Dogwarts K9 Academy

🙏 Thank you Zak George, well said 👏

Over the last few days, it feels like a firestorm has been unleashed. It’s clear that outdated dog training practices will no longer go unchallenged.

The release of a study using shock collars (cited below) has sparked unprecedented backlash and even made national headlines, and triggered a major reckoning within the dog training community. The study, seen by many as politically motivated, appears to have put dogs in harm's way to prove a point.

Professionals across the field agree that it should never have been approved by the ethics committee - and their fears were substantiated, given that every single dog in the shock collar group is documented to have yelped in pain while receiving shock collar “corrections”.

The outcry continues to build as more people in our field demand accountability and transparency. Reputations are being hit hard, institutions are facing scrutiny, and balanced trainers like Ivan Balabanov have been fully unmasked, revealing the harmful and outdated methods still being promoted under the guise of expertise.

This glaring evidence underlines what we’ve known all along: pain and fear have no place in professional dog training.

Let this serve as a stark reminder to those in our field who continue to promote outdated methods and deny the overwhelming scientific consensus. The community will no longer remain silent. The evidence is clear and we are moving beyond these harmful practices. Trainers who continue to use pain, fear, and intimidation in their methods do not deserve legitimacy in this field.

Ivan Balabanov, once considered a leader among "balanced" trainers, now faces intense scrutiny following his involvement in this study. It is now scientifically verified that 25% of the dogs he and his mentee worked with in the shock collar group could not be trained effectively, and 100% of those dogs yelped in pain.

This once again undermines the narrative propagated by many trainers who use shock collars and falsely claim that their methods "don’t hurt."

The reality is, the tools they promote rely on pain as a teaching mechanism, and better alternatives exist that teach dogs to comply enthusiastically without the need for fear or discomfort, and without the risks associated with using pain and fear to change an individual’s behavior.

For too long, the welfare of dog trainers has been placed above the welfare of dogs and the public. This has got to stop.

The campaign to expose outdated training methods, like those Ivan Balabanov will likely promote in his upcoming UK workshop, is gaining momentum. Even members of his own community are stunned by the facts that have come to light in this study.

This is not an effort to embarrass an individual but to stand up for the public and make it clear that the propaganda surrounding shock collars is just that — propaganda.

Below is a newly published article from Psychology Today that lays out the facts on the recent shock collar study. For those who think this is about social media “clout” or personal opinions, this article should clarify that our advocacy is rooted in concern for public and canine welfare.

I’ve always said, don’t take my word for it—look at the evidence. This article does just that: https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/animal-emotions/202409/is-balanced-training-fair-to-dogs-or-is-it-a-cop-out

And here is a link to the study in question: Johnson, A.C., & Wynne, C.D.L. (2024). “Comparison of the Efficacy and Welfare of Different Training Methods in Stopping Chasing Behavior in Dogs.” Animals, 14(18), 2632. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14182632

Based on the reaction to this study, another major domino has fallen in support of aversive dog training methods. This so-called "landmark study" will likely be remembered not for the efficacy of shock collars, but for exposing the unnecessary use of pain in dog training as a legitimate strategy.

We are prepared to provide support and education to those willing to update their methods in the interest of public health and safety. But make no mistake—those who refuse to be unequivocal in rejecting pain-based methods will face increasing scrutiny.

The livelihood of trainers promoting harmful practices is not our concern when it comes at the expense of dog welfare and public trust.

The time to end the misrepresentation of science-based training and to uphold welfare and ethics in dog training is long overdue. We are standing together for a better future for our industry, our dogs, and their guardians.

When one of your clients makes your day by sending you this 🙌

It's always so rewarding when our clients have fun, make great progress and take the time to let you know. 🐶💨 We’re delighted and excited to be welcoming them back for further classes 🐕

Thank you to all our amazing clients who trust us with their dogs' training journey. We appreciate each and every one of you ❤️

Resource Guarding - What it is, What not to do & What to do instead! Thank you Dogs Disclosed 🙏

DON’T TOUCH MY STUFF!
Resource guarding – also called possessive aggression

We all guard our resources, it’s a natural reaction to a threat of something we value being taken away.

It’s essential for survival and dogs or other animals would not survive in the wild if they didn’t guard their resources.

We also don’t get to decide what’s valuable and what’s not – different things have different value to different dogs and at different times.

