Fundog Behaviour and Training

28/08/2024

It’s Kong making day! Today’s offering is cooked sweet potato, plain natural yoghurt, some of my dogs normal kibble and some wet food. I might even add some freshly picked blackberries 😋. Let me know what your dogs fav enrichment toy filling is….

24/08/2024

🐾

PUPPIES 🐶

Puppies bite, they chew stuff, they can keep you awake at night and take time to learn a sleep routine, they p*e and poo and sometimes do it inside. It can take time to house train, some more than others.
They can easily get confused about our expectations, they can get frustrated when learning about life and get shouty and bitey, they get tired and bitey and don't want to sleep.

They go through different development stages as they grow having constant new and different experiences, sometimes they deal with these changes sometimes they don't. They make mistakes, they get overaroused, the arousal makes them behave in certain ways like, barking, grabbing, lunging.
They just act on their impulses and they need us to guide them. We need to be kind, understanding and tolerant.

They're beautiful little beings, learning every day, having new experiences every day. Humans brought them into the world, humans give them a home. We have a responsibility to guide and support them through their development with kindness and compassion.
Puppies are hard work but I love the experience, the good and the bad. They are all individually beautifully unique.

We NEED to meet their NEEDS.

They are never with us long enough, before you know it you'll be walking out of the vets with nothing but a collar, lead, a broken heart and loads of memories ...

Enjoy your puppy, embrace the journey, make beautiful memories, even if they're dicks sometimes 🐾❤️

Jane Ardern BSc (Hons) Dip Cabt
Kennel Club Accredited Instructor in Working Gundogs
The Gundog Club Accredited Instructor and Assessor
Member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers 1058

19/08/2024

I was so proud of little Maeve the Springer on Saturday 🥰🐾. She lacks confidence around dogs and can become quite conflicted I.e. she doesn’t know whether to stay or run 😬🫣. Her mum and dad are awesome and have been working on building optimism and teaching some core behaviours to help her in the moment. She was a little unsure of Jake at the start, but by listening to her ( observing her body language) we were able to help her navigate this tricky social interaction. They were best buddies by end of the session. Jake loves being ‘stooge’ dog as it means getting lots of treats 🫣🐾

06/08/2024

This amazing dog always has a smile on his face 🥰🐾. Does your dog have a special smile or make you laugh every day? Pop a photo in the comments and brighten someone’s day ☺️

02/08/2024

These two brothers are a little worried by unfamiliar dogs and have been working hard at gaining confidence when out and about. They did an awesome job on our early morning training walk 🥰🐾🐾

25/07/2024

Cooperative care handling at its best 🥰

24/07/2024

So proud of Pluto and Sue today! Pluto is a rescue with a difficult past and has trust issues with humans and dogs. Thankfully, he accepted me after a few weeks and he has been having regular hoopers sessions to build confidence and focus on Sue. Today they passed their Bronze Good Hoopers Award! Well done, Team Pluto

17/07/2024

Hu***ng is a very misunderstood behaviour. Excellent article on why your dog may choose to do this.

HU***NG HOUNDS - It’s not always what it seems

Some dogs do and some dogs don’t, but if you have a dog that humps at the most inopportune times it can be downright 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 s*xual nature, that our dogs must be overs*xed, s*xually 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.

Looking at what may be triggering the behaviour should always be the first step before finding ways to change a behaviour.

The solutions will depend on the cause. It may be finding ways to reduce stress or anxiety levels, increasing mental stimulation, teaching calm behaviours to prevent over arousal, ensuring your dog is getting enough sleep, using management or in some cases a veterinary check up to rule out any medical causes.

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 immediately addressed, but sometimes we may need to ask ourselves – is it really something we need to stop our dogs from doing just because we see it as socially unacceptable?

Is it a harmless way of relieving stress or anxiety after a difficult day or a way to expend pent up energy that is not causing anyone harm?

Is a little hump now and then okay if it’s not causing any harm?

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.

