GM News - July 2020

Dear Gentle Modern Community,
We hope your 2 + 4 - legged family members are well.
As we all head into re-isolation, know that we are thinking of you. Contact Amanda if there are any challenges/issues with your dog that you would like to discuss. We are here to help.
Here is your July edition of GMSDT News.
Amanda, Rodna, David & Ruth

The Fabulous Canine Nose
You know your dog has a fabulous sense of smell.
Let Alexandra Horowitz break down the amazing biology of a dog's olfactory system in a four minute animation on YouTube - How do dogs "see" with their noses?

Free "Dogs Are Awesome Masterclass". 8 short training sessions by Susan Garrett. Wednesday, 8 July (our time) to Friday 17 July.

Susan is a Canadian Dog Trainer who generously shares many free programs (as well as provides paid online programs). We've promoted Susan Garrett's free programs here before and this is another one! (You do have to provide your email address but we reckon the content provided by Susan Garrett justifies this :-)
Live sessions are being run on Facebook but at a very unfriendly Melbourne, Australia time! The training session replays will be available on the Masterclass webpage, where you also sign up.

Book Review - Brain Teasers for Dogs by Christina Sondermann (English language edition, 2018, Quiller)
A book made for anytime, but especially these COVID-19 times! Christina Sondermann guides the reader through the process of using standard household items to make brain-stimulating puzzles for dogs of any age and size and aptitude. Some ideas you may have come across - we featured the Muffin Tin Game in the January edition of this newsletter and in a video on our YouTube channel and the Bottle Spin on our Facebook page - but most will be new to you (lots were new to me :-) The photographs are excellent and the instructions clear. Adults and Kids and Dogs will love this book.

Review Us?

As you know, people take into account online reviews and testimonials on a website when making a decision about which business to go with. If you feel it’s warranted and you’re comfortable writing a sentence or two in the form of a testimonial, or reviewing us on Facebook or Google Business, we would be very grateful.

Body Language

You can see from this still image that Rosie, a participant in our most recent Puppy Group Program, is alarmed by the approach of these friendly but high-energy pups. An instructor was close by to give Rosie support by gently steering the approaching pups away from full-on, sustained contact, leaving Rosie free to join in when she wasn't feeling under pressure.

ThatDogGeek YouTube Channel has three excellent short videos examining different scenarios on the basis of the dogs' body language:
Body Language 01 Dog Park Scuffle: The Warning Signs Before a Fight
Body Language 02 Polite Puppy Play: The Signals of Consensual Play
Body Language 03 Rude Puppy Play: How to Encourage Them to Listen

Getting dogs used to people in face masks

It's possible that we're heading into a time when the wearing of face masks becomes prevalent. Many dogs may find the sight of humans in masks alarming. As a result, it's a good idea for your dog to become accustomed to masks. Battersea Dog's and Cats' Home has some simple, clear advice on this process

Facebook
Have you checked out the Gentle Modern School of Dog Training Facebook page lately? Each week we post content on dog care and training that we prepare specially for Facebook. Here's a sample of recent posts.

Stay-at-Home Orders & the Risks to Pets	8 April
Stress!	15 April
Vetting Social Media sources on Dog Training and Dog Care	21 April
Tug-of-war	29 April
Value of the Stuffed Kong	13 May
Could Separation Anxiety be Brewing?	20 May
Steve Duno, Modern Dog Magazine article ‘Are You Making These 10 Training Mistakes?’	27 May
'Stranger' Danger - territoriality post COVID-19	10 June
Building a great relationship	17 June
How far away can dogs smell and hear? An answer to a question by Curious Kids - part of The Conversation	24 June

Pending further advice, GMSDT Melbourne has suspended group programs as a result of Melbourne Metro's return to Stage 3 COVID-19 restrictions but will continue one-to-one lessons outdoors with one instructor and a maximum of two handlers participating at any one time. Appropriate physical distance can be maintained without compromising the training.