Pippin Pets

How do you know if your dog has separation anxiety?

Learn about what your dog does when you are home and then what do they do when you leave them?

Are there new behaviours, or just more frequency or intensity of what they are doing?

These can be signs of FOMO, boredom or more likely separation anxiety.

It was a coincidence that Kerry Cadman, a 5* licenced breeder won a copy of my book Adore Your Adolescent Dog in a recent competition. On the cover of my book is a Yorkie!

So for this special episode, I am doing a breed focus on the Yorkshire Terrier and have recorded the words that Kerry sent in to me. She was happy to contribute, but too shy to speak directly on a podcast!

I hope you enjoy her thoughts.

If you want to contact her, then Kerry can be followed on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/adorable_yorkies_of_devon_uk/?hl=en and you can see pics of her adorable pack there too.

England has just announced that they will bring in a ban on the use of shock collars. Yippee!

Wales did this over a decade ago.

In this episode I go through what an e-collar is, and why they are considered an aversive tool for training.

There have been many arguments (mostly by aversive, and balanced trainers) and users of these ecollars about why they need them, and why reward trainers are useless - their words, not mine.

These include the rights to be off lead wherever, the alleged rise in sheep attacks, and deaf dogs.

There are more accusations in the media that have no founding whatsoever (such as rates of euthanasia and 'ecollars saves lives' - but stats show that just as many, if not more, dogs are PTS after having a shock collar used on them) but I haven't covered all of these.

What I do say is to look at your ethics, your values, and what does your gut tell you about using corrections on your dog?

Controversial topic - but only if you promote using pain to train.

Does your dog seem to cope one day and not the next?

This may be due to their stress bucket overflowing.

For Dog Anxiety Awareness Week, I talk about what the bucket is.

Imagine all the things your dog has to cope with - noises, people, busy places, lack of sleep, overexcitement and this all goes into a bucket. At some point, that bucket will overflow if more of these triggers happen, or appear closer together in sequence. Stress can quickly fill up to the top - the threshold - and overspill.

Now find all the things your dog likes to do. Is that to sniff, or play, or chew? Maybe you have some favourite tricks to do. Each of these activities can help your dog's bucket to leak out - they all punch a hole in it and the stress reduces.

Balance out the 'bad' stress with lots of the fun 'hole making' activities to help your dog cope with living in our busy world.

Need help? Get in touch or visit my website to find out ways to work with me https://www.pippinpetsdogtraining.co.uk/get-in-touch/

On Thursday 11th May 2023 at 6pm (UK time), I'm hosting a webinar From Frantic To Focused where I will talk about the stress bucket, but also how you can get your dog to focus on you more. Register here and you will be emailed a zoom link ahead of this free webinar https://www.subscribepage.com/n1z5k1

At the event, I will be launching my new online course From Frantic To Focused, which will be available to buy on my website from 11th May.

And I have my book Adore Your Adolescent Dog which you can purchase on Amazon now

If your dog is born blind, or goes blind during their time with you, don't panic.

Eve from the award winning The Underdogs Training is here to help.

After her own dog turned blind, she decided to set up as a niche trainer to help all owners of blind dogs navigate the (small) adjustments needed so that you can still have a fully enriching time together, and help your dog learn their new normal.

The key advice is that you are not alone.

You don't need to fret over google rabbit holes, as she has lots of tips for owners with dogs that have impaired vision.

From our chat, it is not the end. And actually the adjustments you need to make are less dramatic than you may have realised.

Yes, you will be on more alert out on walks, and your agility career may have to stop, but there is a huge range of other activities that your blind dog can excel in.

Dealing with a blind dog may not have been on your agenda, but your dog is still the same loving dog, and Eve now has 2 blind dogs that have lots of fun and learn new skills and tricks every day.

You can find out more on her website https://theunderdogstraining.com/

And on her regular instagram posts https://www.instagram.com/theunderdogstrainer/

And YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/c/TheUnderdogsTraining

You can watch this episode (and other interviews) on our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@pippinpets

And go to our website for more dog training, separation anxiety and top tips - https://www.pippinpetsdogtraining.co.uk/podcasts/

A common mistake is to wait outside the house, and run back in when your dog starts to bark.

Or you may have been told to let your dog howl and cry it out, as you will reinforce the barking if you return mid-flow. So you are there getting upset yourself listening to your dog barking incessantly, waiting for a pause.

