Team Tilly Canine Coaching

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Team Tilly Canine Coaching

Hi, I'm a level 4 Behaviour Practitioner (BCCSDip.AdvCanBhv) In 2020 I successfully passed the ThinkDOG certificate course.

In 2018 I completed the absoluteDOGS Pro Dog Trainer certificate, followed by the Geek course in 2019. In July 2021 I completed the Level 4 Advanced Canine Behaviour Diploma with the British College of Canine Studies, another step towards my goal.

16/11/2024

One thing that’s really important is being a safe space for your dog 🐾

Tilly was a bit unsure yesterday but see how she checks in and asks for support 💕

The middle on the move was a bit unexpected at the end 😂 However, it was a good choice as she didn’t react to the dog being walked the other side of the fence ☺️

It’s always worth celebrating the small wins as they lead to the biggest successes 🤩

Have you celebrated any small wins with your dog lately? Share below ⬇️

14/11/2024

Would you notice the more subtle signs of pain in your dog? 🐕

We would like to think so 🤨 We would notice a limp, a yelp, crying or groaning when moving. We may notice our dogs not getting up or laying down so easily 🤔

However, we may also note our dogs not wanting to jump in and out of the car or perhaps travel unsettles them. Not only can the impact of jumping aggravate their joints but the micro vibrations of the car can be uncomfortable 😱 Ever been in pain and wanted the driver to slow down and be more careful or if driving felt uncomfortable like you hit every bump in the road? 🫣 Our dogs may freeze on walks and appear stubborn not wanting to go home but actually not want to go in the car 🚙

We may note a change in the way our dog lays or sits. Perhaps their former ‘square’ sit has become sloppy or you noticed they like to have their head supported when they rest. Perhaps their walk has changed and their head carriage is lower, they pull or push themselves along. Maybe they throw themselves up or down to lay no longer a spritely move 🥺 Perhaps they avoid doing particular behaviours and no longer want to engage in tricks or agility. Maybe they actively avoid certain surfaces like slippery floors, wet mud or even stairs 🤔

We take many pictures and videos of our dogs 🐕 This give up lots of opportunity for comparison. We could compare these to see small changes that may not be so obvious 📷🎞️

We may also spot behavioural changes, perhaps our dog solicits contact only then to be snappy or growls 😲 They used to cuddle up on the sofa but now growl at you as you sit next to them or get up and move away, again the discomfort or vibrations may cause them pain 😓 Perhaps they pant at rest when it’s not particularly hot 🥵

Perhaps your dog has gradually become more intolerant of people or other dogs. Not enjoying interactions, becoming withdrawn or even becoming defensive on approach. If you were sore would you like someone to run up to you? Would bracing or moving exacerbate discomfort 😬

But, your dog still gets excited for walks! They still want to run and play…..well yes they do. Sometimes from habit, to please their humans but adrenalin is a great painkiller. Ever wandered where that bruise came from? Fallen over and quickly got up and moved on to cover it up but actually later realised you are injured, wanted to go out with friends or not miss an event only to feel fine while out but you really aren’t when you get home! 🏡

We also need to consider that everyone and dogs have different pain threshold’s. What is agony for one person may not bother another. When you have chronic pain a small bump may set off alarm bells to your body and feel extremely painful 😰

We may also see an increase in noise sensitivity. Again have you noticed everything seems louder when you don’t feel well. Imagine feeling uncomfortable then a noise makes you jump exacerbating your pain 😦 Perhaps you’ve noticed signs of separation anxiety starting, or hiding, avoidance, clinginess or even not being able to settle due to not being able to get comfortable 😓

Your dog may run away from their harness to avoid going out or because it presses where it hurts 😓 Perhaps you’ve noticed chewing, licking or constant nibbling, bald patches that give us a clue 🕵️ Maybe they have started to show abnormal repetitive behaviours such as tail chasing, light/reflection chasing 🤔

Our dogs whatever age deserve to be heard. They give us so many clues. It’s one of the reasons I became a Dynamic Dog Practitioner.

