Adaptive Behaviour
Helping dogs and humans learn, adapt and thrive with science and kindness. I will adapt and modify to ensure you can achieve your goals.
I provide knowledgable, kind and committed behavioural and training help, especially for:
- New puppies and rescue dogs
- Life skills/manners training
- Socialisation
- Reactivity
Join a small-group class or sign up for a private program tailored for maximum success. To find out more, book a free 30minute discovery call at https://adaptivebehaviour.co.nz/discovery
Why work with me? I possess un
Loose leash walking is an essential life skill and a bit of an art - being able to move together through a sometimes very exciting world with a completely different species takes understanding, communication and connection.
The principles are simple:
1. Pulling is bad - don’t reinforce this
2. No pulling is good - reinforce this a lot
.. But unfortunately, the practicalities are not 😅. Once we start to walk (in ways inherently different to our canine buddies), and introduce distractions, actually doing these can get tricky!
We can prepare our dogs for loose leash walking by building up foundation skills like (engagement, moving together, releasing leash tension) - getting these solid before taking them out in the real world can make real walks easier.
Often because I’m lazy (or maybe just super efficient?), I skip the pretraining with my foster pups and we learn on the go. This video shows some of the tips and tricks I used to help Spot the foster, who had zero leash experience, learn to walk nicely in just over a week:
🐾 Helping him keep the leash loose as much as possible by handling the longline with two hands and gradually letting the line out when I could
🛑 Never pulling back on the line, only slowing him down (to a stop, if necessary) with gentle leash pressure if he started moving too fast and before he hit the end of the line
🍗 Reinforcing voluntary and incidental check-ins very well
🗣 Using clear and consistent cues to let him know what was happening and what I’d like him to do
🧠 Giving him time, space and support to process the environment and work through distractions
Does he still pull? Sometimes! But that's ok - he's still a baby - walking together is a never-ending conversation and process that develops with input from both ends of the leash.
Are you and your dog struggling with walks? I can help! Get in touch ❤️
16/08/2024
Looking forward to chatting with Adele and others about the client side of training/behaviour consulting this Sunday at 6:30!
You can register for Sunday's session at bit.ly/ACLL24 .
I (Erin) will be away doing anniversary things with my husband this Sunday. So, we have the wonderfully amazing Adele Curran guest-mentoring this week's session with Lavinia!
So, thank you, and welcome Adele!
Learn more about Adele:
Adele is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) with the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC). She began working with dogs in 2016 while completing a BSc Psychology at the University of Canterbury, alongside additional papers in Biochemistry, Animal Behaviour, Bioethics and Environmental ethics. Adele continues building her knowledge and skills, studying Canine Psychology & Behaviour (Ad. Dip.) with the ISCP, as well as studying through the Grisha Stewart Academy. She has attended numerous conferences and courses focusing on animal behaviour.
Adele is the duty manager at Christchurch Bull Breed Rescue. Alongside this role, she provides training and wellbeing support for dogs on site, her volunteer team, foster teams, adoptees, as well as engaging in community based dog education for children.
At this point in time, Adele has fostered and re-homed over 30 adult dogs with increasingly complex behavioural challenges, and more litters of puppies than she will admit to. Her current fosters are true long termers - Sunshine & Heath.
Adele also works with Sit Happens. Her main focus is on behaviour modification in complex behaviour cases, alongside clients looking to develop life skills. She teaches puppy foundation courses and facilitates social sessions for shy puppies.
14/08/2024
How is training/behaviour modification like landscaping? 🐶👩🏻🌾
We can cultivate a preferred behaviour repertoire by:
🪓🌳🪵Changing and managing the environment to distribute resources (reinforcement) and create structure that encourages the growth of preferred responses. By thoughtfully and carefully arranging the conditions in which they occur, we can scaffold more desirable behaviours and reduce the development of unwanted behaviours through (unwanted) reinforcement.
☘️🌻Considering the (adaptive) function of existing behaviours - just like how individuals best suited to the environment will be able to compete and thrive, the better our new preferred behaviours can fulfill the functions of the behaviours they’re replacing and meet the inherent needs created by the internal/external environment, the easier it will be for these behaviours to become established and be maintained.
🌾 Remembering that any gaps in the reinforcement landscape will be filled by naturally occurring behaviours - just removing/reducing unwanted behaviours without replacing them with functional, adaptive alternatives will create a behavioural vacuum that could result in the development of undesirable, “weeds".
🌱 Helping our new behaviours thrive by “feeding” them with reinforcement, and using proactive management to protect these while reducing and preventing the resurgence of unwanted competing responses.
