Recommended Resources

The following link is to a more detailed review of Canine Body Language by Victoria Stilwell (Victoria Stilwell is probably best known for her role as the star of Animal Planet's TV series It's Me or the Dog) https://positively.com/dog-training/understanding-dogs/canine-body-language/

Dog trainer and educator, Susan Garrett, writes on taking a dog's TEMP; reading what the dog's Tail, Ears, Eyes, Mouth and Posture are telling you. https://susangarrettdogagility.com/2020/08/your-dogs-temp/

Doggie Language book by Lili Chin, published in 2020 by Summersdale Publishers, is well-suited to all members of the family, young and old. Clear (and fun!) drawings and descriptions will help you interpret your dog's communication. Purchase from your favourite bookshop.

https://www.doggielanguagebook.com/

Q&A

Common scenarios and assistance to interpret a dog’s response in the situation described. http://www.ispeakdog.org/ and http://www.ispeakdog.org/lets-speak-dog.html

App

The Dog Decoder app contains approximately 60 different body poses with information, diagrams and context, all designed to assist you interpret dog body language.
https://www.dogdecoder.com/

Designed with Children in Mind

Doggone Safe is an American not-for-profit organisation whose mission is to prevent children being bitten by dogs. Doggone Safe has a number of information sheets, for example:

Signs of a Happy Dog

Dogs talk with their tails

Dog Bite Safety

https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/programs/doggone-safe/doggone-safe-educational-resources/

Dog-Dog Interaction

Meet & Greet

Like a Handshake, Sara Reusche http://paws4udogs.wordpress.com/2013/11/18/like-a-handshake-but-with-noses-and-butts/

Dog Play

Teoti Anderson ( http://teotianderson.com/) provides excellent advice:

"When it comes to dogs playing . . . it can sound like a heavyweight wrestling match when it's actually just normal. Some dogs are quite vocal when they roughhouse with each other. To determine if they're playing and not fighting, look at all the dogs in the mix. Is their body posture curvy and bouncy? Good. Is it stiff and straight? Not good. Is there a lot of back and forth between the dogs, each taking turns as to who is on top or chasing the other? Good. Does one dog look unhappy and is trying to avoid the other? Not good. If you think the play is one-sided, intervene. Even if you think the dogs are loud but ok, it's a good idea to interrupt them now and again. Call them over to you and have them sit for treats, calm down a bit, then release them back into play. This can help prevent a friendly match from tipping over into a tiff."

For more information see: https://moderndogmagazine.com/articles/does-your-dog-play-too-rough/126006

Amanda and David have put together a comprehensive guide: Dog-Dog Play – Facilitating Play that Everyone Can Enjoy https://gentlemodernschoolofdogtraining.com.au/Dog-Dog-Play

Video examples of dog play explained by Jane Sigsworth
Dog-Dog Play Part 1 - MARS [MARS stands for the four hallmarks of happy play: M - meta-signals eg play bows (play invitation), A - activity shifts, R - role reversals (turn-taking), S - self handicap - adjusting to the play partner's abilities and size] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzEgrLcxtUQ 4.23 minutes

Dog Dog Play Part 2 - Consent Testing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH2ZFVIeGXY 3.18 minutes

Health

General Health

Dr. Bruce Syme (BVSc, Hons.) founded Vets All Natural, a company focused on natural diets, treats and supplements in 1995. Dr. Bruce writes on a range of canine health issues, including allergies and arthritis https://vetsallnatural.com.au/dr-bruce-articles/

Mental Health

Stress

Stress isn't all bad; it's associated with growth experiences, learning opportunities, and change that can be positive. But particular kinds of stress (probably best called 'distress') can be especially negative. Some dogs seem able to cope with everything life throws at them but others suffer from stress. Pat Miller's Whole Dog Journal article, 'Stressed Out' provides an overview of the causes of stress in dogs and the signs: https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/training/stressed-out/

Heat

On a sunny 25C day, asphalt will be 52C on the surface. Since dogs' paws are no thicker than the bottom of our feet, pavement that is too hot for us to walk on is also too hot for them to stand on. An effective way to check this is to place the back of your hand on the street or the footpath for seven to 10 seconds. If you are uncomfortable in just a few seconds, it is too hot for your dog to walk on the pavement. (Info adapted for Australia.)

Nutrition

Diet and its influence on behaviour is an active area of interest for many scientists.

