Stop the Victim Blaming

Posted on by FormalDogs

Stop the Victim Blaming

    Have you ever looked on social media at someone who is seeking help for reactivity (aka: aggression) with their dog to other people?

I have, and so often the comments come in hard and fast and they are often variations on “the person must have done something wrong to the dog” or “the person must have bad energy” and last week I thought to myself “why are we victim blaming the people who are getting growled/lunged/snapped at?” especially when the dog’s guardian states that no harm or risk was present for the dog and there was no obvious reason for it.

Before anyone gets bent out of shape, I am a big believer that all dog behaviour has a reason behind it and that dogs aren’t inherently bad or wrong, but it is possible that the dog (or even your dog) is just not behaving in accordance with human society’s rules. Which brings up the next thing “but it’s a dog” – my response to this is “yes, but we have made them a human responsibility, therefore it is our job to show them the way to appropriate behaviour” and the pounds/shelters/rescue organisations are full of dogs that aren’t compliant with our human society’s rules.

It usually a case of showing the dog’s family how to reteach the dog to behave appropriately while still having regard and respect for their ‘dog-ness’. This takes patience, time, effort and often guidance from a canine behaviour expert, I believe that in most instances, a dog’s behaviour can be managed appropriately or modified to better fit in with society’s expectations.

What should I do?

If a dog is being reactive or aggressive, how about instead of blaming the person or the dog, have your behavioural expert assess the behaviour to help identify the cause of the behaviour, and work to help you and your dog through his or her interactions appropriately, and work together with you to show you how to become part of the solution in creating a happy family dog.

Click here if you want help to problem solve dog reactivity issues.

What’s in a Name?

Posted on by FormalDogs

I have been thinking a lot recently about the term ‘dog trainer’. I mean technically I can train a dog to do pretty much anything, but am I and my fellow ‘trainers’ actually dog trainers. Or are we something else?

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The phrase dog training and obedience training has been around for probably as long as there have been dogs in modern society, but as with many things in the dog world, we have moved on. We have moved on from thinking that it is ok to let our beloved dogs roam the streets unattended (anyone else remember the upturned bins and garbage strewn everywhere!) to it being expected that you collect up your dog’s poop out on walks.

In the dog behaviour world, things have moved on too. We no longer accept traditional dominance theory, and it is preferable to try and understand the reasoning behind the behaviour and work with that rather than just look at the undesired behaviour in isolation. Having said that, I do believe that it is ok to modify undesired behaviours such as aggression and nuisance barking as long as you address the matter holistically and work with the root cause of the behaviour if you can, but that is another blog.

Many families see their dog as part of the family, dog ownership seems a bit harsh – after all, can we really own another living creature? Domestic dogs are dependent on us to have their basic needs met, and this makes us their ‘parents’ or guardians. I have for years now referred to a dog’s humans as the dog’s guardians. This conveys the responsibility of caring for a dog and helping it adapt to our human world with kindness, respect and understanding.

So what do we call ourselves these days: Teachers? Educators? Canine Guardianship Coach? Behaviourists? Dog Psychologists? Canine Communication Expert? I suppose that at the end of the day it probably doesn’t matter too much what the person helping you with your dog is called as long as we help you understand your dog and his or her behaviour and how your relationship with your dog can compliment, enhance and enrich both your lives, and how you can help your dog have a calm and happy life with you.

Ruth xoxo

I would love my dog to be at my wedding, what now?

Posted on by FormalDogs

Congratulations!  You are getting married and you would love your dog(s) to be part of your wedding day, but what now?

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Formal Dogs’ wedding service was created to make it easy for you to have your dog(s) as part of your wedding day.  So here’s how it works:

 

Step 1:

Get in touch with us to arrange your free (yup, FREE!) consultation.  We will meet with you and your dog(s) in your home so that we can do an assessment of your dog’s suitability to be part of your wedding day.  This takes about an hour and a half and we discuss how you want your dogs to be part of your wedding day (as professional trainers and behaviourists we are able to easily assess dogs in an initial consultation).  You can contact us easily by clicking here:  I want to arrange my free consultation!

