K9kiss.com

02/11/2023

To all of my former and current pet parents who have worked with me I have some small dog Christmas clothes. Most of them are for females
swing by the store sometime and I will give you one to pick out

limited quantity. Happy holidays

09/07/2023

Let’s consider a few common training mistakes when training a recall cue:

Recall is a learned behavior, just like anything else you teach your dog. It’s not hard to teach and it’s not hard to train, but you do have to do the work. Unfortunately, dogs don’t come with an English software package installed, so it’s up to us to teach them the behavior, then add the cue and then practice the recall so that the dog truly learns the behavior.

The Recall: Teach Your Dog To Come When Called
Practice should take place through all four stages of learning: acquisition, fluency, generalization, and maintenance. First, the dog has to begin to acquire the skill of returning to you. Then you continue to practice so that the behavior is fluent and is occurring with regularity. Next, generalize the behavior of coming to you in a variety of places and settings, always beginning in a low-distraction environment, and as your dog makes progress, moving to a slightly more distracting environment.

Do all of this before ever practicing in a highly distracting environment (such as off-leash play with other dogs). Eventually you reach the maintenance phase of learning, where you continue to practice recall so that the behavior stays solid.

Here’s a common scenario: People train their dog to come to them when they say “Come” – but almost as soon as that is accomplished, they begin using the word very casually and taking the (formerly much sought-after) behavior for granted, and failing to even acknowledge, much less reward it.

As an example, say you use the word “Come” to call your dog when she’s outside enjoying herself; she returns to you the first time you call because you’re nice to her and you feed her; there’s a bit of reinforcement history between the two of you. But then you bring her inside the house, you pick up your car keys, and you go to work.

From your dog’s perspective, you’ve just taken the “good stuff” away (the outdoors with all those awesome smells!) and ignored her (by locking her inside and going to work). In dog training, taking the good stuff away constitutes punishment, and punishment makes the behavior of coming to you less likely.

If there’s one sure way to insure your dog never comes back to you, it’s yelling or screaming at (or heaven forbid, hitting) your dog when she doesn’t come back to you. If you do this, it cements in your dog’s brain that you’re unpredictable and the behavior you cherish and want so much is very likely to not happen again.

25/06/2023

Veterinarians are prescribing gabapentin in record numbers for canine pain and anxiety. Could it help your dog?

10/06/2023

I teach a lot of this. Please read

Training your dog to not pull on the leash, or to get off the couch, or to sit still to harness him does not have to involve force. Learn more.

04/06/2023

Dog Growled? What NOT to Do.

Excerpted from an article by Pat Miller, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA

What many people don’t realize is that aggression is caused by stress. The stressor may be related to pain, fear, intrusion, threats to resources, past association, or anticipation of any of these things. An assertive, aggressive dog attacks because he’s stressed by the intrusion of another dog or human into his territory. A fearful dog bites because he’s stressed by the approach of a human. An injured dog lacerates the hand of his rescuer because he’s stressed by pain.

Growling
When you punish a growl or other early warning signs, you may succeed in suppressing the growl, snarl, snap, or other warning behavior – but you don’t take away the stress that caused the growl in the first place. In fact, you increase the stress, because now you, the dog’s owner, have become unpredictable and violent as well.

Worst of all, and most significantly, if you succeed in suppressing the warning signs, you end up with a dog who bites without warning. He has learned that it’s not safe to warn, so he doesn’t.

If a dog is frightened of children, he may growl when a child approaches. You, conscientious and responsible owner, are well aware of the stigma – and fate – of dogs who bite children, so you punish your dog with a yank on the leash and a loud "No! Bad dog!" Every time your dog growls at a child you do this, and quickly your dog’s fear of children is confirmed – children do make bad things happen!

He likes children even less, but he learns not to growl at them to avoid making you turn mean. You think he’s learned that it’s not okay to be aggressive to children, because the next time one passes by, there’s no growl. "Phew," you think to yourself. "We dodged that bullet!"

Convinced that your dog now accepts children because he no longer growls at them, the next time one approaches and asks if he can pat your dog, you say yes. In fact, your dog has simply learned not to growl, but children still make him very uncomfortable. Your dog is now super-stressed, trying to control his growl as the child gets nearer and nearer so you don’t lose control and punish him, but when the scary child reaches out for him he can’t hold back any longer – he lunges forward and snaps at the child’s face.

Fortunately, you’re able to restrain him with the leash so he doesn’t connect. You, the dog, and the child are all quite shaken by the incident.

28/05/2023

Please share this with your friends. There are local “professional “ trainers who use prong and shock collars- even in little dogs. Please do your research

There are lots of bad and even dangerous trainers out there. Here’s how to find a qualified training and behavior professional.

20/05/2023

For all you puppy owners

In this photo you see two species, a human and a dog. The human has approximately 1 billion neurons in their brain while the canine has approximately 500 million. This is a comparison of the two species and the silly expectations people place on dogs:

Human: Given two plus years to accomplish potty training.
Canine: Human wants canine potty trained in two weeks or they will have to rehome the dog....Please take the diaper off your eight month old human and let them crawl around your floor, lets just see the results....

Human: Gives human babies pain relievers and various numbing agents to help appease the pain of teething.
Canine: Demands Dog Trainer tells them how to reprimand their dog for chewing.

