The bond between canine and human is built on a power imbalance.   We
are in control of food, shelter and all other resources that the dog needs.  Human’s are in a unique position to define the relationship according our values and ideals.  We tell stories about dogs and interpret dog’s behaviour through the human behavioural lens.  Think of Lassie!  

This power imbalance is part of the frame of reference for how we process information relating to the capacities and motivations of the dog.   If, for example, we see our dog is a 'dumb animal' we may feel comfortable using aversives and training our dogs to follow our commands.  They exist to serve after all.  However, if we see our dog as a family member we may overfeed them to show our love.  How we relate to our dogs is largely defined by our frame of reference and not not our dogs.

Many dog owners buy or adopt a dog because (they envisage) that it meets their own needs to do so, otherwise they would not do so.  We'd get a cat or have a holiday instead.  Often though we aren't particularly aware of the needs we have that we expect our dog to meet, be it for companionable walks, sofa cuddles or as our family.  This means that our frame of reference is often more implicit than explicit.

One of the pivotal aspects of that frame of reference is that the ‘owner’ has acquired what is legally a possession with an insurable replacement value. In becoming the dog's 'owner' we take a small step towards defining a dog as lacking in sentience or their own agency.  

Some vets and trainers may refer to you as the dog's guardian as a way of acknowledging the dog's rights to choice and fulfillment.   Dog's have their own version of Adrian Maslow's (perhaps outdated) Hierarchy of Needs and these needs extend far beyond the purely physiological.     Linda Michael's has published a Dog's Heirarchy of Needs here https://www.intodogs.org/resources/hierarchy-of-needs/#page-content.  I'd also thoroughly recommend Marc Bekoff's "When Elephants Weep" for a change of frame of reference!

By having a clearer and more accurate frame of reference we are able to develop a more reciprocal relationship with our dogs in which they can actively and fully participate. 

There are SO many different laws which you need to follow, for new dog owners it's hard to know where to start.  

Dog owners need to comply with the Animal Welfare Act 2006 makes owners responsible for their dog’s welfare and specifically the five welfare needs.   These fall into the categories of diet, freedom to exhibit normal behaviour, social contact, environment, and health.   You could be prosecuted under this act for leaving your dog in a hot car for instance.  However, the five needs can vary significantly between dogs and some owners could need the support of a professional to identify what is, for instance, the right amount of social contact or the right environment for their specific dog.  Note that there is no formal requirement to exercise or train a dog.  However, the Highway code requires dogs to be suitably restrained when travelling in a car.

The dog fouling act 2016 makes dogs responsible for clearing up fouling in all public places, apart from where it would be dangerous to do so e.g. on the side of a cliff edge.  This means that owners need to carry poo bags and to pick up when they are out.  With recent changes to council bins this may mean searching out a suitable bin or taking the poo home to dispose of.

Since 2016 all dogs have to be microchipped.  This means that any reputable breeder should ensure their puppies are chipped.  Where an informal adoption takes place and the dog was born before 2016 then the owners will need to check that the dog is chipped.  Owners also need to ensure that their details are kept up to date on a register such as PetLog, however, there is more than one register.  Stray dogs can be scanned and if the details on the register are up to date, returned to their owners.

All dogs must wear a collar with Identification tags or plates whenever they are in a public place according to the Control of Dogs Act 1992.  Every dog while on a public highway or place of public resort must wear a collar with the name and address (including postcode) of the owner inscribed on it or a plate or badge attached to it.  It is also advisable to have your telephone number as well so that you can be contacted in the event that someone finds your dog.  Without a collar, your dog is more likely to be treated as a stray dog.

Under the Dangerous Dogs Act (DDA) 1991 owners need to keep their dogs under control in a public place and to ensure that members of the public or other owners are not fearful or apprehensive as a result of their dog.  In reality this means that if an owner lets their dog off the lead then owners need to be able recall their dog.   In addition, any dogs of a banned type (identified under the DDA) will need to be registered, neutered, kept on a lead and muzzled at all times when in a public place.  There is no requirement for owner to attend any training unless a behavioural assessment is mandated under the DDA.

In addition, dogs should not be allowed to bark excessively such that it interferes unreasonably with the comfort of your neighbours.    There are more, such as relates to worrying livestock but the above is a good starting point.  As a new owner it's well worth looking up the Animal Welfare Act and the codes of practice for owners.

