Pawsitive Pup Training

12/20/2024

Argos, the faithful dog of Odysseus, remains one of the most iconic symbols of loyalty in ancient literature. His story comes from Homer's Odyssey, an epic poem from 8th century BC Greece that follows the long and perilous journey of Odysseus as he tries to return home after the Trojan War. After 20 years away — filled with battles, shipwrecks, and the constant threat of death — Odysseus finally returns to his homeland of Ithaca, but in disguise. No one recognizes him, not even his family or closest friends. But one soul does. Argos, his old dog, lying neglected and frail on a pile of filth, sees him from afar. His ears perk up, his tail wags faintly. Despite being too weak to stand, he still finds the strength to recognize the one person he had been waiting for all those years.

This brief yet powerful scene appears in Book 17 of The Odyssey, and it has remained one of the most heart-wrenching moments in all of literature. Argos, forgotten by everyone but still holding on to hope, finally sees his master once more. And with that small, silent moment of joy, he lets go of life, dying in peace. It's a testament to the enduring love of dogs — they never forget, never stop waiting, and never stop loving. Argos’ loyalty is timeless, reminding us that even in the most ancient of stories, the bond between humans and dogs was already seen as sacred. For anyone who’s ever loved a dog, this scene hits close to home. It’s not about grandeur or heroism — it’s about the quiet power of devotion.

12/18/2024

The world would be a better place for dogs if we all understood their body language and behavior better.

Growling is a common behavior that we tend to misinterpret and therefore handle inappropriately.

Growling is communication.
Growling is often a dog asking for space.
Growling is often a dog saying that they are uncomfortable.
Growling is often a dog trying to avoid conflict.

Over the next few days up until the holiday, I will be sharing other dog facts/truths that I wish more people knew. 🎄🎄

12/18/2024

12/18/2024

The behaviour might change but the dog is not learning, their nervous system is shutting them down into the response most likely to help them survive the situation.

12/18/2024

Every pet owner has a special bond with their animal. From going on walks to spending time on the couch together, there are so many ways the human-animal bond is shared and experienced. Many pet owners[1] believe that regularly giving treats to their pets plays a big role in strengthening the human-...

12/18/2024

Remember no one is arguing the need for sterilization, it's the surgical technique that should be reevaluated. Hysterectomy and vasectomy achieve the same goal but leave important hormones intact according to science.

"The association between gonadectomy and timing of gonadectomy, and the risk of canine cranial cruciate ligament disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract
Objective - To determine if gonadectomy in dogs is associated with the risk of cranial cruciate ligament disease (CrCLD) and to quantify the magnitude of the association.

Study design - Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Sample population - Comparative studies with gonadectomized and entire dogs, with CrCLD as an outcome measure.

Methods - A systematic search of the primary and gray literature was performed. The effect size of the outcome measure was defined as the OR and 95% CI. Subgroup analysis was performed with s*x, breed, and age at gonadectomy. A pooled OR (95% CI) was generated from meta-analysis of relevant studies. Certainty in the body of evidence was rated with the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework.

Results - The literature search yielded 1398 results and 24 relevant studies were included for synthesis. Gonadectomized female (pooled OR = 2.293, 95% CI = 1.768–2.945) and male (pooled OR = 2.117, 95% CI = 1.665–2.691) dogs were both at increased odds of developing CrCLD in comparison with entire female and male dogs, respectively. Subgroup analysis showed that gonadectomy at 1 year or less was consistently associated with an increase in odds of developing CrCLD in both s*xes. Overall certainty in the evidence was rated as moderate. All included studies were observational and no controlled trials were available.

Conclusion - In data with moderate certainty, gonadectomy is associated with increased odds of developing CrCLD in both s*xes, particularly in dogs gonadectomized at 1 year of age or less.

Clinical significance - This study provides an estimate of the true effect size of gonadectomy on the odds of developing CrCLD, which may be useful for clinical decision making surrounding gonadectomy and the timing of gonadectomy."

