Bright Paws

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

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

📱 ⬇️

13/11/2024

This is an X-ray of a dog’s bent front leg. See that tiny white spec? That’s a microchip! It has migrated down the leg....far from where it was inserted, between the dog’s shoulders. This is actually quite common.....

When lost pets are scanned, the entire body SHOULD be scanned to catch any that have migrated. But, as an owner, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AT THEIR YEARLY VET EXAM, to ask for a quick scan to make sure that: (1) the chip is still working, (2) the location of the chip is good, and (3) that the chip info is correct.

Remember microchips save lives and reunite families with their pet.... just have it checked regularly!

13/11/2024

TRIGGER STACKING – WHEN BEHAVIOUR HAPPENS “OUT OF THE BLUE”

We’ve all had those days when nothing seems to go right and one frustrating thing after another happens to us, leaving us feeling wound up, stressed and ready to explode at the next unsuspecting person who dares to ask us something.

This “unsuspecting” person may think we have a serious behaviour problem or need anger management therapy, when the truth is that we’ve just had a really bad day or even a few bad days and don’t usually behave like this at all.

Dogs are no different and a behaviour that seems completely out of character or happens “out of the blue” is often caused by “trigger stacking”.

A trigger may be anything that increases a dog’s stress levels and has a negative impact on their emotional, mental or physical state.

These may be small things that we may not even notice or seem insignificant to us, but they are all adding to an increasing “stack” of events that may culminate in out of character behaviour.

When stress levels reach a certain point, the next stressful event, however small, may cause an explosive reaction that is completely unexpected.

Instead of just focusing on a particular behaviour and seeing it as a problem that needs to be prevented, take a step backwards, look at the bigger picture, look at events, circumstances or environmental factors that may have played a role leading up to that behaviour.

Being aware of potential stressors and allowing your dog time to decompress, relax and unwind for a few days will often mean the difference between “normal behaviour” and a behaviour that seems completely out of character.

10/11/2024

Love dog

10/11/2024

WHEN SECONDS COUNT

This post is not advocating that dogs meet every other dog, but about how to go about it, if and when it does happen, in a safer way.

The 3 second rule for dogs meeting each other is used as a guideline to help foster positive introductions, prevent either dog from feeling overwhelmed or trapped and prevent any potential reactivity and stress.

A short 3 second introduction is enough time to provide important information to both dogs.

Enough information for dogs to know – “are you a threat?”, “do I like you?”, “do I want to learn more about you?”, “do I really dislike you?”, “do I need you to go away?” etc. Both dogs may not feel the same way – one may not be happy to engage while the other may want to.

All interactions should ideally happen like this, not just initially. Just like us, dogs can have off days – things like pain, trigger stacking, lack of sleep or a host of other reasons can influence whether a dog wants to interact or not.

There are countless times I have witnessed meetings or introductions between dogs that have gone on just a few seconds too long and have not ended well. This can have long lasting effects on future behaviour when meeting other dogs.

Understanding body language is critically important. If we are going to share our lives with another species, protect them, advocate for them and help them feel safe, then we need to understand and respect their language.

The examples in this post of red and green flags are just a few general ones to look out for – there are many more and these will differ depending on the individual dog, context and circumstances.

Here are some resources and links to learn more about body language -
On Talking Terms With Dogs - Calming Signals, 2nd Edition by Turid Rugaas
https://www.dogwise.com/on-talking-terms-with-dogs-calming-signals-2nd-edition/?srsltid=AfmBOoqj8ruQJx5bCP7qWb03TqCyAGfmAvCj988UuWk_L1_UHbYcZsES

The Veterinary Behaviour Centre
https://www.heska.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/TVBC-Canine-Dog-Body-Language-handout.pdf

Make sure those first 3 seconds count – they can make all the difference.

30/10/2024

Choice is so important to our dogs 🐶🐾🐾🐶