• Home
  • Blog
  • About us
  • Podcast
  • Testimonials
  • Shop
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About us
  • podcast
  • Shop
  • Services on offer
  • Individual Training
  • Behaviour Problems
  • Puppy Classes
  • Contact

PawPrintPets

Making You & Your Dog Happier

  • Behaviour Help
  • Individual Training
  • Puppy Help
  • Online/Phone Consultation
  • Media Enquiries

Notice: Trying to get property of non-object in /home/u370224334/domains/pawprintpets.com/public_html/wp-content/uploads/dynamik-gen/theme/custom-functions.php on line 12

Pet Portrait Competition!

21/10/2016 By Karen Wild 7 Comments

puppyCOMPETITION TIME!

To celebrate the launch of my book, Being a Dog, we have teamed up with talented artist Karen Green, for an exciting opportunity to win a Pet Portrait of your dog!

As you can see, her skills are incredible. It would make a superb memory of your beautiful pooch, so do enter!

ellieHow to enter:

As this is to celebrate the launch of my book, ‘Being a Dog’ we would like you to say below what ‘Being a Dog’ really means to your pet. Please add your comment below (in 30 words or less) in the format: “My dog loves Being a Dog because…”

We will choose the most appealing answer as our winner by the 5th November and the winner will be announced here on this page, so keep checking back!

About Karen Green, Fine Artist

After graduating from De Montfort University with a 2:1 Bachelor of Arts Degree I became a Fine Artist, painting portraits alongside sea/landscape art.
I love getting lost in the moment when painting and the creative release it gives me. 
I use washes of watercolour when painting pet portraits, capturing the character and personality of the subject. 
My pet portraits are a best described as a “unique gift that last a lifetime at a price you can afford”
Please visit http://www.karenjanegreen.com/portraits-commissions,  telephone 07525251426 or 
email [email protected] for further information
being-a-dog-cover-lo-res

Help celebrate Karen’s new book!

(Competition rules: Use 30 words or less. Longer entries will not be considered. One entry per household. Judges decision is final. Closing date and last entries accepted on 4/11/16. Winner announced on this page on 5/11/16. Winner will be contacted directly by artist Karen Green so please leave a valid email address. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose by this website. Prizes unclaimed by 31/12/16 will be considered invalid.)

Please add your comment below (in 30 words or less) in the format: “My dog loves Being a Dog because…”

Filed Under: Blog, Competition, Posts, What's New Tagged With: celebrity, dog training, fun, puppies, puppy, welfare

Love me, love my dog – positive ways to train your pet

15/06/2016 By Karen Wild 2 Comments

hugo rosettes ready steady dog

Hugo has learned using positive reinforcement throughout his life and look at all his achievements!

Love is important, for other humans and for our pets. Did you know that petting your best friend (in this case a dog, but I suppose the choice is yours as long as you’ve asked first) increases the ‘love hormone’ oxytocin? Even more incredible is that it releases that same hormone in your dog.

It is fair to say that your dog ‘loves’ you, but why? Does he read your mind? Can he completely understand the blurb that we humans utter all day? Unlikely, but if he did I’m sure he’d listen to Positivity radio. I’ve yet to meet a dog that was unhappy when allowed to do the things that come naturally to them. They are very positive creatures. Even Simon Cowell says his dogs cheer him up. That’s some skill, right there.

The truth is, dogs have co-evolved alongside us humans for many thousands of years. They might not always listen, but they do watch us. All the time.

Dogs like ‘practical’ love – the things you do, not say. Rather like your beloved partner buying you a gift, flowers, taking your hand when you walk together. Making you laugh or fetching a cup of tea. Practical care, the kind that you can see, is what your dog notices most. (By the way, if you do all those things for your dog, can I apply to be your next one?)

So, if dogs can’t read our thoughts but they learn by seeing what we do, how can that help us haphazard owners?

This is what positive training is all about. It’s a means to physically show your dog that he or she made a choice you like. It’s as simple as ‘sit – gets a treat’. Or as complicated as teaching the dog to search for a lost person. Dogs learn by being shown what to do, followed fairly swiftly by being paid well in something they value. They don’t value expensive watches or fast cars. They like eating cat poop, or rolling on dead fish, or hunting for rabbits. We might need to provide alternatives to these (!), but basic dog happiness is formed by food, strong scent, exercise, safety, play with toys, and social contact.

Next time your dog does something you want them to repeat, show them the love. Mostly, a food treat is cheap and easy to give (cupboard love, my mum used to call it – but don’t over feed your dog).

Play gently with the dog and the dog will play gently with you. Act rough, and guess what – you’ll be training up an expert wrecking ball on legs.

Let him pull you on lead, and before you know it you’ll have draft horse or sled dog equivalent. Ouch. Instead, a bit of simple training and a well-designed harness saves the day and buys beautiful walks.