07/07/2024

Breeding is a huge responsibility. There’s so much to consider to make sure you end up with healthy, emotionally balanced dogs.

Getting a brand new puppy or thinking about breeding?

Part One - Why is the breeder breeding, and how have they prepared.

I thought I would explain what I do with my puppies and my dogs from a breeding point of view. I'll do a few posts over the next few days

Everyone does things differently but I'm hoping this will create more awareness and understanding and enable puppy buyers to ask questions to breeders.and make better decisions when buying a puppy.

I'm still fairly new to this, this is my 6th litter in the last 15 years

Firstly before I breed, it will be to keep one myself or for another breeder such as with Pebbles litter, I will also already have a list.
Breeding puts your bitch's life at risk, make sure you're fully prepared to take that risk.

Have you got the finances to cover emergencies. Because if you haven't you will definitely be putting your bi***es life at risk. It's currently between £3.5k and £4k for an emergency out of hours C-section.
The worst case scenario is you lose your bitch and the puppies and you're just left with a broken heart and a big vet bill.

If I'm breeding a bitch she must be fully health tested. It can be hard to find a fully tested dog that ticks all the boxes especially in working cockers but there's absolutely no excuse IMO for your bitch to not be tested.

Fully tested is a grey area. For example in cockers from a Kennel Club point of view they recommend
1) DNA tests, FN AMS and PRA.
2) BVA Eye Test and Gonioscopy. The BVA eye test is only valid for 1 year and the Gonioscopy for 3 years as they just look at the eye on that day and things can develop, progress and change.

Many people will view, just DNA or DNA and eyes as fully tested.

However there is a new illness in cockers called Paradoxical Pseudomyotonia (PP) which the Kennel Club haven't added to the list 'yet' but it's available.

My dogs are also Hip and Elbow Scored and have had their patellas checked by an Orthopedic Specialist both awake and under sedation.

For me fully tested includes hips and elbows as there are problems in the breed. Some will argue there is not.
Cockers are stoic and these joint issues often manifest themselves behaviourally as in aggression, hyperactivity, OCD repetitive behaviours and overarousal because putting yourself on an adrenaline rush eases the pain. It's like self medication.
Just looks like a drivey cocker.

What's also important with health testing is the results. Learn what the results mean. What does a DNA, clear carrier and effected mean, what's a good hip score, what do the Gonioscopy grades mean.

I've seen when looking for a Rottie for my stepson that some people advertise as fully health tested and the dogs have failed the tests or have poor results. I only knew this because I checked the results in the Kennel club website and then questioned the breeder, who gave me reasons and excuses that would probably be acceptable to a puppy owner who doesn't really understand it all.
However I walked. My stepson has a fabulous Rottie now, he's beautiful, healthy and has a temperament to die for 🖤

Health testing is not a guarantee your puppy will be healthy but it means the breeder has done their best to be informed about the health status of the parents and attempt to avoid certain problems developing.
For example you may get a puppy that develops hip dysplasia from parents with low scores. However you are statistically less likely to.

It's not all about health testing though as there's welfare, temperament and genetics to consider. Don't just assume if the breeder is health testing they are breeding responsibly. I've met many aggressive puppies from aggressive parents that are fully health tested. It's not just how you raise them.

A puppy will inherit the genes from its parents, these will play a part in its health, its construction, size and build and most importantly its temperament and working ability.

A puppy will inherit behavioural traits from it's parents. Puppy can inherit traits genetically passed down as well as newer learned behaviours. If a bitch is in an impoverished or stressful environment and is scared and defensive because it's not safe or she simply doesn't feel safe. She will, from a survival point of view pass that need to be in defense to stay safe to her puppies in order for them to survive too. Stressed bi***es also pass cortisol through the breast milk to the puppies.

Then there's the breed standard, is this being taken into account, can the parents do the job they were bred to do. People will breed for different reasons such as money, different sports and activities, pets, fancy colours, just because their mates dog down the road is convenient to use. I have bred this litter to keep a puppy to trial. They probably won't make a good pet for long walks in the countryside.