Step 2:

After your initial meeting, if you decide to go ahead, we will arrange a quote or invoice for you.  To book your date, a $200 deposit is required, with the balance not due until the week before your wedding.  Once your deposit is paid, you are booked in!

If your dog requires general training or trick training or behaviour training we will advise costs and time schedules.

Here are some common questions:

Q:  What happens on my wedding day?

A:  A Formal Dogs trainer will attend at your home and collect your dog(s) prior to the wedding at an organised time, we will look after your dog and transport him/her to the wedding venue leaving time for a walk and play, provide drinks and toilet breaks until the ceremony is ready to start, and then we will help your dog to participate in your wedding as per your instructions.

Q:  What happens after the wedding?

A:  Usually at this point we will ensure your dog is in the photos that you want him/her in, and then we will transport your dog back to the pre arranged location and ensure he/she is secure and safe when we leave.   We will send you a message to let you know your dog has arrived safely at the destination.

Q:  I notice you recommend having dogs at the wedding rehearsal, why?

A:  A wedding day is a big deal for people and it can be a big deal for dogs too. They have loads of fun, but it is a big day for them.  Dogs are sensitive to change, and a lot is going on at home on a wedding day usually, then if they are taken to a new environment it can be a big thing, all those new and exciting smells to smell.  So, if we have your dog at your wedding rehearsal we can familiarise your dog with the environment, as well as run through the details of where your dog will sit, who will hold him/her during the ceremony.  In my experience (nearly 10 years now) the dogs who attend wedding rehearsals seem much more relaxed on the wedding day.  So, I will meet you at the wedding rehearsal, and take your dog from there.  You can concentrate on the wedding details and your dog can spend some bonding time with the trainer.

Q:  Will my dog have a good time?

A:  Yes!  Most dogs love new experiences and that is what the initial behavioural assessment is all about, for us to establish that your dog will have a great time with all the new experiences on your wedding day.  Sure, they will be tired, (all that sniffing requires energy!) but they will be happy tired and have had an awesome time.

Q:  What if my dog gets disruptive or upset?

A:  Your dog’s handler is also a trainer and expert in dog behaviour, if we notice your dog is getting distracted or disruptive, we will simply move your dog to somewhere it is more settled, we will have talked to you before hand about how we will minimise the chance of this happening and what we will do if your dog does become unsettled during the ceremony.  So far we have not had to take a dog away from a wedding ceremony.

Q:  But my dog jumps on everyone!

A: We are commonly complimented on how calm the dogs are at weddings, this is because your dog’s companion for the day is a dog trainer and behaviour expert, it is our job to keep your dog as calm and settled as we can.  If you are worried about your dog’s behaviour, we can provide advice at your initial consultation on how to manage it.

 

If you have any questions about your dog at your wedding feel free to ask. We are the premiere service, and happy to answer any questions for you. We also carry specific insurance to have your dog transported and be a part of your wedding day.

 

I look forward to meeting you and your dogs!

 

Ruth Elliott,

Formal Dogs

Get in touch here or call us on 0438 423 230

 

Dogs and Babies

Posted on by FormalDogs

Dogs and Babies

As a Mum with a young family, I know first hand what it is like to manage dogs and children, fortunately, with good training, walking dogs with young children and a pram, or letting the older children help with the walking are things that are part of our normal life. The kids can play in the backyard without being knocked over by an over exuberant dog, or jump on the trampoline without trouble. We also have our dogs in the home with the kids, however, supervision is always first and foremost, dogs and children can make mistakes.

If you need help with preparing your dog for a new baby, or already have children and dogs, here are some basic tips for you to follow.

Tips for helping your dog adjust to a new baby:

Preparation – think about any issues you have with your dog and get help to resolve them before baby arrives.

Labour/Birth – some women can labour for a long while (it’s ok – you can do it, you will be great!!). If you will be in hospital during your labour, or staying for a few days after birth, do you have someone who will help walk and feed your dog while you are away from home or do you need to organize this? If you are having a homebirth – is there another member of your household or a family member or friend who can help out?

