There can be a lot of discussion about what makes a responsible breeder, but one thing pretty much everyone can agree on is health testing. It’s important.

But it can also be SO confusing if you’re new to it!

Health testing is the process of evaluating dogs for heritable diseases and conditions. Every breed of dog has some health concerns that should be tracked, and breeders should be making educated decisions about which dogs to breed and which pairings to make to minimize the risk of passing on those genes. Health testing breeding stock is the #1 prerequisite for being a responsible breeder.
How do you know what tests your breeder should be doing?

Check the “parent club” website. The parent club is the governing body for your breed in your country. There is a Canadian club for every Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) registered breed. Each club recommends certain tests for their breed. Some recommend more than others; it can vary greatly breed to breed. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals also lists recommended tests by breed. Most breeds are looking at cardiac, hips, elbows and eyes. Many will do more, some will do less.
If a breeder is not doing the minimum testing as laid out by their breed club for every breeding dog, do not walk, run.

How do you know if a breeder has done the testing?
The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals website lists dogs that have been tested through them. You can search for dogs from the kennel in question and see what tests have been done, and the results. There is a minimum age for some tests, and dogs who are not old enough to be properly tested should not be bred.

It can be confusing to look at all the abbreviations (CEA, PRA, DM, LEMP, the list goes on!) but take the time to full read up on your chosen breed’s club website is well worth the effort.
And talk to the breeder you are considering! Good breeders are going to be enthusiastic about educating you about the health of their breed, and want to be transparent about their testing procedures.

A note about things that can’t be tested for:
Not all health tests are guarantees, and not all health problems have a test.
While a dog can be definitively clear of Progressive Retinal Atrophy for example, there are other diseases where there are multiple genetic markers involved, and possible environmental factors as well.

Epilepsy is a good example of this, we have yet to develop a way of truly tracking and preventing it.
Behavioural problems like separation anxiety, sound sensitivity or obsessive compulsive disorder cannot be tested for, but breeders should still be taking steps to avoid producing dogs with mental health problems.

At the end of the day, no one can predict everything and sometimes shit happens. Breeding dogs can be a complex juggling act, and issues can arise through no fault of anyone’s. It is how breeders prevent the preventable and respond to unforeseen issues when they do arrive that makes them responsible.

You can be a responsible puppy buyer and set yourself up for the best chance at a happy, health puppy by researching your breed’s health before choosing a breeder, and doing your due diligence in vetting that breeder’s health testing!

Why do some dog trainers show really dramatic before and afters, and some don’t?
Have you noticed that most of those who do post dramatic before and afters are using aversive tools or heavy handed corrections.
So why aren’t positive trainers posting before and afters? Wouldn’t it be helpful for potential clients to see what their successes are?
There are some really good reason that most positive trainers don’t post dramatic before and afters.

1. It can be risky. Dogs who give big, barky lungy reactions to things are sometimes a risk to themselves and others. It would be unethical to put them in the situation where they might scare or hurt a person or dog, or where they themselves could be hurt.
2. Guarding, reactivity and aggression are responses to what the dog perceives as a real threat. Putting them in a situation where they feel that threatened causes a huge spike in stress hormones in the body, and it can take hours to days for them to return to normal. We can’t set a dog up to experience a big rush of adrenaline and cortisol and then expect them to learn right after.
3. We’re there to work. Clients spend a lot of money to help their dog, and it wouldn’t be fair to focus on setting up scenarios to get video for Instagram.
4. Good training isn’t very exciting to the non-behaviour nerd. Counterconditioning, operant conditioning and desensitization are not flashy or sensational. We always aim to keep the dog “under threshold”, so they are able to acknowledge the problematic stimuli but are still cool and collected. None of this makes for good tv.

Instead of looking for before and after, look for credentials, practical experience and continuing education when looking for a dog trainer!
 

 
We’ve all had our heartstrings tugged by puppies. They are, by design, adorable.
But what about getting two? Maybe there is only two puppies left in the litter and you can’t bear to split them up, maybe you think they’ll be best friends growing up together, or maybe you’ve been told two puppies is easier than one.
Lets take a look at why buying two puppies at once is usually a very bad idea.
 
Is it easier to have two puppies than one? Absolutely not. Two puppies are at least twice the work of one. Twice the training, twice the 2am bathroom breaks should they get an upset tummy, twice the price of food and veterinary care.
Ask anyone with twins, they will assure you two is not easier than one.

