PawFitz

03/01/2022

Dog aggression is a complex subject that requires a deep understanding of dog behaviour and an ability to observe the dog and it's environment. Aggression can be caused by multiple factors and carefully managed training plans are often required to address these factors. Aggressive Behaviour in Dogs....

09/12/2021

A good reminder - not only for kiddos - adults forget too!

Most dogs (and people!) don't like others messing with them when they're eating.

Just like you wouldn't want someone to take your plate away before you've finished eating (or as you take your last mouthful!) make sure you give your dog time to finish and walk away before rushing in to clear up.

Dogs tend to have more relaxed body language when they can eat in peace without other dogs or people hovering over them or rushing around nearby. Feeding dogs somewhere quieter with plenty of space is safer for everyone and is an easy way to avoid conflict.

⚠️This is every day advice at feeding times to prevent conflict. We are not addressing training foundations here to prevent resource guarding (this is something we will cover in another infographic), nor are we addressing behaviour modification for resource guarding. Neither of these need to involve taking food off the dog.

14/10/2021

It’s a bit like a toddler, isn’t it? Toddlers who throw tantrums in the supermarket, who love the word NO, who kick (and yes, even bite). It makes us so mad sometimes. They choose the most inopportune times to act out. It’s embarrassing. Hopefully though, most of us understand by now, that toddlers don’t choose to behave that way just to annoy and embarrass us. Feeling overwhelmed, tired, stressed, unable to communicate what they’re feeling, worry and fear are just some of the things that might contribute to them behaving this way. So instead, we compassionately find ways to help them cope and feel safe.

So how can we believe that dogs “misbehave” just to annoy us? It doesn’t even make sense. Dogs also experience emotions, fear, anxiety, stress, they get tired, they experience pain (which often as guardian’s we don’t even recognise), they try to communicate with us, and we don’t understand. They also express the behaviours that are natural to dogs. A throw away comment by someone I knew a long time ago “you don’t get a dog and do your own barking.” Dogs bark. Dogs sniff. Dogs chew. Dogs Dig. Dogs are dogs. Not fluffy humans.

10/10/2021

Grieving the loss, especially after euthanasia, can be challenging.

26/09/2021

Puppies have so much to learn about living in a human world, and the most important gift we can give them is lots of patience and understanding whilst they navigate their new reality. Biting Human babies explore the world with their hands and mouths, they touch everything they encounter and often tr...

16/09/2021

Anecdotes are great for prompting questions and research and for making subjective judgment calls when research is scarce or non-existent. But when we have decades of research that consistently comes to the same conclusions even when the questions were investigated in many different ways by many different people with different funding sources and different potential biases, we would be foolish to ignore the research in favor for our personal anecdotes. We are easily biased and it is rare for a particular treatment to cause problems in 100 % of animals. So our anecdote may be a story of one of the lucky ones that escaped negative outcomes from treatment that research has shown to be ill-advised.

30/08/2021

Dogs are not machines.

Dogs are not robots.

Dogs are living, breathing, feeling creatures who have struggles and wins the same as any other sentient being.

The pressure of a dog being expected to behave perfectly at all times is both unfair and concerning.

The human who expects a robot should buy a toy.

The human who loves and wants a dog, however, will know that with any sentient being comes the need for enjoyment of life.

If you spend your (and their) days being miserable as they are not yet "perfect" in their training - then I have news for you.

You are missing out. you are wasting time. You could be having fun instead.

There are so many things your dog CAN do, that bring you both joy. Make THOSE things the biggest parts of your day.

The more you encourage your dog with the things they enjoy and CAN do, the more confident, healthy and happy they will become.

Which paves the way for faster learning of the things you would like them to be able to do in the future.

Enjoy games with your dog.

Enjoy playing with their food.

Enjoy practising things they already know how to do.

Enjoy exploring things with them.

Notice the things they sniff at.

Notice their favourite toy or treat.

Notice how your relationship improves when you actually notice the dog you have, instead of the dog you had in your imagination.

"If you spend your whole life concentrating on the goal... You will completely miss the rest of the game." ~ Freya V. Locke

25/08/2021

The old, obedience-driven model directed at show dogs is out. A new, more relationship-based approach aimed at companion dogs is in.

23/08/2021

🐕As a dog owner, you and your dog are going to encounter many other dogs on your walks. The question is, how do you prevent and protect your dog from another dog's reactivity?

🤔Most people think that their dog is ok and friendly, maybe a little over-eager at times, but still a social dog. However, they don’t know or often observe or understand their dog's body language.

