The Funky Foxhound

10/07/2024

Given the statements that we see so often from those using aversive or 'balanced' training methods, those of us who use a force free approach need to clear up some of the issues with what is said.

As well as the red flags so often seen of 'positive only' or 'purely positive', these statements will usually trot out the old misunderstanding that all we do is toss cheese at a dog when they do something right and ignore everything else. This is absolutely untrue and does not reflect the force free approach at all.

Successful force free training involves SO much more than that.

• It needs a deep understanding of learning theory.
• What the dog's welfare needs are and how to make sure they are met.
• The potential impact of health on behaviour.
• The emotional states that underly behaviours.
• How to manage situations so that the dogs don't carry out the undesired behaviours and perhaps get an internal reward for doing them.
• How to train other behaviours the dog can do in that situation that will be rewarded so that the undesirable behaviour is no longer the best choice for them in that situation.
• When training isn’t the right answer at all.

The factors involved in getting the force free approach and training right are far too many for me to list in this post or on this image, but these are the things that a good force free trainer or behaviour professional is doing every time they are working with a dog and their humans.

It's so much more than just lobbing food at a dog.

06/07/2024

Such a wonderful post from Merit Dog Project on red flags to look out for when searching for an ethical dog trainer.
Definitely worthwhile having a read!

🚩RED FLAGS🚩

Yikes, lately I have seen so many ads for dog training services, tools, and courses that make me absolutely cringe. If you didn't know, dog training and dog behaviour consultancy is UNregulated. So although there are certifying bodies out there that offer some assurance, there are a huge array of competency levels and anyone can "set up shop" and call themselves whatever they want (professional, expert, behaviourist...) even with no education, experience, or humane practice.

That puts a lot of the honus on canine caregivers to find someone who is, indeed, professional, knowledgeable, and skilled. And without the RED SEAL of approval by one large overseeing body who test and police their members, it can feel like wading through sludge for the few gold coins at the bottom of the well.

Here are my RED FLAGS (things that should make you think twice):

🚫 The person is offering a "fix." Dogs are living, reacting, emotional animals like you and me. They do not need fixing, they need to learn skills, feel safe, be set up to succeed, and learn alternative ways of behaving.

🚫 Ad offers guarentees. Nope, impossible. Behaviours can be managed. We can improve the environment. We can weaken and strengthen the chances of behaviours occuring. We can set the dog up for success. We can strengthen the relationship, increase feelings of trust, help them to feel safe and understood so that they do not feel the need to behave in ways that served them in the past. But we cannot guarentee the behaviour or reaction of another being.

🚫 The ad says "You will achieve X behaviours in just Y days!" For example, I saw an ad yesterday saying, "Have an obedient dog in just 10 days!" No. Just no.

🚫 The ad uses dominative terminology, like "obedience" or "command." This is super outdated which makes me question just how outdated their practices might also be.

🚫 They say they have X years of experience but they don't have certifications. This one is tricky because some people who do not have certifications are great. Some people have certifications but those certifications are pretty terrible. To me, however, education and qualifications are important. So take a moment to read about the certifying organisation from which they received their credentials.

🚫 They are not transparent about their methods. Lots of people will say they "use positive reinforcement" to train, which they likely do. But what else? What equipment do they use? And how about dealing with unwanted behaviours? What do those strategies look like?

🚫 Gimmicky type marketing, like, "sign up for this free e-book or this free 7-day challenge!" Teaching dogs is not a challenge, it is about building a great, communicative relationship and it's worth investing in someone who is qualified to give you the right advice.

🚫 Claiming that the use of "e-collars" to teach a dog a behaviour (another name for shock collars) "does't hurt" or it is "only on vibration" so it's harmless. Even if the setting is low or on vibrate, even if the dog isn't THAT uncomfortable with the stimulation it delivers, this is a good indication that this person doesn't understand learning science properly which is concerning. These tools are literally designed to work as negative reinforcement or positive punishment (both requiring an unpleasant or aversive stimulus). At best, it doesn't work, at worst, well...

Ask around, check websites and socials to view pictures, (what are the dogs wearing for equipment, and what is their body language saying), check credentials and visit the websites of those credentialling organisations, sit in on a class, and ask questions.

You will be happy you did and so will your dog!

