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?
Dogs with Cats
17.11.24
Dog Behaviour. Dog Training. Dogs Chasing. Chasing can become quite the obsession (particularly as the act encourages adrenaline production) think chasing cats, cars - these too can ‘run away’ swiftly allowing the perfect chance for a good fast chase for your dog! Even fixation on torch lights etc. can create a chase. Your dog can become more interested in chasing than in actually catching the object. It becomes quite the game BUT in the process, your dog can accidentally cause harm to themselves, property, or the poor bystander caught in the middle as they are on their mission.So where possible, in front of the ‘arousing stimulus’ get your dog to undertake some distracting tasks, 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). These commands could be a mini recall, into a ‘Hand touch’, then a ‘Leave'/back' etc as examples. You can build on these over time too.With this training, we are now making a positive association with the situation 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 adrenaline production) and as I have mentioned before, your dog loves play that includes you best of all, as well as sufficient exercise in general (including mental exercise/stimulation) - a good walk produces the calming chemical serotonin - to burn off pent up energy, behavioural issues can develop, interestingly tail chasing among the list … Selina McIntyre, Dog Behavioural Consultant and 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 🐾
29.06.24
Dog Training. Dog Behaviour. Teaching your dog the 'Leave' it command.
The ‘Leave’ -*This command is useful to get a dog to move back away from an animal (for example a cat or person - so the dog stops licking them if this is an issue) or object (inappropriate food for instance). Keep hold of an especially favourable treat (or super interesting toy) in your hand and wait for your dog to lose interest - which they will eventually. The instant your dog has turned to go away, exclaim “Leave!” and offer the object. Repeat at least ten times.Sometimes to get at least the first few ‘Leaves,’ we need to lower the value of the item if the dog just won’t leave it alone. This food or toy still needs to hold some value though, for it to be seen as reward for the ‘Leave’ action Selina McIntyre, Dog Behavioural Consultant & Dog Trainer, Dogs Best Friend. 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’ as well, check out https://selinamcintyre.podia.com/ for some online dog behaviour training, thank you.
01.03.24
Dog Behaviour. Dog Training. Helping your dog and cat get along -Ensure you have worked on basic training with your dog so you know you’ll have greater control when they are around your cat/s. A great command to teach for this is the 'Leave' - where the dog steps back away from an animal or object.Then, training and your dog's overall behaviour benefit from sufficient mental and physical exercise every day. Pent-up energy can be put to negative behaviour, like an increased likelihood of your dog fixating on and chasing your cat, as well as an overall higher level of tension and anxiety in your four-legged companion. Look to build a positive association with the other animal. When your dog comes into the room with your cat, have cat treats handy and dispense them while your cat can see your dog. Then vice-versa, treat your dog upon them seeing your cat if they are reacting well here. Though if your dog becomes highly excitable, remove them from the room to calm down. Then, make sure you have high resting places where your cat can easily and safely retreat away. Have your cats food, water and litter tray if required, where only they can access. If utilizing a crate for your dog, keep this away from your cat’s normal feeding/drinking/toileting/sleeping area’s and your cat’s access to the outdoors (cat door) if possible.Importantly, never punish either animal for aggressive behaviour here as a negative association can form with the other animal, 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 with Harpercollins, 'Big Dog, Small Dog - Make your dog happier by being understood,' thank you :-)
18.06.23Dog Training. Dog Behaviour. Teaching the 'Watch' or 'Look' CommandTeaching the super useful command, 'Watch' -(This is to watch your eyes, for focus in the situation and can be useful before asking other commands, such as the Recall).Get your dog in front of you, either sitting or standing and say their name sharply in a commanding but friendly tone. Immediately offer a treat, do this once or twice. Then the third time, bring the treat up quickly just in front of your eyes, tell them to “Watch” as soon as they look at you (their eyes will be following the movement of the treat) then you can say, “Good dog” and give them the treat.Add the movement of your hand with the treat, back to your dogs face and up to your eyes. After a few repetitions, alternate the command without a treat (though never completely eliminate treats from training, to keep your dog on their toes).Your dog will get so that they watch your eyes regardless of whether you have a treat, when you command the ‘Watch.' Selina McIntyre, Dog Behavioural Consultant & Dog Trainer, Dogs Best Friend. For more dog training and behavioural 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 🙂
13.02.2021
Dogs with a fixation on cats -You can use a deep guttural “Bah!” and clap of your hands (if able) as soon as you see your dogs behaviour modify, to when their body stiffens and their pupils dilate (go wide eyed). ‘Ranting/screaming’ at your dog or physically handling them when they are in this state will only heighten the excited energy present.You may need to train your dog to be relatively calm on a lead first in front of cats. [Read More…]
Admin - 06:40:50 @ With Cats..., 'Obedience' Type Command Instruction
25.07.2020
Watch out for cuing/signalling for a negative response in your dog …Try not to tighten and tense up your dogs lead when you spot another dog in the distance (this also applies to spotting other animals or people) and usually a road crossing is not needing when discovering them either ;-) These actions only perpetuate the signals to your dog, that yes indeed, there must be something off with that ‘creature’ if we are to ‘react’ this way.Another, slightly different way to look at cuing is -When you put your dog back on their lead after a recall, try if you can, to leave the lead 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 - your dog has lost all that freedom, Selina McIntyre, Dog Behavioural Consultant & Dog Trainer, Dogs Best Friend.
Admin - 11:32:54 @ With Cats..., Reactionary Behaviour, Strangers
28.11.2016
One problem with aversive collars (Shock, Choke, Citronella Spray)I have found over the years in this Consultancy is that it can be a very easy and speedy process for a dog to develop and learn a negative association with the creature (human or other) or object, present when the gadget (of particular effect Shock Collars) is used.Then, a negative reaction is almost ‘flagged’ for that inadvertent person or object and extensive retraining to build a more ‘normal’ or neutral response again may have to be undertaken.I would rather get to the bottom of your situation, for long term change,Selina McIntyre, Dog Behavioural Consultant & Dog Trainer, Dogs Best Friend.
Admin - 18:48:05 @ With Cats..., The problem with gadgets in effective dog training, Reactionary Behaviour
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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.