Happy Hounds K9 Academy - The Urban Shepherdess

24/11/2024

TO KEEP YOUR HOLIDAYS A HAPPY, CALM EXPERIENCE, PROTECT YOUR DOG (AND YOURSELF) FROM SENSORY OVERLOAD!!

I talk to clients all the time about sensory overload. As someone who has been a companion to working Border Collies (with a flock of sheep), sensory overload is something with which I am intimately familiar. When trying to explain this to clients, I say that herding dogs come into this world watching 20 televisions at once and they don't have the ability to filter out the cacophony of sounds, colors and movement coming from this bombardment of the senses. This is what gives Border Collies their world class ability to anticipate every movement of a sheep flock. However, for herding dogs within a household who have with no outlet for the overload, it can cause behavioral issues like hyperarousal, chasing, persistent barking and underlying generalized anxiety.

Below is an excellent discussion by Kathy Kawalec on the sensory overload that is often caused by the sheer excesses of the holiday season. She also discusses some easy ways to mitigate these excesses. Enjoy and may your holidays be peaceful and non-aroused 🐾💕🎅🤶

🎄 Sensory overload is when your dog's senses -- especially their smell and hearing -- take in more information than their brain can comfortably process.
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When their brain is overwhelmed by this input, this puts your dog's nervous system into fight, flight, or freeze/shut down mode.
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Signs of your dog suffering from sensory overload can be hyperactivity, hyper-vigilance, difficulty in settling and relaxing.
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As you can imagine, what we humans can find delightful, or calming and joy-bringing at holiday season, our dogs can find overwhelming and stressful.
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Think about this:
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Your dog is a scent master by design. Dogs can smell up to 10,000 times better than a human because of their unique nose and brain configuration. A dogs nose as two different air passages, one for breathing and one for smelling. And their brain's olfactory cortex is about 40 times larger than yours, making them specialists in scent.
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Dogs can smell emotions like sad or happy, can identify if someone is pregnant and can even smell low blood sugar and cancer cells.
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Imagine how overwhelming your favorite holiday scents are for your dog!
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And what about dog's hearing?
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Dogs can hear sounds four times farther away than we can, they hear higher frequency sounds, and they can easily differentiate sounds - like they know it's YOUR car, even if the neighbor has the same exact model. They can pinpoint the exact location of a sound more accurately and from farther away than us because of ear mobility and a much longer ear canal.

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Holiday Sensory Overload
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Ok, so now we can understand why dogs might experience sensory overload around the holidays!
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So many smells, sounds, and changes to their environment ... and for sensitive dogs that are easily aroused, over-excited, reactive, anxious?
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Well, it's just too much.
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If you live with a sensitive dog, it will be so worth it to keep things safe, calm, and happy this holiday season.
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Here are a few key strategies that will help make the holidays happy for everyone, including your dog:
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- No scented candles, no flashing lights, no whirring motors...
- Use unscented cleaning products, be mindful of disruptive music and sounds.
- Make sensible choices with who and how many visitors...
- Ensure your dog has a safe place to retreat easily, and work with your family to pre-plan management strategies for holiday gatherings that would overwhelm your dog.

Peace, love and always listen to your dog!!!!

Courtesy of Donaldson

28/09/2024

DISTRACTED DOG WALKERS

The distracted dog walker is commonly seen chatting on their cell phone, wearing headphones or socializing with other people while oblivious to what their dog is doing, how their dog is feeling or what is going on in the environment.

This may not sound like a problem to some, but it is something that many people have a problem with, even more so if you have a reactive dog.

I compare walking a dog to driving a car. It’s not so much about our driving skills, but having to constantly be aware of the driving skills of others – trying to predict what they will do, which rules of the road they will ignore and how distracted they are. This is especially true in the country I live in, where driving can be a stressful experience.

I understand that we often need to multi task – there simply doesn’t seem to be enough time in our day to accomplish everything we need to, but walking our dogs should not be one of these times.

Some people might say – “but my dog is really friendly, well socialized, gets on well with everyone, is well trained, knows this environment well etc. and I hear that.

But another dog might not be – maybe they need space, are reactive, are not sociable, are recovering from an illness, might be terrified of another dog racing straight towards them chasing a ball thrown from a ball launcher etc.

If distracted dog walkers have no regard for other dogs or other people, they should at least have regard for their own dogs. Walking your dog should be a time of bonding, of relationship, of seeing the environment through the eyes of your dog, of reinforcing and teaching wanted behaviours, of keeping them safe and protected from the unknown.

Our dogs need us to be focused, to pay attention, to be aware and attentive.

Our dogs depend on us to advocate for them.

Courtesy of Dogs Disclosed

10/09/2024

🐾Understanding a puppy’s developmental stages is important to providing the right training, support, exposure, and socialisation at each phase. These stages have a profound effect on shaping a pup's long-term behaviour, especially when it comes to handling stress, fear, and new experiences. The key to having a ‘well-rounded’ adult dog is to recognise and understand the fear periods puppies go through, and how these can impact their overall development and emotional well-being.

