Dogs Best Friend

Dog Behavioural & Dog Training Blog/Tips

A qualified Dog Behaviourist & Dog Trainer in the Hamilton, Waikato, Tauranga and Rotorua areas of NZ since 2004.
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Walking Your Dog And All Associated ...
26.10.24 Dog Behaviour. Dog Training. Dogs Biting onto their leads. Dog’s biting their leads when walking -Firstly, make sure your dog is getting enough exercise and mental stimulation throughout the day. Biting at the lead can be a way for dog to release excess energy or stress. Your dog then has a tug toy going with them out into the world! As well, avoid tugging the lead out of their mouth as this will only create a fun resistance game. High energy, playful dogs who have a hard time when they’re overwhelmed, are most likely to undertake this behaviour. The more intense the situation and the more worked up they are, the more likely lead biting will occur. Some dogs have learnt to bite the lead to gain attention so be aware of your behaviour around this. You can undertake the ‘Watch’ command to focus your dog’s attention back on you (the ‘Watch’ is to watch your eyes) and reward for this behaviour. Or extend on this, stopping and asking for multiple commands to be performed. Or you could try, immediately halting your walk as soon as your dog connects with the lead. Turn away, giving them no attention, loosening the lead (whilst at the same time taking away the walk) until mouthing stops. Take a step forward again, but repeat the process if your dog connects with the lead, Selina McIntyre, Dog Behavioural Consultant & Dog Trainer, Dogs Best Friend. For more dog behavioural & training tips, advice and suggestions, why not check out my book in association with HarperCollins 'Big Dog, Small Dog - Make your dog happier by being understood,' thank you 🐾 12.10.24 Dog Behaviour. Mental Stimulation for your dog. The walk from your dogs perspective. Have you ever really, thought about the walk from your dogs perspective?The picture of smells, sounds and sights that may be of interest to them (obviously all the while, our senses for the most part being less developed than dogs).What I’m really talking about is, I think sometimes owners forget that ‘the world’ is pretty interesting and more so, it is pretty interesting to a dog, because they're likely to be confined away from this ‘world’ (in the backyard for example) the majority of the time. So the 'big wide world' is enriching!I know I say, “Do not be dictated to on a walk” but I do also make the walk about both Trev, Lily and myself.When walking on the lead -I have a few regular walks I do with the dogs. From this, I have worked out areas where they're a lot more eager to ’sniff/mark’ (certain power poles etc.) I then, depending on their behaviour (on the lead) let them undertake some sniffing, from stop (I count here as one) to finish, I count to five, then I have actually found that they'll very readily move on (this approach also worked with the dogs I walked, when I had a dog walking business some 20 odd years ago too!) Selina McIntyre, Dog Behavioural Consultant & Dog Trainer, Dogs Best Friend. For more dog behavioural & training tips, advice and suggestions, why not check out my book in association with HarperCollins 'Big Dog, Small Dog - Make your dog happier by being understood,' 05.10.24 Dog Behaviour. Dog Training. Tips for Dog Parks and walking in area's where dog's are permitted off-lead -Importantly, the dog park is not the place to socialize puppies (from the perspective of intensity and a potential disease risk for your pup). Senior dogs too, may find dog parks overwhelming. Pay attention to your dog’s cues about this experience.It has been found that new dogs coming into a dog park provide information about themselves when they first enter, by urinating a short distance from the entrance. This is an important process as part of successful social communication and managing group dynamics, so should not be discouraged.The treats you take to the dog park should not be the 'bees knees'/of 'absolutely fabulous' variety. You don’t want to gather a crowd with this tasty food, instigating a fight. Dry biscuits should be fine and never feed other people’s dogs.Once you have entered, avoid standing in a crowd which can cause dogs to hang around and play in a smaller area, this can lead to heightened exchanges. Try to stop your dog tailgating other dogs. Having a dog glued to your butt, sniffing profusely, is not comfortable at all and the other dog is likely to retaliate with a snap.If your dog is being told to move away by another dog and your dog is not listening, either undertake the recall or go over and move your dog away. The reverse should happen too, help your dog get away from a harasser. Don’t discipline somebody else’s dog, just move along to another area of the park.Be aware of the potential for a play fight to accidentally escalate into a real fight. If one dog is just a wee bit too rough with an action this can cause upset.Even if the dogs are racing around full ball, they should have many normal pauses in their play. The dogs should be relaxed at these points, if not, this is a good indicator things could be getting out of hand. At the least, this ends up being good practice for the dog to be overly stimulated and uncontrolled in other situations. With this, be on the lookout for unsupervised children, pushchairs, bikes and skateboards in the dog park. These can be triggers for dog aggression or chasing.It may be obvious but do not take dogs who are in season to the dog park and you should have great control of an entire male if you venture here.Keep walking around the park and working on your recall. This ensures the dog’s frolicking doesn’t get too heated. If a problem starts to