Dog Dynamics Behaviour and Training

10/11/2024

Happy 2nd birthday Talita. I cannot believe how the time has flown. Thanks for the pupcakes

09/11/2024

Our latest puppy graduates. Thanks to for the puppy packs

09/11/2024

This gorgeous fluffball, Arlo, started agility class today

08/11/2024

So proud of Ielhaam and Maya who joined us on a Mantrailing course. They were an awesome team

06/11/2024

Another repeat client. Anabela started with Dog Dynamics 12 years ago with her Bassett, Max. Then a couple of years later, Ruby joined the family. Ruby is now 10 years old but still attends weekly classes. Sadly Max passed away a couple of years ago and Talita joined the family. And now young Oliver has joined the happy Bassett clan and we look forward to the training journey with him.

04/11/2024

No I don't want to fetch Nimo, I will just cuddle him instead

29/10/2024

A few months ago, the horse world exploded during the Olympics when a well-known rider was caught whipping an obviously distressed horse. While I have a horse of my own, I do not follow any horse related sports, as I find them completely out of line with how I believe horses deserve to be treated. This story, however, was hard to avoid. At the time my first thought was more about the hypocrisy of the reactions, when the reality is that 99% horse sport activities involve a fair amount of physical force and intimidation – crops, spurs, kicking, whipping and goodness knows what else is pretty much standard and even “horse whispering” is nothing more than a pretty euphemism for extreme psychological pressure.

Nevertheless, I was shocked when a friend mentioned to me how many horse people in our community had defended the rider as having done what was necessary for the high-pressure situation she was in. Apparently, many horse people turned around and said to those who called out the blatant abuse: “You don’t know what it is like to ride a horse of that type at that level of competition”.

Sadly enough, this echoes a common line we hear from sports dog trainers who use aversive methods – the dog world too has a habit of justifying aversive tools and what I would consider physical or psychological abuse, by stating that those who use positive reinforcement “don’t know what it is like to compete at high levels with a high drive working dog”. Us Plebs apparently have no clue about how to train “real” dogs, because we are not competing at world championships or with dogs that can’t function without frequent bursts of electricity pulsing through their necks.

I have sometimes found this argument rather amusing, as most of the people who have said this to me in real life hadn’t achieved very much with their dogs anyway and after years of “training” still had to manage their dogs like they were living with some kind of wild beast in order to avoid getting sued. But let’s put the wannabees aside for a moment and look at the argument from those who actually do seem to achieve “great things” with their dogs.

If it is necessary to shoot electricity through a dog (or have prongs digging into their necks or cut off their air supply) to win a sport, what kind of a sport is that and what kind of psychopath do you need to be to enjoy it? Yes, I am being extremely blunt, but come on – really? The spurious argument that applying force or pressure could be necessary to save a dog’s life IF these sorts of methods actually helped to resolve aggression (which they absolutely do not), at least has some “for the greater good” merit, but routinely (or ever) using these tools and methods on a dog just so that you can win a trophy and a title is just plain twisted.

There will of course be people who will say that high drive “working dogs” need to work and participating in dog sports fulfils a need. I would agree that certain dog sports do provide an outlet for specific behaviour patterns and using their brains is important enrichment for dogs – after all, I am a dog trainer by profession, I work with my dogs all the time and I have clients who continue attending classes for years on end, not because their dogs aren’t “trained”, but because attending classes and continuing to build a repertoire of behaviours is fantastic mental simulation and quality together-time for dog-canine partners. However, our training is strictly positive reinforcement based and dogs are NEVER forced to do anything they don’t want to do. The training is for the benefit of the dog, not the fame of the human – and perhaps that is why it is so enjoyable and our classes are happy, safe, RELAXED spaces for all.

We really need to take a long hard look at the world of dog sports (and horse sports) and re-evaluate what and who they are for – and what sort of behaviour and attitudes they are feeding and reinforcing. Just the other day I happened to catch a video of an agility competitor, who had just won a title, totally ignoring her dog while she soaked up congratulations from her teammates and the crowd. As her dog completed the final jump, she turned away from him without a second thought to enjoy the victory with the crowd and her human friends. I was told not to judge her on those few seconds but I cannot unsee what I saw - on what planet do you just win a title and then turn your back on your partner without a second glance, walking away from him and leaving someone else to go and get him and see that he is okay. How can it not be your first instinct to show your dog love and appreciation? Turning away from your dog – your supposed partner - without a second glance at such a moment speaks volumes as to who competing is for.

I am not against all dog sports or any particular dog sports. I love working with my dogs and have achieved many titles in various disciplines over the years. However, I have increasingly gravitated towards those activities which lend themselves to ensuring that the dogs are actually having a good time and that their emotional welfare is prioritised. Any sport or activity that elevates our achievements over having a healthy relationship with our dogs or subjugates their welfare (physical or emotional) to winning should not be celebrated or revered. Whether it is obedience, IGP, Freestyle, Agility or even people competing in America’s Got Talent, we need to look at things more carefully and clearly and not take for granted that someone winning or doing well means what they are doing is good. We should not automatically join in the mass adulation whenever there is some great act or achievement involving animals and humans. We are too gullible by far and animals are paying the price for it.

29/10/2024

DIWALI MINDFULNESS

With the exciting Diwali celebrations awaiting us this week, please remember it is possible to have a wonderful religious and customary experience WITHOUT loud, scary bangs. Fireworks that emit light and not noise are preferred, afterall, it is the celebration of light and not the celebration of noise.

Note - I come from a Hindu family and personally know many Hindus in my client, family and friends circle that don't support loud, noisey fireworks because of the impact on animals (pets, wild, strays and those in rescue/shelters/zoos/plots/farms/stables), birds (free and caged), insects, people with PTSD, people with sound sensitivities, babies and some older people with anxieties and dementia. Also consider that child labour is used to produce these fireworks in 3rd world countries, not to mention the contribution to pollution.

A celebration that hurts people, animals and the earth is no celebration at all so I ask everyone celebrating to also practice mindfulness. And yes, I will also ask for the same mindfulness during Guy Fawkes and New Year celebrations 🙏

See images in the comments in the original post which can be posted on social media

28/10/2024

Today heaven gained a really special angel. We have been blessed to know Kirsty Kayla for over 10 years. She started with us as an adolescent with her young parents. We watched Kirsty go from wayward adolescent to Canine Good Citizen Gold. She has been a fixture in our 12.45 class on a Saturday. She was like family to us as we saw her parents get engaged, then married and then have a baby. And Kirsty was there for it all. We are really going to miss you. Sending lots of love to her family

28/10/2024

We love repeat business. Sarah has trained her previous labs with us, Ozzie (who has sadly passed) and Isabella who at age 9 still attends weekly classes. Now little Purdy has joined the Dog Dynamics family and we look forward to many years of training together

27/10/2024

Our latest Foundation Skills graduates. Well done

24/10/2024

Our latest puppy graduates. Well done everyone

23/10/2024

Rest in peace Marley. You have been a part of Dog Dynamics since the beginning. You will be missed. Together again with Forrest

23/10/2024

New puppy? Our classes a run in a safe, enclosed environment by qualified trainers. Book now to get your spot.

14/10/2024

Happy 1st birthday Josie. You are such an amazing dog

12/10/2024

Well done to our latest puppy graduates. Thanks to for our goodie bags

09/10/2024

08/10/2024

On Saturday we also celebrated the birthday twins, Luna and Blitz. It has been lovely to watch you grow from puppies into the beautiful dogs you are today. Luna brought pupcakes for their classmates and Blitz brought cupcakes for their humans