If, as most owners do, you have plans for your dog to sit nicely at the door, not pull on their lead, not bark… The answer is in the practical love. Decide what you want to physically see your dog doing, and reward it. Make that plan. Training is something you do daily when you want to reach your goal. And most of all it has to be fun, for everyone.

It’s as simple as A-B-C

A – Anticipate the situation

B – Behave! – what do you want to see your dog do?

C – Consequence – make it a nice outcome for your dog and he will repeat B over and over when A happens.

Example:

A – Visitor coming to door

B – I want dog to sit so he can’t jump up

C – When he sits, he gets a food treat and he gets petted by the visitor

Result? In future, with practice, he will sit for visitors. He might need guidance and to be put on his lead whilst he is learning but that’s ok. Many folks learn to drive in a dual-controlled car.

Which gives me an idea for my next dog training project. Dog Formula One, anyone?

 

 

 

Karen Wild, CCAB is author of 3 books on dog behaviour and training published by Hamlyn. She is a Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist and Dog Trainer based in Peterborough, UK www.karenwild.co.uk

My book 21 Days to the Perfect Dog will provide more info on further developing your dog’s training and behaviour in these situations. Click the image for more info.

Filed Under: Blog, Posts, resources, Tips and Advice, Trainers and Behaviourists Tagged With: adolescents, adults, celebrity, dog training, fun, humour, owner training, training, welfare

Noel Edmonds supports positive dog training!

26/05/2016 By Karen Wild Leave a Comment

Screen Shot 2016-05-26 at 13.16.59 I am SO excited to have been invited to write about positive dog training for Noel Edmonds’ amazingly positive site, noel.world

My article on positive dog training was invited, and posted, in less than a day.

As we all know, Noel is well-known and much loved, pursuing a noble goal of spreading more positivity in the world with his Positivity Radio app and website, where you can listen to lots of different genres, no adverts, and most of all, always buoyant and happy listening.

Screen Shot 2016-05-26 at 13.13.50

 

Now that lovely Noel has welcomed positive dog training views under his wing, let’s spread the word even further. This is an unstoppable force, a revolution in kindness.

Positive, reward-based training for the world? DEAL!

 

Karen

 

Karen’s new book ‘Being a dog’ is available on PRE-ORDER here!

Being a Dog: The world from your dog’s point of view

 

 

Filed Under: Blog, Posts, Tips and Advice, What's New Tagged With: adolescents, barking, celebrity, dog aggression, dog training, dog walking, equipment, fun, humour, owner training, problem behaviours, puppies, puppy, training, welfare

Festive dog adverts deliver welfare blow

09/11/2015 By Karen Wild Leave a Comment

sleepy-sally-xmas-1360850-639x450Today two huge online advertising media gaffes caused a lot of upset for many, and a lot more work for others in the dog world.

It can be hard to get the message right on social media, which tends to blurt out advertising in snippets, but in the excitement of retailers selling us Christmas goodies, the dogs in our care take another damaging hit.

Firstly, House of Fraser published a picture on their Facebook and twitter account of a Pug puppy with a Christmas bow around his neck. The caption read “What’s on YOUR Christmas list this year?”. If the implication to buy a dog for Christmas had perhaps been mistaken, that would have been reasonable. However, House of Fraser then sent a tweet (twitter message) to someone suggesting that two Pugs might be even better.

 

House of Fraser's tweet (screenshot from tweet by @SpottedHoundUK)

House of Fraser’s tweet (screenshot from tweet by @SpottedHoundUK)

Beverley Cuddy, editor of Dogs Today and Dogs Monthly, magazines I both write for, ran these stories. When you work with dogs, you find many of them were bought on impulse, just like many instantly attractive gifts on offer. The difference is that dog must never be on a Returns policy. A dog is not like a pair of ugly socks or a comedy Christmas tie. They are not like the latest Disney Frozen merchandise. They could be a 15 year investment.

I have worked in this job for the last 20 years and it becomes tiring to hear the same tales (tails) from humans who didn’t think it through. Eventually the compassion starts to burn away. I think working in a rescue shelter is one of the toughest jobs out there, caring so much when dogs arrive when there is just no more room. It would be great if advertising could present welfare-friendly messages about dogs; even just selling an extra pair of wellington boots and a nice harness and lead to encourage owners to take the dog out more.

The day continued with another ‘Fail’ (as my kids call it) where Asda posted an image of another Pug (obviously the breed of choice at the moment, themselves suffering at times from serious health problems and in need of proper health checks if you plan to buy one). This time, hapless Asda posted about looking forward to tasting your first mince pie, with said Pug at the Christmas dinner table. The picture was adorable, but the message was deadly. Raisins and grapes can be toxic to dogs, even in very small quantities.