manifest, move off or walk faster to maintain your dogs focus.Trust your instincts. If you see any dog or person that makes you uncomfortable move away or head on home, Selina McIntyre, Dog Behavioural Consultant & Dog Trainer, Dogs Best Friend. For more dog behavioural & training tips, advice and suggestions, why not check out my book in association with HarperCollins 'Big Dog, Small Dog - Make your dog happier by being understood,' or my online Canine Behaviour Seminar Downloads, available at https://selinamcintyre.podia.com 28.09.24 Dog Behaviour. Dog Training. Energy expenditure for your dog should be looked at cumulatively. Have you taken your dog out for a big walk or for a run and then once home, they still get 'up to mischief.' This could be because energy expenditure should be looked at cumulatively. I tend to look at what our dogs are getting from the physical exercise and mental stimulation perspective, over the course of roughly a week. If your dog hasn't had sufficient exercise and/or worked their brain enough (and so have still been getting bored) over roughly this period, you'll have behavioural implications, Selina McIntyre, Dog Behavioural Consultant & Dog Trainer, Dogs Best Friend. For more dog training and behavioural 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🐾 20.09.24 Dog Training. Dog Behaviour. Stopping pulling on the lead in a multi-dog household. Walking with more than one dog -Different lead lengths can be beneficial to stop pulling when you are walking multiple dogs ... Your multi dog household's hierarchy can affect the position they want to be in when out walking on the lead. Trying to stick to your idea around where an individual should walk may actually be adding to your frustrations. With this, IT IS OK FOR YOUR DOG TO BE OUT IN FRONT OF YOU when out walking on the lead. They simply should not be pulling on that lead (trying to get you to go in the direction they want to go). The lead should be fairly loose. Think about a musher and sled-dog team and the control that they have at the end of the sled.You can start your walk by scattering some food about the place for your dogs to find. This snuffling activity is in an attempt to help take some of the edge off their energy.As for other tips to help ease pulling on the lead -Start the walk as you want it to continue. Your dogs should be relatively calm (any dog is going to have a raised level of energy and excitement at the start of a walk). Do not let them get over excited again, even if you must wait. Once out the door -You can become unpredictable on your walks. Your dogs will have to listen to you, so that they know where they're going. They will never know when you are going to turn or where you're off to next. Heartily praise/treat your dogs when reacting well and staying close. You can also praise and perhaps reward eye contact or interaction on the lead (putting a 'Watch' command to this too). Your dogs will be encouraged to watch you. Anticipate distractions and praise your dogs upon them successfully walking by these. Selina McIntyre, Dog Behavioural Consultant & Dog Trainer, Dogs Best Friend. For more dog training and behavioural 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🐾 04.05.24 Dog Behaviour. Dog Training. The best form of exercise for your dogs brain Do you chuck and chuck a ball or stick etc. but your dog seems to excitedly just want more and more? This is because the act of the chase produces the ‘excitable’ hormone adrenaline. A calm, more stable energy is beneficial. With this, the walk produces more of the calming , ‘feel good’ chemical serotonin, so it's best walking makes up the bulk of any exercise regime with your dog, 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. 30.03.24 Dog Behaviour. Do small dogs need to go for a walk?The Walk -The walk is one of the best forms of mental stimulation for a dog. With this, pent up energy of mental or physical forms has been linked to tension and anxiety. There is more stimulation (different sights, smells etc.) when you break up the day with two walks and this also burns more energy, than a single, longer less intense one.The walk with you can be primal bonding time, where you demonstrate you have what it takes to confidently lead, ‘Out in the big wide world.’ The walk is a bit like going off ‘On the hunt.’Throwing toys for your dog does not calm their mind (the action of the chase produces adrenaline) these activities hype the dog up and we are wanting a calmer, more stable energy. Most certainly do these activities but they should not really make up the bulk of your exercise regime with your dog.I would suggest even for a small dog such as a Yorkshire Terrier (adult), he or she should be getting two, twenty minute walks per day.Remember, most dogs are confined to increasingly small property sizes and the walk breaks up a long day of monotony for many, Selina McIntyre, Dog Behavioural Consultant, Trainer & Author, 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. 23.03.24 Dog Training. Dog Behaviour. I have not taught our dogs to heel. I have not taught our dogs the 'heel' command.Why?I have no issue at all with a dog walking in front of me when out on the lead, they simply should not be pulling (thus trying to get me to go in the direction they want to go). The lead should be fairly loose. I keep this at medium length, not too long that I have to bring it in frequently to avoid obstacles but also, not a lead length that is a restriction and 'pressure to fight against' for a dog. The more restriction you place on them, the more dogs seem to pull. *I do say "This side" and will direct the dogs to the side I want them to move (usually to give space to other pedestrians) Selina McIntyre, Dog Behavioural Consultant & Dog Trainer, Dogs Best Friend. For more dog training and behavioural 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. 