Adventure Dogs Academy

12/12/2024

I don’t love electric fences for a variety of reasons - especially for those who live in busy suburban neighborhoods with lots of foot traffic, because dogs will bark at passersby *nonstop*. My own experience with having it on 10 acres, was that my not very predatory lab would casually go through it on the regular. I didn’t find it to be effective at containment. So, think twice before getting one.

E-fences, do they actually keep your dog safe? It actually turns out not so much. 😬

People often turn to electronic collars, and electronic fences, as the seemingly top-tier method of keeping their dog within a certain confined space. However, a study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, found that they are actually significantly less effective than the bog standard fence types including privacy fences and see-through fences. In fact the dogs confined with an electronic fence were almost twice as likely to escape (44%) than those using the other fence types (23.3%).

This is also not the only issue with using an electronic fence/ e-fence to keep your dog confined compared to the more traditional fence types, such as...

❎ It doesn't prevent dangers entering, which could put you and your dog at risk.
Even if the fence was able to keep your dog in, it doesn't stop other creatures, or people, entering the space that could either hurt your dog or even try to steal them. A privacy fence, or other fence type, would not only deter a dog from leaving but unwanted visitors from coming in too.

❎ If the dog does get out, they may not be able to get back in.
Sometimes dogs are hit with such strong adrenaline it will surpass the pain of the e-collar shock, this could be due to fear, prey drive or something else. This could leave them free outside the confinement area where they could get hurt, or become exhausted, and then not be in the same state of adrenaline in order to get in again, leaving them vulnerable and stuck outside the confinement area.

❎ It can create unexpected or unintended negative associations if the dog gets shocked whilst watching something near the fence line.
Dogs like to watch things, we all know dogs who sit at the window all day to have a nosey at what is going on in the neighbourhood. If your dog is watching at the fence line, and see something interesting, such as another dog or person, they may inadvertently move forward enough to receive a shock. They may now associate whatever they were watching with this negative consequence, which could lead to fear or even aggression if they encounter the same or similar visual later on.

So E-fences are not only not as effective as they are often perceived to be, but they also carry their own specific risks on top of that as well. So if you wish to keep your dog safe, I would recommend to always aim for a suitable physical fence, rather than relying on an e-collar. 👍

You can find the study quoted in the graphic here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28117644/ #:~:text=Dogs%20confined%20by%20an%20electronic,22%2F82%20%5B26.8%25%5D).

12/12/2024

At this point in time, most folks understand the link between pain and behavior. It’s logical: you don’t feel well, you have less patience and tolerance, you lash out or shut down or otherwise are not the best version of yourself. It makes sense that the same would be true for dogs.

But how do we know there is pain with animals who cannot verbalize that pain?

The short answer: we can’t know.

The longer answer: we also can’t know there ISN’T pain.

Meet Malus.

From puppyhood, he’s been a little spicy. But he’s a terrier, so that’s normal, right? He didn’t like having his feet handled. No biggie. And as he got older, he got a little reactive to other dogs - again, see “terrier” in the dictionary. And after he got neutered at 2.5 years old, his behavior spiraled - going after his housemates, aggression directed at his owners, even less tolerance for handling, increased fence fighting. But there’s some evidence of increased aggression after neutering, so maybe he just got unlucky.

For many folks, that explanation would’ve been enough. They would’ve worked on behavior modification, or just accepted a crate and rotate household, or managed the heck out of all of his triggers… or, honestly, would’ve ended up euthanizing him for his dangerous behavior.

Luckily, Malus’s mom is Katrina, who is essentially a terrier in a human body. She dug in.

Training, a veterinary behaviorist, consulting with other behavior experts, expensive testing - and then we got our first physical explanation: low zinc.

But even with a zinc supplement, his aggressive episodes remained unpredictable. Katrina had noticed some very, very intermittent lameness, foot chewing, butt/tail biting, so off they went to the first orthopedic specialist - one who cleared him orthopedically for all activities.

So they did physical therapy, and pain meds, and kept working on training.

But the weird, mild lameness continued, and so did visits to specialists. A neurologist who recommended an MRI, then more physical therapy for a possible psoas strain, different meds, another orthopedic/rehab specialist consultation, adjustments to physical therapy, a PEMF bed for home use, adjustments to behavior meds, consults with nationally respected trainers and behavior specialists, and finally - FINALLY - a recommendation to see a pain management specialist.

“I think he may have Tethered Cord Syndrome. I’m going to try different pain meds, but there’s a specialist in Massachusetts you should get in touch with.”

With the new meds on board, his behavior improved. He was brighter, happier, had fewer episodes of lameness, self mutilation, and aggression.

Yesterday, Malus had a dynamic MRI at Tufts, where Tethered Cord Syndrome was confirmed.

Today, he had surgery to relieve the adhesions to his spinal cord that have been causing him pain.

He was never “just being a terrier.” He was not acting out for no good reason. He didn’t need harsher training methods. He wasn’t aggressing for no reason.

He was in pain.

There are no words to adequately describe how thrilled I am for Katrina and Malus to have this diagnosis and surgery in their rear view mirror - it has been a long time coming. The strain on Katrina and Kevin’s emotions, time, resources, finances, and household over the last 5 years cannot be overstated. Most folks wouldn’t - and couldn’t - go to the lengths they did.

