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Millie is an elder Jack Russell and she is extremely Dog reactive. I have been working with Millies family as some of you who follow the page will have seen. On Friday I took Millie and Diesel out on my own as her humans were poorly to help her with her reactivity and this was the result. Millie your a rock star. Still a way to go but this is massive. Any Dog any age any Breed can be reconditioned when handled and trained properly and safely
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 Alot of people like the idea of Training. They like the idea their Dog will be well behaved and obedient or stop reacting to other Dogs or people in some cases. What alot of people don't realise. The ones who are impatient or do a bit of Training and then cancel or don't continue with it are the ones who's Dogs will not succeed sadly. So many of us Trainers see it, people start off with good intentions but then x, y, and z happens. And they seem to forget the Trainer was there on the side lines prepared for the call that never came. Then these people switch to harsh fast methods and say that positive training didn't work. But for positive training to work first they have to a) attend their sessions and b) do their homework and put the effort in themselves. There is no magic wand. And as Lewis Nicholls describes even if aversive methods are used. People will still have to come back to positive training to help recondition their Dog and this is a much longer path than the path they originally could have embraced. Remember Dogs learn from trust, respect and reinforcement. Sure it's hard work but the end results are not only amazing but they last 🐶
This is literally how Training goes. One minute all fine and dandy and the next, stress and rock n roll. Dogs have been scientifically found to have the mental capacity of a 2 year old child. So having a Dog is essentially like having a 2 year old. With Training it's persistence and patience. Don't give up. Don't give in. Keep going. We all have bad days. Dogs do too. It's not personal or not that they forget their Training. It's continuous reinforcement and reconditioning. We all share this around our Dog Training networks and have a giggle because we know how hard it is. Trainers included. We're still human and we do sympathise. So just remember a bad day or a bad walk is just that. Tommorow is another day 🐶 ps please don't slap me as Tracy suggested for being able to do things with your Dog first time lol  When I first met the Biddle Twins, Doo Da was petrified of everything and everyone, he hated being picked up and would sometimes scream, when he went out for a walk if he was took off the lead he would run home, Daisy is well Daisy she is just a love bug, Poppy bless her has just endured her very first fear phase and come out of it quite quickly, and Millie did not know how to be a Dog and was also extremely Dog Reactive, see how far they have all come, you would not believe this is the same canine family I am hoping many of you will agree with me on this I was working with a Staffordshire Bull Terrier who is the biggest wimp. We were alone and he was on the lead as we were approaching a corner and you never know whos coming around the corner, so really it is good etiquette. All of a sudden a Jack Russell flew at us and there was no owner to be seen and no owner recalling the Dog, before anything could be done, he grabbed Bruno by the neck. So he had run and charged at Bruno just to attack, Bruno just stood and screamed I managed to grab Bruno and get him into the neighbouring field. Just as I was checking him over the Dog flew back at us again and I jumped in front of Bruno to prevent the Dog from grabbing Bruno again. The owner suddenly started shouting at her Dog “Come Here” and stamping her foot. She did not attempt to come towards the Dog, she did not turn to encourage the Dog to follow her, she did not apologise, she did not ask if Bruno was OK or injured. I was mad, really mad, Bruno has been attacked before and is labelled due to his breed. I bumped into someone I knew and warned her to turn around and fortunately she let Bruno see her Dog so he could calm down and know he was safe around this Dog only then did he begin to relax. We began discussing how many times Dogs are attacked on the lead by Dogs off the lead and how it isn't the Dogs fault but the owners fault. Then when the Dog who has been attacked is reactive towards other Dogs after the incident, people frown and pull their Dogs away or make a negative comment. A lot of people assume after their Dog has been attacked it will get better with time and don’t think about Training straight away. Then the people I work with who have reactive Dogs who are so careful with their Dogs, careful letting them off, avoiding walks at certain times, avoiding walks altogether. And these people all share one thing in common, their Dog was attacked. Not only this but these people are also