Human: Encourages young humans to run and play with endless forms of mental and physical stimulation.
Canine: “I have got to teach this dog to calm down!!!”

Human: Given 20 plus years to complete an education and become a productive member of society.
Canine: Expected to behave flawlessly after 6 weeks of training.

Human: Given sick and personal days from work and endless excuses for poor performance.
Canine: Expected to perform perfectly 365 days a year with no questions asked. Canines are also not allowed to feel bad or forget.

Human: Expects a pay raise annually for the job they perform.
Canine: Humans demand their dog perform more every year and don’t believe they should reward the dog for the work they perform.

Dear human....If you don’t train, don’t complain!"

Credit - Judy Parsons, PetSmart, Texas,
Koven Moodley, Smart Pet Behaviour

20/05/2023

Sharing this again. I use the seresto collars myself

A recent peer-reviewed paper found owners reported flea & tick products🦟 containing the potent pesticide, Isoxazoline💦, cause a reaction in 2 OUT OF 3 DOGS!

Reactions include seizures, behavioural issues, muscular/balance issues, and even death.

The pesticide can be found in products like: NEXGARD, NEXGARD SPECTRA, BRAVECTO, SIMPARICA, CREDELIO, REVOLUTION PLUS, and others.

This pesticide is so powerfully potent🔥 that it starts killing within two hours after administration! In fact, it kills 98.7% of newly arriving fleas within 24 hours! Because of this, Isoxazoline drugs now carry a warning⚠️ on their labels in both the U.S. and Canada. Even the FDA-U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning statement for veterinarians and pet parents.

Facebook Live discussion on the new study with Judy Morgan D.V.M, a veterinarian involved in the new peer-reviewed paper. here: https://www.facebook.com/ForeverDogBook/videos/379588586815629

Download the pdf for full details: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/vms3.285?fbclid=IwAR0i_DUJNAV5Vhb1dVEzLAKDWI6YFRQC_mTZdblDY4I9mBglqoeOKaUjhPg

06/05/2023

Is there truly a dog ear language? Absolutely. You just need to know what dog ear positions mean and take in the rest of his body language, too.

05/05/2023

Excellent read

Animal researcher Philip Tedeschi shares what we can learn about a pets' emotional and mental health and how we can support their wellbeing.

02/05/2023

30/04/2023

Please read and spread the information GROWLING DOGS

Excerpted from an article by Pat Miller, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA

What many people don’t realize is that aggression is caused by stress. The stressor may be related to pain, fear, intrusion, threats to resources, past association, or anticipation of any of these things. An assertive, aggressive dog attacks because he’s stressed by the intrusion of another dog or human into his territory. A fearful dog bites because he’s stressed by the approach of a human. An injured dog lacerates the hand of his rescuer because he’s stressed by pain.

Growling
When you punish a growl or other early warning signs, you may succeed in suppressing the growl, snarl, snap, or other warning behavior – but you don’t take away the stress that caused the growl in the first place. In fact, you increase the stress, because now you, the dog’s owner, have become unpredictable and violent as well.

Worst of all, and most significantly, if you succeed in suppressing the warning signs, you end up with a dog who bites without warning. He has learned that it’s not safe to warn, so he doesn’t.

If a dog is frightened of children, he may growl when a child approaches. You, conscientious and responsible owner, are well aware of the stigma – and fate – of dogs who bite children, so you punish your dog with a yank on the leash and a loud "No! Bad dog!" Every time your dog growls at a child you do this, and quickly your dog’s fear of children is confirmed – children do make bad things happen!

He likes children even less, but he learns not to growl at them to avoid making you turn mean. You think he’s learned that it’s not okay to be aggressive to children, because the next time one passes by, there’s no growl. "Phew," you think to yourself. "We dodged that bullet!"

Convinced that your dog now accepts children because he no longer growls at them, the next time one approaches and asks if he can pat your dog, you say yes. In fact, your dog has simply learned not to growl, but children still make him very uncomfortable. Your dog is now super-stressed, trying to control his growl as the child gets nearer and nearer so you don’t lose control and punish him, but when the scary child reaches out for him he can’t hold back any longer – he lunges forward and snaps at the child’s face.

Fortunately, you’re able to restrain him with the leash so he doesn’t connect. You, the dog, and the child are all quite shaken by the incident.

It’s time to change your thinking.

30/04/2023

Everyone knows to check their pets for ticks, frequently.. but did you know that you must also check their mouths?

28/04/2023

I have a few more people to dog sit this summer. Let me know if you need anyone.

26/04/2023

Dog hu***ng is often triggered by stress. If can eliminate the stress and modify your dog's behavior you can stop dog hu***ng.

23/04/2023

Hey guys. Take a look

You can stop a dog from eating everything on walks – it takes training and patience.

01/04/2023

23/01/2023

Whole Dog Journal‘s mission is to provide dog guardians with in-depth information on dog food, training, behavior, health, and more.

23/01/2023

So I always teach “handling” skills this morning I found a tick on my lab. Plz keep checking your pups

01/01/2023

I’d like to say that the recall drills I teach. …….Really do work. My 13 year old I adopted can now be off leash after working with her for 2 months she officially is off leash as of today. Her recall is amazing and she can now run through the woods and have an enjoyable walk