In Relation With Dogs - Behavior & Training Solutions

19/01/2025

17/01/2025

Giving dogs proper and changing enrichment opportunities is very important for their wellbeing. I am constantly seeking new and different ways to add seeking behavior opportunities, problem solving puzzles and allowing them agency. Tiday I received my first Brain Games subscription box. Katie is enjoying the puzzle feeders. Alonzo will get to try them at the next feeding. We also received some sent work supplies. As Alonzo is learning a different aspect of sent in search work, I am going to start teaching. Katie knows work with these new items. What fun!

16/01/2025

Puppies need a lot of sleep, uninterrupted. A tired puppy can be cranky and mouthy/bite. In a loud and active home designate a calm quiet place away from activity for or puppy rest so your he/she gets peaceful rest time.

11/01/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18cFHbTccC/?mibextid=wwXIfr

09/01/2025

Worth watching … https://www.canva.com/design/DAGYmUqDEWk/qXlpyjqyRLsqwsF_8sktFA/edit

04/01/2025

I just landed in the Solomon Islands, and as I stepped outside the airport building I was met with this solicitous street dog. As we traveled from the airport to the National Geographic ship, the Orion, my home for the next two weeks, I saw three others that looked similar.

I love watching the street dogs as I travel to different countries.

Did you know that only about 20% of the world’s dogs actually live in homes as pet dogs? Approximately 80% are street dogs, semi feral, or completely feral animals.

03/01/2025

I have been away from my office for a bit, and will not return until January 20th. I have been taking some “me” time and traveling again. I spent the last week in Brisbane, Australia seeking out nearby adventures. One was climbing the Story Bridge. This got me thinking about how rich and fulfilling my life is. How much enrichment I allow myself. Further I started to contemplate my pups, my rambunctious Bracco Italians and my always ready to go, “What are we going to do now” Welsh Springer Spaniel. I pay much attention to their needs and make sure that they not only have daily activities and enriching opportunities but also changing and diverse ones. Because, let’s face it, doing the same old same old, gets old very fast … no longer enriching, just routine.

In the New Year I challenge you to give thought to your dog’s needs, not only food and shelter, but activity both physical and mental. Are you providing a safe and positive environment and space to engage in activity and exploration? What can you do to add more to your dog’s world in a happy and secure way?

Enrichment is a broad spectrum and covers more than just going out for a daily walk or offering the same food toy. I encourage you to open yourself to learning more, and offering your much loved companion more. I will be posting more bout enrichment as the year progresses.

To all, be best in this New Year!

24/12/2024

Happy Holidays to all. ❤️

Timmy and Lassie help a homeless family discover the true meaning of Christmas giving.Lassie and the Lassie Trademark are owned by Classic Media, which is ow...

20/12/2024

This handsome young pup is learning Lost Item Recovery scent/search work. He is phenomenally good at it! Today we were working with several different items handled by friends that had been aged for over a month. He never missed a beat and found each one successfully. Brilliant!

20/12/2024

Cognitive Ethology is an emerging field that bridges the gap between traditional behaviorism and the understanding of animals' mental processes. While behaviorism focuses on observable actions, Cognitive Ethology delves deeper, exploring the thoughts, emotions, and intentions that drive those behaviors. This approach recognizes that animals, including our dogs, have complex inner lives that influence how they interact with the world around them.

For example, when your dog hesitates before making a decision or shows signs of problem-solving, these are more than just learned behaviors—they can be glimpses into their cognitive processes. Cognitive Ethology helps us appreciate that our dogs aren't just reacting to stimuli but are often thinking, feeling, and even planning. By understanding this, we can create richer, more meaningful relationships with our pets and tailor our training methods to be more in tune with their mental states.

08/12/2024

An interesting observation ....

Marco Adda questions whether removing free-ranging dogs from human environs is truly better for the dogs and stresses the importance of their individual personalities.