the ones who offer to pay the Vet Bills, send flowers and comply with the Dog Warden and Police if they have been involved and then they have employed myself. In which videos can be seen of the changes in their Dogs. So instead of writing one of these posts that begins Dear other Dog owner that are circulating around, I thought I would make a video to raise awareness and get people talking about it and admittedly I was so mad when this happened. Not that I am not used to Dog attacks but how people blame their Dog for the Dogs instinctive behaviour if the Dog has never been trained and how owners punish their Dogs for their failings as an owner. Even my friends children who are 4 and 7 understand about the importance of Leads, not letting Dogs off if reactive to other Dogs or have no recall. Their own Dog has been attacked 5 times already and he has only turned a year old! I sincerely hope in the comments, you guys support me with this and I have also copied and pasted the UK law surrounding having your Dog in control in the UK. Thankyou for your support and lets hope we can keep Dogs safe :) Controlling your dog in public Dog owners are responsible for controlling their dogs' behaviour in public. If you need help with dog training, you should contact a dog trainer. When is your dog 'under control'? A dog is considered ‘under control’ if it is on a lead held by someone able to control the dog. For example, a large dog would not be under control if its lead was held by a child who would be unable to restrain the dog if it strained against the lead. It isn't necessary for dogs to be leashed at all times. However, dogs must be kept on a lead in designated pedestrian zones and on land where livestock is present. Councils have bye-laws to show the areas where leashing is required, such as in public parks. Dogs which behave dangerously It is an offence to allow a dog to attack or cause serious injury to a person or livestock, or to behave in such a way that makes a person worried that it might attack them. Dogs which behave dangerously may be seized by the council dog warden, and their owners prosecuted. The dogs may be destroyed if the magistrate considers that they are a danger to the public. Control conditions As well as any conditions imposed by a court where your dog has attacked a person or worried livestock, a council dog warden can impose similar conditions where certain breaches of the Dogs Order have occurred (whether or not you are prosecuted for those breaches). If your dog has strayed, attacked a person, livestock or someone else’s pet, or been out of control on certain specified roads or on land where there is livestock, a dog warden may issue a notice requiring you to keep your dog: muzzled when in a public place under control (which means on a lead held by someone strong enough to restrain the dog) when in a public place securely confined in a building, yard or other enclosure when not under control away from any specific place or any type of place neutered (if male) within 30 days of the date on which the notice comes into effect The notice may also require you to undergo a course of specified training within a six month timescale. If you fail to observe any of these conditions and do not take all reasonable steps to make sure that that the condition is fulfilled, you commit an offence punishable by a fine of up to £2,500. When six months have passed from the issue of the notice imposing a control condition (or conditions) you can ask the council which issued the notice, to review the continuing need for the conditions. Or you can formally appeal against the imposition of any control condition to a magistrate’s court. You should take legal advice on the procedures to be followed when giving notice of such an appeal. If your dog is subject to any control condition you must tell the council which issued the notice, if you intend to sell or give the dog away. You must also inform the council of the name and address of the person you are selling or giving the dog to. Failure to do so is an offence punishable by a fine of up to £1,000. Dog attacks and the penalties for owners and dogs The definition of attack includes your dog ‘behaving in such a manner so as to cause a person apprehension of being attacked’. Your dog does not need to bite someone for you to have committed an offence. If your dog’s behaviour is aggressive or threatening you may be prosecuted. If an offence is committed it is punishable by up to six months' imprisonment and a fine of £5,000. If your dog does injure the person attacked, you could be sentenced to two years' imprisonment and a £5,000 fine. If your dog worries livestock you are guilty of an offence punishable by a fine of up to £1,000. Worrying livestock does not just mean attacking or killing cattle or sheep. If your dog chases livestock in such a way as could reasonably be expected to cause any form of suffering to the animals or a financial loss to their owner, it will be considered to