Happy K9 Training

24/08/2024

We have two new services starting in September!
*
Watch for our announcement next week!
✨️
Go play with your dog!
08.23.24

20/08/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/sLVokVerdusoMpzT/?mibextid=oFDknk

DON’T TOUCH MY STUFF!
Resource guarding – also called possessive aggression

We all guard our resources, it’s a natural reaction to a threat of something we value being taken away.

It’s essential for survival and dogs or other animals would not survive in the wild if they didn’t guard their resources.

We also don’t get to decide what’s valuable and what’s not – different things have different value to different dogs and at different times.

Food is usually the most common, but toys, furniture, different items, places, or even a certain person are all things that may be seen as a valuable resource.

A dog turning their head away, freezing, a hard stare, whale eye, moving away, growling or snapping may quickly escalate into a serious bite in an attempt to protect that valuable possession.

Punishing or forcing a dog to give something up is probably one of the worst things to do.

Resource guarding is rooted in the emotion of fear – the fear of that resource being taken away.

Punishment and force further increase that fear, which only increases and reinforces the need to protect that resource.

When a dog is guarding food or an object, we can change the negative emotion of that fear into a positive one by swopping or trading something that has a similar or higher value than what the dog has.

This is one of the most effective ways to address resource guarding of objects as it works at the root cause of the behaviour by changing the emotional response.

A dog resource guarding a person is more complicated to address. A full history of the individual dog, family dynamics, attachment styles, situation and environment all have to be assessed before planning and working on a solution.

Resource guarding can usually be prevented, managed and addressed and by starting early, understanding why dogs feel the need to resort to this behaviour and doing what we can to prevent it from happening in the first place.

19/08/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/xCkbq3rUiknBh8m9/?mibextid=oFDknk

Xylitol poisoning is an emergency that will not wait and requires immediate veterinary care to resolve xylitol toxicity.

14/08/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/8amXs3hjMryZZoFi/?mibextid=oFDknk

Dogs can have intense emotions attached to objects, actions and habits 😱😀😠. Just as we can.
Sometimes these cues work against us by increasing excitement when we really don't want those emotional extremes.
Do you have a particular cue that you may not realise you are doing?

The advantage of having a trainer come into your home or to watch your videos is that we have a fresh perspective on what is occurring and often cues are involved.
An easy way to see if you do have any cues is to have someone video you and watch it again for signs of a change of behaviour in your dog.
They can be both verbal or physical and cause an immediate change in behaviour.
Hyperarousal and overexcitement in dogs can lead to so many difficulties in all other areas and often cues are involved.
You may have seen this yourself when getting a lead out, or going to a cupboard to get food or even something as simple as walking to the front door can cause an immediate change in behaviour of your dog and create a high level of excitement.

So have a look at the cues you give your dog and see how you can change them.
Change the habit....change the cues.
This helps change the behaviour.

Unmarked graphics are available for $ 1.20 USD or $ 2 NZD each (approx), these are then able to be used off Facebook for client handouts, posters etc. Please visit ABC Dogs Patreon Shop for our collections of graphics.
Everyone is free to share these posts on social media, however off social media use is protected.
Screen shots are a violation of copyright.
Please respect that these graphics take time and effort to make . All graphics belong to ABC Dogs NZ and are under copyright.

13/08/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/YRvmLM83xo8CxQMY/?mibextid=oFDknk

Dogs that pull on a lead can be hard on everyone. Walking a dog with a loose leash is a process but these are some easy ways to help. These loose lead tips c...

12/08/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/vNktsf84qx5i9vJ7/?mibextid=oFDknk

Want to know a secret🤫
This isn't just for puppies either.✅
Puppies need careful and controlled exposure to EVERYTHING we encounter in our daily life.
I know it can be so tempting to reduce their world for fear of exposure to pathogens but I really do encourage everyone to get out there, but carefully.
There are lots of ways we can encourage safe and early socialisation and acclimation (another graphic in comments about this).
As tempting as it is to seclude and limit their life to just your house or yard, it can create some serious behavioural issues.
If you do have a new puppy, this graphic is a great way to help them make a positive association with the world and all it offers.
You can do this, but carefully 🙂

Please respect that these graphics take time and effort to make. Everyone is free to share on social media🙂, however off social media use of these marked graphics is prohibited.
Unmarked graphics are available for $ 1.20 USD or $ 2 NZD each (approx), these are then able to be used off Facebook for client handouts, posters or for personal use.
Screen shots are a violation of the copyright.
Please visit ABC Dogs Patreon Shop for unmarked graphics. All graphics belong to ABC Dogs NZ and are under copyright.

