Dogs for Defense K-9

08/07/2025

13/05/2025

HOW?! How do you have 40 Malinois in an apartment. How has nobody complained about the noise or smell before? HOW? I cannot wrap my head around this one.

Rescuers from the Animal Care Centers of New York City and ASPCA removed 40 dogs from an a filthy apartment in Queens, New York. The organizations believe that many of the Belgian Malinois dogs had never been outside before their rescue

08/05/2025

Even the working dogs sit through Powerpoint classes.

01/05/2025

Great post.

I have rewritten my post on off leash dog attacks, now that I have shared what happened to Splenda. I stayed quiet while we sorted it out, and also to make sure she healed properly, but had posted some of this recently when a client's dog was attacked by an off leash dog severely. I wish I could say that Splenda is the only one of my dogs who has been attacked by an off leash dog, but it has happened more times than I can count. This was the first time on my own property though. Paddington was attacked on a trail, Merlin was almost killed on a walk once, Aslan had it happen many times in public, and Andy even on our walks in the neighborhood. While some of them didn't experience physical harm like Splenda, a few of them did. And I am so grateful they had a group of safe, social dogs to come home to so it would balance out the experience. Not all dogs have that.

These kinds of events happen every day, everywhere. We hear about them, we’ve watched them, and some of us have been unfortunately on the receiving end of them. I cannot tell you how many dogs I see that are severely traumatized after events like this, as well as their people. Enough is enough. Something needs to change.

Why has our tolerance increased so much that the kinds of attacks have become normal? Why has it gotten to a point that people are genuinely scared to walk their dogs in public - and rightly so? Why are we so normalized to aggression and reactivity and these kinds of events? This is not about dogs, this is about us.

The amount of products now offered to “contain” dogs in invisible ways are astounding. We value the aesthetic of the look of our homes over the overall safety of the general public and other animals. We have become comfortable and complacent with half measures and feel that we are not responsible for anyone else but ourselves. We’re in an individualistic society versus a collectivist society and have forgotten the implications on trauma inflicted on other people and dogs because we cannot see beyond "what's best for me, and best for my own dog."

We need to do better, because this cannot continue at this pace. And, to be clear, I am not upset with the dogs that do this. It isn’t their fault. I also know that it’s very rare that people who have a dog that has done this are “okay” with it happening. They too suffer trauma and stress and fear after something like this. But then, why does it keep happening? Why do I spend all day on the phone triaging desperate people after events like this? I am a dog trainer, but I cannot perform miracles, undo trauma, or go door to door building fences or teaching leash etiquette. I am exhausted and heartbroken.

Manage your dog. Put up a fence. Keep them on leash in parks or on trails. Muzzle train them. Do not rely on electronics or store bought containment systems that often fail or are easily moved through if the intent is strong enough. Stop making excuses, stop passively supervising, stop thinking that your dog would or could never or just because your dog is friendly the rules don’t apply. Our society and environments have changed so rapidly that our dogs have not had a chance to keep up, and we need to give them security and safety to prevent them from behavior that may end up with them paying the ultimate price, and traumatizing people and other dogs in the process. Yes, training can help, but only if you are there ready to do it and perform it properly. If you aren’t, then the dog needs to be managed and contained properly. “Just for a second” can quickly turn into a nightmare.

Yes, you can carry protection like spray shield, a pop up umbrella, an extra slip leash. The thing that worked to get the dog to drop Splenda was me yelling and clapping. However, that sometimes isn't enough, I'm lucky it was in my case. But, I also beg the question, why are we normalizing having to have protection on us when we want to walk our leashed dog down the street? Or on our own property? Is that the real discussion we should be having? Or should it be to address the real problem.

Please leash your dog. Please contain your dog. Please do not assume this one time will be fine. There are SO MANY cost effective physical fences now, that require no digging AND are installed in half a day. There are PLENTY of options now to take your dog to run off leash safely without putting others at risk. Do better so our dogs can be better.

25/04/2025

"Nothing works❗"
We can ALL make mistakes.

➡️Enrichment
It needs variety!
It needs targeted.
That same puzzle toy they can solve in 5 seconds isn't challenging them anymore.
Many dogs do well with sniff walks, others will cower in areas they are not familiar with. You need to look at where carefully and a sniff walk can be just in your front yard or even your street.
Throwing a ball, is it enrichment (it can be for some) or a repetitive high energy activity that needs limited for others.
The same chew toy they are chewing all day, everyday... may not be enriching at all.

✅Challenge them when they are ready with enrichment.

➡️Rest and sleep
It doesn't come naturally to many dogs.
High energy or highly anxious dogs need us to set some rest times....and that isn't a "cat nap" in the lounge when the children are playing in there.
It isn't necessarily putting them outside for a sleep in the sun, esp if they are aware of every little sound.
Are they TRULY sleeping or just laying down, there is a very big difference.
Have we used enrichment to help tire them out in a completely different way?
Are we pairing sleep or rest with a rewarding and soothing item to help make a positive association?

✅Create a comfortable and quiet area for sleep and encourage them to use it multiple times a day.

➡️Low intensity Trigger Training

Are we "pushing" because we are frustrated and want faster results?
Have we a good understanding of what low intensity actually is?
Do we recognise non verbal signs they are uncomfortable or anxious?
Are we starting at a closer distance than we should because we desperately want them to make a connection sooner?

✅It cannot be rushed. Our dogs WILL show us when they are ready to decrease that distance.

"I can't do it !!!"
Take a deep breath...you can. You REALLY can.
Yes... these 3 areas are key, but we are human and struggle to adapt or change our habits.
Our bad habits and impatience can creep in.

If you are struggling, there are videos in the comments to help you to perhaps look at reactivity a different way.

This dog training graphic is available through abcdogsnz.com (just click the dog training graphics tab).

25/04/2025

HU***NG HOUNDS
It’s not always about what it looks like.

Some dogs do and some dogs don’t, but if you have a dog that humps at the most inopportune times it can be particularly embarrassing or annoying.

Other dogs, other people, visitors, toys, cushions, furniture, anything that can be mounted and clung to may be fair game.

As people, it’s natural to assume that this behaviour is of a sexual nature, that our dogs must be oversexed, sexually frustrated or the all-too-common incorrect belief that our dogs are just trying to be “dominant” or “the alpha”.

Hu***ng, like many other dog behaviours does not always have a simple reason. It can be a complex behaviour which is usually emotionally or socially based.

When hu***ng is annoying another dog or person or causing frustration, discomfort or harm in any way, then obviously this behaviour needs to be addressed, but sometimes we need to consider if it’s really something we need to stop because as people, we see it as socially unacceptable?

Is it just a harmless way of relieving stress or anxiety or a way to release excess energy. Is a little hump now and then okay if it’s not causing any harm?

One of my boys (I’m referring to my dog - just to prevent any misunderstanding!) humps one of my other dogs every Saturday morning without fail.

This happens when we get back from a long walk in nature. I allow him to do this because I understand it’s his way of releasing excitement and calming himself down.

As long as the other dogs don’t mind, I don’t believe it’s causing any harm as it’s a healthy way of self-regulating.

If we prevent this, correct it, or at worst punish this behaviour are we removing a harmless natural outlet and risking another unwanted behaviour taking its place?

Hu***ng is one of the most misunderstood behaviours.

Very often, behaviour is not about the way it looks, but the way we perceive it from our human perspective.

12/04/2025

11/04/2025

06/03/2025