EXAMPLE:
If we are wanting to stop a dog from jumping on people and instead teach them to sit to say hello, we can:
🟢 Arrange the context so all greetings happen through a barrier or on a leash so jumping up isn't able to occur and be reinforced. Management is your weedmat ◾️
🟢 Germinate the behaviour of "sitting" by building up this skill before planting it in the final context. We can improve the chances of successful transfer by acclimating the behaviour to the conditions of that final environment (e.g. practicing sitting greetings with boring people, by the front door without visitors, etc.)
🟢 Ensure we are meeting needs for stress release, arousal regulation and social interaction in other ways: these are all potential drivers and sources of reinforcement for jumping that could be feeding this unwanted behaviour.
🟢 Consistently and effectively reinforce sitting in the presence of people and continuing with controlled greetings management until our desired response (sitting to say hello) has become reliable and established (and has taken over that behavioural patch).
What do you think? How would you rate your behavioural groundskeeping?
How much further do you think I can stretch this analogy? 😅😁
13/08/2024
Development is happening near one of our walk spots, which means the landscape is changing.
Before, this riverbank was dense with natural growth. It's now cleared, with the exception of the large established trees, and replanted with preferred species (that ideally will meet the same ecological function, not just arbitrary human preferences). If left bare, plants that naturally thrive in this context (i.e. weeds) will take over by outcompeting less well-adapted individuals. You can see the supportive measures - protective plastic, mulch - used to help the new plants grow enough to be able to survive and hold their own.
Over time, the dynamics and interactions between the plants and environment will stabilise, though human input (e.g. weeding, replanting, fertilising) will likely be needed to maintain the preferred state, especially if it is not well suited to the environment, or there are gaps that need filling.
Can you see the connection to training and behaviour modification? 👀
What are you planting? What are your weeds?
Come back tomorrow for part 2!
12/08/2024
Come join us for a great client-centred discussion this Sunday!
Hi everyone! We have so many great topic ideas and questions rolling in and we are loving all of your thoughtful suggestions!
Join us this Sunday to discuss:
**The Human Side: Notes and follow-ups, using r+ for human client success, data collection strategies, and more!**
Sunday August 18 at 6:30pm NZT
Register here: bit.ly/ACLLPackage
POLL
(Free) Monthly QnAs - I've taken a bit of a break from these and am now reassessing their value/function (especially with evolving demands on my time). Interest to date has been relatively limited - shall I keep offering them?
Emoji responses:
😮 - What are these QnAs
❤️ - Yes! I am keen to join and Thurs nights are great for me
👍 - Yes but I prefer a different night (please specify preference)
😢 - No, I have no interest in these
ETA: please feel free to comment with any thoughts/feedback! 🙌
08/08/2024
One of my clients is having to rehome their beautiful retriever Ruby (through no fault of her own).
Ruby is a 4.5yr old Lukhan Gold Red Retriever, who is very loved and well behaved. She has a wonderful gentle nature, and is an eager learner. She's always been an inside dog that is used to someone being home during the day; she can be left for 3-4 hours. Ruby enjoys her daily walks, fetch and LOVES the ocean. She's been great with the kids she's met.
I had the pleasure of working with Ruby last year after a dog attack resulted in some mild reactivity (some barking, lunging). She's made huge progress since then (our last session she walked happily around and met dogs in Hagley Park). I'm happy to continue to provide support to her new family.
Ruby would love to find a new home with daytime company without any other pets, so she can get ALL the love and attention!
If Ruby might be the dog for you, please comment below and I will pass on contact details.
30/07/2024
👇👇👐🫶
Come join us this Sunday at 6:30pm NZT!
We will be chatting about complex reactivity/aggression cases and more!
New discussion topics each week.
Registation link in comments.
I had a great time at the Fun Day on Saturday chatting with cool dog people and meeting some beautiful well-mannered dogs. Thank you for organising and hosting!
Had a relaxing afternoon fun walk in the sun with two reactive dog clients that impressed us all with their "normal dog" behaviour 😁 - the fun walks are regular relaxed Red Zone adventures for my past and present clients to get together and hang out
On Sunday had more reactive dog fun at my Slightly Socials - three unfamiliar dogs with unique challenges around other dogs; all struggle with dogs in proximity in different ways, and all are learning how to manage and make prosocial choices - I managed to get some video of this! Can you see the shifts in body language, communication between dogs (and people) and how and when the dogs are self-regulating (with and without support from their humans)? So proud of these teams - it's wonderful to see their progress ❤️
24/07/2024
I'm going to be joining the CBBR fun day at Best for Pets this Saturday from 11-12!
