Animal Basics

Please note the puppy course is now due to start NEXT Saturday at 10.35am. if you have a puppy 20 weeks and under they are welcome to join. I am happy to answer any questions you may have.
Puppy progress will start after the puppy course has completed.
my contact number is 07790996791.
Training is reward based. I look forward to hearing from you.

If you have booked onto the Bicknoller Puppy training please confirm that you have received your joining information.
Thank you.

Next Friday 6th September I am running an individual training day. If you would like to book a session please get in touch. The day will start at 9.30am you can book either a half hour 121 or a 1hour individual session. Bookings will be taken on a first come basis. payment needs to be paid before the day. If you have any questions please send me a message or give me a call. Telephone 07790996791/ 01823 432334.
All training is reward based using play, toys, games etc.

A gentle reminder that there is NO training tomorrow. I hope you all enjoy your day.

Hopefully you will have seen on my website that I am taking a minibreak to recharge and have some special catch up time with my sister.
I am away from the 13th August and back working on Monday 19th August.

I am away on Saturday 24th August SO NO TRAINING on the 24th
August.

I am also away on the 29th, 30th and 31st August for my Birthday.

Then it is back to normal!

To Animal basics Members

Knowledge about dog behaviour is important. It's a no brainer. But why? 🤔

Well, understanding dog behaviour is crucial in effective dog training for several reasons. A deep knowledge of canine behaviour allows trainers & behaviourists to create effective, humane, and tailored training programmes. Here are the primary reasons why this knowledge is essential:

⚠️ Understanding Canine Communication.

Dogs communicate primarily through body language and vocalisations. A deep understanding of these communication methods helps to interpret what a dog is feeling or intending, which is crucial for effective training.

Body Language. Knowing the nuances of a dog’s body language, such as tail position, ear orientation, and posture, can indicate whether the dog is relaxed, anxious, or aggressive. For instance, a wagging tail doesn't always mean a dog is happy; the context and type of wag are important indicators of the dog's emotional state.

Vocalisations. Different barks, growls, and whines have distinct meanings. Recognising these sounds allows trainers to respond appropriately to a dog’s needs and emotions, facilitating better communication and training outcomes.

⚠️ Addressing Behavioural Issues.

Behavioural issues such as aggression, anxiety, and excessive barking can stem from various causes, including fear, territoriality, or past trauma. Understanding the root causes of these behaviours is essential for developing effective intervention strategies.

Anxiety. Recognising signs of anxiety and understanding its triggers (e.g., separation anxiety, noise phobia) helps in designing desensitisation and counterconditioning programmes to alleviate the dog’s stress.

⚠️ Understanding the importance and relevance of health and wellbeing vs behaviour.

Physical & mental health do impact dog behaviour more than people realise. Considering possible pain, discomfort, nutrition, appetite amount of physical activity and mental health is absolutely critical before any training can start.

⚠️ Implementing Positive Reinforcement Techniques.

A comprehensive knowledge of dog behaviour supports the use of positive reinforcement techniques, which are based on rewarding desired behaviours to encourage their repetition.

Timing and Consistency. Understanding the importance of immediate and consistent reinforcement helps trainers effectively shape and reinforce desired behaviours. This is critical as dogs learn best when there is a clear and immediate connection between their behaviour and the reward.

Motivation. Knowing what motivates a particular dog, whether it’s food, toys, or affection, allows trainers to tailor their approach to each dog’s preferences, making training more effective and engaging.

⚠️ Building Trust and Relationship.

Effective, kind and modern dog training is built on a foundation of trust between the dog and the trainer. Deep knowledge of dog behaviour helps in establishing this trust by ensuring that training methods are humane and respectful.

Avoiding Negative Methods. Understanding the detrimental effects of punishment and negative reinforcement encourages trainers to avoid these methods, which can damage the dog-trainer relationship and lead to fear or aggression.

Empathy and Respect. Recognising and respecting a dog’s individual temperament and limits fosters a positive training environment, enhancing the bond between the dog and the trainer.

