Canine Consulting

08/24/2024

08/21/2024

Did you know...
If you have an account with Chewy, you can connect with a vet for free?
https://www.chewy.com/b/connect-vet-16616

08/11/2024

Shakin’ it off!

Did you know?

We often associate a dog shaking its fur with removing water or some other irritant from the coat, but in some cases, it may be indicative of something going on at an emotional level.

When shaking the fur occurs out of context, such as when the dog is not wet or waking up from a nap, it can a sign that the dog is shaking his fur as a sign of relief.

You may therefore see a dog “shaking off” his emotions, after being pet by strangers or after a rough play session with another dog.

Discover more reasons dogs shake their fur: https://dogdiscoveries.com/.../reasons-dogs-shake-their-fur

08/03/2024

Respect the space. 😊

08/01/2024

It’s hot! 🥵 Know when it’s too hot for Fido.

07/28/2024

Cool stuff!

Did you know?

Dogs release pheromones from a variety of body parts. The term pheromone derives from the Greek word "pherein" which means "to transport" and the word "mone" meaning hormone.

The term is therefore utilized to depict those volatile, odorous substances that are secreted for the purpose of causing a physiological reaction in the dogs who receives them.

Discover more about 6 fascinating ways dogs release them and how they impact their behaviors: https://dogdiscoveries.com/curiosity/dogs-release-pheromones

07/26/2024

A lengthy (but oh so insightful!) blog post on sniffing, the science around it, and why our dogs need it so much.

https://perretologia.substack.com/p/let-them-sniff-is-not-a-suggestion?

How dog olfaction works, how central it is to their experience of the world, and what the science says of olfactory enrichment.

07/21/2024

Adoptable at Humane Society of Chittenden County! Meet Tanner. Let’s get Tanner home.

07/18/2024

Did you know?

Dogs are sensitive to the pitch and timbre of human voices. According to a study, dogs pay more attention to forms of speech that are characterized by a high pitch and an exaggerated effect, as observed when using pet-directed speech.

In a particular study, puppies were found to show a greater reaction to pet-directed speech and they were found to be particularly sensitive to high frequencies. Puppies were also found to show a greater reaction to all vocal stimuli compared to adult dogs.

There are chances that high-toned sounds are associated with affiliative motivation because this pitch is associated with the sounds produced by infants. Dogs and wolves emit high-pitched vocalizations when greeting and soliciting food or care.

07/03/2024

Free grief support!

If you will soon have to make the agonizing decision to euthanize your beloved pet, get support at our free, facilitated Anticipatory Bereavement chatroom on Thursday, July 4, 8:00 - 9:30 PM ET. Being with others who understand really does help. Find out more at: https://www.aplb.org/chat-with-us/

07/01/2024

Today is July 1st. The best time to contact your veterinarian about July 4th was last month - but the second best time is NOW!

Please consider the myriad ways you can help your pup.

Microchip up to date? Collar on securely with accurate info? Fence gate/doorways escape proof?

Also consider safe spaces, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, music, calming aids, and engaging enrichment items. ❤️‍🩹

06/22/2024

Thoughts on grooming and cooperative care:

Cooperative Care training is just as important as any other sort of training you’ll do. Nails, eyes, paws, general body handling - this stuff is vital to do in emergency settings and day to day settings.

Conversely, not every session needs to be an intense training-forward sesh. Lean into casual, relaxed moments! These moments put currency in the trust n’ love bank.

These intimate moments are so powerful.

Emma and I aren’t “working” necessarily here, but I am working in this moment. I’m making sure that she’s enjoying handling, however casual, and these wonderful moments build up trust.

06/19/2024

Set sail with Sailor! This cutie is adoptable at Humane Society of Chittenden County!

https://www.hsccvt.org/Dogs &page=shelterluv_wrap_1666106720801%252Fembed%252Fanimal%252FCCVT-A-16236

06/13/2024

It’s fearful pup vet visit prep for me! 😂

We’re going to have a blood draw tomorrow - and what’s really successful for us *drumroll* is the treat bowl.

An immersive experience for my resident fearful pup!

All sides are smeared with cream cheese, bacon is pressed in, dollops of dog safe PB, and then frozen. This is for our blood draw.

