Simon’s Hope

20/08/2022

Clients: “Why doesn’t my humane training work?”

Here’s why:

11/08/2022

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

The popularity of Pit Bulls and why this is so problematic:

I am sure that this post will garner a fair amount of negative response, but at this point I am more afraid of the consequences of not speaking out than I am of the anger that may come my way for daring to say what so many of my colleagues feel, but keep silent about for fear of censure.

The reality is that almost daily we get requests for help from people who have either bought or adopted Pit Bulls and Pit Bull mixes and are reaching out due to the following:
1. They have more than one dog of this type and they are now fighting and doing serious damage to each other.
2. They have one of these dogs that has done serious damage to another dog in the family.
3. They have had to separate their dogs due to fighting, but now want them back together.
4. They can no longer walk their dog, because it has done damage to another dog on walks.
5. They have adopted a dog of this type and want the dog “socialised” as it shows reactivity to other dogs.

We have dealt with so many of these cases that it has gotten to a point where we are wanting to simply refuse to get involved anymore, because these situations are far too predictable and can seldom be resolved to the satisfaction people are hoping for. Something needs to change and if those of us who deal with this on a daily basis are not willing to speak up, it is unlikely that they will and we will be responsible for people making the same mistakes over and over again.

I am not sure where the idea has come from that Pit Bulls and Pit Bull mixes are such great companion animals and the most idealised family dogs. Were they popularised by the Dog Whisperer and his awful TV show? Is it simply that there are so many of them spilling out from communities where they are still used for fighting and as a status symbol, that they now comprise the majority of dogs in shelters and so rescue organisations have done a massive PR campaign in order to get them adopted? Or is it that they have become a good way for people to feel they are championing an “underdog” and fighting against prejudice, because people mistakenly equate the reality of breed predisposition with racial prejudice and bigotry?

Perhaps it is a combination of all of these things, but I am constantly dismayed by extremely kind, loving and well-meaning people such as:
• The young, active person who wants a pit bull as a partner for recreation and expects the dog to run free on the mountain and beaches, visit coffee shops and attend social functions at friends’ homes
• The young couple wanting to get their first dog before they start a human family who been told that pit bulls are wonderful with kids
• The person who falls in love with the idea of rescuing an “underdog” with a difficult past
• The young family who goes to adopt a puppy, and are told that breed does not matter
• The person with the big heart who keeps adding more and more dogs to their home, believing that they will all get on, regardless of type and history, if they are simply given enough love
• The caring husband and father who believes that a pit bull will keep his family safe from intruders and be a great companion for the kids

While no one disputes the idea that herding breeds are predisposed to herd, guarding breeds are predisposed to guard, pointers tend to point, retrievers like to hold things in their mouths and terriers like to hunt small critters, for some reason most people do not seem able to accept the fact that dogs that have been selectively bred to fight and kill each other might just be good at doing just that and MORE EASILY drawn into that type of behaviour pattern than another type of dog. This does not mean that these dogs are “evil”, it does not mean that there are absolutely no exceptions, it does not mean that no other type of dog is capable of doing harm to other dogs and it does not mean that a well-managed dog of this type may not make a loving companion for someone who accepts the risks and learns to mitigate them. However, it does mean that for the average person, acquiring a dog of this type is bringing a dog into their home that presents a HIGHER risk than many other types of dogs they could have chosen.

What is most concerning is that the majority of the people who end up in these situations do not intentionally choose this increased risk: they are often kind-hearted people who simply have no idea that the risk exists, because they have been told fairy tales by rescue organisations, believed some nonsense they have seen on TV or had no reason to doubt the “it’s all how you raise them” mantra. This is so grossly unfair and my heart breaks when we have to be the ones to tell caring people hard truths such as that their dogs may never be able to live freely together again, that their dogs fighting poses an enormous risk to their young children and the dogs may need to be rehomed or that they cannot ever let their dog off lead in public or allow it to interact with other dogs again.