⚠️ Customising Training Programs.

Dogs, like humans, have individual personalities and learning styles. Knowledge of dog behaviour enables trainers to customise training programmes to suit the specific needs and characteristics of each dog.

Breed-Specific Traits. Different breeds have distinct behavioural traits and predispositions. For example, herding breeds may require more mental stimulation, while scent hounds may need activities that engage their sense of smell.

Individual Differences. Beyond breed traits, individual dogs have unique personalities. Some may be more timid or excitable than others. Tailoring training to these individual differences ensures more effective and humane outcomes.

⚠️ Preventing and Managing Problem Behaviours

Understanding the natural behaviours of dogs helps in preventing and managing problem behaviours before they become ingrained.

Early Intervention. Recognising early signs of behavioural issues allows for timely intervention, preventing the escalation of undesirable behaviours.

Environmental Management: Knowledge of dog behaviour informs environmental management strategies, such as providing adequate exercise, mental stimulation, and safe spaces, which are critical for preventing behavioural problems.

Knowledge about dog behaviour is important. It's a no brainer. But why? 🤔

Well, understanding dog behaviour is crucial in effective dog training for several reasons. A deep knowledge of canine behaviour allows trainers & behaviourists to create effective, humane, and tailored training programmes. Here are the primary reasons why this knowledge is essential:

⚠️ Understanding Canine Communication.

Dogs communicate primarily through body language and vocalisations. A deep understanding of these communication methods helps to interpret what a dog is feeling or intending, which is crucial for effective training.

Body Language. Knowing the nuances of a dog’s body language, such as tail position, ear orientation, and posture, can indicate whether the dog is relaxed, anxious, or aggressive. For instance, a wagging tail doesn't always mean a dog is happy; the context and type of wag are important indicators of the dog's emotional state.

Vocalisations. Different barks, growls, and whines have distinct meanings. Recognising these sounds allows trainers to respond appropriately to a dog’s needs and emotions, facilitating better communication and training outcomes.

⚠️ Addressing Behavioural Issues.

Behavioural issues such as aggression, anxiety, and excessive barking can stem from various causes, including fear, territoriality, or past trauma. Understanding the root causes of these behaviours is essential for developing effective intervention strategies.

Anxiety. Recognising signs of anxiety and understanding its triggers (e.g., separation anxiety, noise phobia) helps in designing desensitisation and counterconditioning programmes to alleviate the dog’s stress.

⚠️ Understanding the importance and relevance of health and wellbeing vs behaviour.

Physical & mental health do impact dog behaviour more than people realise. Considering possible pain, discomfort, nutrition, appetite amount of physical activity and mental health is absolutely critical before any training can start.

⚠️ Implementing Positive Reinforcement Techniques.

A comprehensive knowledge of dog behaviour supports the use of positive reinforcement techniques, which are based on rewarding desired behaviours to encourage their repetition.

Timing and Consistency. Understanding the importance of immediate and consistent reinforcement helps trainers effectively shape and reinforce desired behaviours. This is critical as dogs learn best when there is a clear and immediate connection between their behaviour and the reward.

Motivation. Knowing what motivates a particular dog, whether it’s food, toys, or affection, allows trainers to tailor their approach to each dog’s preferences, making training more effective and engaging.

⚠️ Building Trust and Relationship.

Effective, kind and modern dog training is built on a foundation of trust between the dog and the trainer. Deep knowledge of dog behaviour helps in establishing this trust by ensuring that training methods are humane and respectful.

Avoiding Negative Methods. Understanding the detrimental effects of punishment and negative reinforcement encourages trainers to avoid these methods, which can damage the dog-trainer relationship and lead to fear or aggression.

Empathy and Respect. Recognising and respecting a dog’s individual temperament and limits fosters a positive training environment, enhancing the bond between the dog and the trainer.

⚠️ Customising Training Programs.

