 How many of you felt pressured at school? How many of you felt pressured at a Club that you couldn't keep up or do as well as the others there? I know I did and still do. I struggle with alot of things non Dog or animal related. Do I give up? Nope. Why? Because we have one life to live, if I give up or get mad I am not hurting anyone other than myself. The same applies to Dog Training, you get a Dog or a Puppy. You don't know eachother. If it is a Puppy, the Puppy has only been alive for months, if that in some cases. If you Rescue a Dog in most cases you do not know the whole background. Why is there such a rush to have a perfectly behaved Dog? It takes time and patience and love. Each time you get cross at your Dog because they are not learning or picking something up fast enough, you should step back, breathe and think hm what can I not do or what do I struggle with and apply this to your Dog. This will be the time to be honest with yourself. The Canine brain is very similar to the humans in some aspects, they sense when you are not happy with them and this makes the Dog feel even more stressed and confused. Dog Training is not a competition. Miyagis has no time limit on Training a Dog, it takes as long as it takes. And we are not striving for perfect, perfect does not exist, we are striving for a well behaved Dog, who you are happy with, not what anybody else thinks, but you, this is your best friend at the end of the day. So it is important to concentrate on yours and your Dogs relationship and not covet others :) Nothing is as perfect as it seems. 
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 Did you know because I have been Skydiving once, I can teach you how to Skydive. Did you know because I have been on a First Aid Course I am now a Paramedic? Did you know because I did a Fire Warden Course I am now a Firefighter..... Sounds ridiculous doesn't it. If you agree keep reading.
I went into Dog Training to help Dogs, to help families and to prevent Dogs being put to sleep. What I am up against. People who claim to be Dog Trainers after watching Victoria Stillwell and Ceaser Milan. How dangerous is this. When you stop to think about it logically, it is really really dangerous. On all reality TV (really bad example) but the Splash. They tell you not to try this at home. So do these two Dog Training programs. Why? Not because they do not want you to have fun, but for your safety and those around you. People seem to think they can post for advice to Facebook on Pet Selling Sites and don't seem to think maybe I should actually contact a Qualified Certified Insured Dog Trainer with recommendations (not necessarily me any Dog Trainer as this is a global issue). Then you have people left, right and centre handing out really really cringing advice. If people want to help, they should direct them to a Dog Trainer. If I cut my thumb off whilst cooking, I am not about to post it to Facebook to ask if I should attempt to sow it back on myself. Yes it really is just like that. One Dog I have been to has high aggression issues, he is very nervous aggressive and thinks he also owns the house and anybody who comes into it, this can literally be strangers. Said persons Cousin said "Oh, get a muzzle, worked wonders for our Dog." Problem = 2 entirely different breeds of Dogs, temperements and backgrounds. If this person had gone to purchase a Muzzle and backed the Dog into a corner, I believe truly this would have been his second victim requiring stitches. The other comment I hear alot is and this has happened more than I can count on my hand. "I am a German Shepherd Dog Trainer" Me; ????? If you are a Dog Trainer, you can train any breed of Dog, you do not select a breed of Dog to work with as you will be out of work! We do not read a book on the German Shepherd to become a Dog Trainer. And yes that is literally what I have been told by a few people. You can also not train any 2 dogs in the same way. There are so many factors to consider when training a Dog, as well as doing a mental Risk Assesment in your head constantly, especially if the Dog has a known Aggression history be it to other Dogs or Humans. We have to be qualified, we have to keep paying alot of money to keep up to date on courses (just like Teachers) to keep up with the current studies and findings. We have to be insured. We have to register our Profession with the Tax Man and our choice of a Registered Body, so we are held accountable. We have to show and prove ourselves that we can actually train Dogs. Something else I have found amongst Dog Training friends as well is that we do not bowl up to a random person with a Dog and introduce ourselves as a Dog Trainer, we are normal people in a job the same as anybody else, it is not a Status symbol. If you have issues with your Dog (such as aggression) the Dog Warden comes round and you say "Oh its OK I'm a Dog Trainer" she will check you out, she will want to see your credentials and your proof of employment, then she will also ask why as a Trainer you have an out of control Dog. It is so, so dangerous to hand out bad advice, claim a title that you haven't actually got, not just for the Dog, but for the person or the child or the animal the Dog hurts. This is not to be condescending or rude, but I am scared for people and their Dogs, I am scared more Dogs will wrongly be PTS. I am scared more people will end up bitten and terrified of Dogs and scared that more Dogs will become a statistic as aggressive or badly house trained or hard to Socialise, as this is not a fair view of any Dog or their breed. Enjoy Training, appreciate Training, Respect Training and have safe fun and a happy bond with your Dog :)  Alot of humans are grossed out by Dogs sniffing each others bums and genitals. But this behaviour is totally necessary for a Dog. True it may get you a Police Caution in the street but for a Dog this is a polite way to meet. So what do Dogs learn by doing this. Well they learn; what sex the other Dog is, when they last ate, what their temperement is like... they learn all they need to know about another Dog. When Dogs meet face to face (and those of you who know me will groan as it's my mantra 😉 when a Dog greets another Dog face to face it is like two boxers squaring up in the ring). It means one thing. Fight. It's rude for a Dog to do this. Polite for humans. Rude for Dogs. So next time your Dog dives for another Dogs bottom let it happen it's not crude it's just Dogs life 🐶
 How important is this topic? Today 2 things happened. I was given a dirty look for doing a focus exercise with a Dog I was walking with as a child not being watched by its mother tried to grab the dogs face. As I guided him into me she yanked her child away as though the Dog was in the wrong. Obama's Dog bit a child today. When the story came out. It's becuase the child grabbed him and kissed him on the lips. People accuse Dogs of being dangerous around children. If a Dog is socialised and trained correctly this couldn't be farther from the truth. However what about Parents being trained correctly. In watching their children instead of their phone? If the situation had been different today say... I was on my phone and wasn't watching the Dog. The child grabbed the Dog and the Dog bit. Who would be in the wrong.
