Whenever you mention labels in conversations about dog training, for whatever reason people seem to REALLY want to hold on to them - particularly ones such as âdramaticâ, âmanipulativeâ, or âdemandingâ.
Look, you can use labels if you really want to. But I personally find that they just get in the way; they come with all this human baggage that we then project onto our dogs, and start blaming them for what we perceive to be aspects of their character. If we took a step back, dropped the labels and got curious about the behaviors that weâre seeing, we might just stumble upon a new level of understanding and compassion for our dogs, not to mention a deeper relationship.
What do you think?
#dramaticdog #dogbehaviour #dogbehavior #dogsofinstagram #dogtraining
I hate to be the one to say it, but if youâre around dogs who are regularly snapping or physically correcting each other⊠you might be the problem đ«Ł
Dogs are VERY good at nonverbal communication, and in evolutionary terms it benefits them to be able to de-escalate situations without physical confrontation, which is far more risky. A dog who resorts to snapping, lunging, or putting their mouth on another dog (yes, this includes mothers and their puppies) is a dog whose lesser communication has been ignored. As our dogsâ caretakers, it is our responsibility to set them up for success, which includes ensuring that they have a range of healthy ways to communicate.
So, no, dogs donât âcorrect each other all the timeâ, and we shouldnât be outsourcing our teaching to them. We certainly shouldnât be using risky behaviour that is born of stress as a way to justify punishment ourselves. What do you think?
#dogcorrection #dogbehaviour #dogsofinstagram #dogaggression #reactivedog
Do you feel stuck with your separation anxiety dog? Have you hit a wall in your progress, or do you feel like you donât even know where to start? Let me help you!
I have open spaces for 1:1 intensive support; or if you need a more budget-friendly option, enrolment is still open for next monthâs online membership! The links for both options are in my bio. And help me congratulate Moxie on a job well done! đ
#separationanxiety #separationanxietydog #dogtraining #dogsofinstagram #separationanxietytraining
There are people who will tell you that you need to punish dogs who struggle with aggression - they might not say so in such clear terms, but theyâll use phrases like âyou need to tell your dog noâ or âyour dog needs to know this isnât acceptableâ.
But the truth is, itâs not only possible to overcome severe aggression without any punishment or correction, but itâs the most humane AND effective approach. Taking into account our dogsâ underlying emotions and motivations is what creates change that truly lasts, and helps our dogs feel GOOD about the process.
Ari and Zelda have ended up at the emergency vet in the past because of the intensity of their fights, but they are quickly approaching a place where they can once again co-exist in the same home with peace and safety. It isnât an overnight process and it takes work, but it can absolutely be done if you have the right knowledge and skills behind your strategy!
Arnoldâs journey through separation anxiety has been, in a lot of ways, completely normal; and part of what has made it completely normal is that itâs been entirely individual to him. Heâs struggled, heâs regressed, heâs had confounding factors to deal with and health issues. But thanks to an evidence-based approach, a lot of patience, and dedicated parents who love him, heâs experiencing consistent, safe alone time and is only going to do better from here.
Iâm so honored to have been able to support this lovely boy through his journey and watch his progress! If you need support with separation anxiety, Iâm accepting new 1:1 clients with immediate start for the first time in 2024 (usual waiting list is 2-3 months). Link in bio to book a free 30-minute initial call!
#separationanxietytraining #separationanxiety #dogtraining #certifiedseparationanxietytrainer #separationanxietydog #anxiousdogsofinstagram
Good reactivity/aggression training is BORING. Itâs not flashy, itâs not goading or provoking dogs to the boiling point so that you can record it and then show their âdramatic transformationâ five minutes later. Real, ethical, lasting behaviour change takes time, repetition, and an environment where a dog feels safe enough to learn. Iâm so happy to be a part of these girlsâ journey and I canât wait to see how much farther they go!
#dogtraining #reactivedogtraining #dogaggression #intrahouseholdaggression #dogsofinstagram #forcefreedogtraining
Getting to see your dog overcome separation anxiety and thrive during alone time is one thing - getting to do it alongside a community of people who are experiencing the exact same thing will help YOU have the support you need to see it through! Iâve had some incredible responses to the first round of this course, and Iâm so excited to be able to run it again.
Do you have any questions about the course? Let me know in the comments!
#separationanxietytraining #separationanxiety #dogtraining #anxiousdogsofinstagram #certifiedseparationanxietytrainer
A letter to anyone dealing with separation anxiety đ
If you feel lost and like there isnât a way to get through this, I want to assure you that help is there. Join our membership on the 18th and get started on the path to anxiety-free departures!
Inspired by @bindisbucketlist
#separationanxietydog #separationanxiety #separationanxietytraining #dogtraining #forcefreedogtraining #certifiedseparationanxietytrainer #anxiousdogsofinstagram
I will often use my own dogs in sessions with my private training clients. I think it can be valuable for the humans in particular, to practice the skills they need with another dog present so that they can see the techniques working but still be in a setting that is controlled and safe.
But one thing that you will never, ever find me doing is having my dogs off lead around a dog that has been reported to me as displaying reactive, fearful, or aggressive behaviour.
It doesnât matter how well-trained my dogs are, how well socialized they might be, or how appropriate their communication is. You can never 100% guarantee any behaviour, and these are sentient animals. Training fails or humans have bad days and misread things, and I am not willing to compromise the safety of my clients and their beloved family members because it makes me feel like a big strong trainer to have my dogs off lead.
And itâs true, there is something to be said for the benefit of freedom of movement and natural communication, which is undoubtedly restricted when leads are introduced. But ultimately that comes second to the health and safety of the dogs I have been entrusted with.
Besides, weâre training for the real world! It isnât like everyone you encounter on the street is going to be happy to just let the dogs off so they can mingle, so that scenario isnât even particularly helpful in your daily life - and it also wonât make much of a difference in the long run if your dog learns to feel safe around my specific dogs. Learning in dogs is extremely context-specific!
Do you know what Cooperative Care is?
Itâs a way of training husbandry (grooming, nail care, even blood draws) that is extremely powerful because it enables the dog to have control over the process - we teach them a behaviour that they can use to âopt inâ to the procedure. Think of it like going to the dentist, where they wait until you are ready to begin and you can tap for a break at any time.
This is Maisieâs FIRST ever cooperative care training session, and she does NOT like having her paws handled. But she has just had surgery on her back knee, and so physically fighting her to get her nails done is simply not an option - she has to be a relaxed and willing participant.
You can tell sheâs still a little uneasy, but sheâs still allowing me to do the care I need to do without any force, punishment, or physical restraint. And any time she tells me she needs a break by pulling away, I listen!
Do you need help getting your dog to accept basic husbandry tasks? Let me know in the comments!
Three cheers for our Reactive Dogs Class that graduated today! đ We took a âfield tripâ to Central Park for their final class, so that they could apply all the skills theyâve learned in a âreal worldâ environment with other dogs, LOTS of people, and lots of noises - and they all smashed it!! Two of these dogs are not just dog reactive but can also be fearful of people - can you even tell who?
Special shoutout to Wilbur the frenchie who was unfortunately unable to join us today - we know you would have been a pro too!
Each of these dogs is still in the middle of their journey, and will continue to have good days and bad days - thatâs how it goes with fear. But Iâm SO proud of each of these hardworking teams who have shown up, done the work, and seen some absolutely stunning progress. Well done all!!!
If you need a muzzle for your dog that is spacious, high quality, and comes in a range of beautiful bright colours, I canât recommend a company more than I recommend The Muzzle Movement! I am always careful to only promote brands that I really believe in; you can use our code BETTERNATURE to get 10% off any order.
