog is different! While some may thrive in an apartment or busy city, others truly NEED to experience nature.
@thedogdoor
#professionaldogtraining #dogproblems #onlinedogtraining #petservice #dogintraining #dogbehaviorist #trainingdogs #offleash #dogtrainersofinstagram #dogbehavior #dogtrainerlife #carolinacanines #dogsofgreenville #southerndogs #dogtrainer #enrichment #workingdogs
Fall enrichment Friday: Trick or Treat!
Does your dog love to shred things?
This will keep them entertained for a while!
Supplies:
Cardboard paper rolls
Tissue paper
Treats
Candy bowl or bucket
🍬 🍬🍬🍬
Wrap treats in cardboard or tissue paper and place into the bucket for your pup! Let them shred the paper to find their treats!
Watch your dog closely to make sure they are not eating paper. Have fun and Happy Fall!
#enrichment #itsfallyall #pumpkinspice #trickortreat
#professionaldogtraining #dogproblems #onlinedogtraining #petservice #dogintraining #dogbehaviorist #trainingdogs #offleash #dogtrainersofinstagram #dogbehavior #dogtrainerlife #carolinacanines #dogsofgreenville #southerndogs #dogtrainer
Will I always have to give so many treats?
This question comes up a lot.
The answer?
There are so many ways to reinforce your dog for good behavior! A variable schedule of reinforcement is the most effective schedule! That means that eventually you don’t need to feel like you are using food all of the time.
When your dog is first learning something you probably will start out with a higher rate of reinforcement and A LOT of treats. Once that behavior is established and your dog has it down, you can use a variety of different rewards and even verbal praise.
The key to all of this working is a great relationship foundation. A few ways that we like to reinforce dogs without treats:
Go sniff
Play with a toy
Verbal praise/petting
Play a game
Run/chase something
It’s always a good idea to carry a few treats with you in case your dog does something really great too! Being variable means that maybe there is a chance they will also get a treat at some point in the session. However, your dog can become so reliable that you don’t have to use them very frequently!
#professionaldogtraining #dogproblems #onlinedogtraining #petservice #dogintraining #dogbehaviorist #trainingdogs #offleash #dogtrainersofinstagram #dogbehavior #dogtrainerlife #carolinacanines #dogsofgreenville #southerndogs #dogtrainer
Yesterday we talked about the LEGS model that we use as FDMs! If you want more info on this, we suggest reading Kim Brophey’s book- Meet your dog!
This week, we are sharing a little more about the L- learning which includes all of your dogs learned associations (both past and present)!
The world can be a highly stressful place for modern dogs! From loud noises to unexpected surprises, your dog may have learned that certain places are kind of scary.
Maybe your dog has a previous history of being trained with harsh methods, abuse, neglect, or even a traumatic experience with a dog or other animal.
All of these factors may affect how your dog sees the world moving forward.
We have many resources and helpful techniques depending on what your dog’s specific triggers are.
If you are feeling stressed and overwhelmed by your dog’s behavior and you don’t know how to create new positive learned associations with things, visit horizondogs.com and let us know!
@thedogdoor
#meetyourdog #positivereinforcement #positivedogtraining
#dogsocialization #bigdogproblems
#puppyintraining #trainingdogs #dogtrainingrevolution #dogservices #dogtrainingpaysoff #dogschool #dogadventure #dogtrainerlife #gooddogs #dogsofgreenville #southerndogs #dogsofsc #dogtrainer
Fall Enrichment Friday: Pupkin Spice Latte!
Make your pup a special treat this fall!
Ingredients:
Pumpkin spice goat milk
Greek yogurt
Any fun toppings that you would like to sprinkle on top
Happy fall!
#fallyall #psl #pumpkinspice #enrichment #positivereinforcement #dogsofinstagram #happyfall #dogtraininglife #weloveyourdogs
#puppyobedience #dogtrick #obediencedog #dogsocialization #trainingdog #petservices #dogtrainingisfun #dogtrainingtips #southerndogs #dogsofsc #southcarolinadogs #dogtraining
We often don’t notice when our dogs choose to do the right thing!
Why?
Because it looks boring, they aren’t bothering anyone, and we can focus on whatever we are doing.
When they do the wrong thing- like jumping up to grab food out of someone’s hand, then we can’t ignore them!
If you want your dog to make the right choice, you have to notice when they do! Stop what you are doing and reinforce it!
