Empathy Dog Grooming

07/05/2024

Wise words from Shay Kelly

22/04/2024

Creating genuinely positive relationships and experiences with both the brush and particularly the comb for your long/curly/woolly coated puppy or dog, from the outset, is so important to avoid a possibly uncomfortable and stressful “shave off” with a Groomer who really has no other choice because they must put your dogs health and welfare first . I think it helps to think of that important consent based daily brush and comb through as “us” time, and there are so many ways you can make it an enjoyable, and once you get in to a daily routine, truly bonding and relaxing experience for you both ❤️ Stephanie Zikman’s “A Teachers Guide to low stress Grooming” and Sue Williamson’s “Taking the Grrr out of Grooming Your Dog” are wonderful guides to help you.

18/04/2024

❤️

11/04/2024

Food for thought … more wise words Heal the Dog. Thank You ❤️

19/03/2024

Morning .. ❤️

08/03/2024

The breed standard is the blue print all Judges should be measuring the dogs they are judging against. It is simply not good enough and I would suggest morally reprehensible to just give in to pressure and “put up” the best of a bad bunch. If the dogs presented clearly do not meet all of the breed standard then they should all be disqualified and the class voided.. no one wins when health issues are continually ignored and perpetuated least of all the poor dogs. 💔

20/02/2024

Some people have parrots 🦜.. I have a Pirate 🏴‍☠️ 🤣🤎

13/02/2024

28/01/2024

Let’s make assessments not assumptions ❤️

An assumption is a belief or statement accepted as true without proof or evidence. It's an idea that is taken for granted and presumed to be correct based on perceived common sense, past experiences, or general consensus, even though it may not have been verified or tested. Assumptions can influence understanding and decision-making processes in various contexts.

Let's make educated assessments as dog professionals, not assumptions.

Start with your free course here https://www.canineprinciples.com/free-online-dog-course

23/01/2024

Flattie love and ear kisses from Susie Bevan’s gorgeous Henry. He made my day ❤️

03/01/2024

A part of me always and forever now… my beloved boy. Grateful thanks to Linda Russell for it was her beautiful photo of Hero that we used as the reference for this work of art.

11/12/2023

I feel exactly the same applies for dog grooming. For “training” insert grooming …thank you Heal the Dog

06/12/2023

Thank you Heal the Dog.. ❤️

05/12/2023

Something we should always consider, watch, listen and learn … touch is actually the last thing on the agenda.

Patting a dog....sounds simple doesn't it.
There's a dog, a hand is moving in and patting a dog begins.
It just isn't that simple though.
While I love seeing the closeness and the bond clients have with their dogs....sometimes I am the bearer of news that I wish I didn't have to tell them.
I hate saying it, but I have to....
"Your dog doesn't like being touched on the head"
"Can you see them moving away from your hand when you started patting ?"
"Did you notice their mouth shut immediately and the hard side look that just happened?"

I can't not say it, and I do say it more delicately than those sentences....but it is often a shock.
Yes.... dogs can consent to being touched and they can easily remove that consent too.
To make things trickier consent can be given and immediately removed, or consent was given yesterday and not today.
I know some people may have a hang up with the word "consent" when it comes to dogs...but they absolutely have the right to say yes or no to touch.
They do this with body language.
Sometimes that body language is less than clear though and that's the tricky part.

In the graphic many people will see flat ears as a sign of anxiousness/stress but some dogs do flatten their ears when being patted on their heads when they enjoy the touch.
Some dogs will lick a patting hand from anxiety and some from affection.
Your dog will show you with their own body language.
Start to learn it because I guarantee once you do.....your bond will strengthen even more.

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.
Screen shots are a violation of the copyright.
Please visit ABC Dogs Patreon Shop for unmarked graphics. All graphics belong to ABC Dogs NZ and are under copyright.

17/11/2023

Dogs too… we can become so focused on controlling the reaction we forget to properly consider and control the trigger trains driving it..

30/10/2023

Spa Day for my own dear boy Kaali.. always with his consent and at his own pace and I think he really enjoys them 😂❤️🥰

23/10/2023

And that goes for humans too 💔

How do we help dogs when there is so much horror going on with them around us?

