We Teach Pets

23/08/2024

Did you know there are different ways you can get help from me?

🆓I have a variety of free resources on my website, handouts, blogs, downloadable guides: https://weteachpets.com/freebies/

🥼If visiting the vets is a problem for your dog there's a self paced course just for that here: https://weteachpets.com/dog-hates-the-vet-course/

🐕You can book a 1-2-1 package with me so we can create a tailored plan for your dog: https://weteachpets.com/behaviour-issues/

I'm here to help! If you aren't sure what you need, send me a message on here, call or send an email and we can arrange a chat: https://weteachpets.com/contact/

20/08/2024

Ethics is such an important topic in the dog behaviour world.

Yes there are different approaches, yes other approaches than mine can create behaviour change - but for me it's not just about the destination, but about the journey.

And actually...I don't want my destination to be a suppressed dog who doesn't do the unwanted behaviour because they daren't. If all you are interested in is stopping a behaviour at all costs, I'm not the behaviourist for you.

The destination in my eyes would be dogs and their guardians who understand each other, are comfortable with each other and live great lives together. That doesn't mean that we don't seek to change unwanted behaviour, of course! But I strongly believe that the way we achieve this is important.

Our dogs love us, look to us for guidance, and we should be working WITH them, not against them, as we provide for their needs and that guidance to help them to display more desirable responses because they are comfortable enough to do so.

And it works!

You can find out more about me and my approaches on my website: https://weteachpets.com/animal-behaviourist-worcestershire/

19/08/2024

Happy World Photography Day! 📷

What's a photo - of your dog or otherwise - that you love? 😊

18/08/2024

What can you do when it is HOT, but you can't avoid a dog walk?

Some dogs don't have a garden, or won't go to the toilet in the garden, so skipping a walk when it is hot isn't an option.

🐾 Avoid taking your dog out during the hottest hours, and stick to shady areas.

🐾 Keep walks short and sweet - just to toilet spots and back.

🐾 Keep your dog calm - use treats to help them to focus on you/sniffing, rather than trying to run around or getting wound up by other things.

🐾 Encourage your dog to mooch and sniff rather than run around.

🐾 Consider doggy footwear to protect their paws from hot surfaces outside.

How has your dog coped with the recent heat?

17/08/2024

Well, tomorrow is my day!

Wish me luck with my presentation (I have a video to share and you know how tech feels about videos in presentations!) - I hope people enjoy it! 🍀😊

15/08/2024

I listened to a podcast recently about AI being developed to identify signs of pain in cats.

Pain in cats is often under-recognised, because the changes they display can be so very subtle. Research in identifying pain is still being carried out.

We do know that subtle changes in facial expression can be an indicator of pain.

The podcast interviewee was discussing the development of a programme that will allow people to upload a photo of their cat's face. AI will then look for certain characteristics and identify whether there could be something that needs further investigation.

I was initially a bit sceptical about listening to the podcast I have to say - I was wondering if it was going to make me shake my head and roll my eyes...

However - it actually seems like it could be a really helpful adjunct to traditional veterinary check ups for cats who might otherwise continue to experience chronic pain!

Have you heard of any uses of AI in pet care? What are your thoughts?

13/08/2024

🐇 It's been a little while since I have seen a rabbit case but I remember loving working with this diligent owner on her rabbits, and then later her adopted feral kittens!

Rabbits are social, group living animals and need company of their own kind for their welfare, so integrating the bunnies was a top priority!

"I had worked with Naomi before a few years ago with bonding my rabbits and she did a wonderfully thorough job, taking into account their personalities and giving me tailored strategies.

This time, I needed help socialising two feral kittens that I rescued and Naomi’s initial consultation really reassured me that we could make progress (I had been starting to lose hope somewhat).

Her customised plan was easy to follow and extensive. She’s been on hand ever since to answer any questions along the way and seems genuinely invested in the kittens’ progress.

The best thing of all? Her training advice really works! I’ve seen amazing results with the kittens and couldn’t be happier. Thanks to Naomi, I now have some valuable tools that will help me train my cats in new things for the rest of their lives. I hope I can work with We Teach Pets again soon 😊"

12/08/2024

Can your dog tell you what they want? And should you give it to them?

Our dogs being able to communicate their wants and needs is an amazing thing. We control so many elements of their lives that letting them tell us their preferences is a great opportunity.

Last week I talked about my dogs not knowing the word "walkies".

But it's got me thinking. They do know the word for "outside".

So if I ask them if they want to go outside, then they either head to the backdoor ("yes") or they don't respond ("no"). Nice and easy.

