Happy Hounds K9 Academy - The Urban Shepherdess

09/03/2025

Neutrality in Dog Training: Why Indifference Is Key to a Well-Balanced Dog

Introduction: The Problem with Over-Socialisation

Dog ownership comes with a great deal of responsibility, and one of the biggest challenges dog owners face is ensuring that their dog is well-mannered, well-balanced, and able to function in the real world without becoming overexcited, reactive, or distracted.

One of the most common mistakes made—especially with puppies—is the overemphasis on socialisation, particularly in group puppy classes. These classes often create an expectation in young dogs that every person and every dog they see is a potential source of interaction, whether that be play, affection, or attention. This sets a dangerous precedent.

Many owners unwittingly teach their puppies that other dogs and people are more interesting than they are. Instead of their dog remaining focused on them, they create a dog that pulls towards every passing dog on the street, gets overexcited when a new person enters their space, and, in the worst cases, becomes frantic or frustrated when they aren’t allowed to interact.

What I want for my dogs is neutrality. I want them to be indifferent to people and dogs unless given a specific cue to interact.

What Is Neutrality?

When I say I want my dogs to be neutral, I mean that they should register the presence of other dogs and people but remain completely unfazed by them. If another dog passes by, my dog should acknowledge it with a brief glance and then return focus to me. If a person walks by, my dog should not assume they are entitled to attention or interaction.

To put it simply, I don’t want my dog to see another dog or person and think:
• “Can I go and say hello?”
• “Are we playing now?”
• “Will they give me a treat or a fuss?”

Instead, I want them to think:
• “There’s a dog/person. That’s irrelevant to me.”

This is no different from how we, as humans, operate in daily life. When we walk down the street, we don’t feel the need to greet every single person we pass. We don’t rush up to strangers, demand their attention, or throw a tantrum if they don’t acknowledge us.

A well-trained dog should function in the same way. They should observe, process, and move on—without excitement, frustration, or anxiety.

Why Neutrality Matters

1. Reducing Frustration and Anxiety

Dogs that have been conditioned to expect social interactions with every dog and person they encounter will struggle when they don’t get it. This leads to frustration and, over time, can create problematic behaviours such as leash pulling, whining, barking, and even reactivity.

The reality is, most of the time, dogs won’t be allowed to interact with everyone they see. If they have been taught to expect interaction, they will find this frustrating. A dog that learns neutrality from the start avoids this problem entirely.

2. Enhancing Focus and Engagement with the Handler

A dog that is indifferent to its surroundings is a dog that remains engaged with its handler. If your dog sees you as the centre of its universe—the source of all good things—then external distractions hold little value. This makes training easier and ensures your dog looks to you for guidance in every situation.

3. Preventing Unwanted Social Behaviours

Dogs that assume they are entitled to interact with every dog and person they see can develop behaviours that range from irritating to downright dangerous. These can include:
• Rushing up to other dogs, which can lead to fights if the other dog is reactive or nervous.
• Jumping up at people who may not want to be greeted.
• Dragging the owner towards distractions, making loose lead walking impossible.
• Ignoring recall because external stimuli are more exciting than their handler.

Neutrality prevents all of these issues before they arise.

How to Teach Neutrality in Dogs

1. Stop Rewarding Excitement for External Stimuli

Many owners reinforce the wrong behaviours without realising it. If your puppy or dog gets excited when they see another dog or person, and you allow them to interact, you are reinforcing that excitement. Instead, reward calmness and disengagement.

If your dog sees another dog and immediately turns to you for guidance, that’s when you reinforce with praise, food, or play. This teaches them that you are the most valuable thing in the environment.

2. Practise Exposure Without Interaction

A dog doesn’t need to meet every person or dog they see to be socialised. True socialisation means learning to exist around different people, dogs, and environments without being fixated on them.
• Walk your dog past other dogs without allowing interaction.
• Take them to busy areas where people and dogs are present but do not engage.
• Reward them for staying focused on you rather than external distractions.

3. Create Value in Yourself

The most powerful tool for creating neutrality is making yourself the most exciting and rewarding thing in your dog’s life. This doesn’t mean constantly giving treats—it means ensuring that engagement with you is what your dog wants.
• Play with your dog in a way that builds engagement.
• Be unpredictable—sometimes a quick game, sometimes a recall for a treat, sometimes just verbal praise.
• Make ignoring distractions a prerequisite for rewards.

4. Manage Interactions Carefully

This doesn’t mean your dog should never interact with other dogs or people, but interactions should always be under your control.
• Teach a release command so your dog understands that interaction only happens when given permission.
• Practise structured socialisation where your dog is around others but does not engage.
• Avoid chaotic environments like puppy playgroups where dogs learn bad habits.

Final Thoughts

Teaching neutrality is not about depriving your dog of social experiences—it’s about ensuring they engage with the world in a calm, controlled manner. A neutral dog is a well-balanced dog. It is a dog that does not experience frustration, anxiety, or overstimulation at the sight of every dog or person it encounters. It is a dog that looks to its handler for guidance and remains focused, no matter the environment.

Ultimately, I want my dogs to see me as their priority. I want them to understand that all good things come from me, and that external distractions—whether they be dogs, people, or anything else—are simply background noise.

