Calm Canines

13/07/2023

I recently came across a thought-provoking post that resonated with me, and it compelled me to share its message with all of you. As an advocate for positive animal interactions, I firmly believe in the significance of granting our animal companions the freedom to express their preferences.

Empowering animals with the freedom to say 'No' is a testament to love. It builds trust, fosters strong relationships, and celebrates their autonomy. Let's leave behind old-fashioned notions of constant compliance and obedience, extending this respect to dogs, horses, rabbits, cats, mice, and all animals. Every creature deserves the freedom to say 'no' and have access to real choices.

At Calm Canines, this is how I work. Feel free to contact me if you want guidance on improving your ability to understand your dog and their needs.

09/07/2023

🌟 Certified Force Free Behaviourist specialising in positive reinforcement training and behavioural consultations for dogs.
😍 Get your dog's behaviour on track with Calm Canines Wiltshire.
⚡ Say goodbye to frustration and hello to a well-behaved pup.
🐾 Expert guidance for dog owners seeking behavioural solutions.
Book your consultation with Calm Canines Wiltshire today!

04/03/2023

This is an old video of mine and my daughters dog playing together. (They are both reactive and not dog friendly but have known each other since very young). I have reposted it and slowed it down slightly because it is such a great example of good play! See if you can spot the mirroring of play between the dogs, the calming signals (tongue flicks, shake offs, head turns, break offs etc) and notice how when things get a little tense both dogs calm the situation with a break up.
I cannot stress how important good, balanced play between dogs is. Watch your dogs and see how they play.
I will be interested to read your observations in the comment section, and please do feel free to post any videos of your dog playing with other dogs

24/02/2023

I was talking to a client yesterday on a catch up call (we are currently working on a behaviour modification plan) and one of the things she told me was that , although her dog will still bark at certain triggers he is now able to stop himself and choose to move away ..this little dog has learnt to 'self interrupt ' . This is such a huge achievement for this dog in her journey to becoming a less stressed, more resilient girl and she is starting to make great choices ! 😊
Our dogs are (with our help and guidance) perfectly capable of choosing different behaviours and, although this is just a small part of behaviour change, is a crucial and mighty skill to have .
Dog behaviour is so much more than stopping our dogs from repeating unwanted behaviours, it's about teaching them how to make great choices, have focus, resilience and be confident in who they are. We do this through de-escalation and de-stressing, confidence building, improving critical thinking and focus and gaining trust and understanding of both dog and their owner 😊

16/02/2023

So I've been thinking about our dogs..
nothing new there ..I'm always thinking about dogs🤣
I was out walking my two little dogs today when I watched a lady with a dog on a short lead with a halti on, and every time they crossed a road she made him sit..
and I wondered why
Sit is the most overused training cue I've ever seen
I think, as humans, we've been conditioned to believe it gives us control
I guess visually it does..
but sitting does not come naturally to our dogs
and is actually a very vunerable position for them to be in
Think about it..if your dog is sitting at the kerb and a large, noisy lorry rumbles by he cannot step back and create space
If your nervous dog is sitting as a stranger approaches they cannot back off and retreat
Sure, sitting can be harmless enough..think of the confident, cheeky dog sitting because he's pretty sure it will get him a treat...
but
as with all things dog
context and environment are key
Think about how many things we expect our dogs to sit for
•Before his dinner
•To put on his lead
•To get in/out of the car
•To greet people
•To cross the road
Sitting in lots of these situations can cause frustration. Imagine asking a toddler to sit still when they know they're going to the park, or being made to sit and wait whilst a plate of delicious food is placed in front of you and your hungry.
Think about why you are asking your dog to sit
Is it necessary?
Is there another behaviour that would work better ? (an excited greeter can be taught to keep all paws on the floor whilst still having an outlet for their excitement through carrying a toy for example)
Let's allow our dogs more choices
Trust me, you'll be surprised 😊

13/02/2023

Oh my ! What an awful month ! I have (finally!) had my page and profile unlocked so am up and running again ..just ! Thankyou for everyone who has switched to my new page but I will be continuing with this one as it has lots of history and(most importantly..reviews!) on it 😍
Once again thankyou for your continued support ! 😍🐕

24/01/2023

I was emptying my kitchen bin today (yes, I should've done it yesterday instead of cramming more in 🤣) but it really got me thinking about our dogs, and the expectations we have of them.
Think about it...all the things we expect them to manage
It's a hell of a list !

1)Don't rummage in the bin
2) Be happy home alone
3) Be social with people and happy to be petted by strangers
4) Get on and be sociable with other, strange dogs
5) Listen, be obedient and well mannered in all environments
6) Don't bark too much, be annoying, attention seek
7) Be happy to sleep all day whilst we are at work
8) Learn rules and boundaries
9) Walk nicely on the lead despite all the smells, environmental stimulations
10) Travel well in the car

Phew ! That's just some of the things we envisage our dog doing when we get them. If your dog is struggling home alone, or reactive on walks it's easy to think of the things they are struggling with, but, we must remember all the things they are fabulous at.
Our dogs are amazing ! Each and every one ! Whether they are the 'dream' dog you can leave home alone or take anywhere, or the dog that needs help, patience, reassurance and understanding
Respect your dog for who they are. Work on their anxieties and struggles but always, always think first about if it's an achievable goal and if it really benefits your dog.