17/06/2024

I was lucky enough to spend the weekend at the Pet Professional Guild Australia’s three day conference, including one day of workshops. I get a great amount of joy out of being around so many other dog trainers and pet professionals, and was delighted to meet another force free groomer, too.
Meeting new colleagues and getting to know others better was definitely a big highlight, and there were also plenty of great presentations on animal emotions, welfare and play for future use in the salon, plus I learnt a lot of new games to play with my own dogs as well. Such a fantastic event that I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to attend!

07/06/2024

Last week’s webinar was very well received and I have since had some wonderful feedback from listeners, including trainers and groomers. I hope it helped provide people with some new ideas in regard to how they can groom and handle their dogs and their clients.

The webinar is now available to be watched at your leisure on the Pet Professional Guild Australia website, should anybody be interested. The presentation was mainly aimed at groomers, though much of what I speak about is also relevant to those who groom their own dogs at home 🙂

30/05/2024

Now is your last chance to sign up for this LIVE webinar tonight (6:30pm Adelaide time) where I will be speaking on low stress grooming, what it is, and why/how we can use it. If you are unable to make it to the live session but would still like to watch, the webinar will be available online for all who have signed up, or can be purchased at a later date. The tickets are a steal at just $20, though Pet Professional Guild Aus members can join for free.
I'm absolutely thrilled to have been given this opportunity by PPGA, and really hope I can give everybody some new ideas :)

22/05/2024

My heart is so happy to see 43 people who are interested in learning how to make the dog grooming process less stressful! Education is absolutely key when it comes to making this inherently stressful process as pleasant as possible, and I love seeing that people are eager to learn best practice techniques in order to achieve this ❤️
Eager to learn more? Sign up here: https://ppgaustralia.net.au/event-5654025

17/05/2024

I am over the moon to share that I’ll be presenting this webinar with the Pet Professional Guild Australia on the 30th of May. Designed to be informative to both professional groomers and those who groom their own dogs at home, this webinar aims to educate on the best ways to achieve a low-stress grooming experience with your dog 🐾

MAY WEBINAR - join us on May 30th for this great webinar on all things Dog Grooming. Whether you do this yourself or go to a professional groomer, or would simply like to learn more about grooming your dog in a kind, fear free way - this Webinar is for you! And it's only $20.

For all dogs, a level of regular grooming is a requirement for their health and well-being. For some, this may simply be bathing and nail trimming; for others, it may involve clipping, sc******ng and extensive brushing. Unfortunately, many dogs find this process difficult to some degree and as a result, may experience high levels of stress or show undesirable behaviours which can be dangerous to both themselves and those who are grooming them.

In this webinar, Emma Cook will explore how we can utilise a low-stress handling approach and environment during grooming to increase the safety and welfare for all involved. She will discuss some common problems that may arise during the grooming session and how to address them, as well as how to get pet guardians on board with the low-stress grooming process. Understanding how to utilise low-stress grooming procedures will make sessions less of a chore and more of a bonding experience between caregiver and dog - something many groomers and guardians have only ever dreamed of.

https://www.ppgaustralia.net.au/event-5654025

15/05/2024

I highly recommend attending this if you would like to get to know your dog better, or are thinking of inviting a dog to your family in the near future. It is a free event - such a great opportunity! Please share with all your friends who have a canine companion in their lives - educational opportunities like this keep people safe and dogs with their beloved families.

What is your dog saying that you're missing? 🤔

🐶 We might not speak the same language, but we are trying to communicate!

Whether you're an experienced dog owner or just thinking about getting a pup, this seminar is perfect for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of their furry friends.

Don't pass up this op-paw-tunity to attend this FREE information session presented by a qualified trainer!