How do we stop people harming dogs?

How do we make a difference when the broken dog trainers seem to be everywhere and so prevalent?

Well it’s quite simple really.

We stop letting the World dull our light. We focus inside ourselves and being the very best we can be. We realise that energy spent on complaints about others is wasted energy. Wasted power.

We shovel bags and bags of love onto the furnace of our hearts.

And we shine.

We shine in the darkest corners.

We shine by being the best we can be.

We shine until there is no dark left and everyone around us is shining too.

Because that’s what dogs do if we let them.

And we all need to be a bit more dog.

18/10/2023

This ….

There is a great deal of research on human and nonhuman animals that shows having a sense of control over one’s life and over events or stimuli that are unpleasant, is a strong predictor of positive feelings and mental well-being.

Many dogs have very little control over their sensory environment, their social interactions, and the basic elements of daily survival, as these are usually managed by their humans.

"Having a sense of control over one’s environment is fundamental to psychological integrity. This lack of control—a near-total loss of agency—has significant fallout for their physical and especially their psychological well-being". Dr Jessica Pearce

Obviously, giving your dog choices doesn't mean letting them run riot. There will be times and situations when it is not possible to provide a choice due to safety considerations but where it is safe to do so, provide them with a sense of choice and control. The suggestions below are a start but the list is not exhaustive!

▶Allow dogs to say no thank you.

▶If they wish to end an interaction or training session don't keep trying to re-engage them. Increasing the "value" of rewards won't change how they feel!

▶Protect your dog from unwanted human (or other dog) interactions

▶If your dog wants to stop and sniff something - let them. It's their walk anyway.

▶Avoid luring or coercing them with a piece of food when they don't want to do something

▶Where possible, allow them to choose where to sleep

▶When interacting with your dog, make sure you give them a way out: allow your dog to stop, take a break or end something they are not enjoying

▶When grooming, nail trimming, towel drying your dog and other similar procedures, listen to what your dog says. If they need a break, let them walk away. If they are struggling, give them a break.

▶Gather information about what your dog likes and dislikes.

12/10/2023

The “waggy tail “myth beautifully articulatedby ABC Dogs

29/08/2023

We are constantly asking and expecting "The Impossible" from Dogs, especially puppies. The Canine Consultant explains beautifully the background, the impact it has and what we can do to support our dogs to help prepare them for a life lived under the weight of unrealistic human expectations!

Asking The Impossible?...

It seems a really simple, basic thing - stay home whilst we're out doing boring chores, going to work, trips to the shop - the necessary outings that are not particularly dog friendly. Stay here in this safe, warm building , that has all you need, whilst we're gone.

Unfortunately, what we are asking of our dogs is an enormous task, particularly for puppies.

To understand why, we need to look at the evolution of dogs - sit tight, this is a bit of a ride!

Dogs were not domesticated by us...

We have of course, selectively bred dogs for our own purposes for centuries, but unlike cattle, sheep, horses, donkeys... dogs began that process themselves. They chose to hang around near us, they found our wasteful ways beneficial - we were a source of food!

130'000 years ago, or thereabouts, the prototype dog split from the common ancestor they share with the modern gray wolf. Despite the still popular belief that we domesticated dogs by taking gray wolf cubs and keeping them captive (try it, what you get is a confused gray wolf that will eventually be a risk to you and everyone else around you!), the truth is, dogs and gray wolves had a common ancestor.

Dog became dog by ... not being wolf. By wanting to be with people, near people, by being unafraid of people.

Wolf... remained wolf by being the exact opposite of this - scared of people, avoiding people, wanting nothing to do with people.

That desire to be with people is everything. It allowed us to selectively breed, accidentally at first - driving away or killing animals that were bitey, providing more food for animals who had a cute loppy ear or a lighter colour or a cute marking in their coat (and as Belyaevs foxes demonstrate - selecting for human friendly/non aggressive to humans also causes physiological changes in coat colour, patterning and ear set!)...

I doubt these early proto-dogs had issues with separation anxiety - they were not shut in our homes, they were free to follow or not, and there was always someone around so they had choices.

