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Dog Loneliness Crisis
Most of us would say that we brought a dog in our lives to be a companion for us. But is their role really a companion now?
Do we have enough time to spend with them and share their interests? Or our interactions with our dog are mostly made up of the basic care tasks?
Fear has many faces
Dogs who are afraid cower and try to escape. But sometimes they also bark, growl, lunge and get very close to what they are afraid of. Understanding different expressions of fear is essential when we try to help them get over it.
Garden much?
Having a private garden is certainly a luxury many of us dream of. And how lucky are the dogs who can use the garden at their pleasure? But then, why do we frequently get questions like: “my dog is barking all the time / my dog is over aroused / my dog digs huge holes in the garden” ? If you feel your dog should be enjoying their time in the garden and they are not, you are not alone. And you can definitely do something about it!
Dog Breeds
Trainers and behaviour consultants, should know the type of dog they have in front and what kind of tasks the dog was originally bred for. We must have information about breeds, study them and understand their purpose.
A good walk starts at home
In these years we received many questions from you about your own dogs and some specific issues you are facing, such as: dogs unable to relax or slow down, dogs being fearful of multiple things or pulling on the leash. One piece of advice is universal for all of these cases…
Walks in urban areas
It is entirely possible to have a great Smiling Leash walk in an urban area, but there are some things worth keeping in mind …
Treats for thought
“Are treats as good as we think they are? Most importantly, do we really need them?” - these are the questions that were running through Lyubov’s mind during one of the walks she was recently taking with her dog Heidi. This evening they had run out of treats and had none to take along for the walk. To Lyubov’s surprise, her dog was calmer and able to cope with a challenging situation.
Blu, the Goats and Choosing What Happens Next
Using a long smiling leash can help us is challenging situations. Blu is an Australian cattle dog and in this video he uses it to its full potential, while observing livestock.
More attention to the dog’s neck
Just like ours, the dogs’ necks are not built for long amounts of time spent looking up. Discover how we can take more care about our dogs’ necks and their overall mobility.
Give Me a Moment
When our dogs stop to observe during the walk, we should give them a moment. We may not think about it, but dogs need time to process all the information that arrives via their senses and time to make decisions about what to do with it.
Long Walks On The Weekends?
Many caretakers take their dogs for long walks or hikes on the weekends. We finally have some more time to enjoy a walk in nature with our four legged friends. As always, looking at things from the dog’s perspective can reveal something interesting!
Treat Searches
This is a simple, but wonderful nose game for any dog. It’s fun, calming and easy to prepare. All you need is a heaped handful of small, tasty treats.
Muddy Walks Are Important
Read about how many senses are being stimulated in a muddy walk and why is this so important?
Layka is enjoying this walk a lot. A walk full of sensory information that it is not only fun but a very important part of the dogs' sensory life..
How to prevent an escape during the holidays
Fireworks cause a profound state of panic in many dogs and lead to an increased number of dogs running away and getting lost during the holidays. What can we do to prevent this from happening?
Finding Interesting Things
Letting our dogs explore new findings like objects, animals, and new places, is a great way to offer mental stimulation. Many things that we don’t see as interesting are a source of new odours and capture our dogs attention.
Pleasant introductions
For many dogs guests visits can be challenging, so, it's crucial that the relationship between the dog and new people start off on a pleasant note. How can Smiling Leash walks help? Find out in this article.
Freedom and Choice
Day after day we decide almost everything about the life of our dogs. However, letting our dogs make safe choices holds a lot of benefits. What they are? Discover in this article.
Remote Control
Watch the video and think carefully about the handlers approach to this situation. You do not see it to start with but there is a loose dog running downhill towards Ainhoa and Xena. And what does Ainhoa, the leash handler, do?
How do you know if your dog enjoyed the walk?
Dogs can tell us a lot without actually talking. If we just pay a little more attention to their behaviour, dogs can often tell us if a walk was good for them or not. Discover how in this article.
Feel No Pain
In this article we discuss some of the signs of pain and recent experiences amongst the Smiling Leash Team members that can help with identifying pain and discomfort.