We too often assume that dogs can think and feel as we do, but they don’t. Dogs don’t think Right vs. Wrong, they think Safe vs. Dangerous, and so if something feels unsafe to them (scary), they will defend themselves, try to get that scary thing to move away, or at least move away from the situation......
Read moreRemember remember the 5th Of November (is coming up soon)
I know it’s still only September, but now is a good time to start thinking about how you can help your dog if he is scared of fireworks.
The Do’s:
Allow your dog to find a safe space around your home, if your dog is happy in his crate, that’s a good place to start. If it’s under the sofa, so be it. Dogs like small spaces. Make sure...
Driving With Dogs
If your dog becomes anxious when traveling by car, he might show signs of stress such as panting, drooling or even vomiting. This is not fun for you, but even less fun for your dog. Very often the first experience a puppy has of a car journey is the day he leaves his mum and littermates; and the second, his first trip to the vet. So is it any wonder he finds stepping into this large noisy thing stressful?...
Read moreFood Guarding - How Do I know?
Food guarding is a type of resource guarding,, and it can appear in any dogs, at any time in their life. It is important to react quickly if it happens with your dog. As always I think prevention is key, and some simple positive reinforcement exercises can be done to prevent this kind of problem from happening.
Some clients ask, how do I know if my dog is guarding his food?...
Read moreDon't Shoot The Dog - A book for the summer
Today marks the beginning of summer and you might be looking for a book to read in the park or on the beach. Here is a little review of one of my favourite “Dog Training” books; and I put Dog Training in inverted comas, because this book will not only help its readers train their dogs, but also other pets they may have (from ferret to dolphin, pony to golden goose), their kids, or even themselves.
Don’t Shoot The Dog introduces the readers to Positive Reinforcement, and clarifies.......
Read moreReward for Getting It Right
Clients often ask how they can prevent their dogs from jumping up, barking, weeing inside the house, etc. Some trainers still advise to use old fashioned, aversive training methods, such as shouting: “NO”, jerking the lead, or even sometimes kicking the dog or pinning him down. Not only are some of these methods very cruel, it has now been proven that they are....
Read moreWhat we owe our dogs
There is one thing that all my clients, and myself have in common: we all want our dogs to be happy. However, sometimes life simply takes over, and we need to stop and remind ourselves the promises we've made to our dogs the day we let them into our lives.
We owe it to our dogs to help them:
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Read moreTreat, or no treat?
Did you know using food as a reward when training your dog is not only smart, it is “scientifically-proven-smart”? The treat will become the hoped-for-reward that will increase the level of dopamine in your dog’s brain to help him do well with the training ahead.
Not just in dogs, the human body also creates Dopamine; it’s a neurotransmitter that appears into your system when you are...
Read moreShould I socialise my dog?
We cannot say it enough, socialising your puppy is so Important. Put the effort into it, do it well, and you will have a happy, confidant dog later. Miss your window or do it wrong and your dog could become socially awkward, fearful, and potentially aggressive. Not fun for you? Even less fun for your dog. You owe it to your puppy....
Read moreYou + Dog = Health & Happiness
Dog owners are less likely to suffer from depression than those without pets
Dog walking increases social interaction. You’ll make new friends in your neighbourhood
Heart attack patients with dogs survive longer than.......