📅 Wed 10 July 2024
⌚ 6:30pm to 8pm
📍 Civic Centre, 72 Woodville Road, Woodville

To book 👉 https://brnw.ch/Dog_Body_Language_Seminar

28/04/2024

I'm pleased to let you all know that card facilities are now available. Card payments will incur a 1.5% transfer fee to cover my expenses, but bank transfer and cash payments will also still be accepted with no fees attached. To avoid having to spend time chasing after unmade payments, I'll now be requiring payment to be made on the spot, before your dog heads home, unless otherwise discussed beforehand. Please ensure you bring your cash, phone or card along when collecting your dog to make this process easier 🐾

10/04/2024

This is super exciting! Many of you ask what vet I use, however I have had to give the disappointing answer that he doesn’t take new clients in this area due to travel times. Fear no more! Adelaide Home Vet have teamed up with the awesome crew at Pet Deli to bring his comprehensive services to us southern suburban dwellers. Dr Gregory Wright is absolutely fantastic and comes with my highest recommendations. He also offers a range of services you may not find elsewhere, such as titre testing and faecal testing, allowing for a more holistic approach to your pet’s care. If you are seeking a new vet or a second opinion on your pet’s health concerns, don’t hesitate to jump on this offer 🙂

29/03/2024

I hope you all have a safe, happy and wonderful Easter if you celebrate - and enjoy a relaxing long weekend if you don't 😃 Here are a few quick tips to keep your Easter as dog-friendly as possible 🐾

28/03/2024

A fabulous post about creating a stress-free bath time for your dog.

28/03/2024

Something truly disturbing happened in the salon…
If anybody has recommendations on who I should contact about this, please let me know.

16/03/2024

The absolute angel that is Rachel from The Natural Canine somehow stumbled upon the posts regarding Vander’s terrifying battle with bloat in October last year, and wanted to help us out after the huge cost. This particularly means a lot right now, as we have just spent another $2,500 on Kyah for a bunch of specialist health testing - only to discover she is b12 deficient (linked to absorption issues, not diet) and not dying like I had first feared 😅😅 anyway, today Rachel made a wonderful, very generous delivery of their exceptional quality raw food for my crew and I just wanted to give their store a shout out to say thank-you. I have fed The Natural Canine’s premade meals to my dogs for years now and am always impressed by the quality and consistency of their products, and their exceptional customer service. The team are absolutely wonderful and if anybody is considering trialling a raw diet for their dogs (they also have cooked loaves if you would prefer), I highly recommend them for the best quality premade meals.
This is one of the best parts about purchasing from and supporting small business; you and your pets are individuals, not numbers. So when things go wrong, they genuinely care. How lucky we are to have so many compassionate people in our lives ❤️

21/02/2024

I don’t generally take on puppies nowadays with my focus being on older dogs with behavioural issues, however sometimes special circumstances arise. Little Winston was a bit timid when he came into the salon, so we spent half an hour playing with some different toys. At first he would take them under the spare grooming table and have a play with them, but soon began playing with them under my feet and allowing me to join in with his play. I then brought the treats out and slowly introduced him to the grooming process, which can be intimidating to a 6-7 month old who has never done it before! His mum has put in the hard work at home getting him comfortable with baths, so that went by without a hitch, and then there was the blow dryer, which I almost always find to be the most scary part for the majority of dogs. He wasn’t sure at first, but pairing the sound and sensation of the dryer with reinforcement (high value treats) and slowly working over the less scary parts of his body until he was comfortable made a huge difference. By the end of his groom, he was an absolute pro! This is what fear free grooming is all about, and it can be the difference between a dog who can’t wait to see the groomer, and one who doesn’t want to come in the door. I can’t wait to see you again, Winston ❤️
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17/01/2024

I am now a nationally accredited, certified dog trainer! I am very grateful to you all for your patience with my study and trips away last year. 2024 is going to be an exciting year with further study and hopefully some new services on offer in the future 🐾

24/12/2023

I've got to take a moment to interrupt your feed full of Christmas and holiday shenanigans, to share a little celebration with you all; today is The Funky Foxhound's 6th birthday! Yep, I opened this business on Christmas Eve.. seemed a good idea at the time. Hindsight is 20/20 🤣 Anyway, I just wanted to give a shout-out to all of my wonderful clients past and present, who have supported my little business from the ground up, and wow how much everything has changed since 2017! So many beautiful dogs have come through my doors. I've watched cheeky, playful puppies grow into bright, loving adults and precious adults grow into seniors who require extra gentle care and patience. I've said goodbye to far too many dogs in the last 12 months, but consider myself so lucky to have known them and to have been entrusted with their care. I am thrilled to see what the next year has in store for The Funky Foxhound; I have some big plans for the future.

