ALI SPENCE
Follow Me On:
  • HOME
  • ABOUT ME
  • SERVICES
    • DOG WALKING
    • ALL DAY WALKING
    • CANINE COACHING
    • WEEKEND ADVENTURE WALKS
    • OWNER EDUCATION WALKS
    • HOUSE SITTING
    • PET FEEDING & MAINTENANCE VISITS
    • EVENING PET SITTING
  • PRICES
  • TESTIMONIALS
  • CONTACT
  • GALLERY
  • LINKS
  • BLOG
  • PRIVACY

The Role of Play & Emotional Connection

1/30/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Play is defined as an activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose.  From my own observations of dogs, this is may not be the only function of play.   It has been suggested that play activities may have a predatory component to them, giving the dog an opportunity to practice stalking, pouncing and shaking (Lindsay, 2000 p.43). In modern day society our dogs do not get the opportunity to hunt, so providing play activities may go some way to satiate this innate behaviour.

Puppies learn bite inhibition and stable, emotional temperaments by playing with their littermates and inanimate objects. It is agreed that that whilst dogs take great delight in playing there does seem to be some more serious and practical purpose behind it also.
 
Miller (2008 p.7) suggests that dogs that play are more mentally and physically healthy and that the benefits of play are:


  • develops a solid relationship between you and your dog
  • helps your dog develop and retain valuable social skills
  • provides superb mental and physical exercise, preventing boredom
  • adds valuable and varied reinforcers to training
  • teaches us about the dog’s personality
  • acts as an outlet for the dog’s natural instincts
  • stops inappropriate behaviour developing
  • assists with behavioural modification programmes
 
Play is a powerful tool which can influence puppy development, motivation levels in adult dogs and has emotional and physiological benefits as well as communication and general behaviour improvement (London & McConnell, 2008 p.1). If this is the case then why do only some dogs like to play?
 
Research has found that there are dedicated parts in the mammalian brain for the ‘elaboration and expression of play’ and that these are ‘highly sensitive’ to fear, aggression and nutritional deprivation which causes lesions on the brain.  The research suggests that these may cause play activity to become inhibited.  Whilst play can have a calming effect on fearful or aggressive dogs, this effect can be overwhelmed as arousal level increases: “play and fear are motivationally antagonistic to each other – fear however asserts a stronger influence over play than play asserts over fear” (Lindsay, 2001 p.90).  We must therefore consider that dogs that do not play may feel overwhelmed by their environment or the pressure exerted from the guardian to do so.
 
There are so many great play activities for our dogs. These include: tugs, chew toys, rubber rings, squeaky toys, balls, knotted ropes, soft toys and fetching items.  How you play with your dog has benefits and it has been found that the most effective methods of initiating play with dogs are running toward or away from the dog or the guardian tapping their own chest, mimicking the start-stop of dog to dog play; the vertical bow or a human version of the ‘play bow’ are the most successful when accompanied by vocalisations.  We can also use ‘play faces’ to initiate play; open, circular, smiling mouth, open eyes and relaxed facial muscles.  Run away chase games could condition our dogs to ‘keep away’ from us or over-excite them causing them to grab us with their mouths.  Behaviours that happen naturally are easier to train e.g. ball retrieval and these have a hedonistic effect on our dogs and that this can be more rewarding than food rewards.  When enough reinforcement history is made from ‘play’ we can conclude that the actual play activity becomes a reinforcer itself for other behaviour. It is important to keep the dog on a long line whilst teaching this behaviour to encourage the dog to retrieve and drop the ball by feeding treats when the ball is brought near the guardian.
 
I attended a fantastic workshop with play master Craig Ogilvie last year.  He states that ‘play sparks a great feeling of fun and excitement for both dog and handler’ but reminds us that we must not overpower our dogs during the act of play, if we do then play can become punitive and our dogs can lose the desire to play.  He advises us that frequent unintentional mistakes include: over-shaking toys so that the dog lets go of the toy; lifting the dog off the ground; running too fast with the toy; erratically moving when the dog has hold of the toy and boisterous physical contact. This type of interaction can result in our dogs preferring to play with toys by themselves, becoming possessive over the toy or losing interest altogether.  It is well worth reading his book – Interactive Play.
 
