Marnie Montgomery, PMCT4, CPDT-KA’s Post

Why the Language We Use with Our Dogs Matters The way we communicate with our dogs is not just about the words we use but the sentiments they convey. The language we choose can frame our entire relationship with our animals. Lets look at some examples (and there are many more!). "COMMAND" VS. "CUE": Why Not "Command"? The word "command" suggests that ‘no’ is not an acceptable answer. If our learner (dog or human!) declines to perform a trained behavior, “debugging” the problem is our best first response. A great exercise for us humans is to think about sitting at a red light in our car when the light turns green, and yet we don’t go forward. What might some good reasons be for not responding to that cue? Saying "I command you" may evoke feelings of dominance and control in us, which can strain the bond with our dogs. On the other hand, the word "cue" suggests an opportunity to perform. It implies a partnership where we’re working WITH our dogs. If they don’t respond as expected, making adjustments to our training for their success will strengthen our bond. "DOG OWNERSHIP" VS. "DOG GUARDIANSHIP": Referring to ourselves as "dog owners" reinforces the idea of pets as property, which can subconsciously affect how we treat them. "Dog guardianship" emphasizes the responsibility, care, and bond we share with our pets. They aren’t just our possessions; they're sentient beings we're entrusted to care for. "BAD DOG" VS. "UNWANTED BEHAVIOR": Labeling the Dog: By calling a dog "bad," we assign a  permanent, negative, character trait to the animal, which is unjust, and can have a negative effect our interactions with our dogs. Instead, focusing on the behavior we’d like to change allows us to address the underlying cause leading to the behavior, and guides us in teaching better alternatives without labeling or stigmatizing the dog. Remember, it's not the dog that's "bad" but rather the behavior that might not be serving us or the situation. The language we use with our dogs goes beyond mere semantics. It frames our relationship, impacts training, and sets the tone for our interactions. By choosing words that reflect respect, understanding, and partnership, we foster a bond built on trust and mutual respect, paving the way for a harmonious relationship. #VirginiaDogTrainer #DogTrainer #JoyfulDog #TimetoTrain #FearFreepets #Pets #Animals  #Dog #Dogs #PetsofInstagram #DogOwner  #PetLovers #PetLover #Pet  #LoveYourPet #Family #DogSafety

Dog Behaviors: Why Do Dogs Bark At Nothing? One of the most common questions among dog lovers is, ‘why do dogs bark at nothing?’ There isn’t one simple answer to this question, but finding out what your dog is actually barking at can help dog owners prevent excessive barking. #dogtraining #dogbehavior #dogcare #doglovers Read more: https://lnkd.in/gDHUpbva

🐶 As a responsible pet owner, understanding and managing uncontrollable barking in dogs is essential for a peaceful coexistence. Our latest blog post delves into practical strategies and best practices for addressing this behavior. Enhance your knowledge and support your furry companion's well-being! https://lnkd.in/gVNHey_r #PetOwners #DogBehavior #ProfessionalDevelopment

Do you ever cringe when you look back at the things your past self believed? 😏 I do. Often. It’s kind of embarrassing, but it’s also a part of life and growth and learning. 💡 I try to assume everyone is doing the best they can with the information and resources they have at the time. (I think that’s called radical empathy, but that’s a post for another time.) I also try to give myself the same grace, but that’s even HARDER than giving others grace! 😫 I digress… The point I’m getting to is that there are A LOT of myths that circulate online and in popular culture regarding dog behavior. 🐕 Until I started to really get into animal behavior science, learning theory, ethology, and all of the science and research behind it, I believed a lot of them! 😰 This is a lot of what I help my training clients learn as well. 📚 So I figured maybe some of you believe or have believed them too! ❗ I made a list of beliefs I used to have about dog behavior & training that turned out to be incorrect. It was a long list. 📜 😳 Here are a few of them: ❌ That dog training & behavior modification is essentially doing what works to get your dog to stop doing what you don’t like. ❌ That dogs evolved to live with us and that means they intuitively know what I want them to do and what the rules of living with me are. Therefore, anything that the dog did was a rebellion against my authority. ❌ That positive reinforcement and “kind” methods only works for teaching TO do a behavior, not to address unwated behaviors. ❌ That dog training is about, and only about, behavior. And if a dog just stops doing the behaviors I don’t like the issue is resolved. ❌ That walking a dog means the dog needs to be right next to me the entire time and that sniffing and peeing on everything on walks is a waste of time because we needed to walk as fast as possible for exercise. ❌ That “enrichment” means dog puzzles and peanut butter Kongs. ❌ That dogs could just stop doing dog things if I trained them enough. ❌ That force free training never uses any kind of punishment. Do, or did, you believe any of these? Are there certain ones you’re extra curious about? I’m preparing a free webinar and posts on myths I used to believe about dog behavior and I’d love to know which ones you want to learn about to make the webinar as useful as possible. ❓Are there any other dog behavior/training "controversies" that you see online that you want me to cover? I'm happy to take suggestions that are not on my list too! Tell me in the comments! 👇 #dogtraining #dogtrainingmyths #growthmindset #dogbehavior #learningtheory #ethology

