Autumn Rose Dog Training

16/08/2024

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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14/08/2024

I had SO MUCH fun taking baby Koda out with his mom for the first time without his fur-sister!

He learned what it was like to settle in a public environment! 😍

14/08/2024

06/08/2024

02/08/2024

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.

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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.
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31/07/2024

Mantra time..."What is rewarded is repeated"✅
This is a simple and powerful message. 🏋️‍♀️
A few things to remember with this though and your timing needs to be clear too.
If you can be more precise when you reward behaviour you want to be repeated, you are making things SO much easier for your dog to understand.
Sometimes people see something they really like from their dog and they stand up, go to the cupboard to get their favourite reward, open the cupboard, get the packet out and the time to reward has long gone.
Have a few rewards on you at all times.✅
It isn't hard to do.
Pop them in a pocket (yes you will curse me on laundry day🙂), but you can make a real difference in your dogs behaviour just by rewarding exactly what you like when they show you.
I am not talking about a sit or a down but all the other times you notice your dog has done well.
They didn't bark at the cat as it ran over the grass YES! Rewardable✅
They chose just to relax on their bed or mat YES! Rewardable✅
They kept all four paws on the ground when your guest arrived YES! Rewardable✅

If you haven't tried rewarding exactly what you want....take up the challenge and try it for 2 weeks.
I promise you, you will see results...but you will probably still curse me on laundry day🙂

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.
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Please visit ABC Dogs Patreon Shop for unmarked graphics. All graphics belong to ABC Dogs NZ and are under copyright.

30/07/2024

Ummmm, someone was a ROCKSTAR in her training session today!

Luna and her mom make a phenomenal team! Luna is a friendly girl, though can be a little uncertain at times (aren’t we all?), and it was beautiful to watch her become more confident in a busy public place AND focus on her mom in the presence of strangers.

25/07/2024

Another amazing session with Shadow out on the town!

This sweetheart is getting better and better with walking on leash, and he loves to people watch!

17/07/2024

LOOK AT THESE FACES! 😍

I had such a FUN session with these two siblings and their human parents. I am SO honored that their amazing mom reached out to me to help further their training skills. This team of 4 totally impressed me with their willingness to learn and implement what they were learning. I am sooo looking forward to next week’s session with them.

I love advocating for science based force free methods with pitbulls (and all the breeds that people may consider “tough”). These babies are SO SWEET and absolutely excelled in their training session.

Does anybody else have any “pibble” fur babies? Comment a picture below! ⬇️

15/07/2024

🐾

15/07/2024

Getting back to inquiries today! Happy Monday!

14/07/2024

💜SUNDAYS OF POPPY💜

Poppy currently displays intense reactivity. That’s why the rescue requested I foster her. She is such a fun girl with a GREAT personality, but her intense reactive behavior was too much for her previous foster(s) to work to resolve without years of experience and education.

This upcoming Tuesday will be our third week together, and today with it going to be 94 DEGREES, I was able to utilize the shady park to provide enrichment, practice loose leash walking and engagement.

Yesterday we didn’t do anything. Nada. Which is okay! But I knew she needed a good activity today. With the tons (and TONS) of sniffing I’ve been providing her with, it’s been a staple part in my rehabilitation plan with Poppy.

Poppy still has a long way to go, but we were able to take crumb sized portions of our entire goal with very minimal desensitization to strangers today.

My days off mostly belong to Poppy for now.

14/07/2024

When a dog does a shake off, this can mean different things, in a different context.

If a dog has encountered a stressfully situation and once removed, may do a shake off to release the tension or stress they felt, & the shake may be all the way down to their tail.

If a dog has an ear infection, this can cause repetitive head shaking, but not necessarily a whole body shake.

The obvious shake off is when wet, to remove excess water from their coat.

12/07/2024

Over excited/over arousal/hyper arousal IS a form of reactivity.✅
I know many may struggle understanding that having a dog that is desperate to meet others is a reactive dog because they don't appear "aggressive".
They can be described as "friendly"😊 or "just LOVES other dogs".💓
It can also be incredibly stressful for these dogs.
Stress hormones can be released with both positive and negative stimuli....a difficult concept for some to accept that their "friendly" dog can be stressed.
This is not about dogs that get excited when they see a dog they know...this is purely aimed at dogs that go straight to over arousal at the mere sight of a dog/cat or person...whatever their trigger is.

