Behaviour Collective - Behaviour & Training

01/03/2022

It's a new month, that means we've got a new theme over at the Behaviour Collective.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵!

Over at the Behaviour Collective, we'll be dipping our toes into the world of human-animal relationships and interactions with a focus on animals in history. This includes animal-related antiquity to animal war heroes and more. Check out our Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/424701611659462

16/09/2021

Xylitol/Birch Sugar
Xylitol is one of the most common agents we receive calls about, but did you know Xylitol is sometimes referred to as Birch Sugar? Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that occurs naturally in many fruits, vegetables, and plants — noticeably birch trees. This is why xylitol is sometimes disguised under the name “Birch Sugar”
It is used as an artificial sweetener and is frequently found in sugar-free chewing gums and sweets. It is also sold in bags for home baking. Hypoglycaemia and liver damage are the main concerns, and close monitoring is required in these cases. The onset of clinical effect may be less than an hour post ingestion, although in some cases, particularly those with subsequent liver damage hypoglycaemia can be delayed 24-48 hours.
Owners can call Animal Poisonline on 01202 509000 for advice if they are concerned their pet has ingested something toxic. We will be able to advise whether the animal needs to see a vet. Veterinary professionals can call VPIS for treatment advice for any poisons case - 02073055055

30/07/2021

All month we've been talking training methods.

With the pandemic puppy boom still in full-swing, today's post focuses on Tips for Successful Puppy Training. https://www.doglistener.tv/2014/02/puppy_training_tips/

09/07/2021

ɪᴛ'ꜱ ᴄᴏᴍɪɴɢ ʜᴏᴍᴇ!

The match many have been dreaming about for years is nearly upon us. However, the shouts, cheers and sudden movements from supporters can startle and scare our pets. To set our animals up for success, see my tips on helping keep our pets calm during the match. [Pic: Hooper]

23/04/2021

Talking fun via training - with cats.

This is "Sit-pretty" by Hanne Grice on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

19/03/2021

Talking in brief - cat stress, health & behaviour....

𝗖𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 & 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝗿

Data suggests even stoic cats can have elevated levels of adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine, and other stress hormones, and that chronically stressed cats often feign sleep. So until the cat exhibits obvious signs that attracts the owner’s attention, such as going off their food or reduced movement, the cat may be internalising his or her anxiety.

That means, unless owners are highly skilled at detecting the signs of stress in cats and understand their body language, there could be a real risk of poor assessment regarding the animal’s welfare. For example, cat stress and urinary problems are strongly associated; stress can lead to high levels of cortisol which can reduce the effect of the immune system.

One of the ways we can reduce the likelihood of cats internalising their anxiety, therefore reduce the risk of subsequent health issues, is to better understand common stressors for cats. The image below highlights some of these including loud noises, unfamiliar scents in the home, changes of routine, boredom and so on.

As with any animal, if they are unable to exhibit normal behaviours this may lead to physiological and behavioural changes. So, if you spot any changes in your cat’s sleeping, eating or play habits, or have noticed they may be a little more withdrawn than usual or less tolerant of people, do get them checked out with your vet and consider how potential stressors can be reduced. That way we can help to have a happier and healthier cat.

26/02/2021

One of the most common behaviours I see occurring in dogs during puberty is resource guarding - a term used to describe threatening behaviour such as staring, standing over, showing of teeth, low to rising growling, snarling, snapping and/or biting.

Although this can be extremely upsetting for an owner, guarding is a natural behaviour and it is typically rooted in worry about losing a possession such as a toy, space (e.g. bed/spot on the sofa) or something edible or perceived as edible, such as litter. What is most valued depends largely on the individual.

There are many reasons why some dogs may display this behaviour more than others. Some causes include genetic predisposition, any pre-birth stress, large litters and too few food bowls when young driving competition over food, the dog's character and whether any formal training has taken place. Jacobs et al. (2018) found dogs with higher levels of impulsivity and fear were more likely to display resource guarding aggression (p

05/02/2021

When the going gets tough...