11.11.23 Dog Behaviour. Dog Training. Dogs with Dogs. Your dog does not need to be a ‘Social Butterfly.'We/Society seem to expect our dogs to be ’sociable’ with all other dogs they meet but you can simply smile at the other owner and walk on by 🙂Do you yourself stop and shake hands with everyone you meet on the street? Selina McIntyre, Dog Behavioural Consultant & Dog Trainer, Dogs Best Friend. For more dog behavioural and training tips, advice and suggestions, why not check out my book in association with HarperCollins, 'Big Dog, Small Dog - Make your dog happier by being understood' thank you :-) 21.10.23 Dog Behaviour. Antisocial dog behaviour. Dog Training.A sign that a dog is antisocial about other dogs, is that he or she is uncomfortable about being sniffed at their rear end. Think of the refusal of the rear sniff as the equivalent of the snub of the hand shake in human interaction - it’s quite a big deal! Two dogs might go round and round too, until one has had enough! Selina McIntyre, Dog Behavioural Consultant & 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. Selina McIntyre, a qualified Dog Behaviourist & Dog Trainer in the Hamilton, Waikato, Tauranga and Rotorua areas of NZ since 2004. 15.04.23 Dog Behaviour. Dog Training. The effect of the lead. The dynamic of a dog-to-dog social interaction is perceived differently, if your dog is on the lead and the other dogs are off-lead (or vice-versa) – so the off-lead dogs are accessing freedom. I have witnessed many an instance, where the slightly under confident dog that is off lead, encounters one that is on lead and then becomes a different individual altogether. The resulting situation may be one of hostility unless you and your dog are acting relaxed (yes you may be acting). From this, my advice would be to aim for your dog to be off lead, in a dog off-lead area with all the other dogs present (rather than contained on-lead, hence you would work up to going to dog-parks if you wish to use these) all provided you have a great recall to use in these environments, Selina McIntyre, Dog Behavioural Consultant & Dog Trainer, Dogs Best Friend. For more dog behavioural and training tips, advice and suggestions, why not check out my book in association with HarperCollins, 'Big Dog, Small Dog - Make your dog happier by being understood,' thank you 🙂 Dog Behaviour. Dog Training. Watch. Watch. Watch.How much do you watch your dog at the other end of the lead/leash?Maybe it’s the Behaviourist in me but I was thinking about it and I really do spend A LOT of time observing Trev and Lily’s behaviour at the other end of their leads and I believe this does help us.This observation has been organically occurring - and perhaps more intensely with two dogs on two leads - because of the potential for ‘entanglement.'I observe everything from where their ears are pointing - so what either dog is interested in, how tense/relaxed each body is, how high they are walking - for their ‘interest in factor’ and so on.My real point is, BE PRESENT, OBSERVE, it may just prevent a problem situation (the chasing of cats etc.) developing in the long run. Selina McIntyre, Dog Behavioural Consultant & Dog Trainer, Dogs Best Friend. For more dog behavioural and training tips, advice and suggestions, why not check out my book in association with HarperCollins, 'Big Dog, Small Dog - Make your dog happier by being understood,' thank you 🙂 22.10.22 Dog Behaviour. Dog Training. Your small dog's behaviour when out and about. Do your small dog (and yourself) a favor and don’t ‘bubble wrap’ them. It’s best not to pick your small dog up all the time or fear socializing them out of worry of them getting hurt. Your dog will not develop the social skills needed to be great friends with their larger counterparts. Sometimes, these under socialized dogs develop fear aggression directed at other dogs. Lastly, try not to pass on your worry to your dog. Most small breeds (but not all) were developed to hunt vermin or prey. These little canines had to be gutsy, fearless, steadfast and independent. A big attitude was needed to stand up to their prey. As such, you need not worry about your dog being treated exactly like what they are, a dog, Selina McIntyre, Dog Behavioural Consultant & Dog Trainer, Dogs Best Friend. For more dog behavioural and training tips, advice and suggestions, why not check out my book in association with Harpercollins, 'Big Dog, Small Dog - Make your dog happier by being understood,' thank you. 19.03.22 Puppy Behaviour. Dog Behaviour. Think about this now with your new pup, it affects behaviour for life :The Critical Socialization Period This is such an important topic that I have to discuss with the majority of my clients. The Critical Socialization Period is the first 16 weeks of your pup’s life. This is when the foundation associations are made with his or her world, when your dog’s ideally have nothing but positive experiences with as many different stimuli as possible, including everything from animals to noises (here your dog can experience fireworks early in the form of noises on an App. for example) and different ages and races of people, waterways and other environments, electronic devices, vehicles, you name it. Socializing your pup during this time in particular, is a huge part of raising a happy and well-rounded dog. A dog that can venture out with you in the world, leading a full and rewarding life. *Now you might be thinking, what about the risks of Parvo Virus? We held Trev and Lily up in our arms in public spaces that unknown (and possibly un-vaccinated) dogs may have ventured. You could use a doggy trolley or a push chair if needed. I know this may seem extreme but the