Can Do Dogs Shetland

17/11/2023

Internet advice can harm your dog!

I just watched a video on tiktok that made me want to weep for the poor, terrified dog who was being choked into submission.

Grot/french/dingo collars are becoming ever more popular as a quick fix for lead walking, dog aggression, or reactivity. Every time I see them mentioned on social media by commercial dog trainers, it's followed up with "they don't hurt the dog." They do, and I'll get to that.

There is literally not a single piece of advice or equipment recommendation, I give that needs followed up with such a disclaimer because my training is completely transparent. I do not need to dupe people into using methods that look barbaric.

If it looks like it will hurt your dog. It does. It's that simple.

These collars work by putting pressure on the most sensitive part of your dog's neck. The dog doesn't pull or lunge because when they do, it physically chokes them and puts unbearable pressure on the nerves in their neck.

Imagine being frightened and not being able to move away because someone has a noose round your throat... or the opposite, seeing a friend and then being choked. Unbearable.

A dog wearing one of these may not be able to pull hard. However, they also won't be able to sniff, which is vital for regulating their emotions, and they are prevented from displaying natural body language and avoidance behaviours.

I'm sorry if you've been duped into believing your dog needs one of these torture devices. Internet trainers are very persuasive with their insistence of "it doesn't hurt".

15/11/2023

14/11/2023

Now is the time. 🤍

13/11/2023

Hi Groupies and all those speaking up for animals everywhere, please sign the petition and share the post far and wide. We need to save these precious souls. Thank you for your support. 🥰🐻xoxo

13/11/2023

WORLD KINDNESS DAY -

Hi Groupies, lets give a little kindness today for World Kindness Day. Lovely Aileen at K9-Kind has some lovely suggestions for showing kindness to your pup. I especially like the Pat, Pet, Pause. Charlie loves a bit of scrunchy butt.

A little kindness goes a long way in this troubled world. 🥰🐾🐾❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🖤

𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐲!

While we should always have kindness in mind when living with and training our dogs. Today offers a great opportunity to really think about how your dog might interpret kindness. Of course, none of us can really tell what our dogs are thinking but their body language can at least give us an insight as to how they are feeling. Let’s make them feel good.

Below are just 5 ways to show your dog kindness today.

🐾 Let your dog decide whether they want attention, an ear scratch or a butt scratch. Use the Pat, Pet, Pause routine to find out. Pat your leg, to invite your dog for some attention, if they’re interested in engaging with you, they will approach. Now pet your dog for the count of three and then Pause for three seconds, if they stay in place or nudge you, they’d probably like some more of that, please. Alternatively, they may reposition themselves with a different part of their body near your scratching hand, this may mean “I’d prefer to be scratched here, please”. If they walk away, then they’re saying no thank you, not right now.

🐾 At K9-Kind we’re always training with kindness in mind ™. There is no need to shout at your dog or jerk on their lead or do anything that causes them fear or intimidation. If you were to tell a human that they were doing a task wrong, you wouldn’t just keep shouting at them every time they got it wrong, you would probably explain what they should be doing instead and then tell them when they get it right. Let's extend that courtesy to our dogs too. It’s much more ethical to set your dog up for success and let them know when they are doing something you like, rather than continually punishing them for doing something you don’t like.

🐾 Let your dog choose the route of their walk. It’s nice to give dogs choices, so much of their life is controlled by us that it’s nice to let them choose which way to go next. While you’re at it be sure to let your dog enjoy sniffing. While we take in the world primarily through our eyes a dog takes it in primarily through their nose. The purpose of a walk for you might be to get your heart rate up and burn some calories and while that’s great for you perhaps that’s not what your dog wants. Mental enrichment is as important as physical exercise.

🐾 Teach your dog a fun trick. Most dogs love a bit of training with their owner. It’s a great way to help you strengthen your bond with your dog and a fun way to spend time together. There are lots of great YouTube videos out there to help show you how to teach fun tricks – check out Kikopup on YouTube for inspiration using force-free methods.