A) Parent on phone not watching child B) Me for the same crime C) Both of us D) Child Me. If I hadn't of been watching the environment like a hawk like I always do. I would have been culpable. Not child. Not parent. Me. Why? Because I am in charge of the Dog. If you know of parents doing the same thing. Please educate them. It's not fair on the Dog nor child. Child is scarred for life. Dog is in nearly all situations PTS. This is not about all dogs not being or being good with children. This is about Parents not educating their children and then the worst happens 🐶 This has to be one of the worst episodes of the Dog Whisperer and no disrespect to Ceaser at all. I get this all the time. I want to be able to take food off my Dog. 🚫🚫🚫 Why? Why do you need to take food of your Dog. Referring back to the article I wrote about Wolves and the links to wolves. We know Ceaser follows the Monks of New Skete theories. We also know it's extremely dangerous to take food off not just a Dog but many animals. I also know quite a few humans who if you were to take food off them will either punch you or stab you with a fork. So imagine the frustration of a Dog when people keep taking their food off them after they have sat and waited for it as a command. That should be it. You've asked for a behaviour and then rewarded with a meal. I also hear "I like to take food off my Dog, because of the kids" So this is where boundaries need to be made. If the Dog is eating. The dog needs to be fed in either their crate or a room alone. Where the children cannot be near the Dog. If you continually take food off a Dog they are going to become increasingly worried about if they are going to get the back. Alot of people fear bloat in their Dog. By a human doing this to a Dog it increases the risk for bloat. Most dogs will eat their food. Wait. Find somewhere safe and then regurgitate their food to eat again at a slower rate. I have seen this alot; in different environments. By Dogs with a reason to be scared and do this and Dogs with no threat to them at all. Remember you don't need to "dominate" your Dog. In the Wolf world. The male which has fought off all the other males to mate the bitch (there is only 1 bitch to a group of Wolves) the other wolves respectfully wait for him to indicate he's ok for them to eat too. He does not dominate them, he doesn't need to dominate them. They know to wait. Once they begin eating he will not challenge them. So this should also apply to humans who like the Wolf theories applying to their pet Dogs. Watch the video and see how mad she gets. He will not have done this to her once. This will have been done to her 15 times before filming and probably had only 1 or 2 successful attempts before filming. Remember what you see on TV is not always real life. It is for entertainment purposes sadly. Which then puts people at risk 🐶 Also the RSPCA test Dogs by putting a rubber hand on a stick and try to take the bowl away from the Dog. If the DOG shows any aggression they are PTS which is really sad. Because they don't know how much or what that Dog has gone through with their meals. This is where the outlook on Dogs really needs to modernise and study the Dog as a whole approach much differently 🐕  Did you know there is no link between the Modern Wolf and the Dog? This is because any form of the Wolf that the Dog was related to in Asia pre ice age, became extinct. Then several new forms of Wolf came about across the globe. The earliest Dog skull dates back to 27,000 years ago! Scientists concluded that the first ever Dog jaw found is of an entirely different structure to the Wolf jaw and doesn't match any Wolf jaw from the same era or since. The theory of "Packs" comes from wait... not immediately Ceaser Milan but before him in the 70s people called the Monks of New Skete in the same era as Barbara Woodhouse. Both parties came up with rough and unpleasant ways to train Dogs but the Monks of New Skete came up with this theory that Dogs are pack animals like Wolves. Becuase there was no scientific findings like there is now. People just went along with them. How could they be wrong? There was even less channels on TV back then. So then by word of mouth and Trainers people then kept repeating this theory. Then in the millennium Ceaser Milan comes along and reinforces this to the next generations. But believing in this theory can be dangerous. In believing that Dogs are pack animals when they aren't they are human companion animals means that they become in danger from bad practices. Such as the Alpha theory which Wolf Specialists have even debunked in studies. Then bad training tips are given. Reinforce the Elder dog as a dominant dog... he is the alpha. No. This is so wrong. All your dogs are equal. You manage them. You can't withold food and make one dog feel unequal to the other (s) as this is when you will end up with serious issues and even severe aggression. Don't believe all you see on TV, Social Media and Books. The Internet and the library is a wealth of knowledge and Science books exploring genetics can offer a wealth of information and clarity. As well as scientific histories on Dogs, their breeds and behaviours 🐕