I'm delighted to have received my certificate through from the Agility Club confirming that I'm an approved dog agility instructor!  

What is a crate and how to set it up

A crate is an indoor kennel which gives your dog a place of their own.  They are often sold as metal or part metal/part plastic cage over which you can drape heavy blankets to create a den for your dog.  There are also more solid plastic ones available which double as a carrying device for transportation.  A quiet room or area towards the back of the house is ideal, out of direct sunlight but with natural light and ventilation too.    Often a utility area works well.  This crate is your dog’s bedroom so you should provide them with soft blankets for nesting, fresh water for drinking and a range of toys too.  You’ll also need to make sure that you keep the children and/or other pets away.  This is your dog's sanctuary.

Why bother?

Giving your dog their own space can help them to feel safe.  Dogs who suffer from anxiety often do better if they have a small safe space of their own rather than access to the whole house which can lead to them fixating at what they see out of windows or trailing around behind you all over the house.  Worse still when you go out your dog may patrol the house and wait anxiously for you to return.  If your dog falls asleep in their crate on a regular basis they will gradually learn to relax more and more quickly when they are in their crate.  Puppies who sleep in a crate are often easier to house-train and are less likely to get into bad habits chewing on furniture or shoes.  Finally, remember that if your dog ever has to go into kennels, boarding or for a stay at the vets they may well be confined to a crate so it is well worth ensuring that they are used to the experience well before they have to go.

Is it cruel?

A lot of people instinctively feel that a crate is like a prison.    I would not want to live in a crate.  It would be a prison. 

However, I do sleep a bed in a bedroom.  Every night.  I don’t randomly fall asleep by the front door or on the stairs.  Once I’ve gone to bed, I stay there all night.  In one room, without a huge amount of space. I can’t even do any stretches or yoga in there, but I can walk around two sides of the bed and I can have a glass of water by the bed.  I don’t routinely patrol the house at night because I’d wake the children and dogs.   

Neither do I encourage my children to wander round the house and fall asleep wherever they see fit.   They sleep in a bed in their own room and have a bed-time after which they are expected to be quiet.    If you have children you may also have realised that ‘sending them to their rooms’ for some dreadful misdemeanour stops being any sort of punishment as they become adolescents.  Instead, for them, it is a relief to go to their own space and they start to go there of their own volition if you have visitors with whom they have nothing in common. 

​A crate should fulfil a similar purpose for our dogs and it is not a replacement for walks, access to novel environments, access to lots of smells, socialising, games and training.  It is just a place for them to sleep and for them to go to for safety and when we have visitors that do not concern them.  It is a natural instinct for dogs to fall asleep in small and cozy confined spaces.

How to ‘train’ the crate

In order for your dog to want to be in their crate you need to build lots of positive associations to being there.  You can feed them in their crate and make sure that any chews or treats magically appear in their crate rather than coming from you.  You can play with them in or near their crates, fetching a toy from the crate or running through a tunnel into their crate or searching for treats hidden in the crate, snuffle mats are great for this.  They can learn to sit and lay down in the crate too.  To start with just leave the door open and then as they get comfortable being there you can practice opening and closing the door of the crate.   As you work on building the length of time you can close the door you need to give them a food dispensing toy or a snuffle mat to keep them occupied.   When they are happy being in the crate for half an hour with you in sight then you can start to go out of sight.   The RSPCA has a great factsheet on this, they recommend that adult dogs with a good association with their crates should not be confined to their crate for more than three hours.

Are you thinking of getting a new dog?  Adopting a rescue dog or choosing a new puppy.  What are the issues?

Rescue dogs

Rescue dogs may have unknown history, or just a history that lacks detail and that can put people off.

Some people are attracted to the idea that you can adopt an older dog and miss out on teething and toilet training and crate training.  If you are adopting an older dog, they may also be calmer and may even be partly trained.  If you choose an older dog, your dog may also have more of a stable, proven, temperament.  

On the downside you may worry that you don’t know about their experiences during critical socialisation and imprinting stages.  You may worry that you have missed out on some bonding time and that there may be more work to do than you expected.    However, there are younger dogs and puppies available for rescue too.

You will know that you are giving a dog a home who otherwise wouldn’t have one.