Routines – quite often our dogs are used to a set routine. Babies and household routines don’t always go to plan and it can take time to settle or feed a baby. Start varying your dog’s routine in the lead up to baby and see how your dog adjusts to getting walked or fed at different times of day. If any issues arise from these changes to routine, you will have time to address them.

Training – A well trained dog is much easier to manage when out and about with your baby, but it doesn’t happen overnight. Start by teaching your dog a simple sit command and asking your dog to hold that command for a minute or two, and working your way up to a reliable drop and hold under distraction is great.

Manners – good manners in a dog are important. Start by teaching your dog to wait politely for an invitation before joining you on the couch, and also for your dog to be ok with sometimes not being invited onto the couch (or bed – which reminds me – of a 6th tip)

Sleeping arrangements – at some point, the studies tell us, most new parents will bring baby into bed with them. This is not safe if there is an animal in the bed. If your dog is sleeping in your bed you can help your dog to learn that it is ok to sleep on a special dog bed on the floor, or in another room, before your baby arrives. Only being allowed onto the bed when invited (or not at all) means that you won’t be trying to teach your dog this change while you are caring for a new baby.

If you already have children, it is never too late to implement training and behavioural modification for your dog and these tips are a great place to start.

Talk to us about how we can help you to help your dog be confident and happy at home!

Dogs at Weddings

Posted on by FormalDogs

If you are a dog owner and are getting married, chances are you have thought about having your dog at your wedding.  If you are, we have some tips for you.

  1. Venue – Have you told your venue that you plan to have your dog at your wedding? Do they have any special requirements?
  2. Grooming – Talk to your groomer about the best time to groom your dog before your wedding day. Leave it too late and your dog may shed at the wedding, leaving it too early may leave your dog not smelling as fresh as you would like.
  3. Planning – How will you get your dog to and from your wedding? Who will lo2015-03-15 17.43.29ok after him before, during and after the ceremony?
  4. Training – Address any training or behavioural issues early. It is much easier to walk your dog down the aisle if s/he is not trying to say hello to all your friends and family!  (as dog trainers we can advise you in relation to this).
  5. Food – it is a good idea not to give your dog a meal or snacks before the wedding, we don’t want special doggy smells as part of your guests’ memory of your wedding day!

Talk to us about how we can help you to have your dog as part of your wedding!  We are the experts in accompanying dogs to weddings and look forward to talking with you about your dog at your wedding.

Don’t give up

Posted on by FormalDogs

I just had a phone call from a man with a very nervous little Jack Russell Terrier.  He is currently deciding whether to have the dog put to sleep or to try and rehabilitate it.  I am hoping they give the dog a chance and at least get me out for a consult so I can give a more in depth opinion on its chances.

First rule:  when someone says ‘do not pat my dog’.  You should always respect that – too often I have heard stories of dogs gone biting someone after the owner has requested the dog be left alone with the response from the other party “but I’m good with dogs”.  The interesting thing (and frustrating for all good trainers out there) is that these people took this dog to obedience school when they realised there was a problem with doggy not loving new people.  After asking the instructor not to pat the dog and the instructor ignoring the owners and patting the dog, they were asked not to come back (the dog bit the instructor) –   Incidentally, this is a fault of the school and training system, not the owners who were trying to get help.

So, they sought help from a local trainer who did in home visits. This trainer told them that the dog needed to go to the vet for medication and that it should wear a muzzle, but left them with no other training tips.  The vet decided the dog did not need medicating and told them to keep the dog at home, and on a lead in public and away from people.  That was 2 years ago.  We are now facing a situation where the dog has bitten a family member who was visiting over the Christmas period and the family is trying to work out whether to keep the dog, try and rehome it, or put it to sleep.

So the moral of this story is, if you are looking for help with your dog, and you have had a trainer out or go to a dog school, if you think it isn’t working – don’t give up!  Please.  Call the trainer, call the school, email them and ask for help.  If they give up, they either need to help you understand why they can’t help you, and then I encourage you to look around and call other trainers – it is very rare that a dog can’t be rehabilitated fully or to a point where the undesirable behaviour is controlled and manageable.