Throw Me a Bone - Dog Training & Behaviour

26/09/2025

😕Anyone and everyone can be a dog trainer these days. Seems it requires zero skill or know about dog behaviour.

😕Instant results seem to be the only thing that dog owners care about. Regardless of the cost that their dog pays for such quick, and “desired” outcome. Little time and zero human effort is on trend.

😕Facts and science don’t seem to matter. What matters are big, personal opinions that are “convincing”.

😕Human convenience and satisfaction is all that seems to matter.

🤔But aren’t dog trainers suppose to get into their jobs because they love dogs ???

🤔Aren’t dog professionals meant to be empathetic, including to animals?

Dog training has certainly lost its way.

Can we get it back on track? To put the animal welfare first, human education second, speed of seeing results last???

23/09/2025

Fact ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

09/09/2025

The Importance of Enrichment for All Dogs – Especially Puppies 😊

🧩Enrichment is about more than toys and games. It’s about providing dogs with safe, appropriate and supervised opportunities to explore, learn and adapt to the world around them. For puppies, this starts surprisingly early – even as young as three weeks old. At this stage, puppies are curious and open to new experiences, making it the perfect time to gently introduce:
• Different objects and shapes
• A variety of textures (soft, rough, slippery, bumpy)
• Sounds (household noises, outdoor sounds, recordings played at low volume)
• Things that move, wobble or make noise

🌟This early exposure, done in a positive and safe way, lays the foundation for a confident and adaptable dog.

Long term benefits of early enrichment

✔ Confidence building – puppies grow into dogs that are less fearful and more resilient when faced with new situations.
✔ Reduced risk of behaviour problems – appropriate enrichment decreases the likelihood of anxiety, noise sensitivity, or reactivity later in life.
✔ Better coping skills – dogs learn to tolerate and adapt to change, which is vital in our busy human world.
✔ Cognitive development – mental stimulation strengthens learning ability, problem solving and memory.
✔ Stronger bonds – shared enrichment activities strengthen trust between dogs and their humans.
✔ Improved welfare – enrichment provides natural outlets for normal behaviours such as sniffing, chewing, shredding and exploring, helping prevent frustration

🤔Why it matters?

Too often, training is seen as the priority. But enrichment should come first – because a dog who feels secure, confident and capable of coping with their environment is far more likely to be able to learn, focus and engage positively. By prioritising enrichment from the start, we give our dogs the best chance of living balanced, happy lives.

✨ Things to remember:

🔵 Enrichment MUST be supervised with puppies.
🟢 It needs to be age appropriate (don’t start off with complex puzzles).
🟡 Needs to be easy to start with (and you can, and should make it more difficult later on to keep the brain engaged).
🟣Tap into the things a dog / pup enjoys. Not all enrichment needs to be food based.

References
• Sheppard, G. & Mills, D. S. (2002). The development of a psychometric scale for the evaluation of the emotional predispositions of pet dogs. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 116(3), 248–256.
• Hiby, E. F., Rooney, N. J., & Bradshaw, J. W. (2004). Dog training methods: their use, effectiveness and interaction with behaviour and welfare. Animal Welfare, 13, 63–70.
• Appleby, D. L., Bradshaw, J. W., & Casey, R. A. (2002). Relationship between aggressive and avoidance behaviour by dogs and their experience in the first six months of life. Veterinary Record, 150(14), 434–438.
• Mills, D. S., & Hall, S. S. (2014). Animal-assisted interventions: making better use of the human–animal bond. Veterinary Record, 174(11), 269–273.

08/09/2025

We have 3 more foster potatoes in da house 😍😍😍

All 3 will be available for adoption when the pups reach 8 weeks old, so keep an eye out, especially if you live in North Carolina. Follow Wilkes Rescue Group & contact them for applications.

05/09/2025

First USA foster pup in da house !!!

I feel super excited about this girl’s future. She is sooooooo sweet, easy going, great with people, dogs and cats, lap dog, quiet, zero issues. Perfect in one word. Someone will be very lucky to welcome her into their family 🥰

03/09/2025

Yesssss 👏👏👏

This ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

A dog is more than a well-behaved pet; they are individuals with specific needs and emotions.

It’s essential to understand their limits, respect their natural behaviours, and provide an environment where they can thrive.

Training should always be about enhancing the relationship with your dog, not forcing them into situations they’re not ready for.

31/08/2025

‼️Nothing says “I don’t know what I’m doing” more than a dog “professional” who recommends, or uses, prong & shock collars‼️

27/08/2025

🤔Science has moved on so much on dog training in the last decade alone, yet mindsets are still so slow to keep up …

🐕As frustrating as it can be for those who keep up with the ethical and kind approach- we need to remember that we can only do our best and we can only change one mindset at a time.

👏Even if you change one dog owner’s views on training, equipment, welfare ➡️ you’ve change one dog’s life and that is a a job well done.

🧩Keep going.
🧩Keep educating.
🧩Keep trying.

26/08/2025

Happy International Dog Day 💕

Lets see your dogs 🤩🤩🤩

25/08/2025

🤔Why rescue dogs need time to settle in…

1️⃣ Physiological stress & “honeymoon period”

When dogs transition from a shelter to a new home, they face significant stress. A 2023 study tracked dogs’ stress indicators immediately after adoption and compared them to their sheltered state using accelerometers (for nocturnal activity), urinary cortisol:creatinine ratio (UCCR), and body weight. Results showed:

• Nocturnal activity and UCCR levels significantly dropped in the new home, indicating reduced stress.