May you all have a wonderful and safe holiday period, however/whatever you celebrate. Don't forget to take a moment to check in with a friend or neighbour who may be spending the festive season alone; you never know just how much it will mean to them. I look forward to seeing you all with your wonderful furry family in 2024! 🥰

19/12/2023

Have you heard of scratch board training? It has been a game changer for Vander and I see it has a lot of potential for my clients, too 🐾 I think I might start offering scratch board training in 2024. Do you know a dog who hates nail trims, who might benefit from this? Let me know, as I’d love to gauge interest for this kind of training service!

05/12/2023

This will be keeping me busy in the evenings for the next few days. Co-operative care is such an incredible training method built on trust, predictability and consent, and in my eyes is the absolute gold standard of how I would love to groom all my clients. It can be truly life changing for nervous dogs and those who struggle with the grooming process, and every opportunity I get to learn more, I want to take. I am making great progress with a few very fearful dogs using these techniques and hope that the information from this conference will help me help them ❤️

03/12/2023

Here’s something I’ve never seen before previously, yet have come across twice this grass seed season! We often think to check paws, toes and ears for grass seeds, but did you know they can become lodged between the teeth as well? I strongly advise everyone check their dog’s teeth regularly, especially if they have a tendency to eat grass. If you notice your dog pawing at their face, rubbing their face, ‘chewing’ on nothing or suddenly experiencing bad breath, you may want to check those teeth and gums carefully. Little Kenzie was showing no signs of discomfort for her family to pick up, so it was very lucky this was spotted on the grooming table before it became a nasty infection.
These little things are a nightmare for pet owners. Hopefully all your pooches stay clear of them 💕

22/11/2023

Hi folks, a quick reminder to please be conscientious when parking outside the salon. As I am operating in a residential area, it’s really important that we all respect my neighbours when dropping off and collecting dogs. If possible, please park in my driveway leading to the salon; if my driveway is occupied, there is plenty of parking along Cadell Street, but please don’t park across the driveways. Even if you’re only planning to be one minute, we just never know when my neighbours may need to use their driveways. This is really important for the future of my home business, so please keep this in mind. Thanks a bunch ❤️ 🐾

16/11/2023

Lost Pets of South Australia is hosting a free microchipping day for cats this Saturday at metro Petstock stores. Microchipping your pet is the best possible way to ensure they make their way home if they are ever to become lost, and with zero cost involved in the process, there’s no excuse not to have it done. Can’t get there yourself? Have a friend or family member take them for you. The team are brilliant at handling even the greatest of scaredy cats in as low-stress a manner as possible, so don’t let behaviour deter you either. Cats without microchips can so easily be stolen or ‘adopted’ by well meaning neighbours if they are wandering and mistaken as strays. Please share with all of your friends; LPSA wants to get as many cats chipped as possible to ensure they don’t become somebody else’s Christmas present this year!

13/11/2023

Poor Vander had his staples out today but couldn’t cope with having it done whilst conscious. We tried with light sedatives, but he was still getting very worked up and there were a whole lot of staples (approximately 28) to remove, so we had to give in and anaesthetise him. What I thought might be a 10 min vet check turned into nearly an hour of trying to wake the poor fellow back up, as he was pretty determined to stay in his drug-induced nap today. Thank-you Lynne, Christine and Peter for being so understanding about having to shift your dogs’ grooms while I helped this trouble-maker recover. I’m so grateful for the understanding and compassion you have shown us both! Hopefully now with all these shenanigans over, life can go back to normal 🙃

09/11/2023

Thanks so much to everybody who has enquired about how Vander is doing ❤️ I am so grateful for all the support we have received!! You are all so kind, caring folks. As you can see, the giraffe boy is feeling great and back to showing me toys so that I can tell him how awesome he is for finding them. He has his post-op check up and most likely staple removal tomorrow. He still needs to keep his shenanigans to a minimum for another week yet, then he’ll be allowed to zoom around as he pleases and we will be able to go on our big long walks again. Currently we are only allowed short, gentle sniffy walks; trying to tell him that his walks need to be gentle and not completed in a vertical fashion is a whole different ball game though 🤣
I am so grateful to the amazing team at SASH - Small Animal Specialist Hospital Kent Town for saving his life and being so patient and knowledgeable during this incredibly stressful time, and for the ongoing support and advice from our regular vet Dr Wright at Adelaide Home Vet. Vander might not express his appreciation, but I assure you that deep down, he is very grateful to everybody involved 🤣