Few people want to hear these things or live like that. Few people would ever deliberately choose this reality for themselves, their dogs and their families. Yes, I do realise that there are never any 100% guarantees when getting any dog of any type from any source at any age, BUT are we really going to deny that there are not factors that increase the risk of having a dog with dog-dog aggression? Why would we lie to ourselves and to others? Who are we trying to protect by going along with this – or are we just protecting ourselves from an unpopular and uncomfortable truth?

Is it not time to warn people that acquiring a dog that has been selectively bred for dog-dog aggression (and not defensive type aggression, but rather “gameness” or predatory type aggression) that they are INCREASING THEIR RISK of having a dog that gets into serious fights with other dogs in the home, that does not get along with other dogs at all and that is likely to do very serious damage to other dogs and any humans that happen to get in the way if they do get into a fight? If we kindly warn people and they choose the risk, that is their responsibility, but if we remain silent and they make a choice not knowing the risk, then surely we are partly responsible for the problems they may end up facing. I for one, do not want to bear that responsibility anymore, so I am speaking out motivated by compassion, not judgement - I hope this post will be received in this way.

24/04/2022

This is so important 👏 please stop treating dogs as companion animals responsible for making us feel good... dogs and all animals feel just as much as we do, so please think about a dog’s reaction before referring to it as "aggressive" or "bad behavior.”

If you were in these situations, how would you feel and what would you do?

22/04/2022

Bite prevention handout below ⬇️

Please read 🐾

For all who have requested a copy of the "Better Never Bitten" pdf, I received so many requests that it became a little overwhelming to send them all, but you can find it here in pdf form, with many thanks to the Louisiana SPCA. I hope this works for you - and thank you for your interest! Picture of my boys for tax. (Click on the link, not the image)

https://www.louisianaspca.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Bite-Prevention-Handout.pdf

13/04/2022

Never underestimate the importance of early socialization and discuss socialization with your breeder or rescue.

Are they exposing the puppies to new sounds, surfaces, people, etc.?

Socialization needs to start before you get your puppy. Then your part of the pup’s socialization starts.

Do your research and know your responsibilities in socializing a new puppy.

This is a good illustration of puppy socialization needs, shared from Good as Gold Training, but I would also add that all of the listed exposure and experience needs to feel *safe* for the puppy. If s/he is nervous, tentative, or fearful the fear should be handled by backing off a little and reintroducing very slowly and with lots of praise, food and patience. Sometimes, for the sake of "socialization", owners push their puppies too far and too fast, and it can backfire. Good socialization requires that we "read" our puppies and help them feel safe as they navigate the sounds, textures, people and animals in their new world.

11/04/2022

Our mission is to reduce dog bites to ZERO. Unfortunately, that number continues to grow in the US. Check out the most recent data regarding dog bites (click to open entire Infograph).

04/02/2022

We can’t use aversives and call it communication…

30/01/2022

Great information on what is and isn’t separation anxiety from our friends at Noble Woof Dog Training. Think your dog needs help being safely left alone? Reach out to them for help!

28/01/2022

I saw a video today on social media of a dog graduating from a board and train. The poster was so happy and excited at all the change in their dog. But, when I saw the video I couldn’t look past the absence of any behavior. The dog was not displaying any “happy dog” signs nor did the dog look fearful. The dog looked like it was simply existing.

It was a devastating reminder that the absence of behavior does not equal a modified behavior. We never recommend the use of aversives for dogs feeling big feelings.

21/01/2022

Turns out that food puzzles and such are the “put your kid in front of the TV” version of enrichment for dogs.

From the study: “Results suggest various benefits of the different activities with Conspecific (same species) Play and Playhouse activities having the greatest overall positive behaviour change when compared to the other activities.

The food-based environmental enrichment activities (Interactive toy and Stuffed food toy) had the least behaviour change of all the activities provided.”

Environmental enrichment (EE) can be used to enhance the environment of various animals. The aim of this pilot study was to determine the effects of seven EE activities (Bonding, Bubble machine, Conspecific play, Interactive toy, Playhouse, Stuffed food toy and Tug play) on dog behaviour, pre- and p...

15/01/2022

I hear this so often: “I want to adopt a puppy so that I can raise them the way I want.”