Food is usually the most common, but toys, furniture, different items, places, or even a certain person are all things that may be seen as a valuable resource.

A dog turning their head away, freezing, a hard stare, whale eye, moving away, growling or snapping may quickly escalate into a serious bite in an attempt to protect that valuable possession.

Punishing or forcing a dog to give something up is probably one of the worst things to do.

Resource guarding is rooted in the emotion of fear – the fear of that resource being taken away.

Punishment and force further increase that fear, which only increases and reinforces the need to protect that resource.

When a dog is guarding food or an object, we can change the negative emotion of that fear into a positive one by swopping or trading something that has a similar or higher value than what the dog has.

This is one of the most effective ways to address resource guarding of objects as it works at the root cause of the behaviour by changing the emotional response.

A dog resource guarding a person is more complicated to address. A full history of the individual dog, family dynamics, attachment styles, situation and environment all have to be assessed before planning and working on a solution.

Resource guarding can usually be prevented, managed and addressed and by starting early, understanding why dogs feel the need to resort to this behaviour and doing what we can to prevent it from happening in the first place.

🥵 Today is already a hot one 🥵 What do you do to keep your dog cool during the summer months? 🐶

It’s tough on our dogs when the weather heats up and we need to careful so they don't get heat stroke, it can quickly happen and is an medical emergency when it does!

To help your dogs in this hot weather you could:

🆒Use cool mats
✇ Have fans around the home
🏠Spend lots of time indoors during the hottest parts of the day
🌳Provide plenty of access to shade
🌊💦 Paddling pools in the shade are a nice addition or being hosed down but keep sessions short and not during hottest parts of the day
⚽ Reduce activity, no high energy games.
🐕Walk your dogs very early in the morning, late in the evening or not at all, no dog has ever died of a missed walk, there is plenty you can do at home out of the danger of the heat.

🐾Don't forget, pavements are hot, hot, hot - many dogs have suffered burns to the pads of their feet. To test, place the back of your hand on the pavement for 7-10 seconds, if it's too painful for you, it will be too painful for your dog.

How are your dogs coping and what do you do to help them stay cool? 💖

🐶 Is your dog a sun lover or a shade seeker? 🐶

With the weather due to be warming up 🙏, we could finally be welcoming summer (but this is England after all so let's not get too carried away) If we are though, we do need to keep an extra eye on our dogs. 👀

There are plenty of dogs out there that love sunbathing, but they can quickly overheat if we’re not careful.

Dexter is a sun lover for sure whereas Coco has a sensible head on her shoulders and will seek shade at every opportunity.

But what side of the fence does your dog sit on? Let us know in the comments. 👇

Thank you Trailie Paws For Thought 🙏💓

ACEPROMAZINE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Acepromazine, also known as acetylpromazine, ACE, ACP, and PromAce, is a sedative which is often prescribed for anxious dogs to help them cope with fear of fireworks, thunderstorms and noise phobias. However, there is a strong case against its use due to concerns that it does nothing to address feelings of fear and anxiety, and in some cases, it can actually make things worse:

“dissociative agents, such as acepromazine, reduce the animal's general ability to process and elaborate environmental stimuli, which is likely to increase rather than decrease the animal's anxious response to the triggering stimulus” (Overall, 2013).

Acepromazine does not have anxiolytic properties, and while the mind remains alert, the body is sedated, which means that the dog is unable to communicate outward signs of how he is feeling, and may appear to be calm while feeling intense fear.

“Nowadays, authors agree that phenothiazines are not the drug of choice for the treatment fearful or phobic behaviors (long or short term), because they have poor anxiolytic activity, they induce marked sedation and even heighten the animals’ sensitivity to stimuli, while they have no means to escape due to the motor inhibition effects.”(Clough, 1982)

The use of Acepromazine has been found to make canine anxiety worse in the long term, with negative associations and experiences contributing to trauma of the original phobia. A range of health implications and serious side effects have also been reported, including making sound sensitivity worse.

“According to some authors, dogs may become more reactive to noise after treatment with ACP (Landsberg, 2003; Overall, 1997; Overall, 2002).

Despite these concerns, Acepromazine remains a go-to drug for some veterinarians, and has been in use for decades. However, sedatives are now considered an ineffective treatment for anxiety.

“Overall, it is therefore clear that phenothiazines are not appropriate medications for the treat- ment of anxious, fearful, or phobic animals because they have poor anxiolytic effect and produce marked sedation and potential sensitisation to the triggering stimuli”(Thompson, 1998).