Some behaviors or actions such as the terrier skip or hop get ignored as ‘normal’ as they are common. However, just because they are common doesn’t mean they should be considered normal 😬

First port of call should be your vet for any behaviour changes. Pictures and videos for comparison are so useful as most of our dogs can get stressed at the vets, whether that’s terrified, shut down and not responsive or over excited this all triggers adrenalin. You could also reach out to a qualified Veterinary Physiotherapist for support 🐾

Have you spotted any of these in your dogs? 🐶

Pictures below of Caleb with his raised head, odd sternal sleep position and low head carriage careful walk. Tilly who self mutilated her thigh as a cry for help.

10/11/2024

Anyone else having fun with the crunchy autumn leaves 🍁 🍂 ?

I love encouraging dogs to use their noses and they get to use the environment as a reward, so many scents to explore 🤩

It’s also great fun and an opportunity to interact with your dogs 🐕

All too often I see dogs desperately trying to get the humans attention 😱 Only to get ignored or worse until the dog gives up or the human gets annoyed 😒

Are you and your dog going to have some fun today? Share your plans below ⬇️

07/11/2024

After all the recent fireworks Tilly isn’t really wanting to go outside despite having coped really well😱 Allowing time to decompress is so important 🐕. Today we just did some scent games, she demonstrates her resilience when she gets worried but just carries on. I’m there to support her if she needs me 🐾. Are you allowing your dog time to reset and decompress from all the stresses of the last week?

05/11/2024

We hope everyone is staying safe for tonight’s barrage of fireworks 🎇

Please remember it is ok to reassure and comfort your dog 🐕

Please don’t force your dog to be out and see fireworks if they are afraid 🐾

Many dogs go missing this time of year, please keep your pets safe, keep their collars and tags on them. Stay with them and keep on lead in the garden incase they are startled and bolt 🐾

Tilly and Caleb are enjoying their film, they have had long lasting chews, pet remedy has been sprayed in the corner of the room and we are settled 🐾

01/11/2024

Today marks the start of a weekend likely to be full of firework displays 🎆

A trying time for many animals and people. Please remember if your pet is afraid this is not your fault. There are many factors to take into consideration such as your pets history, any trauma, pain or health issues, hereditary noise sensitivity and genetic, epigenetic links 🧬

Noise desensitisation is tricky, we cannot replicate sound waves or in the case of thunder the change in barometric pressures 🔉💥 Also, we need to consider trigger stacking. The relentless never ending bangs may affect a dog who can cope with limited noise. Has your dog has an exciting or something scary happened in their day that could push their tolerance? 🤔

Try to walk your dog in daylight if possible. Keep their collar and name tag on them if they need to go outside or if very scared consider leaving it on just in case. So many dogs are lost during this time, a collar tag can lead you to a quick reunite. Ensure microchip details are up to date 📞

Close curtains and leave outside lights on to mask flashes, these can often be triggers. Use background noise like reggae, teiko drumms, a film with a loud consistent soundtrack to mask noise. Classic fm 📻 are doing a pet friendly few hours but ensure your dog hasn’t made previous associations with this and fireworks 🎇

If your dog likes to hide let them by creating a safe space, covering the area with blankets to absorb sound. If your dog needs to be with you, reassure them. Ttouch if practiced and your dog enjoys it can be calming for both of you. If your dog wants to be near but not touched (if they are likely to redirect a bite) just talk calmly to them 🐾

Give your dog an activity or long lasting chew to do if they are able. If they are new to fireworks or just a touch worried pair the noise with something fun. Scatter feeding is quick and easy to do with every bang. Chewing and licking helps a dog destress 🐾

If your dog really can’t cope speak to your vet about medication 💊 Consider a full health check to rule out any pain that could link to noise sensitivity (dogs are stoic). Keep your vet’s contact details to hand just in case of an emergency 🚨

Stay safe everyone 💕

28/10/2024

It’s Tillys birthday today, she is now 9 years old. Picture from today and 2 from her younger days, you can certainly see those grey hairs and how she grew into her legs 🤩

Tilly, the inspiration for me to help others due to how misunderstood she could be 😱

Happy birthday Tilly 🎂💕

27/10/2024

How does your dog feel about the car? 🚙 🐕

When I first adopted Tilly she was drooly in the car, which progressed to projectile vomiting 🤮 She also backed away from the car and refused to go in 😢

There was so much to think about:

⚫️ If you feel unwell doing something you will develop a negative association (an aversion).