If you know anyone with a puppy or have a new puppy do reach out.

Global lockdowns saw dog breeders’ waitlists multiply & rescue centres empty as many rushed out for a pet. New findings published by the AKC suggest 73% of people who became first-time owners during the pandemic have considered rehoming once it ends. One of the most common reasons for this was the surprise at how much time a puppy needs.

Over the past year I have worked with many owners who've understandably struggled with balancing work, home life and caring for their new four-legged friend. This has been exacerbated by illness or bereavement, home schooling, restrictions on going out, financial concerns, disturbed sleep from early-hour puppy toilet breaks, near constant vigilance where the puppy collects things in their mouth, and being the target for sharp teeth. In turn, tiredness and frustration may be taken out on the puppy, and the dog-owner relationship can break down.

Simple interventions can go a long way to avoid this. For example, giving yourself and puppy a break. Reaching out to friends and family in your support bubble or professional services, such as dog sitters and day care, can help give you some precious downtime, whether that's to take a stroll on your own, have a bath, a nap or to just get away from the hubbub to deep-breathe. Such breaks also help create some independence for your puppy - they learn that being with others and in different environments can be just as nice as home.

If you're feeling overwhelmed do reach out for support; there are many excellent behaviourists working virtually right now who are here to help. Together we've got this.

18/10/2020

This weeks theme in the group Dog to Dog Issues! Jump over to the group to read the posts from the admins this week. https://www.facebook.com/groups/behaviourcollective/

11/10/2020

This week we are talking about distracted dogs, is your dog ignoring you or seem to have selective deafness?

Come over to the group for hints and tips.

Don't forget to answer the questions to be admitted into the group

25/09/2020

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆…

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆…

I was chatting about Marian Cleeves Diamond the other day because she was one of the first neuroscientists to show the brain can change with experience and improve with enrichment. In fact, it was Diamond who discovered evidence of this in the brain of Albert Einstein when she examined preserved slices of his brain, and found he had more support cells (glial) than the average male. These cells provide energy for neural circuits and help build connections, leading to a more complex brain structure.

So how does Diamond’s work fit into animal behaviour & happiness? Well, as we entered lockdown in March, there was lots of talk about creating an enriching environment for our pets to help them better cope with the great change in their routines because of the great change in ours. For example, some of my blogs were on how to make carrot kebabs, how to use toilet rolls to make your own lotus-type treat balls, and the importance of game playing. How this links into Diamond’s work is that she mainly studied animal brains, particularly rats, and her studies showed that an enriched environment, one that had toys and companions to interact with, changed the anatomy of the brain. Rats placed in a cage with stimuli and others had more synaptic connections, heavier brains, more neurochemical activity, and their behaviour also altered.

Diamond’s results were initially resisted by some neuroscientists. However, she successfully demonstrated that the brain can continue to develop at any age, emphasising the importance of growth and learning throughout life, and that male and female brains are structured differently and that stimulating the brain even enhances our immune system.

So, when it comes to what makes them happy, our pets want our company, they want to play, they want choice - whether that’s in food type / their cage bedding or litter preference, and they want choice to approach, explore and retreat. We can provide all that via excellent environmental management.

Examples of this can include: splitting meals across the day via puzzle toys or hiding food for searches, training new skills or strengthening current ones, enabling our animals to encounter new smells via novel walks or introducing pet friendly plants around the home, and by adding new shelving / ramps / hanging items that can be interacted with, or placing differing textures within enclosures / around the home to create novelty and exploration, or arranging Covid-friendly play dates for our pro-social pooches.

And when we do all this, we not only help make them happy, we also build emotional resilience and can nurture that most important organ of all – the brain. [Picture: Marian Cleeves Diamond (credit: Elena Zhukova, 2010)].

03/09/2020

An important reminder from Ruff Diamond Dog Training about self care. Head over to our group to read the original post