K9 School of Arts

11/11/2023

"Tricks:" Those just-for-fun behaviours.

Are they just for fun, or are they also useful skill building opportunities?

Here are some of the benefits of teaching a decent leg weave or a spin:

1. Engagement and connection (building and strengthening a two-way communication system).

2. Focus on me when there are distractions in the environment that need to be avoided

3. Confidence doing new things and experiencing different stimuli

4. Conceptual skills that can be useful in life, like body position and self-control of impulses

5. Opportunities for positive reinforcement-- provides optimal choices

6. For Juno, it helps her refocus when she feels anxious. If there is something scary, to help her recover and move on (provided she feels safe) we do some fun behaviours

7. Builds motivation and optimism

Every day Juno has time to sniff and do whatever she feels like -- to just exist and be dog.

Other times there is a lot happening around her and I would like her attention away from the distractions and back on me. Rather than putting a lead on her and yanking her about, I ask her to engage with me. We do some behaviours that she enjoys and are just for fun: Up and down and through and around. We even do some practical skill building stuff, like a wait-for-the-word where she stays still until she hears the word "relax." She enjoys every second of it!

SHE GETS LOTS OF TIME TO JUST BE, but these moments are still an important part of our outings.

05/09/2023

Great short tutorial on training a fun little trick for smaller dogs 😃

15/08/2023

01/08/2023

Some useful tips on using off leash dog parks safely. Educate yourself on dog body language, and if your dog doesn't enjoy meeting other dogs then go for a quiet 'sniffing' walk instead 🙂

Dog parks and dogs differ, so sweeping generalizations have very limited value.

08/06/2023

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=469784998634150&id=100068079605400&sfnsn=mo&mibextid=6aamW6

While out and about with the family recently, I was witness to a disturbing incident where a dog that had been walking happily (off-lead) alongside its owner broke away, crossed the road and went for another dog that was walking (on-lead) with its owner.

It was loud and distressing for many onlookers, extremely terrifying for the owner of the onlead dog and embarrassing and devastating for the off-lead dog owner. He was extremely apologetic and repeated over and over “This is so unlike him! It’s never happened before!” The frustrating thing is that it wouldn’t have happened if the dog was onlead.

No doubt every owner of an off-lead dog feels confident in their dogs ability to respond to cues and is socially competent in most situations. But every single dog out there is capable of breaking position and do something out of character one day. Even the most well-behaved, perfect pooches!

Here are 5 reasons why we encourage everyone reading this to put your dog on a lead:

1) IT’S THE LAW. Unless specifically signposted to the contrary, dogs must be on lead in public areas. There are some good reasons for this – four more follow! There are also stiff fines for those unlucky enough to get caught breaking the rules. With population density growing and dog ownership exploding, it’s only fair that we start to see rules change and tighten around pet ownership.

2) IT PROTECTS YOUR DOG. There are many risks for your dog in public spaces, an obvious one being traffic. No matter how good your dog is off lead, the simplest lapse, the slightest distraction, and it can go very bad when cars are involved.

3) IT PROTECTS OTHER DOGS. Your dog may be very social. It may be extremely well-mannered. But, many other dogs are not so comfortable. It is unfair to people trying to walk their nervous dog for yours to be off-lead in their presence.

4) IT PROTECTS WILDLIFE. We are fortunate to share our suburbs with an incredible array of birds, bugs, mammals and reptiles. Many are vulnerable to attack from pet dogs and, even if your dog is truly wildlife safe and shows no interest in them, can be displaced by their presence. Keeping your dog close and under control allows them to continue to co-exist happily alongside us.

5) IT PROTECTS PEOPLE. No doubt your response to this is “My dog would never hurt a person!” And, you are probably right! But, even assuming that you’re dog is no physical threat to others, the psychological impact on those around you is impossible to predict. Cynophobia, or dog phobia can be socially crippling for sufferers, who may be uncomfortable walking out their own front gate for the fear that they will encounter dogs. The presence of off-lead dogs where they should not be makes this all the more difficult. We are proud to work with Anthony Berrick and The Cynophobia Clinic to help people conquer their fear of dogs. You can do your part by keeping your dog on-lead in public areas.

