Helping Hand Veterinary Behavior Counseling

02/09/2024

26/08/2024

Today's Dog Training Myth of the Day: "Only tell them once!"

What if you ask a dog (whatever age, breed, s*x, background, training level) to do something, but there is no response?

Set aside the myth of "only tell them once." Good rule of thumb: if it were a toddler, what would you do? Probably wait a few beats, be sure you had the kid's attention, then ask again.

Just like us, dogs may not be tuned in 100% because they are busy having their own experience of life which may or may not include you at any moment.

If you *do* have the pup's attention, and they did hear you, next step is to consider that they do not understand and/or don't see the point!

I've often asked clients to stand on a chair and sing happy birthday. I've done it while they were trying to take notes. Result: no compliance, and they say usually say, "Sorry - I was focused on taking notes. What did you say?"

If they are paying attention to me but look at me as if I'm crazy, I ask, "Did you understand what I asked? You did? So why aren't you doing it?" Inevitably the answer is, "I don't want to" or "Why would I do that?" It helped them understand how their dogs might be responding.

So give your dogs the courtesy of clear communication, engage attention first, be sure there is understanding, and make it worthwhile for the dog to work with you. Respect, courtesy and taking responsibility for what we are communicating and how we are communicating -- those are all supportive of healthy dog/human relationships.

This does not mean repeating, Sit-sit-sit-sit-sit-sit which is not good communication no matter who you're talking to! 😊

If you want and need response to just one request (and this has great value!), you first have to teach understanding, understand that connection and attention must come first always, then develop the skill, tighten the criteria and make it worthwhile. Then practice!!!

13/08/2024

Such a common issue. We all need to learn about it so we can set our dogs up for success.

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.

28/07/2024

Dogs, like us, need to feel safe ❤️

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.

18/07/2024

Instead of asking, “How do I get my dog to obey me?” we should ask, “Is my dog happy?” and “How can I make them happier?”

11/07/2024

Though it may seem like a fun thing for kids, dogs are NOT meant to sit on. EVER!!! Please do not ever encourage a child to sit or step up on a dog. This can cause pain, fear and conflict. All can increase the chances of a dog bite.

Is your dog “tolerating” what is happening in a situation? Or is the dog really telling them they're uncomfortable and want this to stop? We encourage families to observe their dog's body language so that they can understand what their dog is telling them.

How do I know what to look for if they’re uncomfortable?
❗Half moon eyes, your dog is leaning their body away from what is going on,
❗Yawning when they aren’t tired
❗lip licking

There are many body language signals that dogs display to us if they are uncomfortable, and even if they are enjoying something. Dogs use their bodies to communicate discomfort, stress and joy. Maybe they are happy and content and come over to you while you are holding your baby and get some pets, or they are happily wagging their tail with a loose body.

Recognizing how your dog uses their body to communicate is an important way to build and strengthen bonds. Looking for more information? Join us on July 18 at 7pm ET/4pm PT for Dogs & Toddlers webinar taught be a licensed Family Paws Parent Educator! This is perfect for those whose baby's who are becoming more mobile (crawling, walking and all those exciting milestones!). We have some wonderful ways to safely include your family dog in this journey. Sign upbit.ly/registerdogstoddlers

01/07/2024

Seven reasons why it might make sense to get two kittens instead of just one.

29/06/2024

Why would anyone want to cause their canine companion pain?!

Back in 2018, a review paper in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior outlined the reasons why, in their words, "there is no credible scientific evidence to justify e-collar use and the use of spray collars or electronic fences for dogs. On the contrary, there are many reasons to never use these devices. Better training options exist, with proven efficacy and low risk.” If you want to know more, you can read about the study on my blog: https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2018/06/study-outlines-reasons-to-ban.html in a post from the archives.

22/06/2024

This is an especially important message to American dog owners!

Pets are more popular than ever. Roughly two-thirds of American homes have at least one pet, up from 56% in 1988, according to the American Pet Products Association, and Americans spent $136.8 billion on their pets in 2022, up from $123.6 billion in 2021. An estimated 91 million households in Europe...

03/06/2024

A new study provides updated guidelines to decrease risk of certain cancers and joint disorders.

19/04/2024

I'm not sure when growling became so vilified.

When did we decide that dogs weren't allowed to have an opinion unless it aligned with our own?

That they weren't allowed to express their displeasure, their fear, or their anger? That they just always had to agree with what we were asking of them?

When did our expectations become "put on a happy face?" And "grin and bear it, dog?"