You can read the full document here:
https://air.unimi.it/retrieve/dfa8b9a2-0700-748b-e053-3a05fe0a3a96/Management%20of%20specific%20fears%20and%20anxiety%20in%20the%20behavioural%20medicine%20of%20companion%20animals%20punctual%20use%20of%20psychoactive%20medications.pdf

The good news is that there are many other options available which you can discuss with your vet.

Remember:

*Advocate for your fearful dog if Ace is suggested.
*Consult with your vet about alternative medication options.
*Ensure that your dog's anxiety is thoroughly addressed.

As an aside, I just want to make it clear that this is in no way a criticism of the veterinary profession. My own vets are absolutely wonderful, and I consider myself very lucky to have them.

However, as an admin of two U.S based fb groups for fearful dogs, and a member of several more, the topic of ACE comes up on a very regular basis because it is STILL being offered as a treatment option for fearful dogs. In addition, in only the last couple of years, a “chill protocol” has been introduced which includes the use of ACE for fearful and aggressive dogs:

https://www.cliniciansbrief.com/article/chill-protocol-manage-aggressive-fearful-dogs

Please bear in mind that the focus of my page is to advocate for fearful, anxious and reactive dogs, and while we are very fortunate in the UK, there is still very much a need to share this information.

©️ Trailie Paws For Thought
www.trailiepawsforthought.com

I'm very happy for all of my content to be shared, but please do not copy and paste (to avoid sharing from source), screenshot, or download any part of it. THANK YOU! 🐾 🐾

💕 5 habits pet parents need to let go of today: 💕

❌ Walking the same route with your dog every single day.

❌ Rushing your dog around the block and not letting them have a whiff of their favourite tree.

❌ Ignoring your dog's body language and signals.

❌ Feeding your dog from the table during meals.

❌ Skipping regular training sessions because of a busy schedule.

Here's what to do instead:

✅ Mix up your walking routes to add more variety and enrichment for both you and your dog.

✅ Let your dog sniff! Give your dog time to check out the scents in their area.

✅ Pay attention to your dog's body language to better understand their needs and feelings.

✅ Teach mat skills so they learn to settle and not beg during meal times.

✅ Dedicate a few minutes each day to training sessions to reinforce good behaviour and get their brains working.

You're doing your best by your dog. We get that! But if you can relate to any of these habits, you now know what to do instead, we hope you'll give them a go!

Which habit will you be trying first? If you have anything to add, please do pop them in the comments below. 👇

🫢 Unleashing some truth talk today! 🫢

Every now and then, we encounter off-lead dogs with little to no recall skills, and it can be a real problem. These dogs often rush up to others, invading their personal space and while their owners shout, "It's okay, he's friendly!" this doesn't mean the other dog will enjoy or even tolerate this approach, especially if they are reactive or anxious. 😔

This situation puts everyone involved in a difficult position. Dogs who are reactive or anxious may feel cornered and stressed when an off-lead dog barrels into their space. As trainers, we work hard to create and encourage a safe and positive environment for all dogs, but these unexpected encounters can set back progress and create negative experiences for dogs who already struggle with anxiety or reactivity.

But it's not just the dogs who suffer - owners of reactive or anxious dogs feel the strain too. Walks are already stressful enough without the added worry of off-lead dogs approaching unpredictably. These unexpected encounters can turn what should be a pleasant outing into a source of anxiety and frustration for both the dog and their person. There are also those on-lead dogs that are not reactive or anxious generally but are instead recovering from an injury, making these encounters just as distressing and potentially harmful.

The sad thing is, this can be entirely avoided if everyone took the time to train their dogs to have a rock solid, reliable recall and kept them on a lead in areas where other dogs might be present. It's crucial to be considerate and understand that not all dogs enjoy or are able to cope with others invading their space. 💖

If you need any advice on recall training or managing off-lead interactions, please do get in touch with us via DM.

🥰 Today we’re celebrating! 🥰

I'm thrilled to announce that I am now a certified Separation Anxiety Specialist! This achievement allows me to help even more dogs and their families overcome the challenges of separation anxiety.

My passion has always been working with reactive and anxious dogs. I understand first hand how debilitating it can be to live with a dog that struggles with day-to-day life because I've been in those shoes myself. This certification means I can now provide even more comprehensive support to those who need it most.

