Mann's Best Friend Pet Services

08/15/2024

It’s much easier to get through difficult procedures if we feel we have some kind of control.

Sometimes we need to go ahead with things our dogs find uncomfortable because it’s a case of welfare. And we shouldn’t feel guilty about that. Dogs are amazingly forgiving and if we put enough good stuff in, the bad stuff has less of an impact.

But providing more choice and control for our dogs in as many areas we can. Can make getting things done much less traumatic for both of us.

A few of you asked to know more about consent handling and start/stop buttons after I shared it in my story. If you would like to watch my free video explanation, comment CONSENT and I’ll DM you the link.

08/15/2024

If you want to know why a dog humps, pay close attention to context—who the dogs are and when it's happening.

08/15/2024

Yes you can poison your recall☠️ and it is very common
Recall (having your dog come to you when called) is one of those cues in training that depends heavily on your relationship together. 🤝🙂
However, there are other things we can inadvertently do which damage a good recall and we often don't even realise we do this.
One of the advantages of having an In Home Trainer is we see all those little things that make SUCH a big difference.
Calling your dog to you when you are about to do something unpleasant to them (or they view as could be a negative experience)....even for the best of intentions, can poison recalls.
Calling them to their dreaded bath.
You know they dislike having their nails cut, but they are called to you.....usually ignoring your calls and then finally skulking slowly forward... with their head down low.
Calling them to you when you have the ear drops in your hand.
They will start to make associations with recall and what you actually want them for.
The opposite (calling away from fun and positive experiences) is also true.
Constantly calling your dog away from fun and positive experiences is a recall destroyer.
One of the biggest destroyers of a recall is calling them to you and clipping their lead straight on and leaving the fun area.....have a play with them first, clip on the lead and continue to have fun for a few minutes. This is a little thing that turns that negative association into a really positive one..
So DON"T call them when they may view what you are wanting (or importantly needing to do)....go and get them.
If you need to groom, please take the time and look into cooperative care, it makes SUCH a difference.
Recently I worked with a Pitbull that was in a desperate situation with their claws.
No-one would do them, not their veterinary clinic, no groomer...no-one...even with a muzzle. He is classified by our council as a menacing dog.
It took 2 half hour sessions with some very easy steps that the motivated guardians did a few times a day for a minute or two.......The result.
Nails done....with no muzzle......and NO stress.
A pleasant experience for everyone.
One of the other issues we picked up on was he was called to them for everything , including being called away from positive/fun experiences and for what he may view as negative.....and it certainly affected their recall too. The recall was about 30 %.
So if your recall is more miss than hit....look at when you actually call them too you and why.
If you change little habits you can make some very big differences.

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08/02/2024

It’s all about the quality and what we do when we’re together.

08/02/2024

Does your dog ever bark at you? I mean, over and over again barking? Some dogs bark at us while we are trying to do other things and aren’t paying attention to them at that moment. Other dogs bark when they want something like food, or for us to toss their favorite toy. Maybe your dog barks at you...

08/02/2024

08/02/2024

Changing a dogs emotions takes time. ⏰✅
It isn't as "simple" as teaching a sit or stay, as this is ALL about emotions. Just as we humans need time and understanding to process our own emotions, dogs are absolutely no different.
However.... there are lots of steps (easy steps) you can do to help things go smoother and faster.
If you have a reactive dog, I know just how much effort you are putting in.
I am one of those trainers that LOVES reactive dogs (I think you all know that by now🙂). One of the reasons I love working with them is there can be such a transformation in everyone's lives !

Don't underestimate the power of stopping and taking a few deep breaths....all of our clients are encouraged to relax and breath when working with their dogs.
Often they take a few quick "shoulder breaths"....but when encouraged to stop and take some deeper belly breaths, their dog senses that too.
They know your stress has dropped.
They sense your heart rate has lowered.
They are aware your BP has lowered too.
Many dogs will respond amazingly well to just adding this in alone.
It certainly isn't a cure...but it helps lower everyone's stress.