Our modern dogs don't live this life though.

We have intensively, selectively bred our dogs to not only want to be with us, but in some cases to hang off our every word, to default decision making to us, to work with us. We've bred them to want physical contact with us, to be our close working colleagues and companions.

A major change between wild canids (and that includes the feral street dogs, wolves, painted dogs and more) and our domestic dogs, is how they raise their young.

Puppies/cubs are with their mother until 3 weeks, and she will be brought food by the rest of the group. From then they will be left for short periods but checked regularly and are of course with their litter mates. They will feed from Mum and the ratio of milk to regurgitated meat gradually shifts until at around 8 weeks they are just eating regurgitated meat.

From 8 weeks onwards, for the next 3 months or so, they will get regurgitated meat from Mum and helpful Aunties and Uncles, and any bits and bobs they are cheeky enough to scrounge/beg/pinch from the social group (that begging behaviour your puppy does at meal times... and licking your mouth. Yup!).

So for the first 4+ months, a wild puppy of any sort is continually with litter mates, Mum, Aunties, Uncles, and being actively cared for by their own species.

After that they will venture further with the group, practice hunting and killing and scavenging... but they will not leave that family or social group, and will not be alone, where they have no choice but to be isolated from everyone, ever...

Until adolescence! At around a year old, some juveniles may leave the group. Typically young males and more likely not solo but with a brother or two. Very occasionally (and more likely seen in feral dogs than truly wild species) they will be shunned by the group due to unpleasant behaviour (violent, over the top bullying or intimidating behaviour). Death rates for loners and 'bachelor' pairs are very high!

Even if we look at species well known for solitary adults - tigers, cheetahs, jaguars - they don't strike out on their own until well on their way to adulthood at around 2 years of age!

No wild canid chooses to leave their own kind and fend for themselves entirely alone prior to this point, and very few do after it. To do so is really risky and dangerous - even tiny puppies know this!

In comparison, domestic dog:

Weans puppies off milk completely from as early as 3 weeks (by choice!)

Abdicates responsiblility for their young to another species (us!)

That's not natural. That is something we have bred in - unfortunately what we have not bred in is any capability to be alone - because up until probably 30 years ago, we didn't need it! Dogs were with us, working, or if we were too busy to be with a dog, we did not have one.

We've inserted ourselves into dogs lives as a primary care giver - we've altered early maternal behaviour to allow for this, but done absolutely nothing to equip puppies to cope with being alone any earlier than their wild counterparts.

What does this mean for our pet puppies?

Well firstly, it means they can't manage alone reliably, repeatedly, for useful time periods. Not at 8 weeks, 10 weeks, 26 weeks... Certainly not 2 days after you collect from the breeder and need to go back to work!

Some may stay quiet and sleep when alone (as wild puppies will when Mum pops out to hunt or toilet), but we cannot rely on that, particularly once the puppies are separated from their litter mates. Even if they did - the first year of life is the most optimal phase for learning - if they're alone, you aren't teaching them and what they are learning is unlikely to be anything you're keen on!

We should not be expecting our puppies to sleep alone or be alone during the day until after the start of adolescence - and adolescence is the point at which they can start really building those skills. Do not assume that adolescence is when they magically become independent and able to cope... don't forget the other elements we've selectively bred in.

We've created animals who are dependent on us for instruction and guidance - we have also trapped them in our homes and taken away all their choices. That's not necessarily a bad thing - the choices my dogs would make given the opportunity would often amount to Absolute Bastardry - but it is a fact.

When we leave them, we are likely to see distress, anxiety, frustration and even panic.

Not simply because they are alone, but because they do not know what to do with themselves - they don't know how to make choices or decisions, they were not built for that.

For those of you with companion breeds or working breeds developed to work very closely with human instruction, that goes triple!

Having interfered with dog to the point that they trust us to replace their own species as primary care givers, it is us to step up and fulfill that role properly - not half arse it because its too much effort or too big a sacrifice - you have a choice, nobody forced you to get a puppy!

So what can you do?

Don't leave your puppy alone - use sitters, daycares, friends, family and reschedule your life for the next year or two to account for this.