Dogs, like humans, have individual personalities and learning styles. Knowledge of dog behaviour enables trainers to customise training programmes to suit the specific needs and characteristics of each dog.

Breed-Specific Traits. Different breeds have distinct behavioural traits and predispositions. For example, herding breeds may require more mental stimulation, while scent hounds may need activities that engage their sense of smell.

Individual Differences. Beyond breed traits, individual dogs have unique personalities. Some may be more timid or excitable than others. Tailoring training to these individual differences ensures more effective and humane outcomes.

⚠️ Preventing and Managing Problem Behaviours

Understanding the natural behaviours of dogs helps in preventing and managing problem behaviours before they become ingrained.

Early Intervention. Recognising early signs of behavioural issues allows for timely intervention, preventing the escalation of undesirable behaviours.

Environmental Management: Knowledge of dog behaviour informs environmental management strategies, such as providing adequate exercise, mental stimulation, and safe spaces, which are critical for preventing behavioural problems.

Please note NO TRAINING TODAY DUE TO THIS AWFUL WEATHER. Please let me know when you have seen this post. Thank you.

Good morning to you all. At the moment I am NOT cancelling training as the forecast will probably change during the day. I will aim to update later. Please keep my number handy so that you can check with me before you leave home, if you have not heard from me, or seen a post My number is 07790996791 / 01823 432334. The weather has to improve at some point! The mobile is the number to call. Fingers crossed for later. Any questions just call me.

The forecast is not looking great for tomorrow. I will review tomorrow morning and make a decision as to if we can go ahead with training. Please note Canine Connections will now be at 6.15pm to 7.15pm. If you have not sent me three things that you would like to focus on please send them to me tomorrow.
Thank you.

Please can everyone who has booked on for the new training tonight confirm if you are able to come. ASAP thank you.

If you would like to book an individual training session today you can call - 07790996791 or send a message via Face book messenger. do bring plenty of water for your dog/s and yourself.

I will be heading down in a few minutes to Minehead The post code for Periton Park court riding Stables is TA24 8SN

A change of plan for tomorrow due to a change in my circumstances. I will be running individual sessions. The morning sessions will start at 10am and finish around 1.30pm. for lunch.
You can book a 1/2hr session at £28 or a one hour individual session at £50.
The afternoon sessions will start at 2pm and run to 5pm.
you will need to bring water, bowl, food/ toys/ a mat for your dog to settle on. A normal dog collar or suitable fitting harness that allows freedom of movement at the shoulders.

The sessions will be at Periton Park court riding stables. Any questions please give a call.

Starting on Monday 24th June at 5pm to 6pm 6 week Puppy course for puppies 20 weeks and under.

Puppy Progress 6.15 to 7.15pm follow on from the Puppy course

Canine Connections 7.30 to 8.30pm. Helping to grow your relationship with your adolescent dog.

Puppy Progress 1.15pm to 2.15pm on a Saturday afternoon.

1.15pm Building on what your puppies have learnt so far.

A good article to read and then really think about what you have just read and how you can use it going forward to help build your relationship with your dog/s.

YOU CANNOT TRAIN A NEED OUT OF A DOG

I am a fan of training in general – which shouldn’t surprise anyone, because after all I am a “dog trainer”. In fact, I begin some sort of training with my dogs from the time they come home as little pups and I continue right into old age.

But perhaps that is because I view training as a way of building connection and providing enrichment, rather than a way of achieving control and “obedience”. Training is an activity that my dogs love and it is an opportunity to connect and do fun things together. Stopping training as they age, would be taking away an enrichment activity that they thrive on, so we keep going, simply adjusting to what they can cope with and what they particularly enjoy.

However, I am also a behaviour practitioner. I have been educated to view animals, not just as operant machines, but as creatures with rich emotional lives. I recognise the fact that behaviour is the expression of a need and the outpouring of an emotion. I believe that having this perspective and deeper knowledge of what drives behaviour makes me a better trainer, because I am aware that there is so much more than just observable behaviour to consider when working with any animal.

