by Tenille Williams | 11 Aug, 2022 | Dog Behaviour, For Dog Owners, Puppy Training, Training Tips
Have you ever heard of counter conditioning?
You may have even used it before without realising it.
You might need to use counter conditioning if you’ve ever:
- Felt embarrassed by your dog’s behaviour while out in public because they’re freaking out and you can’t get through to them
- Wished you could just talk to your dog and explain that your neighbour’s possum shaped lawn ornament is not a demon
- Felt like you’re being towed behind horse and you may as well be on grass skis every time your dog sees another dog
These are often fear based responses and they keep both you and your dog from being able to enjoy your time together to the fullest.
With counter conditioning, you can:
- Change the way a dog feels about something that they’re fearful of
- Turn a negative association into a positive one
- Transform your dog’s behaviour in the presence of that originally scary thing.
As a trainer who uses counter conditioning often, I can help you break down the science into simple steps and achieve results like improved confidence in your dog.
A dog that actually looks forward to seeing things that previously triggered them.
A more enjoyable time together on walks and out in public.
Are you ready for this?
Work through step by step in Frantic To Focused, my signature course that helps owners with dogs who are reactive to triggers (including but not limited to other dogs). You can see all the details by clicking here.
by Tenille Williams | 20 Feb, 2020 | For Dog Owners, Training Tips
Is owning dogs all your life enough to know how to train them effectively?
I’ve had a vagina all my life, but that doesn’t make a gynecologist.
But what is it that sets apart someone who has a lot of time around dogs and a great love for them, and someone who can create effective change in behaviour to reach goals in not just their own dogs, but others?
I have seen trainers who appear to be total naturals.
I actually don’t feel like fit that category. People sometimes say now that I am a natural or some kind of dog whisperer, but I feel I had to work for that, it didn’t just happen easily.
In my case I studied a course that gained me a qualification on paper. That’s nice to have and it’s important to be educated. But theory and practical application are two entirely different games.
In fact, it can be a dangerous thing to have a lot of book knowledge without practical experience – because you feel confident and empowered by knowing a lot, but if you’re not out there working dogs then not only do you miss out on learning how to apply that theory in reality but you’re also not getting those hard yet valuable lessons where you realise you still have a LOT to learn.
There’s nothing as humbling as getting too relaxed and making a mistake that causes a close call with a dog’s teeth and thinking, “sh*t, do I know anything about training dogs?!”
Like with many things, the key is to acknowledge that you’re always learning, it never stops, and everyone is at different points in their journey – and so are their dogs.
I’m sure we can learn more from each other…
Here’s 4 ways I may be able to help you.
- Browse the free lessons in the Dog Matters Academy
- Sign up for Academy Premium and take the full training program that will improve any behaviour you’re struggling with with your dog
- Read my free ebook, The Good Dog and submit a question for me to answer within the same module area
by Tenille Williams | 20 Feb, 2020 | For Dog Owners, Training Tips
Have you already tried everything to solve your frustrations with your dog?
If so, I am sad to say, you are a rare case and it’s time to give up.
I mean, if you’ve already tried everything, what other hope is there?
JUST KIDDING…
Because I know there’s always something else to try, even if it’s doing the same thing you’ve done before but in a slightly different way.
I have been in client’s homes who have, “tried everything.”
They are frustrated and frankly, over it. They’re also usually skeptical, understandably.
But deep down they know there must be something else otherwise I wouldn’t be there.
And the good news is, we always find something to try that they hadn’t thought of before, and that makes progress, and gives hope!
Where might you find a new technique to try?
Here’s 3 things that could help:
- Browse the free lessons in the Dog Matters Academy
- Sign up for Academy Premium and take the full training program that will improve any behaviour you’re struggling with with your dog
- Read my free ebook, The Good Dog and submit a question for me to answer within the same module area
by Tenille Williams | 20 Feb, 2020 | Dog Behaviour, For Dog Owners, Training Tips
You don’t need to feel ashamed if your dog is behaving badly. I think that’s what causes MANY people to say to me, “he’s not a bad dog,” or, “she’s really a sweet natured girl.”
Of course the reason they are speaking to me is usually because the same dog is showing aggression, destroying property or jumping up on people to the point of hurting them.
What I want people to know is, I KNOW your dog is not a bad dog. It’s okay.
The truth is, good dogs can display bad behaviour.
Of course, what is, “bad,” is a matter of interpretation and preference.
At the same time, if your dog is a danger to you, themselves, or others, the issue needs to be addressed.
Training through behaviour problems is about moving forward and creating positive change.
If you’re feeling like you will be judged when seeking help and it’s stopping you from taking the next step, I want you to know that there are non-judgy trainers (like me) out there and it’s about finding that right fit that you feel comfortable with.
You can also be selective with where you post online. Large free-for-all dog groups aren’t always the safest spaces to seek help without judgement.