Build security by being there and providing comfort and contact

Let your puppy sleep with you until housetrained and steady enough to be given free access between where you sleep and where you want them to sleep (so they can access you if they need to in an emergency)

Let your puppy follow you around - this helps them learn that you do boring things, that there is not a portal to another realm in the bathroom, that you're not secretly snacking or playing with puppy toys in another room.

Play games, train, build confidence - this is your foundation for everything else.

Socialise and habituate your puppy properly - this includes hanging out doing boring stuff with them present.

Have realistic expectations of the abilities of this baby animal you have chosen to raise - it takes the average human 3 years to toilet train and 18 to 20 years to live independently from the primary care giver. It will take your puppy 9 months to toilet train and they'll have passed from old age before your kid leaves home!

©Emma Judson 2023 - feel free to share in it's entirety. Do not edit, crop or amend this text.

(For the link - check comments. Best shared from the original link as FB has removed all the bullet points and bolding! And probably some of the spacing!)

23/08/2023

“dogs growl and humans talk”…

12/07/2023

Grooming can stressful for very many dogs. Careful Observation and trigger awareness is key to ensuring that you are not overlooking or ignoring the sometimes subtle body language signals that precede all of these fear responses. Thanks to ABC Dogs for this excellent visual.

Fear.....Completely individual, complex and what your dog is afraid of needs to be noted (even if we do not understand it, it seems irrational...or if they are afraid of something we view as harmless).

I have seen people laugh when dogs are afraid of something that we view as "innocent"....it is not innocent to your dog.
Sometimes the objects dogs are afraid of are shown again in front of others...almost like party trick to make their dog have the same reaction.

Social media is full of these videos too.

New objects or situations can make some dogs extremely nervous and afraid, and it makes no difference whether we understand it....we need to respect it.

This graphic is about the 4 F's and the first F covers a lot and is a bit more in depth than what is shown on the graphic....dogs may disengage, fiddle, "faff" about, fidget or show behaviours to self sooth.
There is a lot of movement in the first F.

The others are more self explanatory.

Many stress signals or calming signals precede or accompany these 4 F's ....even freeze.

Important to note is the fight.....All dogs, of EVERY breed given a unique set of circumstances are capable of fighting.
It doesn't necessarily mean your dog is aggressive....it is simply your dog feels forced into action.

If your dog is fearful.....you need to help.

Repeatedly exposing your dog to fear is never a good idea...and we can do this all the time, and we justify it.

Dogs that need to be groomed are often forced into the car .....you may know they are really afraid of the car but they need to go, so a highly stressed, scared dog is forced into the car......
They will never get over this fear if they are continually forced to confront their fears (or even phobias) again and again.
...it can morph outwards.
The car is in the garage and now suddenly your dog refuses to go near the garage or even near that side of the house.

Fear needs help.
It needs understanding, often unique solutions.....but your dog deserves the time and effort to help them through this.

15/06/2023

Wise words and a great explanation from Woody's Holistic Grooming

To summarise my earlier live - please don’t panic if you’re unable to bring forward your dogs grooming appointment during this warmer period of weather.

A dogs coat is designed in a way that they can manage their body temperature (providing you don’t take them out in the midday sun!!!).

Dogs have what’s called a compound coat. This means several hairs come from a single follicle. These hairs are split into two categories - primary and secondary.

Primary hairs are larger and more rigid, but are capable of changing position to release or capture air (think releasing heat). Secondary hairs are denser and form the undercoat which helps to keep the dog warm.

When we use clippers, there is no way to prevent both hair types from being trimmed. Therefore we’re not only taking away the insulating secondary coat, but also the protection of the primary coat. Essentially like going outside without any suncream…

What I’m basically trying to say, is your dog does not necessarily need a hair cut for its coat to function correctly in the heat. What it does mean however is you must must MUST brush your dog daily.

Regular brushing helps to remove the dead secondary hairs which in turn will allow the primary hairs to move freely to either contain or release air.

If the secondary coat becomes compacted, or the primary becomes matted then the dog is unable to regulate their body temperature. In this instance a hair cut is essential.

