Out Of The Doghouse

11/09/2024

A video short showing the training starting young - 1 month old. I've watched a number of these videos & I'm impressed.

10/02/2024

Reactive Dogs.
About 4 months ago I bought a beautiful dog, but he has challenged me more than any dog I have tried to train - usually I am done within weeks. He's called Blue.

Blue appeared calm, but looking back I realise he wasn't, so learning was hard for him.

There are loads of things I have successfully taught him, including heeling. He had no concept of this, it seemed, and didn't want to. If I pulled him back, he pulled harder! For the first month or so, I couldn't hold him so determined he was, and I was seen regularly sitting on him if he wanted to do something I didn't think wise eg at the vets!.

The most important problem, to me, is his overfriendliness with other dogs: his main aim is to mount any dog. The dog can be 300 m away, or nearby, it doesn't make any difference. For the first 3 months there was never any aggression in him, no matter how mad the other dog was at his antics. This has started to change.

He was also determined to get to horses, cows, birds high in the sky - he has even spent 20 mins chasing the moon (which I thought was cute!)

I've just come across this brilliant article on desensitising reactive dogs. The reason I say it is brilliant is it has more suggestions than many articles and videos, that often all give the same info.

This information, link below, for example, gives several ways to get your dog "below threshold" (if you don't know exactly what this means, it is explained in the article). Most blogs, articles or videos just suggest distance: distance doens't always work. Here they suggest a couple of other things including putting an object like a car or tree between your dog and it's trigger.

If you know someone with a reactive dog, share this with them!

Here is a liink to the article: https://www.k9ofmine.com/dog-desensitization/

17/01/2024

I live to see how much more fun we'll trained dogs have! This is about a bus that picks up dogs to take them for walks.

https://www.facebook.com/TheAnimalClub.net/videos/714366854003861/?app=fbl

01/11/2023

I have taken on a dog that is very reactive to all Beings! And also to dog smells. I have got him trained well in the house, but anywhere a dog has been and there are smells and he shuts his ears & gets very excited! I am happy for him to be excited, hyperactive (that's being a dog to me!), and want fun.

I am not happy when he doesn't come back & other dog owners are distressed because he hassles their dog!

Can you relate to this?

So I have looked into calming products. And chosen one.

The criteria for me were as natural as possible, with as few fillers, packers, gums, and chemicals put in to hold tablets together, whilst balancing with effective.

Here are 2 I thought sounded good:

https://www.dorwest.com/product/calming-combo-pack-med/

https://yumove.co.uk/products/yucalm-dog

and the one I chose to try first. This one is good for other things and also doesn't have a several week lead in to be totally effective:

https://proflax.co.uk/products/omega-calm-available-from-24-november?variant=41505579794585

If you try any of these or have tried any, do let people know in the comments.

16/10/2023

Increase your dog's health.

Easy to make bone broth is particularly good for joints.

They say to throw away the fat - I believe the fat is good as it has a lot of nutrients in it. I also believe there will be nutrients left in the bones. The beauty is you can do your own research or make your own choice.

Bone broth is a pot full of delicious and nutritious minerals and nutrients that dogs love. Here's an easy bone broth recipe for dogs.

14/08/2023

Some of my clients find it difficult to tell the difference between a play growl & a threatening growl. Likewise some find it tricky to distinguish between a play fight & a real fight.

Not knowing the difference means the owner may inhibit or even tell their dog off for playing. Playing is a way of releasing tension, amongst other advantages.

Can you tell which this is, and what makes you think that? I'd love to hear below in the comments.

Part of what I do is teach owners to recognise different body languages, so they can read a situation asap.

26/05/2023

Do you treat your dog like a child? If yes, do you get the behaviour you want? See this funny video!

Dogs are either leaders or followers. To be obedient they need to be a follower. You can influence that with 99% of dogs. Do you believe they can be your "baby" and be a follower? Leave a comment!

Immediately after mother’s day..

15/03/2023

I've just come across this trainer and so far I like what I have seen. I have also used dog training techniques with children, with surprising success!

Dan Abdelnoor compares parenting to rearing dogs | New Zealand's Woman's Weekly content brought to you by Now to Love

29/08/2022

The number of owners wanting guidance to have an excellently behaved dog is on the increase. If you know anyone who wants support please check out my services.

I teach tools and techniques that use dog language to get owner's dogs to be willing to obey. You can choose when to give them freedom and when you want them to obey, rather than thinking you have to choose between the two.

Get in touch if you want to know more

15/07/2022

UPDATE:
If you want a new reliable home boarder, don't book Fit Dogs (Haverfordwest):

When I tried out as a home boarding service, I booked 3 weeks in advance. We went through the usual home boarding procedure of Dewy getting to know them, filling in forms etc. 3 days before I was due to go on holiday, I recieved a whatsapp message to say that a regular had been given Dewy's slot, and they needed to prioritise their regular. I tried to speak to them and didn't get an answer or call back. They were not going to look after my dog and only gave me 3 days notice, I can no longer recommend Fit Dogs, as I have below, for reliable home boarding. I am very sad about this.

Day Care & Walking for Dogs.

The important things to me, as a dog behaviourist, is that the dogs get enough social and exercise. What is enough? I recommend 2 hours a day off the lead for most dogs I work with (once we have them safe enough to be let off - which doesn't take long usually). Of course the amount does depend upon the dog & it's age, breed, health etc - feel free to contact me to ask.

Many websites, or even vets, recommend much less these days than they used to. That is probaly easier for the human, but do you get as well adjusted a dog, that is as healthy as it can be? You are probably reading this because you care about your dogs health and welbeing.

Last week I hooked up with of Fit Dogs - Pembrokeshire, and I was really impressed! She had her boarders, day care and dogs she was walking all together. They were all off the lead, while she jogged the paths near Rosebush! They get 2 hours. It was a hot day but she had regular watering holes that the dogs could plunge into or drink from, to stay happy & safe. Have a look at her page for regular fab photos of the great time her dogs have.

Her FB page says: Dog Walking Adventures, Luxury home from home sleep overs & daycare where guests become part of the family...

In a few weeks I will be going over to see the dogs at her home.

She tells me she has one or two dogs boarding at a time, for £30 / 24 hrs. Her day care costs are £22, and the 2 hour dog walk (plus journey time on top) depends upon the distance. It was £17 for a dog that was on her route - which I think is remarkable for all the fun they have.

It was wonderful to see the 7 or so dogs together, in a pack, and my dog fitted in easily. Steph, and other Home Boarder establishments like to meet the dogs a few times, to check that they will fit in, also so the dog isn't left with someone they don't know.

Other Home Boarders I spoke to on the phone from around South Wales and over to Bristol, all varied on exercise. From half an hour on the lead upwards. Some said they didn't have insurance for off the lead exercise outside of the secure enclosure at their home. Other's were concerned if a dog didn't know an area.

When I train dog owners, it is important to me that I can train them off the lead as well as on, so I am fully ensured for off lead work in any area.

14/12/2020

Hannah Malloy feels strongly about classifying dog trainers as key workers, due to the puppy explosion, and agressive dogs (who need to be understood and treated differently so they are no longer agressive).

What do you think?

08/07/2020

Just saw this photo that a friend took of my dog Dewy, and was struck by it - so I am sharing it with dog loving friends, in case any of you love it too.