But they’ll be best friends! Will they? Dog/dog aggression is common in many breeds and lines of dogs, and is rarely apparent in young puppies. Littermates are often more rough with one another and more competitive than other puppies, and dogs raised together without adequate time apart can become hyper bonded and can experience anxiety when separated. This might seem sweet, but what happens if you can’t walk them together as adults, or one gets ill or passes away before the other? Some of these problems can helped with good training, but that can be a time consuming and difficult undertaking.

He needs someone to play with! This is what you are for! And puppy socialization classes/playgroups. Puppies cannot be left alone very long, but neither can two puppies. Instead of getting two puppies, consider hiring a friend, family member or qualified pet professional to visit your puppy while you are at work. It’s important that puppies have many new experiences, and frequently two puppies tire each other out and can act as a buffer for one another, which can inhibit socialization.

What if you worry about the other puppy’s future? If you’re concerned that the other puppies in the litter will be poorly treated, lonely or neglected, you should absolutely not be buying from that source. Good rescues and breeders don’t usually have puppies to spare, and every puppy is going to be given the best possible home, even if there isn’t a waitlist. The hallmark of a good breeder is always taking responsibility for every puppy produced for their entire life. If where the puppies are kept looks dirty or unsafe, that is not someone you should be supporting. There are risks associated with buying puppies from shady sources that we should all be aware of.
If you must pick up multiple puppies from a less than reputable source, reach out to the local rescue community to find a foster home for those you cannot keep.
 
So what do you do if you have littermates or two young dogs?

Train them apart AND together. Your puppies will need to spend time learning new things separately, and then learn how to do those things together.

Crate train them separately. Your puppies should have time apart and learn to feel comfortable in a crate without their sibling. They should not have full access to each other all the time.

Go to two different puppy classes/playgroups. If you attend group classes with your puppy, see if your instructor teaches two different sessions that you can attend. If doing private training, ask your trainer how best to train each puppy separately.

Play with and feed them separately. To avoid competition and to build value for interacting with you, avoid feeding and playing with the puppies together. Give them each their own play time and feed in different rooms or in their crates/pens.

Reach out for help. If you have two puppies, or adult dogs who are experiencing conflict or over bonding, help is available. The best time to address behaviour problems is right away.
 
When is it a good idea to get dog number 2?
Because so many major behavioural problems can be linked to puberty and social maturity, I recommend waiting 2-4 years before adding another puppy to the mix. You’ll be more confident that your adult dog doesn’t have issues with resource guarding or same sex aggression, and you’ll be able to devote more time to socializing and training your new puppy!

If you're considering bringing a new dog or puppy into your home, and you want to know how to do that successfully, or if you are struggling with the dogs you already have, contact us today! We provide professional, certified dog training in person in the South Surrey/White Rock community and virtually across Canada!

We all want a happy, confident dog. Whether your dog is a patio buddy, a 6am soccer practice companion or your avid adventure copilot, you need them to feel safe and self assured.These five points are the key to build your dog's confidence.

1. Read their body language to keep them safe.
   The first step to a confident dog is learning to read dog body language. If we can learn the subtle signs of stress and fear, we can prevent our dogs from experiencing scary or high stress scenarios. A dog who knows people around him will listen to his cues is a confident dog.
   
   
2. Proactively teach skills
   “Confidence is a function of fluency” (Hannah Branigan). No one can be confident in a situation they’re unfamiliar with. Break big things down into smaller portions and teach your dog what to expect and any skills they might need to be successful. If new situations offer opportunities to practice tricks and skills your dog already knows they become much less overwhelming and worrying.
   
   
3. Focus on the positive
   Teach your dog what TO do instead of what not to do. It’s so much easier for both us and the dog to focus on “lay on your mat” rather than “don’t flail around and acost random people in the vet’s office”. Again, if your dog is fluent in the behaviour they need (lay on mat), their confidence will grow.
   
   
4. Be consistent
   Nothing makes us more anxious than an unknown outcome. The same goes for our dogs. If we are consistent, they can rely on us and we can eliminate a potentially huge source of confusion and anxiety for them.
   
   
5. Give them choice
   When we give our dogs options (what game to play, whether or not they want to train, if they want to be petted) we give them a huge boost of confidence. The ability to control their outcome really can’t be overstated. Yes, there are times when choice isn’t going to be available to them, but if we use positive training methods those times are way fewer than we might otherwise think. Just like we feel more confident when the dentist shows us how to ask them to stop, our dogs become more confident when we give them options and then respect their choices.
   
   

Does your dog have a problem behaviour you want resolved? Need help building your pup's confidence?
Contact us today!