Splendid K9 - Dog Behavior Specialists

08/10/2025

An incredibly important read for every dog owner!

Reposted from Dogs Disclosed

06/10/2025

These sorts of traits are often associated to dogs who are seen as ''unresponsive'' or sometimes even labeled as ''naughty''.

This is an important topic to understand. Support your sensitive dog!

Reposted from Dogs Disclosed

03/10/2025

Sometimes we are requested to help outside of Cape Town.

Marilyn and Shakira, two Giant Schnauzers from Paternoster, had become difficult to manage. Their owners were struggling with leash pulling, anxiety, and reactivity towards people. Daily life had become difficult to manage.

Due to our capacity, the only time I could dedicate was over a weekend, Friday through Sunday. Over that time, I introduced the owners to an eight hour practical and theory intensive behaviour course.

We worked step by step through obedience, leash training, regulation techniques, and counter conditioning. The owners not only saw immediate results, but they left the weekend with tools and an understanding that will continue to deliver forever.

Thank you for entrusting Splendid K9 and for your wonderful review.

At Splendid K9, we specialize in expert dog training and behaviour conditioning in Cape Town, using proven methods to achieve lasting results. Our team is committed to delivering personalized service with integrity, ensuring each client and their dog receives the highest level of care and training

01/10/2025

Reminder: Your dog’s behaviour problems are not just obstacles to overcome, they are lessons in disguise.

When a dog struggles with reactivity, it teaches us patience.
When a dog battles anxiety, it teaches us empathy.
When a dog pulls, resists, or tests boundaries, it teaches us consistency.

Every difficult moment is an invitation to grow as an owner. The real transformation begins when we stop seeing behaviour challenges as something to fight against and start seeing them as feedback for how we show up.

Training, then, is not only about shaping your dog. It’s about shaping ourselves, learning to be calmer, clearer, more present, and more resilient.

29/09/2025

We are close to reaching full capacity for the next two and a half months. Your continued support is beyond words.

Firstly, thank you for trusting Splendid K9. Secondly, we are proud of you and the commitment that you show your dog every single day.

We have exciting things on the way. Updates are going to follow soon.

26/09/2025

Why Female–Female Aggression in Dogs Is More Serious Than Male–Male Aggression

Dog–dog aggression is complex, but research and clinical evidence consistently show that female–female conflicts are more dangerous, persistent, and difficult to resolve than those between males. The reasons are rooted in ethology, neurobiology, and evolutionary strategy.

1. Ritualized Aggression vs. True Combat

Males often display ritualized aggression. Their fights typically include barking, growling, and posturing behaviours evolved to establish hierarchy without unnecessary risk of injury. This allows males to resolve disputes with less damage.

Females are less ritualistic in their aggression. Once conflict is triggered, females are more likely to escalate to damaging bites with intent to injure. This aligns with evolutionary models where competition over critical resources (mates, offspring, territory) selected for persistence and commitment in female conflicts.

2. Hormonal Influences

Estrogen and progesterone play a significant role in irritability and aggression.

Hormonal fluctuations also impact serotonin and dopamine pathways, lowering thresholds for aggression. This neurochemical basis helps explain why spaying can sometimes (but not always) reduce female–female conflict.

3. Resource Guarding and Social Competition

From an evolutionary standpoint, females often competed more intensely over resources linked to survival and reproduction, food, nesting areas, and social rank. Unlike males, whose competition often ended once breeding opportunities were secured, females had higher stakes tied to long-term access and security, driving deeper rivalries.

4. Damage Potential and Lack of Reconciliation

Physical damage: Females often target vulnerable areas (neck, abdomen, face) and hold bites longer, increasing risk of severe trauma.

Psychological fallout: While males often reconcile after establishing hierarchy, females may continue to harbor hostility. Research in canine social groups shows female–female aggression is far more likely to result into more severe incompatibility, even after long periods apart.

5. Clinical Observations

Veterinary behaviorists consistently report that female–female cases have the lowest success rates for long-term reintegration compared to male–male or male–female aggression. Management often requires strict separation, professional intervention, and, in severe cases, rehoming one of the dogs.

That said, there is hope. With the right intervention plan, we have achieved great success in both managing and alleviating female–female aggression. If you are facing this challenge in your household, don’t wait for it to escalate, get in contact with us immediately.

24/09/2025

Why Are Some Dogs More Treat-Motivated While Others Respond Better to Toys?

