Dog-friendly, science-based training for dogs and people
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This was a fun real world need today, and I had some extra time so I filmed it. Cooperative tonometry--really great because you can falsely increase eye pressures with restraint, so not needing to hold the dog ensures you get accurate pressures. I did the left eye first, then the right, and then switched back to left and you can see how much more tolerant he was with the left eye after practicing. This video is all from one session, edited down from about 16 minutes of actual work.
Just some quick video fun this afternoon!
Just back from a glorious trip to Norway for our first international competition and some extended sightseeing! Val was a good girl and won a few prizes in entry level, and then we drove around finding beautiful things to photograph. Happy Monday!
Val speedstakes
Some coursework practice from last week.
Sunrise photo shoot this morning! Can’t wait to see the final images!
Sneak peek of Samra and Mario! Sometimes, you just need to plant a kiss riggghhhttt there 😘🥰I cannot get over how pretty the morning light is here!
Val demonstrating her cooperative care skills!
Cooperative blood draw without restraint
The second student video is Sierra, and this was her first time doing a cooperative auscultation at her clinic! So proud of everyone's progress!
I have a couple of student videos to share! The first is Redford, who is uncomfortable with nail trims and is generally sedated for his exams, vaccines, etc. as well as nails. We are working on ways for him to file his own nails, as well as desensitization to handling, auscultation, and injections.
Our best run, J3.
Who doesn’t love a Mean Girls theme? The So Fetch! Cup at Hounds of Heck is always super fun, and this year the courses brought some really good challenges. Mario brought his A game and won 8” finals (that’s why his hair is so big—it’s full of secrets).
UKI Northeast Cup was quite the experience! Mario's first full cup summary:
🥇 1st 8" Biathlon
🥇 1st 8" Masters Series
🥈 2nd 8" Games Challenge
🥉 3rd 8" Speedstakes Challenge
🏆 8" Overall Cup Winner
Such a great smol! Looking forward to our first trip to the US Open this year.
Val passed her Cooperative Care Certificate Level 3, the highest level of certification currently available. Cooperative care is a great set of skills for any dog or cat, even ones who are already tolerant of vetting and handling. Please get in touch if you'd like help with cooperative care for your animal!
Mario earned his UKI agility championship this weekend as well as a UKI Masters Series win!
A little over a year ago, even with pre visit medications Vinnie’s owners could not put a muzzle or slip lead on him at the vet clinic, and he would bite if these things were attempted. His owners have worked very hard on cooperative care, muzzle training, and desensitization with him, and today we were able to safely complete a brief exam at a home visit. Great job Vinnie and family!
Wowwww we had such a fun time at the PNW UKI Classic! Great courses and nice people. More smol on box! First in biathlon, second in Speedstakes challenge after a bar in round 2. Thanks organizers and judges for an awesome show. Internet too slow for video right now so here are box pics and Mount Rainier.
Cooperative care can be fun games and tricks! Val and I did the exercises for level 1 because all dogs can benefit from voluntary husbandry, not only dogs who are fearful or resistant to handling. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCZh_QWPjPk
Winning biathlon run!
A little late on my summary of the Kinetic Dog UKI Northeast Cup last weekend at Orchard Hills. We got to run some awesome courses from Ashley Anderson and Mike Murphy. Mario wasn't quite ready to do a whole cup (8 runs over 3 days) so we didn't compete for the overall awards. He did a great job at one of his first big events and made the podium in both events that we competed in! He won Biathlon Jumping and the overall 8" Biathlon as well as coming in third in the Speedstakes Challenge. Mary Ellen Barry organized a really fun and safe event with the coolest COVID vaccine prizes for round winners. Looking forward to this event next year!
Desensitization and cooperative care aren’t just for dogs! Every morning Francisco voluntarily comes to this spot so we can do our toothbrushing routine.
Important:
🌟 Using food does not make someone a force free trainer.
🌟 Leash corrections and use of intimidating body language "work" because of force and fear, just like shock and prong collars.
