Concerned Canines

30/01/2025

Hi everyone! I'm going to doing a series of recorded conversations with other dog professionals, discussing a variety of topics from training to care.

My first conversation is going to he with my friend and mentor, Sue Alexander from Dogs In The Park and The Dog Trainer's Crucible

Our topic is going to be "What Did You Expect - a discussion about breed related behaviors". If you have questions you'd like to ask Sue, feel free to drop them here or PM it to me directly! We're recording our conversation on February 2, and it will be released the following day on YouTube. I hope you'll enjoy it!

28/01/2025

If you'd rather listen on YouTube, here's the link! Again, give Lets Talk About Pets Podcast a follow on your platforms!

In this episode, we are joined by our special guest professional dog trainer, Ben, with Concerned Canines. We explore the complexities of aggressive dog bree...

24/01/2025

Check out this ancient dog art!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17o9FgaQpg/

Five Assyrian dog figurines, made of clay with pigments, circa 650 BC. Names inscribed on the figurines represent protective qualities. Now on display in the British Museum.⁣
⁣
Each dog features its own name, emphasizing their symbolic roles in warding off evil and protecting households. Figurines like these were often buried beneath thresholds or placed in foundations to guard against evil forces.⁣
⁣
“Expeller of evil” (mušēṣu lemnūti) with white pigment and red spots⁣
“Catcher of the enemy” (kāšid ayyāb) with red pigment⁣
“Don’t think, bite!” (ē tamtallik epuš pāka) with white pigment⁣
“Biter of his foe!” (munaššiku gārîšu) with turquoise pigment⁣
“Loud is his bark!” (dan rigiššu) with black pigment⁣
⁣

14/01/2025

I don't think this really surprises anyone

https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/your-stress-levels-affect-your-dog-study-7425602?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1azoW36pFt2qzfghzmQKkccGmsCRwCcwa-zN2mStDqf47syF37AOvLUMc_aem_cTTqH-JO48FqUnoI0Q1Y3g

Dogs have lived alongside humans for thousands of years. They have been used to hunt, guard, herd and perform many other tasks, but today they mainly act as companions.

14/01/2025

Let's talk about this for a moment: what does a breed being the smartest mean?

The testing for these claims usually involves problem solving tests. Intelligence is assessed on the dogs ability to solve the problem without human intervention. Does this mean that other dogs aren't intelligent? No.

Does intelligence always mean obedient? Definitely not. As a trainer, I can honestly say that having a smart dog is more of a challenge than one that isn't.

My boys are both members of two breeds listed, Border Collie and Poodle. Let me tell you a little about their intelligence.

Barley has typical Border Collie intelligence. He's very obedient, but he can also anticipate what my next move is for both of us, and usually beats me to it. He's also a great problem solver, but learns quickly if there's a problem I don't want him to solve.

Kristoff isn't a great problem solver, and doesn't always want to be obedient. He is unmatched in his ability to read other people and other dogs, and frequently adjusts his behavior accordingly. If I'm working with a clients dog that is scared or anxious, Kristoff is excellent about giving that dog space without me asking for it.

All dogs are smarter than we giv them credit for. But like humans, dogs have specialities that they may excel at better than other dogs.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19ozUz6AGS/

Smart Puppy! 🐶 🧠 Border Collies are the smartest dog breed, followed by Poodles, German Shepherds, and Golden Retrievers, according to canine researcher Dr. Stanley Coren.

11/01/2025

"A lot of trainers in this area seem...very militant...you're not like that..."

This a terrible picture of an absolutely wonderful moment. Khasha, the min pin that is waiting by the bench, is training to be a service dog for her handler.

Her owner was told by other trainers that her dog had no confidence, and was too small to use a shock collar on. She was thought to be dog reactive, but she has shown confident, calm behavior with other dogs. And there were a lot today.

As we were leaving, we saw another trainer with a prong collar on the dog, and had backed the dog up to a set of stairs. His instructions to his client, "Give a small tug, and say down. He's got nowhere to go if he doesn't want to fall down the stairs, so he'll have to lay down." The look on the dogs face was one of resigned helplessness, this dog being forced to down in a public walkway simply to feed someone's ego. No acknowledgement of a dog that is stressed. Just a tight prong collar and a dog that looked like he had given up. That's when my clients remarked, "We've talked to other trainers. A lot of trainers seem very...militant...you're not like that..."

Because when I say I'll do everything I can to help your dog, and what's in the best interest of your dog, I mean it. For some people, it's about control. For me it's about compassion.

10/01/2025

When your dog is so bougie that he won't eat scrambled eggs, but somehow knows the word "omelet"?