Pop over to say hi and check out all the cool things (and maybe even enjoy some bully smushy cuddles 🥰😍❤️ tbh that's really why I'm going 😉😁)
Photos are fully booked, there are some harness fitting spaces available. Note down the times you wish to visit. Come and get a hot coffee and sausage!
Well, it's coming to the end of my trip away and it has been so interesting observing the dogs and culture around dogs here in Malaysia and Vietnam.
I've seen obviously pet dogs that are usuall small and fluffy, often dressed in sweaters (even if it's 35⁰!) and leashes, as well as kept dogs that are well fed but have the ability to roam and behave independently, and street dogs that do not seem to be attached to any humans.
For the most part, I've noticed dogs are neutral about most things. They will nap in shops and busy street corners, ignoring the crowds, share space with local cats without chasing, navigate streets and traffic with skill and without guidance (although I'm sure there are very strong selection pressures acting here), and interact with other dogs (strange and familiar) without drama. The dogs I saw barking at other dogs were usually restrained in some way (by leash, or fence), however people were not concerned at all by this (normal) behaviour.
The people here are much less dog-focused - dogs are generally ignored and left alone, lives too busy to devote much attention to them. It seems to be generally accepted that dogs may wander but will eventually come back. Resting dogs I thought were strays, would get up follow their person when they moved away (without any cues or communication).
Without a doubt, this world is very different to that of dogs in NZ and other Western cultures, and I can't help but wonder what life would be like for us, dogs and guardians, if we were able to offer our dogs similar agency and freedom to behave as they choose, without judgement and with less restriction? How could we do this, within the social boundaries we and our dogs have to operate in?
Some interesting food for thought!
I'm looking forward to getting back next week and diving into all things dog again - there is a lot of stuff happening! Watch this space for updates 🐕👀
20/06/2024
A fantastic opportunity this weekend! Friday is last chance to register!
It's not too late! Our 2-day conference is THIS weekend and registration is still open!
Where: ONLINE (recording will be available to all attendees).
CEUs available for full attendance:
- CCPDT: 9 CEUs for CPDT-KA/KSA
- KPA: 8 CEUs
- IAABC: Still pending
Cost: APDTNZ members: $150; Non-members $200
Registration closes Friday June 21 at 6:00pm: https://www.apdtnz.org.nz/2024-conference-registration
WHO and WHAT: Exceptional speakers Dr Zazie Todd and Laura Ryder will address the nuances of canine arousal, aggression, and overstimulation. Learn more: https://www.apdtnz.org.nz/speaker-profiles
We hope to see you there!
I've been wondering 🤔💭...
What do you like best about your dog?
What words would you use to describe your ideal dog-human relationship?
Post your answers in comments - I'm excited to see them!
17/06/2024
So excited for this!
17/06/2024
Hello dogs trainers, behaviour consultants and other dog professionals!
📣COMING AUGUST 2024! Dr Lavinia Tan of Adaptive Behaviour and I will be offering a weekly drop-in mentorship group through the Applied Canine Learning Lab.
When: Every Sunday evening (NZT)
Where: ONLINE
What: Learn new concepts, discuss and critically apply theory to practice, collaborate and brainstorm current cases in a safe, supportive environment.
Registrations open July 1 so stay tuned!
12/06/2024
If you'd like to learn more about consent and agency in dog-human relationships, then who better to learn from than international expert herself, Dr. Erin Jones!
It's what I'll be watching tonight 👀👀
Hi friends! I wanted to let you all know what's been going on of late:
🐶 Forte is feeling better and back to his usual self (✊🪵), so thank you to his care team all who sent healthy puppy vibes as they seem to have worked! 🤞🤞❤️
Last weekend, my car was broken into and my training bag (with gear) was stolen. Very upsetting/annoying 😮💨🤬. This means I'll have slightly less equipment for sessions and classes while I replace these items.
LASTLY 🔜👋 I'm going to be out of office with intermittent email access from 28 Jun-22 July. All affected memberships will be extended accordingly. I've also increased my availability if you'd like to squeeze in some top-up training before then.
I'm taking requests for group sessions on the Sat 22 June and will hold one (or more) if there's enough interest - comment below or send me a message if you're keen!
06/06/2024
Forte had a lovely session with Kathleen from The Balanced Dog Ltd yesterday. We've been battling multiple digestive and pain problems of late and so life has been a bit rough for him (and let's be honest, his human too).
