Does your dog talk to you?

I knew from the start that my puppy Yannick was fearful. He found the world a challenging place, full of alarms and frights.

So when I learnt about these talking buttons - where dogs can actually communicate what they are thinking and feeling - I was excited to give them a try. 

They worked a treat!

I started with his favourite two things - PLAY and CUDDLES. Once he was able to ask for these, I gradually added more buttons. And as you can see, he has forty-four of them now, many of them used on a daily basis.

Now he’s able to tell me if he’s WORRIED, or he feels SAFE. He can tell me he loves me, or he loves something I’ve done (LOVE YOU). He can express HAPPY and SAD; he can ask for his favourite things - PUZZLE, BEACH WALK, CUDDLES (still!), FLIRT POLE … 

I’m going to show you some videos here of some exchanges between us. Usually I’m WORKING (unavailable) when we’re in his button room, so sometimes there are pauses while I finish a sentence.

▶️ Yannick asks me to sing!

▶️ Yannick notices the heating is noisy (to his sensitive ears)

▶️ Yannick talks through his buttons!

So you can see how my working sessions go! (And who wouldn’t be glad of such charming interruptions?)

I find it a delight that my anxious dog is able to express himself, make observations, and ask for what he wants.

A farewell to his old friend

One very moving episode, which sadly wasn’t captured on camera, was when I was kneeling on the floor ministering to our dying Cricket the Whippet - who Yannick loved dearly. He sat and watched me, then turned to his buttons and pressed SAD.

Now for the sceptics amongst you, maybe he was describing how I was sad. But I am quite sure that he was expressing his own sadness in seeing the gradual decline of his friend. 

Her name is still on his button board, and from time to time he talks about her - CRICKET LOVE YOU - especially if a picture of her appears on the television screensaver carousel.

Do you want to try these excellent buttons for your dog? 

If you’re now dying to unlock your dog’s deepest thoughts and feelings, you can use these buttons too! 

As a Fluentpet Guide I’m able to offer you a discount on any buttons or kits you purchase. It’s a great company, with masses of educational programs (nearly all free) and a thriving community hub. There is solid research going on behind all this. 

Here are some more stories, showing that cats and dogs are equally good at talking with their buttons. 

If this is something that interests you, I can show you how I introduce Yannick to a new button.

Let me know what you think of Yannick's chitchat! I’m dying to hear …

RESOURCES

How do buttons work?

Is there science behind Fluentpet buttons?

How can I teach my dog or cat to talk?

Take a new look at your dog!

I consider feeding one of the most important things for my dogs’ long-term health and longevity. 

So I review their diets frequently.

Back in the day, I always used to feed my dogs once a day, in the evening. But they also had training treats, plates to lick, bones left lying around, the occasional foodtoy, and so on. 

Then when I started taking them on camping trips and we walked so much,

I’d scatterfeed kibble in the grass beside the van for them to snuffle up in the morning, while I got washed and dressed.

Then I started to scatterfeed outside at lunchtime, at home.

This was largely to get Cricket the Whippet out to do her business - I didn’t like her to stay in an armchair for hours and hold it! 

Portrait in coloured pencil by Beverley Courtney

So then, one year, Cricket started to get panic attacks.

She’d be shaking, panting, gasping, her eyes on stalks, desperate to get on my lap … These epidosdes could last for an hour, and they were getting more frequent … 😳

I did a little detective work 🕵🏻‍♀️ - and realised that these attacks happened only in the morning!

Aha! 

So I started to give Cricket a handful of food first thing in the morning.

Immediately, the panic attacks stopped, and we never had another.

What a simple solution!

How can I adapt this discovery to my dog management?

The moral of this story?

We change.

Our dogs change.

We need to observe and adapt.

And not just always do the same as we’ve always done, or what’s always worked for previous dogs. 

“Every dog is a study of one.” - Grisha Stewart

Just as we’re all different, so our dogs are all different. 

For our special dogs …

And it got me thinking about how we could be seeing things in our reactive dogs that could easily be changed by attending to diet and timing.

