The Dog Link

26/01/2024

I'm not anti-kibble, I'm anti-kibble ONLY.

Why? Because kibble is an ultra-processed food that promotes inflammation and a state of dis-ease. We have seen the rise of lifestyle diseases in pets since the introduction of kibble into the pet food market.

If you want to learn how to improve kibble with fresh foods or feed only fresh foods, then you have come to the right place.

Let's get started! Pop a kibble or fresh food question below for me to assist with.

Note: there is no BEST KIBBLE, only the right kibble for YOUR dog and this will vary for each pet. I teach you how to select the right kibble in my online kibble course.

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I'm V, a pet nutrition coach helping parents learn more about how to feed their pets for better health and wellness. Based in RSA, but working globally. I work with kibble, cooked, raw and hybrid diets.

🌎 Online consultations via Zoom
💻 Online courses via Thinkific
📝 Recipe formulations
🥩 Home cooked food guidance

16/12/2023

09/11/2023

Please never ever feed these or buy them as gifts for other pets.

There are much better options to gift than these deadly chews.

04/11/2023

Brilliantly said

First off, what is “good” behavior? Often this is behavior that humans find desirable. There is no good or bad, we just might not like certain behaviors.

When we see behavior challenges in reference to fear, anxiety, stress or aggression we want to look at the bigger picture.

We need to look at behavior “whole-listically”; the entirety of the animal.

A behaviorally healthy dog is also a physically healthy dog; we cannot separate the two.

02/11/2023

Be mindful and reward your dog for good behaviours.... Remember those treat jars❤️

Well said Bark Vader Dog School - May the force free be with you 🤗

Here is one of the biggest mistakes I see clients making, they ignore good behaviour. I know they don't do it on purpose, because it's easy to forget about a really well behaved dog, but it's something we need to make an effort to remember.

Reward the nothing.
Reward the boring.

Otherwise, our dogs also learn they only get attention and treats when they misbehave and go crazy.

For example: You have a dog that loves people. You've been working hard on getting them to be calm around guests and for the most part, it's working.
A friend comes over and your dog is really calm, greets them for a second or two and comes back to you. Your friend exclaims "Wow your dog is so well behaved" and you go inside.
Your dog starts getting frustrated because he didn't get attention or praise and now starts nudging your guest only for your guest to push your dogs head away with their hand. Behaviour rewarded as a lot of dogs find this reinforcing. Your dog now gets excited because this is also how you play when you rough and tumble, he starts with some small jumps and escalates to big jumps which also leads you, mum or dad, to get some treats out and redirect the behaviour.

I see this happen all the time. Good behaviour gets ignored so often.

If this dog was rewarded with a treat scatter when he made the first calm greeting, he would have been thrilled and would have repeated that.

I see so many people work hard at loose leash walking, only for them to start ignoring their dog when the leash is actually loose. It's so easy to forget about a dog when our shoulder isn't being yanked, and that's the problem. A simple, "Good boy" and a treat for walking by your side and ignoring a dog behind a fence builds up a good reinforcement history which leads to them repeating that behaviour more often.

So.
This week, I challenge you to reward the boring behaviour, reward all the good behaviour you want your dog to repeat and watch them flourish!

Repost from last year♡

18/10/2023

It’s 2023, up your game. Competitively compensate your dogs.

We have something for every dog sport! shopcanineaesthete.com/collections

17/10/2023

SAVE THE DATE.

Reactive, anxious, and over-aroused dogs need our help, yet many pet guardians are often at a loss when it comes to understanding and relieving the stress that impacts BOTH companion animals and their people.

If that sounds like you, then here's some good news you're going to love - Marilyn Mele has gathered a special panel of six outstanding trauma and reactivity experts, including COAPE International’s Karin Pienaar. The professionals on this panel come from the two worlds of dog behaviour and human behaviour and will bring you insights into your dog's well-being as well as your own.

You’re invited to join them LIVE for this one-time event on
Thursday, October 26, 2023 from 12 to 3 PM Eastern Time.

Mark your calendar and click below to register now and save your spot.
Did we mention that it's Free?
https://www.marilynmele.com/reactive-dog

PS: Can't make it live? No problem. Your ticket also admits you to the limited time replay.

08/10/2023

07/10/2023

THE CHOICE TO CHOOSE
WHY DOGS SHOULD BE ALLOWED CHOICE

Imagine every little detail of your life is controlled - what and when you eat, where you sleep, when you’re allowed inside or outside, when you’re allowed to go for a walk and if you’re allowed to stop and explore, who you’re allowed or forced to interact with, what activities you’re allowed to participate in, when you’re shown affection or receive attention, where you’re allowed to be touched etc.

This would create stress and anxiety, a feeling of helplessness, apathy, a lack of confidence and many other negative emotions. The same is true for dogs.

Dogs live in a world where just about everything is controlled by us. Allowing choice, no matter how simple that choice may be, provides so many benefits.

The context and parameters in which we allow choice is obviously important. Safety, boundaries, environmental factors, other people or animals always need to be taken into account.

A very long time ago, when my daughter was going through the “terrible 2’s” or maybe it was 3’s or 4’s, she would flat-out refuse to put on the set of clothes I had picked out for her.

Tantrums and stubbornness would often make us late for wherever we were going. This problem was solved by laying out 3 different sets of clothes and allowing her to choose which set she was going to wear.

These were still within my parameters and were still my choice, but by doing this I had allowed her a choice and the problem was solved, without harsh discipline or emotional fall out.

Dogs that are allowed some control over their environment and how they respond to situations are more confident, more emotionally balanced, better able to cope with stressful situations, less anxious, less stressed and have fewer behaviour problems.

Look for simple, safe ways to provide more choices for your dog. Improve their wellbeing and quality of life in a world that seeks to control them.

21/09/2023

21/09/2023

Love this!

Don’t forget! ◡̈

Score a 20% discount on any of our dog sport decals + tees at ShopCanineAesthete.com 🛒👕

12/09/2023

31/08/2023

Every living being deserves to be respected. Consent is respect!

Trigger Warning ⚠️

Normalise teaching children NOT TO PET RANDOM DOGS. Teach them to respect the space and boundaries of ALL beings in public spaces, including dogs.

Also, normalise NOT BEING OFFENDED when someone refuses to allow your child to touch their dog.

The dog could bite if he is fearful, is having a bad day or in pain. He also deserves the right to enjoy his walk without harassment or fear. Permission from the guardian to touch a dog is NOT sufficient. If the dog does not nose the child or paw him, then he does not want to be touched. Move on.

Really tired of seeing a dog's personal space violated by rude children (and parents)...🤨

30/08/2023

29/08/2023

28/08/2023

24/08/2023

What an awesome day to take out your social dogs❤️🐶😎

Something fun for the calendar.