 Dog training is all about learning. It's all about learning what to do and what not to do. As human beings it is hard to not copy the media world and celebrities. This particular topic I'm thinking the Paris Hitlons of this world. It is not OK to pick up and carry your Dog. Dogs have 4 legs. They can walk. They need to walk. The only time a Dog should be carried is when it is unwell and your getting it somewhere. When a Dog is well. You shouldn't carry them. People have told me before that they used to carry their Dog until it nipped them on the nose. This is stress. Dogs need to be able to smell and investigate the world around them. Carrying them prohibits them from doing this. You are also teaching them it is too scary to meet other people and other Dogs. When they do finally come into contact with people and other Dogs your Dog goes crazy. I've seen excuses made for this and heard them all. The tell tale sign to a Trainer is the dog scrabbling up your leg when you claim you don't always carry them. It's hurting your Dog to be carrying them. Your not helping them or making them feel loved. Your creating a nervous wreck who is literally struggling with their own identity. Yes love your Dog. But remember as much as you love them they are a Dog. They eat different food than us, they toilet different to us, they have different toys to humans and treats, they have differing grooming needs. They play and socialise differently to humans and they enjoy life differently to humans. So please share this with your friends if they are guilty of this, love your Dog and treat your Dog as a family member just not as a human child 🙈
 Your Dog is an investment. Just like kids they have needs too and how you manage them defines them. Dog Training is a lifetime investment, the same as investing good values in your child. Training helps to stop unwanted behaviours, it helps you the owner to manage your Dog in a positive and interactive way making your bond stronger (and preventing door slamming 😜) and being taught how to socialise your Dog properly will help your Dog with manners, learning how to play and greet others and get stimulation and enjoyment from playing with their own species 🐶
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BlogFor Mutts & Mischief If you enjoy my blogs and
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Or are you looking for support and would like to get to know us better?
If the answer is yes then click the image below to join my free facebook group. What is Mutts & Mischief Community!
So it is what it says on the tin! Its a community that is international of clients and colleagues with the most supportive and friendly people on the planet. Dog Trainers and behaviourists from all over the world!
Why did I set up such a mammoth group?
I wanted to have a group exclusively for clients. For support and build on friendships from classes or individual consults. I want clients to see you are not alone with your dog and the problem you maybe having that you are not the first and won't be the last! I wanted a safe place where clients could trade stories good and bad in one place for free!
I also wanted a safe place for the trainers and behaviourists I mentor too.
Why do this for free?
Because when I say I offer an holistic service I really do. It isn't about the money it is about you and your dogs. You and your dogs are all that matter.
So I wanted to encourage people to do homework and build better quality relationships with their dogs. So 5 years ago I had a mad idea and set up the 100 days of dog training challenge in 2019. Once a day people would spend 5 minutes plus training their dog. Recording it and uploading their video onto the community. Every participant received a certificate.
What I didn't count on was how many professionals wanted to join and how fast word would spread. So in 2020 I set up a 366 days of dog training challenge.
We have clients in America, Greece, Norway, Denmark and Spain. We have Trainers from Greece, Norway, Isle of Wight, America and many more countries. As well as dog trainers and trainee behaviourists: I mentor all over the world.
So yes this group is free. It is still primarily for clients and for people to get to know me but we now have Pawsitive Wednesdays running, where I share a narrated free video tutorial for you to try with your dog and all are welcome to upload their video to the group for support from members!
What are you waiting for? Come and join us!!
So it is what it says on the tin! Its a community that is international of clients and colleagues with the most supportive and friendly people on the planet. Dog Trainers and behaviourists from all over the world!
Why did I set up such a mammoth group?
I wanted to have a group exclusively for clients. For support and build on friendships from classes or individual consults. I want clients to see you are not alone with your dog and the problem you maybe having that you are not the first and won't be the last! I wanted a safe place where clients could trade stories good and bad in one place for free!
I also wanted a safe place for the trainers and behaviourists I mentor too.
Why do this for free?
Because when I say I offer an holistic service I really do. It isn't about the money it is about you and your dogs. You and your dogs are all that matter.
So I wanted to encourage people to do homework and build better quality relationships with their dogs. So 5 years ago I had a mad idea and set up the 100 days of dog training challenge in 2019. Once a day people would spend 5 minutes plus training their dog. Recording it and uploading their video onto the community. Every participant received a certificate.
What I didn't count on was how many professionals wanted to join and how fast word would spread. So in 2020 I set up a 366 days of dog training challenge.
We have clients in America, Greece, Norway, Denmark and Spain. We have Trainers from Greece, Norway, Isle of Wight, America and many more countries. As well as dog trainers and trainee behaviourists: I mentor all over the world.
So yes this group is free. It is still primarily for clients and for people to get to know me but we now have Pawsitive Wednesdays running, where I share a narrated free video tutorial for you to try with your dog and all are welcome to upload their video to the group for support from members!
What are you waiting for? Come and join us!!
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