Please respect that these graphics take time and effort to make. Everyone is free to share on social media🙂, however off social media use of these marked graphics is prohibited.
Unmarked graphics are available for $ 1.20 USD or $ 2 NZD each (approx), these are then able to be used off Facebook for client handouts, posters or for personal use.
Screen shots are a violation of the copyright.
Please visit ABC Dogs Patreon Shop for unmarked graphics. All graphics belong to ABC Dogs NZ and are under copyright.

08/02/2024

Tearing things up is a natural dog behavior. It's fun for them. It meets a biological need in both survival and play. But it can be a problem if that shredding is directed onto things we deem inappropriate, or cannot replace. The solution is to manage the environment so that inappropriate target items (your favorite throw pillows for example) are not easily accessible and to provide an appropriate outlet for the behavior. My personal favorite is a box.

I get a monthly BarkBox, because I love to gift things to my dogs. But the box is also a great size and density for shredding. We all also order too many things online, and thus usually have a plethora of those "really good boxes" hanging out taking up space in the garage. I will take some old news paper, packing paper, or even toilet paper rolls and toss them into the box along with some tasty treats (or even kibble if I am feeding a meal this way.) Close and seal up the box and toss it to one of the dogs. They delight in the destruction and it provides a great amount of mental enrichment. At the end there is some clean up on my part that has to be done, but much preferable to something irreplaceable like a photo album. The pieces also take up much more space in the recycling bin.

Letting a dog who gets particular joy from shredding things up destroy an appropriate item protects the things in my home I don't want to be shredded, and provides a wonderful outlet for the dogs. This is also another activity that is great for those days when your schedule isn't providing enough room for you to take that extra long walk, or resources are used up for the time and energy to do other things with our dogs. Currently where I live everything is on fire, the resulting terrible air quality means I (as a severe asthmatic) have to be really limited on my outdoor time. This means the dogs aren't getting the long hikes and other outdoor activities they are used to. We are making good use of the box stash in the garage this week!

07/11/2024

Charles and Stella tugging with the last remanence of the Jolly Ball.

06/14/2024

Most dogs will avoid conflict. We only have to see some of the videos floating round on social media to know that they will do anything not to hurt us.
Bites most often come after a thousand “no’s,” “please stops”, “I don’t like this.”
And where we have to or where we’ve missed something, we need to recognise it as something we can try to improve upon our end, not theirs.

06/14/2024

Setting your dog up for success when you know vision loss is imminent can be empowering for both of you. Having specific action steps to ta

06/12/2024

It can be tempting in our training to skip the little steps.

It’s great to have faith in our dogs but if we stick to small steps, it’s so much clearer to them what we want.

The result is getting to the end goal faster with a much more solid behaviour.

06/12/2024

Knowledge about dog behaviour is important. It's a no brainer. But why? 🤔

Well, understanding dog behaviour is crucial in effective dog training for several reasons. A deep knowledge of canine behaviour allows trainers & behaviourists to create effective, humane, and tailored training programmes. Here are the primary reasons why this knowledge is essential:

⚠️ Understanding Canine Communication.

Dogs communicate primarily through body language and vocalisations. A deep understanding of these communication methods helps to interpret what a dog is feeling or intending, which is crucial for effective training.

Body Language. Knowing the nuances of a dog’s body language, such as tail position, ear orientation, and posture, can indicate whether the dog is relaxed, anxious, or aggressive. For instance, a wagging tail doesn't always mean a dog is happy; the context and type of wag are important indicators of the dog's emotional state.

Vocalisations. Different barks, growls, and whines have distinct meanings. Recognising these sounds allows trainers to respond appropriately to a dog’s needs and emotions, facilitating better communication and training outcomes.

⚠️ Addressing Behavioural Issues.

Behavioural issues such as aggression, anxiety, and excessive barking can stem from various causes, including fear, territoriality, or past trauma. Understanding the root causes of these behaviours is essential for developing effective intervention strategies.