Choosing a new puppy

​Puppies are most often brought into the world for profit so there is always a risk that you may inadvertently support puppy farming.  Even if you are careful and use a really ethical breeder you are still supporting intentionally bring more dogs into the world while rescue centres are full.  Even if you give your puppy the best home, its unlikely that all of the litter from which you selected your puppy will get such a good home, and in reality the chances may be slim.

If you are choosing a puppy though, you do need to choose an ethical breeder, for the best chances of a balanced well socialised puppy.   You may be excited about the blank canvass that you are getting from your breeder, and perhaps just a little distracted by the undeniable cuteness of it all.  Remember that you may very quickly get a full-sized adolescent dog on your hands.

If you are choosing a new puppy you can select the specific breed you want with the traits, exercise requirements, shedding and temperament traits you are looking for.   You may want a dog which is hypoallergenic or good for agility or needs very little exercise.  The reality is though that even if you are careful with choosing the puppy you want, the genetics of each puppy can vary significantly across one litter so there are no guarantees that you won’t need to put in more work with behaviour and training than you are expecting.  First time puppy owners often under-estimate the costs and time needed to care for a dog so if this is your first time do your research and even offer to look after a friends dog for the weekend.

What are the real issues?

Whether a rescue dog or a new puppy, one thing is for certain, investing in some training is one of the best ways of ensuring that you and your dog have a long and happy relationship.   Missing out on training significantly increases the risk that your puppy or rescue dog will be surrendered in the future. 

Whether rescue dog or a new puppy, they will need walking come rain and shine, there will be vets fees, training costs, vaccinations, boarding when you are on holiday and walking when you are at work.   The best chances of us keeping rescue centres empty is to understand the commitment when we take on a dog. 

Can you tell which of these lovely has been rehomed and which has been owned from a puppy? 

Why do dogs bark at the front door? 

Your dog may be excited to greet visitors or alerting you that someone is arriving.  They may have an urge to guard their home or they may be startled and afraid of an unexpected sound.  Some dogs have just copied another dog in the family!   This was the case with my youngest dog Lawrence who only just managed to hone this particular behaviour before my oldest dog, the barker in the family, sadly passed away.  And we are just about managing the legacy behaviour but it’s taken a bit of strategy and patience!

Most dogs who bark at the door have learned that a knock or a door bell means something is going to happen for them e.g. greeting.  If, every time the doorbell went absolutely nothing happened for them they would likely gradually habituate to this noise like most dogs habituate to everyday household noises like a toilet flush or a washing machine on spin.  The problem is often that when they are puppies and we are anxious for them to meet lots of visitors, we end up teaching them that a doorbell means visitors or excitement or some sort of other stimulus for them.

What can you do about it?

The first thing is to double check what exactly is going on.  Does your dog run towards the door in an excited, happy, frenzy or do they run away from it?  Do they ‘trigger’ to the sound of a door bell, a door knock and keys in the door in the same way?  What about if you play the sound of different doorbells on your phone?  Do they carry on barking at visitors as they arrive?  Is it all visitors?  It's thoroughly worthwhile to get a bit of professional help at this stage ... sometimes its hard to really 'see' what is going on when it is your 'everyday'.

First things first, don’t yell or raise your voice.  If you raise your voice you are setting the wrong example to you are dog: you are “joining in”!  Your dog will think that they are on the right track with barking because their owner is also clearly anxious and getting loud.

Next, keep dog below their threshold of anxiety and reaction for 3 – 5 days before any training.  This sounds hard but here are some ideas to manage the practicalities:

1. Try a note on your front door to redirect visitors!
2. Change to a different door bell sound, or remove/cover the door bell and ask visitors to knock on a window.
3. If you have a newer wireless doorbell then move the ringers away from where the dog sleeps, or …
4. Move where the dog sleeps so they are away from the front door

This last point is important.  If your dog has access to the front door during the day at the moment, then it would be worth considering moving them toward the back of the house so they are less aware of post coming through the letter box and can’t see visitors arriving.    Make sure your dog has their own ‘safe space’ to retreat to …. This is their space where they have their food and treats and toys.  If you don’t have this at the moment feel free to message me, and see the video at the bottom of this blog.

