Mobile Canine Care

GEEK ALERT! This article about proprioception (in humans) is FASCINATING! Lots of amazing info and insights that can apply to our dogs as well.

Finding this a really interesting read!

This is a great article with video detailing the important aspects of a properly fit harness for your pup. Clear, concise, comprehensive, all in a video of less than 3 minutes.

Some really good advice in this article about restarting normal dog activities, and things to consider to reduce risk of injury.

Crossposted for those who didn't see it elsewhere... Fixing up the new facility!!! Located southwest of Ottawa, in the beautiful Rideau Lakes region

This is an excellent article about how pain and behaviour can be linked in animals.

MYTHBUSTING MONDAY: Myth - Positive training for reactivity is limited to "distracting" a dog with treats when another dog appears. If you've tried distracting... your dog with treats when he sees another dog (or bike, car, jogger, etc.), and he completely ignores the treat and you, here's why. STRESS When an animal (including humans) reaches a certain level of stress, an important change takes place in the brain, which starts the processes necessary for fight (aggression) or flight (avoidance), including the activation of the sympathetic nervous system. When that happens, pupils dilate, respiration increases, heart rate increases, and digestion shuts down. Why? Because if you're being chased by a bear, your body doesn't need food in that moment, it needs to be fast and agile. Food can come later, but if you don't survive, the nutrients you get from food won't help you. When a threat passes, the sympathetic nervous system is disengaged, and we return to a normal state of "rest and digest." Hopefully, where you are right now. What does this have to do with your dog passing your neighbor and her Corgi? Because whether or not your dog's reactivity is rooted in anxiety, fear, frustration, or excitement, the same process is taking place. It doesn't matter that her dog poses no real threat to your dog. What matters is that your dog's stress level has reached the point that digestion has shut down. One other important thing happens at this point. Your dog is now focused on only the things necessary for survival (remember, this is about the dog's perception, not ours). Sort of like trying to focus on a crossword puzzle while a bee is buzzing around your face. So, trying to do any training at this moment is pointless. Unfortunately, this is the point that most people attempt to "distract the dog" with food. But, as you now understand, it's too late. This is why trainers talk so much about staying "under threshold." The threshold is the point at which the dog tips over into that fight or flight mode. Where that threshold is depends on your dog, but changes depending on the proximity and intensity of the trigger, as well as duration of exposure. For example, let's go back to the bee. If the bee is busy on a nearby dandelion, it might not bother you while you're gardening, but a bee buzzing around your face might be more concerning. If that bee is only there for a second before flying off, you might not move, but if the bee persists for 30 seconds or more, you might get up to avoid it. Multiply that to 100 bees buzzing around your face, and you're probably switching into serious fight/flight mode. See how slight changes can make a big difference in your stress levels? While every dog is different, they all have a point where they can focus and learn and take treats, and a point they can't. If we want to maximize learning and behavior change, we keep them under threshold, gradually increasing the proximity, intensity, and duration they can tolerate. Behavior modification for reactivity using non-aversive methods is not about distracting a dog with food. It is about using food to change associations to the things that trigger reactivity and to reinforce previously taught behaviors. To do this, we need to work at a distance, level of intensity, and duration that keeps the dog below threshold. It's not that positive training doesn't work. Your dog just needs you to make a few changes so that it can work for them. ____________________ For help with your dog, check out these low-cost webinars - both live and on demand! http://www.growlsnarlsnap.com/dogbehaviorwebinars Permanent link to article: http://www.growlsnarlsnap.com//WHY-DISTRACTING-WITH-TREATS

Our Trust & Relationship Building with Dogs workshop is the pre-requisite for our advanced workshops. This class teaches the important foundation of establishin...g trust with dogs and the building blocks for communicating through touch. Understanding how dogs speak to us and each other plays an integral part in working together to create a positive and safe environment. We have 3 opportunities to take advantage of this awesome class to get you started on a new path working with dogs! You do not need an animal background to participate in our classes - all we require is patience and a commitment to better understanding our canine friends! Registration is open in Chicago/St. Louis/Virginia for our March classes! Sign up today - St. Louis, March 6-8 www.canisbodyworks.com/calendar/trb-stl-mar2020 Virginia, March 7-9 www.canisbodyworks.com/calendar/trb-va-mar2020 Chicago, March 20-22 www.canisbodyworks.com/calendar/trb-chi-mar2020 Have questions? Reach out to us at [email protected] Want to continue on your journey? Check out our full roster at canisbodyworks.com/workshops for class dates and descriptions. #caninemassage #massageworks #healingtouch #handsonlearning

Dr Karen Becker has just written an article about the benefits of Canine Massage. Well written, benefits well explained. She does however allude to licensing, which is not exactly correct. In Canada, massage therapists who treat humans need to be licensed. But Canine Massage is actually an unregulated industry in both Canada and most of the United States, although different provinces and states require some form of veterinary oversight. Because of this, in addition to taking extensive training, I chose to sit for the NBCAAM boards, which provides assurance of the highest level of competency and training available in the field. So when you do reach out to a canine massage practitioner to get massage for your pup, please do check qualifications and training. Massage is most effective when done properly and well!

How much fun was this! Sully, who is 6, and in a new home, is discovering a whole new world with his new mom, the incomparable Sharin Barber. This freework set up (thank you to Sarah Fisher of ACE/Ttouch UK for developing this!) enables us to observe without disturbing or directing him, while he has a chance to discover things and (ideally) gain confidence. So many things of note, but one of the most interesting aspects was how, by the end of the 10 minutes of exploring, he not only appears to be more relaxed (softer in his body, more balanced over his feet, tail looser), but he also no longer startles when there is a sudden sound in the other room. Lovely!

This is great graphic to help understand stress and signaling in our dogs (and what to do about it!).

Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday season!