Bite risks.
Yes even these dogs can bite (or be bitten).
There is no emotional self control and things can change in an instant with these dogs....they do pose a bite risk...and I appreciate that is hard to hear for many as their friendly dog would "never" bite another.
EVERY dog has the capability to bite given certain circumstances and over arousal puts dogs into positions where their emotions take over.
Many dogs bite when over aroused.
Bites can also be redirected back onto their guardians/owners or the nearest person/dog/child present.
They also fail to "read the room", there is no time taken to assess the other dog they desperately want to interact with....so the lead is taken off that friendly dog so they can meet their new "friend".

This is a new graphic based on another I made but this is specifically for over aroused dogs.
Your dog will also have their own unique changes you can see as they go over that all important threshold.

You are not alone with this issue...it is very common.
Reactive dog guardians/owners are some of the most dedicated I have ever met.
These dogs can be incredibly hard to live with.

You can make a difference.

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.

09/07/2024

: While most dogs may *attempt* to swim, some dogs have physical traits that make swimming a challenge. For example, flat-faced breeds can easily get water up their nose, putting them at risk of drowning. Dogs with large chests or a short leg/long body combo (we're looking at you, Dachshunds), may struggle to stay afloat in water. And some dogs' coats make it difficult to swim or fail to keep them warm in chilly water.

If you're around water and unsure of your pup's swimming abilities, keep a close eye on them and consider using a doggie life vest.

09/07/2024

We really do overuse "sit" ✅
Sitting does NOT change the emotions bubbling away underneath.
It is one of the first things we may teach our dogs...and it is something we revert back to again and again. We start to use it as a "catch all" cue or "command".
If we don't want excitement, "Sit" (your dog is just as excited but is now sitting)❗
We start to say "Sit" when we really just want a stay, now your dog may not respond to stay as it is hardly used.❗
We say sit multiple times a day.
It starts to not be listened to.

It can also start us on a path of cue nagging and our frustration can build and so can your dogs.
Clients are often surprised when I say "She doesn't need to sit, she is being calm, attentive and that is fantastic".

Insisting on a sit when frustrated or reactive is also problematic (in my opinion).
It is never achieved until it is said 5 - 6 times and that just causes even more frustration for everyone.

What would happen if your dog was left to stand around a trigger ?
Does sitting really change the emotions underneath ?

Is the frustration bubbling away in this dog less because you asked for a sit ?....or have our actions in insisting increased their stress?

If a dog chooses to sit, different story. That is a choice that they are often comfortable with at a distance they are also comfortable with.

Choice is everything for reactive dogs.
If we insist on sitting around triggers, when they are uncomfortable or stressed....often they are just as (or MORE) uncomfortable around those same triggers.

Asking for a sit shouldn't be confused with being calm.

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 etc. Please visit ABC Dogs Patreon Shop for our collections of graphics.
Everyone is free to share these posts on social media, however off social media use is protected.
Screen shots are a violation of copyright.
Please respect that these graphics take time and effort to make . All graphics belong to ABC Dogs NZ and are under copyright.

08/07/2024

Okay, but look at this heckin cutie!

Koda had his first training session! This youngster is SO MUCH FUN to work with. ❤️

I am so excited to continue working with this wonderful team, and advocating for positive training for the bully breeds.

We will be taking our training into public soon, so if you see us out and about-- this little dude is super friendly! BUT we will be trying keep his focus on his people so he can be the best behaved boy, and not think that every person and their mama should pet all over him! 😂

He’s a little rockstar! I miss him. I’m already in love. I can’t wait until next week! 🥹

08/07/2024

Stress signs, they can be very subtle or are slap in the face obvious.💥. Not all stress is bad either.
I know some people do struggle to see signs of stress in their own dogs, so I made this to help show some of the more common ones.
There are plenty of others.✅
Sniffing.
Attempting to disengage from a situation by being suddenly very "interested" in a scent.
Tail position.
Wags can mean the opposite to happy and stiff tails, high stiff "flagging" tails.
Coat.
It can bristle completely or only in parts, tail, rear rump or along the whole spine.
Hesitancy. Suddenly stopping, changing pace, lowering the head and maybe stretching it out.
Stressed or uncomfortable dogs tend to have closed mouths and tighter faces, but those closed mouths open when drooling, panting or lifting the lips to give a front mouth grin. They can even open up just enough for a tongue to flick out.
Ear positions should also be looked at, they are often a sign of being uncomfortable in many dogs...but not all.
Not all are listed and you may know your own dogs stress signals.
It is important to note that some of these signs are also shown when a dog is in a state of excitement, context and situations all need to be taken into account.
It is ok if your dog shows some signs of stress. It is communication and is very valuable information for you to quickly address what is happening, or about to happen.