Along with all the other considerations, of course, such as sleep (you know how I’m always harping on about sleep!), exercise - type and quantity, mental stimulation, and all the rest. 

When did you last look closely at what may have become a comfy habit in caring for your dog? 

It’s so easy to drift along, saying, “This is how it’s always been,” and not noticing that things are changing - for the worse.

It’s like when someone sees your children for the first time in ages and says, “How they’ve grown!”. 

Well, duh, of course they’ve grown! But being with them every day, we don’t notice things that are changing. (And I don’t just mean that their jumpers are too tight.) We change all the time .. all the time.

Experiment with your dog!

So it’s time to start experimenting! Look critically at your daily doings with your dog - especially your reactive dog.

🐶 Would it help to move his walk from the morning to the afternoon?

🐶 Would it be better if he only had walks 3-4 days a week, and another stimulating activity on the other days?

🐶 Should I change his feed, or his feeding schedule (always make dietary changes gradually).

🐶 Should he have more interaction with people and dogs, or less? 

🐶 What new thing can I teach him, to liven up our training sessions? 

🐶 How much deep sleep is he having? (If less than 17 hours deep sleep a day, you need to make changes!)

Our dogs are in our hands. We owe it to them to make their lives the best they can be.

Find out what works for you and YOUR dog!

And if you’re struggling with a Growly - a shy, anxious, reactive, “aggressive”, dog, check out these books!

RESOURCES

Dog Feeding Schedules - how important are they?

How much should I feed my dog?

How much does your dog sleep?

How much time does your dog spend sleeping?

ZZZs are worth £££s and $$$s

Is raw feeding safe for my dog? Let’s get to the Bare Bones

Puppies and gardens!

It’s that time of year again! Hooray!

Mud is subsiding, spring is springing, and we want to get out into our gardens.

And if you have a new puppy, you’ll already be spending plenty of time in the garden, monitoring the all-important housetraining!

Need a bit of help with that? 

Here’s a Housetraining Cheatsheet for you. Follow this, to the letter, and you’ll remove all frustration from this valuable bonding time.

But while you’re standing there, on the end of the lead, as your puppy sniffs and circles and tries to focus on what he’s doing, cast a critical eye over your garden.

You need to look for all the puppy hazards!

What’s dangerous for my puppy?

Holes in the fence would be a first thing to check. Though you will not be leaving your puppy alone in the garden for a long time yet, you don’t want to find out the hard way how easily these slippery little creatures can squeeze through the tiniest hole!

Once you’re confident your area is secure, then you’ll want to look at obvious hazards like uncovered water, sharp drops off a path, hanging risks, slippery steps …

Only when you’ve sorted this lot out - and ensured your garden is free of cat-poo - can you turn to the actual things growing in your garden. (After all, your puppy is still heavily supervised when out, still.)

Plants poisonous to dogs

There’s a huge list. 

But I wouldn’t worry too much if your puppy is not one of the few who like to live dangerously by hoovering up gravel and nibbling every leaf or stick.

Don’t panic! 

As I say, your puppy will always be supervised when in the garden (got that yet? 😊 ), so you’ve plenty of time to teach what can be investigated and what not.

The folks at Skippers pet foods have put together a handy list for you …

.. but just before you go there, be sure to sign up here for a 30% discount on all their terrific fishy foods and treats! As you probably know, I only recommend products that I use myself - my dogs get through a lot of Skippers treats and chews! 

And their comprehensive list can be found here, once you’ve clicked that link above. By the way, no rush - you can come back to use that discount any time.

No need to panic over your puppy!

As I say, there’s no need to go overboard and destroy your garden!

Some things may need to be fenced off, if they are really dangerous. Once your pup is older and more sensible and has demonstrated that they don’t chew plants, you can unfence them. 

If you have a laburnum tree, you’re going to have to manage the fall of the seedpods in season. And if you have Yew … perhaps you need to consider removing it

Otherwise, enjoy your garden, enjoy the time you spend out there with your puppy - teaching him how to play with you, and what he needs to avoid.

Just like with small children, you monitor and teach, rather than take dramatic measures!

