All About The Dog

17/01/2025

Clicker vs shock collar. Trigger warning, at the end of the video the man is not moving because of the fear of receiving another shock. This was sad for me especially when thinking about how an innocent dog feels when they have no choice put to keep the collar on their neck.

There are many arguments surrounding the use of the electronic shock collar in dog training. Arguments like they are only used when all else fails, they don'...

15/01/2025

HAND-FEEDING FEARFUL DOGS: FOOLPROOF OR FAUX PAS?

When I started blogging, I chose to tackle this topic first because it is probably one of the most misunderstood aspects of dealing with a fear of people. Just now, I came across a post from a qualified trainer who wrote that she encouraged a stranger to handfeed her fearful dog as part of her dog's training.

For a non-fearful dog who trusts his human, hand-feeding can be an enjoyable way for us to create connection, reward good choices and behaviours we would like to see more of, and help us teach them new skills. However, for those dogs which are hesitant around or wary of people, this can actually be quite detrimental.

Using food to encourage, coax, or lure a dog to interact with someone or something they are worried about can cause an internal struggle known as Approach Avoidance Conflict. This places the dog in a position where he has to decide whether his desire for the food outweighs his worry and uncertainty of the person, and if he chooses to go for the food, he might well find himself too close and outside of his comfort zone. This may cause him to panic, and might even lead to a bite if he is very frightened.

A common scenario is where the dog bonds with one caregiver, but is frightened of the partner. Some will recommend that the partner feeds the dog all of their meals in an attempt to also forge a connection. However, it really isn't fair to force them to face their fear in this way and use their means of survival to do this; the most likely outcome is creating greater stress and fear.

In this blog, you can read more about the risks and fallout of handfeeding fearful dogs, and what IS advised:

https://www.trailiepawsforthought.com/post/hand-feeding-fearful-dogs-fool-proof-or-faux-pas

I'm very happy for my content to be shared, but please do not copy and paste (to avoid sharing from source), screenshot, or download any part of it. THANK YOU! 🐾 🐾

©️ Trailie Paws For Thought
www.trailiepawsforthought.com

13/01/2025

Thank you Good Guardianship. So much more than tossing treats. What we see on the outside isn't what is happening on the inside.

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.

09/01/2025

Extending my congratulations to Debra Lockhart at Peaceabull Paws, firstly my friend and now Family Dog Mediation graduate for completion of this course which is so much more than training.

Continuing education helps us by adding more tools to assist in helping more people and their dogs. I’m proud to have completed this course which will help us to Meet Your Dog where they are.

07/01/2025

What getting a dog to sit really looks like.

Send a message to learn more

05/01/2025

One of the greats in our dog training world. Continue to leave your "mark" in your new realm.

We are deeply saddened to learn of Karen Pryor's passing. She was a pioneer in animal training and behaviour whose contributions have shaped modern dog training as we know it. Her innovative approach and entrepreneurial spirit transformed the industry, paving the way for countless trainers and animals to benefit from science-based, positive reinforcement methods.

Karen’s work extended far beyond the Karen Pryor Academy, which has educated and inspired trainers worldwide. Her book, Don’t Shoot the Dog, introduced an entire generation of trainers to the principles of clicker training and remains a cornerstone of dog training literature. The annual Clicker Expos she founded became vital opportunities for professional growth, collaboration, and community-building within the field. Her legacy also includes Reaching the Animal Mind, a profound exploration of the science and art of animal training.

Karen’s vision, intelligence, and compassion revolutionised how we communicate with and understand our canine companions. Her contributions have had a lasting impact on the lives of trainers and the dogs they work and live with. She will be greatly missed, but her legacy will continue to inspire and guide the animal training community for generations to come.