We can’t rule out pain. We can only rule out specific issues and diagnoses. For Malus, it took finding the right vet who had heard about this rarely diagnosed issue to connect them with the vet who could help.

To my clients I encourage to work with their veterinarian to try to find any physical explanations: Katrina and Malus are the reason why I will push you more if your primary care vet shrugs you off. It’s why I will push and push and push, especially if your commitment to training and management is excellent but we still are struggling to make progress. Malus is on my shoulder (sometimes literally), poking me with his nose, screeching in my ear to look harder.

If you’ve ever heard him, you know how hard that ✨ delightful ✨ noise is to ignore.

(PS - Here’s your sign to sign up for pet insurance.)

To learn more about Tethered Cord Syndrome:
https://vet.tufts.edu/news-events/news/breakthrough-surgical-procedure-relieves-dogs-chronic-pain

05/12/2024

Love seeing this at a client’s house! Family and friends are utilizing our favorite game of “treat bomb” to encourage this friendly gal to keep her feet on the floor when people walk in the door.

04/12/2024

Clients often ask me if their anxious, fearful, or aggressive dog needs prescription medication to cope. Sometimes, they ask about things like CBD, too. (Although I have an open mind for future research, I have yet to see CBD work well when we track data and have control groups to avoid placebo effects.)

Other times, clients have no idea their dog is experiencing atypical stress levels, or they know, but don’t understand how this contributes to behavior challenges.

Stress can be expressed with body language that might suggest readiness for "fight or flight" as well as "freeze" or “fawn,” and even "fidget." (Fidget is hu***ng, jumping, zooming, arousal biting, and "wild" behavior.)

As an ethical trainer, I cannot suggest specific medication, but I can suggest a discussion with a vet, ideally a vet behaviorist, and I can provide data points to help them make decisions:

* I might list body language and behaviors I see in response to identified triggers.

* I might note how persistent and proportionate the response is to the provocation (see Suzanne Clothier's excellent article below about the 3 Ps in the link.)

* I might take some videos to help the vet see what we see at home, too.

* I might note that avoiding triggers is impossible (e.g. separation anxiety where people work outside the home, or reactions to loud sounds or strangers or other dogs while people live in a city)

* I might highlight certain behaviors or body language that may be linked to discomfort or pain related to GI issues, joint issues, or allergies, like excessive licking.

Sometimes, the vet will suggest a long-term, daily prescription.

Sometimes, they will suggest a short-acting medication that may be sedating.

Sometimes, they use them in combination. It's not something that a trainer can decide for you, ethically or professionally.

Visit the link below to see excellent resources you can use as you consider what's right for your dog. You can also find the page on that site to set up a consultation if you want my help with your dog or if you're a trainer or other dog pro, help with a challenging case.

https://tinyurl.com/meds4dogs

03/12/2024

Dogs, babies and toddlers all need the ability to learn, grow and explore in a safe environment! 🐾 💚 👣

Management is incredibly important to help create this success! ✅

If the child does not have the ability to follow guidelines or regulate their emotions in the moment due to their age or other reasons like being over tired, there needs to be management in place to support success for EVERYONE!

When in doubt about the closeness or proximity of your dog, baby and toddler, space it out!

✏️ Doggie Drawings by Lili Chin

23/11/2024

16/11/2024

Teddy rocking the name game + hand target combo (a favorite of mine for puppies), his first time practicing outside. We will work up to Mom standing on the steps, then front porch, then inside the front door to mimic the behavior the family will use in case he ever slips outside and starts to wander off.

15/11/2024

Looking at current position statements from organizations like AVSAB (American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior), who are the leaders on veterinary care and behavior, they are abundantly clear that the outdated belief of avoiding socialization until vaccines are completed has no place in current standards. This is relevant because in many cases this fear of strangers or a particular group of people, results from lack of socialization during this critical period and can have lifelong impacts into adulthood.

11/11/2024

When searching for a responsible breeder keep these 10 red flags in mind. If you're searching for the perfect puppy for your family knowing these red flags in dog breeders can help you make an informed choice. With bio security issues number 1 and 2 are not always a possibility but today so many breeders to use apps to Live stream their litters to give you some peace of mind.
During National Pet Adoption Week, consider supporting our effort to put an end to puppy mills.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-put-an-end-to-puppy-mills

04/11/2024

One of my favorite trainers has an opening!

We have a last minute opening for our force & fear free puppy board & train program starting this Friday, 11/8 (some flexibility on start date is possible).

If you have a puppy that is up to date on vaccinations and has had a negative f***l test within the last two weeks, reach out to us by filling out our intake form via our website:
https://www.playandtraindogs.com/boarding
or email us at [email protected].

This spot is also open for existing clients who need a 1 or 2 week "tune up".

04/11/2024

A reminder that reward-based methods aren't just for sunny days and easy dogs and puppies. They are for all dogs. If you want to know more, I've got a post on my blog that answers common questions about training methods, from the archives. https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2019/11/reward-based-dog-training-isnt-just-for.html

02/11/2024

Pickles’ favorite stage of big brotherhood: baby led weaning!