Finally, you are going to need to stop inadvertently rewarding your dog for barking at the front door.  In fact, for a while, it would be better if the front door, visitors and doorbells were simply something that did not involve them.   All the training in the world won’t work if every so often they bark like crazy at the front door and then they are rewarded by the stimulus, sights, sounds, of visitors.

There are two very different aspects to the training we need to do here:
 
1.Training an alternative behaviour

I'd recommend training a down stay on their mat or bed.  You’ll need a training plan and I’d thoroughly recommend getting a bit of support with this bit.  You’ll need to spread the training out into very short fun sessions over a few weeks.  For a down stay to help us with this issue you’re going to need to make sure that it’s ‘proofed’ against distractions and that it works at a distance and for some duration.  These are all things you can practice at home.  It’s better to add these aspects in separately first and keep your training super positive with lots of treats on their mat or bed when they hold their stay. 

Here are some ideas to practice.

Distractions – try turning in a circle, bending down to tie your show or doing a star jumps near to them.  Start moving slowly and give lots of rewards.  See if you can walk around them.  Try playing some interesting sound effects on your phone or dropping a toy near them while they are in a stay.  Move on to rolling a toy passed them while they are in a stay.    You might even add in the distraction of a doorbell noise on your phone or the sound of the door of the fridge being opened or moving their food bowls.

Distance – try moving away from them a short distance and return and give them a treat.  Very gradually increase the distance that you move away until you are out of sight for a moment.    You keep yo-yoing back in to give them a treat so its all fairly quick and fun.   Work towards being out of sight for a minute or two.

Duration – gradually increase the duration of the stay while they are next to you on their bed.  If you are watching the TV or working you can put the bed by you and keep rewarding them with a treat between their paws on the bed every few seconds or minutes as they improve.  Work towards a 5 minute calm stay.

2.Desensitisation training

This is often a tricky one to work with.  For desensitisation to work we need to be able to control the amount of the stimulus of the door knock/bell so that we can start in a really small way.   You need the sound of the doorbell or knock to be so quiet that although the dog may notice he or she doesn’t react.  You may need to get creative.  I’m directly working on this with my youngest dog and here are my tips:

1. If you have a wireless door bell with a volume control then turn it to its lowest setting or move the ringer into an upstairs room with the door closed
2. Take your dog to the back of the garden and have a helper knock quietly on the door.  Mobile phones are great for coordinating this sort of training 😊
3. Start again (we did) – we’ve always had a knocker and now we have a bell just ask your visitors not to do both or you’ll end up transferring the knocker behaviour to the door bell.
4. Google sound effects of doorbells and visitors.  Start with door bells which sound a bit like yours but not exactly like yours

It’s critical you start in such a small way that your dog is able to notice AND to stay relaxed.  Repeat the stimulus 5 or 6 times and if they are able to do this you can give them a treat or a play with their toy.  At your next session you can increase the level of the stimulus slightly.
 
Once you and your dog have a consistently good down stay on their mat or bed you can start to combine the desensitisation and the down stays by having pretend and then actual practice visitor sessions.  You should be able to leave your dog in a down stay on the mat and go and ring the door bell yourself and come back and reward them before you move on to real visitors.
​
Remember that there is help available and this is just a phase that you and your dog are going through.

I'm absolutely delighted to announce that I'm now a full behaviourist member of the International Companion Animal Network (ICAN) as well as the Association of INTOdogs!

INTODogs are a members-only organisation for Dog Trainers, Behaviourists and other dog professionals, promoting positive, kind methods in order to enhance the quality of life for owners and dogs.  INTODogs also promotes the highest standards of professional conduct.  These are both a really good match for my own ethos and my aims in setting up Harmony Professional Dog Training.

For you, our customers, this means that you can relax and know that you are in a safe pair of hands with an INTODogs professional!  You know that we maintain the highest professional and ethical standards AND that we keep the welfare of your dog central to our work.  You can also rest assured that we keep abreast of continually with new regulations and teachings.

ICAN is an umbrella organisation which sets and maintains high standards within what is currently an unregulated industry.  Anyone can currently call themselves a trainer or a behaviourist regardless of their experience or theoretical knowledge.  ICAN are putting welfare first and bringing high standards, cooperation and unity to the industry.

It gives me great pleasure to be both a behaviourist and a trainer member of both organisations.

Find out more here 

https://www.intodogs.org/about/our-mission/

http://companionanimal.network/