🐾Dog's mainly communicate using facial expressions and body posturing. If you can understand body language, or at least the basics of it, you most likely can prevent a situation that can be potentially harmful to your dog.

👃Sniffing is a huge part of the dog's greeting process. The other dog's a**l glands, pheromones, and other scents give the dog all the information they want to know about their potentially new canine friend.

👍If the greeting is going well for both dogs you will notice that they will both appear to be relaxed. However, if the greeting is not going well you will notice that one, or both show tension in their body.

The tail may be held high, wagging in stiff short movements, or it may be low, tuck between the dog's legs. It is also not a good sign if the dogs stand rigid and intensely stare at one another (this can happen very briefly before breaking out into a scrap).

The reason why leash greetings may go wrong is that:
* On-leash greetings can be clumsy
* The leash causes restrictions of movement
* The lead restricts the dog's ability to escape
* The dog can go through conflicting emotions – He wants to greet the other dog, but he is not sure or comfortable.
* You have a higher chance of greetings going well if the dogs do not feel trapped.

💡Tips to avoid reactive leash greetings:

* Do not allow your dog to make a ‘bee line’ to another dog or let your dog rush towards another dog. That kind of behaviour may be incredibly overwhelming and frightening to the other dog which may cause fear reactivity.

*Be proactive about the situation. If another dog approaches your dog in that manner, then gently call your dog in a happy voice and say, ‘come on, let’s go this way’. This is taking your dog out of a situation that could potentially put your dog in harm BEFORE it may happen.

*If your dog does meet another dog, try using the 2-3 second rule. This is the amount of time the initial greeting should last. At any point, if you see either one of the dogs are not comfortable or one of them starts to growl or bark, immediately walk away calling your dog happily.

*Moving may help reduce the intensity of the greeting. Once you get to 3, call your dog away from the other dog, praise your dog, and give it another couple of seconds which helps your dog disengage. Then reintroduce them again applying the same tip from above.

* Do not put your dog in a position where he/ she has no way out by forcing your dog to turn in a position for the other dog to greet.

* DO NOT have a tight leash.

You ideally are aiming for a relaxed posture from both dogs Their body language will be ‘loose’, their jaws will be relaxed and not closed tight. Their tails will be gently wagging in circular motions.

It is good to practice the three-second rule with all dogs. Even with the dogs your dog already knows.

🧐Now, this would obviously be a different situation if your dog is approached by another dog who is off the lead. My advice would be to try and manage the areas you walk in as much as possible. This means avoid places where you think this situation may happen, and if it does, then try and take your dog away from the dog off lead as quickly as possible in a calm manner.

If you are struggling it is always best to seek out help from a qualified force-free professional.

15/08/2021

If we are asking an animal to do something then we generally expect them to do it.  There’s a really strong feeling (and I’m not only talking of aversive trainers) that humans are …

12/08/2021

SHAKE IT ALL OFF AND LET IT GO
Dogs constantly communicate through their body language. A “shake off” is one of the many types of body language and is one of the easier ones to notice. The shake off can provide us with important insights as to how our dogs are feeling.
Besides being a very effective way to get dry- (Dogs can remove up to 70% of water on their fur in one single shake off), the shake off is also often seen just after an event that a dog finds stressful. It’s their way of saying “Phew, I’m so glad that’s over, now I can put it behind me and move on”. It helps the brain to calm down, reset and is actually a very positive way to cope with stress. Maybe people could learn this method from dogs and begin practicing shaking it all off and letting it go!
The shake off may also happen just after waking up as a way to get blood pumping and the brain stimulated, a way to clean grass, debris or bugs off their fur or may sometimes indicate pain or discomfort.
If you notice a shake off, look at what has just happened beforehand. This will provide a clear clue as to what it is that your dog is finding stressful. Appreciate those shakes for what they can communicate. Your dog will appreciate your understanding of their language.

24/07/2021

17/07/2021

A new series from the Smithsonian Channel spotlights the riveting and heartwarming rescue missions by some of the world’s best canine workers.

16/07/2021

Your dog will become bored if not given proper outlets for mental stimulation, which can manifest as a number of behavioral problems.

13/07/2021

Research revealed that many commercial dog and cat foods contain high levels of mercury, especially formulas containing fish.

07/07/2021

Understanding dog behaviors can be quite confusing sometimes. In can cause problems when we misintepreted the meaning of our dog's body language.

30/06/2021

UTIs can be caused by disease, your dog's anatomy, the use of catheters and certain medications.