Asda's unfortunate image

Asda’s unfortunate image

I suppose we could say that these excitable tweets were all in good spirit and did not intend harm. And yet, dogs are used widely in marketing, from two leading retailers in this case. Used without sufficient checks for their welfare in messages that reach, for House of Fraser, 276 000 followers; in Asda’s case, 357 000 followers.

Imagine if those same retailers could now send a better message, about rehoming a dog or feeding him safely. Now that would be a great, and welcome, start to Christmas.

 

Karen Wild, Dip App Psych, CCAB

 

Filed Under: Blog, Charity, featured, Posts, Tips and Advice, Trainers and Behaviourists, What's New Tagged With: celebrity, dangerous dogs, owner training, problem behaviours, welfare

Your Dog Has Talent Too!

01/06/2015 By Karen Wild 4 Comments

Dogs can put up with anything - even being kissed by Simon Cowell.

Dogs can put up with anything – even being kissed by Simon Cowell.

My social media timelines exploded with posts last night about the winner of Britain’s Got Talent. A collie called Matisse and his owner/trainer Jules showed a very well scripted routine linking tricks together into a story that was heartwarming to the end.

Not without controversy, a big question mark hangs over the idea of dogs being used for entertainment. I was on standby to talk about this on Radio 5 Live this morning, but got pipped to the post by a Star Wars stunt man who trains his own stunt dogs. Impressive, although I don’t remember dogs in Star Wars, but who knows? Performing dogs have a very different, and difficult job to do.

During the show’s heats, we saw various dog acts. One terrier, Cally, burst balloons frantically and achieved a world record. I was cheering her on in spite of myself.

Another dog on the show supposedly hypnotised people, including Simon Cowell. I had my doubts about this until I looked down at our little dog crew staring fixedly at my dinner plate. Were those pairs of eyes able to convince me to give them any leftovers? (sometimes, if I am honest). If dogs really could hypnotise us, imagine the chaos!

The most controversial act was a gentleman called Marc with a little white pooch called Wendy. Initially the audience appeared baffled when Marc spoke to Wendy, and Wendy talked back, moving her mouth at the same time as the words that were coming out. A talking dog! However her appearance seemed unusual, and it quickly became obvious that a muzzle with movable jaw had been fitted over her own nose and mouth. A bit of fun, you say? Looking closely, this dog was shaking and scanning her surroundings; she did not look very relaxed or happy.

Anyway, should this mean everyone now feels a little despondent that their dog is not as ‘talented’ as the dogs we saw on this show?

Absolutely not!

Our dogs have the most difficult job in the world. They are pets. Not for them a stage and props to learn to get used to. Not for them a predictable routine that is always going to repeat itself in the same way.

Pet dogs have to deal with us humans, too. What other species would allow us to deny them delicious food on our own plates, giving them a dry biscuit in a bowl. How patient they are with our various peculiarities, spending our time staring at objects made of paper or flashing lights and sounds coming from a box, or poking at a tiny rectangle of battery and glass in our hands. All time they could be spending roaming around outside where the real action happens. Do we really think our dogs are ‘dumb friends’just waiting for us to give them a purpose?

They are already incredibly talented. Look what they provide for us, put up with, tolerate to extremes, without biting or scratching us (at least, not without serious provocation).

Be delighted that our dogs have all the talent he or she needs. Let’s give them our vote.

Karen

P.S. What is YOUR dog’s special talent? Let’s hear about it in the comments below!

Filed Under: Blog, Posts, What's New Tagged With: celebrity, competition, dog training, fun, humour, training, welfare

Next Page »

Select a Service

  • One-to-one training
  • Behaviour Consultations
  • Children & Dogs
  • Dog Training
  • Puppy Training
  • Rescue Dogs

Helping Your and Your dog

Puppy Class Bookings

Build life skills for the future with our quality puppy classes

Book Now!

Training Resources

Need training advice now? No time for a consultation? Download a bespoke training manual, perfect for you and your dog...

Click Here!

Follow Us

[saf]

About Karen

contactkaren-3I’m a full-time U.K. dog trainer and behaviour consultant based in Peterborough with 17 years in the field. My work ranges from class teaching, obedience, flyball, agility and working trials, competition, to running a popular dog display team.
Read more about me

  • Behaviour Help
  • Individual Training
  • Puppy Help
  • Online/Phone Consultation
  • Media Enquiries
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About us
  • Podcast
  • Testimonials
  • Shop
  • Contact

New Book Out Now!

Buy on Amazon

Training Guides

  • Kids & Dogs
  • Coping with Separation Anxiety
  • House Training Your Dog
  • Rock Solid Recall
  • Sit Stay

Speaking

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss hiring me to speak at your event or write for your publication. To find out more, click here.

Qualifications

My commitment to you and your dog is assured by my professional qualifications. To find out more, click here.

Follow Us

[saf]

Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Contact