🐾 Give your dog a bone. Seriously. They love them! A nice big bone will keep a dog occupied for ages, provides mental enrichment, is an appropriate thing to chew on and will also help keep their teeth clean. It’s a win, win, win, win, win! In the interests of safety though, make sure it’s raw (cooked bones splinter and are dangerous) and an appropriate size.

05/11/2023

Why do people leave their pups outdoors on Bonfire Weekend? Every year some poor pups go missing. Crazed with fear they bolt and the anxiety for their parents is terrible.
Please take the advice of our lovely trainer Aileen at K9-Kind. Don't let your pups out for toilet breaks unaccompanied and off lead. Don't leave them out doors, don't leave outerdoors open.
Please Please, keep your pups indoors and think for them. They don't know what is coming and they cannot rationalise their terror.
Please consider them this evening there are bound to be more fireworks.😢

04/11/2023

Hi Groupies, for those of you who, like me, have a reactive pup, read this brilliant advice from Kirsten. For those of you who don't know, Kirsten Dillon has been my trainer and mentor for nrealy ten years. She is an absolutely elite behaviourist and teacher. She has never ever steered me wrong.

Take and heed this advice, and don't be afraid to speak up for you pup!!!! 🥰🐾🐾

🗣 This quote is one I say to a lot of my clients, but especially the ones who have dogs with stranger danger, anxiety around certain people, or with dogs who don’t like petting from unfamiliar people or petting in general.

🌎 As a society, I think we tend to “feel bad” telling people our dogs need space or that they can’t be pet or touched. Also, people sometimes tend to feel there’s something “wrong” with dogs who won’t just willingly allow complete strangers to come waltzing over to immediately talk to them, touch them, hug them, and gaze at them.

🐕 So if you have a dog who needs some space, I am here to tell you that there is nothing “wrong” with your dog! They just have feelings and boundaries that we need to respect, and help manage and train properly to improve their reactions over time.

🐾 We of course want to help them feel better in these situations that make them uncomfortable, and training can certainly assist with that. But some reactive dogs or dogs who don’t want to be handled by strangers, won’t all of a sudden become social butterflies, if ever. As pet parents, our job is to respect our dog’s boundaries and work with them to make better choices.

🐶 Dogs, like people, are allowed to say no, to not want to stop and hug a stranger, to not want to be gazed at by unfamiliar people or be touched by any random person on the street.

👍🏽 It’s totally ok for your dog to say no, although it should be our goal as their humans to not make them feel like they have to. Tell people no for them - be their advocate!

Here are some ways to say no for your dog:
- “We are training right now. ”
- “She needs space.”
- “We are working on ignoring people.”
- “Not today.”

🚨 Bottom line: speak up for your dog. Don’t be afraid to tell strangers no on behalf of your dog. Remember, your dog is your family and you’ll probably never see Bob from the hardware store ever again. So don’t appease a stranger at the cost of your family member’s feelings or well-being. 💕

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02/11/2023

02/11/2023

Hi Groupies - more sage advice from lovely Kirsten. Take note especially if this is your pup's first bonfire night.

If you have a noise reactive pup like I do, make sure that you take the simple yet vital steps to help them through what is a traumatic time for them.

Most of all keep them safely in your home and don't let them out in case they bolt. A fear crazed dog will run wildly without heeding any danger.

Have a look at Kirsten's blog and my previous post from Aileen at K9-Kind on how to help your pup stay safe and un-traumatized.

Take care of you all. Gen :)

Help your dog overcome firework fears with Kirsten Dillon's helpful tips and tricks for habituation. From noise downloads to natural calming solutions, we've got you covered.

29/10/2023

Hi Groupies - expert advice here from our lovely trainer Aileen at K9-Kind. If you've got a noise reactive pup like I have, do all you can to ease their experience and make them feel safe. It is awful to see them scared and in distress.

Be mindful of them - they can't tell you in words what is wrong or understand that they will be finished soon and that they can't hurt them when they are safe indoors.