🌟 "Balanced" training, or using both punishment and reinforcement is also harmful. Science says.
Red Flags:
🚩 If someone is talking about getting your dog to "respect you" run the other way. Similarly, folks who talk about "being in charge".
🚩Makes up titles. There is no regulation in the dog training industry. As such, some folks make up meaningless titles to make themselves seem more knowledgeable than they are.
🚩Sets your dog up to rehearse the behavior you want to change. Thinking they "need" to see it to help could be indicative of someone inexperienced, or at worst, someone is intentionally setting up your dog to fail. Do not pay them money for this.
🚩Says your dog can't sniff on walks. Good morning to everyone except those folks 🖕
🚩 Blames the dog's problems on the owner (you're too soft, too anxious, too weak) instead of things like genetics, early environment, socialization, learning history, and compulsion training.
🚩 Tells you comforting your dog is wrong.
Green flags:
🟢 Uses terms like desensitization and counter conditioning.
🟢 Creates a plan to prevent the behavior from being rehearsed, and to prevent stress levels from rising.
🟢 Concerns themselves with your dog's overall well-being including their mental, social, physical, and species-specific needs.
🟢 Regularly engages in continuing education
🟢 Certified by CCPDT, KPA, IAABC, PPG, or APDT
🟢 You and your dog leave sessions feeling GOOD.
🟢 Uses positive reinforcement with the HUMANS too
🟢 Happy to answer your questions
Questions to Ask:
❤ What happens if my dog gets it wrong
❤ What do your certifications mean
❤ Who do you look up to/learn from
❤ How often do you engage in continuing education
❤ What if you don't know the answer to my question
❤ What experience do you have with this behavior
❤ What resolutions have you seen with this behavior
❤ Why are we doing this
❤ How does this help my dog
Tell me what you would add to the lists!
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Val speedstakes
Some coursework practice from last week.
Cooperative blood draw without restraint
The second student video is Sierra, and this was her first time doing a cooperative auscultation at her clinic! So proud of everyone's progress!
I have a couple of student videos to share! The first is Redford, who is uncomfortable with nail trims and is generally sedated for his exams, vaccines, etc. as well as nails. We are working on ways for him to file his own nails, as well as desensitization to handling, auscultation, and injections.
Our best run, J3.
Favorite run: biathlon agility
Val passed her Cooperative Care Certificate Level 3, the highest level of certification currently available. Cooperative care is a great set of skills for any dog or cat, even ones who are already tolerant of vetting and handling. Please get in touch if you'd like help with cooperative care for your animal!
A little over a year ago, even with pre visit medications Vinnie’s owners could not put a muzzle or slip lead on him at the vet clinic, and he would bite if these things were attempted. His owners have worked very hard on cooperative care, muzzle training, and desensitization with him, and today we were able to safely complete a brief exam at a home visit. Great job Vinnie and family!
Winning biathlon run!
Little rockstar won Masters Series and got Snooker and Speedstakes Qs this weekend. Two good days of running happy!
Desensitization and cooperative care aren’t just for dogs! Every morning Francisco voluntarily comes to this spot so we can do our toothbrushing routine.
Low stress vaccines 👍🏻👍🏻
Quincy doing a fantastic job filing his own nails! This is a great winter enrichment game and also gives him an active role in husbandry to avoid stressful nail trims.
Day one of working on default settle on mat and super proud of her choice with a distraction entering 😍
More Ren Faire progress! Tons of people, sounds, and turkey legs at eye level— this is an advanced environment for most dogs!
Mario started out not even taking high value food outdoors because he was so interested in the environment. Desensitization using a default behavior to ensure he stayed below threshold helped us make a ton of progress! This is his second year attending the PA Renaissance Faire and he gets better every time. Desensitization is incredibly rewarding and one of the best ways to help dogs become good citizens!
Cooperative care really works! Alba (very afraid of body handling) got her vaccine with no restraint, fear, or drama. :)
Most extremely good boy!
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