Eyelid Tumour Post Op Series Video #2 ...
This act may seem insignificant to many, but to the animal this is HUGE.
When Ma talks about giving an animal choice in their day to day interactions with the world ... this is what she means.
It is safe, it is controlled, and it still offers choice to 'finish and complete the task'.
What is the dog's task ... to explore, eat, and problem solve.
What is the humans task (without negative intentions) ... to give the treat and take back the wrapper.
This interaction can quickly become a negative notion from your dog's point of view in the timing of your wrapper retreat.
A few of these interactions can become trigger stackers for the dog. The dog might consider in future interactions to resource guard items when we approach because we retreat too fast.
This happens a lot with puppies, and then when the puppies growl or show irritation, humans are often quick to punish that behaviour. It is unacceptable for a domestic dog to showcase such behaviour ....
From the dog's point of view, they are NOT wrong. Without human intervention this is how they would interact with the world, and no one would be there to stop them from doing so. They would be able to explore until they were done exploring. If another animal interrupted them, this is how they would communicate, and the animal would respond with fight, flight or submit responses. Most often animals submit, as fighting is a huge risk for injury and that serves no one very well.
In a domestic world, we have stripped most communication away from the dog, and their ability to interact in the world as they would desire.
Each time you allow them this agency, it builds your relationship, builds trust and satisfies the dog at the same time.
In this clip you will notice that I start sniffing the cone looking for more pupperoni that may have fell. Ma quickly notices my desire and shows me that I indeed ate it all.
She allows me to sniff, bite at the wrapper and only tak
Eyelid Tumour Post Op Series Video #1 ...
Listen up ALL Pet Parents!!
One day your puppy, or current adolescent is going to need surgery or Veterinary care of some kind that will require cooperation from your furry pal. It is THE inevitable.
When that day happens you will thank the heavens that you practiced pre medical interactions together, because it will make recovery THAT much easier.
In this video I am completely unbothered with Ma taking off my noisy cone and putting it back on, just so I can have some water.
The most important aspect, is giving the dog choice and waiting for permission to engage together. This is so crucial for when the real deal happens.
So before a big event happens to your furry friend, practice a few skills to get them used to husbandry needs.
Think about all of the things your dog might encounter while at the vet clinic, or even at the groomers.
Today, for me it was all about the head area and being ok with the cone coming off and being put back on, being able to have my face touched and taking in some water.
Things Ma taught me many years ago (and conditioned for all of these years) to make this event super easy for both of us ....
1. Take a drink of water, even if just a little lick:
This can become important if the dog becomes dehydrated, nauseous or nervous in certain situations. So putting this on cue can stimulate thirst, appetite and interactions during an anxious or fearful episode when necessary. My last drink was at 5:30am, so it was important that I took a little sip of water to start stimulating and hydrating the body after surgery.
2. Asking for permission to go forward with a task:
Your furry friend will absolutely appreciate you asking and waiting to interact with them. It will save you heartache, potential injuries and build your trust with each other. Trust works both ways, and often times animals need more time than humans allow before invading space and body parts.
3. Get used to tools that
I’m back home in the comfort of Ma’s lap where I shall stay for as long as I can keep her captive for.
I had Laser and Cryotherapy to remove an eyelid tumour this morning that grew really fast since Christmas time. It was causing some issues so it’s best to remove it before getting bigger, inflammation increases, and more difficulty to remove.
As a senior that decision is difficult cause surgery risks are higher. Ma was confident in the procedure and confident in my cooperative skills for a successful day.
The vet is pretty sure she got it all, and that it’s benign but we will have results back to confirm that it’s not malignant in about three weeks.
I was such a good girl and didn’t need full sedation for the procedure. I got bonus points for that. But …
My anxiety got the best of me before and after the procedure, so in husky fashion I summoned the staff to stay with me until Ma arrived. They were so good at making me feel comfortable even though I cried in their faces the whole morning.
I have a few weeks of recovery to complete, which I’ve already purchased with Dad’s account, some delicious snacks to enjoy during these bed rest days.
Ma said I can have my first snack in about a half an hour, so get your snack ready too to enjoy with me!
🐾 Mya
#SeniorDog
#EyelidTumour
#BedRestGamesComingUp
#EndlessSnackTime
Last week we had so much practicing our nose and paw targets with different pieces of equipment in the Smart Dog Class. Once they learn the basics we start practicing distance and more repetitions. Before we ask the dog to pick something up, give something to us or go away from us to collect (or touch - think therapy work) something and return it back to us … they need to learn first how to be comfortable and safe with the object. These are perfect games to set the tone of fun and interaction around different pieces of equipment. 🐾🐾Seems like all fun and games but what the teams are actually learning … Team work Building relationships and trust Working around distractions Sharing space Focusing on each other Building motivation and endurance Problem solving … And soooo much more! #KinderCanineCoaching #WagItGames #SmartDog#LearnThroughPlay #TargetGames #WinnipegDogs
Mom practicing with Wyn before everyone else practiced from behind
Sunday Senior Sessions with Mya …
Ma is off to teach Pet Tech’s PetSaver Cpr & First Aid Course all day today, so we are going to share my Senior Sunday Session early!!