In Separation Anxiety training, the bark is too late - your dog is already in a panic.

You need to be watching your dog's more subtle body language and make sure you return long before you hear any noise, so that they learn that they can trust you, and you are also back when they still feel safe.

Listen to this quick episode, and you can read more info on our blog on our webpage https://www.pippinpetsdogtraining.co.uk/top-tips/dont-wait-for-the-barking/

When I work with clients, we learn about your dog's body language, and set you up for success by helping your dog feel safe, and cope for ever longer times at home

Is a canine massage only for top agility dogs?  No!  

Can it help pre and post op on your dog?  Yes!  

I chat to the lovely Hayley Hilton of Hands On Heart Clinical Massage Therapist, based near Warrington, and boy, we can talk!  It's a long one so be ready.  You can see us on my YouTube channel (Pippin Pets).  

Massages are becoming a lot more common for dogs now, as a way to help promote recovery from an injury, or to keep your dog in peak condition.  Essential if you regularly compete in high intensity sports such as agilty or canicross, or if your dog does lots of long runs with you.  We need to treat them as top athletes, so that their risk of injury is mitigated.  

But the lazy dogs can also benefit from a relaxing massage, better blood flow, and even small issues that can be resolved by this method rather than surgery (as a first option).  

Senior dogs also benefit hugely.  Arthritis is crippling, so keeping your dog mobile may help them enjoy a complete life with walks for longer.  

Make sure your therapist is qualified, such as the ones on the Canine Massage Guild  https://www.k9-massageguild.co.uk/ 

Find Hayley here  https://handsonheart.dog/ 

Or go to our website here for more podcast episodes.  https://www.pippinpetsdogtraining.co.uk/podcasts/ 

More interviews are on our YouTube Channel - Pippin Pets

I often get asked to go to someone's house for separation anxiety training, and I will always refuse.  To go there, not refuse to help them.

Having a stranger in the home changes the dynamics, feelings and hormones of your dog, and is not a true representation of the scenario for training.  It can upset your dog a lot, or the opposite and your dog is fine as they are not alone, you have gone out of the door but I am there.

All our training is done online, remotely.  You get the same level of support, if not more, and your practice sessions live with me on zoom replicate the situation you are in at home.

It's because of these reasons that remote/online is best!

And don't panic about the tech - its easy -and that is from a technophobe like me!  If I can do it, you definitely can!

Want support and help for your separation anxiety dog?  Get in touch now!  

More info and contact form on my website www.pippinpetsdogtraining.co.uk

Very excited to be hosting a conversation with Sarah Jones who runs My Anxious Dog and the #dogsinyellow day on 20th March.  

Sarah and her 'Yellow Army' are on a mission to educate on why dogs wearing yellow need space.  

These are dogs that are not so keen on being up close and personal to strangers - dogs or humans - and would prefer to not be touched.  It may be a dog that has fear, or is recovering from surgery, or really any other reason.  In fact, they just don't want to be cuddled/ruffled or anything from well intentioned strangers.  

Even my therapy dog has her limit on being stroked or prodded by unknowns, so wearing yellow and spreading the word will hopefully allow those to have the space they need, and be respected for it.  They should not get abuse for being responsible.  Or crowded by off lead dogs or scary human hands.  

Have a listen - it was a great chat and I really enjoyed this. We have been trying to get together for ages so was a joy to finally record this!

Want to get some yellow gear for you and your dog?  Head over to her website - My Anxious Dog and shop away! https://www.bellascollars.co.uk/

Struggling to be able to walk your dog?

I offer 1-2-1 consults, and I do cover the start of the process in my forthcoming new book - Adore Your Adolescent Dog out on 7th March (sign up on my launch page of my website to get insights and reminders) https://www.pippinpetsdogtraining.co.uk/adore-your-adolescent-dog-book

Dogs can be anxious for many reasons, and it could have started or developed since conception and in vitro. It could be something they encountered, or a scary experience that has shaped their thoughts and emotions.

In this episode I talk about some of the ways you may not have a 'clean slate' puppy, or why your dog has changed as they got older. 

The chances you have caused anxiety are slim - unless you have been scaring them and making them nervous (I hope not!)

We also need to stop trying to 'fix' our dogs to make them into an unobtainable mould- instead get help with the extremes, and then embrace their personality.

Enjoy listening!

Need help?  Get in touch - [email protected] or visit our website www.pippinpetsdogtraining.co.uk