18/06/2021

PAWS UP FOR FORCE FREE
It’s hard to understand why some people still use and firmly believe in old fashioned punishment-based training methods when science has clearly shown there is a better, kinder, humane, ethical and far more effective way. Surely there is nothing to be admired in physically or emotionally forcing any animal or person into compliance.

Force free methods, also known as positive reinforcement or reward-based training is the proven, preferred training method used and promoted by many organisations and professionals worldwide.

The key principle of force free or positive reinforcement / reward based methods is “first, do no harm” and not just physical harm, but emotional harm too.

Punishment amongst many other negatives, creates stress and stress inhibits learning. A dog that is stressed from being punished is not going to learn anything.

A dog that is rewarded for doing the right thing with force free, positive reinforcement methods will want to perform that behaviour again because it makes them feel good, because they really want to and because they are not worried about the negative consequences if they don’t. It makes them feel good because receiving a reward releases a hormone called Dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is known as the “feel-good” hormone and drives the reward and pleasure-seeking system of the brain. Dopamine also increases the brain’s ability to learn and improves memory function. Reward creates motivation and incentives to repeat the behaviour.

The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behaviour states that punishment-based methods may cause several adverse effects, including “inhibition of learning, increased fear-related and aggressive behaviours, and injury to animals and people interacting with animals”.

One of my favourite quotes with regard to training dogs is from Dr Carolina Galvez Vidal - "Any idiot can suppress behaviour. It’s so easy: That’s why most humans on the planet think they are expert dog trainers. But to truly modify a behaviour without suppression…Ahh, that requires true talent, knowledge and skills".
Although I understand that we are all different and not everyone has “true talent” and “skills”, the key word for me in this statement is “knowledge”. Knowledge is not that hard to find if you are willing to put in the effort to find out how best to build a trusting, secure and positive relationship with your dog, always remembering to "first do no harm".

18/06/2021

Vaginitis is inflammation of the va**na, and there are two types in dogs — juvenile or puppy vaginitis, and adult-onset vaginitis. Juvenile vaginitis occurs in female puppies and dogs that have not reached puberty.

Vaginitis is inflammation of the va**na; in dogs, there are two types: juvenile vaginitis and adult-onset vaginitis.

13/06/2021

Whole Dog Journal‘s mission is to provide dog guardians with in-depth information on dog food, training, behavior, health, and more.

11/06/2021

Dominance – Is it real? 🤔

Not in the way you think…

When your dog growls at you from the sofa, or when they are eating their dinner, they are not being ‘dominant’ over you, they are simply guarding something valuable to them. These items (food bowls, toys, sofas etc.) are guarded because the dog is afraid of losing them, and this is because they are insecure around that item when in the presence of people they don’t trust. The growling is a clear and definitive sign that the dog is uncomfortable with someone being too close to their valuable item. 🥩⚽️

The problem GETS WORSE when the owner thinks the dog is being dominant and therefore steps in to ‘show the dog who is boss’. They then remove the item that the dog was guarding and may even remove the dog to another room or crate by way of ‘telling them off’. This display of ‘dominance’ by the human only goes to make the dog more insecure around items, when in the presence of the human. So, the 'dominance theory' goes around in circles, with the dog growling more frequently, bolting food down, becoming anxious and stressed when the owner walks into the same room etc. The dog will also start to escalate the guarding, which may lead to snarling, air snapping and lunging. The dog will not direct this behaviour solely at the person who has taken things away - they direct it at anyone who comes near….

If your dog is displaying these behaviours, don’t put the dog into situations where they feel the need to guard, and speak to a qualified behaviourist first before trying to solve it yourself. 👍

07/06/2021

I could not love this more ❤️❤️❤️. Raising Fido , thank you for creating this wonderful infographic and sharing it with the world.