Now the lickmat has two types of cheese and PB. This is for any extended waiting times, any general handling - just a nice backup! That’ll also be frozen.

This is just one method for one dog - I don’t do this for all my pups, and we’re all at different levels with vet visits with my crew.

Do what works for the dog in front of you. 😉

My goal is to make the vet’s exam efficient as possible, and my canine as comfortable as I can. 💥

PS: Also probiotics before/after because we know stress affects the gut and potentially extra treats will too.

06/13/2024

This is why we do it, folks!

06/04/2024

The highs and the lows, the pros and the cons of dog parks.

Sooo. Remember this says IF you are going to go. And also remember that while you think it's a social time for you to meet your coffee buddies- a lot can happen in a few minutes. Stay vigilant!!!

05/30/2024

Aww, that's my hound Harry!

You're a pro. You already know a bit about "how" to teach dogs & people. But sometimes you just can't shake the sense that you're missing some critical pieces of the puzzle— like "why" so many behaviors are happening in the first place. Well, get ready to take your professional journey to the next...

05/29/2024

There’s so much to consider!

05/22/2024

"I see so many senior dogs not being allowed to smell things because they take a long time, being dragged along behind their humans because they can’t walk as fast as they used to, and it is really sad. It was lovely to see this dog enjoying her space in her own way, and at her own pace. As dogs get older, they might not be able to walk like they once did, but give them an opportunity to stop and smell everything if they want to. Focus on them having a quality walk, not quantity of steps."

A story about a senior beagle.

Recently, I went for a walk in the sunshine. I’d had a pretty busy few days and my brain was buzzing with so many thoughts. I needed to decompress, so I decided to put my baby in his pram, go for a nice walk, and get a coffee from my favourite café. When I got there…closed. I was gutted.
I was heading home, brain still feeling like I had a swarm of bees in it because of my racing mind, when I stopped on a bench to feed my son. The park we were in was quite busy with a lot of dogs who were running around, diving in and out of water, chasing balls. All very much on the go.

The dog that stuck out to me was a senior beagle who was pottering around nearby. She was completely in a world of her own, plodding around the same small area, taking her time smelling what looked like every leaf and blade of grass. The dog she was with was gone, bolting it after a ball, but she didn’t give a scooby while she did her own thing and just enjoyed taking in everything around her, at the pace she needed to. She looked truly content. She had plenty of choice available to her in what do, and the choice she made to have the best time was not to go very far and spend lots of time sniffing.

That little dog was pottering around near me for quite a long time until she eventually decided she would go with her guardian and other dog, and in her own time, she ambled along after them whilst they waited up ahead.

The time I spent watching that dog put a really big smile on my face and served as a huge reminder to be more present and in the moment.
So on the way home, I decided to Be More Beagle. A dog’s most developed sense is their sense of smell (especially a hound!). Our most developed sense is sight. So on the walk home, instead of getting wrapped up in my thoughts, I took in the world around me, the flowers, the birds I wouldn’t have spotted otherwise.

This also served as a wonderful reminder of what senior dogs might need. I see so many senior dogs not being allowed to smell things because they take a long time, being dragged along behind their humans because they can’t walk as fast as they used to, and it is really sad. It was lovely to see this dog enjoying her space in her own way, and at her own pace. As dogs get older, they might not be able to walk like they once did, but give them an opportunity to stop and smell everything if they want to. Focus on them having a quality walk, not quantity of steps.

So today’s motto, and one that I’ll be adopting when I need a reminder to slow down and be more mindful, is “Be More Beagle”.

05/10/2024

Cool stuff on the benefits of chewing!

CHEWING BEHAVIOUR: CAN IT BENEFIT LEARNING IN FEARFUL DOGS ?

Anxiety and fear behaviours in social animals is the topic of our generation and much popularised in discussion and modern scientific research. We have seen several studies emerge in the last decade that have strengthened our understanding, which behaviour professionals have applied successfully in improving the affective state and welfare of animals across species. We are so lucky to have access to the work of many incredible minds of the global science community, who are continuing to elevate our knowledge base so we can help animals better.