⚫️Tilly had travelled from Romania, this can be traumatic as it’s a long difficult journey. This would have been traumatic but then she travelled to a foster home and for her every journey was an unknown (being scary).

⚫️Tilly was also growing fast, inner ear development can affect balance. Car travel as we know is a constant motion. So we have an element of motion sickness mixed with anxiety.

⚫️Tilly also developed growing pains. Fully investigated by the vet but we know getting in and out of the car stresses joints and the vibrations of the road can jar sore joints.

⚫️Tilly would after being sick, get out the car and stagger, stumble as if dizzy. Again an unpleasant experience.

So, when people say their dog is not travelling well there really is a lot to consider. It is not a simple case of just doing one thing (you may get lucky!) 🍀

For Tilly the mix of anxiety, motion sickness and pain were the root cause to investigate 🔬 She was a very frightened puppy who had far more going on that the car was just another symptom 🤔

Addressing Tilly’s needs before working on the car was more important. ‼️She needed to feel safe, her physical and emotional pain needed addressing ‼️ That was tricky 😱

Once she was feeling better then we worked around the car, in the car and gradually driving 2 minutes to my mum who at the time her only other trusted and favourite human 🐾 This all took time, it came together faster than expected but also built a solid framework.

Tilly got to travel really well once all the pieces of the puzzle came together. The car is her safe space (sometimes so much that at times she wants to stay there, but that’s another story 🫣).

For the first time in Tilly’s life with us I changed my car. I made sure her car seat cover and towel was in place just in case she needed reassurance. However, she just hopped in and got her nose down investigating the new scents 💕 For me it reinforced how much she has grown in so many ways 🐾

How does your dog feel about the car and travel?

26/10/2024

Tilly just heard she gets an extra hour in bed tonight 🤩

Don’t forget to put your clocks back tonight 🕰️

Some dogs really struggle with this and may need some extra help to adjust with the change 🐕

As Caleb has a lot of medication we have been gradually altering the times so he doesn’t go too long without them 💊 He also can’t hold his toilets as long as in his younger days, so we need to be aware that an extra hour may be too long for him.

I’m lucky my dogs get up when I do. How do your dogs cope with the change?

25/10/2024

Halloween is on its way 👻🎃

It can be fun or a fright night 😱

We need to be extra careful with all the sweeties 🍬 chocolate 🍫 and on a healthier note fruit 🍇 that could be potentially harmful to our dogs 🐕 Please ensure these are kept away from dogs, sometimes children like to share without knowing the dangers ⚠️ If your dog does accidentally eat something that could harm them please call your vet immediately (don’t waste time on asking social media) ‼️

We also need to be aware that there may be excitable children and scarily dressed people 🧙‍♀️👻. These can easily scare out dogs as can lots of novel decorations 💀, creepy music suddenly playing as you walk past 🎶

Please don’t force your dog to interact with anything or anyone they find scary and advocate for them if they look uncomfortable being approached by people or children in costume 🧙‍♀️Ensure your dog has up to date details on their tag and microchip just in case.

If you are likely to get trick or treaters monitor where your dog is so they can be kept safe away from the door 🎃 Not all people like dogs so may not appreciate meeting your dog and we don’t want our dogs escaping from an open door 🚪🐾 Pop your dog behind a baby gate or in another room before answering the door.

If your dog is distressed by the door disturbance consider putting up a polite sign of please do not knock/ring the doorbell and leave some treats in a tin or box so children can help themselves 📦

Although it may seem fun to dress up your dog many do not enjoy the experience. Please do not force your dog to wear a costume. Be aware of their body language. You can always get a spooky theme collar or harness for them to wear 🐾🐕

21/10/2024

Dogs learn a lot by association 🐾

With fireworks and Halloween on its way we are practicing our strategies in the calm and quiet 👻🎃🐾

Tilly has her thunder shirt on while we unwind before bed. This helps her associate the thunder shirt with chilling out rather than only seeing it when there is something noisy happening 🐾

If you want to use classical music, then condition it with relaxing together at home. This again helps the connection to be positive rather than linking certain music to a negative experience 🎶

It’s also worth considering what type of music dog your would prefer to drown out noises. Reggae music 🎵 has a steady background beat that is good to mask bangs, teiko drumming works in a similar way 🪘 Again play these at times there isn’t a lot going on to create positive associations 🐾

