Finding Joy
Adoption counselling & behaviour support
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Holistic care
The process of welcoming a dog into your family is a wonderful experience, but there can be lots to navigate as you learn about one another and begin to form a connection.
Depending on your dog's temperament and past experiences, there may be certain areas you feel your dog needs more support as they settle into their new home.
When it comes to modifying behaviour, I feel it's important to look at the whole dog, considering all aspects of their life, their past experiences and their emotional well-being and not purely the behaviour in question. The behaviour is often the symptom, so to speak, for underlying anxiety, fear or frustration your dog is experiencing, and it is vital we consider the root cause in order to move forward.
Understanding your dog plays a huge part in helping them live their happiest life. With kindness, patience and the right tools in place, you can work with your dog to develop a long-lasting bond.
Why force-free?
Following on from the work of B.F. Skinner and Ivan Pavlov, modern dog training is based on two key learning principles. The first relates to the connection dogs form between one thing and another. The second, is that reinforcing a desired behaviour increases the likelihood of it occurring again in future.
These science based theories have subsequently been put into practice over many decades, demonstrating that training without force or fear, actually results in more effective learning over time.
Force free training can also help with the release of dopamine and serotonin, which aids memory and focus.
Punishment, which can come in in the form of intimidation, painful equipment or physical consequence, suppresses an undesired behaviour. While it may stop the behaviour temporarily, it can increase fear and anxiety in the long run. Positive reinforcement training allows your dog to make choices within the learning process, without fear of pain or intimidation, resulting in long-term change.