The more serious or ingrained the issue, the more likely you will need in person help.
Sometimes though, you might feel like the issue is really bad and super embarrassing, but it might be simpler than you think to address it!
It’s all about taking that first step.
So when you’re ready for that, here’s 3 ways I can help you:
- Browse the free lessons in the Dog Matters Academy
- Sign up for Academy Premium and take the full training program that will improve any behaviour you’re struggling with with your dog
- Read my free ebook, The Good Dog and submit a question for me to answer within the same module area
by Tenille Williams | 20 Feb, 2020 | For Dog Owners, Training Tips
Often I meet dogs who show some degree of aggression or reactivity towards other dogs, but it seems random.
It’s only some dogs.
Sometimes we can see that it is only fluffy dogs, flat faced dogs or dogs or a certain breed type.
It’s like a little doggy racist. But at least we can see a pattern.
Other times, it appears much more random.
How can we explain this?
Have you ever met someone at a party or been introduced to a mutual friend and just… not liked them?
Maybe you can’t put your finger on it.
Maybe it’s the look on their face.
Maybe they said something you thought was rude or inappropriate.
Maybe it was me and you are about to unsubscribe…
But sometimes for whatever reason, we just don’t like everyone we meet.
And it’s the same with our dogs.
There is always some reason. But it may not be an obvious one. For example, the other dog might just be a little too energetic and it’s coming off to your dog as offensive.
Perhaps both dogs carry themselves in a dominant way and want to be on top in the relationship as soon as they meet and neither will give in.
Or maybe one day your dog was given the doggy finger by a passing poodle and never forgot that b*tch’s face.
Whatever the reason, the point is that we can’t always predict or control whether our dogs like every other dog.
That’s why it’s so important to train your dog to listen under distraction and to learn to read their body language so that you can at least see how your dog is feeling and know how to intervene.
You can learn a lot about your dog (and them about you) through training together.
It strengthens your bond, improves your communication together and makes them quicker to learn AND makes them tired. Win win win.
To learn more about training so that you and your dog are safer and easier to predict and control in any situation, check out the Dog Matters Academy.
Woofs and wags
Tenille
by Tenille Williams | 20 Feb, 2020 | For Dog Owners, Puppy Training, Training Tips
“We should have socialised her more!”
The owners feel bad. Their dog has serious issues now.
They feel they should have socialised her more.
They tried though.
They took the advice of the vet to keep her home until the vaccinations were finished.
Then they were able to start puppy school.
They did everything the vet nurse said.
Their puppy was scared and hiding.
“You need to socialise her more,” was the standard advice.
For six weeks of puppy school she hid from the other puppies.
She fought off the vet staff and learned that biting keeps them away.
She went to dog school and only became harder to handle amongst all the other dogs.
Eventually the owners had enough and stopped going. It was clear no one was enjoying it.
Now their little scared puppy is all grown up and is not safe for dogs or people to be close to.
She knows exactly how to keep threats away.
She uses her teeth.
She learned it back in puppy school.
She learned it when she was being socialised.
This is not the owner’s fault. According to the experts they took advice from, they took all the right steps. They only listened to what they were advised.
They knew that when you get a puppy, you need to, “socialise it,” but no one told them what that really means.
People think it means get your puppy used to other dogs.
Really, if socialisation has 100 parts, getting used to other dogs is just one of them.
It’s so much more than that.
But we can still keep it simple.
Socialisation is getting your puppy used to all the things they will need to be able to cope with in their life such as environments, people, noises, objects, handling and other dogs.
Furthermore, the most critical time to do this is up to the age of 16 weeks. While vaccinations aren’t in full effect yet.
And the risk of a serious behaviour problem is much higher than the risk of disease. You just need to use some common sense and not take your puppy to areas highly trafficked by unknown dogs, especially not putting them on the ground in such areas.
But since other dogs is only a small part of correct socialisation, avoiding these areas isn’t a big deal.
And if you want to be paranoid about your pup picking up diseases, you better not go anywhere either, because you can bring home these diseases on your shoes.
Especially if you’ve been to any areas where sick dogs go – like the vet clinic.
Many people refer to this time of the year as puppy season. The best gift you can give yourself and your new puppy is helpful education which sets you up a more balanced dog and helps avoid serious behaviour issues.
See the free puppy section of the vault for a free puppy socialisation checklist that you can use to socialise your puppy safely. Access here.
The goal is to help your puppy to have either neutral or calm positive experiences with these things and environments, and avoid both negative experiences or a total lack of experience.
Above all, get out there and enjoy the big wide world with your puppy.
Woofs and wags
Tenille
PS Like anything, there are good and not so good options. This post is not to say I am against vets or puppy schools, it’s about finding the right one and seeking behaviour and training advice from experts in that field rather than in a different field entirely.