Neonatal Period (0–2 Weeks)

During the neonatal stage, puppies are entirely dependent on their mother. Their eyes and ears are closed, and they spend most of their time sleeping and nursing. At this age, there’s very little environmental interaction or learning beyond the comfort and safety of their litter[1].

Transitional Period (+- 2–3 Weeks)

In this short but crucial phase, puppies start to develop their senses. Their eyes and ears open, and they begin to explore their immediate surroundings. This is when their motor skills develop, and they become more active. While fear isn’t yet a significant factor at this stage, early positive and gentle handling can set the groundwork for future interactions and socialisation[1].

Socialisation Period (+- 3 -16 Weeks)

The socialisation period is one of the most critical phases in a puppy’s life. During this time, they are highly receptive to forming social bonds and learning about their environment. Positive exposure to various people, animals, sounds, and experiences is extremely important to shaping a well-rounded adult dog. Socialisation during this period has a lasting impact on their behaviour, making it a key time for introducing puppies to the world in a controlled, and positive way[1].

Fear Periods in the Socialisation Stage:

Around the 8–12 week mark, puppies experience their first significant fear period. This is when they become particularly sensitive to new experiences and can easily form fear-based responses. During this window, it’s important to ensure that any exposure to new environments or stimuli is positive and non-threatening. Negative experiences at this stage can lead to long-term fear or aggression issues. This sensitivity is linked to the puppy’s rapidly developing nervous system, which makes them more reactive to stimuli[1].

Juvenile Period (+- 3–6 Months)

The juvenile period which is also known as the ‘terrible teens’ is influenced by increased independence. Puppies become more curious and eager to explore their surroundings. Their motor skills are more refined, and they start to solidify the behaviours and social cues they’ve been learning. However, they are still developing emotionally and mentally, so ongoing socialisation and positive reinforcement are incredibly important[2].

At this stage, some puppies may experience a second fear period, usually around the 4–6-month mark. This is typically a shorter phase but can still lead to heightened sensitivity and reactivity, particularly to unfamiliar people, animals, or environments. Like the earlier fear period, it’s important to carefully manage their experiences during this time to prevent the formation of long-term fear-based responses[2].

Adolescence (+- 6–18 Months)

Adolescence can be the most challenging stage for both puppies and their owners. As their bodies and minds continue to develop, many adolescent pup’s become more independent, test boundaries in the sense of figuring out what behaviours work or don’t and may even seem to “forget” cue’s you may have taught them. It’s so important to remember and understand that the environment plays a HUGE part in their behaviour.

During this period, various areas of the brain mature at different rates. This phase is associated with increased levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol, which can influence a dog's emotional responses and sensitivity to stimuli. The amygdala, a region in the brain linked to processing emotions, becomes more reactive, contributing to heightened fear responses. Additionally, changes in neurotransmitter levels, particularly serotonin, impact mood regulation and influence how the dog perceives and copes with stressors. These neurochemical fluctuations shape the dog's behaviour and emotional responses during this critical developmental period [4].

The two last fear stages are around 6–13 months, and around 14-18 months, where adolescent pups might suddenly become cautious or reactive towards things they were previously comfortable with. This stage can coincide with hormonal changes, and careful environmental management is needed to set the dog up for success, not put them in a position where they may ‘fail’, and to reinforce positive experiences as well as avoid letting fearful responses become habitual. It’s a good time to revisit training, focus on building confidence, and continue appropriate exposure and socialisation.

🧠The Role of Fear Periods in the Fight-or-Flight Response

This is the most important thing to understand when it comes to fear periods!!!! Instincts are involuntary and are a natural part of puppy development, designed to help them become more aware of potential threats to defend and protect themselves. These periods are characterised by the fight-or-flight response, which is triggered by specific chemicals, mainly adrenaline and cortisol [3].

Adrenaline is responsible for the immediate fight-or-flight response, making animals more reactive and alert to perceived threats. Whether they choose to flee or defend themselves depends on their temperament, past experiences, and how they are managed during these fear periods.

Cortisol, the stress hormone, plays a key role in managing longer-term stress. Repeated exposure to stressful situations without proper appropriate management can result in chronic anxiety and reactivity in the dog[4].

💪How to Support Your Puppy Through Fear Periods??

Fear periods can be daunting for both puppies and their owners, but with the right support with a force-free positive reinforcement trainer, puppies can navigate these stages and become more confident and resilient with emotional maturity and time.
To end off my very long post here are a few tips to help manage fear periods…

Reward behaviours you like when you see your puppy doing them. This includes calm behaviour and DO NOT punish fearful responses, which could make the situation worse. Puppies do not misbehave the way humans interpret it! Their behaviours are usually natural responses to their environment, and what we might label as “misbehaviour” is often just a result of unmet needs, confusion, or stress.

Introduce new experiences gradually, ensuring that your puppy doesn’t become overwhelmed. Make new interactions positive and manageable.