06/06/2021

Dogs are not pack animals, as much as the myth tries to perpetuates itself through our media.⠀
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It’s important to understand this because this myth of dogs being pack animals sometimes leads to actions that can be harmful for our dogs. ⠀
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For example:⠀
🔹 Making dogs go on large group “pack walks” where dogs are wearing aversive equipment and have no way of creating space from one another, and are therefore being flooded.⠀
🔹 Thinking we need to exert “dominance” or be the “alpha” by using aversive corrections, “alpha rolling”, and being intimidating when that actually just makes us look like a bully to our dog.⠀
🔹 Labels like “alpha” and “dominant” leads us to think that dogs behave the way they do for some higher purpose or to defy us and this causes us to use aversive methods and intimidate them to “put them in their place”.⠀
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So, how should we think about our relationship with our dogs if we’re not a “pack”?⠀
🤝 You and your dog are a team that works together and understands each other the best you can without the need for threats.⠀
🤝 You and your dog are a family and as your family, you’ll help your dog feel safe and feel safe around you.⠀
🤝 You and your dog are sentient beings with your own needs and desires and you can absolutely work together to meet those needs and wants.⠀
🤝 You are a teacher and your dog is your learner and it’s on you to teach your dog what you’d like them to do and reward them for it every step of the way so they really learn what you want.⠀
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It’s time for us to ditch this outdated theory and myth and really work towards a better, more understanding, and more compassionate relationship with our dog. ⠀
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ID: Curved text on top says “Dogs are not pack animals”. In the middle is a cartoon graphic of a woman and a dog on her lap. There are 4 bubbles with text in them that say from right to left: “Dogs form loose associations with one another!”, “There is no fixed hierarchy in dog-dog relationships”, “Your dog knows you’re not a dog.”, and “You don’t have to be the “alpha”/“pack leader”.

05/06/2021

DID YOU KNOW THE MOST VULNERABLE PART OF YOUR PET'S BODY IS THEIR TAIL?

The tail is actually an extension of the spine, but considerably more mobile and flexible. There are blood vessels and nerves all along the length of the tail, along with muscles that control its movement and also play a role in the pooping process. Damage to your dog's tail can range from a simple pinch, such as when it gets accidentally stepped on, or it can be a very serious issue, involving significant bleeding or nerve damage.

Happy Tail Syndrome - Seen most often in large breed dogs with thin, smooth tails who wag them so enthusiastically they get injured.

Limber Tail Syndrome - Also called cold water tail, swimmer's tail and dead tail. It's a relatively common condition of sporting breeds, including Labrador and Golden Retrievers.

Tail Fractures - Trauma is almost always the cause of a fracture in a dog's tail. A simple fracture at the end of the tail often heals well on its own.

Tail Nerve Damage - Often a result of being pulled, this is known as an avulsion injury and it can impact the nerves and muscles that move the tail and also control urination and defecation.

Tail Abrasions - Free-roaming dogs (and cats) are often the victims of tail scrapes and hair loss during the winter months, because in an effort to stay warm, they tend to climb up into the engine area of parked cars. That's why its always a good idea to knock on the hood of your car before you get in and start the engine - especially in cold months.

04/06/2021

The list is not short. Many of the plants are quite common. Before you landscape, garden, or bring new plants into the home, it is wise to learn what to avoid if you have pets. It could save a life. . If your dog ingest...

03/06/2021

02/06/2021

Have you noticed that your dog plays less than they used to? Here are some of the reasons why that might be.

24/05/2021

DOUBLE TROUBLE

Why it’s not a good idea to get 2 puppies at the same time.
While I'm certainly not against having a 2nd dog, or a 3rd or a 4th, (I have 4, but I couldn’t cope with anymore!), there are good reasons to give very careful consideration when thinking about getting two pups at the same time, whether they are from the same or different litters or different breeds.
People may believe that it’s a good idea to get two pups at the same time and on the surface, it’s easy to understand why - they will be able to keep each other company when you’re not at home; they won’t be bored as they’ll have each other to play with; they will always have a friend; both children in the family can have one; the breeder said it’s a good idea, you just couldn’t bear to leave the other one behind….and more, but this may lead to numerous problems if not handled correctly.
A common problem of having 2 pups together is that they are likely to bond very closely with each other and become inseparable, often to the exclusion of a healthy relationship with their owner. The primary bond is with each other - not with the owner. Amongst other things, this may lead to problems if they ever have to be separated. The time and commitment needed to properly raise and train 2 pups is often underestimated and may result in pups that are under socialised and untrained.
Think of having 2 pups as having twins. Although dogs are not people, the same principle applies. Parents of twins are advised to separate the twins into different classrooms when they start nursery school to help them develop as individuals and reach their full potential without one child over shadowing the other. Parents are advised to do all they can to ensure that they raise 2 separate individuals, confident within themselves and not reliant or over dependent on one another.
This post explains a bit more about what may happen with having two pups at the same time and some suggestions as to what can be done to avoid potential problems.

DOGS DISCLOSED

22/05/2021

Here are 10 signs that your dog is happy. This is something every dog owner is probably wondering about, here's the answers.

20/05/2021

Trials, setbacks, and love are all part of our relationship with dogs and cats.

18/05/2021

Barking is a common behavioural issue that many guardians struggle to address. Their main focus is usually how to stop it but they key to determining this, is considering what is causing the barking? If we know why our dog is barking then we can take appropriate steps to reduce it. That being said, we have to remember that barking is natural and a form of Canine Communication.