Our thoughts are with Karen’s family, friends, and all those whose lives she touched.

https://karenwpryor.com/

04/01/2025

Back by popular demand indeed. This course really was a life saving course for Harmony. So many of the videos I have posted of her are because of what was learned in the Slow Thinking is Life Saving for Dogs® course. The video I remember most was her making a decision to stop what she was doing and do non-violent social processing. Where a year before in the same location, same environmental stimulation she had ran to the end of her leash and unfortunately she had pulled me down. Because of what was learned and us working as a team, that stopping and observing was done because of techniques from this course. My clients have also benefited from what was taught. Forever grateful to Laura Donaldson for this course and the many other courses we have taken.

01/01/2025

Yesterday's post on cortisol and the effect it has on us and our dogs is being followed-up with more information by One Smart Cookie. When to push and when not to push. Watch your dog for small signs, know their communication, and honor their signals.

31/12/2024

The hormones that affect us do affect our dogs. This is why we often recommend a cortisol vacation. If your dog is sensitive/reactive to the environment and day after day they are exposed to the stimuli and the cortisol levels do not have an opportunity to leave their body think about the effect that can have on them. Against popular opinion, your dog doesn't "need" a walk if it is going to, not only put them in fight or flight but also you. Often the walk becomes stressful for the team. Look for places like Fido's Forest or sniff spots you can go with your dog to destress not add more stress to your time together. Thank you One Smart Cookie for this information.

28/12/2024

When someone calls and begins to tell us about their dog and the problems they are having with their dog it is usually about what a dog naturally does. If the dog isn't told, usually with a no or a stop, what we want them to do how will they know how to behave? Using the L.E.G.S. foundation, the why of the behavior is looked at and how can that behavior be allowed to fulfil the needs of the dog while also fulfilling the needs of the client? This is where the unraveling, the creativity and going beyond dog training begins.

Did you know? 🧬 The domestication and breeding of animals isn’t just about their physical traits; it profoundly affects their behavior too. Early humans began selecting animals that were less scared of & more cooperative with humans as well as those exhibiting valuable skills like hunting, and over generations these selections were amplififed and diversified.This process, though beneficial to people and to dogs in certain ways throughout history, has also led to certain behavioral traits being amplified, sometimes causing challenges in our pets today.

In the LEGS approach, understanding these genetic influences is crucial for understanding & managing behaviors. It's not just about how you raise a dog, but also about truly understanding their inherited tendencies as central to who they are. Recognizing these factors helps us approach behavior modification more holistically.

Have you noticed any inherited traits in your dog that influence their behavior?

26/12/2024

Lets see your dog being their best selves. The before and after pictures of Harmony using her innate abilities through shredding of her present. The aftermath of mental stimulation. How did your dog enjoy the holidays?

25/12/2024

Some of these would apply to many of us as gifts to receive every day. Merry Christmas to all from All About The Dog.

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS ….

Not just for Christmas, but every day of a dog’s life – these are some of the things I believe dogs would want -

Gifts of love, kindness, compassion, understanding and knowledge.

Gifts of helping them feel safe, secure and protected in their environment

Gifts of unconditional love, second chances and a forever home

Gifts of allowing appropriate choices

Gifts of mental and physical stimulation.

Gifts of proper nutrition and health care.

Gifts of never using punishment, force, fear, intimidation or tools that cause pain.

Gifts of acceptance for the dog that they are.

Wishing you and dog’s everywhere a very Happy Christmas filled with the gifts that really matter!

23/12/2024

Words do matter. Our words in the moment where a dog lives are Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and all the best in 2025. Continue to be part of the shift.

Send a message to learn more

21/12/2024

One of my favorites. Remember this when you are out walking your dog and they want an extended sniff.

It can be hard to pull your dog away from things sometimes. Squirrels, leaves, rustling bushes.

If we look at the predatory sequence, seeking and stalking is a big part of this. And for some breeds, the watching part, is even better than the chase itself.

So if you can let them watch a little longer, you may be letting them catch up on the best series ever.

19/12/2024

We are fortunate to have FDM's in our Fort Wayne, Huntington, Avilla, Elkhart area.

Celebrating the Season with 31 Dog Days of December
Day 19: L.E.G.S.

What is L.E.G.S.?