We must strive to achieve a connection with our dogs.  Clothier (2002) states that this is achieved by developing our understanding to a spiritual level.  She believes that a scientific approach when used in isolation can hinder our connection development.  She suggests that this connection is more than a technical (mechanistic) skill to get dogs to do our bidding; more than an understanding of what motivates a dog (food, toys or a desire to play) and utilising this to manipulate the dog’s internal environment; it is actually about letting go of our egos in a favour of a heartfelt approach to ‘partnership’ and a recognition that connection is occurring all the time, not just in the moments of engagement and that it is deeply individualistic to its relationship participants. Play is perhaps not a skill but is in fact an art and an abandonment between each party to simply enjoy themselves in a mutual bond. 
 
So get out with your dog and play!  Your relationship will benefit enormously from it.  The dog walk is a human construct and too often it is about our convenience and not meeting our dog’s needs.  Try adding 5-10 minutes of play in each walk.


References

Clothier, S. (2002)  Bones Would Rain From The Sky. New York: Grand Central Publishing.


Lindsay S.R. (2000) Handbook of Applied Dog Behaviour & Training: Procedures & Protocols. Vol.1. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Lindsay S.R. (2001) Handbook of Applied Dog Behaviour & Training: Procedures & Protocols. Vol.2. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Ltd.


Miller, P. (2008)  Play With Your Dog. Washington: Dogwise Publishing.



​

Do You Need Help?

If you need a helping hand please get in touch using the button below. I offer individually tailored 1-2-1 Canine Coaching to help you develop your relationship with your dog. We will work together to improve your training skills. Sessions can be in the comfort of your home or in a real life setting to suit your needs. Each session is 1-2 hours long and include a follow up email and telephone support. Sessions start at £45, packages are available for multiple sessions.
​
Sign up for our newsletter to get all the latest info and details straight into your inbox
​
0 Comments

5 Ways We Sabotage Our Dog Training

2/27/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
TRAIN

​Training is the act of teaching a person or animal, a particular skill or behaviour through regular practice and instruction. Getting into the habit of training can be really hard. It takes commitment and a willingness to ‘just do it’.  Do you struggle with it? 

Through repetition we can train our minds to act in a particular way that will lead to competence in that area.  We aren’t experts at the beginning, we have to start feeling like a novice and grow. Sounds easy?  Not necessarily so - we have all made that commitment to go to the gym or a new class only to give up a few weeks later. According to Jim Rohn, American Entrepreneur and Motivational speaker – “Motivation gets us started; Habit keeps us going.”  So often we can decide we want to do something, we start but then something happens and we lose confidence.
 
Humans have a tendency to criticise themselves, creating self-doubt in their minds.  Too often we believe we simply haven’t got what it takes to do a good job, so we don’t even bother trying. or we quickly give up.  We unconsciously teach ourselves negative habits that hinder or stop training altogether. Let’s look at those common habits.


1.   Perfectionism – setting excessively high standards for ourselves and our dogs means that when we can’t achieve them. We then experience self-doubt and worry that we are not measuring up to everyone else.  If we suffer from perfectionism we do not find any of our successes satisfying.  The perfectionist continually believes they SHOULD do better and push themselves and their dogs too hard, resulting in burn out. To overcome this habit remember that ‘Progress not Perfection’ is the key to good dog training. Set up metrics to measure your progress and keep this information to yourself.  Competition can be fun, it isn’t always healthy.

2.  Overworking – we overload ourselves with endless tasks and to do lists in order to hide our insecurities.  If we work harder no-one will see their shortcomings.  We become nothing more than ‘train-a-holic’ pushing ourselves and our dogs to exhaustion to gain outside kudos.  To overcome this habit remember the best validation comes from within, not other people.  Only take on tasks that are achievable within a specified time limit.  Practice saying ‘I AM ENOUGH, I DON’T HAVE TO BE SUPERWOMAN/MAN!’   

3.   No Natural Talent – we believe we have to do it right the first time.  If we don’t perform well on the first time out, we give up.  To overcome this habit remember training is a skill that is built up over time.  Everyone has some talent and you get better through practice.  Mistakes are where the learning occurs.  I urge you to keep a journal so you can see your work in progress.  

4.   Not Asking For Help – when it comes to training our dogs we sometimes can’t see where we are going wrong.  We become emotional and believe we are failing.  To overcome this habit, next time you feel like you are struggling ask for help, there is no shame in needing a helping hand or a fresh pair of eyes.  

5.  Creating Distractions – There are lots of opportunities to learn new things in dog training.  Learning is a worthwhile pursuit but if the quest for knowledge hides a belief that you will never know enough there’s a problem.  If this becomes an endless pursuit then this is actually is procrastinating.  I urge you to learn in the moment, acknowledge your present limitations and ask for help when you need it.