I'm sure you've asked this question and searched endlessly online for an answer and as a trainer, it is one of the most common questions I am asked. Excessive barking can literally drive dog owners barking mad! Sadly, there is no magic off switch, however, determining the cause of the barking and ho...

15/05/2021

SHOULD I GET A DOG ?

There are many things to consider before getting a dog; if you are truly serious about adding a pooch to your family, make sure you can check-off all the points below...

🔹 Finances - dogs aren't cheap! Can you afford insurance, decent food, grooming, vet-bills, dog-walkers, daycare etc. Owning a dog in the UK can cost on average £1,000 a year, and that doesn't include the upfront cost!

🔹 Energy - some dogs have higher energy-levels than others. It is important that you can (and will be able to provide) the necessary exercise needs for the dog - make sure you choose a breed thats needs fit with what you can supply.

🔹 Lifestyle - does your particular lifestyle suit having a dog? Are you away from home a lot for business or pleasure? Do you like to host lots of busy/loud parties at your house on the regular? It could be that it wouldn't be the right time to bring a dog into your home, so wait until things settle down a bit.

🔹 Commitment - a dog is a life-long commitment. It is important to remember no matter how alluring a puppy is, soon that puppy will be an adult dog! You need to be prepared to take care of a dog throughout its life, including when it is elderly, or if it ever has any physical or behavioural issues. We can't just focus on the fun bits. A dog certainly is for life.

🔹 Time - do you actually have time for a dog? Dogs need training, walking, quality-time, enrichment, grooming etc. Will you be able to fit in all of these into your schedule daily? Be sure to spend some quality time with them when you are home. I’m sure that you couldn’t sit in a room with nothing to do, and no-one to talk to for a long time, so we shouldn’t expect our dogs to do it.

🔹 Family - Is everyone 'on-board' with getting a dog? Even if you will be the primary carer of the dog, it is important to remember the dog will need to coexist with other members of the household and extended family too. If having the dog will cause resentments or fights, it won't be a very healthy environment for the dog to be in.

If, after reading through this, you feel now may not be the time for you to own your own dog, but you want to enjoy their company, then volunteer at a rescue- centre. Go and walk the dogs; play with them; spend time with them; they will love the attention: you will be enriching a dog’s life, and it may even help them to find and settle into a new loving home…

11/05/2021

THAT” GUILTY” LOOK
“My dog knows what he’s done is wrong, just look how guilty he looks!"
This is an expression I’ve heard so many times from owners and it’s estimated that around 74% of owners believe their dogs really feel guilty when they’ve done something wrong.
People are amused and entertained through social media and even dedicated websites for uploading pictures of dogs looking guilty. The “guiltier” the dog looks, the more popular these posts are and the funnier people find them. This is such a sad reality and a perfect example of how a dogs body language is so often completely misunderstood.
Why then, is it plain to see that “guilty” look when they’ve done something wrong? That “guilty” look does not come from a feeling of guilt. That “guilty” look is actually a dog displaying stress signals - feelings of fear, anxiety or attempting to appease (calm the person down). The fear of being punished, the stress and anxiety of hearing their human’s tone of voice, demeanour and noticing the humans angry body language, the appeasement behaviour in an attempt to calm the angry human down so they don’t dish out punishment.
As humans, it’s natural for us to want to believe that our dogs feel guilty and remorse about whatever they’ve done to upset us, as if their feeling guilt somehow makes their behaviour more acceptable to us, but what we would like to believe, is not always the case.
Dogs are capable of a range of emotions – love, happiness, fear, stress, sadness or anxiety to name a few, but current research has not proven that dogs feel more complex emotions, like guilt, regret, remorse, shame or pride.
Guilt is a complex concept. Guilt is defined as an unhappy feeling that you have because you have done something wrong or think that you may have done something wrong. It’s a feeling of shame, regret or remorse. The feeling of guilt requires an understanding of cause and effect and is relative to time. Do dogs spend the day feeling guilty, waiting for you to come home to find that chewed up shoe, or are they waiting excitedly for you to come home because they really missed you and are looking forward to dinner time?
For the wellbeing of our dogs, let’s appreciate and accept them for who they are, not who we would like them to be or how we would like them to feel.

DOGS DISCLOSED

09/05/2021

Dedicated to Jill, Romy and all the dogs that have been loved and lost. They are never forgotten. "We should never underestimate the powerful draw of a bond with a being that loves us unconditionally, asking very little in return. Losing this comfort and source of joy can be incomprehensible.” –...

07/05/2021