12/05/2024

12/03/2024

Understanding Your Dog's Behaviour: It's About Needs, Not Dominance 🐾

Dogs communicate their needs through behaviour. Every action, whether we label it as good or bad, is an attempt to meet core needs like hunger, physical or mental discomfort, stress, or the need for attention.

By observing these behaviours, we can better understand and meet our dogs' needs, strengthening our relationship with them.

Remember, every wag, bark, or whine has a purpose—it's their way of talking to us. 🐶❤️🐕

🌟🦴🐾

12/03/2024

THE PERILS OF PUNISHMENT

It’s easy to stop or suppress a behaviour by using punishment, force or pain and say that it really works, so why even bother to do it differently?

Punishment based methods may well “fix” the behaviour quickly, are far easier, require far less effort, less knowledge, less education, or even just be based on traditional belief, but these methods come at a great cost - destroying trust, creating insecurity, fear, anxiety, provoking aggression, causing dogs to shut down or feel helpless and prevent dogs from learning an alternative, more acceptable behaviour.

There is so much modern, scientific evidence to support force free, positive reinforcement methods as being the most effective and successful way to modify behaviour.

There is nothing admirable, ethical or intelligent in physically or emotionally forcing any sentient being to comply.

Take the time and make a commitment to understand and learn about positive, force free, science-based methods.

12/03/2024

Behaviour acts as a window to an animal's emotional world, indicating whether they feel safe and secure, or if they are distressed, unwell, or in pain.

11/26/2024

Patrick Swayze once said, "They told me my house smelled like dogs, and I asked them, do you know what a dog smells like?" It smells like gratitude, loyalty, nobility, affection, pure unconditional love. And in spite of all they've been through, they smell no resentment. So blessed that my house smells like dogs.”

💙

11/24/2024

Making my second purchase. Great posture support!!!

Shop with Forme now and receive $10 off your order!

11/24/2024

Thanks to for this !

11/23/2024

Looking at current position statements from organizations like AVSAB (American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior), who are the leaders on veterinary care and behavior, they are abundantly clear that the outdated belief of avoiding socialization until vaccines are completed has no place in current standards. This is relevant because in many cases this fear of strangers or a particular group of people, results from lack of socialization during this critical period and can have lifelong impacts into adulthood.

11/23/2024

Welfare-focused dog training is beneficial to all dogs, no matter the breed or behaviour. It encourages and reinforces good behaviours while preventing potential mistreatment and bad habits that can cause stress, anxiety and health issues.

Most importantly, welfare-focused dog training keeps a pet's wellbeing at the forefront of instruction. It teaches owners how to communicate effectively with their canine companions so that both parties feel secure in their relationship and are free from fear or distress. This creates an environment where learning takes place through positive reinforcement rather than punishment based on making mistakes – something which provides greater overall psychological stability for the animal.

Welfare focused training also prevents behavioural problems from forming in the first place. Good instruction gives guardians tools to help them shape their dog's resilience and behaviours in constructive ways long before problems become habituated allowing humanely resolving any issues as soon as they arise instead of relying on outdated methods of brutal physical corrections such as those often employed by more traditional trainers who have not adopted scientifically proven modern techniques over trusty old techniques recently debunked.

11/23/2024

Aversive dog training methods rely on force and intimidation, both negatively impact a dog's brain chemistry and welfare.

This treatment of dogs causes stress, leading to the release of cortisol and adrenaline, which can result in anxiety and fear. Over time, chronic stress may impair the dog's ability to learn, develop trust, and form healthy bonds with their guardian.

Increased stress also suppresses serotonin production, a neurotransmitter crucial for mood regulation, ultimately diminishing the dog's overall well-being and happiness.

Become a force free dog trainer with The ISCP https://www.theiscp.com/challenge-page/online-dog-trainingcourse