Forte is a pretty tolerant dog and is fine with handling (even if he's not stoked about it), but will also very politely and obviously opt out of participating when he feels the need (by getting up and moving away), which I try to respect as much as possible.
I love Kathleen's patience and her willingness to adjust her approach to help her doggy clients feel comfortable. A few minor adjustments, like letting him lie on his own bed, made Forte a lot happier about treatment (and he even enjoyed a bit of a snooze - check out the pic in comments 🥰).
Thanks so much Kathleen for your care, kindness and expertise 🙌♥️
29/05/2024
Clara of Canine Care, Dog Training and Behaviour is making some beautiful leash belays!! 🤩😍🥳
22/05/2024
If you're wondering where Luna has disappeared to, she's found herself the most wonderful home with the bestest big doggy brother ❤️
More matwork!
Here's a snippet of Luna's first session learning to lie down on a mat with a verbal cue. Remember, dogs learn words through association - the word must be followed by, and consistently predict the behaviour (and a reinforcer after the behaviour).
Link to full video in comments.
Some tips:
🔷 Adding your cues is easier once your dog already knows how to do the final behaviour. We ideally want 100% association between your cue and the (desired) behaviour, so add your cue when you are certain you can/will get the behaviour to happen after.
🔶 Only give your cue once. If Luna doesn't go onto the mat straight away, I help (prompt) her onto the mat instead of repeating the cue multiple times.
🔷 Gradually introduce variability so the behaviour will generalise to different situations - remember the environment is also a cue! Dogs will pay attention to the cues most productive for them - if you want your dog to only respond to your verbal cues and nothing else, then your cue should be the clearest, most consistent and informative signal that predicts the best outcome.
06/05/2024
This amazing e-Book is currently free on Amazon! Thanks Sally Gutteridge ♥️
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=424543043775772&id=100086602389434
Inspiring Resilience in Fearful and Reactive Dogs #1 UK Amazon Bestseller Does your dog bark at everyone he sees? Are you trying hard to settle your dog on frantic, noisy walks? Do you live with canine reactivity and wish you could turn things around? Are you looking for a solution and guidance to properly help your worried best friend? Here it ...
21/04/2024
We enjoyed a marvellously sunny inaugural Super(vised) Social session at the Adaptive Paddock with two Luna(r)s and two ginger girls 🌞😎🐶 (I love twinning!👯). The pups had a great time strolling, sniffing and exploring together. We also worked on some recalls, and practiced playing "horses are boring" 🐴🥱😁.
Socialisation is not just about playtime! Relaxed hangouts, where other dogs are not the main focus, are great for meeting social needs while also encouraging calm, appropriate behaviour around other dogs.
If you're interested in joining a social session, get in touch! Is your dog not so social? No problem! I have Slightly Socials for those sensitive pups that need time and space too ♥️
When dogs go "WHOA" when we want them to go...
I often hear about dogs that will sometimes stop, lie down, become deadweight and refuse to move when/where their people want - super frustrating when you've got limited time and places to be, right? 😤
There is always a valid reason behind this behaviour - is movement painful, or uncomfortable, are they feeling nervous/anxious about the situation or desintation, or is it just more worthwhile and reinforcing to stay where they are? If we can figure out what's motivating the dog, it's easier to find a way forward that makes everyone happy.
Luna is reluctant to get in the car. She is a sensitive girl, and shuts down when there is physical (or emotional) pressure. Do I know why she doesn't like getting in the car? 🧐 Not at this stage, only that she is stressed and unwilling. However, I can still help her work through it in this moment (especially because we actually need to go).
In the past, Luna has been picked up when she'd turn into a stationary pancake. Efficient and effective from a human point of view, but removing Luna's choice and agency can be counterproductive when a dog is nervous or anxious.
Instead, I'm using Leslie Mcdevitt's 123 pattern game in this video to build up some momentum and movement, while also counterconditioning and reinforcing being around and approaching the car. I'm careful to give her space and options, so she only has to do what she is comfortable with.
Although getting Luna in the car voluntarily took slightly longer than just physically putting her in, it only took 2 extra minutes. This little bit of time and effort means that instead of breaking trust with unnecessary coercion and stress, I helped Luna experience nice things for approaching and getting in the car willingly, and increased her confidence and resilience. 🥳
Next time your dog asks to stop, instead of hurrying them along, try allowing them (and you) a bit of time and space to figure out what they need to get going again 🐶❤ Figuring out this piece of the training puzzle make reaching the solution a lot easier!
About me
My mission as an animal behaviourist is to help dogs and their owners live their best life.
I want to empower you with the knowledge and skills to:
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