Myth: force free is treats and 🦄 🌈unicorns farting rainbows
Facts: We address the whole picture. Marty struggles with being unsure of certain things and reacts to neighbor dogs at home and has done a bit here (we have very reactive dogs on one side). He just had a little fear period so all I’m doing is helping guide to more distance from biggest trigger (riding mower with stranger on top) and offering support while asking/offering consent for affection. This won’t work for dogs over threshold and some of my teams may start this with outdoor air locks or from indoors. But Marty knows he can trust me and ask for help and that will help him thrive!
#puppytraining #totalpetnc #totalpettrainingllc #forcefreetrainer #forcefreetraining
Dora is here today working on a few skills. One thing she really struggles with is crating and separation from excitement and friends while not at home. Crating or being alone in a room is an important life skill so we are making this a fun game. This game also helps build her “place” cue skills. This is super hard for her because there is a rabbit behind a barrier 3’ away and her two dog friends just outside the door that she can smell and hear. Pretty sure she rocked it! What do you think?
For treats we are using humane options: Bright Planet Better Brats and Benovo Puppy Kibble
#puppytraining #forcefreetrainer #pittiesofinstagram #totalpettrainingllc #totalpetnc
Dora is back at Puppy Head Start. It was time to make snacks and this turned out to be a great time to work on loud scary noises (very loud food processor) and place cue for safety. This was placed where I could get to her quickly but not so close she felt the need to flee.
#puppytraining #forcefreetrainer #dogtraining #totalpetnc #totalpettrainingllc #pittbullsofinstagram
Vet visit tip: Sniff scatters can help dogs relax and also just have a bit of fun at the vet regardless of age. (Pardon the tufts Beefy is blowing his coat)
#fearfreevet #rplus #forcefreedogtraining
Emergency Rabbit Care (or any animal care) tip: play yummy icky. It has been a wild week of sick animals, Val has an arthritis flare and possibly an E.C. Flare. He needs to eat high calorie food but doesn’t want to. We use his meds as the “yummy” (but you can make a species safe smoothie as the yummy). Feed yummy, maybe more yummy, then quick icky, right back to yummy. This is way less stress than burrito-ing him (stress can have huge negative impacts on health especially in rabbits). Is this helpful?
#rabbitcare #rabbitsofinstagram #ecuniculi #houserabbitsociety #cooperativecare
Does your dog hesitate with leashing up or wearing equipment?
Snickers hesitated to harness up even with training, massage, and food. After a check with our integrative vet for hesitating to jump up we were referred to a rehab veterinarian. This was such a good investment. It turns out that he had a bilateral shoulder tendon injury. We never thought to ask our vets and he looked healthy at visits.
When your dog hesitates to wear gear, it can be a clue to investigate for pain. Does your dog hesitate to wear gear?
Let's talk pain. Pain is a very commonly missed root cause to behavior change. And the signs can be subtle. I have a challenge for you. Start to pay attention to your dog's preferences for resting positions and any time they might hesitate to sit, lay down, or even jump up on furniture.
So often when I consult on a case where there is hyperactivity, reactivity, anxiety, or aggression, there is a report of "my dog knows how to sit but is stubborn and doesn't always do it". Your dog is not being "stubborn" they are trying to politely tell you it hurts. And yes, if we ignore that sometimes they tell us impolitely. I have seen a "sit to say please" turn into a trigger for a dog to bite.
Does your dog hesitate to go into any positions or movements? What do you see?
Smell is so important for our pups and can be useful in helping dogs get relaxed in a new or exciting place. Letting your dog sniff at the vet's office or even setting up a treat find can help your dog relax. How long do you let your pup sniff at the vet?
Sniff Series:
Prompting or encouraging sniffing is a great way to help reactive, anxious, or excited dogs remember to pause and process. A quick sniff or even a longer sniff can help diffuse tension and allow your dog to choose an alternative.
You can teach a cued sniff by saying "sniff, find" and tossing treats and later delaying your toss of treats. Then when your dogs starts to sniff, you click and toss treats. Alternatively if safe to do so you can point to the ground and make sniffing noises and even sniff some leaves yourself. Often this will peak curiosity and your dog will investigate too.
Sniffing Series
It is not uncommon for dogs to sniff on walks extensively before eliminating (peeing/pooping). Allowing our dogs to sniff or encouraging sniffing can help dogs relax and posture. You can even scatter some food or point out leaves to encourage sniffing for nervous dogs to help them relax enough to go potty.
This is the equivalent of a good toilet book (c'mon, you all know reading material helps us humans). So next time your dogs sniffs, let them "read" so they can go!
ID: video of large lean tricolored dog sniffing grass near the edge of bushes and then posturing for a bowel movement
Nothing like recall off of wildlife!
While Beefy has lived with a turtle indoors outdoors is a whole different ball game. He used to be over interested in outdoor turtles.
Nice to see our work is paying off!
ID: dog sniffing and leaving a turtle on the ground and then recalling to pet parent
#fearfree #forcefree #dogrecall #offleash #virtualdogtraining #dumpsterbeefcake #totalpettrainingllc
The dreaded stasis stance. Notice the flared nostril and tense partially stretched position. This is Gavin ( #murderbunny ‘s ) pain/stasis stance. Right off the bat we have given some pain meds and will get an Assisi Loop treatment started along with some massage.
#gistasis #houserabbit #instabunny #rabbit
What does force free recall look like?
THIS!
There is wildlife and a stinky pond and yet Beefy returns!
This was taught with food, play, release to rerun to play/sniffing/exploring and ZERO remote collars!
ID: brown dog recalling to handler in a moderately dense forest that includes some undergrowth
#fearfree #forcefreetraining #forcefreedogtrainer #positivereinforcement #virtualdogtraining #dumpsterbeefcake #moretrainlesspain #totalpettrainingllc
Gotta keep those hips fresh to hop so yay for our @assisianimalhealth pad for our sweet senior #baxyboo
ID: rabbit in small travel crate with an Assisi pad suspended above top
#totalpettrainingllc #holistichealth #houserabbit
Someone is feeling better post Assisi treatment #5 <3
#baxyboo #totalpettrainingllc #bunnybinkies #houserabbit
One trying to get out, one trying to get in! 🤣
#integrativecare #assisiloop
#houserabbit #baxyboo
Hay day!
ID: two dogs on a sofa and two rabbits in a large hat box
#vegan #houserabbit
A good settle and snuggle is so important. Carter was stressed over the rain (wet ground stresses him out). We are thankful to be at a point where Carter can relax and cuddle while Dad watches @thedailyshow 😍
#pitbull #instapitties #pitbullsofinstagram #positivereinforcement #canineenrichment #totalpettraining #krakencarter
Reminder: the individual decides what is rewarding. Here #krakencarter is asking for cilantro politely.
ID: black and white pitbull laying down on black gym mat flooring eating cilantro
#dogtraining #positivity #positivereinforcement #forcefree #fearfree #pitbullsofinstagram #instapittie #totalpettrainingllc #totalpettraining
When you are working on training programs but get distracted by midday bunny zoomies 😍
ID: white rabbit zooming across a space with mats and dog toys
#rabbitenrichment #binkybunny #instabunny #murderbunny #totalpettraining #totalpettrainingllc #lunchdate