Ultimately, a dog that “doesn’t need a lead” in public spaces, must be walking right beside you, never straying away, and not rushing up to others. If this is your dog: well done, impressive work! That being said, they surely won’t notice the non-tug of a loosely held lead. Do your fellow citizens a favour and click it on!

06/06/2023

Dogs primarily experience the world through their sense of smell. They have an incredibly acute olfactory system, far more powerful than ours. A dog's sense of smell is estimated to be between 10,000 to 100,000 times more sensitive than humans, depending on the breed. This means that when they're out on a walk, they're receiving an overwhelming amount of sensory information through their noses.

Here are a few reasons why a dog needs to sniff on walks:

Information Gathering: Sniffing allows dogs to gather information about other animals and their environment. They can detect pheromones, hormones, and other chemical substances that tell them everything from the health, s*x, and reproductive status of another dog to the presence of food or potential dangers.

Communication: Dogs will often sniff areas that other dogs have urinated on and then urinate in the same spot. This is their way of marking their presence and communicating with other dogs.

Mental Stimulation: Sniffing is also a form of mental exercise for dogs. It requires them to process a huge amount of information, which can help keep their brains sharp and engaged.

Instinctual Behaviour: In the wild, sniffing is an essential survival tool that dogs use to find food, find mates, and avoid predators. Domesticated dogs have retained this behaviour, even though they no longer need it for survival.

So, how does this make them happier?

Just as we humans can feel pleasure from using our senses—like the enjoyment we get from tasting delicious food or smelling a fragrant flower—dogs can derive pleasure from using their sense of smell. Furthermore, allowing your dog to sniff on walks can provide them with a sense of freedom and autonomy, which can lead to a happier, more satisfied dog.

Additionally, sniffing provides a significant amount of mental stimulation, reducing boredom and potential behavioural issues at home. Sniffing can also help to relieve stress and anxiety, as it allows dogs to explore their environment in a safe and controlled manner.

Remember, walks aren't just about physical exercise—although that's important too—they're also an opportunity for dogs to explore and engage with the world. Allowing your dog to take the time to sniff can greatly enhance their walking experience and overall quality of life.

Get our Scentwork Enrichment certificate course and help your dog learn to sniff like a pro.

https://www.canineprinciples.com/course/scentwork-enrichment-certificate-course

06/06/2023

Our wild, loud, disobedient dog turned out to be a terrified dog.

02/06/2023

❤

Providing opportunities for dogs to use their sense of smell can have remarkable benefits.

22/05/2023

Not trying to interact with the dogs we see on the street or in homes can make a huge difference to both the dog and owner.

It can help puppies build confidence and impulse control, make worried or reactive dogs feel safer and set the owner up for success.

Not to take away the joy of meeting dogs, but both dog and owner will make it pretty clear if they are keen to interact. And that’s when the question can the be asked if it’s okay to say hello.

Some of the best relationships I’ve had with dogs has started from waiting for them to make contact first.

21/05/2023

A while since last posted.

Everyone has their own training methods with reactive dogs....however a very common issue I see is people insisting on a sit or a down when faced with a trigger.

If your dog wants to naturally sit when faced with a trigger (at a distance they feel comfortable at)...it is their choice.

However many people inadvertently add stress when faced with a trigger.
Insisting on a sit or a down can exacerbate ALL issues with many reactive dogs.....you may be at a standstill with your own journey with reactivity, and it may be because they feel even more limited in movement because of insisting on a position where they feel they cannot move or "escape" easily.

Choice is everything for reactive dogs.
Freedom of movement is also a huge consideration with many reactive dogs.

Insisting on a certain position in the face of a trigger can halt progress with reactive dogs.

Sitting and being in a relaxed down is an important part of reactivity work, but it comes much further down the road when working with reactive dogs.

Reactivity IS emotions.
Insisting on "obedience" in the face of triggers can exacerbate reactivity for many dogs.

If they are happy to sit...great.
If they are happier standing....great.

If you have been at a standstill, consider their positioning and change it in a way they feel more comfortable.