C for Calming signals 09/05/2012
C for Calming Signals This is the title of a book written by Turid Rugaas a Norwegian dog trainer and behavourist. She calls her book “On Talking terms with dogs: Calming Signals” Turid talks about yawning, lip licking, head turning and many other signals that dogs use to communicate with one another and their humans. These signals are also the basis for the Doggonesafe (a non profit organisation) presentation against dog bites for which i am a presenter. If your dog is awake it is communicating to you. Besides the obvious body language the dog uses very subtle and almost invisible signals. Dogs have the same ability and the same social skills to avoid conflicts as wolves. Conflict solving is part of their heritage and nature. They do not want a fight. They will use the 'fight' reaction as a last resort. Dogs use these signals at an early stage in any tense situation. They talk, using the signals to calm themselves, to convey peace, to calm others or to show goodwill. I teach children and adults to notice these signals helping them make informed decisions around familiar and unfamiliar dogs. According to Turid there are at least 30 signals. Some are very subtle and some are so swift that you can hardly see them. It takes experience and awareness to pick up your dog’s signals. Watch your dog at home, find these signals in the dog park (you will realise that most dogs are more stressed in the dog park than happy) or as you walk out with your dog. Notice, how your dog communicates with other dogs or how other dogs communicate in return. Here are a few signals. Head Turning. Have you ever noticed that when you point your camera at a dog to take a photo … it turns its head! How frustrating! The camera is equivalent to a direct stare with your eyes, so a dog will turn its head to divert the gaze, which is considered threatening in 'dog speak'. Dogs off lead will stand facing each other but you may notice that one will look one way and the other will look the other way. This is 'Dog Curtesy'. Like a human shaking another's hand. Direct eye contact is bad manners in 'Dog Speak'.  Licking. Licking is a sign that a dog is thinking, unsure and watching. I see this signal a lot out in the street when i am walking a big confident dog. The smaller dogs lick their lips furiously in an effort to convey to the big dog that they are not a threat and please to leave them alone. Sniffing. This may be used as a long signal, where the dog will put its nose to the ground and move around sniffing, or it may be a very quick movement, a dip to the ground and then the nose comes back up. This has been used on me! A sweet visitor to my flat picked up that i was a little frazzled and she started to sniff around the room! She was calming me down!  Yawning. A dog may yawn if there is a fight within the family, or if a person starts to hug a dog. Yawning can also be used when a dog knows that it is going into a situation that it does not enjoy. I have used this signal to calm a dog that is aggressive when i go to leave its flat. I yawn and yawn, and it stares at me in absolute calmness. Curving. Look at dogs greeting each other in the street. Notice how they may approach each other in a half circle. This is 'Dog Courtesy'.  A paw lift. I walk a dog regularly every Tuesday. Before she comes to me she stands at a distance with her paw lifted. I signal to her that i am not a threat by sitting with my back to her. This is another signal.  Blinking eyes or the white half moon eye. If a dog is holding onto a bone and you approach it, you may notice the white half moon in the eye, or if you take a photo of the dog, you will see the white half moon. Humans tend to notice the other more obvious body language like standing big and tall, growling, or that the dog has raised its hackles. But these are not calming signals. These are signals that tell of the dogs arousal or excitement. The calming signals are more important and indicate the subtle thoughts of the dog before the dog becomes aroused. Also be aware that dogs may communicate using one signal more than another. For example a black dog may prefer to yawn or a little dog may prefer to lift its paw. Take your time with your observations. Enjoy your increased awareness. Sit on a bench and watch. There is a silent conversation going on all around us. Add Comment B for Breed (Dogs) 19/10/2011
 Breed Differences The domestic dog, or Canis familiaris, has 78 chromosomes — the same number as a wolf. Whether the dog is a chihuahua or an Irish wolfhound the number of chromosomes is still the same, thus, there is no difference between breeds of dogs and the ancient bedrock of behaviour stemming from the wolf. Qualitatively speaking, genetic manipulation has virtually no effect on behaviour due to the intense genetic selection. You can breed selectively for a dog that brings back more food to the pack, or to guard the den more effectively, but we can't teach them abstract thought or conditional sentences — "if you do that again I'll be very angry", will only ever be a tone of voice or a body gesture to a dog, nothing more. Dogs, whatever the breed, all have excellent cognitive powers, are amazingly perceptive to nuance and observe the most imperceptible changes within us. On saying that, different breeds have different stamina, sensory perceptions, size, agility and emotions. These are the differences that one will need to take into account when bringing a new dog into the home.  