We don’t normally eat snacks on the couch or in the living room. I have worked with Pippa (as the adult) to learn to be calm while we eat meals/snacks. In the kitchen she goes to place or is asked to go to another room to lay down. In the living room, this is new. It is especially great that she did this while my child was eating something! I often announce and point out when she makes the correct choice and I say that I will give her a treat. Now my daughter notices too! I can’t tell you how often she says to me, “look how good the dogs are being, mama! Let’s give them treats!”
Note- my other dog, Gulliver is in the room being good too! He is much older and is just very laid back all around. I did get up to help reinforce him as well. These two dogs do not have any issues with resource guarding or fighting with each other for food and if they did, I would not have my child give treats to either of them this way. Instead, I would separate them or handle it as the adult.
-Ashley Orcutt IAABC-ADT FDM
#dogsocialization #bigdogproblems
#puppyintraining #trainingdogs #dogtrainingrevolution #dogservices #dogtrainingpaysoff #dogschool #dogadventure #dogtrainerlife #gooddogs #dogsofgreenville #southerndogs #dogsofsc #dogtrainer
#familydog #dogsandkids #dogsandbabies #positivereinforcement #dogtraining
There are so many reasons for dog guardians to learn to read their dog’s body language!
It is difficult sometimes and it takes practice.
Remember to look at the ears, eyes, tail, and muzzle.
Learning to interpret your dog’s body language can better help you:
Prevent the escalation of unwanted behaviors
Respond to your dog’s needs for safety and comfort
Pair new situations with positive things while keeping your dog below threshold
End a situation that is stressing your dog out
Improve your relationship with your dog!
Visit horizondogs.com to get started!
#professionaldogtraining #dogproblems #onlinedogtraining #petservice #dogintraining #dogbehaviorist #trainingdogs #offleash #dogtrainersofinstagram #dogbehavior #dogtrainerlife #carolinacanines #dogsofgreenville #southerndogs #dogtrainer
Fall Enrichment Friday!
🎃Have you ever given your dog a Jack o Lantern filled with treats, pumpkin and pumpkin seeds?
Pumpkin is safe for dogs and helps to aid in digestion!
Pumpkin seeds are high in fat so we only put a few of them back into the pumpkin before giving it to our dogs.
Follow along for more fun enrichment ideas!
#enrichment #itsfallyall #spookyseason #fallfun
#professionaldogtraining #dogproblems #onlinedogtraining #petservice #dogintraining #dogbehaviorist #trainingdogs #offleash #dogtrainersofinstagram #dogbehavior #dogtrainerlife #carolinacanines #dogsofgreenville #southerndogs #dogtrainer
Distractions!
Does your dog have a hard time focusing around:
🐕Other dogs
🎵Loud noises
👨👩👧👦Crowded places
👋People approaching
It can take a lot of time and patience to teach your dog to focus around distractions. If you have goals to train your dog for therapy or service work, you will want to get started by:
🧬Selecting your puppy carefully from a reputable breeder
🐶Socializing your puppy early
❤️Building a solid relationship foundation
🦮Practicing! Take your dog to public places and train the skills that they will need!
Reach out to us at horizondogs.com for more info about our service dog and therapy dog programs!
#dogsocialization #bigdogproblems #servicedog #therapydog #workingdog
#puppyintraining #trainingdogs #dogtrainingrevolution #dogservices #dogtrainingpaysoff #dogschool #dogadventure #dogtrainerlife #gooddogs #dogsofgreenville #southerndogs #dogsofsc #dogtrainer
What does your dog really love to do the most? Use THAT to reinforce the behavior that you want!
Some dogs will eat any type of food that you offer during training.
Others have preferences. Have you tried real meat? Peanut butter? Cheese?
If your dog does not seem into food as a reward in general, then try something else!
Do they love to chase things? Bring a ball or a stick to throw during training!
Do they love to sniff? Give them a sniff break as a reward for paying attention to you!
Do they love to chew on things? Bring a bully stick!
Do they love attention and belly rubs? Then give them that!
You CAN build a better relationship with your dog and motivate them to want to work with you!
Let us know if you need help!
Visit horizondogs.com
#dogsocialization #bigdogproblems
#puppyintraining #trainingdogs #dogtrainingrevolution #dogservices #dogtrainingpaysoff #dogschool #dogadventure #dogtrainerlife #gooddogs #dogsofgreenville #southerndogs #dogsofsc #dogtrainer
#positivereinforcement #retrieversofinstagram #doodlesofinstagram
It is not fun to feel startled and scared by something! It is much easier to deal with when you have someone you trust there to help you feel safe.