The more words your dog does understand, simply by repeating the word and the activity. I've said "outside" and them immediately gone and opened the back door enough times for them to link the two things.

If I did start to say "walkies" and then go and grab their harnesses and start getting ready for a walk it wouldn't take long for them to understand that word too.

Then when I started to say "walkies" they would either get excited and go to the front door where their harnesses are kept ("yes") or not ("no" - unlikely!).

The same goes for "car", "dinner", "play" and so on. Dogs are capable of learning what a lot of words mean and this allows them to opt in or out.

Sometimes Max in particular just starts staring into my soul (hence the picture) and almost willing me to do something with/for him and I want to know what it is!

I also try to figure out where my dogs are looking. Max is very good at asking for things I've put up out of the way by standing and looking between me and whatever it is. And I try to indulge him when it's safe and appropriate to do so.

🐶What words does your dog understand?
🐶What ways does your dog have of asking for things?
🐶What might you start teaching your dog now?

10/08/2024

Behind the scenes..!

Every weekday evening I check my separation clients' daily tasks, and set new ones for the next day depending on their dog's responses and their feedback so they have daily support and know exactly what to do next :)

If you think your dog might experience separation anxiety you can book in a free chat to talk through their symptoms and see how I can help!

https://weteachpets.com/separation-anxiety-training/

09/08/2024

Oh no - it's NAIL CLIPPING TIME!

We've all been there. Your dog's nails are starting to get longer, you've left it for as long as you can, hoping more pavement walks will take care of them... but no. It's time to tackle their nails!

You're not sure who dreads it more, you or your dog (or *insert other animal here*!). And if you've ever caught the quick - the part of the nail with blood flow and nerves - you know the time and the double and triple and quadruple checking that goes into each claw, only drawing out the process even more.

One way of getting around this could be to teach your dog to file down their own nails. All good fun and your dog is none the wiser! Using a board with some sandpaper on it, your dog learns to dig on this which slowly sands down their claws bit by bit.

Another option (and bear with me here) is a Dremel! Make sure you are definitely using a tool suitable for sanding down nails. If your dog knows the look of the clippers then starting with a new tool may help, and there's much less risk of meeting the quick!

Dogs and nail clipping - a tricky combo? Lots of dogs are very sensitive about having

09/08/2024

So we were hanging out in a storm drain...

as we all do at some point during the day?! 😆

The other day we took the furry ones on a long walk which happened to have a turning around point of a rather lovely pub 🍺

Unfortunately a warm Friday evening at a lovely country pub which is very dog friendly isn't always the easiest to navigate when you have a reactive, highly alert dog and one who has a fear of people.

What did we consider about the situation:

- A new environment - lots of unknowns for dogs who like to know their surroundings to feel secure. New sights, smells and sounds.

- Lots of people and dogs, children on bikes and playing on play equipment - over stimulating and lots to keep an eye on, very unpredictable and fast changing environment.

- We'd already used up a fair bit of energy on the walk, including passing people, so tolerance may have been a little lowered already (I mean the dogs' but maybe ours too!). How much less can you cope with stress when you're feeling tired? It's the same with our dogs.

- It was warm. Not mega hot, but definitely warm. Especially if you're wearing a fur coat. Feeling too warm can also reduce tolerance. We all know what it's like to feel hot and bothered.

What could we do?

🏠 Turn around and head for home - no cider, but otherwise a totally valid option.

🐕 Do some training - no chance for us humans to switch off, we were tired and not "feeling it", not an ideal time/place for training because there are so many variables, triggers and sudden changes in the environment.

😎 Just stay out of the way, relax, and enjoy some chips and cider!

We found a quiet corner of the beer garden, the part without the kids play equipment. And there was actually a (clean and dry!) storm drain under a bridge next the water which was a cool spot to just chill, enjoy the views, and not worry about anyone else, distances, over friendly dogs/children/adults, reinforcement rates and so on.

As important as it is to be able to deal with situations that come up with our dogs, it's just as important to know when to just avoid.

Don't put too much pressure on your dog or yourself. Sometimes just do what's easy and fun! 😊🐶

08/08/2024

Could your harness be causing your dog problems?! 🐕‍🦺

I love using a harness for comfort - but did you know that even harnesses can cause problems if they aren't fitted correctly, or are the wrong shape, for your dog?

We typically look for Y shaped harnesses (when your dog is sitting facing you the harness creates a Y shape down over the top of the shoulders and down the centre of their chest) so that the straps at the front of the harness don't stop the leg and shoulder from moving forward correctly.