Make any changes earlier in the season so the dogs are accustomed to them in advance. It may be closing curtains earlier, switching walks for enrichment activities or leaving outside lights on to dampen flashes 🎇

What things can you start practicing to make fireworks night easier for your dog? 🐕 Post below to share your aims ⬇️

Reach out if you would like to chat 💬

19/10/2024

What are you up to on this rainy Saturday? ☔️🐾 We went to the dog exercise area and had some fun 🤩 Caleb was happy sniffing and pottering around. Tilly got to stretch her legs in a safely enclosed area 🐾 Even if we walk the same route everyday there will be different scents for our dogs from all the other humans and animals or birds that have been there since our last visit 🐾

16/10/2024

With the darker evenings coming we know Halloween and fireworks night are on their way 🎃

Gradually introducing changes such as moving an evening walk earlier or starting to make them shorter, perhaps even replacing them with an enrichment activity means that your dog will already be preparing a change in routine ready for fireworks 🎇

We can also use this time to prepare our dogs for novelty by doing confidence games at home. This helps them cope better with some of the Halloween decorations they could be faced with 👻🎃

Sudden changes in routine can upset some dogs and even aid their prediction that something is going to happen 🤔

Tilly has already picked up the shorter days and being Tilly has started to indicate on the box her thunder shirt is in 🫣 This again shows she finds it a comfort but also she doesn’t have any association linked in a negative way with it (I will talk about this in a future post) 🐾

This morning we have done Tillys physiotherapy exercises, massage and kong instead of a walk. She is now settled 💤

13/10/2024

When we take our dogs out and they seem a bit anxious we need to consider whose walk is it? 🤔 We often take our dogs out for exercise, enrichment and in some cases because that is what we are told is expected 🐕 Tilly did not like the wind and the sea as it was so noisy 💨 🌊 So we did some scent games, tracked some scents and headed back home 🏡 She did something she enjoys in a different environment and will take confidence that she was listened to and not forced into a long walk that she wouldn’t enjoy 🐾

09/10/2024

My companions for tonight’s webinar: Scentwork for Healing.

07/10/2024

Have you noticed how your dog reacts to the appearance of their harness? Are they comfortable around it? Wearing it? Do you see changes in their behaviour?

A lot of times harnesses only come out for one purpose 🤔 Many dogs aren’t given the chance to get comfortable with wearing something on their body 🥺 Clips can be loud or pinch skin 😱Some materials can be uncomfortable or get tangled in long coat or rub sore skin 😱

There are many types of harness, not all dogs are ‘standard’ sizes so not all makes of harness fit all dogs 🐕 A Y fronted harness allows for freedom of movement around the shoulders. Some harnesses have a third strap to help prevent dogs backing out of a harness (this strap should not tighten to hurt the dog).

Some dogs do not like putting their heads through harnesses. There are harnesses that undo around the neck 🐾 We have both Perfect Fit and Ttouch harnesses as the individual pieces give a better fit first my dogs. They undo to be fitted and Y fronted for freedom of movement 🐾

Caleb took a long time to get comfortable with wearing a harness when he can’t to live with us. That all seems so far in the past. Wearing a harness in the home to go in the garden for fun helped make it more pleasant. Just lately he has had to swap his Perfect Fit for an escape proof harness with a handle to support his failing mobility 🥺

Over the weekend we have introduced his new ‘indoor’ harness. He has had it on after breakfast, already it has saved him from a few tumbles. Seeing him stretched out comfortably asleep gives me hope this is accepted as what will become known as his ‘pyjama harness’. Taking time this weekend has really paid off 🤩

06/10/2024

Do you give your dog downtime after a walk?