Do You Need Help?
If you need a helping hand please get in touch using the button below. I offer individually tailored 1-2-1 Canine Coaching to help you develop your relationship with your dog. We will work together to improve your training skills. Sessions can be in the comfort of your home or in a real life setting to suit your needs. Each session is 1-2 hours long and include a follow up email and telephone support. Sessions start at £45, packages are available for multiple sessions.
Sign up for our newsletter to get all the latest info and details straight into your inbox
Submit
0 Comments

Does Your Dog Find Your Walks Boring?

2/24/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Many guardians can’t keep their dog’s attention on walks and often trainers tell them they need to be more interesting.  Is it really that simple?   A good dog walk isn’t just about exercise, it is much more than this It is an opportunity to strengthen the relationship between you and your dog. When it is done well our dogs give us their attention and focus. We must do the same for them – switch off our phones, watch what they are doing, learn how they communicate. Problems appear when we aren’t providing those opportunities to engage with us and often they will entertain themselves if we don’t.   We need to remind ourselves it is their walk as much as ours. We can all make more effort to ensure our dogs enjoy being with us.
 
A regular walking routine helps to improve our physical and mental health.  Physical benefits include getting fitter, weight loss, better muscle strength, supple joints and general toning.  When we walk our bodies release ‘feel good hormones’ called endorphins and these help us concentrate better, have higher self-confidence and gain better sleep.  Dogs also enjoy these benefits, like us they have physical, mental and emotional needs. A good dog walk can satisfy these needs and when we take these into consideration, walks become a pleasurable experience and not a chore.
 
Dogs have been bred to seek out human company.  If this is not happening we need to ask ourselves why?  What is it that competes for your dog’s attention? A potent wildlife smell? Another dog to play with?  Something scaring them?  During our walks we need to see the world from our dog’s perspective.  This isn’t always easy.  Our dogs are individuals and their experiences are completely unique to them.  We need to learn their language because they do tell us what they need if we take time to listen to them.
 
 
So how can you improve your dog walks?
 
Choose an Appropriate Location
Pick places or walks that have an enrichment aspect to them – chances are if you are bored walking round the same block that your dog is too. Mix your walks up and try not to do the same walk twice within a day.  Choose an environment that will keep your dog safe and able to concentrate on you.  There is no point walking somewhere where your dog is unhappy or where there are too many distractions for them. Set your dog up for success. We are always more confident when we have knowledge and experience, so it is always worth checking out an area before we walk our dogs there.
 
Provide Engagement Activities
Allow your dog to have opportunities to train and play during your walk – this captures their attention.  Toys are great, but only when we are engaged in the activity too.  It can be fun to make up activities – ‘find it’ games using food in the bark of trees, scent trails amongst fallen leaves, balancing on tree stumps, hide and seek, recall challenges. Our dogs enjoy the opportunity to use all their five senses so get creative.
 
Think About The Speed
The pace you walk can certainly affect your dog's interest. Dogs who like to waddle often wander off if you stomp too far ahead. Bouncy, boisterous teenagers may need jobs to do. Lead pulling frequently happens because our dogs are unhappy that their natural pace is mismatched with our own. Speed up and slow down and see what happens. Variety keeps our dogs watching what we are doing.
 
Do You Need Help?
If you need help to stop your dog walks being boring, please contact me using the button below. I offer individually tailored 1-2-1 Canine Coaching to help you develop your relationship with your dog. We will work together to improve your training skills. Sessions can be in the comfort of your home or in a real life setting to suit your needs. Each session is 1-2 hours long and include a follow up email and telephone support. Sessions start at £45, packages are available for multiple sessions.



    Sign up for our newsletter to get all the latest info and details straight into your inbox

Submit
0 Comments

Walk, Train, Play, Behave & Stay

1/27/2020

4 Comments

 
Picture

​Hi Everyone
​
Holos means ‘Whole’ – therefore when asked what a holistic approach is to dog care services, we must consider that it is a way of looking at the ‘whole’ picture for both us and our dogs.  In order to consider what this might mean we can look to the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) world where a holistic approach is regularly used.  There we see an approach of looking at MIND, BODY & SPIRIT (MBS).  This way of looking at self-care has its origins in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic Medicine and Ancient & Pagan practices.  These disciplines all believe that in order for health to exist within an individual all aspects of their life need to be in balance.  It must be noted that many of these practices seek to pre-empt disease – exercise for mind and body such as meditation, massage, tai chi, and yoga seek to build a spiritual connection and achieve a wholeness or oneness. 