For anyone struggling I'm here to help ! 😊🐾

18/01/2023

Science backed studies show that using aversive training methods causes dogs to suffer stress, anxiety and lack of trust in their handler. Choosing compassionate training methods that promote wellbeing, confidence, decision making and engagement through positive reinforcement techniques will improve you and your dog's relationship and give great results!
Choose kindness when teaching and training 🐾🐕♥️

Specific dog training methods have long-term and short-term emotional effects.

24/12/2022

Wishing all my wonderful clients (human and doggy !) a wonderful Christmas and New Year !
Thankyou for all your support, your dedication to your dog's and your trust in me to help you move forward together.
I am very lucky that I love what I do and it's a privilege to work with such a wonderful array of dogs and guardians

11/12/2022

With the cold weather and snow please be aware that small, shortcoated, young and older dogs are less able to cope with the cold ..
great little info graph on this ...😊

11/11/2022

03/10/2022

For those of you who have lurchers..I bet you can totally relate..for those of you who don't...just don't (only kidding)...🤣

A beginners guide to having Lurchers!

THE BASICS

The most common question asked about lurchers is: Where has my dinner gone? The second most common question is: What is a lurcher, anyway? You cannot answer either of these, because your dog has mysteriously disappeared over the horizon.
Put simply, a lurcher is a cross between:
i) a dog which runs too fast for you and chases everything (a sighthound), and
ii) a dog which runs slightly more slowly but still chases everything (a working dog).
A longdog is a cross between two sighthounds, which means you don’t have a chance. The lurcher combination produces healthy, lively dogs, and healthy, exhausted owners. The name is derived from two words:
Lurch – as in to leave someone in the lurch, ie. far behind and helpless, and
Er – as in where’s that bloody dog gone now?
GENERAL NATURE
Lurchers have two phases to their lives, the puppy and the adult. These are mostly indistinguishable, but we can note the key characteristics here:
Puppies
Very fast and quite mad, except when asleep
If you exercise them too much they will fall apart
If you exercise them too little your home will fall apart
Adults
See puppies above, but stronger, faster and more determined
Lurchers are very sociable with each other, and will soon form a pack, which exacerbates every aspect of the above. On the up side, after all this running, they do sleep a lot. Their preferred sleeping arrangements are:
•On your bed when you’re very tired and want to get in
•On the sofa and every chair when you have guests
•On the floor in a doorway where you will trip over them
Lurchers sleep at interesting angles. This often involves strange, contorted positions with neck twisted round, legs bent like an orthopaedic case-study etc.
Important Note. If your lurcher is completely upside down with all four legs in the air and its eyes closed, it is rarely dead. It is just comfortable.
COMMANDS
Lurcher respond well to commands. They don’t usually obey them, but they do respond well, often with great amusement. Common commands include:
SIT is uncomfortable for a lurcher, and will be ignored.
STAY is boring and will be ignored.
DOWN will be obeyed immediately if the lurcher is tired and was already going for a sleep anyway.
HEEL will leave you tangled in three leads at once and unable to move.
COME will leave you clutching your impact injuries and unable to move.
FETCH is also boring and will be ignored, unless a squirrel is involved.
DROP is unreasonable. It’s their squirrel, after all.
Lurchers have excellent recall. They remember perfectly well that you want to them to come back, and will do so when they have finished what they are doing. Which is usually running in the other direction, or round and round in circles.
FEEDING
These dogs have very specific dietary requirements. The lurcher diet consists of four main food groups:
•The nice meal you spent two hours preparing.
•Every cushion, soft toy and stuffed item in your house.
•The squirrel sixty foot up in that oak tree.
•Everything left out on the kitchen counter.
If none of these are available, they will eat what is in the dog bowl, but this is a last resort.
THE FAMILY
Lurchers make excellent family members, and are quite easy-going animals. Detailed planning is required, however, as you may not be able to afford both children and lurchers (see also below). Many people these days worry about aggressiveness in dogs. In general, you are more likely to bite your lurcher than it is to bite you.
The only notable exception to this is when they “play” together. This is why many lurcher owners have massive vet bills because their dogs have “had fun” by leaping ten feet in the air at each other, charging each other with teeth bared, and “amusingly” bitten each other’s noses/lips/ears during “fun” hour. The lurchers wonder what all the fuss is about. The owners wonder if they can take out a second mortgage.
IN CONCLUSION
You cannot afford to keep a lurcher, and you are not fit enough. Your home will be wrecked and you will have nowhere to sleep. You will have no food left. On the other hand…
I love my Lurcher