A recent study by Krichbaum et al, 2023 explores a novel path suggesting that chewing could enhance learning in dogs. This is a first of its kind research looking at a link between chewing and cognitive function, in relation to fearfulness ( link in the comments)

Chewing behaviour in dogs, ranging from puppies to older canines, has been extensively observed throughout history. However, in wild canid species, recreational chewing is less compared to domesticated dogs, likely due to factors such as energy conservation and minimising time near carcasses to reduce risk. A study comparing teeth indentation on bones between wolves and captive wolves suggests that stress from captivity may influence differences in chewing rates.
Mastication, which involves chewing but is different to play or recreational, is a preliminary stage of digestion, and considered a rhythmic behaviour observed in almost all mammals, akin to locomotion and respiration, with the chewing rhythm generated in the brainstem . There is also evidence suggesting that the various functions of chewing support the mechanisms of natural selection in evolution and is widely factored into canid ethograms. Wolves can easily chew through large bones, aiming for quick consumption, while play behaviours among their young can involve chewing sticks.

In contemporary times, pet dogs have access to an array of products designed to alleviate boredom and provide enrichment, with claims to prevent undesirable behaviour and enhance wellbeing. An abundance of chewing options are available, with a recent survey indicating that 94% of dog owners offer edible chews, and 83% provide chew toys, believing that chewing alleviates boredom for their dogs.

Prior research has shown that chewing in pet dogs can alleviate stress ,and also evidence to suggest post learning exercise and play can influence memory in dogs.
However, this new study by Krichbaum et al, focuses specifically on aspects of chewing related to cognition through memory tests and its potential effect on trait-anxiety which is interpreted as fearfulness. Trait-anxiety is a term for anxiety that occurs consistently as part of an individuals’ way of thinking.
The study involved adult working Labradors ( known for their pronounced object play skills) already trained for tasks like scent detection. Nylabones were used as chew toys, provided directly prior to a spatial memory task, as well as a spatial navigation task.
The findings indicated that dogs with higher levels of fearfulness, more frequent chewing was associated with improved spatial memory. The opposite being true for dogs with lower fearfulness, which is interesting as the author suggests this may be due to chewing having a mitigating effect on fear. Whereas for the non-fearful subjects, chewing served more as a distraction. Findings also concluded that chewing during memory consolidation enhanced long-term memory.

This research marks a significant advancement in understanding chewing as a function and paves the way for further exploration, especially in relation to breed specific variations and motivational effects.

However, this new insight may also have implications for all dogs, particularly in how we train unwell, trauma-affected, adolescent as well as dogs exhibiting trait-anxiety. Similarly, it may benefit dogs easily stimulated by play techniques or dogs restricted from physical activity, with potential for faster learning outcomes, in both pre and post, a brief chewing period. Dog professionals might find value in utilising this data to test these new findings while ensuring ethical standards are maintained throughout training practises.

We welcome comments from our readers in relation to this paper, have any of you observed chewing behaviour improve outcomes or the opposite, in your own dogs or in your clients?


Boo Blackhurst CDBC


References:

Krichbaum et Al, 2023, No bones about it: The effect of chewing on cognition in dogs,
Applied Animal Behaviour Science

Arhant et Al, 2021, Chewing behaviour in dogs – A survey-based exploratory study,
Applied Animal Behaviour Science

Courtenay LA, et Al, 2021, 3D Insights into the Effects of Captivity on Wolf Mastication and Their Tooth Marks; Implications in Ecological Studies of Both the Past and Present

Nadja Affenzeller et Al, 2017, Playful activity post-learning improves training performance in Labrador Retriever dogs

Rooney et Al, 2009, A Practitioner’s guide to working dog welfare, Journal of Veterinary Behaviour

Gerstner GE et Al, 2010, Chewing rates among domestic dog breeds. J Exp Biol.

05/07/2024

Truth!

05/04/2024

Pet loss support!

Join our free pet loss support online chat session on Saturday, May 4, 8-10 PM ET. Find out more at: https://www.aplb.org/chat-with-us/

04/28/2024

Adoptable at Humane Society of Chittenden County - meet Julius!

04/25/2024

Truth.

Everyone is "Bella's mum" or "Bella's dad" 😅

Credit:

04/20/2024

If you need help with cooperative care and body handling, there’s some wonderful (free or low cost) online resources.

Cooperative care is such a game changer. Check out Cooperative Care by Deb Jones, the book or Facebook group!

04/08/2024

We’re ready!

03/29/2024

How adorable is this fantasy based training book?!