Which Breed to bring back to your home? Take an honest look at your life. Don't fall for the cutest face or biggest round set of eyes, because the puppy you chose for life, to honour, love and cherish will become a dog that may need special requirements and certain commitments. Are you a couch potato? Some dogs will need more exercise than others eg Pointer needs more than a Pug, and Galgos make excellent companion couch potatoes! Some will need high maintenance grooming to keep healthy coat and mind eg Spaniels or Shih Tzu compared to a mini pinscher. Do you have a spare 1000 euros, dollars or pounds? Some breeds will have significantly shorter lifespan and will therefore incur medical costs associated with old age that much sooner, e.g. Great Danes. Other breeds come with genetic characteristics that may require extra veterinary care. For example, the bulldog intolerant of hot weather may easily die in the heat through breathing difficulties and is subject to many genetic health problems costing thousands to treat. Do you live in a one bedroom flat, have a house with a garden or own a farm? Size is important, big dogs need room (or a huge couch) to grow and stretch. Compare a wolfhound to a maltese. Do you have children? Human children are seen by a dogs as a very different species to a human adult. Children walk differently, maintain eye contact, make more noise and have a tendency to tug and pull. It is important to find a breed that is generally known to be calm and tolerant and then teach your children the correct behaviour around dogs. Maltese, for example, are not considered good breeds for children whereas the Cavalier King Charles generally love kids, according to the AKBA. If you are looking for a specific breed the ABKA has a wonderful informative breed dictionary. I also strongly recommend that you look for breeders that abide by the code of ethics for specific breeds. For example, German Shepherds suffer from hip dysplasia and will suffer extreme pain as their hips start to collapse, causing massive veterinary bills and unnecessary discomfort. Many of you may have noticed German Shepherds on the streets of Barcelona with very poor hip scoring. It is very important to look for reputable breeders. A for Obesity and 'Cuchi' the Bodega cat. 19/06/2011
'Cuchi' the bodega cat If you make the trip to visit Cuchi (remember to give her her space) there are two very nice bars on Calle Parlament worth a visit or a pub crawl. One on the corner of Compte Borrell and Parlament, then the other with a pretty terraza. Cuchi's bodega is in between. They are all within 50 metres of one another walking towards Parallel. Meet 'Cuchi' here - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fidos-Playground/199529470076539 A for Obesity! I feel that this is a very important topic to start my A - Z of pet tips and facts, even if i am cheating. We all love our pets deeply but to demonstrate our love by overfeeding is to slowly expose your loved one to a wealth of chronic diseases.
Pooch Corner, 5 May 2011 10/05/2011
This is my first post and I would like to take this opportunity to introduce to you the philosophies behind my work. I was first taught by The Monty Roberts International Learning Centre, where I learnt the art of communicating with horses in a discernible and effective way, using predictable body language. This language Monty Roberts created after extensive observation on wild Mustangs in Nevada at the age of thirteen. He calls it ‘Equus’, and it is silent, encouraging true partnership between horse and human. This method rejects the traditional and violent methods of ‘breaking in’ a horse and replaces it with the nonverbal, silent and nonviolent ‘Join Up’. My second teacher is, Jan Fennell ‘The Dog Listener’. She was initially inspired by Monty Roberts, after seeing one of his profound and moving ‘Join-Up’ demonstrations. Jan resolved to find a similar way to communicate with dogs by also rejecting the traditional methods of dominance and force. She did this by studying extensively wolves, wild dogs and coyotes. This study has resulted in the application of a training system she has called ‘Amichien® Bonding’. AB (as it is affectionately called) allows you to live in harmony with your trusted friend. This non-confrontational, stress-free, gadget-free method is achievable to anyone with an open mind and respect for the fantastic creature that is the Canine. The concepts behind ‘Equus’ and ‘Amichien Bonding’ are similar to all species. Monty and Jan have studied both these animals extensively, they understand how each species uses its senses to perceive and interpret their environment. They have observed how the herd or the pack has brought up it’s young, encouraged and advised its teenagers and seen how they then settle into adult life with the tools best equipped for their personal and herd/pack survival. I respect that each animal is different in species and personality, that they perceive through their senses very differently to us, as homo sapiens. They do not have the ability to communicate in a tongue, and thus it is very difficult for us to understand what they are trying to say unless we try to understand their way of thinking. I try to read the world as they do, to live as they would and to assure each of them to the best of my knowledge, in a way that they would assure each other. I work with calmness, consistency and within their particular species, specific boundaries. I try to work with deep love. A love that comes from the heart and not the human mind, as I believe that this type of love can cross any language and species barrier. I hope you enjoy Pooch Corner as much as I will do in writing it. This has been a longer and more serious post than I expected, but I feel that it is very important. I hope to keep Pooch corner short and sweet, a tip sheet that you are welcome to refer to at anytime. I hope to achieve this next month by starting an A-Z of Pet Tips and Unusual Facts. Starting up 09/02/2011
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