K9 Learning

08/08/2024

Jodi worked on waiting patiently in her bed for treats so she doesn't become a tripping hazard to her humans. Smart girl learned it quickly!

08/08/2024

Handsome Toby worked on the mat settle while watching the excitement from the side line. He aced it!

20/07/2024

Beau and his family are learning all things puppy. Due to his tiny size and color, the first thing is to locate him so he isn't doing anything dangerous (like eating plants) or mischievous things (like potty at the wrong spot). He is one smart cookie and I expect him to learn quickly.

13/07/2024

Working with Buddy on impulse control and how to walk without pulling the leash. He is a smart boy.

03/07/2024

Here are some tips to keep your dogs cool in this heat. Stay cool~

Got a hot dog? These ideas for keeping them cool during the heat will really help

28/06/2024

Toby got better (quicker to calm) with his polite greeting with visitors. Good boy, Toby!

11/06/2024

The Effects of Dog Behavioural Problems on Owner Well-Being: A Review of the Literature and Future Directions

Dog behavioural problems are one of the main reasons for dog relinquishment. Studies on how dog behavioural problems affect owner well-being are limited. We review the literature concerning the link between dog behavioural problems and owner well-being. We propose practical solutions to minimize the...

09/06/2024

Considerations for behavior euthanasia in dogs

From assessing the patient to discussing options with clients, review this case study before deciding whether or not to pursue behavioral euthanasia in dogs.

22/05/2024

09/05/2024

Cutie pie Mocha learned to offer a nice sit instead of jumping when wanting attention. She also learned to politely greet a visitor. Such a smart cookie!

07/05/2024

How you train your dog affects how your dog responds to the world.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=425272496924734&id=100083259614617&mibextid=ZbWKwL

Did you know the way you train, or 'parent' your dog affects their attachment style?? 😮

It has been long recognised that a secure attachment style is the most optimum attachment style for human children, as it allows the child to feel more comfortable exploring and interacting with the world, and in the long term being able to grow into a well adjusted adult. The same parallel has also been found in dogs, and that secure attachment provides the optimum starting place for a well adjusted canine companion!

There is now even research showing that the pet parenting or training styles you use with your dog similarly mirror the parenting styles used for human children, and how they impact whether or not a secure attachment will form. With human children the styles of parenting are separated into several distinct styles including:

🔹Authoritative (responsive to needs, solves problems together, with clear expectations and rules)

🔹Authoritarian (demands obedience rather than working together, punishment based and little care of the child/learners needs or feelings)

🔹Permissive (no real boundaries or structure, indulgent of wants and needs of the child/learner)

And..

🔹 Neglectful/uninvolved (inconsistent boundaries, generally uninvolved and unresponsive to feelings or needs).

It has also been found that the authoritative style of pet parenting (shown through positive training, supportive and nurturing but not permissive) has the best outcome for producing securely attached dogs, and that the dogs were 'highly social, sensitive to social context and were more persistent and successful on the problem solving tasks'. Whereas authoritarian pet parenting (shown through balanced/alpha based training, strong boundaries and punishment based) had a significantly lower chance of producing a dog with a secure attachment. Permissive pet parenting styles (training with little to no boundaries or structure) also were less likely to have a secure attachment style (this research did not cover neglectful parenting styles).

This is further evidence, backed by scientific study, that punishment based training does not produce the most well adjusted canine companions, and that structure and boundaries taught with kindness rather than fear is the way to go! 👍

You can check out the study mentioned in the graphic for yourself here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36175745/

And learn more about attachment in our previous graphic here: https://www.facebook.com/DogNerdSussex/posts/pfbid02vKQKArqRNLn44TnsCQi7v4ck565piEE8idrT7rA5jEFN1SZvMGKo6aVnn9cz4yTjl

01/05/2024

Zhuri learned that the plastic bag's noise wasn't so scary. In fact, the noise meant she would get a yummy treat. She aced it!

08/04/2024

How to keep your dog safe during a solar eclipse

A solar eclipse is a once-in-a-lifetime event! With such an occasion, you might wonder how your dog is going to react, or if it could cause them stress.

13/03/2024

How animals create a "virtual map" and learn about Place Cells.

In this video, we will explore the positional system of the brain - hippocampal place cells. We will see how it relates to contextual memory and mapping of m...

26/02/2024

Have you and your dog been on a sniffari lately?

Sniffing is a great way to get information about the surroundings and also gets the brain tired so you have a content dog after a sniffari outing. Let your dog sniff when you and your dog stroll though a local park, or a new neighborhood. Observe your dog's body language to see what scents your dog picks up and gets excited about.

We have often said to let your dog sniff to his heart’s content while on walks because the aim for him isn’t to cover distance but to “read” his world, which he does with his nose. Now there’s proof that allowing a dog time to check things out with his nose during walks will actually […]

13/02/2024

Mushrooms for dogs

Mushrooms are a great addition to your dog's diet but not all mushrooms are safe for dogs. Find out which mushrooms your dog can eat ...

09/02/2024

Having a reactive dog is difficult and costly.

When I hear someone tells me "my dog is friendly" as their dog running towards my reactive dog, my heart rate goes up and my annoyance goes up because I know if I didn't protect my dog from the off leash dog coming towards us, the day would be ruined for us. I do my best to walk my dog at areas where leash law is enforced so we can actually enjoy our walk.

https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2024/02/having-reactive-dog-is-difficult-and.html

When dogs lunge, bark, and growl at other dogs or people, the dog is having a hard time—and so is their guardian. More awareness of this is needed.

07/02/2024

Abby learned how to stay close to mom at the counter. This is part of the public access behaviors many service dogs in training need to learn.Abby doesn't like to have anything over her head but she is learning to tolerate her mom's hand over her while mom pretends to pay at the cashier counter. Her cat sister came to check me out while Abby was busy working with mom. Good girls!

29/01/2024

Dasher learned to settle on the mat and watched the kids play without participating. He was ready for a nap after the learning. Good boy!

12/01/2024

Tugging if done properly can improve your dog's peak performance

https://susangarrettdogagility.com/2012/04/improve-your-dog-training-by-playing-like-a-dog/

Susan Garrett gives an in depth look at the benefits and hazards of tugging with your dog in training.

11/01/2024

Nowadays, pet owners are more open and receptive to the usage of behavioral medication in dealing with dog's fear or anxiety. As behavioral meds are used more, it is important to watch out for serotonin syndrome. If your dog is on behavioral meds and you notice the symptoms, consult with your vet.

Serotonin syndrome in dogs is a rare but severe condition where the body has an excess amount of the neurotransmitter serotonin from ingesting toxic levels of

02/12/2023

Had a date with Abby to see how she handled herself in a new location. She didn't care who walked by and was just chilling and watching everything with a relaxed body posture next to her mom as her mom and I chatted. She had more patience than I expected. Attagirl ♥

29/11/2023

Toby worked on 123 pattern game and ignored the passerby. Good job!

23/11/2023

Be aware of a mysterious canine respiratory disease

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health’s Veterinary Public Health Program has received multiple reports of dogs experiencing a sudden respiratory illness of unknown origin, similar to case reports in other states. Symptoms include cough, nasal discharge, sneezing and lethargy in dogs. ...

21/11/2023

Thanksgiving safety tips for pets.
Happy Thanksgiving~

09/11/2023

Beautiful Abby! She learned how to give deep pressure therapy as her new job.

08/11/2023

Obie learning how to walk nicely next to her person. We also worked on recall. She was a hard working girl~