Living with a dog that battles separation anxiety can be incredibly tough, but together, we can help your dog learn to cope better and live a happier, more relaxed life.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me on this journey. Your trust and encouragement fuel my passion for helping dogs in need. 🐾💖

😍 Well this was a nice surprise! 😍

Love, love, love a note one of our clients sent me that came to us for help with her highly reactive dog.

"So grateful to have found you and benefited from your wisdom - It has made a such a massive difference, thank you 🐾🐾" - Louise.

I can't tell you how much I adore receiving messages like these! 🤩 These clients have come such a long way and I am so very proud of everything they are achieving together.

👉 If you'd like to be one of our happy customers and get results that compel you to send messages like these, send us a message or book a free 15 minute call - We're ready to help you 📲

💖 Today is World Pet Memorial Day. 🐾

This is the day to remember and celebrate the much loved pets we have lost in our lives.

I know we're all about dogs here but we love cats too and two weeks ago today we had to say goodbye to this little firecracker and our Pride of 5 became 4 😢. So although we have lost too many beloved dogs and cats over the years that will always be held in our hearts, today felt fitting it should be about Tia 💔 She came into our lives when she was thrown from a car and abandoned, we don't know how old she was but we were lucky to have had her in our lives for 18 years. This fearless little tiger was tiny but very mighty with a character much larger than her tiny frame never hesitating to put any of the dogs, cats and even us in our place many times 💪😅 She will be forever loved, remembered and missed dearly😿

This day is to remind us that even though they are only in our lives for a short time, to take a moment to realise how important our pets are and why we should cherish them every day.

So if you’ve lost a pet, give yourself some space to honour all the memories you made together.

If you’re happy to do so, we’d love to see a picture of the pet you’re remembering today below or by sharing with us using

💕 I'm always open to chatting with you about anything you're going through right now. 💕

Don't forget, I'm a real person behind this profile. 👋

And I'm here to support you in any way I can.

So if you have any questions about:

🐾 How to manage your dog's reactive behaviour during walks.
🐾 How to create a more harmonious, calming environment at home with your dog.
🐾 Techniques to help your dog cope with anxiety and stress.
🐾 Strategies for gradual socialisation with other dogs.

Or you just need someone to listen. You're not alone and we're here for you.

Connect with us by dropping a question or comment below. Or feel free to DM us.

100% spot on 🎯 Dogs express themselves in so many ways, yet many people are very quick to silence the behaviour without considering the cause - Let your dog's have a voice, don't silence their communication but instead learn to understand what they are telling you, learn what they need so you can help them with kindness.

TY Sally Gutteridge 🙏

Many wonderful dog guardians go looking for dog trainers for help to change a dog’s behaviour which has become problematic, and if they find a good one, they learn the truth about how to meet their dog’s needs and change behaviour with compassion and understanding.

Sadly, dog training itself is a self-regulated industry, so there are many trainers and behaviourists around who miss out on the dog’s needs to create a behavioural change at the expense of the dog’s welfare.

A common example of this with terriers is anti-bark collars.

An anti-bark collar is a device designed to stop a dog from barking by delivering an unpleasant stimulus whenever the dog barks. These collars can use electric shocks, ultrasonic sounds, or citronella sprays to deter the dog from barking. While they might seem like a quick fix to a noisy problem, they are highly unethical.

The use of anti-bark collars ignores the root cause of the barking, which often stems from needs such as fear, anxiety, boredom, or the need for attention (we all need attention sometimes).

Instead of addressing these underlying issues, the collar punishes the dog for communicating. This punishment can lead to increased fear, anxiety, and stress, significantly impacting the dog's welfare.

Collars of this nature often result in suppression, where the dog stops barking not because the issue has been resolved, but because they are afraid of the results, afraid of what the collar does to them.

This suppression can lead to a buildup of stress and unresolved emotions, potentially causing more severe behavioural problems in the future. The use of such collars can damage the trust and bond between the dog and their guardian.

Dogs rely on their humans for safety and support, and the use of an anti-bark collar can lead to distrust and anxiety, causing confusion and distress for the dog.

A well-educated dog trainer will instead assess the mental, physical and physiological health and happiness of your dog.

They certainly won’t just introduce you to the best way to shut your dog up.

( An excerpt from Living With Terriers - an upcoming book release by Sally Gutteridge)