08/08/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/wh4a7e3sANcKAT2c/?mibextid=oFDknk

THE BLAME GAME
Is a dog’s “bad” behaviour a reflection of, or the fault of their guardian?

In some cases, yes – abuse, neglect, unmet needs etc., but this isn’t what this post is about.

This is about having a dog that behaves “badly” no matter how knowledgeable and experienced a dog guardian may be or no matter how much socialization or training that dog has had.

Some dogs are just different and more difficult than others and it’s not your fault.

Puppies are certainly not a blank slate. We cannot always mold a dog into what we want them to be. We can try our best to do everything right, but genetics, individuality, early life experiences, learning experiences, trauma - all play a role in how a dog behaves.

Behaviour is driven by emotion and emotions are not something that we have control over. Just like we cannot control how another person feels or reacts to something.

One of my dogs is difficult. She is highly sensitive, reactive, unsociable, introverted and suspicious of other people and other dogs.

I know first hand how it feels to be judged, blamed, feel embarrassed, isolated, frustrated, angry and resentful.

Surely it must be my fault – I must be doing something wrong, especially as a behaviour consultant, if I can’t even control the behaviour of my own dog? What will people think?

It took me a long time to accept her for who she is, to ignore the judgement, the blame and all the negative feelings that go with it.

It has taken a long time of consistent work, managing the environment, understanding and supporting her to see glimmers of positive change in her behaviour and accepting that she will never be perfect.

My own experiences with my “difficult” dog have gifted me empathy, understanding, compassion and relatability for those who have similar difficulties.

Our dog’s behaviour is not a reflection on us.

Keep working on what you can change and accept what you can’t.

06/08/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/bLaYenNBDJz5qhKa/?mibextid=oFDknk

WHAT THE F?

Recognising stress responses in dogs.

Fight or flight are well known reactions to fear or stress, but these other “F” words are also important to understand and be aware of as they may not always be so obvious.

Freeze, Fawn, Fidget or Fool around are also responses to stress or fear and are also commonly seen in people.

Some dogs may have a genetic predisposition to one type of response while some react based on previous experience - what has worked for them before or what hasn’t. Some dogs have different reactions depending on the specific context.

Recognising and taking note of situations or circumstances where these responses are seen is important in understanding how our dogs are feeling.

When we recognise a fear or a stress response, we are able to intervene and advocate for our dogs.

05/08/2024

https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/behavior/are-dogs-ticklish/?utm_content=bufferd4336&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2I1B2fZcjvwM9bucaHPCgghnOqc2V9OQoQv8Hlj3p8e9vrnXjJ8HE89g4_aem_Y20ePrp2sEQOLYGxw7KjjA

Some dogs are ticklish and some of these dogs enjoy it. Others loathe it. When you're petting your dog keep an eye out for stress signals.

30/07/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/Mo4AYsWK3qp1HJrh/?mibextid=oFDknk

Hyper, over aroused and over excited dogs.
They just need to burn off some more energy 🚫
Physically exhausting a dog does NOT help over arousal.
It can fuel it.❗
With the very best of intentions, people continue to add more of the very thing they should be limiting .
For many dogs all this does is add to the issue and can create a highly energetic dog with incredible stamina.
You are not alone with this, it is a common issue.
People will throw that ball again and again for a hyper/over excited dog, all in an effort to tire them out.
They will walk them further and run them faster.
It doesn't help💥.
All it does is build extreme stamina so they NEED more and more to physically exhaust them.

They need to rest and sleep.
They need limits with the opportunities to repeat behaviours .
They need to reengage their nose to calm and relax them.

If they don't...the loop goes on and on.

Unmarked graphics are available for $ 1.20 USD or $ 2 NZD each (approx), these are then able to be used off Facebook for client handouts, posters etc. Please visit ABC Dogs Patreon Shop for our collections of graphics.
Everyone is free to share these posts on social media, however off social media use is protected.
Screen shots are a violation of copyright.
Please respect that these graphics take time and effort to make . All graphics belong to ABC Dogs NZ and are under copyright.

29/07/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/Cxw6JxCYE5FroQmg/?mibextid=oFDknk

Can dogs lick from affection ? Absolutely ✅
Can they lick from feeling anxious ? Yes ✅
Not all licking is appeasement licking. Appeasement licking is usually paired with other stress signals or calming signals and I know that may be tricky for some to notice.
This is one of those behaviours that dogs show us that can be very misread.
Affection ❓Greeting ❓Stress ❓

Licking is completely normal for dogs. It can be a healthy and socially acceptable behaviour between other dogs. It is relaxing, soothing and can be displayed for so many reasons.
However appeasement licking can also be shown to other dogs too, even ones they know and live with.