Let me tell you this, IT IS FINE IF A DOG GROWLS. Growling is just a form of communication. Communication is ALWAYS a good thing. It's when communication stops that we are all in trouble. (And if we know they are feeling a particular way, we are better positioned to help them).

IT IS OKAY TO VALIDATE YOUR DOG'S FEELINGS. Any feelings. Their happy ones, sad ones, and yes, their angry ones, fearful ones, anxious ones, or worried ones. And growling can happen in all of those situations, too.

If your dog growls, THEY ARE TELLING YOU SOMETHING: "That thing is scary," "I don't want to be touched right now," "I need space," "I hurt," "I am worried," "That startled me."

And while you might say, "my old dog never growled at me," know that some dogs use growling to communicate more than others. They are not bad dogs, they are good communicators!

10/04/2024

Such an important message

02/04/2024

“for some behaviour traits, genes seem to account for an amazing 60 to 70 percent of the behavioural variation among breeds.”

Data shows that behaviour, as well as intelligence, aggression, and fearfulness are, to a significant degree, inherited

08/03/2024

Growling is great communication!

I'm not sure when growling became so vilified.

When did we decide that dogs weren't allowed to have an opinion unless it aligned with our own?

That they weren't allowed to express their displeasure, their fear, or their anger? That they just always had to agree with what we were asking of them?

When did our expectations become "put on a happy face?" And "grin and bear it, dog?"

Let me tell you this, IT IS FINE IF A DOG GROWLS. Growling is just a form of communication. Communication is ALWAYS a good thing. It's when communication stops that we are all in trouble. (And if we know they are feeling a particular way, we are better positioned to help them).

IT IS OKAY TO VALIDATE YOUR DOG'S FEELINGS. Any feelings. Their happy ones, sad ones, and yes, their angry ones, fearful ones, anxious ones, or worried ones. And growling can happen in all of those situations, too.

If your dog growls, THEY ARE TELLING YOU SOMETHING: "That thing is scary," "I don't want to be touched right now," "I need space," "I hurt," "I am worried," "That startled me."

And while you might say, "my old dog never growled at me," know that some dogs use growling to communicate more than others. They are not bad dogs, they are good communicators!

07/03/2024

Great post on lesser known manifestations of stress!

GOING BEYOND FIGHT OR FLIGHT - THE FIDGET/FOOL RESPONSE IN DOGS

We speak a lot about Flight or Flight responses in dog. But so many dogs exhibit fool around or fidget responses and we misinterpret their behaviour as play as opposed to discomfort, stress or fear.

When dogs are in uncomfortable or stressful situations, they may engage in behaviours that may seem out place or odd. It’s a similar reaction to coping mechanisms seen by some people who joke around inappropriately. They do it because they are feeling self conscious, shy or uncomfortable.

In dogs, the fool/fidget response includes acting silly such as jumping around, performing play bows, playing and acting over the top when they are feeling stressed. For instance, a dog at the vet’s office who starts rolling on the ground or bites the leash in play, may be trying to transfer the focus off of one situation and onto another. It's their attempt at making an inappropriate joke to lessen the tension or divert focus from them.

When dogs behave this way, their stress is often clear but it’s not as straightforward as a dog who is showing his teeth or growling. Some dogs are labeled just as playful, acting silly, or worse, they are reprimanded for being stubborn.

Next time your dog is acting 'silly', step back and think about it. Are there certain situations that brings out these behaviours? Could it be stress and he is trying to tell you that he is uncomfortable with the situation or what you are asking of him? Like getting into a car or putting on his jersey or putting on his harness?

It's not funny so instead of making videos of it while giggling, pay attention to your pup. Also stop saying that your balanced trainer said it's ok. Your pet is asking for help so please show up for him.

The fidget/fool behaviours can be misinterpreted as play or silliness but it's actually a stress response!

Edit - I am not referring to the daily FRAPS or Zoomies here as thats not a stress response but a sign of excess energy...if your dog does it after a stressful event or in a certain environment or situation only, then it could be a stress response. This will be coupled with other appeasement signals like yawning, lip licking, looking away, etc. The bottom line is - pay attention your dog's body language and emotions!

26/02/2024

Let’s get out there and do some long-line sniffaries!

Shake it…shake it off…

A recent study by two researchers in France looked at sniffing, pulse rate, and leash length on walks. Sixty-one dogs were taken on three separate walks, five minutes each walk, once with a 1.5m leash, once with a 5m leash, and once without a leash at all (walk order was randomized for each dog). Off-leash dogs sniffed the most, more than 3x as long as the dogs on short leashes. Dogs on long leashes spent nearly as much time as unleashed dogs sniffing, almost 3x as long as dogs on short leashes.