risk of your dog developing a fear response/aversion to a stimuli that they have not been exposed to sufficiently your pup is living and learning among a human family (integrated into family life, not just living out the back in a kennel) for ‘family dog’ skills to be learnt in this period. If you buy a puppy from a responsible breeder the breeder will be practicing socialization acts also, including gentle handling, exposing the pup to different sensory experiences – different noises, textures underfoot and to nuzzle into etc. Selina McIntyre, Dog Behavioural Consultant & Dog Trainer, Dogs Best Friend. For more dog behavioural and training tips, advice and suggestions, why not check out my Dog Behavioural and Training Blog at www.dogsbestfriend.co.nz head into your local bookstore for a copy of my book in association with Harpercollins, 'Big Dog, Small Dog - Make your dog happier by being understood,' thank you :-) 04.09.21 Dog Training Tip. Dog Behavioural Tip. Stopping dogs from pulling on the lead. Firstly, it is ok for your dog to be walking in front of you when out walking on the lead. They simply should not be pulling on that lead (trying to get you to go in the direction they want to go) - the lead should be fairly loose. Think about a musher and sled-dog team and the control that they have at the end of the sled.With the walk, start as you want it to continue.Your dog should be relatively calm (any dog is going to have a raised level of energy and excitement at the start of a walk). Do not let your dog get over excited again, even if you have to wait. Then out the door -You can immediately come to a stop when your dog is is pulling. You would be telling them pulling is ok if you let them continue, even if you only do this sometimes. Praise your dog and every so often offer a super tasty treat (such as dried liver) when they come back towards you, ideally making eye contact.This is the greatest method I have found to stop a dog from pulling because your dog is figuring out the very real consequence all for themselves. They do not get anywhere when they lunge forward and you gain control at the end of the lead.You can also become unpredictable on your walks. Your dog will have to listen to you so that they know where they are going. They will never know when you are going to turn or where you are off to next. You can also step towards them, do a figure of eight etc. Praise your dog heartily when they are reacting well and staying close.You can also reward any eye contact or interaction on the lead. Your dog will be encouraged to watch you. Anticipate distractions and reward your dog (as long as it’s great and immediate, this could be playtime with you or a toy…) when they successfully walk by, Selina McIntyre, Dog Behavioural Consultant and Dog Trainer, Dogs Best Friend. Going forward, for more dog training and behavioural tips, advice and suggestions, head into your local bookstore for a copy of my book in association with HarperCollins, 'Big Dog, Small Dog - Make your dog happier by being understood,' thank you 🙂 21.8.21 Dog Behaviour. Dog Training. Dogs and Covid Lockdown Going back into lockdown, it may feel like we're back in the twilight zone and your dogs will also be feeling things have changed.I'm sure you will be quick to notice the increase in both people and dogs out walking in these times, exercising and seeking respite from the confines of home. I’ve learnt that some of these people don’t normally walk and for some of these dogs, they don’t normally get out either (son I am very pleased they are having these experiences). With this though, we encounter more excitable, ‘pully’ dogs on the lead and also people that are aversive to dogs getting some fresh air in (it does appear to be this, as opposed to the two metre rule practice). These examples feed into my philosophy that you get what you reflect with dog behaviour, and so when your dogs ‘interact’ (even at a distance - where a dogs vision is best) with these dogs and people, their behaviour will alter. This intense behaviour is viewed as unstable. Dogs do not nurture instability.More dogs are being kept on their leads to avoid contact with other dogs and humans. Depending on the intensity and duration of the walk, you may want to increase it's length, as often off lead romps as part of a walk increase energy expenditure.If you take your dogs off lead, watch out for cuing during this time, when you put them back on lead around people and other dogs to avoid exposure. We do not want people and other dog's to become part of a negative (from your dog perspective - 'I get put on a lead around these creatures)When you put your dog back on their lead after a recall/’Come,’ try if you can, to leave the lead slightly long enough for slack. If you have the lead too short and tight each time after you get your dog back in, a negative association can form with coming back to you and being put on the lead - because your dog has lost all that freedom. You can also create negative associations with people and/or dogs. Also, try not to tighten and tense up on the grip held with your dogs lead when you spot another person and dog in the distance. We've had a woman quite loudly utter an expletive and yanked her dog in when she saw us. These actions only perpetuate the signals to your dog, that yes indeed there must be something off with that group if we are to react this way.I know, it’s all rather a lot but that’s why we go out and have a walk in the sunshine with our furry mates. It is still my most favourite part of the day, Selina McIntyre, Dog Behavioural Consultant & Dog Trainer, Dogs Best Friend. Going forward, why not look for my book in association with HarperCollins, 'Big Dog, Small Dog - Make your dog happier by being understood' it's out now!