⁉️

A puppy is not a blank slate.

A puppy has in utero experiences and 🧬 impressions. A puppy has social learnings from littermates. A puppy has learning history from their adult dog family. Etc.

You are not adopting a clean slate.

It blows my mind that so many people don’t know that puppies are not blank slates. Both nature and nurture matters as a puppy grows to an adult dog. All four L.E.G.S. matter: Learning (all their learning history), Environment (their physical surroundings and social surroundings), Genetics (both their genetics and epigenetics contribute), and Self (their unique internal experience and physical condition, including any disabilities). Even if you socialize a puppy correctly and carefully, he can still grow up to be a highly sensitive dog if his genetics predisposed him to be so. I love working with highly sensitive dogs and their guardians, and it always saddens me when people think they “did something” to “make” their dog this way. People always assure me they have never hurt their dog and raised them carefully, so why is their dog so shy or reactive? What did they do?? People forget to take into consideration all of the other things that go into a dog’s temperament. You weren’t born as a blank slate… you probably have some things in common with your mother and/or your father that would not have changed had you been raised in different conditions. If you adopted your puppy and never met her parents, nor have knowledge of the conditions in which she was born, you just don’t know the full story. I always tell the guardians of highly sensitive dogs that their dog’s sensitivity is one side of the coin, and the high intelligence such dogs have is the other side of that same coin. If you need help with your highly sensitive dog, reach out! My six month course starts soon!

**Edited to add: the ingenious L.E.G.S. model is the work of Kim Brophey, who I am so humbled to be able to call my mentor as a Family Dog Mediator. **

12/01/2022

All of my clients go through a detailed behavior and medical history prior to starting a behavior modification program. When I discover that the dog has had a recent change in behavior, I always ask about possible pain, illness, or disease.

ACUTE PAIN typically starts suddenly in response to an injury — a cut, bruise, burn, broken bone, or pulled muscle, for example. Acute pain can also be caused by a fever or infection.

CHRONIC PAIN is long standing pain that persists beyond the usual recovery period or occurs along with a chronic health condition, such as arthritis. Chronic pain may be "on" and "off" or continuous. It may affect dogs to the point that they can't sleep soundly, eat properly, take part in physical activity, or enjoy life in general.

NOTE: Chronic pain presents differently to acute pain, so it can be hard to spot.

Is your dog living with chronic or acute pain? Here is a free course on how to identify pain in your dog:
https://cameducation.co.uk/p/is-my-dog-in-pain

You may also find these short CAM intro videos useful on chronic pain and pain control:
Chronic pain
https://youtu.be/S1FpKH-I8GE
Pain control
https://youtu.be/JviZ5IIkMSo

Learn how to gather data prior to your dog's vet consult and know what to expect during the visit so that you're prepared.

20/12/2021

It’s over.

The Vick Dogs have all passed on now. Frodo’s passing this weekend and Johnny Justice’s passing last week were end of the era.

Rest easy 🌈

The incredible 'Vick dog' era is over.

On Saturday, we had the great honor and privilege of attending the transition of the sweet, shy Frodo as his family helped him pass over to be with the rest of the dogs from the group.

He was the last of 48 brave survivors from that game changing case. Seized and rescued in 2007, we estimate that he would've been 15 years old - and THIS is the important part - the last 14 years of his life were spent being pampered like a prince with the Ramirez family and dogs. Sweet Frodo - How we loved him. He was one of the bravest survivors we've ever met.

We didn't realize at the time that Jonny Justice had just passed away in a private moment with his people, Cris & Jen, just two days earlier. Oh Jonny! We thought you might live forever.

And finally - in the first week of October, Letti de Little's sweet man Uba passed over. We've been grappling to find the words, and now Uba's friends have pushed that door wide open.

Warm sympathies and gratitude to the families. We'll come back with more on each special dog and the lives they lived, but for now, it's time to have a little cry and say good-bye to them all.

(Photo: Frodo gobbled that big bag of steak under the tears of his mama, Kim Ramirez and her daughter Dominique. Thank you Dr. Williams for tending to his medical needs up until the end. He trusted you and you made this moment so perfect.)