If you are in any doubt over why your dog licks either you or another dog, video the interaction.
Watch that video and look for tell tale signs of stress (some are mentioned in the graphic).

One of the worst feelings in the world is when I have to inform someone that those certain types of "kisses" do not come from a place of affection but can be from a place of fear, mistrust and stress.

Please respect that these graphics take time and effort to make. Everyone is free to share on social media🙂, however off social media use of these marked graphics is prohibited.
Unmarked graphics are available for $ 1.20 USD or $ 2 NZD each (approx), these are then able to be used off Facebook for client handouts, posters or for personal use.
Screen shots are a violation of the copyright.
Please visit ABC Dogs Patreon Shop for unmarked graphics. All graphics belong to ABC Dogs NZ and are under copyright.

23/07/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/GWLxSUrPSsQzeLL8/?mibextid=oFDknk

I NEED TO FEEL SAFE!

Like all living creatures, including us, dogs just want to feel safe – it’s a basic survival need.

When we think about feeling safe it’s natural to just think about not being harmed or being in danger, but it’s not just about physical safety - feeling emotionally or psychologically safe is just as important.

While physical safety may be obvious and simpler to address, emotional safety is far more complex and not always easy to recognise or identify.

The same applies to our dogs – they are sentient beings whose behaviour is triggered and driven by emotions.

So many behaviour problems that we see in dogs stem from the brain saying– “this is not safe!”

A dog that lunges and barks or behaves aggressively with another dog or person is probably doing so because they feel unsafe. They are trying to make the scary thing go away.

A dog that is guarding resources is doing so because they are afraid that the resource will be taken away – they don’t feel safe when another animal or person approaches that resource.

A dog that is reacting to fireworks or thunderstorms or other noises is doing so because they don’t feel safe. The same can be said for separation distress – the feelings of panic when left alone – “I am not safe!”.

Some dogs may never get over a specific fear, but doing all we can to help dogs feel safe in our world is one of the most important gifts we can give them.

Our first responsibility should not be about training, obedience or trying to change behaviour, but to focus first and foremost on building trust, self-confidence, resilience, creating a safe and secure base and being the person that our dogs can rely on and trust.

In the words of Dr. Gabor Maté - "Feeling safe is the treatment and creating safety is the work".

In my words (as it pertains to dogs) – It is our responsibility to put in the work to enable our dogs to feel safe and when they feel safe, this will be part of the treatment or the solution to the problem.

22/07/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/BAQtsTroLNoyf2qz/?mibextid=oFDknk

TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND REACTIVITY

Before trying to work on improving reactivity, consider what colour your dog’s emotional state is in.

The belief or expectation that by continually exposing reactive dogs to triggers will make them get over it, is setting dogs up to fail.

Generally, a dog that is reacting to something does not feel safe – they are in survival mode – a mode where learning and appropriate responses simply cannot take place.

Neurotransmitters like adrenaline and cortisol flood the brain causing automatic responses intended for survival. This red zone is certainly not the time or the place to try to change behaviour.

We need to start working with a brain that is calm, relaxed, focused and feels safe – the green zone, where learning can take place.

A calm nervous system is essential to learn a new way to respond.

To recognise which colour an emotional state is, we need to become more adept at recognising and interpreting our dog’s body language.

Being aware of body language enables us to intervene before our dogs’ emotions – the “traffic light” changes colour.

Always start in the green zone, this is where we can really help our dogs to learn strategies to cope with triggers.

Keep working in the green - reinforcing, proofing and building confidence.

Once behaviours are established in the green, we can try moving into the amber zone by allowing our dogs to notice and be aware of distractions, but at a sufficient distance where they still feel safe and are able to focus. This is where we can make distractions or triggers feel far less threatening.

Stay out of the red as much as you can. Avoiding this is not always possible – life happens / the unexpected happens and we have no control over this.

In this case get as much distance as possible between your dog and the trigger.

We can’t teach our dogs to feel safe, but we can help them feel safe by managing the environment, taking small achievable steps, being aware of body language and intervening when their emotional traffic light is about to change colour.

20/07/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/bKCgSkTCSxZEmYAv/?mibextid=oFDknk

Window reactivity. Highly problematic and stressful for everyone❗This "game" is responsible for high levels of anxiety and stress to many dogs.
Barking is NOT the only sign your dog is being stressed by this repeated action, it is just that barking is far more noticeable to some people, the anxiety/stress started a long time before.
Many dogs will wait and wait and wait......finally they are "rewarded" for that fixation with a fleeting glimpse of whatever they react to.
People
Cars
Dogs
Birds
Neighbours
Cycles
Wind moving a tree....there are many individual triggers.