If your dog's harness goes across their shoulder joint then they may take shorter strides which means they walk with an altered gait. Over the days, weeks, months, years, this could have big effects on their posture and comfort.

Harnesses which do impact natural movement or stride length, are too tight, sitting too close to the armpits, are too bulky and warm, could contribute to grumpy or anxious behaviour when out and about, or even when you try to fit the harness in the first place.

Check out your dog the next time they're wearing theirs, or if you're wondering if a harness is the right choice for your dog check out my harness video below! Or why not post a pic and I can take a look!

I use harnesses in many of my behaviour cases, and use them with my own dogs. I opt for Y shaped harnesses, which means that they form a Y shape at the front...

06/08/2024

Just for a bit of fun!

Who here has identified with this at some point!! ✋

You wouldn't be alone! This is one of the things that lots of people ask me about when we're working together 🙂

Share or tag someone who will appreciate this too!

05/08/2024

What common things DON'T your dogs know?

I was thinking the other day that a long time ago a client had said to me that their newly acquired rescue dog had obviously never been walked before coming to them because their dog didn't respond to the word "walk" or "walkies".

But neither do my dogs! Because with my current dogs I've never linked that word with going for a walk.

If you said "walkies" to my dogs they would just look at you in the same way as if you said any other nonsense word! It might look like I never walk them!

🐶Is there anything that your dog knows that most dogs don't?
🐶Or things your dog has just never got the hang of that most dogs can do?!
🐶Or things you have just never taught that are common?

04/08/2024

Do you want to add some more FUN into your dog walks?

Would you like to learn a new training game that your dog is sure to LOVE?

How about increasing your dog's FOCUS on walks?

If you answered 'Yes please!' to any of the above, WATCH THIS VIDEO! 👇👇👇

Would you like your dog to focus more on what you're saying to them on a walk? Who doesn't!?Would you like to tire your dog out more so they are more settled...

03/08/2024

✋ Time to share the topic of my presentation:

✨Co-operative Care and its Role in the Emotional Wellbeing of Our Dogs, and Ourselves ✨

Co-operative care is all about how dogs can be willing participants of various types of handling, such as grooming, veterinary exams, having their harness put on and so on. And in actual fact how our progress in this area, and teaching dogs to consent to these activities is good for them, and for the humans in their lives!

Why not join me, and 66 others presenting on various pet related topics 🐾🐴🦎

02/08/2024

Neutered vs Unneutered Dogs....

The subject of whether to neuter our dogs is hotly debated, with valuable considerations on each side.

Did you know:

🐶 If you're keeping your female dog intact, that after a season they all go through a phantom pregnancy?

🐶 Although we think of females as being "in season" while they are bleeding, it is actually the phase immediately after this where they are most attractive to males, and are receptive to mating.

🐶 Dogs will mate with close family members if the opportunity arises. They do not differentiate!

🐶 Dogs don't care about size differences, and particularly if you have a small female with a large male this could spell difficulties!

I have one entire male and one neutered male at home. Although neutering has traditionally been considered a 'cure all' for behaviour problems, I can tell you now that neutering is NOT that straight forward!

Ruling out non-hormonal causes of behaviour problems, or managing challenging but normal adolescent behaviour, is a great first step.

Did you neuter your dog? If so, why/why not?

01/08/2024

OK so this might be excessive bedding - Mr Max Two Beds in the picture here! 🛏️

But it is important that we make sure that car journeys are comfortable for our dogs.🚗

Max is out of sight when he's in the boot and that can make it tricky to know how he's getting on. Not being strapped in has it's risks, and if the floor is in any way slippy then it's going to be really difficult for dogs to be able to be/feel stable.

This could increase anxiety during travel. Comfortable, non slip surfaces are a huge help 🚘

We definitely don't want them falling over or sliding about. Plus lying on too hard a surface doesn't sound very comfortable for longer journeys to me! 🐶

For those travelling in the back seat, remember that although it's more grippy and soft to lie on, they might be sitting at a weird angle that pushes them to the back of the seat which not all dogs love. So bedding which provide a more level surface might help.

Beds that your dog already likes lying on at home can help them to feel more at home when travelling too. 🐾

Max has two orthopedic mattresses here because we were on holiday and take one of his indoor mattresses for the holiday cottage and travel with it on top of his car mattress. It does feel a bit princess and the pea though! 👸🫛

31/07/2024

Happy National Mutt Day!! 🐕

Anyone want to hazard a guess at what Max might be?! A couple of clues - there are three breeds in there, and his butt is fluffier than it looks 😂

Who else has a mutt - share their pics below so we can celebrate them today 🤩

30/07/2024

🌵Anybody else feeling a bit warm?! 🥵

I'm sure our dogs are even warmer right now!

