Teaching your dog to be comfortable and confident alone or confined in a crate will help you and your dog have a happy and well-balanced life.
This is a skill that must be taught just as we must teach out children how to sleep in their own beds or relax alone with a movie while we take care of house chores.
Start slowly. Provide a short-term (crate) and long-term (bathroom, X-pen, or laundry room) confinement area. Make this space enjoyable by giving them exciting and appropriate chew articles and treat toys. Never let the dog out of the confinement area when they are having a "tantrum". They must be calm and quite... then simply open the door and allow them to come out or go to the potty zone. Never make a big exciting fuss when the dog comes out. Repeat this process several times for short periods while you are home. This will prepare your dog for the times when you are not home.
Barking crated or confined dogs can drive you crazy... Resist the temptations to give up. Giving in or giving up will only make the process longer for you both.
Happy Crating!
Monday, December 3, 2012
Sunday, December 2, 2012
OPENING IN PERTH JANUARY 2013
Pet Intel. Behaviour Centre is Owned and
Operated by Jessica O’Neill, Companion Animal Behaviour Consultant. Our
mission is to help establish or restore harmony and balance between
people and pet by providing clients with the necessary knowledge and
training to work effectively with their animal.
Below is a brief list of services offered, check out the Services & Fees page for more details:
Group Training Classes (coming soon)
Doggy Day Care (coming soon)
Doggy Day Care (coming soon)
Companion Animal Behavioural Assessments
In-home or In-office Private Behaviour Consultations
Behaviour & Training Boarding Programs
Weekend Pet Care for Animals in
Training and/or Behaviour Programs
Customized Training Programs for
Service and Special Assistance Animals
Specialized Seminars and Workshops
This Months Toy Pick! Tuffies!!
THIS MONTHS TOY PICK.....
Hello Dog Lovers!
Any Owner who has endured the demolition of furniture, shoes, carpet or even baseboards has come to understanding of the importance of chewing in an unfortunate way. For the rest of you....don't wait! Dogs naturally relieve tension and stress through the mouth....not only during teething stages, but throughout their entire lives. Providing proper chewing articles for your dog will not only save your furniture and shoes but could also avoid a nasty Vet trip should your dog ingest something they shouldn't have. After many questions from clients, family and friends regarding proper chew articles and toys, I have decided to provide a monthly toy recommendation.
This month I would like to recommended Tuffies!
These are amazing toys that actually last!
These are the only stuffed toys I actually purchase for my dogs and my training school. They come in varying sizes, levels of "tuff" and of course styles. They are cute, functional and affordable because you won't need to replace them weekly! I have had the same 4 Tuffies in my dog toy bin for 4 years!
Make sure you purchase the correct size and "tuff" level for your dog. http://www.tuffietoys.com/sea-creatures
To Recap:
-Tuffies are strong and durable
-Allow your dog to sink in their teeth
-Come in a variety of styles and "Tuff" levels
-Are affordable
-Are adorable
Let me know what you think about Tuffies!
Friday, March 2, 2012
Adopting....A Canine Revolution
Dogs have had a place beside humans for at least fourteen thousand years. The evolution of the domestic dog is an incredibly fascinating journey to follow. Hundreds of different breeds were developed for hundreds of different uses or jobs. Throughout history, no dog was without a job or identifiable duties. Canine duties have ranged dramatically over the years but for every job there was a canine skill set to match. Selected breeding ensured that these qualities were retained and that dogs possess the task specific skill set to successfully carryout out its job. Humans chose their canines based on who was genetically best suited to fulfill certain duties (these became identifiable breeds).
Working with the dog’s innate abilities and not against them allowed for a symbiotic relationship between man and dog. Where does that leave the today’s average dog owner? With over five hundred breeds (and mixes of each) the majority of humans are no longer selecting canine mates for the specific purpose in which the breed was designed for. In most cases, preference is primarily identified by the dog’s physical characteristics, followed by it’s perceived temperament. Very little thought is given to the canine’s specific breed tendencies and needs. This often results in the mismatching of dogs in human homes. Behaviour and temperament issues quickly become too much for the owner to handle and the dog is often sent away. The unbelievable overpopulation of dogs and overcrowding in shelters and rescues has forced most shelters to make the difficult decision to euthanize a large number of the animals in their care.
Reputable breeders work passionately to preserve the integrity and purity of specific breeds, and other (not so reputable) breeders cross any and all dogs that may produce a favourable pet. Of course, our human needs have also changed since the birth of the German Shepherd, Border Collie and Chow Chow. Most modern day dogs are brought into homes for the strict purpose of “pet”.
