Sit n Stay Pawsitive

28/09/2023

The importance of puppy socialization.

Socializing is important for raising puppies into emotionally healthy dogs, just as caring for a puppy’s growing needs is important to physical and mental

19/09/2023

There is a lingering misconception that using force free and fear free methods consists of just ignoring any 'bad' behaviour and giving a dog food. The reality is that force free training is so much more than that.

It requires an understanding of the history of dogs, why they do the things that they do and how to change their behaviour. Of how to manage the dog's environment so they don't get to practice the behaviour we don't want to see while reinforcing the behaviours we do want - dogs do what works for them so reinforcing alternative behaviours makes the original behaviour much less likely to repeat.

Most of all it means having an understanding of the dog in front of us, their needs, likes and dislikes, so that we can help them with their fears or show them the behaviours their humans would like without danger of fear and pain, or of the dog becoming frustrated or scared.

19/09/2023

I'm tired of being told that my repulsion for punitive and aversive training is a lack of knowledge or skills. I'm tired of being told that my 7 years of studying, qualifications and experience working with dogs couldn't possibly stand up to the Facebook expert.
I'm tired of being told that force free training is limited and that it only works with some breeds. I'm tired of seeing friends and fellow force free trainers being accused of abuse because they refuse to defend those that would abuse dogs in the name of training.

I choose not to use aversives because I know how they work and their purpose. There is no magic or skill involved, it is designed to be unpleasant and its purpose is to intimidate, control and suppress. I choose to avoid punitive training because of my education and experience. Countless studies demonstrate the harm that aversives inflict and how they impact learning and welfare. Force free training is being used worldwide with a variety of species. If it works with gorillas, tigers and crocodiles, it works with any dog breed.
We will not empathise with abusive dog trainers because we do not want to give them a platform, whereby they can destroy even more dogs. We have plenty to learn from qualified trainers that do not compromise training ethics.

Qualified dog trainers shouldn't have to compete with trainers that only care about tik tok videos and forced compliance. Every force free trainer could use aversives with the same outcome. We choose not to because we understand the consequences and prioritise welfare and long-term results over followers and profit.

-Holly Leake

Please feel free to share but do not copy and paste without credit.

15/09/2023

Blog Update: Puppy Proofing
https://sitnstaypawsitive.com/blog/

15/07/2023

14/06/2023

FB Memories reminded me that 3 years ago I did something I had always wanted to do. Design and commission an infographic from Doggie Drawings by Lili Chin 🥰🥰

03/04/2023

The concept of dominance in dog training is a harmful myth that has been debunked by modern science. It is based on an outdated understanding of wolf behaviour that has been discredited by more recent research.

The idea that dogs are constantly seeking to establish dominance over their owners is not only incorrect but can lead to abusive training practices that harm the dog-human relationship.

It can also lead to ineffective training methods that rely on punishment and intimidation rather than positive reinforcement and clear communication.

By recognising that dogs are social animals that thrive on cooperation and positive reinforcement, we can build stronger bonds with them and create a more positive and effective training experience.

07/03/2023

What Sets PPG Apart?
The Pet Professional Guild is the only membership organization for professionals who subscribe to the view that aversive methods should not be used - or even deemed necessary as part of a strategic training or behavior modification program.

Join the PPG Today! https://petprofessionalguild.com/PPG-Membership

17/02/2023

Progressive dog behaviour modification utilises positive reinforcement to modify behaviour by breaking down activities into small achievable steps and rewarding the desired behaviour with verbal praise, treats, toys or other rewards.

Rather than punishing undesired behaviour, this approach emphasises gradual learning through rewards. Punishment is an ineffective long-term strategy for training as it often leaves dogs fearful, aggressive and lacking trust in their owners.

In contrast, positive reinforcement encourages desirable behaviours in the future by providing rewards such as treats or toys when they obey instructions well. This helps strengthen the bond between dog and guardian while providing a safe environment where learning can take place without fear of punishment.

Reinforcement strengthens behaviours by making them more likely to recur over time; for example if a dog is regularly rewarded for comming when called then they will become increasingly likely to come when called due to the reward reinforcing this behaviour. Reinforcing wanted alternatives can also help reduce undesirable behaviours; e.g., rewarding alternative behaviours like sitting rather than jumping on humans may result in less jumping occurrences overall over time.

14/02/2023

Dogs need NICE trainers.

02/02/2023

REACTIVITY REDEFINED
Although reactivity has other causes, many types of reactivity are triggered by the core emotion of fear.
The fear of whatever is making a dog feel unsafe, the fear of a valuable possession being taken away or the fear of a strange person or animal coming into their territory. Anxiety, stress, over excitement, over stimulation, feeling overwhelmed, trigger stacking, or a dog that is tired, in pain or even has chronic itching will often feel irritable and may be reactive in certain situations. When being reactive is successful in making the scary thing go away, it becomes a rewarding behaviour because it’s something that works and makes them feel better.
Reactive dogs are often misunderstood. A dog that is reacting is not trying to be difficult, they are having a difficult time coping with that particular situation and are trying their best to make the thing go away in the only way they know how.
It’s not easy to be the owner of a reactive dog. One of my dogs is reactive and I know how dogs like this can leave you feeling embarrassed, ashamed, angry or frustrated. Why do they have to be so difficult, why can’t they just behave normally? Everyone is looking at me, judging me, thinking that I’m a bad owner, have no training skills, can’t control my dog or have a unsocialised, vicious dog that shouldn’t be taken out in public.
As hard as it may be, we need to take the focus off how we as owners feel about their reactivity and focus on how our dogs are feeling and what is causing their reaction. Whatever it is, it’s not something our dogs can overcome on their own and we need to take steps to help them cope. Reactive dogs need compassion, understanding, management, force free, positive reinforcement interventions and decompression – a return to a normal, more relaxed state after a period of intense stress, psychological pressure, or urgent activity. These interventions take time and patience but are so important in helping our dogs feel safe and learn more acceptable ways of coping.
I have learnt through many mistakes, to recognise what triggers my reactive dog and take steps to either avoid those situations, provide enough distance, or provide her with an alternative choice where she feels safe and more in control. There will always be unexpected triggers around the next corner that are not within our control, but doing all we can to manage reactive triggers has so many benefits.

18/01/2023

What’s Your Pet’s Favorite Fruit? 🍎🍌🍉🫐🍓🍍🥑

Day 3 of Nutrition Week is all about fruits! Dogs (and cats, if they’ll eat ‘em) can obtain important phytochemicals and antioxidants not found in meat from fresh fruits. 🐶🐱 However, not all produce is safe for pets to consume; there are a few that should be avoided. Here’s a list of fruits you can share with your pet and fruits they should avoid. ⬇️

Learn about the benefits your pet can reap from these safe fruits when you read today’s free pet health article on bark and whiskers’ new website (link in the comments).

05/01/2023

Tune in!!