Take your time and be patient with your dog. Don’t force them through stressful situations. It will help build your relationship with them!
#professionaldogtraining #dogproblems #onlinedogtraining #petservice #dogintraining #dogbehaviorist #trainingdogs #offleash #dogtrainersofinstagram #dogbehavior #dogtrainerlife #carolinacanines #dogsofgreenville #southerndogs #dogtrainer #spookyseason #Halloween
If your dog is sensitive to environmental changes, the Halloween decor in your neighborhood could present some real challenges!
Set your dog up for success!
It may be helpful to walk a different route, take your dog to a nearby trail, or provide different types of enrichment and activities that don’t involve walking the neighborhood.
You can also start counterconditioning and desensitizing your dog to the spooky new things at a safe distance!
Stay tuned for more Halloween prep tips for you and your dog!
#dogsocialization #bigdogproblems
#puppyintraining #trainingdogs #dogtrainingrevolution #dogservices #dogtrainingpaysoff #dogschool #dogadventure #dogtrainerlife #gooddogs #dogsofgreenville #southerndogs #dogsofsc #dogtrainer
Do you want your dog to learn to be calm in public places?
Learning will not occur if your dog is over threshold (fight/flight mode)!
Learn how to set your dog up for success!
Reach out to us by visiting horizondogs.com
#professionaldogtraining #dogproblems #onlinedogtraining #petservice #dogintraining #dogbehaviorist #trainingdogs #offleash #dogtrainersofinstagram #dogbehavior #dogtrainerlife #carolinacanines #dogsofgreenville #southerndogs #dogtrainer
You do not need to force your dog to do things! Instead, you can teach them to participate!
If it feels like a wrestling match every time you try to trim your dog’s nails, brush their teeth, or get them into their harness- you may want to try teaching them to do these things cooperatively.
There are so many different ways that you can make these experiences positive. Let us know if you need help! Horizondogs.com
#cooperativecare #dogtraininglife #weloveyourdogs
#puppyobedience #dogtrick #obediencedog #dogsocialization #trainingdog #petservices #dogtrainingisfun #dogtrainingtips #southerndogs #dogsofsc #southcarolinadogs #dogtraining #positivereinforcement
❤️Love
❤️Cuteness
❤️Dog hair
❤️Puppy kisses
What more do you need in life?
Show your dog some love this weekend!
Happy Friday!!
❤️@horizon.dogs
@gooddogsofgreenville
#professionaldogtraining #dogproblems #onlinedogtraining #petservice #dogintraining #dogbehaviorist #trainingdogs #offleash #dogtrainersofinstagram #dogbehavior #dogtrainerlife #carolinacanines #dogsofgreenville #southerndogs #dogtrainer #dogsofinstagram #goldensofinstagram
Babies become mobile so quickly!
Do not allow your crawling baby to approach your dog.
Do not let them pull your dogs hair, grab your dog’s face, or climb on your dog!
While some dogs are more tolerant than others, no dog will be comfortable with this type of interaction.
Even if they only show subtle stress signs, if you allow your child to do these things you are taking a major risk!
You can have safe interactions from safe distances with dogs and kids in the same room. It just takes patience, consistency, and dog awareness!
Follow along for more dog and baby safety tips!
#petservice #smalldogproblems #dogintraining
#onlinedogtraining #dogproblems #domorewithyourdog #traineddog #dogobedience #positivedogtraining #dogtrainingadvice
#dogbehavior #dogsofsc #southcarolinadogs #yeahthatgreenville #dogadventures #babyproof #familydog #rescuedogsofinstagram
Life with dogs and babies is A LOT of work! There are so many ways to make it easier AND more safe. When life gets busy, separations and management can help. It is very important to continue to include your dog in your family’s daily activities too! Follow along if you need help managing life with dogs and babies!
#professionaldogtraining #dogproblems #onlinedogtraining #petservice #dogintraining #dogbehaviorist #trainingdogs #offleash #dogtrainersofinstagram #dogbehavior #dogtrainerlife #carolinacanines #dogsofgreenville #southerndogs #dogtrainer #familydog #dogsandbabies #babyproof
Unfortunately not long after this video was taken, Pippa was attacked by a loose dog in our neighborhood. It took a lot of time and patience to help her feel comfortable again. Walking her in places where she was safe was essential. I was so grateful that I had started with a good foundation of attention and reinforcement during our walks! Has your dog ever experienced a traumatic event? How did they recover? Let us know in the comments!