This study also found that sniffing resulted in lowered pulse rates, and the more intensely they sniffed, the more their pulse rates lowered. Pulse rate was also lowered when dogs “shook off” during walks on all leash lengths. The “shake off” behavior was often seen when the dog’s pulse rate was particularly high.

Read more about it below!

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1HX77kp2HBDiTxmq/?mibextid=Le6z7H

https://www.tuftsyourdog.com/everydaydogcare/giving-your-dog-time-to-sniff-on-walks-will-literally-soothe-his-heart/

What else can we learn about dogs from their walking behavior? Take your best friend on a Sniffari and see what you observe!

24/02/2024

I’ve had a large number of behavior consult inquiries from families that went to a punishment based training franchise and now their dog is worse…. More fearful, more stressed, more aggressive! That is the very real fallout from going to these punitive trainers that are obviously not up on the science of dog training! So sad!

The science supporting positive-reinforcement dog training is abundant. It's more effective and more humane than force-training. Here's why.

07/02/2024

We need more studies and more awareness about "reactivity" including understanding that those dogs are having a really hard time and so are their human handlers on the other end of the leash.

When dogs lunge, bark, and growl at other dogs or people, the dog is having a hard time—and so is their guardian. More awareness of this is needed.

03/02/2024

Always nice to have moral support when I’m working in the office. 🐈 ❤️

07/01/2024

A cappuccino kind of day!

13/12/2023

RESEARCH REQUIRED!

Choosing a dog just because of the way they look.

We wouldn’t choose a partner or make a commitment to sharing our lives with someone based purely on the way they look – (I suppose there could be exceptions in some cases!)

We would first really get to know them, what kind of personality they have and who they really are before making that sort of commitment.

Yet people continue to choose dogs just because of the way they look.

Maybe they saw a dog like that in a movie that they enjoyed or maybe they just really like the way they look, without having any understanding or thought to learn about what that particular breed was selectively bred to do and what behaviour might be expected.

The way a dog behaves is not always specific to the breed. Dogs are individuals, with their own unique personality and their behaviour is shaped not only by genetics, but by specific life and learning experiences and environment, but problems can happen when the traits of that breed and their specific needs are not taken into account.

Some breeds may just simply not be compatible with a particular person or family’s needs, lifestyle, environment or expectations.

Is it fair or ethical to need to suppress, train out or even punish breed specific tendencies, calling them behaviour problems, when we hold a dog in a captive environment that is unsuitable for them.

First research the breed and learn all you can about potential traits and what to expect before making that choice.

09/12/2023

State Masson et al. (2018): “E-collars are not recommended for the treatment of behavior problems because they do not take into consideration the root cause of the problems. Such lack of redress can result in problems worsening, being masked or expressed in other ways (e.g., in the case of e-collar use to stop barking in separation-related problems, if barking is suppressed, dogs can develop other behaviors such as destructiveness or compulsive/obsessive-compulsive disorders)…Pain directly triggers aggression (Polsky, 1994), but additionally, the use of aversive techniques can worsen any negative associations (e.g., the trainer) by which a dog already feels threatened. Finally, using shocks to punish warning signals of aggression, such as growling or baring teeth, can lead to a suppression of these, so the dog in the future may attack without overt warning, resulting in apparent unpredictability and increasing the risk of injury (Overall, 2013).”

Masson, S., La Vega, S., Gazzano, A., Mariti, C., Da Graça Pereira, G., Halsberghe, C.,…Schoening, B. (2018). Electronic training devices: Discussion on the pros and cons of their use in dogs as a basis for the position statement of the European Society of Veterinary Clinical Ethology. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 25 71-75. Retrieved May 28, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1558787818300108?fbclid=IwAR0rsVM-689ZbE2CFDUuMAmatkmEKiIk9id15xbJrTiLac9Nj5UGtPZW9ho

Polsky, R.H. (1994). Electronic shock collars: Are they worth the risks? Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 30 (5) 463-468

Overall, K.L. (2017, November). Why Balanced Training Can Unbalance Dogs. Pet Professional Guild Summit Keynote Presentation, Orlando, FL. In S. Nilson. (2018, January). A Time to Revitalize, Re-energize and Rejuvenate. BARKS from the Guild (28) 10-11. Retrieved January 4, 2019

07/12/2023

The ethics of animal training procedures have seen dramatic changes in the last few decades, with a movement toward reward-based training methods. The…

05/12/2023

Patting a dog....sounds simple doesn't it.
There's a dog, a hand is moving in and patting a dog begins.
It just isn't that simple though.
While I love seeing the closeness and the bond clients have with their dogs....sometimes I am the bearer of news that I wish I didn't have to tell them.
I hate saying it, but I have to....
"Your dog doesn't like being touched on the head"
"Can you see them moving away from your hand when you started patting ?"
"Did you notice their mouth shut immediately and the hard side look that just happened?"