have worried the livestock. If your dog attacks and injures another person’s pet, you are guilty of an offence punishable by a fine of up to £1,000. If you deliberately set your dog on livestock or another person’s pet you could be fined up to £2,500. If your dog has attacked a person or worried livestock a court may order that your dog be destroyed. Fixed penalties Certain offences attract fixed penalties, as well as other sanctions, as an alternative to prosecution. A dog warden may offer you a fixed penalty for the offence, instead of going to court. You can choose not pay the fixed penalty and have the matter dealt with in court. The offences which can attract a fixed penalty are: keeping a dog without a licence straying failing to keep a dog under control on certain roads and where livestock is present failing to display identification information on a collar/tag failing to notify the council of the transfer of a dog whose licence is subject to a control condition contravention of any control condition The default level for a fixed penalty is £75, although a council may set its own level between £50 to £80 and allow a discount for early payment. Who enforces the law An authorised council officer may seize a dog, without a warrant, that is in a public place or on any land where the dog appears to be attacking a person. The council officer may detain the dog until the relevant court case. Welfare organisations or charities have no powers under the Dogs Order, although councils may make arrangements with animal charities to provide dog pound facilities.  Miss this boy so much. Saw him this morning with his owner. They was about 15 yards away I waved at Steve and said Wolfies name. He looked at me realised who I was and charged at me. Knocking me on my ass, scooping me under him, licking me and biting me playfully. He literally couldn't contain his excitement. I haven't seen him for more than 6 months and i haven't trained him now for 18 months and he still knows who I am from a distance. No fear of me at all. It was very emotional for all of us as it is for me now picking grit out of my hand 😂 the point is this is how I want Dogs to feel when they see me if I'm training them now or have in the past. Because their opinion of me matters to me 💜
Monet is only 9. Inka is just coming up to 7 months old. Monet has been helping her Nana train Inka since she came 3 months ago. Inka is a rescue from Romania she is Moritic x Anatolian shepherd. Look how well Monet does. She doesn't get mad, she just keeps going and their friendship is amazingMonet is only 9. Inka is just coming up to 7 months old. Monet has been helping her Nana train Inka since she came 3 months ago. Inka is a rescue from Romania she is Moritic x Anatolian shepherd. Look how well Monet does. She doesn't get mad, she just keeps going and their friendship is amazing We took Simba to the beach today to extend his training. Giving him freedom from a short lead. To enjoy being a Dog. Just because a Dog is nervous reactive doesn't mean it should not be allowed to enjoy life. This is a part of his training to build him up. But for today it was about Simba loosing his stress, relaxing and just being a Dog. The area was quiet and safe. He kept checking on us and telling us all about his freedom. His Mum cried because she saw how happy he was and his Dad called me efficacious. I'm nothing special I just understand Dogs and their needs. When we bumped into another client and Charlie tried to come to us I unclipped the 50ft so Simba was back on a standard lead told Charlie to go back to his mum and Simba was brilliant. When I first met this Dog this would have been a massively different outcome. So proud of him and so pleased with his owners feelings Sandra and Patch first session today in Skegness with Diesel. Patch is 13 years old and Sandra thought there was no hope with his age. Despite the typical barking to begin with this was half way through. Which for a reactive Dog is a massive achievement. Sandra was put off training after she first rescued Patch with a bad experience. She has persevered and now sought out training and her hard work really is paying off. Well done both 🐶 Most of you who know me and Train with me know that I reward with either, food, treats or praise. Some of you even think its bribery, think that its over the top or over essential and I re educate you. Now it was asked yesterday why Sandra was not giving Patch treats and heres why just to clarify for anyone else interested but too scared to ask. You can clearly see in Sandras hand that she is carrying a treat pouch, she even drops it at the traffic lights. How many of you noticed when we stopped Patch stress increased, he was looking back at Diesel and because he has had training with treats he knows now not to bark all the time as it is an unwanted behaviour. So this was a 2 minute segment out of a 1 hour session. Some Dogs like food constantly as a reward, some Dogs cannot take food because the