Often our dogs may be over tired or over excited after a walk. Perhaps something worried them and they need to regroup. Having a nice calming chew or enrichment activity can be really useful to help them settle 🐾

We had a lovely explore of the dog exercise area this morning. Then came home and they settled with a nice chew 🐾

04/10/2024

As Caleb is needing more help around his mobility I have got him a Snuggle Pets Canine Arthritis Management designed harness with a handle to help balance him 🐕

Tilly didn’t share our excitement, there are far more interesting scents to track 🐾

There are so many different options to help support our older dogs or even younger dogs with adapting to changes in their health and mobility 🤩 It’s always worth discussing with a vet or reaching out to the Canine Arthritis Management team for resources 📚

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Videos

One thing that’s really important is being a safe space for your dog 🐾 Tilly was a bit unsure yesterday but see how she checks in and asks for support 💕 The middle on the move was a bit unexpected at the end 😂 However, it was a good choice as she didn’t react to the dog being walked the other side of the fence ☺️ It’s always worth celebrating the small wins as they lead to the biggest successes 🤩 Have you celebrated any small wins with your dog lately? Share below ⬇️

Decompressing

Rainy days

Scent work fun

Pet Remedy Forager

Caleb has been struggling to settle in the evenings lately, this could be due to numerous things going on linked to his health declining, so we often provide an activity to help him settle 🐾 I decided to invest in the Pet Remedy Boredom Buster Foraging Kit, something I know Tilly will love but would be great for Caleb 🤩 Well this was his first time with it last night 🐾 Safe to say he had a great time and was able to settle easier afterwards 💕 I have a discount code for Pet Remedy if you would like to try any of their products: TEAMTILLY25

Disengagement

Tilly and I had the park to ourselves this morning 🌅🤩 Tilly struggles to disengage from the gate when she is worried, as she has guardian heritage she is genetically wired to be aware of our surroundings and past learning history (being a street pup) wants to be safe 🐾. You can tell where she hears someone come into the park, she goes to check. Having had lots of practice with disengagement games, being allowed to ‘go see’ and setting her up for success she can recall away once she has checked the gate 🐾. When she comes back we practice collar, harness touches and I release her. It’s her choice to stay or go play 🐕. We also did lots of other fun games like scent searches, scatter feed and paws up 🐾. Tilly is rebuilding her confidence out and about after a year of poor health and losing her fragile confidence 🐾. How much of her canine body language can you note? You are welcome to share your observations below ⬇️

Senior scentwork

Caleb is coming up 14 (ish), he is wobbly, has a host of health issues and sadly some will progress faster than others, he is mostly deaf as well 🥺. One thing he can do and still enjoys is to use his nose. Walks are quite hazardous for him due to his paws not always going where he aims them but in the safety of home he can sniff and potter 🐾. Scentwork can be done with all dogs young and old. It can be mentally and physically tiring. It can be done as simply searching for treats as Caleb is here to more complicated searches and useful tasks like finding your keys 🔑 Do you encourage your dog to get that nose engaged? Share below ⬇️

Choices

Allowing dogs to make choices really helps build their confidence. These can be little choices like today Tilly was offered breakfast in a Kong or lickimat. She loves both but went straight to the lickimat before taking her Kong. Part of enrichment also involves the choice to say no and not engage in an activity. Tilly said no thanks to going out in the rain this morning ☔️ This isn’t her being ‘precious’ or ‘stubborn’, she is allowed to have that no walk option. The rain makes everything louder, scents stronger and the ground feel different under their paws. When the world can seem overwhelming let’s do our best to build trust and support our dogs, there are still activities we can do indoors 🐾

On lead fun

Just because your dog is on lead doesn’t mean you can’t have fun 🤩 Interacting with our dogs whilst out with them can help them stay tuned to us. Tilly loves paws up and scent work, we can combine this when we are out and walks which she can sometimes find stressful become more fun and relaxing (just be aware of your surroundings so random dogs don’t want to join in 🫣). Do you play games out and about with your dog? 🐕 Share below ⬇️ Want to know more? Drop me a message 📮

Fun time

Today we had some fun in the garden. They both had a go individually first, then together to tidy up 🧹 Caleb really benefits from Tilly giving him social support. Tilly likes me to be there for her 💕 They will need a good nap after this! The benefits being I can observe them and how they interact, what they like to do, if they avoid or love a particular item/treat, they get to use their noses, get choices and have lots to explore 🐾

Exercise time

Tilly has been struggling with stepping over her poles, so today we did some indoor exercises 🐾. Of course little old Caleb didn’t want to be left out, just have to make sure he is safe as his legs don’t always work properly these days 💕

Park time

Caleb ventured out with us today 🤩 Tilly had a bit of fun using her nose 🐕

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