I can't not say it, and I do say it more delicately than those sentences....but it is often a shock.
Yes.... dogs can consent to being touched and they can easily remove that consent too.
To make things trickier consent can be given and immediately removed, or consent was given yesterday and not today.
I know some people may have a hang up with the word "consent" when it comes to dogs...but they absolutely have the right to say yes or no to touch.
They do this with body language.
Sometimes that body language is less than clear though and that's the tricky part.

In the graphic many people will see flat ears as a sign of anxiousness/stress but some dogs do flatten their ears when being patted on their heads when they enjoy the touch.
Some dogs will lick a patting hand from anxiety and some from affection.
Your dog will show you with their own body language.
Start to learn it because I guarantee once you do.....your bond will strengthen even more.

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01/12/2023

It’s not “guilt” you’re seeing ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

Guilt is a very complicated human emotion that dogs simply cannot express. Guilt implies a cognitive choice in a particular act and awareness of potential wrongdoing.

Often on the internet you’ll see content being shared of dogs expressing “guilt” after performing specific undesired behaviours. If it’s not guilt then what is it ?

The response you’re seeing in your dogs expression is appeasement behaviours in an attempt to defuse the situation and express fear, discomfort, distress and anxiety. This is a response to the guardians or previous guardians historical cues of anger and distress.

Stress behaviours may present by:
-Whale eyes
-Lip licking
-lowering head
-Turning away/ creating space
-Tight mouth
-Wrinkling of the face
-Ears pinned back
-Tight body
-Low body
-Tucked tight tail
-Sniffing, yawning, scratching, playing out of context
-paw lift
-Smiling with teeth exposed
-Closing of the eyes
-Rolling onto back
-Freezing

The videos which show dogs expressing “guilt” are purely showing dogs in high stress conflicting situations.

The dogs in our lives deserve protection and we shouldn’t be promoting this type of content. It’s not funny and won’t ever be funny.

30/11/2023

It all comes down to feeling "Safe"

When a dog on a lead exhibits a reactive response, such as barking or lunging, this behaviour stems from underlying emotions. Dogs might feel fear, anxiety, or frustration, possibly triggered by feeling restricted by the lead. Unable to flee, their response can be to display defensive or aggressive looking behaviours. Understanding these emotions is key to addressing and modifying such reactions through compassionate training and behaviour modification techniques.

25/11/2023

Too much too soon WILL cause issues.
It is a really common occurrence with newly adopted dogs.

Congratulations on your new dog.
I know you want to take them to the beach, the pet store and your café....however can I ask for a few minutes so I can explain just what your dog has gone through.....and why you need to take the next few weeks SLOW.
Your new dog has had it's whole world turned upside down.
They don't know you.
They don't know if they can trust you.
They don't know if they are with you for an hour or forever.
They may have been in various scary places.
Other houses, rescues, the pound and likely ALL of these in the past few days or weeks.
Your dog has stress hormones surging through their brain, they are STRESSED....they need to decompress, they need STABILITY in their environment and from you.
They need time with you and their new environment.
They need to know that the tree outside may rustle against the house and that's OK.
They need to know that those normal creaky noises in your house are OK and that at 3.45 the neighbours bang their door shut.
They need to know when it rains that tapping sound is OK.
They need to know that when the door opens they won't be moved somewhere else again.
They need to trust that YOU are safe even when you have had a bad day, you will still give them food and that they can close their eyes around you.
You know what your good intentions are with your new dog, your dog however has NO idea what is happening.....only that everything has changed and it is scary.
They do NOT need other new environments yet. Take it SLOW.
Dogs that have just been adopted need TIME. There is no need to rush out the next day and take them to all the places you want to go with them.....They need the opposite.
Let them decompress, let them inspect a new area of your house or yard every day or two. Walk them up and down outside your house for a few days (and only there), let them sniff, and sniff some more. Let them p*e freely.....it may be boring for you, but not for your dog. They need to know what is happening around them and they learn that through their nose, eyes and ears.
They NEED this.
They need to learn to TRUST you.
The long walks can wait, the café will still be there in a few weeks and you can visit the pet shop alone until they are ready.
Your bond together is the MOST important thing to concentrate on right now.
You will never regret taking it slow and it can save your dog and yourself from making the very same mistakes that can lead to people rehoming in the first place.
All the very best with your new dog.