Not all dogs are motivated the same way. While many work readily for food, others thrive on play or toys, and some may refuse food altogether in certain environments. The reasons lie in prey drive, breed characteristics, and emotional state.

1. Food Motivation – The Universal Currency

Food is a primary reinforcer, tied directly to survival. Breeds bred for tracking, retrieving, or endurance work (like hounds and retrievers) often show strong food drive, making treats their most reliable reward.

2. Toy Motivation – Driven by Prey Instinct

Toys and play can activate prey drive, the instinct to chase, grab, tug, and capture. Breeds with strong working or hunting lineage (herding breeds, Malinois, spaniels) may find play far more rewarding than food, especially when in motion.

3. Anxiety and Overstimulation in Public

Some dogs fail to take food in stimulating environments, not because they aren’t food-driven, but because stress and arousal suppress appetite. In busy public settings, the flood of scents, sights, and sounds can trigger anxiety or hyper-vigilance. Their nervous system prioritizes “alertness” over digestion, meaning food holds little value in that moment.

4. Personality and Experience

Early exposure shapes reinforcement preferences. A dog raised with interactive play may lean toward toys, while another consistently rewarded with food may default to treats.

5. Strategic Application in Training

-Food rewards excel for calm focus and teaching precision behaviors.

-Toy rewards build speed, enthusiasm, and engagement in high-energy work.

-Overstimulated dogs may need gradual desensitization to public spaces, starting with very high-value treats and pairing them with calm exposure before expecting food-driven performance.

22/09/2025

Why Do Dogs Roll in F***s?

It’s one of the least enjoyable parts of dog ownership: your companion suddenly dives into duck, goose, or even human f***s and happily rolls around. While unpleasant for us, this behavior is rooted in instinct and learning.

1. Scent Camouflage

Historically, wild canines rolled in strong odors to mask their natural scent. This gave them an advantage when stalking prey or avoiding predators. Today’s domestic dogs may not need camouflage, but the instinct still surfaces.

2. Attention-Seeking

For some dogs, the act is less about instinct and more about interaction. If rolling in f***s reliably provokes a big reaction from the owner shouting, chasing, or fussing, it can become a strategy to gain attention.

3. Learned Behavior

Dogs are quick learners. If rolling brings stimulation, a memorable adventure, or even just an exciting clean-up routine, they may repeat the behavior.

What You Can Do:

-Teach and reinforce strong cues like leave it and come.
-Avoid inadvertently rewarding the behavior with too much of a reaction, redirect calmly and manage with training.

19/09/2025

Play Dates vs. Dog Parks: What’s Best for Your Dog’s Social Development?

Socialisation isn’t just about exposure, it’s about quality, structure, and progression.

While dog parks can be fun, they aren’t always the best starting point, especially for puppies or dogs who are a bit fearful.

Why Play Dates Are Important:
-Controlled environment: You choose compatible dogs and supervise interactions.
-Balanced play: Helps your dog learn give-and-take, self-control, and safe play habits.
-Frequent & varied sessions: Essential for social generalisation, learning to behave well with different dogs in different contexts.
-Confidence building: Puppies and fearful dogs benefit from gradual exposure before entering busy environments.

How to Progress Safely:
-Start with structured play dates to build confidence.
-Expand the variety of play partners to generalise social skills.
-Introduce busier environments, like dog parks, only once your dog is ready.
-If your dog struggles in a social setting, step back to controlled play dates and seek guidance if needed.

17/09/2025

Accountability in Public Spaces: Navigating Dogs and Owners Who Won’t Take Responsibility

One of the biggest frustrations our clients share is not always their own dog’s behaviour, but how other owners handle theirs. You may be working hard to manage your dog’s reactivity or training to build confidence, only to have someone else’s dog rush up off-leash, jump on yours, or push into an interaction that quickly goes wrong.

In these moments, owners often hear the same phrases: “He’s friendly!”, “She’s never done that before”, or “Your dog overreacted.” These are classic examples of blame shifting, placing responsibility anywhere except where it belongs.

Why This Matters:
When another owner won’t take accountability, it can set back your dog’s training. An off-leash approach can undo weeks of progress with reactivity, and an unbalanced play session can leave your dog more fearful than before. It’s not just frustrating, it can directly impact your dog’s development and wellbeing.

The Reality: You Can’t Control Others
You cannot control whether someone else supervises their dog, but you can control how you respond. Accountability starts with managing your own dog, but it also means knowing how to advocate for them in the face of others’ mistakes.