Then there's COI, this is short for the Coefficient of Inbreeding. Kennel Club registered puppies will have a COI.
In working cockers it's average is quite high compared to other breeds, some people will breed to a low COI where parents are as unrelated as possible and some for a higher COI to breed more related dogs and get what is called type. The higher the COI the more risk of doubling up on dodgy genes while doubling up on good or excellent genes.

Moving onto the bi***es welfare, is she sound and solid in temperament, is she matured herself.
Letty is 3 years old. I would never breed a bitch under 2 years old because I just don't know enough about them yet temperament wise and they are often just not mature enough themselves. Letty definitely wasn't ready for a litter at 2. I'd decided not to breed her, however this last year she has flourished and matured on and she's worked a brilliant season. So I made the decision to breed this year. She's been a super mum too.

The hardest part of breeding is to be able to step back and look at your pet you love objectively as breeding stock.

I think all my dogs are incredibly awesome but they are not all breeding stock quality.

I like to ask other experienced people's opinions who I know will be straight with me and not look at my dog through the rose tinted spectacles that I do 🖤

Thought I'd start at the before breeding part. Hope this is helpful

Jane Ardern BSc Hons KCAI WG
*Not checked for typos

27/06/2024

Please share if you know someone in need of behaviour or training help.

25/06/2024

Tempratures are rising and it is really important we are aware how difficult dogs find it to thermoregulate. Panting is how dogs cool themselves and it's efficient to a point, but if you keep on exercising them they will reach a point where that is not physically possible and they will start to experience heat stroke. Dogs are not meant to exercise in the heat. If you find yourself in situation where it's getting a bit warm, seek out shade and let your dog rest and regulate their temperature. Douse with cold water if you have enough. Immersion in water is best practice. If you suspect your dog has heat stroke, they will need to see a vet asap BUT it is advisable now to cool your dog first before you transport them. See guidelines below
https://heatstroke.dog/2023/07/20/myth-busting-cooling-hot-dogs/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0nClDd6dbHrb8ZLhTRL5pwYQzcyZMxBg6TypekZLjbWILSR52gNCo1X8A_aem_nuQUd8S93fh8IRI_2uXFUQ

We are finally able to share the first of (hopefully!) two articles we have been preparing this summer on the topic of cooling hot dogs. This summer has seen the usual barrage of social media posts…

09/06/2024

***Adolescent course with a difference***

Do you have a tricky teenager? Does it feel like your dog has suddenly forgotten everything they learned as a puppy? Can you feel your relationship changing and frustration building? Well, there’s a reason why all these things are happening and it’s because of the physiological and emotional changes that occur during adolescence. Understanding what is going in your dog’s brain is key to navigating this challenging developmental period. Too often during this time we adopt a task orientated approach and try to instil more obedience when actually this is a time to have empathy and to build on the relationship – much like with human teenagers! I am quite passionate about this stage of canine development as it’s the time when most people are likely to relinquish their dog because they have become too ‘difficult’. But it’s not always about the dog. The human end of the lead is also part of the solution. Gaining knowledge, understanding, and improving your training mechanics, is crucial to helping your dog – our own actions can have many consequences, both positive and negative. Recognising where you can improve as your dog’s guardian will set you both up for success and a happy and long relationship.
Based on the above concepts I have produced a course that will cover all aspects of adolescence plus specific training and life skills exercises to help you manage any challenges thrown at you. This course is for dog guardians who want to know more about their dog’s behaviour and develop a strong relationship built on trust, consistency, and fun! The training is reward based and focuses on improving mood state rather than just teaching ‘behaviours’. Session one will be a seminar on canine behaviour with a focus on adolescence followed by 8 practical sessions covering concepts such as engagement, focus, confidence, instilling calmness, creating an optimist, and opportunities to develop appropriate social skills etc. There will also be opportunity to do extra sessions after the eight-week course covering dog sport foundations, fitness foundations, and handling for grooming and veterinary examinations.
The cost of the course is £330 and includes a dog training journal, video resources and written resources, a WhatsApp group for support and sending in training videos. The venue is in Foxham SN15 4LS.
I will also advertise the seminar as a stand-alone for people to attend without doing the course. The cost of this will be £40.
Please e-mail me on [email protected] if you are interested in booking a place. Dogs must be 6 months to 18 months of age for the course. Start date to be confirmed but likely to be mid July.