27/10/2023

$10,500 later and my beautiful boy is home, still heavily medicated but comfortable and happily eating. He needs to be kept calm and quiet for the next three weeks whilst his wounds heal, then he’ll be ready to take on the world ❤️ once again, I am mind blown by the incredible amount of support we have received during this terrifying time. So many of you have donated towards Vander’s treatment and this has truly saved his life. Please know that by donating to or sharing his GoFundMe, you were a part of that and you should be so proud. Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you, a million times over. My gratitude is endless.

26/10/2023

Our million-dollar dog is slowly improving. We visited this afternoon and he ate a little bit of baby food and one piece of Prime100 that I offered him, so that is a start. He was as thrilled as a heavily sedated dog can be to see Eamonn and I. His tail wagged, he stood up and his eyes lit up. You could see he so desperately wanted to bounce but could only muster a little lift of the front legs, much to the gratitude of all of us as I was very worried he’d damage his stitches if he tried to bounce.

I truly have no words for the incredible love, generosity and kindness we have experienced during this time. We are already half way to the $10,000 goal to cover his vet bills. That is just mind blowing to me. It moves me to tears. Friends, family, clients and even total strangers, all coming together to help this beautiful, wonderful furry friend of ours. Vander is truly such a special dog and steals hearts everywhere he goes. The staff at SASH are all in love with the Baloney Pony and he has certainly left a lasting impression, along with a few nurses sighing as they have to repeat “he’s an Ibizan hound” to every new staff member on the clock who asks what breed he is 🤣

Love might not be able to conquer everything, but it sure conquers many things, and the love of the community surrounding our little family is felt with such strength. My gratitude is endless ❤️

26/10/2023

The last 12 hours have been hell. My beautiful boy who you have all fallen in love with suddenly bloated immediately after dinner last night. Bloat (GDV) is a very serious condition most common in large, deep chested breeds. It begins as a build up of gas which can cause the stomach to flip; once the stomach flips, the condition is fatal without surgery. We rushed Vander to the brilliant staff at SASH where he was treated with the utmost care and compassion. With a quote of $10,000-$17,000, we had to quickly scrounge enough funds together to pay the 50% deposit so he could go under and have the condition corrected. As you can imagine, this has been completely devastating, overwhelming and financially ruining. My wonderful mother-in-law has created this GoFundMe to help us out. I really hate asking for money, particularly from my clients and followers, but she has asked me to share it here with all of you in the hopes that some small contributions here and there will add up. Absolutely no pressure, but every cent counts. If you can’t chip in financially, a share may also help. Thank-you all so much ❤️
Beautiful Vander is now in recovery at SASH and doing remarkably well, minus a spleen and with his stomach lining now tacked so it can’t twist again. We have been to hell and back with him but he is worth every ounce of stress, as he is the most wonderful boy ever.

I also have to say a huge thank-you to the staff at VetPay. Whilst checking out the legitimacy of my business before giving me approval for financial support, they saw my posts here and fell in love with Vander and all the people who adore him. They assisted me far beyond what was expected and that was just so overwhelmingly wonderful. I believe (in my very distressed state last night) that I was speaking to Ian, so if you see this Ian, may all the good things in life come to you. You are an Angel on earth and I am so incredibly grateful for you and your kindness ❤️

Our beloved family member, friend, dog groomer extraordinaire and seasoned animal rescuer Emma needs… Miriam Wallman needs your support for Vander’s vet bill

05/10/2023

Kyah is looking to the future… and so should you!

I now have my 2024 diary. Please let me know if you’d like to make your bookings for January, or if you’d like me to book your dog through for the whole year so we don’t have to worry about where I can squeeze your best friend in 🐾

01/10/2023

She’s been found! Took herself for a nice stroll around the suburb then wandered back home 🤣

One of my beautiful clients has gone missing from her home on Denial Ave, Seaview Downs, just around the corner. Please keep an eye out and if you find her please call Nima on 0438891346. Her name is Olive and she’s a miniature schnauzer. Her family is very worried! Please share with your friends to help bring her home.