-Ashley (Horizon Dog Trainer) FDM IAABC-ADT
#professionaldogtraining #dogproblems #onlinedogtraining #petservice #dogintraining #dogbehaviorist #trainingdogs #offleash #dogtrainersofinstagram #dogbehavior #dogtrainerlife #carolinacanines #dogsofgreenville #southerndogs #dogtrainer #reactivedog
3 things to put into a Kong besides peanut butter:
1. Jerky style treats (try to get them extra stuck to make it more challenging!) 🥓
2. Cooked sweet potatoes 🍠
3. Cheese cubes 🧀
Is your dog bored with their Kong? Keep it interesting and make it more challenging! Opie, Gulliver, and Pippa love their Kongs and it is easy enrichment on a busy day. If your dog eats peanut butter out of a Kong in 2.5 seconds or if they just don’t like peanut butter- then try something else!
#professionaldogtraining #dogproblems #onlinedogtraining #petservice #dogintraining #dogbehaviorist #trainingdogs #offleash #dogtrainersofinstagram #dogbehavior #dogtrainerlife #carolinacanines #dogsofgreenville #southerndogs #dogtrainer #enrichment
We love to make licki mats together for our dogs!
We used:
🥜Peanut butter
🍨Plain yogurt
🍌Banana
This is a fun and safe way to help your child build a positive relationship with your dog!
Remember- when your dog is eating or has something valuable, don’t grab it, take it, or bother them while they are enjoying it and definitely remind your child of this.
If your dog has any proximity or resource guarding issues, you can have the child watch from a distance or from the other side of a gate/playpen. It will still be fun for them!
Okay, this child is doing more than just kissing/hugging the dog- but when we let our child do these things, like putting their face near the dog’s or hugging, we can’t always predict what else our child might do. If you are a parent and you have ever had your toddler randomly headbutt you while playing or your child run to hug you and knock the wind out of you, then you know that they are not consistently gentle with their affection. You cannot blame the dog for being uncomfortable with these things! You also cannot desensitize and train your dog to accept all of these things (which might really hurt!). Even mimicking child behavior, hugging, and grabbing the dog to prepare them does not work because we simply cannot predict what a child might do to the dog when in close proximity. We also cannot predict the dog’s mood. The dog may tolerate this behavior at one time but not when they are tired or in a more vulnerable position. Another consideration is that if you allow this behavior with your own family dog, and then your child visits a friend’s house and interacts this way with THEIR dog, how will THAT dog react? Parents often have a hard time coming to terms with the fact that their children CANNOT do whatever they want to dogs. The dog in this video gives so many signs of discomfort and stress. Many people interpret licks as kisses back to the child when they are not at all! We will hear that the child and dog got along so well and then suddenly, there was a bite (and it is usually to the face of the child).
We can do better!
We can supervise interactions.
We can teach dog aware skills.
Our children can have safe interactions with dogs.
AND we can teach our dogs to be comfortable with separations, as well as other helpful skills.
Contact [email protected] if you have more questions about child/dog interactions!
Talk with your child about dog safety!
(Note: these are activities for a child who can communicate and understand, not for non verbal babies and toddlers)
Tell them what they can do:
👋pet with only one hand
🍬give the dog a treat
📕read a book to the dog
🎾play fetch
Tell them what they cannot do:
❌hug the dog
❌chase the dog
❌pull the dog’s tail/ears/fur
❌put their face on the dog
This isn’t everything that we talk about, but it is a good start!
Remember to ALWAYS supervise child/dog interactions!
Do you have a new puppy and an older dog?
Or do you have a small dog and big dog in the house?
You can help your little one feel safe by watching how they play and interact together!
Times to interrupt play and call the dogs over for a break:
❌if one dog keeps getting pinned down
❌if one dog cannot get away and is trying to
❌if one dog is not playing at all and the other keeps going for more
Times to let them keep having fun:
✅seeing loose, relaxed body movement
✅frequent breaks from both dogs to sniff or relax for a moment
✅the bigger dog is laying down during play to get in the other dog’s level
✅continuous engagement from both dogs