30/11/2021

Well said 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

25/11/2021

A tired dog is not a good dog. They are a mouthy, biting, over-aroused pain in the arse.

A tired dog is not a good dog. How do you feel when you're tired??? Not your best self? Neither is your dog.

All too often we hear the phrase "a tired dog is a good dog", but that is a misconception that needs to stop. When you're tired, you're potentially grumpy, unable to process new things, easy to anger, easily frustrated, unable to do your normal activities as well as normal..... you're tired.

Well- when your dog is tired, they're showing the behaviours listed in the poster and so much more because they're what- TIRED.

Exercise, will not solve your dog's behavioural concerns, in fact it will often increase them. Why?? Physical exercise does not change emotions for triggers- it worsens them as the dog is unable to process their emotions like they can when they're not tired. It also doesn't change your dog's associations for the triggers again- it'll more than likely worsen them, as then your dog isn't their best selves when encountering the trigger, which then worsens their negative associations towards the trigger.

Exercise is fantastic, but like all things, you need to build your dog up gradually over time for exercise. Not take a puppy out for a random 3hr hike or intense jog -which would definitely hurt their growing joints, potentially causing lifelong physical damage and increase overarousal/mouthing behaviours!

A tired dog is not a good dog- it is a frustrated, exhausted, overaroused, overstimulated, reactive, - it is a dog whose emotional needs are not being met.

What is good -as all dogs are great? Meeting your dog's emotional needs.

Contact WFA to learn more about our group classes, in-person or virtual 1-1 classes, to learn how you can meet your dog's emotional needs.

25/11/2021

From all of us to all of you, Happy Thanksgiving!

Remember: your dog doesn’t have to meet everyone today. And, not everyone needs to pet your dog. I give you permission to advocate for your dog and to tell people to keep their hands off your dog. ✅

22/11/2021

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

20/11/2021

This should be given out with every puppy adoption or purchase!

I am loving this book by Marge Rogers and Eileen Anderson. Must have for all puppy pet parents. Good for dog training professionals and vets too to understand how to socialize dogs and read puppy body language.

16/11/2021

We are 100% supportive of licensing for dog trainers. It will bring accountability and transparency to this industry, where none currently exists.

While this first step doesn’t remove shock from the table entirely, it IS still a first step.

To give a voice to dog training professionals across the U.S. regarding the adoption of dog trainer licensing legislation, APDT and CCPDT created The Alliance for Professionalism in Dog Training to advocate for the advancement of dog training as a profession.

On our new website, please read about how and why we will proactively seek dog trainer licensure and how you can participate and provide feedback.

Click the link below to read about the Alliance, review our draft model legislation, and find links to frequently asked questions.

We appreciate it if you would please email your feedback to

[email protected]

rather than commenting on social media, so that everyone's input is reviewed collectively and thoughtfully.

Read the Announcement https://prodogtraineralliance.org/announcement/

12/11/2021

Kim Brophey, author of "Meet Your Dog" (a book we highly recommend to every single dog guardian!), has given us the gift of The Dog Key! This software is a highly accurate, fun, and easy to use heritage key for your dog.

Through a series of specific questions related to your dog's phenotype (aka, the physical traits you can see on your dog, which are determined by their genetics), this key will place your dog within its most salient breed grouping. This knowledge can be a game changer in understanding many of your dog's behaviors and needs.

And, once you have identified the breed group, go read about it in Meet Your Dog!

Access The Dog Key here: https://www.thedogkey.com/index.html

UNLOCK YOUR DOG—The Dog Key gives you instant results about your dog's DNA! Find out which Genetic Working group your dog belongs to AND the real scoop on HOW HER GENES-AT-WORK can influence her behavior.

10/11/2021

Why I stopped teaching “leave it” years ago…

More on how to do it errorlessly: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CJji20bp5ey/?utm_medium=copy_link

02/11/2021

It’s not “small dog syndrome.”

