all, Puppies, Leadership and Dominance in Dog Training, Guy Fawkes and similar stressors for dogs, Separation Anxiety, 'Walking the Dog' and all associated..., Dog 'Ownership' Helpful Tips, Preventing 'Fixation'/'Obsession', With Cats..., General Training, 'Obedience' Type Command Instruction, Safety Around Dogs, A Good Dog Behavioural Consultant/Dog Behaviourist, Entertainment for your dog, The problem with gadgets in effective dog training, Stress in Dogs, Reactionary Behaviour, Aggression, Embarrassing antics our dogs get up to..., 'Tis the Season', Visitors and your Dog, Vocalization, Strangers, Issues with Food, Cars/Vehicles and your Dog, Why does my dog?
Preventing 'Fixation' in dogs
24.05.24Dog Behaviour. Dog Training. Dogs chasing
Chasing can become quite the obsession (particularly as the act produces adrenaline) - think chasing cats, cars - these too can ‘run away’ swiftly - allowing the perfect opportunity for a good fast chase for your dog! Even with a fixation on torch lights etc. your dog can become more interested in chasing than in actually catching the thing. This becomes quite the game BUT in the process, the dog can accidentally cause harm to themselves, property, or the poor bystander caught in the middle as your dog is on their mission.So where possible, in front of the ‘arousing stimulus’ get your dog to undertake some distracting tasks/commands that they can also be rewarded for (if your dog wont take the normally tasty reward or even think of performing these commands - you must move further away from the animal/object). You can build on these actions over time as well.With this training, we are now making a positive association with the situation also.Also, if an intense chase drive is not channelled into acceptable play with toys, including short stints of Fetch for example (remembering that this activity does work a dogs brain up - with the production of adrenaline and your dog loves play that includes you best of all) as well as sufficient exercise and mental stimulation (and a good walk produces the calming chemical serotonin) behavioural issues can develop, interestingly tail chasing among the list…Side note - playing chase with children -It's best young kids in particular, don't play chase games with your dog as these can get out of hand quickly and your dog may also chase strangers children if this is how they're used to engaging, Selina McIntyre, Dog Behavioural Consultant & Dog Trainer, Dogs Best Friend. For more dog behavioural & training tips, advice and suggestions, including around dogs pulling on their leads, why not check out my book in association with HarperCollins 'Big Dog, Small Dog - Make your dog happier by being understood,' as well, check out https://selinamcintyre.podia.com/ for some online dog behaviour training, thank you.
06.08.22
Dog Behaviour. Mental stimulation idea's for dogs
Pent-up energy is directly linked to fixative and obsessive behaviours so -
I don't own feed bowls. So how does this Dog Behaviourist feed her dogs?With enrichment.We split our dogs daily feed portion up and alternate between all of the methods below for feeding – variety is the spice of life!- Placing biscuits in a maze like dish to be pushed and licked out (ours is a Trixie feeder but other brands are available).- Stuffing lamb mince into Trev and Lily’s Classic Kong’s and freezing them (these also get trapped inside ice blocks in Summer with some veges.)- The biscuits in a Wobble Toy, wobbled and rolled around the room.- Scatter feeding outside on the lawn (especially good when I am running late in the mornings but great for stimulation, especially for dogs that were bred to be more inclined for scent work).- Biscuits hidden in a snuffle basket. Trev and Lily search and snuffle their way around their mats to find the hidden biscuits buried in the fabric.- A biscuit portion could be in a feed ball (from experience, make sure you get a sturdy one here and that biscuits flow easily around in it – so possibly a slightly bigger size than you think, dogs once they learn about a feed ball, LOVE IT!)- Their biscuits in the tricky Buster Cubes. This is more difficult for the dogs to get their biscuits all out but thats part of the fun!*Pent-up energy of any form, including mental energy, has been linked to tension and anxiety in dogs, so it is well worth enriching your dogs life with mentally stimulating tasks. Selina McIntyre, Dog Behaviourist & Dog Trainer, Dogs Best Friend. For more dog behavioural and training advice, tips and suggestions, why not check out my book with @HarperCollins, ‘Big Dog, Small Dog - Make your dog happier by being understood,' thank you 🙂
28.11.2016
Preventing ‘Fixation’- That ‘glazed over look your dog may get - seemingly obsessed with something.’
‘A possible outcome for a dog’s unreleased energy (either mental or physical) is the dog becoming fixated on or obsessed with something..’Did you know ‘Fixation’ has not been recorded in wild canines? Interesting huh?I believe for this problem scenario you really want to get in and catch your dog before they have ‘entered the zone’ and their brain is flooded with adrenaline. [Read More…]
‘A possible outcome for a dog’s unreleased energy (either mental or physical) is the dog becoming fixated on or obsessed with something..’Did you know ‘Fixation’ has not been recorded in wild canines? Interesting huh?I believe for this problem scenario you really want to get in and catch your dog before they have ‘entered the zone’ and their brain is flooded with adrenaline. [Read More…]
Admin - 16:33:09 @ Preventing 'Fixation'/'Obsession'
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Selina McIntyre of Dogs Best Friend, a qualified Dog Behaviourist & Dog Trainer in the Hamilton, Waikato, Tauranga and Rotorua areas of NZ since 2004.