06.02.2021
Dog training and behaviour can be about the subtleties in a situation …An example that can happen and be accumulative in nature, is from when you undertake the recall (the ‘Come’) after your dog has been off leash and you regularly put your dog straight back onto a short leash. This restriction can be too much of a negative for some, discouraging the recall. I would aim to have the lead fairly loose (knowing that not too far away you can bring your dog in if you like) or vary the length here. [Read More…]
Treat every experience as unique.For example, if your dog has in any realm of the past (very recently or quite a while ago) ‘had quite a nasty encounter with…’ then owners can form the impression from that encounter (sometimes with the very next dog and owner combo they meet) that interacting with dogs (or dogs that look similar to that ‘nasty one’) too close has got to be ‘negative’ and avoided.From this, the owner then is in a heightened state, tense and on the defensive. [Read More…]
13.06.2020
Dogs chasing bikes —If you’re having an issue with this, I would keep your dog on the lead as you cannot predict when a cyclist is going to come along.Ensure you have a great recall on the lead as well as the ‘Watch’. Get your dog’s attention with the ‘Watch,’ then get them to come back to you here. [Read More…]
28.09.2018
The walk -I have read a couple of posts recently about how some dogs do not require walking every day. However, unless your dog is being shattered by some other form of activity (some dogs get this from Doggy Day care for instance), I beg to differ. The walk is far more than just a physical activity for your dog. [Read More…]
11.03.2018
A tip, when out walking, observe other ‘owners’.I tend to assess the ‘owner’ of the other dog as part of judging the possible state of mind of the other dog.If the owner is waving his or her arms around, looking stressed or aggressive, the situation with their dog can then be combustible. [Read More…]
16.10.2017
Walk the perimeter of your property with your dog at least on the daily…A couple of good reasons for this…* Even if owners had a ‘glorious looking large section’ I have found from a great number of clients that their dogs wait to go off and ‘play’, or utilize the section, until their owners get home. [Read More…]
14.08.2017
Are you your dogs last limiting factor?In the end, if your dog is responding well to the recall on-lead, including with distraction, you may be finding a walk on the lead is just not enough to expend that pent up physical and mental energy. Well, at some point and it is up to you but a walk off the lead (obviously in a legally allowed area) is the natural progression for a fully enriching experience. [Read More…]
28.11.2016
How much walking would you recommend for my dog?Usually a lot more than you think.For a healthy dog, of every breed, I would be recommending two walks per day. [Read More…]
I’m happy using extendable leads for walking.Remembering my post about it being ok for your dog to walk in front (because a pack fans out and the leader leads from behind when out on the hunt) but not for your dog to be pulling and as such trying to lead.I find the more you try to rigidly restrict your dogs movements, just as with a human teenager, the more you get a resistance against this pressure and the more frustrated you become on the other end of the leash. [Read More…]
Be wary of ‘Group Walks’. The group of dogs may end up being one that, with their owners, have many issues that need dealing with. You then have a situation whereby these ‘negative’ behaviours are bouncing and reflecting either at that time or later on, upon your dog. I work to address the route cause of the individuals behaviour and believe the dynamic between owner and dog must first and foremost be healthy and successful (for both dog and owner) then we go out into the big wide world together…
© Dogs Best Friend Limited N.Z. 2024. Selina McIntyre of Dogs Best Friend, a qualified Dog Behaviourist & Dog Trainer in the Hamilton, Waikato, Tauranga and Rotorua areas of NZ since 2004.