Kirsty’s Kindred Kanines

10/12/2023

Most of you remember in September I went to a 3 day Easy Peasy Puppy Squeezy course with Steve Mann to gain a lot more knowledge on all things puppy! I am pleased to announce after an assessment process Kirsty’s Kindred Kanines is now a qualified easy peasy puppy instructor! Do you need help finding the right puppy or ethical breeder or rescue! Do you need help setting your puppy up for success then go to kirstyskindredkanines.com and contact me 😃

17/09/2023

Had a fabulous weekend with IMDT Australia Steve Mann and Puppies what more could you ask for

23/07/2023

Such an important read 🥰

PLEASE CHOOSE YOUR TRAINER CAREFULLY

For the last couple of months, I have been working with a lovely puppy and his owner to identify the cause of his extreme puppy biting, stopping on walks, and barking at other dogs.

Including me, this dog has had 3 trainers in 4 months.

The owner had been told the dog is trying to dominate her, is naughty, stubborn and needs to be put in his place. Using a shock collar to get the dog moving was another suggestion given to the owner. Thankfully that never happened.

Given the severity of the biting and the dogs’ behaviour on a walk, the first thing we did was to get a vet involved and assess the dog for any underlying medical conditions. This involved a blood test, stool & urine samples, and an x-ray.

Unfortunately, a diagnosis of severe hip dysplasia came back which explained everything.

The dog wasn’t being stubborn, he was in pain. He wasn’t being naughty; he was frustrated about being sore. He wasn’t barking at other dogs because he was top dog, he was barking at them to stay away.

Since the diagnosis we have changed many things. Reduced walks, non-slip rugs, steps, raised beds, pain medication, hydrotherapy and removal of some activities that were causing him pain. I’m pleased to say that the puppy is doing much better, and the owner is more relaxed.

We still have work to do but most importantly, we have a reason for the dogs’ behaviour.

Now imagine the dog’s quality of life if his owner had taken the advice from the other trainers. The dog would have been left in pain and punished for that pain. Not only would this be incredibly cruel to the dog, but it would have been a ticking timebomb and his behaviour would have deteriorated as his condition worsened.

When choosing a dog trainer, please check their reviews, qualifications and social media for any advice/training videos they post. Question them about their training methods, what happens if the dog gets it wrong and what affect pain/medical issues can have on your dog’s behaviour?

A reputable and ethical trainer will welcome these questions and your dog will thank you for it.

20/04/2023

Thankyou to Dogs Disclosed for this really informative post it is important that we teach our dogs alternative behaviours that are more rewarding for them than shout at them in a foreign language 😄

TELL ME WHEN I GET IT RIGHT!

Imagine this – You work for someone who continually reprimands you. You never know from one day to the next if there is anything this person is happy with, because the only feedback you receive from them is what you are doing wrong – it’s all just so negative!

You are never thanked for a job well done, never given any positive feedback, recognition or encouragement.

This leaves you feeling demotivated, confused, insecure and unhappy. You have no idea what this person really expects of you or wants from you.

Surely you must be doing something right, some of the time? If only you had more feedback about what that was – you could do more of that and you would both be in a happier place.

We often treat our dogs this way, only focusing or providing feedback on the “wrong” behaviour and neglecting to provide feedback and encouragement for the “right” behaviour.

Rewarding, reinforcing and encouraging a dog for whatever they are doing right is an effective, scientifically proven way to communicate, teach, create trust, build confidence, security and build a strong bond in a positive, force-free way.

Just like us, when a dog does something that results in something good happening, they’re far more likely to keep repeating that behaviour.

Reinforcement or rewards don’t always have to be food or treats – it all depends on what that particular dog finds more rewarding – lots of praise, a favourite toy, playing a game or anything else a dog really enjoys can be rewarding.

Keep telling your dog when they get it right and very soon, they will be doing less of the wrong thing and more of the right thing.

Stop focusing on the unwanted behaviour and communicate to your dog that they are getting it right by rewarding the behaviour you are looking for.

19/03/2023

BRAIN UNDER CONSTRUCTION!
The challenges of teenage dogs
There’s a saying that parents who have gone through the teenage years with their off spring will relate to - “Parents with teenagers understand why some animals eat their young!”

Many dog owners are unaware that dogs also go through a teenage stage and are frustrated and unprepared for the changes this brings. It’s a sad reality that this is the age that many dogs are surrendered to shelters as their owners no longer “like” the way their dogs behave, can’t handle them and give up on them.

The teenage brain is going through many changes. Think of it as being “rewired”. The rewiring process can cause some parts not to work at all or only work sometimes. Some parts work too much with too much current and new wires cause unexpected results.

There are many similarities to the changing human teenage brain. There’s a valid scientific reason why car insurance premiums for young adults under 25 are more expensive. The brain is not fully matured – irrational decisions, risk taking, poor choices and accidents are more likely to happen.

Be patient, understanding and most of all consistent with your teenage dog. Don’t give up on them. They are feeling just as frustrated as we are. Being aware of what is happening in their brain as it develops to full maturity helps us to be more accepting. Remember that this is just a phase and it will get better.

19/12/2022

16/12/2022

14/12/2022

If you plan on gathering with friends and/or family this holiday season, there are a number of things you can do to keep your dog (and your visitors) safe.

Remember, there is nothing "wrong" with your dog if you need to manage amid all the chaos; that is 100% normal.

Check out this week's blog post for more info on how you can implement each of these strategies: https://rescuedbytraining.com/2022/11/14/holiday-gathering-tips/

11/12/2022