Regine's Dog Training

05/26/2026

These dogs can “give in” instead of growl.
And because of that, there’s no obvious conflict, but there can be discomfort.
“They’re OK together.”
“Let them work it out.”
“They’ll get used to each other.”

Tolerating something happening is not always the same as feeling safe with it.

Some dogs become very good at avoiding conflict instead of resolving it or escalating.
Some will just simply endure social pressure.

Being aloof can work for them too.

A quieter dog, that doesn’t move too much or isn’t vocal around others has sometimes worked out how to “fly under the radar”
Now there really isn’t anything wrong with that, but we need to be mindful.
Some freeze as a dog approaches.
Some repeatedly roll over and just stay there until the other dog loses interest.

But sometimes they can escalate only after ‘tolerating’ things for too long.

Unfortunately, these quieter dogs are often the ones people can miss completely.
They can also be put into social situations they don’t want to be in at all.

That quietness is mistaken for calmness, acceptance.

Not every struggling dog is loud.

04/20/2026

02/16/2026

“We looked whether there are correlations between holding these views and the propensity to use methods of training dogs ranging from high use of physical correction to almost exclusive use of positive training. And we found some clear correlations. For example, those scoring high on anthropocentrism were more likely to use physical correction and less likely to exclusively use positive training. Conversely those scoring high on animal rights were less likely to use physical correction.” -- Prof Peter Sandøe and Tracy Weber told me about the findings of their recent study on dog training methods and wider beliefs about animals.

Read the full post on my blog (link in bio).

02/07/2026

BENEATH THE BARK
In a very literal sense, dogs do have a voice – their bark. It’s just one that we often don’t understand, appreciate or easily tolerate.

It’s important to see barking not as a behaviour problem that needs to be fixed or stopped, but as one of the few ways a dog can communicate and provide us with information as to how they are feeling.

Seeing barking as communication that has a function, transforms it from what may be a disruptive, irritating noise into meaningful information that reflects an underlying emotional state or purpose.

When we understand the reason behind the bark, we can work on improving emotional wellbeing, looking at unmet needs, making changes to the environment, using management, reducing stress and ultimately changing unwanted behavior.

To begin understanding what barking might mean, take note of:
The sound - pitch, tone, speed, rhythm
Body language - relaxed or tense, moving forward or pulling away
The environment - what just happened, what’s nearby, what’s predictable

Solutions to unwanted barking will be different for each dog and the individual circumstances.

Barking is telling a story. Take the time to really listen and understand before looking at ways to address it.

02/03/2026

02/03/2026

DO YOU KNOW HOW TO DO "NO”!?

It’s natural to automatically correct our dogs for unwanted behaviour by saying — “No,” “Stop it,” “Be quiet”, without giving it much thought.

It’s easy to tell dogs what not to do, but how can they possibly know what we want them to do instead, if we don’t show them and teach them how to succeed?

When we replace corrections with wanted alternatives, dogs begin to understand what works, feel less confused and frustrated, build trust and confidence in us, start to work it out for themselves and make better choices.

Sometimes the best option to prevent unwanted behaviour is by simply managing or making changes to the environment.

Baby gates or barriers to prevent access, visual barriers, clearing counter tops, not leaving food around, putting objects out of reach or providing more enrichment activities.

This isn’t about letting dogs do whatever they want, it’s about setting them up to get it right.

When we teach alternatives instead of just stopping behaviour, dogs begin to understand what works. When wanted behaviour is rewarded it’s far more likely to be repeated.

When we are about to say “No!” … stop and ask - what would I prefer my dog to do instead and focus on teaching that behaviour.

This is where real and lasting behaviour change begins.

01/01/2026

10/30/2025

Tomorrow is Hallowe'en! There'll be lots of little ghouls & goblins running around, lots of candy & chocolate & lots of people at your door shouting TRICK OR TREAT. However, just as you want to keep your little ghosts safe, please keep your pets safe too. It can be a stressful, scary time for them. Not all dogs ( or cats or birds) want to be exposed to this. Create a safe area for them to spend the evening ( maybe a room with closed door or a crate). Make sure they are familiar & comfortable with it in advance. This can minimize stress and prevent a panic that might cause them to dash out an open door. And once everyone is home checking out their haul, make sure the animals can't get at the candy: chocolate, raisins, nuts among other foods can make the pets very ill or worse. And maybe skip dressing up the critters in costumes ....not everyone likes to play dress up.