The roles that humans and canines play in each others lives has changed. We no longer have to work as teams with our dogs to provide our families with safety, food, or income. Instead, dogs have become a personal choice and most are considered honorary members of the family. Unfortunately, without a “job”, most of todays dogs are overindulged and insufficiently challenged. Our relationship, although not lacking in love and good intention, lack in symbioses. We have become distanced from our once intuitive ability to interact and communicate with our canine counterparts. As a result we are experiencing a Canine Revolution.
For example: A quiet Beagle curled up on his bed giving puppy-dog eyes appears to be a low energy, mild-mannered dog. What his observers don’t know is that he is just not used to the loud bark of his neighbouring dog and he’s very scared. Once removed from the kennel area he’s a very busy boy with a tendency to jump-up and knock over anything in his way. This Beagle is not the right match for his inquirers, but a perfect match for the family who passed him by due to his apparent “quiet” nature.
Had this dog gone to the home seeking a quiet dog, he would be forced to continually disappoint his owners and be classified as a “bad dog”. His new owners would also faced with only a few options: be continually disappointed and tolerate the dog’s current behaviour, attempt to resolve the behaviour through training and behaviour work (which they were not prepared for), return the dog to the shelter or rescue, or euthanize. In order to avoid situations like these from occurring a number of aspects has to be considered and changes need to be implemented. Shelter staff and Adopters must work together to do the following:
This is just one example of how the canine world is shifting and continues to evolve. As human needs and desires change, we are experiencing a canine revolution. The way canines have been effected by this change is not favourable. Dogs are having a difficult time understanding what their new roles are, and we have not yet taught them what is expected and how they fit in to our modern society. We must begin to set up our canine homes for success. With the implementation of new education and adoption programs such as above we are well on our way to securing a happy future for man’s best friend.
Working with the dog’s innate abilities and not against them allowed for a symbiotic relationship between man and dog. Where does that leave the today’s average dog owner? With over five hundred breeds (and mixes of each) the majority of humans are no longer selecting canine mates for the specific purpose in which the breed was designed for. In most cases, preference is primarily identified by the dog’s physical characteristics, followed by it’s perceived temperament. Very little thought is given to the canine’s specific breed tendencies and needs. This often results in the mismatching of dogs in human homes. Behaviour and temperament issues quickly become too much for the owner to handle and the dog is often sent away. The unbelievable overpopulation of dogs and overcrowding in shelters and rescues has forced most shelters to make the difficult decision to euthanize a large number of the animals in their care.
Reputable breeders work passionately to preserve the integrity and purity of specific breeds, and other (not so reputable) breeders cross any and all dogs that may produce a favourable pet. Of course, our human needs have also changed since the birth of the German Shepherd, Border Collie and Chow Chow. Most modern day dogs are brought into homes for the strict purpose of “pet”.
The roles that humans and canines play in each others lives has changed. We no longer have to work as teams with our dogs to provide our families with safety, food, or income. Instead, dogs have become a personal choice and most are considered honorary members of the family. Unfortunately, without a “job”, most of todays dogs are overindulged and insufficiently challenged. Our relationship, although not lacking in love and good intention, lack in symbioses. We have become distanced from our once intuitive ability to interact and communicate with our canine counterparts. As a result we are experiencing a Canine Revolution.
One way which this can been observed is through the application and adoption process at shelters and rescues. It was less than five to ten years ago when anyone interested in a dog could just walk in to almost any shelter and take a stroll through the rows of dog-filled kennels. The individual would then decide which one he/she wanted, provide some basic information, make payment, and leave with their new dog. As indicated above, many factors led to this change and others. The dogs who live in shelters are often under-stimulated. Despite the best efforts of staff and volunteers the dogs can become highly stressed, anxious, frustrated and/or depressed. Allowing spectators to pass by their kennels all day long, only increases these reactions and elevates stress throughout the shelter. Knowing that the dogs in the kennels are under an extreme amount of emotional/mental stress, they are likely to misrepresent themselves to observers.
For example: A quiet Beagle curled up on his bed giving puppy-dog eyes appears to be a low energy, mild-mannered dog. What his observers don’t know is that he is just not used to the loud bark of his neighbouring dog and he’s very scared. Once removed from the kennel area he’s a very busy boy with a tendency to jump-up and knock over anything in his way. This Beagle is not the right match for his inquirers, but a perfect match for the family who passed him by due to his apparent “quiet” nature.