I often get asked why I called our business ABC Dogs.
All
Behaviour is
Communication (ABC 😊)
and stress behaviours are certainly communication. 🙂

🙂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 etc. Please visit ABC Dogs Patreon Shop for our collection of graphics.
Everyone is free to share these posts on social media, however off social media use is protected.
Screen shots are a violation of copyright.
Please respect that these graphics take time and effort to make . All graphics belong to ABC Dogs NZ and are under copyright.

07/07/2024

Facts

'When do I stop training?'

You don't.

I think it's probably a bit like a diet. Diets are temporary - you might lose weight but they are not sustainable, not maintained, & always fail. What does work is a lifestyle change (continued for life) - healthier food & being reasonably active. Right?

Stopping training means going back to how you did things before that could not have been working for you to have felt the need to start training at all.

Your dog/horse is learning whether you mean to be teaching them or not. You don't teach a puppy to sit/stay/walk on a loose lead/recall ... & that's it. Having a puppy/young horse is bringing up a living being. Not unlike bringing up a child. It's less about what your dog/horse can 'do' & more about how they see the world, setting them up for good life experiences, their coping skills, their personality, meeting their (many) needs, your relationship with them, giving them joy.

It doesn't stop there. As your dog/horse ogrows through adolescence & adulthood, you are always reinforcing behaviours & meeting their (many & changing) needs, their personality, building your relationship, setting them up for good life experiences, giving them joy ... the 'sit/stay/loose lead walking/recall' are bonuses - only part of the picture, not the whole picture.

All of my dogs' walks are training walks. All of our interactions throughout the day - every day - are training. Because they affect your dog's behaviour in the future. Every interaction I have with my horses is reinforcing the behaviours I want - such as waiting for them to step back before I open the field gate.

For me, this could mean giving my 'wait' cue every time my dogs & I meet a gate on a wall. Giving my 'up' cue every time my dogs climb over a style. Sending my ponies to their stationary target every time I get to the field with their feed. Reinforcing the behaviours I want to be solid, to be automatic, to be default behaviours.

Training never ends, for the entirety of your dog/horse's life.

07/07/2024

Socialisation. Yes, there really is such a thing as "over socialised".
Play is NOT socialisation.❌
Play is a separate and important skill.✅....but it isn't socialisation.
What is socialisation ?..... Calmness and acceptance of the world.
What it isn't......over excited, scared, hyper, wary behaviour or PLAY.
I know that seems like a big statement to make for some people but society has some strange ideas of what socialisation is.

That doesn't mean dogs and puppies shouldn't play, it simply means one of the FIRST things they need to learn in life is not go to that place of extreme overarousal at the sight of a puppy. Puppies need to learn how to be accepting of dogs in general....then play can be added as a separate skill.

Calmness and acceptance IS socialisation.
Play is play.
Two completely separate things.

Dogs and puppies are a very small part of having a socialised dog. An important small part... but a very small part in a much bigger picture.
The word socialisation seems to be associated with play and that is a big issue with new puppy guardians/owners.

How you let other dogs meet yours and how your dog meets other dogs forms patterns of behaviour.
The more these dogs have over excited, over aroused and hyper behaviour around other dogs...........the more they understand this IS exactly how to meet dogs....and that is really problematic for many dogs.

True socialisation is acceptance and calmness in ALL the world has to offer.
Everything you encounter in everyday life...is exactly what you need to expose your dogs to.

Little and often
Positively and calmly......and you are well on your way to a well socialised puppy or dog.

They don't need to go to that hyper excited behaviour when other dogs are near.

They can be calm, assess the situation and choose to play and interact if they wish.....

That is true socialisation.

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.

06/07/2024

The Barkmore has some great tips for this summer heat!

05/07/2024

Celebrate the stars and stripes with your four-legged friends! 🐾 Wishing everyone a joyful and safe Independence Day. Don't forget to keep your pups calm and cozy during the fireworks! 🎆

04/07/2024

04/07/2024

🧨🎇HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY FROM ME AND MY LITTLE RED, WHTE, AND BLUE BABY! ❤️🤍💙

03/07/2024

I had SUCH an amazing session with this cutie boy and his family today!!! Today was probably my favorite session so far because we REALLY got into some great stuff that was very beneficial for Remy and his family.

Some of the things we worked on were proper behavior at the door (no door dashing, please!) and coming when called out in the front yard!