stress levels are too high, some Dogs have been known to snap when given food because they know they are programmed to want the food, but because they are stressed they don't really want the food so they snap which can cause a negative reaction from their human. This happens a lot with Patch. ################################################ So example from Patchs perspective; "Oh my God why the hell is that Dog walking with us, I'm scared, I'm stressed, why is he there, Mum, Muuuuuuum hes there still hes still with us, why is Tasha holding his lead, why. I dont understand this, I don't like other Dogs. I cannot cope with this. No I don't want the food, I have butterflies in my tummy, but I will take the food anyway because I am programmed to want food, normally I like food, but this is scary and stressful." Human reality; Patch is stressed, his body language is not happy, drop back the distance, he's still spinning, he's barking, he's telling us he is not happy. OK when he is quiet reinforce with food. OUUUUCCCHHHHHH Patch snapped the food and got my hands. Patchs perspective; OH MY GOD MY HUMAN SCREECHED SOMETHING IS WRONG I BLAME THAT DOG AND THAT DOG ALL THESE DOGS I CANT COPE. ################################################# Read it and re read it, its horrible isn't it. Ever been afraid? Yep this is how reactive Dogs feel. If you have ever expereinced anxiety imagine all you can do is bark and scream and bark to say nooooooooo I am not okay? Horrible isn't it but still these people are forcing us into this uncomfortable situation and it sucks ass massively. So I have turn my hand to each Dog I work with and boy they are so different from one another, I have to think fast and on my feet. Tashas brain; OK Dog is scared, he is seeing "Good Boy" and vocal cues as a stressor, everytime we praise he is getting scared and he is not remaining calm. OK show him the food, no he doesn't want it. OK keep walking. No, don't stop, its a stressor, no really don't stop. Too late he has had too much time to focus on the stressors around him. OK talk to him don't use a high voice, use a calm voice. OK handler, relax, loosen up, don't be stressed, loosen up. OK keep walking, Try the food, can you give the food without making a noise if your accidentally nipped. No, OK cannot move and give food to a Dog what to do now, can't throw the food on the floor, trigger to stop. OK lets keep walking, drop back the distance. OK he is doing good. OK increase pace, good all is good, OK he's OK! This is my brain and this is just an example of how this is when I work with Dogs, I have to be mindful of 1) Dog in Training 2) Owner 3) Diesel 4) Environment 5) Other people 6) Other Dogs 7) Myself So remember when I post a video or I am doing or not doing something, there is a reason behind it, every Dog is different just like kids, I will use whatever tool I can to help the Dog from my brain. Never ever ever a physical tool but tools within my brain and body language. Hence falling backwards last week and giving myself a head injury. I will do whatever is in my power force free, to help a Dog and their handler in whatever way I can:) Patch smashed it in town on Saturday and coped really well with the Xmas Market too. He handled being around 4 Dogs at the Indoor market and managed well considering he was only a few yards away. For Patch this experience is similar to what it will be like in the Summer. PLEASE DO NOT TRY AT HOME WALKING A REACTIVE DOG WITH ANOTHER DOG. This is a part of reconditioning Patch, and managing both Dogs in such a way where neither one becomes injured and please remember Diesel is trained to do this, so please do not try this at home. The video is for Patch's progress and for his Mum to look back on and smile  Many of you are in awe of Diesel and I's relationship. From the photos right from being 8 weeks old he has been exposed to so many different environments and grown up helping nervous reactive Dogs. This is why he is the way he is and this is why were so close. Wherever I go he goes and it's been like this since he was a pup. It's more than a pet Dog relationship as he's a working Dog. We have eachothers backs and we rely on eachother for guidance in some situations. It's not that he's a one off or anything like that. He's been trained from day 1 and trained daily since. Please remember that being me being a Dog Trainer is why Diesel is the way he is because of my profession. I often joke with the owners of his siblings of how differently it could of turned out if I had had their Dog and not Diesel. So appreciate what you have with your own Dog and remember Diesel has to work daily to be the Dog he is 🐶
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BlogFor Mutts & Mischief If you enjoy my blogs and
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September 2024
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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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