Today I want to talk about Mood Swings … yes, dog’s have mood swings; specially in puppies, adolescences and seniors, but all ages can go through it. We see them most often during fear phases, hormonal phases or after extreme trauma.
Mood swings are sudden changes in a dog’s emotional state seen in a short time span.
Humans often think they are extreme changes, with no obvious trigger and see it more often as a defiant outburst or misbehaviour.
Examples:
Cuddling/sleeping to aggression
Playful to boredom
Calm to fearful or excessive barking (what seems to be at nothing)
Resource guarding
Over 90% of behaviour change is due to a medical issue or pain (whether physical or emotional).
Pain can be an actual injury or discomfort (broken leg or tingly feeling) hormonal changes (age related), phantom pain (emotional) or just age related physical and cognitive decline.
Dogs go through stress and depression episodes just like humans do.
For example a loss of a loved one, having a hard time with recent changes to their environment, increase noise pollution or changes to their routine (quit their fav sport).
Exercise (too much or lack of), as well as temperature changes can cause mood swings in dogs. Boredom and pain untreated can lead to frustration and unpredictable behaviour.
Then the last thing to consider when observing/trying to remedy mood swings in dogs, is what is their default problem solving capabilities. How socially balanced are they in general. An emotionally balanced dog is able to problem solve quickly, and with less intensity in their delivery.
A dog who is instinctive to be negative in simple situations, will be even more negative in a deeply pressurized situation.
Dogs just like humans all have different ways that they respond to stress.
Different kinds of
I hope you are having a GOOD weekend! 🐾 Mya #KinderCanineCoaching #SeniorDogRamblings #HaveAGoodWeekend
January is National Train Your Dog Month, with one day remaining.
You’ve probably seen so many training videos the last 30 days, trying to figure out how you’ll incorporate all the fun things you learned.
Just remember …
Every day (moment) is an opportunity to play, interact, bond and learn together with your furry bestie. This will be never ending until your best friend crosses over the bridge.
Celebrate every single one of these precious moments. Live your dash to the fullest.
This was Molly and Ma’s very last training video they did together. It was a game in the original Wag It Games Handbook, and has since been revised with tunnels and hoops.
They recorded this video four days before Molly passed. Her passing came suddenly, and it still crushes Ma’s soul. Ma has never shared it until today.
They played till the very end, doing everything Molly loved to do.
So when you think about training with your dog; don’t think about perfecting a skill, accomplishing it as fast as possible, or punishing what isn’t going right …
Instead, focus more on the journey you both take together getting to the end goal.
(Is there ever really an end goal? Ma teaches me so many things and then we constantly make variations for even more fun!!)
Learning through play enhances literally everything through your dog’s eyes.
Teach with patience and trust.
Be consistent and set healthy boundaries.
Most importantly, teach with kindness and ALWAYS be the safe space for your dog to be in.
How does this skill help in the real world?
1. Working at a distance
2. Sharing space
3. Working around distractions
4. Body language and verbal communication
5. Focus
6. Great physio exercise to keep muscles toned (practice both left and right directions)
7. Enhances Recall
8. Enhances patience
9. Enhances teamwork
10. Working/ learning gait paces
Honestly, I could help Ma come up with even more benefits of this one fun game …
Perhaps you can comment a
A clip from Feb 15th, 2024 with Team Finley searching for scent in the Sniff It class. Tent searches are probably my favourite to judge because it’s so much fun watching the dogs navigate the search area. #KinderCanineCoaching #WagItGames #SniffIt #ScentDetection #LearnThroughPlay
It was SO great to be back in class this week! On Tuesday we started our week off with DogBall and Shadow Skills Games! #KinderCanineCoaching #WagItGames #Winnipeg #LearnThroughPlay
Sometimes I am a little over dramatic ...
My brain malfunctioned so I started throwing paws, well actually toy bins to be exact.
I can't be held accountable for any of my actions, as I am part Husky ... it's just what we do.
🐾 Mya
#KinderCanineCoaching
#SeniorDog
#Winnipeg
#CleanUpGoneWrong
#HuskySilliness
#SmackDown
Fun isn’t just for young puppies.
It’s for ALL ages.
Since I’m not very stable these days, I only did a few jumps.
But look at those foot stomps and pure happiness just being able to connect with Ma through games we once played outside with great gusto and husky silliness.
I LOVE playing so much, so Ma finds new ways everyday to connect and play with me at my current abilities.
From puppyhood to seniorhood, I’m loving every single day to be silly with Ma.
12 years and counting!
What kind of game did you play today?
🐾 Mya
#KinderCanineCoaching
#SeniorDog
#LearnThroughPlay
#RelationshipBuilding
#MakeMemoriesEveryDay
Canine Emotion & Behaviour Modification