13/06/2023

Thunderstorms and stress levels …

09/06/2023

Valuable information for all dog lovers and guardians as temperatures climb.

Check out the Hot Dogs - canine heatstroke education for dog owners page for excellent information and research. We all know the risks of leaving dogs in cars in the heat, but just 10 minutes of walking or playing can also be too much.

Keep walks short, and sedate

Use water and shade to keep them cool

Put them on a lead if necessary to stop them from doing too much

Walk early mornings, or late at night, and avoid the heat of the day

If they show signs of heatstroke get them into shade, give them a drink, and soak them in water - do not wrap in wet towels, as this can insulate the heat and make them even hotter. Know the symptoms, observe your dog, and get them to the vets ASAP if necessary

Know the risk to your dog - are they a breed that is more at risk, elderly, young, overweight, with medical conditions ?

Check this excellent article on methods of keeping your dogs cool - there are important do's & dont's.....

https://heatstroke.dog/2018/08/02/cold-as-ice-keeping-hot-dogs-cool/?fbclid=IwAR1BG2kC-EQttrr7-rNXM0wpseuGwRNs-yWD9Y-E30hZj222z1BotYJFkB0

28/05/2023

Dogs are just like humans they need a polite introduction and time to get to know one another…

How do you introduce dogs ?
Carefully🙂.

Your emotional state will also play a part in introductions. Your nervousness needs to settle as much as your dogs does.
Your emotions are contagious to your dog.
If you are nervous.....nervous and wary dog
If you are calm.....calm and relaxed dog.
So if you have a friend or family member and want your dogs to meet... YOU need to be calm and confident.

This is why we start at a distance, not only for your dogs emotional well being but after a few minutes of having the other dog walk on the opposite side (in the same direction)....YOU will start to relax. Your breathing will be lower in your lungs, your heart rate will decrease and your dog will be aware of ALL this.

There is no rush to meet....you may need to repeat this over a few days, a week or longer. The more your dogs can be in the same vicinity and KNOW you are calm....the easier your dog will accept this new dog.

Neutral territory
I cannot stress this enough.
Not your yard, not their yard.
Not your house.
Not even your street.
Not your car as you drive to a neutral territory.
They need to see each other in neutral territory for the best chance at accepting their possible new friend.

Dogs do not need to accept or like other dogs and for those in the small percentile that have a truly social dog ....this is often difficult to understand.

If you do take your dog to the dog park (not my favourite place but some do enjoy this)....the dog that is running around engaging with all the other dogs, imposing themselves into every situation is NOT usually friendly.....they are over aroused and being pushy. They have no idea of the subtilties of dog to dog interactions. Dogs may respond to this energy badly.

Dogs that ignore most dogs but interact with a few calmer ones is a dog that MAY be ok to interact with. Talk to the dogs family and ask what that dog is like with others.
How does this dog play?
What does this dog like?
What dogs does this dog NOT like?

However there may be those dreaded words .....
"Its OK my dog is friendly"
IGNORE the words and OBSERVE the dog and the interactions with others.

Arrange to meet up next week to attempt a play.....most dogs appreciate being around others to get a feel for this dogs play style and energy.....even at the dog park there is NO rush. They may need a few meetings before they interact.

Don't just judge the breed because it may be the same as yours, that is no guarantee of success.......observe the behaviour....watch the behaviour.....watch the body language.

Dogs meeting can go very wrong.....but just remember there is no rush. If you prepare, observe and look at the body language you can see all the subtle tells dogs have.
Always remember it is OK for your dog to not want to play with others, just being around other dogs is enough for some. Some older dogs are firmly where they want to be socially and will be very reluctant to expand their social circle.....respect that.

26/05/2023

Knowing when to stop is so important. The goal isn’t the perfect hairdo, it’s consent, comfort and welfare. I often groom dogs over a short period of days. Working little and often you can achieve so much more and still create a positive experience. Miss Penny still loves me AFTER we finish working together and that’s the most important thing of all. Less is More ❤️

21/05/2023

NAILS 🙄! Trimming claws Kaali Stylie ❤️