Practical Steps You Can Take:
-Be proactive. If you see an off-leash dog approaching, calmly turn and create distance before the encounter escalates.
-Use clear language. It is perfectly acceptable to say, “My dog is in training, please give us space.”
-Stay calm. Raising your voice or panicking can add stress to your dog and escalate the situation. Keep your tone firm but neutral.
-Protect your progress. Step between dogs if necessary, or calmly walk away. Your dog’s training and safety come first, even if it feels impolite.
-Know when to leave. If a particular park or route consistently creates unsafe situations, it may be better to adjust your routine.

When Other Owners Refuse Accountability:
If someone dismisses your concerns or tries to shift blame onto your dog, remind yourself: their response says more about their lack of responsibility than it does about you or your dog. The best course of action is to disengage, remove your dog from the situation, and continue your training elsewhere.

15/09/2025

A Practical Observation Guide for Dog Owners in Public Spaces

When working with your own dog in public, whether on a walk, at a park, or in training sessions, you’re not only managing your dog’s behaviour but also navigating interactions with other people’s dogs. Unfortunately, not all dogs you encounter will be well-socialised or under proper control. Being able to read body language, recognise balanced play, and intervene early can make all the difference in keeping both dogs safe.

1. The Basics of Canine Communication.
Dogs communicate primarily through body language, and knowing what to look for helps you assess whether an interaction is friendly, overstimulated, or unsafe. Key signs to observe include:
-Loose bodies & curved approaches → Friendly, low-stress greeting.
-Stiff postures & direct eye contact → Potential tension, possible challenge.
-Play bows (front end down, back end up) → An invitation to play.
-Excessive staring, freezing, or leaning forward → Red flags for escalation.

2. What Balanced Play Looks Like.
-Balanced play is cooperative and respectful. Both dogs should appear relaxed and willing to continue. Hallmarks include:
-Role reversal: One dog chases, then they switch. One pins, then gets pinned. Fair give-and-take.
-Self-handicapping: A larger or stronger dog intentionally “toning down” intensity for a smaller or younger partner.
-Pauses: Breaks in activity where both dogs shake off, sniff, or disengage before resuming play.
-Happy signals: Loose, wagging tails (not stiff), relaxed mouths, and bouncy movements.

When you see these, the interaction is likely safe and healthy.

3. When Play Becomes Problematic.
Not all dogs understand how to play politely, and some interactions can spiral quickly. Be alert for:
-One-sided play: One dog always chases, tackles, or pins, while the other tries to escape.
-Bullying behaviour: Overly rough play, ignoring signals to stop, or ganging up in groups.
-Stress signals ignored: The dog being chased yawns, licks lips, or turns away but the other persists.
-Escalating arousal: Play that gets faster, louder, and more physical without pauses.

If you notice these patterns, it’s safer to calmly call your dog away and disengage before things escalate.

4. Managing Encounters With Unsocialised Dogs
Even when your own dog is well-managed, other owners may allow unsocialised or uncontrolled dogs to approach. Here’s how to handle it:
-Stay calm and neutral. Dogs can mirror you, don’t panic or tense up.
-Use your body as a barrier. Step calmly between your dog and the oncoming dog.
-Avoid shouting or flailing. This can trigger arousal or aggression. Instead, use a firm voice to direct the other dog away.
-Leash awareness. If both dogs are leashed, keep leads loose to avoid increasing tension through restraint.
-Exit strategically. Sometimes the best option is to calmly move away rather than risk a negative interaction.

5. Supporting Your Dog’s Training in Public.
-Pick your spots. Start in quieter areas before working up to busy, dog-heavy environments.
-Be proactive. If you see an uncontrolled dog approaching, redirect early instead of waiting until they’re nose-to-nose.
-Advocate for your dog. It’s okay to say, “My dog is in training, please give us space.”
-Reinforce calm. Reward your dog for looking to you instead of fixating on other dogs.

Final Thoughts:
Balanced play and safe interactions are wonderful opportunities for social growth. But when you’re in public spaces, your responsibility is to your dog first. Learn to read the body language of both dogs, step in early if play tips out of balance, and don’t hesitate to politely disengage from situations that don’t feel safe. Over time, this proactive approach not only protects your dog but also builds their confidence in you as their trusted handler.

05/09/2025

When you train your dog, their brain releases oxytocin, the same bonding hormone that strengthens human relationships. Every training session is literally building your friendship at a chemical level.

This is why positive reinforcement and consistent training matters.