• However, full normalization took time-UCCR returned to normal within three days, but nighttime activity still lagged beyond the third night.

• Dogs didn’t fully match the behaviour of established pet dogs even after several days, highlighting gradual adaptation.  

This also underscores the so called “honeymoon period,” where a dog may initially appear calm, only for stress or behavioral issues to re-emerge later. 

2️⃣ Extended adjustment period ➡️ owners’ perspectives.

Scientific and survey data reveal that settling in often takes longer than people expect:

• Over 50% of adopters reported that it took more than four months for their dog to fully adjust.

• A qualitative study with adopters found similar sentiments: adopters described the adjustment stretching well beyond the early weeks, often shaped by the dog’s previous experiences and individual temperament.

• Additionally, about 14% of adopted dogs are returned within six months, an elevated risk that remains for the first year ➡️ highlighting how long settling can take and how critical proper support is. 

3️⃣ Effects of prolonged shelter stays.

Extended time in a kennel environment can alter dog behaviour in ways that may make the initial transition more complex:

• A 2002 (reviewed in 2023) study on 97 dogs found that the longer a dog stayed in a shelter, the more time it spent at the back of its kennel, resting, and showing reduced vocalization - behaviours often considered less appealing to adopters. 
• These behavioural shifts may reflect stress, depression, or gradual withdrawal, making the re-adaptation process more layered.

4️⃣ Socialization & attachment.

Early-life experiences deeply influence how well dogs adjust to new environments:

• Dogs go through a critical socialization period between approximately 3 to 14 weeks of age.
During this time, exposure to novel stimuli (people, environments, sounds) shapes their lifelong ability to respond adaptively. If dogs miss out on this, they’re more prone to fear, anxiety, or maladaptive behaviour later. 

• Dogs form attachment bonds with caregivers, and those relationships help them feel secure. In new homes, as a dog learns to trust its guardian, its stress reduces and exploration increases. 

5️⃣ Adjustment guidance: The 3-3-3 GUIDE & beyond.

Animal welfare organizations often promote the 3‑3‑3 guideline as a flexible framework (this is NOT a strict rule, more a guide to help set people’s expectations better):
• 3 days: puppies and dogs may act shutdown, overwhelmed, or uncertain.
• 3 weeks: dogs begin to become familiar - showing play, learning routines, and easing into a sense of safety.
• 3 months: many dogs begin to exhibit deeper emotional bonding and feel at home, but not all reach this at the same pace.  

The truth is - dogs are individuals, with their own history and experience, and it is impossible to say how long it may take one dog to “settle in” when compared to 5 different ones. The only sensible approach is, and I highly recommend anyone to get int this mindset - it will take as long as it will take.

What stages of adaptation may look like for a dog:

✨Immediate (Days 0–3)

💡Dog feels overwhelmed; stress markers still elevated. Provide a quiet, safe space and predictable feeding/walking routine.

✨Short term (weeks 1–4)

💡Emergence of comfort signals; behaviour may fluctuate. Reinforce routines, gentle enrichment, and lots of patience.

✨Mid-term (months 2–4+)

💡Deepening trust, more confident play, settling of behaviour . Continue positive reinforcement; seek support if challenges persist.

✨Long term (beyond 4 months)

💡Many dogs feel secure, but some take longer. Recognition of individual differences and ongoing support are key.

Helping a rescue dog settle in is a patience driven journey, not a switch flipped overnight. Scientific findings make clear that dogs:

• Experience acute and lingering stress following adoption.
• Often take weeks to months to truly adjust - praised routines and a calm environment help immensely.
• Carry behavioural legacies from the shelter - longer stays can deepen withdrawal.
• Thrive with consistent care, social bonding, and time to decompress at their own pace.

References
• Van der Laan et al. (2023): stress adaptation measured via nocturnal activity, UCCR, and weight changes. 
• Adopter experience surveys and interviews: adjustment over four months common.  
• Return rates remain elevated up to one year post-adoption. 
• Long shelter stays impact dog behavior negatively. 
• Socialization critical period shapes lifelong adaptability. 
• Attachment bonds and stress relief via human interaction. 


21/08/2025

Since I’ve relocated over the pond 🇺🇸 , I am overwhelmed by the sheer volume of prong and electric collars around.

Virtually every other dog wears them (frequently both at the same time). Even service dogs 😟

🫥You see them not just in every pet shop (even those which describe themselves as holistic), but also in every supermarket.

🫥It’s official- abuse has been normalised.

But let me make it clear ➡️ just because you see it everywhere, doesn’t make it right. Just because the description says they are “humane” ➡️ they are NOT !! How can they be ???? Just stop for a minute and think how they actually work !!

🫥Ignorance is not an excuse to mistreat or harm animals.

💡There is no humane, kind way to use an electric or prong collar. They ARE designed to cause pain and discomfort (also fear and anxiety), and they do. There is no “correct” way of using them, which doesn’t cause pain / discomfort, unless you simply don’t use them. A torture equipment doesn’t work unless it harms. And these are exactly that. They are torture tools for dogs. And for what??? Human convenience.

😕We must do better by dogs. We owe them that much. They deserve better from us.