03/06/2024

Do you have a 'doodle' or perhaps you are thinking of getting one. This is an excellent discussion on the pro's and con's of the doodle mixes

Many of us have learnt that we need to be extra aware of the individual care and support needs of some doodle mix dogs, and how important it is to have a ver...

14/05/2024

This unique approach to helping animals in our lives cope better in a human world, is why I chose COAPE to study my animal behaviour diploma.

Ethology,Neuroscience,Applied Animal Behaviour,Sentient,Sentient beings,Emotions,Animal Welfare,Dog,Cat,Training,Dog behaviour,Cat behaviour,Animal behaviour,Animal rights,Enrichment,Agility,Dog agility,Cat toys,Dog toys,Animals,Behaviour courses,Behaviour problems,Naughty dog,Naughty cat

02/05/2024

"Chronic pain is a behaviour problem of the nervous system". This talk by the amazing Dr Robert Falconer-Taylor dispels many myths about pain as well as providing lots of advice on how to approach diagnosing pain in a non verbal animal. One of the most stand out comments from this webinar was the notion that the only reason we know someone is in pain is because they can tell us. Non-verbal animals can't so we need to be more intuitive. And also, it is better to assume the animal is suffering than to not. https://fb.watch/rPaTuLfBFq/

01/05/2024

I couldn’t do my job without the help of the other half of team Fundog, my boys Jake and Riley. They are the best stooge dogs and I am eternally greatful for their kind nature and patience when interacting with dogs that need them. From helping scared dogs learn to be brave, to helping frustrated dogs learn to say hello politely, they do it all. As they are getting older, I have to be mindful about what I ask of them as I their well-being is paramount to me. Thank you so much boys 🐾🥰🐕

29/04/2024

🤎🐾

It can be all too easy to look at a behaviour, particularly one that we find problematic, as an isolated thing that just occurs, or is put down to false and outdated ideas like 'dominance' or 'stubbornness'.

Think of behaviour as a symptom - underlying that behaviour there is an emotion driving that behaviour. Behaviours don't happen just 'because', there is always a reason for them and so it's up to us to learn how to understand what they are trying to tell us so we can work out what that emotion is.

And at the root of it all there will be a need. Something that is causing the dog to feel that particular emotion and so lead them to show the behaviour that we are seeing. Once we have discovered the emotion the dog is feeling, we can work out what the dog needs and help them to get whatever that may be.

The three pictures here give an example:

Behaviour: the dog is barking at something. If you look at their posture and body language the body is leaning back, away from what they are barking at. The ears are back, whiskers flared, and eyes fixed on something. The front paw is slightly lifted and there is a back paw in the air, and the back end of the dog may be lowered towards the ground a little.

Emotion: what the overall picture of the body language is telling us is that the dog is scared of the thing they are barking at, so the emotion they are feeling is fear.

Need: What this dog needs is immediate space from the thing that is bothering them, so they can feel relief from that fear and feel safer again. What they need going on is an increased feeling of safety and security, more trust in us to help them if they need it or get them out of a situation if it's too much for them.

When we can understand the need and emotion driving the behaviour we can understand our dogs far better and see where they need our help.

13/04/2024

08/04/2024

**A few places left**
🐕Canine First Aid Training for Owners🐕

I will be running a Canine First Aid course for pet parents on 12 May in Foxham, Chippenham, 10.30 - 1.30pm, £40 pp and this will include your notes and a certificate of attendance. We will discuss:
🐾 how to do a physical examination
🐾how to identify what is normal and what is not
🐾common first aid emergencies
🐾plus bandaging and CPR.
This is a 3 hour workshop with breaks for tea and cake and lots of opportunities for questions. I am a qualified veterinary nurse with 30 years of experience. Please email me on [email protected] to reserve your place. Max 10 people.