They may race around the house in a pattern to another window to view and react again, then when out of view, back to the original spot to wait...and wait some more.
This IS a highly damaging "game" for dogs.
Many people with anxious dogs may not actually realise their dogs do this when they are out of the house as it may not happen when you or the family are home.
You may have a highly anxious dog but are completely unsure why. Set up a camera and watch while you are gone for a few hours.
There are many ways to help this.
Baby gates.
These limit movement and are one solution (but easily jumped by larger dogs).
The "easiest" solution is window film, not a popular solution for some people. Blinds and curtains are often ineffective as dogs will position themselves to watch through/under or around them. Watch the height of chairs your dog may use to peer over the film....think about ways to prevent that, you may need to move furniture around.
Aesthetically it may not be appealing for some, or the film has to be incredibly high if the triggers are birds. Some people are reluctant to use film as a solution especially if they have a fantastic view, but make no mistake.....this very rarely gets better by itself.

It can also get a WHOLE lot worse.

Reactivity can morphs outwards and what once was a reaction to dogs passing has now involved birds also....or cars....or cars and now cyclists and people.

The film may work well for some but there is a big caution sign at the bottom of the graphic. For a small amount of dogs blocking view can be incredibly stressful and a SMALL amount of dogs can find themselves in an even MORE stressful environment.
Try the film, it can be a miracle solution but PLEASE get a trainer in if this causes other issues.
Highly stressed dogs need help quickly.
Enjoy the difference and peace...because your dog absolutely will.

Unmarked graphics are available for $ 1.20 USD or $ 2 NZD each (approx), these are then able to be used off Facebook for client handouts, posters etc. Please visit ABC Dogs Patreon Shop for our collections of graphics.
Everyone is free to share these posts on social media, however off social media use is protected.
Screen shots are a violation of copyright.
Please respect that these graphics take time and effort to make . All graphics belong to ABC Dogs NZ and are under copyright.

19/07/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/qWdGsuDCeKS3Zjxx/?mibextid=oFDknk

Stress signs, they can be very subtle or are slap in the face obvious.💥. Not all stress is bad either.
I know some people do struggle to see signs of stress in their own dogs, so I made this to help show some of the more common ones.
There are plenty of others.✅
Sniffing.
Attempting to disengage from a situation by being suddenly very "interested" in a scent.
Tail position.
Wags can mean the opposite to happy and stiff tails, high stiff "flagging" tails.
Coat.
It can bristle completely or only in parts, tail, rear rump or along the whole spine.
Hesitancy. Suddenly stopping, changing pace, lowering the head and maybe stretching it out.
Stressed or uncomfortable dogs tend to have closed mouths and tighter faces, but those closed mouths open when drooling, panting or lifting the lips to give a front mouth grin. They can even open up just enough for a tongue to flick out.
Ear positions should also be looked at, they are often a sign of being uncomfortable in many dogs...but not all.
Not all are listed and you may know your own dogs stress signals.
It is important to note that some of these signs are also shown when a dog is in a state of excitement, context and situations all need to be taken into account.
It is ok if your dog shows some signs of stress. It is communication and is very valuable information for you to quickly address what is happening, or about to happen.

I often get asked why I called our business ABC Dogs.
All
Behaviour is
Communication (ABC 😊)
and stress behaviours are certainly communication. 🙂

🙂Unmarked graphics are available for $ 1.20 USD or $ 2 NZD each (approx), these are then able to be used off Facebook for client handouts, posters etc. Please visit ABC Dogs Patreon Shop for our collection of graphics.
Everyone is free to share these posts on social media, however off social media use is protected.
Screen shots are a violation of copyright.
Please respect that these graphics take time and effort to make . All graphics belong to ABC Dogs NZ and are under copyright.

18/07/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/C9BnLYcSrSh17Cmx/?mibextid=oFDknk

Are there bullies in the dog world❓ Absolutely ✅
Is all play good play❓Absolutely not ✅
Running full speed into play and not assessing or waiting for social cues is a big issue with dogs.
It can cause an immediate change in energy. Sometimes the high energy may be matched, sometimes it causes an immediate stillness and stiffening in the other dog.
THAT can become a very big issue.
While the focus is on the dog that has the highest energy, people can often forget about the other dog involved....BOTH dogs need read and not just the dog that has that extreme energy.
Don't forget who that energy is targeted at.
That quietness/stiffness and stillness from the other dog needs noticed...and intervene if necessary.