This is stark contrast to Western Medicine that tends to treat the body as a machine and fix the body with pharmaceutical drugs or surgery when it goes wrong – a bit like how you treat your car, when it’s broke we take it to the garage to be ‘fixed’, many of us forget to maintain our vehicles with regular servicing, oil and water checks and tyre pressure measuring.  As a former Complementary Therapist & Lecturer, I believe that in order to achieve a holistic approach to healthcare we must utilise the best of both worlds. Complementary Therapies & Western Medicine sit well alongside each other.  I am not an advocate of Alternative Medicine and any complementary therapy must be just that a complement to modern medicine.

I believe a holistic approach relates equally well to our dogs, both for healthcare and education purposes.  I think this involves looking at all aspects of a dog’s behaviour to reveal how the dog best learns.  It has several unique components to it and we can remember these by considering the WALK, TRAIN, PLAY, BEHAVE & STAY programme.

WALK   – We need to be respectful of our environment and all things around us, whether this is people and other animals around us or simply the path we walk on.  We can support our dog’s well-being by providing a nurturing environment for them to live in and the opportunity to be part of a happy, well-adjusted member of their community, both with other dogs and the people they encounter. When our dogs feel grounded we are able to create a solid foundation from which to build a happy, healthy dog ~ a holistic approach helps meet our dogs’ basic needs within a secure atmosphere.
 
TRAIN - - Whether we are indoors or outdoors, the place we learn to master our techniques should keep our dogs in an emotionally balanced, calm and stable state.  We should help our dogs to channel their natural behaviour into working with us to achieve the best results.  We show our dogs boundaries by teaching them what we want them to do and reward them with food or games when they do it. We know from scientific research that the use of punitive methods create fear in our dogs and that dogs learn best when they have no fear. When we reinforce the good behaviour it becomes more likely to occur in the future – then everyone is a winner!!! We develop a clear understanding of what drives our dog, what they like and dislike ~ a holistic approach enables us to channel our energy into the world to achieve our desired outcomes
 
PLAY - I believe that positive, kind, science-based training methods promote understanding and the development of knowledge in both dogs and their guardians.  We can achieve successful results by clearly communicating with our dogs and strengthening our bond with them through a regime of movement - walking, training and playing.  When we take time to play with our dogs in a confident and consistent way we fix learning in their minds by using a constructive learning programme that utilises a variety of fun, enjoyable and rewarding methods throughout our walking and training exercises; to our dogs it all becomes play. They give so much back to us, so we strive to continually improve our knowledge, experience and confidence so we can help guardians and their dogs do the same ~ a holistic approach teaches us to have clear communication and to move with our dogs.

BEHAVE - we are always learning. Puppies need to learn about their new world, adolescents need to learn how not to be bolshie teenagers and not to always think through their hormones, middle age dogs need to learn about being tolerant of their younger dogs, older dogs need to learn about living with aches and pains and having to see the vet more often. I believe that we are continually improving our relationships with our dogs and as they grow so do we.  . A holistic approach helps to develop our own and our dog’s intellect and creates forward thinking and a thirst for new ideas. When we channel our dog’s emotions into the right behaviour, we are able to teach them specific skills that develop excellent temperaments and their emotional intelligence. When our dogs feel composed and resilient to fear, we feel we have control of the other end of the lead   ~ a holistic approach provides a framework that develops controlled emotions.

STAY - like pebbles on a beach we are all individuals, we might look similar but we are all very different creatures. Humans are not just humans, dogs are not just dogs. Both dogs and humans are a complex mixture of mental, emotional, physical and spiritual needs. A happy dog that has balance in its life has a vibrant and strong sense of energy ~ a holistic approach provides a complete safe framework to work within.  It helps us to develop our dogs’ sense of self and allows us and our dogs to be all that we can be. Many religions and lots of modern day gurus teach us to ‘stay’ in the moment and connect to our hearts.
 
Love Ali xx
©

4 Comments

    Author

    Ali Spence - Dog Walking & Pet Care Services is able to provide you with a professional, reliable and friendly service that gives you total peace of mind - 'your pets in safe hands'.

    Archives

    January 2021
    February 2020
    January 2020

    Categories

    All
    PLAY
    TRAIN
    WALK

    RSS Feed

Location

What Our Clients Are Saying

"We can't recommend Ali enough, right from day 1, Dexie loves her,,and now 2 years later  she is like a second mum.. 100% First Rate!!!

Alex Cowan

​

Contact Us

    Subscribe Today!

Submit