Give him scrambled eggs and he'll turn his nose up. Give him an omelet with a pinch of cheese, and he'll practically beg for it.

More content is coming folks! Sorry for the radio silence. It was a long holiday season, but I hope all of you made it through okay!

28/12/2024

There's a new paper about sniffing!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17wNZ8XWh8/

New paper out! Jade of Animal Behaviour Matters has a new publication, the first part of her PhD research into scent activities for dogs! 🐕🐕‍🦺📚

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159124003332?via%3Dihub

26/12/2024

It is impossible to be entirely objective about yourself or your dogs. Objectivity is necessary when working through behavior problems in dogs. I knew I'd struggle some with Barley, but I wasn't ready for how much I'd actually would.

I can blame any number of things, and you'd agree with me that those things would have a negative effect on my early training with him.

The truth of the matter is that it really just was my fault. I wasn't ready for him, despite what I told myself. I was and still am mourning Flynn, and that put up a barrier between us - and one that only I could dismantle.

Losing Phillip sparked something into life, though, and I got serious about it. One of the things that has helped me is reading other books about border collies. Not necessarily books on technique, but rather experience. John Katz's book, The Dogs of Bedlam Farm, has helped me immensely with this endeavor. It's an older book, and I came across it entirely by chance at a library sale.

But it moved me a lot. Barley had a wonderful Christmas, despite the best efforts of our rude neighbors behind us. And he continues to improve. And I'll continue to grow...and maybe, one day, I'll look back on all of this and smile...

25/12/2024

Well, folks, I can say that for the most part - not a creature is stirring here. It's been a long year, but we're nearing the end of it. Thank you to all of my wonderful clients. I wish you all nothing but love, peace and joy for the rest of this year and the next!

And to all, a goodnight!

19/12/2024

I never say "I told you so", but I will admit when I'm right. I knew from the moment I met Joey, that despite the noise, he was dog friendly. He just doesn't sound immediately dog friendly.

Building his owners confidence was important here, but this was the moment I made them a believer. Joey just wants a friend!

17/12/2024

I'm on BlueSky! Give me a follow and let me return the favor!

https://bsky.app/profile/concernedcanines.bsky.social

15/12/2024

There have been other studies that have suggested this. And I have seen first hand the benefit of naturally fearful dogs intact. Both of my dogs are intact, and that has been immensely helpful in working with their reactivity. I also think that one of the reasons we such high levels of reactivity out of shelter and rescue dogs is that they are neutered and spayed entirely too young.

14/11/2024

A dog named Barley, helping save wolves?! Who is the person and why is she living my dream?

This is pretty amazing! But for real...how do me and my Barley sign up?

https://alaskapublic.org/2024/11/13/a-dog-on-prince-of-wales-island-is-helping-to-conserve-wolves-by-tracking-their-p**p/?fbclid=IwY2xjawGjOg5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHe-9FxNt8xyGArGI2IcILvfAjM3vTZfihToYlKqDdoFZ7HqBGlkMljec-A_aem_F36RwkIxrDwU8_WgRYLR6A

Last summer, managers hired a dog named Barley to sniff out an important source of data on Prince of Wales Island wolves: their p**p.

10/11/2024

"I should have groomed him." Tears are still in Jennifers eyes, a few days afterwards. "You know...I had just groomed Flynn the day before." She felt bad about how Phillip looked. He was a little scruffy when we lost him.

That, of course, doesn't really matter in the end. Phillip loved being groomed. And it all happened too quickly. We thought we'd have more time.

I've been spending a lot of time lately thinking about the first dogs, the humans who first brought that wolf into their lives. What that experience must have been like. They loved these animals enough to bury them, and bury them deep enough to protect their remains from scavengers. Dogs are our oldest friends.

When I met Phillip, it was like discovering dogs for the first time. I grew up with dogs, had loved many over the years. But Phillip...it was a brand new world he opened up for me. He was my first guide into the world of dogs. There have been others since then...but Phillip literally changed the course of my life.

It's been over 6 months. And I have missed him every day of them. Every day.

A big thank you to Victoria at All About Ink. She's an amazing artist, and wonderful friend for doing justice to Phillips memory and his impact on my life.

09/11/2024

Good morning everyone! I'm out at the Santa Rosa Animal Shelter for their Pumpkins and Puppies event! Come out, meet some shelter dogs in need of good homes, buy something fun from the vendors!

I'm also offering a free virtual assessment for any dog adopted at today's event!

08/11/2024

Hi everyone! I'm considering doing some live chats again. Is this something people would be interested in? And if so, are there any topics you'd specifically like to talk about?