Had this dog gone to the home seeking a quiet dog, he would be forced to continually disappoint his owners and be classified as a “bad dog”. His new owners would also faced with only a few options: be continually disappointed and tolerate the dog’s current behaviour, attempt to resolve the behaviour through training and behaviour work (which they were not prepared for), return the dog to the shelter or rescue, or euthanize. In order to avoid situations like these from occurring a number of aspects has to be considered and changes need to be implemented. Shelter staff and Adopters must work together to do the following:
- Both- Accept that not all dogs will have the right genetic make up to do the job (i.e.. be a pet in every family)
- Both- Define the adopters individual needs/wants clearly
- Shelter Staff- Identify possible canine candidates accurately (requires a educated assessment of every dog in the facility)
- Shelter Staff- Explain each dog’s specific needs (known behaviour/training, health and exercise requirements) and the resources that will be required to provide for them
- Adopter- Choose an appropriate match from the identified candidates (this is where the Adopter’s individual preference comes in to play)
- Adopter- Provide a mutually beneficial life for the dog and their family (this will address mental, emotional and physical aspects)
It is only with the proper implementation of an adoption program such as this that most unsuitable situations will be avoided.
This is just one example of how the canine world is shifting and continues to evolve. As human needs and desires change, we are experiencing a canine revolution. The way canines have been effected by this change is not favourable. Dogs are having a difficult time understanding what their new roles are, and we have not yet taught them what is expected and how they fit in to our modern society. We must begin to set up our canine homes for success. With the implementation of new education and adoption programs such as above we are well on our way to securing a happy future for man’s best friend.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Shelter & Rescue Dogs
I have recently been exposed to a world of animals without owners. Every animal as perfectly flawed as my own and deserving of an owner to advocate and love them unconditionally. I become
Friday, March 5, 2010
6 Month old Beagle-Basset Mix
Owner: Have a 6 month cross beagle-basset hound.
Q:1. Is it better to take puppy to outside training as opposed to at home training.?
A: The most important thing to remember is to generalize behaviour and training. This means working in a variety of areas, not just one (outside, on the street, in the park, in the house, on the front lawn, around kids, near other dogs, quiet environments, noisy environment, etc.)
Q:2.he really pulls on collar leash as opposed to a harness. read where beagle larynx could be subject to injury if collar pulled to hard.
A: When working with a flat collar (normal collar), which is what I would recommend for training, you must remember that when she pulls you must make sure you are at a 90 degree angle so the pressure goes to the side of the neck. Never give 'pop' corrections, just simply move the opposite direction then she is pulling, preferable walking backwards so that you can reward the moment she stops pulling and gives you eye contact.
Q:3. Training treats- buy commercial treats or can I do liver and freeze it?
A: Many commercial treats are unhealthy for your dog. I would recommend freeze dried liver. This can be purchased at most pet stores. The brand i generally use is call Benny Bullies. Liver is very rich, so each reward need only be half the size of your baby finger nail.
Q:4. are there closed in dog parks for socialization around Perth, Smiths Falls area.
A: There is a off-leash dog park in Carleton Place, and talk of one developing in Perth. Be cautious about off-leash parks because many owners are unfamiliar with proper dog-dog behaviour and social etiquette. Dogs labeled as "friendly" are often over stimulated and socially inappropriate.
Q:5.is there a correct order of training- sit, stay, then leash walking etc.?
A: There is no specific order that is proven to be better. Make sure that you don't overwhelm the dog, and always teach a visual cue before adding a verbal one for each behaviour.
Owner Comment: I enjoy your articles in EMC.
Jessica: Thanks very much, I enjoy the feedback. Good Luck!
Q:1. Is it better to take puppy to outside training as opposed to at home training.?
A: The most important thing to remember is to generalize behaviour and training. This means working in a variety of areas, not just one (outside, on the street, in the park, in the house, on the front lawn, around kids, near other dogs, quiet environments, noisy environment, etc.)
Q:2.he really pulls on collar leash as opposed to a harness. read where beagle larynx could be subject to injury if collar pulled to hard.
A: When working with a flat collar (normal collar), which is what I would recommend for training, you must remember that when she pulls you must make sure you are at a 90 degree angle so the pressure goes to the side of the neck. Never give 'pop' corrections, just simply move the opposite direction then she is pulling, preferable walking backwards so that you can reward the moment she stops pulling and gives you eye contact.
Q:3. Training treats- buy commercial treats or can I do liver and freeze it?
A: Many commercial treats are unhealthy for your dog. I would recommend freeze dried liver. This can be purchased at most pet stores. The brand i generally use is call Benny Bullies. Liver is very rich, so each reward need only be half the size of your baby finger nail.
Q:4. are there closed in dog parks for socialization around Perth, Smiths Falls area.
A: There is a off-leash dog park in Carleton Place, and talk of one developing in Perth. Be cautious about off-leash parks because many owners are unfamiliar with proper dog-dog behaviour and social etiquette. Dogs labeled as "friendly" are often over stimulated and socially inappropriate.
Q:5.is there a correct order of training- sit, stay, then leash walking etc.?
A: There is no specific order that is proven to be better. Make sure that you don't overwhelm the dog, and always teach a visual cue before adding a verbal one for each behaviour.
Owner Comment: I enjoy your articles in EMC.
Jessica: Thanks very much, I enjoy the feedback. Good Luck!
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