And if you want specific help with training your new charge, check out our free Workshop here

RESOURCES

30% off Natural fish treats!

Plants poisonous to dogs 

A super no-pull harness for the new star in your life!

Everything in the garden is not rosy - for your dog!

Puppy Management!

I hear all the time about puppies who’ve chewed up shoes; destroyed books; dug up plants; gnawed chair legs … you name it, somebody’s puppy has chewed it.

And my question is always the same:

“Where were you when your puppy was doing all this?”

You see, puppies, like children, are curious. They want to explore this wonderful new world they live in.

And to test anything, it goes in the mouth.

Now, IMAGINE your puppy is a toddler … There are things you wouldn’t let your toddler near!

And now imagine,

• That shoe = naked electric cable

• Chairleg = a fire

• The flowerbeds are bottomless pits

• The books are poisonous ..

Now, would you let your toddler touch them?

No?

So why do you let your puppy go near them?

If you didn’t want your toddler to get near these dangers, you’d take steps to make them unreachable.

Remove the object from the child’s reach, or remove the child from the area of the object!

❓ Would you leave your toddler to explore the kitchen while you watched tv in the living room?

❓ Would you leave your toddler unsupervised in the garden while you’re indoors on a zoom call?

If you REALLY didn’t want your puppy to destroy your possessions, you’d be serious about it!

How to prevent puppy chewing

The simplest way to prevent chewing is using some kind of containment. That could mean a crate or playpen when you are busy or otherwise unable to supervise.

🐶 Your puppy should always be in the same room/space as you, till trustworthy.

🐶 So he’s either with you - actively supervising - or he’s in his crate or playpen.

Baby Yannick sleeps peacefully amidst the wreckage in his playpen

And if you have a chewy puppy (some puppies never chew things), be sure to give him plenty of things he can chew, in his playpen. Cardboard boxes are winners here. Raw meaty bones are great. Some dogs like antlers or coffee root.

Don’t use rawhide chews, which are industrial waste and can cause huge problems (aka huge vet bills).

If he wants to chew his bed - then, it’s his bed! Give him something disposable (and safe), like an old blanket. Remove shredded things so he doesn’t swallow them. Save the expensive bed you’re so proud of till he’s able to use it safely.

Babies and toddlers have cradles and cots which can accommodate all kinds of stomach mishaps! They don’t get a “grown-up bed” till they’re more reliable.

And all those expensive toys you bought him? Keep those for when he’s out of the chewing stage. Give him toys you don’t care about. If he needs to chew, then you must provide chewables!

Survive the chewing stage

Yannick never chews anything now!

If your puppy is a chewer, he just is! And you have to work through this stage with him with as little friction as possible. Telling him off will confuse him and raise your blood pressure.

There’s no need!

Just adapt your living arrangements to accommodate your chewer while you teach him to play nicely with your toys, which you put away after the game.

Don’t leave valuable things with your piranha fish!

And for more down-to-earth ways to make the first few months with your puppy magical, Read New Puppy!

Easy dogs vs reactive dogs

You read a lot about reactive dogs these days.

“But my dog isn’t reactive!” you cry.

“My dog is friendly and easygoing!”

That’s wonderful - and I can tell you that many owners of reactive - shy, anxious, fearful, “aggressive” - dogs envy you!

But do spare a thought for them.

Their dog isn’t trying to be difficult - more often than not, he’s simply afraid. And keeping the thing he fears away from him is all he feels he can do (assuming he’s on-lead and can’t bolt).

As the saying goes, “Their dog is not giving them a hard time, he’s having a hard time.”

Keep in mind that this dog may be wonderful at home, where he feels safe, and is most likely much loved. The owner will probably feel very protective towards him.

A nasty experience

Recently I saw a dog approaching that I knew was going to bark at mine. So I moved my super-sensitive reactive dog off the footpath ten yards into the plough. Yes, her dog did kick off, and mine went ballistic in response!

So did she hurry by?

Not a bit of it!

She decided to stand on the path and harangue me - “Your dog’s this .. your dog’s that ..” she screamed, and as I turned and moved away up the path, she actually followed me, still screaming.