Have you ever heard the phrase “Small Dog Syndrome”?⠀

Often, people use it to refer to smaller breed dogs who display behaviours like barking, biting, growling, snapping, lunging, etc. People will say that that’s just how small dogs are or that small dogs are just trying to make up for their size.⠀
⠀
The problem with this thinking is:⠀
😩 We don’t get to the root of why the behaviour is happening.⠀
😩 We end up not doing much to change and to help our small dogs out with their worries and fears.⠀
😩 We blame the behaviour on our small dogs and use punishment to stop their behaviour, stressing them out further.
⠀
The truth is that small dogs aren’t simply more “aggressive” than dogs of other sizes. It’s the fact that when they show subtle signs of fear, stress, and anxiety, they often get ignored and therefore need to use more obvious signals like growling, barking, snapping, etc. to get their point across and get something scary to stop.⠀
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For example, a small dog may be regularly petted over the head by various people when they don’t want to be, and the dog may have started off with stress signals such as tucking their tail and licking their lips. But as that goes unheard, they now have resort to air snapping to stop people from coming over to pet them.⠀

It is so important to listen to our dogs and see their behaviour for what it is, rather than apply labels such as “small dog syndrome” which do not help us with understanding our dogs better and helping change how they feel as well as their behaviours.⠀
⠀
Small dogs deserve to be heard just as much as bigger dogs. Their little “no”s and signs of discomfort need to be respected and taken seriously, rather than be laughed at by us. While cute and little, they are sentient beings who have feelings and the right to communicate them. 💜⠀
⠀
Need help with your little dog’s barky, lungey behaviour? Book a call with me in the link in bio. 💌


ID: In a small hand-drawn style box on the top with text that says “It’s not small dog syndrome”. Underneath that is a larger hand-drawn style box with text that says “It’s small dogs regularly have their signals of discomfort and fear dismissed so they have to escalate to biting/lunging/growling to communicate”. Next to this text is an image of a brown chihuahua looking scared with a hand over the top of its head.

29/10/2021

…because I’m putting the needs of your dog above mine and yours…

“It’s amazing how little you care about what people think.” My client said during our lesson the other day.

“You focus on your training regardless of what people around you are doing.

I mean, the other day, you didn’t even notice the dog that was running around at your feet, trying to get your attention, because you were so focused on coaching your student.”

I laughed. It’s true.

I mean, I’m not going to say I never care about what people think of me - I’m only human after all.

But when it comes to training dogs, I NEVER worry about the opinions of strangers.

Because my dog needs my full attention.

And truthfully, the people who are passing judgment don’t.

But in this case my client was mistaken. Because I DID notice the dog.

Even though I didn’t acknowledge it or say hi…

I knew it was there.

My choice to ignore the dog was intentional.

Because if a dog approaches me, I ignore it…

Every. Single. Time.

And dog owners regularly misconstrue my actions when I do.

They think I’m being rude. They take it personally.

But the truth is…

I don’t do it because I don’t like the dog…

It’s not that I don’t want to greet them.

I ignore them out of respect for their owner.

Because lavishing a dog with attention that is pulling to get to me, or jumping around at my feet, is only going to teach them two important lessons…

- Other people in environment are a great reason to ignore your owner

- Being overexcited, pulling, or jumping about pays big

Not to mention, looming over dogs that don’t know me, making direct eye contact, thrusting my hand out, and touching them without giving them the opportunity to check me out first can make them uncomfortable.

Listen…

Anyone who has worked through behavior challenges will tell you how grateful they are when people ignore their dog.

When people don’t swoon, or touch their dog but instead, give them the space to reinforce their training.

And give them the space to say hi if they want to.

So when I’m in public, I offer others the same respect.

Despite my deep desire to scoop every dog up in my arms and kiss their faces (I am who I am)…

I ignore dogs when they approach.

I put their needs above my wants.

And I wish more people would do the same.

18/10/2021

I'm so excited for this. Dot is the bees knees, and I can't wait to see this discussion. If you're in sheltering / rescue, this is bound to be informative and thought-provoking, for sure!

There are dozens of resources available to shelters and rescues to improve the quality of life for the animals in their care, AND the people who work with those animals. There are some exciting new services for shelter trainers, such as Behavior Vet's Shelter Shorts and a new Canine Risk Assessment Tool.

