Miss Daisy's Dog Camp

08/05/2024

Another chance to get started in such a fun class for both you and your dog!

📣Want to learn the Sniffing Game with your Dog?

🐾🐾Introduction to Nosework🐾🐾
Starts Tuesday, August 13th at 6:00 p.m.

https://www.pawsallindogtraining.com/service-page/introduction-to-nose-work-2?referral=service_list_widget

📣Already playing the game but need to practice?

We got you!! Join us for our Scent Puzzle Classes:

🐾Scent Work Novice/ Advanced Puzzles🐾:
Fridays at 11:00 a.m.
https://www.pawsallindogtraining.com/service-page/scent-work-novice-advanced-puzzles?referral=service_list_widget

🐾Scent Work Excellent/ Master Puzzles🐾:
Fridays at 2:00 p.m.
https://www.pawsallindogtraining.com/service-page/scent-work-excellent-master-puzzles?referral=service_list_widget

Check out all of our classes and if you have any questions you can write me at [email protected]

07/04/2024

Happy 4th! Keep your pups safe and inside tonight!

06/29/2024

I have worked with fearful dogs for a very long time. I agree that "flooding" is one of the most common mistakes I see owners make. They don't do it on purpose or to be "mean" to their dog. They honestly think since they know it won't hurt their dog, they just have to get over it.
I have never seen this have a good outcome. The latest science in dog training has many much better methods.

One of the most common mistakes that people make when trying to help fearful dogs is the tough-love style method of thinking “they need to get used to it!”

Usually this way of thinking leads to an owner exposing their dog to the thing that scares them over and over again, in the hope that the dog will figure out that it isn’t scary.

Dog trainers call this “flooding”, and it very rarely has the desired outcome. Just like suddenly throwing a bucket of spiders at an arachnophobe, forcing a dog into a situation that terrifies them is more likely to INCREASE their fear. An arachnophobe covered in an unexpected bucket load of spiders will not be calmly rationalising the situation and realising that spiders aren’t scary – the overwhelming nature of the situation will place them into flight and fight mode, and it’s likely that they’ll walk away from the encounter with an even greater fear.

The same logic applies to dogs when they’re forced way beyond the threshold of what they’re comfortable with, like when a dog who is nervous about other dogs is forced into a busy dog park.

This method also has the added side effect of destroying the dog’s trust in the humans who forced him into the terrifying situation – just like how the arachnophobe would feel about the person that attacked them with spiders.

The rule of thumb when dealing with fearful dogs is ADD SOME DISTANCE. A spider is a lot less scary in a secure glass container on the other side of the room than it is flying at your face. A dog walking past on a leash on the other side of the park is a lot less scary to a dog-nervous dog than one bounding directly towards them.

That Dog Geek's next videos will be a series covering ways to help fearful or reactive dogs. It will cover the various reasons that dogs develop fear disorders or reactivity, things to avoid while working with a fearful dog, lifestyle changes that can make rehabilitating a fearful dog easier, and a basic guide on the steps required to overcome reactivity.

If you have a fearful dog I highly recommend contacting a professional, positive reinforcement style trainer to assist; there are so many variables when working with fearful dogs, and so many potential pitfalls. A good trainer will be able to coach you through the process and give you and your pup the best chance of success.

06/27/2024

06/23/2024

I had the honour last night of appearing as a guest speaker for another trainer's client group, on my favourite topic of socially sensitive 'reactive' dogs, and the question came up about speaking up for our dogs and advocating for them to have the space that they need.

It can feel really difficult to speak up for our dogs at first. There are social expectations about how dogs should behave - which of course do not include those reactive behaviours but, when we look deeper, don't include quite a lot of natural dog behaviour or understanding of dogs at all.

At one time I was one of those people who struggled to speak up for my dog. If we got stuck in a situation and he 'misbehaved' I would be endlessly apologising for his 'bad' behaviour.

Then I started to learn. Not just about why my dog was struggling so much more than other dogs I saw, but how the expectations placed on dogs really does not take into account natural behaviour, the dogs' needs, and the differences between how our two species communicate.

Instead of 'I'm sorry' I now say 'He's scared and needs space. Please give us some room to get past.' Sometimes it may be 'Can you give me a minute to get him some distance?' The one I have to use most often is 'No, you can't come closer. He's not comfortable with people he doesn't know.' And, of course, the old favourite of 'Please recall your dog, mine is scared.'

Many dogs will not react as strongly as my dog has done in the past. But that is not to say that those dogs are perhaps also not as comfortable in situations as people may think. Dogs are often socially selective, just as humans are - we don't like and want to interact with every person that we meet, so why expect that of dogs?

We really do not set out to be awkward making these statements or requests, we are simply doing what we can to make sure their needs are met. And sometimes their needs are for other people or dogs to get back and give them some room, and to not touch them.

Advocating for them feels very hard at first but it does become easier with practice, and they will definitely feel happier and safer when we can speak for them and give them what they need.

05/25/2024

Happy Saturday!

05/21/2024

Happy National Rescue Dog day!! Let's see your rescue pups!