Madness, you’d think?

Perhaps she was trying to cover up the fact that it was her dog that started it!

This is no time for abuse, or withering looks. Both the reactive dog and his handler are having a hard enough time already.

They already feel bad, without someone else loading shame on them.

So what can you do to help these dogs?

Having had no experience of managing a reactive dog, you probably don’t know how best to deal with the situation when you come across one.

So here’s a quick tip for you.

If you are approaching a dog - any dog - who is on lead, put your dog on lead too.

This levels the playing field, and shows the worried owner that you’re willing to help.

If left loose, your friendly dog may bowl up to this reactive dog, all waving tail and lolling tongue, and give him the fright of his life!

This isn’t a pleasant experience for your dog either, when his friendly advances are met with teeth, ferocious barking, and leaping around.

What else can you do?

If you can change your route, cross the road, or move over to another part of the field, this is really helpful. You will be rewarded with a beaming smile from a relieved handler.

Sometimes this isn’t possible, like if you’re on a footpath with hedges either side. While the reactive dog owner will do their best to get their dog off the path and stand between them and you, it can be difficult to avoid passing.

Pass as quickly as possible, keeping your dog on the far side of you.

Stopping to talk, commiserate, stare at the frightened dog, perhaps stop your dog to tell him not to bark - this all lengthens the time the reactive dog feels at risk.

Remember, ninety-nine times out of a hundred, this dog is not nasty - he’s just afraid!

So speed past, with just a quick hello as you whoosh by.

It’s not that the other owner is unfriendly, or doesn’t want to talk to anyone … it’s just that they can’t! Their whole focus is on keeping their dog calm.

It’s no fun hanging on to the lead with a bucking bronco swinging about on the end of it, snarling and barking - while trying to stay upright!

By keeping your dog - however delightful and friendly! - out of their way, you are genuinely helping them.

I’m sure you are not like the person in the story above. You wouldn’t be here at Brilliant Family Dog reading this if you were.

By the way, if the other dog is muzzled, it doesn’t necessarily mean he’s dangerous - there are a lot of reasons for muzzling a dog. But the muzzle means that this is actually a safer dog - as all his weaponry is behind a grille!

Dogs … and life

It’s true about everything in life - we need to keep an open mind, learn continually, and see things from the other chap’s point of view.

How many tussles, battles, even wars, would not happen if we could just follow that?

Meanwhile, for a bit of help in perfecting your own, easy, dog, watch our free Workshop here!

Rewarding your dog

If you’re working with a dog who is so hyper-aware of his surroundings that he can’t spare you any attention when you’re out, take a look at your rewards -

• what?

And, critically! 

• how often?

It can be easy to fall into a trap of, “He can’t pay attention to me, let’s not push it.”

When, in fact, “I’m going to make it worth his while to keep checking in with me!” is the far better strategy!

Here’s a surprise ..

You see, your dog has to learn to take treats. 

Really!

It’s taken up to eight months of age before I can get my more anxious pooches to pause long enough to take a treat when we’re out. Keep shovelling them in - even if they don’t appear to notice - because once it becomes an automatic response, you’re away! 

So you need frequent treats - 

• for every check-in, 

• for every considered pause

• for every non-reactive glance at something alarming (dog, person, you-name-it)

• and for every 30 seconds

This will increase his attention to you, and his ability to detach from what is alarming him.

Whatever your dog finds rewarding - that’s what you do.

Zoe is waiting attentively for the next treat to drop into her mouth!

My dogs will now always take treats when we’re out. It took a surprisingly long time to establish this with the reactive ones. 

Toy play when out of the house is out of the question still, for my youngest.

But words and touch also rate fairly highly with him, along with treats.

You want to use anything that makes a connection between you.

Making a change for your reactive dog

If you’re used to trudging solo behind or beside your distracted dog, give this a try - and report back!

Combine it with the “pause before you start” strategy in this post: Slow your anxious dog down!

If your dog is happy to play outside the house - then this can definitely be one of your rewards! Need a super high-value toy? Check out our Dog Toys page