Bright Paws

06/01/2025

05/01/2025

bit.ly/4i9oeUC
Not all dogs love a head scratch. 🐾

05/01/2025

Fixation 👀‼️
Not as simple as just a locked gaze, and in many ways fixation is ALREADY a reaction.
It just isn't a verbal reaction.
Fixation never leads to anything good for a reactive dog, it is an escalation of emotions and needs to be recognised and acted on.
There are lots of ways to help this, one in particular is a U turn (video in the comments).
This dog training handout is available abcdogsnz.com

05/01/2025

💪🏼 8 WAYS TO BUILD CONFIDENCE IN YOUR DOG‼️
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Building confidence can be trying for dog owners of anxious dogs, but it can be done and the payoff is huge when the results are noticeable!
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1️⃣ CREATE PREDICTABILITY
Scenarios where your dog is anxious should have a pattern.

Example 👉🏼 Greeting people causes your dog some stress.
Each person that greets the dog should learn a behavior to perform or ask for such as scattering food or asking for a target to a hand or foot instead of reaching to pet the dog.

If this becomes the norm for greetings the dog will gain confidence in greetings not being so stressful because she will know what is going to happen during those greetings.

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2️⃣ USE MANAGEMENT EFFICIENTLY
Management can be a tool that helps in areas where training can't take place, shouldn't or makes the specific situation easier on all involved.

Example 👉🏼 Your dog stresses when people come into your home.
Put your dog in a place in your home where he feels safe & isn't exposed to people entering until that is something you can work through with training & other skills.

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3️⃣ GIVE SNIFFING THE UPPER HAND
Exercise is perfect when done properly & the correct exercise is chosen for each specific dog & case. Sniff walks are something all dogs can do & while walking!

Example 👉🏼 You want to exercise your dog but going around the block isn't do-able at the moment.
Put your dog on a long line, walk in front of your home & toss a handful of your dog's food or yummy treats in the grass for him to sniff out. Sniffing is calming for dogs & this can help while also allowing you to do some walking. You can also walk short distances while allowing your dog to sniff all the things, you know be a dog!

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4️⃣ PROPER PLAY
Play is a great stress release & is hugely beneficial to our social companions. Learning proper play will build your relationship & build confidence.

Example 👉🏼 Teach your dog to play tug with you, drop it on cue & start when you say. Let her win some & lose some, but lots of wins. Throwing a ball over & over isn't great play as it builds arousal so there are lots of other types of play we can do with our dogs.

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5️⃣ TEACH USEFUL CUES & UTILIZE POSITIVE TRAINING
Using positive training & teaching your dog to respond to different cues will benefit you & him in all sorts of areas of life.

When your dog knows cues, responds & gets rewarded, his confidence will go up. It will also help in situations so you both know what to do & how to respond.

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6️⃣ PROPER SLEEP
Sleep is just important for all living beings! Dogs should sleep at 12-18 hours a day, depending on age. This includes day & night. So your dog should get a lot of sleep throughout the daytime for proper brain rest & lower stress levels.

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7️⃣ AUTONOMY & CHOICES
This would be where you listen to your dog & respect what they are "telling" you while also allowing her to make safe choices about what is comfortable for her.

Example 👉🏼 Your dog doesn't like sitting next to you while you pet him. Let him move to a spot he wants to or just don't pet him at all if he's showing signs he doesn't want that in that moment.

Example 👉🏼 Your dog starts to show signs of not really wanting to be on a walk with you, then don't go on that walk or head straight home if you're already out.

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8️⃣ CONSISTENCY!
All of the above things won't matter if you cannot be consistent. In fact it could be more harmful in the long run if you do somethings one way one day and differently on another day. That will negate #1 and cause unpredictability!
🔑 So consistency is key!

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Stacy Greer, CPDT-KA
🐕🐩🐕‍🦺🦮

COPYRIGHT NOTICE
© 2024 Stacy Greer

All rights reserved. Feel free to share via the “Share” link to the original post. Downloading for redistribution online or in print form is strictly prohibited.

24/12/2024

There is so much happening at this time of year🍾🎄
Decompression is vital for ALL dogs at this time of year, but especially reactive dogs.💥
✅Have a plan and prepare for those unexpected visitors. They aren't really that unexpected at this time of year.
✅Prepare what you need in advance.
✅Make sure everyone in the family knows how to advocate for your dog.
✅Have a chat to visitors about how they shouldn't or should interact with your dog....be proactive and send a text before they arrive.
✅Trigger stacking is a very real possibility with all that happens during Christmas and New Year.
✅Use your dogs safe place and ensure everyone leaves your dog in peace when they are there. This is especially important when children are visiting.
❌A child or even multiple children can visit with adults during this holiday season....this is not the time to test if your reactive dog (or even non reactive dog) is ok around children.
❌Forcing dogs into social situations can be incredibly stressful and dogs may react in ways we don't expect.

Christmas can be very stressful for our dogs (and for us!), we may be so caught up in our activities and festivities that we may not realise the effect these busy times can have on our dogs.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a safe holiday season.
These dog training posters are available through abcdogsnz.com

23/12/2024

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!

13/12/2024

What's the big deal ❓What have they got to do with my dogs reactivity ❓
Pain 💥
If you can hear "click clack" on a hard surface, your dogs nails cannot go into the surface, so that pressure and force can go back up right into their feet.
The toes can splay because they cannot do anything else BUT become misaligned if their nails/claws are too long.
That affects the foot, that affects the joints and that can affect a dogs behaviour.
Pain affects behaviour and yes....pain can cause reactivity.
Is it just a coincidence that when your dog leaves the soft carpet or lawn of your house and goes outside on the footpath their behaviour changes?
For some dogs, taking this simple step can make a huge difference to their reactive outbursts.
Cutting or grinding the nails can make a big difference.
If you can hear "click clack"...it really is time for the "clip clip".
This dog training graphic is available abcdogsnz.com

13/12/2024

Social media can be so harsh. 💥
Lots of negative comments and posts dissing the 3x3x3 "rule".
The advice is still sound....and catchy enough to be able to be remembered, however I do understand that some people really do take things to heart and will strictly adhere to 3 days, 3 weeks etc.
I made this not to "diss" the creator of the 3x3x3 rule but to perhaps open up the conversation that every dog is unique, as is their (and your !) circumstances.
This is the time of year many people open up their homes to new dogs....I hope you find this helpful.
This dog training handout is available abcdogsnz.com

04/12/2024

THE PERILS OF PUNISHMENT

It’s easy to stop or suppress a behaviour by using punishment, force or pain and say that it really works, so why even bother to do it differently?

Punishment based methods may well “fix” the behaviour quickly, are far easier, require far less effort, less knowledge, less education, or even just be based on traditional belief, but these methods come at a great cost - destroying trust, creating insecurity, fear, anxiety, provoking aggression, causing dogs to shut down or feel helpless and prevent dogs from learning an alternative, more acceptable behaviour.

There is so much modern, scientific evidence to support force free, positive reinforcement methods as being the most effective and successful way to modify behaviour.

There is nothing admirable, ethical or intelligent in physically or emotionally forcing any sentient being to comply.

Take the time and make a commitment to understand and learn about positive, force free, science-based methods.

30/11/2024

Enrichment...just a buzz word or does it really help dogs behaviour ?
One of the MOST important skills you can teach is find.
It relaxes✅
It calms 💤
It helps overarousal and over excitement💥
If you are unsure where to start with find there is a video in the comments that goes over how to introduce your dog to this easy skill that enriches, soothes and engages their brain....win, win, win !
Graphics available abcdogsnz.com

27/11/2024

15/11/2024

📱 ⬇️