Why Training “Later” Is Too Late 🐾
Are you waiting & hoping your puppy will ‘grow out of it’..? Believe me, some ‘grow into it’.. this is not the time to wait & see. While puppy challenges are very normal, owners must know how to manage these positively! ✨Get active & seek 1-2-1 puppy behavioural training & receive invaluable information from a Masters Degree (MSc) behaviourist & trainer. You should be actively socialising & training your puppy from the very first day your new pup comes home at approx. 8 weeks old, the clock is ticking!! ⏳ ✨Scientifically, puppies go through a critical and sensitive period including the socialisation period from approximately 6 to 16 weeks of age that will dramatically impact their behaviour for the rest of their lives ✨ -During this period, their brains are like tiny sponges – whatever puppies experience at this age, they will consider a normal part of life as adults. •Time alone •Toilet training •Socialisation •Obedience training •Handling techniques •Recall training •Puppy etiquette •Walking & outdoor routines •Expectations etc.. BUT… beyond 16 weeks this period cannot be recouped! A simple lack of exposure at the right time can result in an adult dog who is unable to cope with normal life. NEVER push your puppy or dog with anything, this can have a very negative counter effect. Lots of people have the opinion: 'they'll get used to it' 'ahh their only young, plenty of time yet!' 'just keep doing it' 'they have to socialise' 'make them do it' 'you must continue or they'll never learn'... I could go on forever... These kind of statements are ethically & scientifically not the way to go about situations to resolve things; this can be very damaging. YOU MUST listen to your puppy or your dog, if they don't like it, they don't like it, accept it. Do not keep pushing something they are clearly not comfortable or happy with. Confidence takes time with some puppies & dogs, so pushing or forcing them into frightening situations (frightening in their eyes) may cause something else entirely; which falls into a completely different ball game. Allowing them to become upset, frantic, growl, snap, bite, immensely fearful etc, could develop into a potential trauma. Even worse, cause your puppy or dog to eventually completely shut down.. This is the worse position to ever put your puppy or dog in & would greatly affect their welfare; which ethically should never happen. EVER. You cannot reinforce fear, you must listen & respond to your puppy or dog appropriately; as you would a child, friend or family member. Things can take time.. Sometimes your puppy or dog may never like the situation or 'thing' but may learn to tolerate things better with time. We must accept them wholeheartedly, the good, the bad & the ugly; that's what makes them, them. AND there's nothing wrong with that. Us as owners don't like certain things, that's just the way it is. AND that's ok too. We are all individuals. Take things easy with puppies & dogs; slowly does it.. Building their trust & confidence first with proper 1-2-1 training & professional support is the answer. Choosing appropriate situations having realistic goals, fitting environments, hanging out with particular dogs/people, having less distractions, or being in quieter locations. Then look to move onto more challenging situations but at a pace to suit them.. Easy does it. 1-2-1 young puppy training ensures you will be educated with the latest scientific knowledge, with a Masters degree qualified behaviourist. This is why training while puppies are very young is so important. You’ll learn & understand the right ways to approach situations, so you’ll know as the owner what you are doing is the best method for your puppy. All of which is approached positively & proactively with full confidence. Confidence is the key for everyone! . Picture- Beautiful Tygr 💛 ©2019-2023 Sarah MSc Blog. Humans see the seven colour spectrum, dogs do not see red, green or violet.
Dog eyes have more rods (scotopic vision) than cones (photopic vision) (photoreceptor cells) in their retina, whereas human eyes have more cones, & this makes the difference in colour perception. •Humans are trichromatic, having three kinds of cones, blue, red & green. •Dogs are dichromatic, having only two types of cones, blue & another between the human red & green cone. However, these colours do not affect a dog’s sight. In fact, dogs have more rods in their eyes than humans, which allow for better vision in very low light. Dogs also have a reflective mechanism, a retroflector called the tapetum lucidum. Whereby the dogs eyes reflect the light that goes into their eyes back out, allowing a much more detailed view of the world after dark. Maybe consider choosing blue & yellow coloured items for your dog? *There are some types of birds, fish & insects that can see an even broader range of the colour spectrum than humans can. •These are tetrachromatic, having a fourth type of cone receptor to absorb ultraviolet light. -Birds of Paradise have “glowing” spectacular colours to attract mates! It’s Evolution baby!! Colour blindness can occur when one or more of the cone types are not functioning as expected. Cones can be absent, non-functioning or detect a different colour. © 2019-2023 Sarah MSc's Blog. Image authorship unknown. Great visual! Why not let them??....
The area of the canine brain that is devoted to analysing scent is 40 times greater than that of the human, with dogs identifying smells at least 1,000 times better than humans! The dog’s superior sense of smell comes from 220 million olfactory receptors in their nose, compared to humans which have 5 million. When a dog sniffs, air is taken in and passes through the olfactory epithelium (nasal skin cells). These cells are also found in a special organ that dogs (and numerous animals) possess, called the Jacobsen’s or vomeronasal organ. This organ is thought to be important in the detection of pheromones (body scents), perhaps giving the dog its tremendous ability to identify and recognise animals and people. * Lots of owners think their dogs sniffing other dogs’ poop is rank, I tell my clients not to worry about this. (As long as they are not poop eaters- which is a rare condition). Dogs are animals & IS part of normal behaviour; it’s like reading the pee & poop newspaper! Give your dog time to sniff.. It provides critical information & is vital for enrichment. There are many training & enrichment scenting activities you can do with your dog to keep their mind happy & healthy. * Ideas- Create new opportunities! Reduce boredom & avoid destructive behaviours developing. . Please read these articles for ideas & further information... https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/.../beating... https://www.purina.com.au/dogs/behaviour/sniffing Thanks to Companion Animal Psychology, Purina & Welfare For Animals for the great articles & image! . ©2019-2023 Sarah MSc BLOG. This is me.. Sarah,
-The welfare of puppies & dogs is my ultimate passion. -I have niched & specialise in young puppy behaviour. -Educating & supporting owners with 21st Century science in positive & ethical behaviour & training. -I literally can talk for hours (why I miss photo opportunities) -But I love it! I love my job! I love my clients! Iv been studying & working in the animal industry for 15+ years & I am an animal science geek! Training & behaviour is my thing & I knew this when I was at Doncaster College doing the BTEC Diploma Animal Management Level 3 Course.. I loved dog training in particular but I loved all of it to be honest, it opened my mind to the beauty & magnificence of animals. - I studied at college for 6 years - I was a mentor to other students - And even managed Student of The Year Award a few times! -I represented the College & University centre for open days, courses and events Following onto to University & gaining a Bachelors Degree with Honours- BSc (hons) Applied Animal Behaviour & Training. Then a Masters Degree- MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour & Training. - I studied at university for 5 years - Being part of Bishop Burton ‘Fresher's Crew’ for 4 years, winning awards throughout my journey - I stood as Vice President of The Student Association for a number of years -I again represented the University for open days, courses and events This is me, Sarah, Hi.. . It’s a fresh day! Windswept shot of me out on a training session.. . ©2019-2023 Sarah MSc BLOG. |
MORE Blog coming soon 2023 !!
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