Dr Bruce Syme is one Australian practitioner investigating the possibilities https://vetsallnatural.com.au/does-good-nutrition-affect-behaviour/

Australian Dog Lover has also considered the issue https://www.australiandoglover.com/2023/08/tummy-to-temperament-how-canine-gut.html

General Feeding Advice

Ruth recently took participated in the online Dog Gut Health Summit. Ruth was particularly impressed by presentation, The GI Tract - What's An Optimal Diet For Dogs? by Conor Brady Ph.D. Conor's website is https://dogsfirst.ie/ Conor is the author of 'Feeding Dogs', subtitled 'Dry or Raw? The Science Behind the Debate'. The book is available on Amazon.

Suggestions on selecting and storing dog food:

Ten Safe Feeding Tips for Dog Owners by Nancy Kerns, Whole Dog Journal Blog August 23, 2018 https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/blog/Ten-Safe-Feeding-Tips-for-Dog-Owners-21911-1.html

Neutering

Whether and when to neuter your dog can be a complicated decision. The following article provides an overview of some considerations:

Assisting Decision-Making on Age of Neutering for 35 Breeds of Dogs: Associated Joint Disorders, Cancers, and Urinary Incontinence
Benjamin L. Hart, Lynette A. Hart, Abigail P. Thigpen and Neil H. Willits Frontiers in Veterinary Science https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.00388/full

Food Puzzle Toys

Food puzzle toys (toys that release food as a dog plays with them) are available in pet shops, some vet clinics, and of course online. A meal-time amount of food or a snack can be provided via a food puzzle toy. They require your dog's time and mental and physical energy to get to the food. Whilst they're occupied releasing the food your dog won't be barking or chewing something you don't want them to chew!

'A Guide to Using Food Puzzle Toys with Your Dog' by Zazie Todd, Ph.D. is an excellent article on how to use food puzzles successfully with many examples https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2021/10/a-guide-to-using-food-puzzle-toys-with.html

Considerations:

Suitable for the size of your dog's food?
Does the toy recommend supervision of their use? (The first few uses of a toy should be supervised in any case to make sure that the toy is within the dog's capabilities. You may need to assist your dog to help them get the idea of what they need to do. If your dog continues to find the toy frustrating it may be stressful rather than enjoyable!)
How easy is it to clean the toy?
How easy is it to get the food in?
How are you going to motivate your dog to get the food out?
Durable?
Safe materials?

A number of videos on our Gentle Modern School of Dog Training YouTube channel relate to Food Puzzle Toys https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-STAPn1Q4ULfIBAXm04K7g

Pet Proofing your Home

There's lots to consider, probably more than you realise!

Brad Korb and his team at The Brad Korb Real Estate Group (California, USA) have prepared a comprehensive guide to pet safety in the home, examining issues related to every area of the home (kitchen, garage, laundry, etc) as well as keeping pets safe during any home renovations - How to Keep Pets Safe at Home. https://www.lahomes.com/pet-safe-home-tips/

Agostina Chemello of Porch has written a guide on preparing your home for a new pup (and any pet) - Pet-Proofing 101: Making a Safe Haven for Your New Pet. https://porch.com/advice/pet-proofing-101

Hardware store, Bunnings, has advice at https://www.bunnings.com.au/diy-advice/outdoor/pets-and-wildlife/how-to-dog-and-cat-proof-your-home (This info is part of Bunnings' DIY Advice section: Pet & Wildlife Projects https://www.bunnings.com.au/diy-advice/outdoor/pets-and-wildlife)

Podcasts

Shaped by Dog - a podcast by Canadian dog trainer and educator, Susan Garrett, offers tips and practical activities. Shaped by Dog is available in audio-only, as well as video format, plus a transcript of each episode is available!

https://dogsthat.com/podcasts/

Episode Examples:

How To Use Your Dog’s Favorite Reinforcements To Fix Unwanted Inadvertent Behaviors (Episode 257)
10 Common Puppy Mistakes: What To Do Instead! (Episode 160)
Help! My Puppy Is A Bully And Plays Too Rough (Episode 159)
Dog Toy Checklist: What’s Good and What to Avoid (Episode 54)
The 5 Critical Dog Training Layers for Confidence with Anything (Episode 21)
Help! How do I STOP Puppy Biting?! (Episode 17)
How Long Does It Take to Train a Dog? (Episode 9)

Your Family Dog – a podcast by US dog trainers, Julie Fudge Smith and Colleen Pelar, and more recently, Tina M. Spring covers a great range of topics https://www.yourfamilydogpodcast.com/

Episodes cover topics such as

Dogs With Challenging Histories (Episode 208)

Help Your Child Build A Great Relationship With Your Dog (Episode 167)

Hot Spots, Allergies, and other Skin Issues with Veterinary Dermatologist Dr Natalie Theus (Episode 114)