LEARNING is composed of all of the information the dog has learned and is continuing to learn. Dogs are learning all the time – what works, what doesn’t work, what is safe and what is not, what do simple words and phrases like ‘Go for a walk’, ‘Sit’ and ‘Stay’ mean, some behaviors are rewarded and some are not, etc. Learning is how dogs figure out how to navigate life and anticipate what might happen in new scenarios.

ENVIRONMENT is everything that your dog encounters inside and outside the home – his home, neighborhood and city, the weather, people, animals, sights and sounds that he encounters, etc.

GENETICS is everything in your dog's DNA that makes him a dog, a breed and an individual. The DNA of our dogs has been changed and adapted due to artificial selection by humans for thousands of years and includes the instructions for instinctual behaviors such as herding, pointing, retrieving, guarding, etc.

SELF is everything that makes each dog a unique individual. It is a fluid state and includes his gender, age, reproductive status, heath (illnesses, disabilities, etc.), even his current status – is he cold, tired, hungry, etc.

What is Family Dog Mediation?
Instead of just training and modifying “bad” behaviors, Family Dog Mediators are trained to evaluate your dog’s L.E.G.S. We then utilize this information to help you and your dog build a relationship based on trust and understanding and create solutions that include such things as education, management, and training strategies.

Whether you have concerns about aggressive behavior, are struggling with puppy issues, need advice on how to help your fearful dog or just want to set your dog or puppy up for success, I am here to help. Contact me today at [email protected] or visit my website at https://www.crimsonhound.com.

18/12/2024

I listened to this Podcast by a Veterinary Behaviorist called Separation Anxiety-To Crate or Not to Crate. I felt it is important to share since so many people do believe that putting a dog into a crate when they are showing signs of anxiety, which might be diagnosed as separation anxiety is the solution. I have even heard advice to buy a stronger crate if the dog attempts to escape the crate which can result in injury to a dog that is at a high level of anxiety. Separation Anxiety is a team effort and a discussion with your veterinarian is the first step towards a diagnosis and solution. After you take a listen to this short podcast and find it useful, please share it with anyone who you may know who has a dog who might be suffering with SA.

Episode 53 – Separation Anxiety – To crate or not to crate, that is the question   Welcome to the first episode in this second year of The Pet Behaviour Chat Podcast!   This episode was inspired by a Facebook post I saw in one of our local dog groups where an alarming number of people ...

18/12/2024

This is so important when assisting a family who has a dog who is sensitive to their environment. We live in an instant gratification world with all of the technology we have. To give our dogs and other animals the time to process, observe, as we wait patiently is difficult. For their and your sake take a breath and watch them recover from the triggers that are around them. If you want to learn more, we are here to guide you.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗼𝗴 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀

If we go at our dog’s pace we will get where we need to go faster than we think. On the other hand, if we rush we can make mistakes or misread what our animals need from us. Breathe and be led by your or dog.

If in doubt slow down, wait and observe. Speed increases anxiety (Feldman et al,2020,Fenner et al,2019)

If you repeatedly put your dog into situations they are not ready for you run the risk of increasing their sensitivity to other dogs, people or situations. This is called sensitisation and will prolong the process .

Reduce exposure as far as possible by taking sniffy walks in quieter spaces like graveyards , industrial parks or secure fields.

If none of this is possible map islands of safety on usual walk and make use of bins, large trees or drive ways you can retreat behind.

References

Feldman, M. J., Siegel, E., Barrett, L. F., Quigley, K. S., & Wormwood, J. B. (2022). Affect and social judgment: the roles of physiological reactivity and interoceptive sensitivity. Affective Science, 3(2), 464-479.

Fenner, K., Mclean, A. N., & McGreevy, P. D. (2019). Cutting to the chase: How round-pen, lunging, and high-speed liberty work may compromise horse welfare. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 29, 88-94.

I apologise I do not know where the original quote came from.

©️ Jessie Sams (2024) Animal Behaviour and Trauma Recovery Service