Check out my new video showing Ernie learning a chin rest! 🫴🐶
This trick is a fun party trick, someting to teach to give your dog some mental stimulation, can be used to give your dog something to do instead of a less appropriate behaviour such as barking, and is a great foundation behaviour for cooperative care.
This technique is a great first step for introducing a consent/start button behaviour for reducing stress during vet visits, grooming, and other handling situations.
✨Happy Canine Enrichment Day!✨
Enrichment is a vital part of life for our dogs. It provides them with mental stimulation, builds skills, reduces stress and frustration and can build optimism!
And who doesn't want that?! 😍
I have a whole enrichment playlist on my YouTube channel @WeTeachPets - why not check it out?! Find some things you can do regularly with your dog that you both enjoy.
Here's a quick idea to get you started! There are so many other types of enrichment to have a go at too!
🐕 Does your dog ever get over-excited or anxious? Would you like a simple game you can play to calm them down in almost any environment?
Well then these are going to be great training exercises to practice with your dog!
Pattern games are exactly as they sound! They are repeated patterns which provide a predictable and calm framework for your dog. They are also hopefully fun and engaging for them too!
They aren't placing a lot of pressure on your dog to do something complex. Some dog training exercises can be too difficult for dogs to achieve in a very stimulating environment. They are simple, but take focus.
By carrying out these predictable patterns of movement which you've already paired with a calm environment, you can help to induce a feeling of calmness in your dog if they are starting to struggle with heightened emotions.
If you have a dog who struggles with big emotions sometimes then why not get in touch and see how I can help! 😊🐶
🐕 Does your dog ever get over-excited or anxious? Would you like a simple game you can play to calm them down in almost any environment?
Well then these are going to be great training exercises to practice with your dog!
Pattern games are exactly as they sound! They are repeated patterns which provide a predictable and calm framework for your dog. They are also hopefully fun and engaging for them too!
They aren't placing a lot of pressure on your dog to do something complex. Some dog training exercises can be too difficult for dogs to achieve in a very stimulating environment. They are simple, but take focus.
By carrying out these predictable patterns of movement which you've already paired with a calm environment, you can help to induce a feeling of calmness in your dog if they are starting to struggle with heightened emotions.
If you have a dog who struggles with big emotions sometimes then why not get in touch and see how I can help! 😊🐶
👃Sniffing helps to increase optimism - this is great for our dogs whether they have behavioural challenges or not.
But imagine if anxious or stressed dogs start to feel more optimistic about life, how that might change their approaches to things.
There's so many ways to easily introduce sniffing in a fun way, check out this video for some ideas!
I love adding sniffy activities into behaviour programmes to help dogs to chill out and feel better in general before we get down to the nitty gritty training exercises!
I'd also love to know if you have any successful ways of encouraging your dogs to sniff and snuffle about?
You want your dog to be able to focus on you on a walk, you and they want to have fun on a walk - try out this game, a favourite with Max!
Can you dig it? Yes you can! 😃
It was only when I was doing some digging in the garden myself that I realised Ernie is a digger!
He's never had access to something loose to dig in like this before.
If you're looking for new hobbies for your dog, or your dog is already a keen digger (or even if you just like watching dogs have the zoomies while digging!) then this newest video is for you!
🪴Happy National Gardening Day!🪴
I'd love to see your dogs enjoying your garden, or helping you with your gardening like Ernie here ("helping"!). I love seeing the zoomies brewing!! 😆
Or maybe you have some plans for a pet-friendly garden this year?
A little shameless plug for my first ever online course!🔌Discounted over the long weekend!
So what will you get if you buy the Low Stress Vet & Groomer Visits course?
💊You'll learn how to know whether your vets/groomers is a good fit for your dog.
✂️You'll understand trigger stacking and how this concept is essential for achieving the best outcome.
🌡You'll learn to read your dog's body language so you know how they're coping every step of the way.
👩⚕️You'll understand how to use co-operative care and other training before your appointment, to help your dog feel and behave more calmly.
🩺You'll know how to make your visit as low stress as possible for both of you, even if you don't have time to train your dog first.
💉You'll feel confident in how to reintroduce your dog to the vets from the moment you arrive, including handing over your training to other people so your dog can be examined or groomed!
This supportive step-by-step course is usually £47, however if you sign up now now, you can bag a huge 30% discount with the code EASTER24 (valid until the 31st March)! Think of the Easter Eggs you could buy with the difference! 🍫
Sound good? Click below to find out more or get started with the course. You'll have access to it for as long as it's hosted and can work through it at your own pace for the one off payment.
https://weteachpets.com/dog-hates-the-vet-course/
Does Your Dog Hate Going To The Vets?!
Last chance to grab the Easter discount today!
So what will you get if you buy the Low Stress Vet & Groomer Visits course?
💊You'll learn how to know whether your vets/groomers is a good fit for your dog.
✂️You'll understand trigger stacking and how this concept is essential for achieving the best outcome.
🌡You'll learn to read your dog's body language so you know how they're coping every step of the way.
👩⚕️You'll understand how to use co-operative care and other training before your appointment, to help your dog feel and behave more calmly.
🩺You'll know how to make your visit as low stress as possible for both of you, even if you don't have time to train your dog first.
💉You'll feel confident in how to reintroduce your dog to the vets from the moment you arrive, including handing over your training to other people so your dog can be examined or groomed!
This supportive, comprehensive, step-by-step course is usually £47, however if you sign up now now, you can bag a huge 30% discount with the code EASTER24 (valid until the 31st March)! Think of the Easter Eggs you could buy with the difference! 🍫
Sound good?
Click below to find out more or get started with the course. You'll have access to it for as long as it's hosted and can work through it at your own pace for the one off payment.
https://weteachpets.com/dog-hates-the-vet-course/
Today is national #dogsinyellow day!☀️
This day is dedicated to raising awareness and understanding for anxious and reactive dogs, who may have unique needs when it comes to socialisation and space. The colour yellow serves as a visual cue to other people and pet parents that their dog needs space.
There are many reasons why a dog may need space.
It may…
• have health issues
• have had a bad experience with another dog
• be a bitch that may be in heat
• be in training
• be very old and arthritic
• be nervous or shy
• just not like other dogs!
In short, a yellow marker on a dog means it needs some space.
If you see a dog with a yellow marker...
• give them plenty of space
• don't approach or let your dog approach without discussing with the owner first
• keep direct eye contact to a minimum as this can be scary for anxious dogs
• keep your dog interested in you to avoid them staring or pulling towards the other dog
If you have an anxious or reactive dog...
• keep a close eye on their body language
• look out for signs of them wanting to move away and always facilitate this
• try to keep some slack in the lead, whilst maintaining a safe distance from triggers
• try to engage your dog in calming activities like sniffing for treats throughout their walk, and after any scary events to help them calm back down again
• don't punish your dog if they do react to something, after all they are reacting because they are struggling - instead think how you might prevent that next time
🐕💛