04/04/2024

Adolescence can be tricky. Patience and understanding required ❤️

Ever wondered why a puppy's behavior seems erratic during adolescence, which occurs between six months and 18 months of age?

The neurobiology of adolescence is fascinating, with some key events that alter both the structure and function of the brain.

During canine adolescence, s*x hormones are changing which effects the animals stress responses. Adolescent dogs have a decreased ability to modulate sensory processing and subsequent behavior.

The connectivity between the frontal cortex (responsible for decision making) and amygdala (responsible for emotional processing) decreases, resulting in less behavioral control.

So what does this mean? This could mean that your dog, who used to come when called, suddenly cannot. This could mean that your dog, who didn't jump up on guests, suddenly does. Your dog that walked nicely on leash is now pulling. Or perhaps it seems like some days your dog responds to behaviors you ask of them, and some days they don't, without any rhyme or reason.

We also see increased risk taking and more sensitivity to fear.

As your puppy undergoes this transition into adulthood their inner world is intense, even chaotic. Many pet owners experience an increase in undesirable behavior and find themselves becoming increasingly frustrated. In turn, frustration and impatience sometimes cause us to act unpredictably.

This adds to your puppy’s inner turmoil. When the inside and the outside are both unpredictable it can be difficult for puppies to adjust.

By understanding this we can gain greater compassion and understanding. When we approach adolescence with patience we can help create a world that is predictable and gentle so our puppies grow up to be their best selves.

23/03/2024

Super proud of this gorgeous Labrador and his dad. As a young dog he experienced some painful orthopaedic issues which required surgery and he has ongoing treatment to keep him comfortable. Because of his difficult start, he didn’t get opportunity to socialise with other dogs at a critical time in his development. He is so sociable, but his restrictions meant he became frustrated on lead which led to some barking and lunging when he saw dogs. He’s also a very high energy dog so his caregivers have worked hard to meet his needs. The last few weeks he has shown excellent self control and emotional management around my dogs. And here he is on his 4th walk with my dogs who have really helped him learn to relax and normalise interactions. 💪🐾🔥

19/03/2024

Can we talk about slippery floors?

Hard flooring is popular, especially in houses with dogs. It's attractive, it's easy to clean, it's durable. But it can also be a nightmare for dogs who struggle to gain traction on its smooth, slippy surface.

Think about how it feels to walk on an icy footpath - how you tense your muscles, move more gingerly, fall! That can be a dog's experience on a hard smooth surface. Now imagine you're a senior dog with the stiffness and aches which come with age. Or a young puppy who's still learning how to manoeuvre & co-ordinate your body. Or you're an excitable adolescent who skids & slips whenever you run.

Not only do dogs run the risk of 𝗽𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗷𝘂𝗿𝘆 but the constant vigilance it takes to maintain balance along with the effects of frequent slips, skids & falls may also result in a generally 𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗹. Neither of which are going to have a positive impact on behaviour.

Creating an environment conducive to rest, relaxation and calmness is often the very first step in addressing behaviour problems in the home (and out of it). So it makes sense to take steps to protect their bodies and minimise over arousal. Add rugs or runners in areas they use frequently. Make sure their bed or blanket has a non-slip backing. Use a rubber mat under their food & water bowls to prevent them sliding around. Keep nails & paw fur trimmed.

Observe your dog. If they scrabble on the floor as they move or turn corners. If they hesitate before moving from a carpeted floor to a hard floor. If they slip or lose their footing sometimes. If their paws slide a bit as they stand up or lie down. If they ever 'run in one spot' because they can't get any purchase on the flooring then consider making their life safer and more comfortable by adding some rugs & runners. Because it's their house too!

14/03/2024

I had to share this. Osteoarthritis is not just an old dog disease.