Introduction Can A Dog Sense A Spirit In The House? The idea that dogs might possess the ability to sense spirits or ghosts in the house has captivated the imagination of many pet owners. Stories and anecdotes abound about dogs exhibiting unusual behaviors, suggesting they may be perceiving things beyond our understanding. #animalintuition #CanADogSenseASpiritInTheHouse #candogsseespirits #canineparanormalperception #caninesixthsense #dogbehaviorandspirits #dogintuitionandspirits #dogsensesandthesupernatural #dogsandthespiritualrealm #dogsreactingtounseenpresences #mysteriousdogreactions #petbehaviormysteries #petsandparanormalphenomena #petssensingghosts #spiritualsensitivityindogs #Understandingdogbehavior

Understanding Your Dog's Unique Behaviors Key Takeaways: Why Does My Dog Give Me His Butt - Understanding this behavior is key to decoding dog communication. - It's a sign of trust, affection, and a form of canine social behavior. - Context and other body language cues are crucial for accurate interpretation. - Responding appropriately can strengthen the bond between you and your dog. #interpretingdogactions #caninecommunication #Dogownerrelationship #animalbehavior #dogaffectionsigns #understandingdogs #Dogtraining #dogbodylanguage #petcare #caninegestures #dogpsychology #petbehavior #dogtrustsignals #petbonding #dogbehavior

We're thrilled to roll out "Pack Tips"! Every Tuesday and Thursday we'll post tips that communicate how dogs and humans influence each other. Pack Tip 001: Comparison culture's greatest myth TLDR: In dog training, if you cant remove a stimulus (comparison), then guidance is that you have to redirect the dog to a desirable behavior (think about how well you're doing!). But the effectiveness of redirection is mixed. Instead, you should replace the behavior entirely. Let's replace comparison with curiosity. 🐾 👋 🐾 👋 You cognitively know "the grass isn’t really greener on the other side". But people keep repeating it. As if repeating it enough times will miraculously stop everyone from comparing themselves to each other. Fail! Instead of stopping the behavior, we keeping adding more things to reference in our comparisons with each other. The latest thing: our dogs. It's hard to stop the emotions that bubble up when we see other people having joyful walks and vacations with their dog, hear about what they're feeding their dogs, scroll through perfected posed pictures on Instagram, hear about how many steps their dog takes each week. Truth is, comparison culture is never going away. In dog training, if you cant remove a stimulus (like comparison), then traditional guidance is that you have to redirect the dog to a desirable behavior (like thinking about how well you're doing!). But the effectiveness of redirection is mixed. Instead, you should replace the behavior entirely. Let's replace comparison with curiosity. Observe the behaviors and experiences of other people with curiosity and open-mindedness. Ask: ❓"What did it take for that dog and human to walk 13K steps in a day?" ❓"What influenced their decision to change their dog's food from X to Y instead of A, B or C?" ❓"What new information is available to me today that wasn't available last time I reflected on what I'm observing?" If we approach with curiosity, then we'll not only replace the behavior of unhealthy comparison but we'll also prepare ourselves to bust through complacency and limit feelings of regret. 🐾 Comment "curious" and I'll DM you a link to a Pack Animals Knowledge Nugget 🐾 👋 Pack Animals is building the future of dog guardianship, and we're excited to have you along for the ride. Send me a DM if you'd like to chat.

What makes a person a good dog professional? A dog professional works with dogs in any capacity. What makes a good one though? There is one definite, absolutely defining thing I believe makes an excellent dog professional It might not be what you think. Is it kindness? No - though of course we should all be kind. Is it positive reinforcement, no it’s not. But yes, undoubtedly, we should embrace force free living with dogs. Is it being great with a clicker, no, but that helps – and of course it looks great (if that’s your kind of thing – it’s not really mine) and helps dogs understand what we are saying (which is definitely my kind of thing) The one thing that makes us good dog professionals is open heartedness. Because it leads to connection. Connection and open-hearted living shine a light onto everything. It gives us a thirst for knowledge. Open hearted living allows us to be vulnerable. It shuts the protective part of our egos down. And lets us admit we don’t know enough, don’t listen enough, don’t love enough. Open hearted living allows us to stop, watch, learn and slow right down. And from that place we can see what our dogs are saying. And we tap into our age-old intuitive understanding. That body memory, ancient imprint of feeling our way through life, that has been replaced with apps, screens, weird disconnect and social longing.   The wonder of being human that’s buried under the chattery, defensive, worried mind. The compassion and empathy inside us. The stuff we can only see when we stop protecting ourselves for a moment, a minute, a day. So what makes a person a good dog professional? A commitment to be continually open-hearted, even when it’s really bloody hard. Enough awareness of our innate connection to know that when we hurt someone else, animal or human animal, with words, thought or deeds, we are also harming ourselves and those we love. But you don’t have to listen to me, in fact please don’t. Listen to that part in you that guides your way, stays your hand and speaks quietly behind your mind. That’s your connection, the bit that’s connected to me, and to everything. It will open your heart if you let it. And while it’s vulnerable, it’s also the way to being, having and doing life in the best way possible. If you want to be an amazing dog professional, and to know where to go next, and to know what to do next you can. Just open your heart a little bit. Try being vulnerable. See how it feels.

GUEST BLOG POST! This week, we’re excited to have Dog Trainer Graham Buck, of Buck’s Best Dogs in NY, chime in on the Dog Park theme. Buck spent 31 years as a trainer of Guide Dogs. His complete bio can be found below the article. After reading Front Range K9 Academy's last blog post on Dog Parks, Buck wanted to respond, and add some additional points. Click the link below to read this article, full of great points about dog socialization, adoptability, and more! https://lnkd.in/geatncMA