Remember that fear periods are temporary. Remain calm, and don’t force your puppy into situations they find intimidating.
I hope this helps you understand fear periods and your puppy or adult dog better. Please reach out to your nearest force-free, science-based trainer in your area if you need help.💜

[1] Scott, J.P. and Fuller, J.L. (1965) Genetics and the Social Behavior of the Dog. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

[2] Serpell, J. (2017) ‘The Domestic Dog: Its Evolution, Behavior, and Interactions with People’, in Serpell, J. (ed.) The Domestic Dog: Its Evolution, Behavior and Interactions with People. 2nd edn. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 21-47.

[3] Overall, K.L. (2013) Manual of Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Dogs and Cats. St. Louis: Elsevier Health Sciences.

[4] Freedman, D.G., King, J.A. and Elliot, O. (1961) ‘Critical Period in the Social Development of Dogs’, Science, 133(3457), pp. 1016-1017.

17/07/2024

The benefits of sniffing are too numerous to mention.
If a trainer tells you to NOT let your dog sniff on a walk then find another Trainer!!!

"Too much sniffing is bad for your dog, if they stop to sniff, pull them away".
Err...no it isn't & don't !
Dogs have millions of nasal receptors, when they pick up a scent it triggers their brain & releases feel good hormones, encouraging them to work & follow the scent.
Think Police dogs sniffing out criminals or missing people,
Fire & Rescue detection dogs sniffing out accelerants at suspicious incidents.
Mountain rescue dogs sniffing out missing people.
Tracking dogs used to follow the scent of missing dogs.
Sniffer dogs at airports, the list goes on, dogs utilising their fantastic sense of smell.

SNIFFING is a key activity for any dog, not just the ones I've mentioned above , I often utilise scent work in behaviour work because of it's benefits.

Luke & I do tracking, a random bloke will hide in woodlands, deposit random articles ( items ) & Luke uses his nose to follow the scent.
If your trainer tells you not to let your dog sniff, find a different trainer.
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03/07/2024

Tap on the picture for the full story.
If you have a reactive dog on lead, then it shouldn’t be off lead either. Contact a qualified Behaviourist for help as a trainer and training won’t fix reactivity.

17/06/2024

Proud to be a Member and upholding the Force/Pain Free Training methods of modern dog training ethics and science based facts!
If you're serious about training or getting someone to walk your dog, please do your research as to whether they are at least accredited with a recognized Force/Pain Free organisation before you let them take your dog off your property!

28/04/2024

Besties Beau & Lisa checking out the fire pit facility 🐾❤️🐾

01/01/2024

NEW YEAR'S DAY - LOST & FOUND

It is irksome and annoying to say the least to read through the various news feeds and note the amount of lost and missing animals due to the fireworks and revelry of last night.
But don’t get this wrong. It is not those that partied last night that are incurring my wrath. It is you, who have lost your small domestic animal due to the fireworks, that I find myself annoyed at.
Unless your circumstances were dire, i.e. you were visiting a dying relative in hospital and your pet couldn’t accompany you or you were involved in a car crash or something equally heartbreaking, there was no excuse for your pet to be anywhere but in your home last night.

And this despite:

1. The welfare organizations going to extreme pains to make the public aware of animals’ reactions to fireworks, but as a pet owner, you should have known this in any event.
2. You, as an adult human, would have had years of experience of the revelries of New Year’s Eve. Unless you have been living under a tree in a desert oasis somewhere, you would have known that fireworks will be prevalent on a night such as last night.
3. You have had 364 days of 2023 to prepare your pet for the fireworks of last night. New Year’s Eve celebrations could not possibly have caught you by surprise.

So why is your pet missing this morning? Why were there oodles of volunteers pulled away from the care of their own animals last night to have to take care of yours? Why are the already overflowing kennels having to deal with your animal this morning?
Not because of the fireworks – no no no.
The answer to all those questions is - Because you were careless.

Oh. And for those who haven’t quite figured this yet. In 364 days, there will be fireworks on New Year’s Eve. Just warning you.

19/12/2023

Isn't this an adorable illustration?

Let's think about this for a minute. Dogs understand reinforcement and we all know reinforcement builds behavior, but where you take food from also builds a positive cue. Does that cue can help or hurt your performance?

If you reach in your pocket without saying anything, does your dog come alive? If so, you may have taught them something you weren't aware of. Make sure where you keep food, how you reach for it, what you say before giving it, all supports your desired performance and dogs correct emotional state.

It's your pocket, use it correctly.

Courtesy of Start to Finish Dog Training

18/12/2023

Sheba is Desperately Seeking her Secret Santa 🐾💔🐾 Urgent Foster or Adopt.

I’m a 13 year old Parsons Jack Russell whose owners have fallen on hard times. I was surrendered and currently not coping well in the lovely kennels as I’m lonely since my sidekick was adopted. I’m fine with cats and older more sedate dogs. I’m a little shy with strangers to start but warm to people with gentle hands and a soothing voice, and I don’t need much exercise. I’m still alert and agile for my age and my vaccinations are up to date. I would love nothing more than a soft bed and a quiet spot in the sun and on your lap to rest my weary head for Christmas. Could you be my Secret Santa?

Contact my Guardian Angel Sarah on 0723843366 if you could love me to the end of my days.
No adoption fee but strict home checks apply.