Anxiety. Recognising signs of anxiety and understanding its triggers (e.g., separation anxiety, noise phobia) helps in designing desensitisation and counterconditioning programmes to alleviate the dog’s stress.

⚠️ Understanding the importance and relevance of health and wellbeing vs behaviour.

Physical & mental health do impact dog behaviour more than people realise. Considering possible pain, discomfort, nutrition, appetite amount of physical activity and mental health is absolutely critical before any training can start.

⚠️ Implementing Positive Reinforcement Techniques.

A comprehensive knowledge of dog behaviour supports the use of positive reinforcement techniques, which are based on rewarding desired behaviours to encourage their repetition.

Timing and Consistency. Understanding the importance of immediate and consistent reinforcement helps trainers effectively shape and reinforce desired behaviours. This is critical as dogs learn best when there is a clear and immediate connection between their behaviour and the reward.

Motivation. Knowing what motivates a particular dog, whether it’s food, toys, or affection, allows trainers to tailor their approach to each dog’s preferences, making training more effective and engaging.

⚠️ Building Trust and Relationship.

Effective, kind and modern dog training is built on a foundation of trust between the dog and the trainer. Deep knowledge of dog behaviour helps in establishing this trust by ensuring that training methods are humane and respectful.

Avoiding Negative Methods. Understanding the detrimental effects of punishment and negative reinforcement encourages trainers to avoid these methods, which can damage the dog-trainer relationship and lead to fear or aggression.

Empathy and Respect. Recognising and respecting a dog’s individual temperament and limits fosters a positive training environment, enhancing the bond between the dog and the trainer.

⚠️ Customising Training Programs.

Dogs, like humans, have individual personalities and learning styles. Knowledge of dog behaviour enables trainers to customise training programmes to suit the specific needs and characteristics of each dog.

Breed-Specific Traits. Different breeds have distinct behavioural traits and predispositions. For example, herding breeds may require more mental stimulation, while scent hounds may need activities that engage their sense of smell.

Individual Differences. Beyond breed traits, individual dogs have unique personalities. Some may be more timid or excitable than others. Tailoring training to these individual differences ensures more effective and humane outcomes.

⚠️ Preventing and Managing Problem Behaviours

Understanding the natural behaviours of dogs helps in preventing and managing problem behaviours before they become ingrained.

Early Intervention. Recognising early signs of behavioural issues allows for timely intervention, preventing the escalation of undesirable behaviours.

Environmental Management: Knowledge of dog behaviour informs environmental management strategies, such as providing adequate exercise, mental stimulation, and safe spaces, which are critical for preventing behavioural problems.

05/23/2024

This is something so often seen on social media, trainers claiming that they have sorted out a behaviour problem in a single session, or just minutes. Often they will show videos of before and after, seeming to indicate that the dog is perfectly behaved in the after clip.

The problem comes when looking at these videos and claims with an educated eye. So often the 'perfectly behaved' dog in the second clip is showing lots of signs of stress, scared to do anything, or looks absolutely shut down and has given up, just waiting for it all to be over.

What is rarely shown is the bit between the before and after. That part where the dog finds out not doing what this trainer wants will result in something that causes them fear and/or pain. The methods or tools that might be used (although with a close look, the shock collar or prong collar or similar tool can sometimes be seen). The effects of using tight slip leads on the dog's neck and the physical damage that can be done there.

The picture text sums the whole situation up: there are no quick fixes in behaviour. If someone claims that they can change behaviour fast, take a step back. Think about what they would have to do or use to stop that behaviour so quickly, and about the effect that will have on your dog and the relationship you have with them.

05/23/2024

Practicing gratitude can be so beneficial for our mental health but at times it can be hard when we feel overwhelmed by stress, anxiety or sadness.
Our dogs are good at reminding us that we don’t need to look at the whole picture to feel grateful. But just to focus on the little things first.

05/16/2024

Stella's first visit to Starr Farm. She used to be skittish around new people and situations. She also hated car rides. She has overcome so much.