Unfortunately, people often use training as a way of making things look better, without actually making them any better on a deeper level – kind of like painting over the cracks in a house when its foundations are crumbling. It might look better for a while, but the entire structure is still unstable and at some point, it is bound to collapse.

Except it is far worse than a crumbling house, because dogs are sentient beings that deserve better than having their underlying emotions ignored. Trying to cover up signs of anxiety, frustration or deprivation by teaching polite behaviours is incredibly cruel and selfish.

Too often I see posts in positive reinforcement-based training groups where people are seeking advice to address a “problem” behaviour and, despite the very obvious signs that the dog in the post is struggling because a fundamental need is not being met, the advice given always focuses purely on training away the behaviour, rather than addressing the underlying need.

I find it incredibly sad and actually quite distressing, that so many dogs are desperately trying to communicate what they need and all supposedly knowledgeable people can focus on is how to stop them expressing that need – even if it is in a “nice” way.

Let me be clear, no amount of “training” is going to stop a dog from showing some signs of extreme boredom or distress, if you leave them alone daily for 8 – 10 hours. Dogs are social animals and you cannot train this out of them. A dog getting overexcited when they interact with you, if they spend hours separated from you outdoors or stuck in a crate, is NOT a training issue – it is a welfare issue. Long periods of confinement and isolation are detrimental to dogs – they were not built for this and trying to train them to accept it is fundamentally unfair. You also cannot expect a dog that never has any freedom of movement when out and about to walk “to heel” all the time. Dogs need to move, to run and to explore and expecting them to spend every walk on a 1 metre leash at your side with no tension on that lead as a means of exercise is completely absurd.

Dogs have fundamental needs for companionship, security, freedom of movement and exploration, among other things. You cannot train these needs out of them and trying to do so is incredibly unfair. Meeting your dogs’ emotional needs is how you go about building a strong foundation for their emotional and behavioural wellbeing, as well as your relationship with them. Training should be a means of enhancing and making that well-built foundation shine – not a way of covering up its cracks.

Shared from Four Seasons Holistic Veterinary care

Sharing as very helpful advice.

🐕 Oil Seed R**e is NOT highly toxic to dogs. The scent can be overpowering, causing dogs to get lost. Some dogs suffer allergic reactions to the sap, and they'll probably throw up if they eat it. But it isn't deadly. However, please keep your dog on the footpath through r**e (and any other crops) as any damage causes farmers to lose money.
🐕 Ice is NOT deadly. If it's a warm day, your dog might enjoy some ice in their water bowl or a frozen treat. Freezing food stuffed toys makes them last longer. Raggies soaked in chicken broth and frozen are great for teething. But if your dog is suffering heat exhaustion, avoid ice. The shock of icy water on the stomach could cause vomiting and further dehydration.
🐕 Adders are rarely deadly, but their bites cause very unpleasant and painful wounds. If you suspect an adder bite.call your vet and get there as soon as possible. Carry or stretcher your dog if possible. Cool water might soothe the pain a little, but don't delay getting to the vet. Antivenom is not essential, but your vet will know where the nearest supply is if necessary. Adder bells probably don't work, walking with a stick (which vibrates the ground), and keeping your dog on the path is safest.
🐕Most garden bulbs are NOT deadly. A nibble of a daffodil or bluebell leaf may cause stomach irritation, that's all. Eating a large amount of bulbs could be dangerous. Some garden plants, including Foxglove, Lily of the Valley, and Oleander, are toxic in small quantities and should be avoided.
🐕 Ticks must only be removed with a suitable tick hook or similar tool. They must never be smothered in liquid soap, doused in alcohol, burnt, or squashed. If the tick is disturbed it is more likely to infect your pet (or you!) if it is carrying disease.

Please remember NO Training on Bank Holiday Monday. I Hope you all have a great weekend.

There will be no training next Monday as it is a Bank holiday. I hope you all have a very enjoyable day.