Play can turn in an instant...so it is important to advocate even when they are playing.
I am all for dogs communicating together and letting each other know what is appropriate and what is not, but unfortunately many dogs do have inappropriate play styles and are unable to read social cues. They have gone from 0 to 10 even before the lead is taken off to let play commence.
Dogs may react badly to pushy play styles or behaviour they may see as inappropriate.
Over excited/hyper dogs often have very little emotional self regulation.
They don't wait for those important social cues and some don't know how to read them when they are given.
They charge in with an immediate intensity that dogs can react very badly to.

Watch for sudden changes.
Read BOTH dogs and not just yours.
Advocate.

Unmarked graphics are available for $ 1.20 USD or $ 2 NZD each (approx), these are then able to be used off Facebook for client handouts, posters etc. Please visit ABC Dogs Patreon Shop for our collections of graphics.
Everyone is free to share these posts on social media, however off social media use is protected.
Screen shots are a violation of copyright.
Please respect that these graphics take time and effort to make . All graphics belong to ABC Dogs NZ and are under copyright.

17/07/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/FbzpcPfRTqNhLdH4/?mibextid=oFDknk

CULTIVATING CALMNESS

We teach our dogs all sorts of things, but maybe don’t realise that teaching “calm” is also an important behaviour that has so many positive applications for both us and our dogs.

“Calm” can be defined as the absence of agitation or excitement; a feeling of tranquility; serenity and peace. These feelings are so often lacking in both our lives and that of our dogs.

Besides teaching dogs to settle on a mat or in another place or capturing and rewarding calm behaviour, here are some other ways to promote calmness.

Scenting or sniffing is a really effective and simple way to promote relaxation. It lowers the pulse rate and creates feelings of wellbeing.

Chewing is another powerful relaxation tool. Dogs use the chewing to relieve stress, frustration or anxiety. Chewing has a calming effect on the adrenal-pituitary axis in the brain which triggers the release of endorphins. It’s like self-medication for stress or anxiety.

Relaxing music that is specifically made for dogs can also work well, especially with dogs that get over excited in a car or have storm or firework fear.

When playing an exciting, high-energy game with your dog, take frequent breaks before starting up again to help your dog wind down and become calmer.

Aromatherapy, ear or other types of massage are other ways to help create calmness.

Cortisol holidays are also really important after a stressful event to prevent trigger stacking and allow cortisol levels to return to normal.

Conventional wisdom says that the ability to remain calm is a character trait that most of us lack, but Neuroscience teaches us that remaining calm under pressure is not an inborn trait, but a skill that needs to be learnt, practiced and managed and this applies to our dogs as well.

16/07/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/hkeuWmgKod3a2MZa/?mibextid=oFDknk

15/07/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/h1C3f26AwvWZfseM/?mibextid=oFDknk

Over excited/over arousal/hyper arousal IS a form of reactivity.✅
I know many may struggle understanding that having a dog that is desperate to meet others is a reactive dog because they don't appear "aggressive".
They can be described as "friendly"😊 or "just LOVES other dogs".💓
It can also be incredibly stressful for these dogs.
Stress hormones can be released with both positive and negative stimuli....a difficult concept for some to accept that their "friendly" dog can be stressed.
This is not about dogs that get excited when they see a dog they know...this is purely aimed at dogs that go straight to over arousal at the mere sight of a dog/cat or person...whatever their trigger is.

Bite risks.
Yes even these dogs can bite (or be bitten).
There is no emotional self control and things can change in an instant with these dogs....they do pose a bite risk...and I appreciate that is hard to hear for many as their friendly dog would "never" bite another.
EVERY dog has the capability to bite given certain circumstances and over arousal puts dogs into positions where their emotions take over.
Many dogs bite when over aroused.
Bites can also be redirected back onto their guardians/owners or the nearest person/dog/child present.
They also fail to "read the room", there is no time taken to assess the other dog they desperately want to interact with....so the lead is taken off that friendly dog so they can meet their new "friend".

This is a new graphic based on another I made but this is specifically for over aroused dogs.
Your dog will also have their own unique changes you can see as they go over that all important threshold.

You are not alone with this issue...it is very common.
Reactive dog guardians/owners are some of the most dedicated I have ever met.
These dogs can be incredibly hard to live with.

You can make a difference.

Please respect that these graphics take time and effort to make. Everyone is free to share on social media, however off social media use of these marked graphics is prohibited. Unmarked graphics are available for $ 1.20 USD or $ 2 NZD each (approx), these are then able to be used off Facebook for client handouts, posters or for personal use. Screen shots are a violation of the copyright.
Please visit ABC Dogs Patreon Shop for unmarked graphics. All graphics belong to ABC Dogs NZ and are under copyright.