So why not grab a lickimat (or silicone muffin tray, bowls or similar toy), smear on some natural yoghurt, cream cheese, berries, mashed carrot, or meat pastes if you have them - or a combo of the above - pop them in the freezer and give your dog a nice cooling treat 😎

30/07/2024

Could it really be this simple?! 🤔

A previous dog guardian I worked with contacted me a few weeks ago. All had been well since we last spoke, but since moving a few weeks prior her dog had started showing signs of separation anxiety.

She booked in a free call to talk it through. Just before the call she had given her dog (who had been injured so previously restricted) access to the sofa again when leaving her that day. And moved her bed to her new favourite spot.

And for the first time in weeks her dog had settled down and snoozed through the absence. She'd got up on the sofa for a bit, then wondered over to her bed where she stayed for the rest of the time.

We pondered, could it be that simple?

We didn't book a session in, but instead her guardian monitored her for gradually increasing absences over the next week or so. Low and behold no more signs of anxiety!

It could indeed be this simple!

Giving dogs choice over where they feel comfortable can make a huge difference for dogs! This is why one of the big questions in separation anxiety cases is thinking about where your dog is usually most comfortable to settle down when they have the choice.

The places your dog has access to when you leave them can make a great deal of difference to how much your dog feels they can relax.

Maybe it's the sofa, maybe it's your bed, maybe it's a comfy bed with a vantage point to the front door, or a sunny spot in a specific room? Or all of the above?

OK sadly there's often more to it than just allowing access to the sofa, but we shouldn't overlook the impact it can have either!

Where does your dog like to settle?

29/07/2024

Last week I mentioned the dogs I used to work with who needed some help with their behaviour in kennels before finding new homes.

This is Digby. He was 18 months old, super friendly but had such low frustration tolerance that he could barely be walked. He leapt up and tugged at the lead, your clothes, hands, arms etc. He leapt and lunged and flung himself around when seeing a dog on the horizon and was pretty unmanageable.

A session with him was exhausting initially and I came away bloody and bruised on more than one occasion!

But he was such a character, lots of fun and smart in his own way.

Whilst still learning to manage himself he met an older lady who was sat on a bench who asked if she could say hello. We discussed our training and Digby was doing well, and was at least comparatively gentle when he decided to climb up onto her lap and give her a kiss 🙈 she was overjoyed, but it was a message to me about keeping things short and sweet!

I also remember him being very fond of walking past (well, walking to, moving on was harder) the butchers once he was ready to walk calmly round town, and also doing an absolutely gargantuan rather unformed poo in a little shop's door way🫣

With lots of work on both our sides he was able to walk past people, dogs, round town, go off lead and be relatively (he was a Boxer 😅 ) sensible. He also came to stay with me for a week to make sure he was ready to go to a new home, and he past with flying colours! What a star!

It takes time and patience but he totally turned around, all with kindness and patience and retaining his super character!

If you'd like to know more about how I work and the toolbox of reward based, kind methods to work on your dog's behaviour then I'd love to hear from you!

28/07/2024

"How do I stop my dog from barking?!” is a common question.

Barking can be caused by anxiety, worry, excitement, frustration, boredom, or something else.

The first step to stopping your dog’s barking is to work out *why* your dog is barking. If we can prevent the need for barking to happen in the first place, we have better long term success.

One common reason dogs bark is because they’re alerting the family to someone approaching or passing by the house. Some bark because they are frustrated that they want to say hello to the neighbour across the street. Or perhaps they're barking because they are scared of a dog coming towards them?

Preventing barking from occurring in the first place is absolutely key – the more your dog barks, the better at it they get! Blocking their view from windows, masking outdoor sounds with music, or walking in different areas may help to stop the barking from happening in the first place while you work on training.

So in answer to the oft asked question “How do I stop my dog from barking?!”, the real take home message here is to make sure you are meeting your dog’s needs *before* the barking starts.

Barking is a symptom, so understanding what your dog needs is vital in order to preempt it and help them to reduce barking.

What makes your dog bark?

26/07/2024

🤗 Today is National Holistic Therapy Day

And a prompt for me to share the importance of considering that challenging behaviour in our dogs doesn't appear in a vacuum.

When looking at our dog's behaviour we want to understand the underlying reason that behaviour is occurring, but also their general health and wellbeing.