If you want a reliable, well-mannered, and focused dog, neutrality is the foundation upon which to build. It is the difference between a dog that is constantly seeking external stimulation and a dog that is engaged, confident, and calm in every situation.

08/03/2025

Wild Women & Their Canine Kindred

There’s something ancient, something untamed, about the bond between women and dogs. It goes beyond companionship—it’s a calling, a whisper from the wild woven into our very bones.

Dogs are more than pets; they are our guardians, our mirrors, our kindred spirits. They remind us of the language we once spoke fluently—the language of instinct, presence, and deep, unwavering connection to the natural world.

As women, we crave that connection. In a world that often asks us to be contained, composed, and always "in control," our dogs pull us back into the raw, untamed essence of life itself. They show us the joy of running with the wind in our hair, the magic of scenting the world as if for the first time, the power of resting when our bodies ask for stillness.

Their wild hearts recognize our own.

They remind us that we, too, belong to the rhythms of nature. That we are not separate from the earth, the cycles, the elements—we are of them. Our dogs lead us back to the forest trails, the ocean’s edge, the open fields where we can breathe deeper and feel more alive.

To be a woman with a dog is to walk with a guardian of the unseen. They sense what we cannot, hold space for our deepest sorrows, and celebrate our smallest joys. They stand beside us, steady and unwavering, teaching us loyalty, love, and the courage to trust our instincts.

So today, on International Women’s Day, we celebrate not just ourselves, but the sacred bond we share with our canine companions. The wildness within us honors the wildness within them.

Here’s to the women who run with dogs. 🐾✨

05/03/2025

Introducing your young pup during the critical socialisation period doesn’t just mean with other dogs. It’s shopping centres, traffic, people of all ages, sights, smells and sounds, skateboards, hairdryers (particularly important if you have a breed that needs grooming often). Each interaction should your dog offer calm behaviour should be highly rewarded, in this case puppy Rolo got some fillet steak from The Patient Butcher 🐾❤️🐾

26/02/2025

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!

11/02/2025

🐶 DO YOU USE WHISTLE COMMANDS OVER VOICE COMMANDS? 🐑

Here are the key benefits of whistle commands:

✅ They let you communicate at a distance—the tone stays the same whether your dog is right beside you or far across the field.
✅ Whistles carry further, even in bad weather, unlike voice commands that can get lost in the wind.
✅ They give more precise control, helping handlers guide their dogs with clarity.
✅ Sensitive dogs respond better to whistles, as they convey volume without sounding harsh or angry.

26/01/2025

PARVO OUTBREAK!!!
Please vaccinate your dogs. Parvo virus is deadly!

https://animalemergencyservice.com.au/blog/parvovirus-and-dogs/ #:~:text=Extremely%20resilient%2C%20parvovirus%20can%20survive,including%20the%20ground%20and%20soil.

An extremely contagious and deadly disease, parvovirus is all too common. Here's everything you need to know about this life-threatening disease.

20/01/2025

This is something so often seen on social media, trainers claiming that they have sorted out a behaviour problem in a single session, or just minutes. Often they will show videos of before and after, seeming to indicate that the dog is perfectly behaved in the after clip.

The problem comes when looking at these videos and claims with an educated eye. So often the 'perfectly behaved' dog in the second clip is showing lots of signs of stress, scared to do anything, or looks absolutely shut down and has given up, just waiting for it all to be over.

What is rarely shown is the bit between the before and after. That part where the dog finds out not doing what this trainer wants will result in something that causes them fear and/or pain. The methods or tools that might be used (although with a close look, the shock collar or prong collar or similar tool can sometimes be seen). The effects of using tight slip leads on the dog's neck and the physical damage that can be done there.

The picture text sums the whole situation up: there are no quick fixes in behaviour, and certainly not ones that will result in lasting changes in behaviour. If someone claims that they can change an unwanted behaviour fast, take a step back. Think about what they would have to do or use to stop that behaviour so quickly, and about the effect that will have on your dog and the relationship you have with them.

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.
🎄
When their brain is overwhelmed by this input, this puts your dog's nervous system into fight, flight, or freeze/shut down mode.
🎄
Signs of your dog suffering from sensory overload can be hyperactivity, hyper-vigilance, difficulty in settling and relaxing.
🎄
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.
🎄
Think about this:
🎄
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.
🎄
Dogs can smell emotions like sad or happy, can identify if someone is pregnant and can even smell low blood sugar and cancer cells.
🎄
Imagine how overwhelming your favorite holiday scents are for your dog!
🎄
And what about dog's hearing?
🎄
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.

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄
Holiday Sensory Overload
🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

Ok, so now we can understand why dogs might experience sensory overload around the holidays!
🎄
So many smells, sounds, and changes to their environment ... and for sensitive dogs that are easily aroused, over-excited, reactive, anxious?
🎄
Well, it's just too much.
🎄
If you live with a sensitive dog, it will be so worth it to keep things safe, calm, and happy this holiday season.
🎄
Here are a few key strategies that will help make the holidays happy for everyone, including your dog:
🎄
- 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.
.

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.