The Importance of Enrichment for Your Dog (Episode 113)

What do I do about my barking dog (Episode 102)

What Does Supervision of Kids and Dogs Really Mean? (Episode 85)

Teens and Dogs with Jen Shryock of Family Paws Parent Education (Episode 82)

Indestructible Toys, Playing with Dogs (Episode 69)

Private or Group Lessons, Which is Best for You (Episode 66)

Warning Signs in Puppies: Recognizing Behaviorial Problems (Episode 65)

Puppies

Truly the best article on bringing a puppy home that you will read!: Kidnapped From Planet Dog - The secret to getting through the first year is empathy. Remember your pup was taken from a different culture! by Kathy Callahan, CPDT-KA (Article from Whole Dog Journal) https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/behavior/kidnapped-from-planet-dog/

Dr Ian Dunbar is a well-respected dog training expert and he developed a number of free resources for dog owners. Resources by Dr Dunbar specifically for puppies/young dogs may be found at https://www.siriuspup.com/resources

Puppy Socialization: What It Is and How to Do It eBook, by Marge Rogers & Eileen Anderson. Includes 50+ photos and access to 50+ linked videos (Edition June 2021) Some fabulous free resources are available at https://eileenanddogs.com/blog/2021/11/30/articles-on-puppy-socialization/

Your Puppy and You: A step-by-step guide to raising a freak'n awesome dog (2021 Edition) by Irith Trietsch Bloom, Laura Leslie Hills, Cassi Jo Perez, Maria Christina Schultz, Casey H. Perez (Illustrator)

Raising Littermates: 'Spectacular Siblings - 5 tips for raising litter mates' by Susanne Shelton, Clickety Split Dog Training https://clicketysplitdogtraining.com/spectacular-siblings-5-tips-for-raising-litter-mates/

Stay tuned for our own Puppy eBook!

More than One Dog

Good resources on the multi-dog household are

http://www.patriciamcconnell.com/multi-dog-households

http://rspcavic.org/health-and-behaviour/dogs/managing-a-multi-dog-household

Theory

Dominance - Discredited Theory

Ideas about dominance, based on the study of captive wolves (not wolves in the wild), are used by some trainers to guide their approach to training domestic dogs. But domestic dogs, while descended from wolves, are now very different creatures. They have been modified by 1,000's of generations of selective breeding to be able to live and work with humans in human society. As such while wolf studies can provide valuable insights into modern dogs, they can not be used as a literal template for how modern dogs behave socially, since in the main areas that we have bred and selected dogs for is their social behaviour to enable us to live closely together. The following articles explore and explain why many trainers today believe that dominance theory is not relevant to training our domestic dogs, and can be downright dangerous.

by John Bradshaw, of the Anthrozoology Institute, University of Bristol https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/pets-and-their-people/201603/dominance-in-dogs-again

by Victoria Stillwell, Dog Trainer, Author and Television Presenter https://positively.com/dog-training/myths-truths/pack-theory-debunked/

by Meghan E. Herron, DVM, DACVB https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/decoding-your-pet/201712/why-not-alpha

Safety

Toxic to dogs – Household Products, Foods & Plants

The Animal Emergency Centre has developed information sheets on household products, food and plants that are toxic to dogs https://www.aecvets.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Common-Pet-Toxins-2016.pdf and https://www.aecvets.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Common-Plant-Toxins-2016.pdf

Australian Dog Lover Online Newsletter (edition Sept 2019 - Issue 49) also has a great article on this topic: 'Common Plants Poisonous to your Dogs' https://www.australiandoglover.com/2019/09/common-plants-poisonous-to-your-dogs.html

Raw Chicken Linked to Paralysis in Dogs

A 2018 study, led by the University of Melbourne’s U-Vet Werribee Animal Hospital, found the consumption of raw chicken meat increases the risk of dogs developing a paralysing condition called acute polyradiculoneuritis (APN) by more than 70 times. The overview of the study is by Dr Nerissa Hannink, University of Melbourne:

https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/raw-chicken-linked-to-paralysis-in-dogs

Walking your Dog After Dark

Safety tips for walking your dog after dark https://www.blackmores.com.au/pet-health/health-and-vitality/safety-tips-for-walking-your-dog-after-dark

YouTube Channels we Recommend

DogsThat by Susan Garrett

ThatDogGeek Examples of ThatDogGeek's excellent videos:
The importance of socialisation and when to start https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPGd7ElMCJ8

Teaching your dog how to cope with distractions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-SX6H_9hPc

How to manage toilet training your puppy or dog https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpzjtHPQpOk

Kikopup by Emily Larlham