A dog who is chronically stressed, isn't sleeping well and is suffering from regular tummy upsets and comes to see me because they are barking at other dogs on walks might continue to struggle with other dogs if we only focus on this behaviour in isolation.

When we look holistically at behavioural and physical health we will have far more success in working through the challenging behaviour because our dogs are in the right state of mind! If they are in a good place in general they are better able to learn, to decompress and to process calmly 💪

25/07/2024

Want to help your dog, but unsure where to start...?

Behavioural support doesn't have to be expensive.

I have a variety of FREE resources available on my website to help support you and your dog with your training - whether it's Separation Anxiety, fear & stress, or aggression, I can help!

I have also recently launched my new 'Low Stress Vet/Groomer Visits' course, which is ideal if your dog is ever anxious or aggressive when attending appointments.

If you think you might need 1:1 support from me, you can book a FREE call to talk things through, and I will point you in the right direction. No judgement, no obligation.

I have various support options and payment plans available - plus your pet insurance may even reimburse your fees!

Ready to take action and help your dog have the best life possible? Pop me a message. 😊🐾

24/07/2024

Happy Birthday (well, gotcha) Day Ernie! 🥳🐾

6 years this chap has been in our lives today. Getting greyer and wartier but no less silly (thank goodness!)

23/07/2024

When people talk about creating a den or 'safe space' for their dogs, most people picture a crate. However if your dog is anxious, it is better to give them LOTS of different options!

If your dog has ever been spooked and headed behind the sofa, under the dining room table, or onto your bed, then one of these areas should be chosen if possible. Give your dog access to these areas as much as possible, especially during times of potential stress.

You can read more about how to create a safe space for your dog here:

What counts as a safe space for dogs? When people talk about creating a den or safe space for their dogs, most people picture a crate. If your dog is anxious, then it is better to give your dog lots of options, and let them choose! This way you know it will go down

22/07/2024

🐶 Dog Training Myth: "My dog knows when he's done wrong - he looks guilty!"

Lots of videos get shown on social media of dogs "looking guilty" when they're caught red handed, or in the aftermath, of getting up to something like raiding the bin or chewing up someone's shoes.

In fact, lots of people find it really funny that the dog is looking guilty.

But dogs don't have the same moral sense of right and wrong as we do. They are opportunists. They do things because they feel good in the moment.

What we're actually seeing with these sad sorts of looks in dogs is appeasement behaviour. This is a "I'm not a threat/please don't be angry with me" type behaviours like lowered body posture, averting the eyes, holding their ears back, maybe a low fast wag of the tail.

They are trying their best to stop what they think is anger or threatening behaviour from the person (even if the person doesn't really mean it).

These signs are responses to human frustration or anger, or the memory of similar circumstances in the past which have brought about these emotions in people. For some dogs who are very sensitive, even just a change in their human's behaviour like being filmed (lots of dogs actually aren't keen on this!) and their person repeating "what did you do!" in a different tone of voice than normal for comedic effect, and giving direct eye contact for a prolonged period could trigger worry and appeasement.

The dogs don't generally understand that their behaviour has any kind of "right or wrong" attached to it in these circumstances, more that they want to preserve their safety and their relationship with you, even though they don't understand what's gone wrong.

That's not to say that we can't teach dogs to do or not do certain things because WE don't want them raiding the bin or eating our slippers! But when it does happen, it's nothing more than a moment of fun or interest for your dog, or may even have been a stress reliever for some anxiety. So let's stop bringing guilt into it 🐾

20/07/2024

OK so your question to be in for a chance of winning a FREE ticket to the Celebrating Life Together event is...
..how many hours of education are included in Part 2 "Virtual Education Event"?

The answer can be found on the event page here: https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/webinars-events/webinars/celebrating-life-together-a-pet-approved-event/

Comment below. One person will be selected at random from those who get the answer right and announced tomorrow :)

The winner will need to message me with their full name and email address so that the organiser can send your ticket info out!

19/07/2024

📢FREE TICKET ALERT 📢

Since I am speaking at the PPG Celebrating Life Together event I have a free ticket to giveaway to one of my lucky Facebook crew!

I will be posting up a question about the event on Saturday morning, along with a link to the PPG event page where you can find the answer. You'll have 24 hours to submit your answer and then someone will be picked at random to win the ticket :)

So keep your eyes open on this page tomorrow! See you then 👀

Celebrating Life TogetherLet's join forces and help provide the antidote to harmful and aversive training and pet care.Get involved in this cool and fun even...