Join Dot Baisly & Ferdie Yau for a Free Live Zoom Discussion on Wednesday, October 27th from 6:30pm - 8pm.

Find out how you can help improve animal welfare at your shelter or rescue. Come ready to ask questions and learn!!!!!

To register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZItf-qsqz8rHNNfC-ZlIJTuKTORCYddyipY

07/10/2021

When looking at behavior issues, we look through different lenses to uncover and unravel the purpose or function of your dog's behavior. This is why vet checks, dog DNA testing, and behavior history intakes are so important.

04/10/2021

Genes matter.

08/09/2021

Learning to speak dog can improve your relationship with them so much ♥️ 🐶 🐾

12/08/2021

“Based on current scientific evidence, AVSAB recommends that only re- ward-based training methods are used for all dog training, including the treatment of behavior problems. Aversive training methods have a damaging effect on both animal welfare and the human-animal bond. There is no evidence that aversive methods are more effective than reward-based methods in any context. AVSAB therefore advises that aversive methods should not be used in animal training or for the treatment of behavior disorders.”

https://avsab.ftlbcdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/AVSAB-Humane-Dog-Training-Position-Statement-2021.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0CNzCH_UDS4agCJSRXbnIzjHviKbYNiuNu_U8WFKvcLkyzMksb1FlND8U

07/08/2021

Debby Lucken, the founder of Kids Around Dogs (KAD), who specializes in helping families with children and dogs to live in harmony together has a new FREE presentation on children and reactive dogs - and how to keep both safe and happy. You can catch it at https://youtu.be/MVJeqzHxk9Y

Excited to announce Debby Lucken is back to present The Calmer Canines Masterclass: How to Stop Your Dog Barking When Treats Don't Work LIVE on August 8th at...

04/08/2021

I stumbled across this illustration the other day and thought it would be great to share on our page. The steps detailed in the picture are a very good way for anyone (not just kids!) to greet a dog.

First off, remember that most dogs do not want to be touched by random strangers, so it is always a good idea, and considered relatively polite in dog language, to NOT attempt to physically interact with a strange dog when you see one. Especially if that dog is not interested in attempting to interact with you!

But, if you happen to find yourself near a dog that is acting happy and welcoming, and you want to pet them, the following movements and actions will help to inform the dog that you are also “friendly and non-threatening” so you two can share a moment of happiness and joy!

First, you can begin by asking the owner if it is ok to greet their dog. If they say yes, you can then ask the owner for the dog’s name. Then “ask the dog” if they’d like to come over to you by sweetly calling the dog’s name while patting your leg to see if they come over. If the dog does not approach you, don’t take it personally, but the dog may not want to be petted at that time. It might be disappointing, but it is really not much fun anyway to pet a dog that doesn’t want to be petted.

If the dog does approach you to be petted, it is best to turn your body sideways and hold your hand out (I always prefer holding my palm upward) just below the level of their chin to let them smell and check you out.

You never want approach a new dog face on and reach out your hand over the top of a dog’s head as this is considered “rude” or “threatening” in dog language and will likely cause the dog to back up, lift their nose and mouth upward toward your hand, and sometimes bite!

With your hand already below the level of their chin, you are in the perfect position to give the approaching dog some initial affection by lightly petting under their chin or around their neck and shoulders.

The next thing to remember is the “3-second-rule”!

When first petting a dog, it’s best to limit the touching to just about 3 seconds. After 3 seconds, remove your hand from the dog, take a half a step back, and pause for a few more seconds. At that point, the dog can move closer to you and choose to ask for more pets, or they can choose to move away from you and end the interaction.

If they don’t move away from you after the first 3 seconds and the pause, you can put your hand back below the level of their chin again and pet along their shoulders, rib cage, and back for a few more seconds, then remove your hand and pause again to see if the dog wants you to continue. If the dog walks away, allow them to go and thank them (and their owner) for their time!

Thanks for reading all the way thought this week's Weekly Helpful Information & Fun Facts with Dr. Z!