You are their safety and security!!!

29/10/2023

It breaks my heart when I see dogs in sports or obedience trials that are showing signs of anxiety and the guardians aren’t aware. They’re often too consumed with winning.

Just had a client who does agility with her and her newest dog barks the entire time and has a hard time focusing. She’s not had a dog like this before and wanted me to help her stop her dog from barking. I watched in awe at how hard this dog was screaming to be heard saying “I hate this, stop making me do it”. I asked a million questions about the rest if his life at home, on walks etc and it was glaringly clear this dog was not wanting to compete in agility. After a long consult I asked if she was open to not competing with this dog and she teared up. The tears were gratitude. When I shared all the signs of anxiety her dog was expressing she realized that it wasn’t something this dog wanted and she never even thought of it in this way. She thought it’s in the breed and so they must love agility and competition not aware of the emotions of individual dogs. She was so happy and relieved to learn this and will never force a dog to do something they don’t want.

I find this common amongst show and competition guardians. Many are old school and think ‘it’s a dog and this is what they’re bred for’ with little to no concern for the emotions of the dog. They aren’t aware of the body languages of stress and anxiety and push the dog for their own entertainment and the win.

I’m grateful for those who are open to learning more about the emotional lives of dogs, especially those who show and compete.

25/10/2023

Hi Groupies - here is the second blog from Kirsten Dillon on Puppy Care. Please do share with anyone getting a new puppy!!! This lady is elite, taking her advice will give you and your puppy the best possible start together. 😊🐾🐾

Follow Kirsten Dillon, our Canine Specialist and Animal Behaviourist, on an exciting journey with Stevie, a Lagotto Romagnolo puppy. Gain valuable insights into dog training as we share tips and heart

21/10/2023

Transcend Traditional Dog Training With Innovative Training

18/10/2023

Hi Groupies - listen to this lady she is elite and has words of infinite wisdom. If you know someone who is wanting to bring a puppy into their family, send them to this lady's page. Kirsten has never steered us wrong in the 9 years it has been a privilege to work with her and learn from her. Go getcha puppies the right way!!!! 🥰🐾🐾

Follow Kirsten Dillon, our Canine Specialist and Animal Behaviourist, on an exciting journey with Stevie, a Lagotto Romagnolo puppy. Gain valuable insights into dog training as we share tips and heart

09/10/2023

When will they realize?

07/10/2023

WAY TO GO AILEEN!!!!! Congratulations to Aileen of K(-Kind for reaching the final!!!! Sooooo thrilled for you. It is very well deserved. Keeping everything crossed that you win. 😊Keep us posted!!! 🥰🐾🐾

04/10/2023

I am so proud of my peerie man. He has been through such a lot. Last year he had a paw injury that took weeks to heal and then broke his leg really badly, had major surgery and was on crate confinement for months. We only started his Assistance Dog Training for real at the beginning of this year and we have just found out the he has passed level two training and been awarded his Assistance Dog Training Vest. I will be posting a pic of him in it in a few weeks when it arrives.
This is Charlie with Aileen of K9-Kind, our wonderful trainer who has brought us all the way and worked with us last week on the final steps for Charlie's and my assessment. This lady is elite!!! It is thanks to her that Charlie and I are who we are now as a team.
Thank you Aileen - for everything. See you in the New Year!!! 🥰🐾🐾

02/10/2023

Yep!

29/09/2023

So proud of my little man - he has come such a long way. Thanks so much Aileen!!!!

You can't do better than K9-Kind everyone!!! Whatever stage you are at with your pup, give Aileen a call!!! 🥰🐾🐾

Teamwork makes the dream work! I'm so incredibly proud of these two. Gen in particular has been an exceptional student.

When I first met these two Gen had lost her confidence and didn't have any real connection with Charlie. The only thing Charlie was interested in was his ball.

Now they are team and utterly adore each other. They both love to learn and train and are wonderful students.

Today we worked on door manners, drop it and some cooperative care.