Equinine Behavioural Practice

04/09/2024

31/08/2024

Fun at Three Rivers Vet this morning.

30/08/2024

Puppy class graduation at Three Rivers Vet. Well done!!

30/08/2024

First puppy class graduation at Sasolburg Vet. Well done!!

16/11/2023

Reactivity and fixation. Often hand in hand.
While many may be familiar with the staring, hard face, stiff body and possible closed mouth when fixating on a stimuli...there are plenty more signs your dog may be fixating.

Raised hackles/Piloerection....
This can cause a dog to "fluff" up or bristle their tail...it could be in just a few areas, a ridge down the spine or the whole coat. This can certainly happen at many other times too and many of these are not connected to reactivity/fixation.
As with everything in reading your dog...context is everything.
As is the whole picture.

Another sign your dog may be fixating is the lengthening of the whole neck...straining forward while usually not moving the body..... often this is paired with the chest puffing/sticking out and legs anchored well back.
The lengthening and stretching out can accompany a lower or higher neck/head position or just straight out in front.

Peeking is often displayed too.
This is a dogs head moving their head side to side without turning their head.
It can look like they have an invisible tree in front and need to peek around it to see the stimuli....but the body usually stays still.

These are only some of the signs of possible fixation.
There are many more and some dogs will certainly not display them all. Some breeds will never have their hackles raised due to their type of coat...but may certainly have other signs.

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16/11/2023

16/11/2023

Window reactivity....highly problematic and stressful for everyone. This "game" is responsible for high levels of anxiety and stress to many dogs.
Barking is NOT the only sign your dog is being stressed by this repeated action....it is just that barking is far more noticeable to some people.....the anxiety/stress started a long time before.

Many dogs will wait and wait and wait......finally they are "rewarded" for that fixation with a fleeting glimpse of whatever they react to.
People
Cars
Dogs
Birds
Neighbours
Cycles
Wind moving a tree....there are many individual triggers.

They may race around the house in a pattern to another window to view and react again......then when out of view, back to the original spot to wait...and wait some more.

This IS a highly damaging "game" for dogs.

Many people with anxious dogs may not actually realise their dogs do this when they are out of the house.....as it may not happen when you or the family are home.
You may have a highly anxious dog but are completely unsure why. Set up a camera and watch while you are gone for a few hours.

There are many ways to help this.
Baby gates.
These limit movement and are one solution (but easily jumped by larger dogs).
The "easiest" solution is window film.....not a popular solution for some people. Blinds and curtains are often ineffective as dogs will position themselves to watch through/under or around them. Watch the height of chairs your dog may use to peer over the film....think about ways to prevent that, you may need to move furniture around.
Aesthetically it may not be appealing for some, or the film has to be incredibly high if the triggers are birds. Some people are reluctant to use film as a solution especially if they have a fantastic view..... but make no mistake.....this very rarely gets better by itself.

It can also get a WHOLE lot worse.

Reactivity can morphs outwards and what once was a reaction to dogs passing has now involved birds also....or cars....or cars and now cyclists and people.

The film may work well for some but there is a big caution sign at the bottom of the graphic.....for a small amount of dogs blocking view can be incredibly stressful....and a SMALL amount of dogs can find themselves in an even MORE stressful environment.

Try the film....it can be a miracle solution but PLEASE get a trainer in if this causes other issues.
Highly stressed dogs need help quickly.

Enjoy the difference and peace...because your dog absolutely will.

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16/11/2023

It isn't daily anymore...but certainly 2 - 3 times a week this is mentioned by clients.
It is pervasive in our society....and still very much believed.

Everyone loves a wagging tail from a happy dog, but a wagging tail shouldn't automatically mean a happy dog...it can mean so much more.

Dogs wag their tails in EVERY emotional state and may do this in many different circumstances....happiness is just one reason.

Some people are shocked that their dogs acted aggressively....because their tail was wagging at the time. Dogs under stress can wag their tails and it is often misread as this dog being happy.....so they are not removed from the stressor.
Scared dogs can wag their tails and people view them as being approachable....and the consequences can be life altering for the person and the dog.

Children especially are told this myth....and continue this myth into adulthood.

The whole picture needs to be taken into account....never just a tail.

Please respect that these graphics take time and effort to make. Everyone is free to share on social media🙂, however off social media use of these marked graphics is prohibited.
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16/11/2023

Providing choices in a way that sets a dog up for success is a huge part of my training philosophy. You can see the difference in the confidence and decision making of a dog who has been supported in making choices compared to a dog who is used to always being told what to do. It empowers the dog and frankly, makes your life easier!

On hikes, Arry chooses to focus on me when she sees a person, dog or horse. It's much easier to then give her guidance (come, stay or 'go say hi' depending on what is appropriate) when she's already choosing ME over the distraction.

On walks, Lupine chooses to focus on me when a dog barks. It's much easier to guide her past that very hard distraction when she's already choosing ME over barking back at the dog.

Now of course there were several games used to teach my dog to choose me since running up to people and dogs or barking back at other dogs are all behaviors that would be very rewarding. But by taking the time to help your dog to make good choices, you end up having to do less in the long run.

www.PawsitiveChangeMT.com

15/11/2023

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie! I often get asked how to manage dogs who are very active, who have high energy, high drive and all the other ways we describe dogs who aren’t good at being still. And one of the first things I tell people is when you’re dog is resting, when your dog -is- settled; do not disturb. We often prioritize our schedules over the needs of our dogs, and that can lead to problems down the road. Very often when we have a dog who is hyperactive, or very “busy” people default to keeping the dog busy, productive, over training even. This can backfire in the sense that these dogs then never learn how to “turn it off.”

We often hear people talking about how when they interrupt their elderly dog’s nap, the dog is grumpy. That is because elderly dogs need to rest more than non-seniors. Their bodies are tired, and often times stiff, and even a little painful. Letting the dog just sleep is in their best interest.

So how much sleep do adult dogs need? Close to about 12 hours a day! ( Michaels, L. 2022 “Do No Harm Dog Training and Behavior Handbook) Young puppies and seniors need even more! So let your dogs sleep and try to avoid interrupting!

*You can pick up a copy of the Do No Harm handbook on Amazon in paperback and Kindle, it covers in depth the Hierarchy of Dog Needs that addresses the need for sleep directly. https://amzn.to/3sx2sF3

You can learn more about Do No Harm Dog Training approaches here!

15/11/2023

🌹🦨🌹

15/11/2023

Too cute💗

13/11/2023

A dogs eyes can clearly show us how they feel BUT everything needs to be taken in context.
Some dogs naturally have a tighter face and more whites of the eyes will show....yet it is also a sign of extreme anxiousness for some.
So how do you tell ?

There will be other accompanying signs.
Posture hunching.
Ears flattening.
Changes in behaviour.
Skulking.
Seeking shelter under tables or beds.
Lowering heads and gazes.
Tension and wrinkling in the face...and much more

There are many signs of stress a dog can give and their eyes certainly do show some.
Another common one is avoiding eye contact...or not taking their eyes of someone.
Blinking, squinting and quick glances at something they may be unsure about.

As always, it is very important to take the WHOLE picture into account....because a blink can just be a blink.

Please respect that these graphics take time and effort to make. Everyone is free to share on social media, however off social media use of these marked graphics is prohibited. Unmarked graphics are available for $ 1.20 USD or $ 2 NZD each (approx), these are then able to be used off Facebook for client handouts, posters or for personal use.
Please visit ABC Dogs Patreon Shop for Graphics Unmarked All graphics belong to ABC Dogs NZ and are under copyright.