02/12/2024

Proper enrichment is essential to your dog's overall well-being. Giving them the opportunity to sniff and explore outdoors offers excellent enrichment for most dogs. Alonzo loves hiking ... and so do I.

25/11/2024

Valleys Dog Behaviour And Training

The problem with gatekeeping breeds Anyone who has spent more than a minute online in dog world will have seen the rhetoric of how it takes someone very special to own a power breed such as a Belgian Malinois or a Cane Corso or an APBT or the like. Social media platforms are filled with posts either showing these breeds doing incredible things, or posts about how you should never get a breed like this unless you are going to work them and unless you are able to fulfil their needs. These posts are spot on and I couldn’t agree more. But they are creating a problem. Everyone thinks they are special. It’s a bitter pill to swallow. As humans we have an ego and our ego often leads us to believe we are more capable than we are. The problem with gatekeeping breeds is that it makes them more desirable. People want to say ‘yes I can handle my Belgian Malinois because I am special’. We desperately need approval and admiration from others, especially in a world that is chronically online. We saw it happen real time with the XL Bully. People saw this incredibly powerful breed and said ‘I’m special enough to handle one of them’ and then promptly bred them in the hundreds of thousands leading to many ill equipped homes owning a dog they absolutely could not handle. The truth is, that to own a truly intense, working bred dog, you actually need to have an incredibly small life. You need your entire being to be obsessive about training, handling and working with the dog. It’s a full time career in itself to truly meet the needs of these dogs. You need to be absolutely addicted to it. That level of obsession however isn’t ‘cool’ or ‘sexy’. It doesn’t make for great online content either. That level of obsession however is what makes the dog easy to live with. Even as I’m writing this, I know someone out there will read it and go ‘yes I can do that’. If you’re that person, please really look inward and be truly honest with yourself. Confront your ego. I work at a rescue centre and years ago all we had was bull breeds, terriers and lurchers. Now all we have is fad colour Frenchies, Cane Corsos, Shepherds and Malinois/Dutch Shepherds. It speaks volumes. I don’t know what the solution is. The more we say ‘not everyone can handle this breed!’ The more that is perceived as a challenge to the ego, and the more the ego grabs at a chance to prove itself. We are heading down a very dark road of breed bans and dog legislation and those of us in the industry can see the patterns unfolding. We don’t know how to stop it, or even if stopping it is the right answer. The issue is that our human egos and our desperation to be seen as ‘worthy’ is ruining our dogs and creating real danger for the general public. Look inward. Really question why you want a certain breed. Take pause from the online rhetoric on both sides. Choose a dog that you and those around you need, not just one that you want. - Kahla Alison Bowkett

23/11/2024

Position Statement for Puppy Socialization of AVSAB
(Socialization occurs as vaccinations are given and before they are complete). No more waiting until the final vaccinations at 16 weeks etc to get your pup out there.) Here's the full post. https://avsab.org/.../Puppy_Socialization_Position...

18/11/2024

I hope you will all take the time to watch this, share it with your friends and family, and consider the truth within. This has become a very large part of my work in helping people resolve their dogs' behavior concerns.

Kim is an Applied Etholist, and she is a friend of mine. The message, the truth she lays out in this clip, as well as her TedTalk offers a very real and needed piece of the puzzle to being a dog guardian (owner, if you prefer that term), understanding the dog you lie with, and resolving behavior concerns.

FULL PRO COURSE!https://kimbropheylegscourses.thinkific.com/courses/legs-applied-ethology-family-dog-mediation-professional-courseYOUR DOG is not broken, and...

16/11/2024

Mark Your Calendar for The Dog’s Truth Premiere!

On November 17th at 7 PM Eastern, Kim Brophey & Family Dog Mediation: LEGS in Motion unveils The Dog’s Truth—a groundbreaking one-hour documentary that will change how we see and understand our beloved dogs.

Through the lens of applied ethology, Kim’s L.E.G.S.® model flips the script on outdated narratives about “behavior problems,” revealing the natural consequences of the very unnatural world our dogs live in.