All Laughing Dogs Training

01/03/2026

A great reminder by Mighty Dog Graphics to ensure what you are using as reinforcers are actually reinforcing for your individual dog 🐾

24/12/2025

Everyone should read and understand all of this!
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1bKawB4SFr/

'TIS THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY......UNTIL SOMEONE GETS BITTEN IN THE FACE.

And it was likely entirely preventable.

Sorry to come across all grinch-like, but this is the season for dog bites. Read on to learn how to prevent them.

1️⃣ ADJUST YOUR ATTITUDE AND EXPECTATIONS OF YOUR DOG.

Most dog bites happen to someone known to the dog (i.e., a family member).

Many dog bite cases seen by professionals are a first incident that caught those involved completely by surprise.

They thought their friendly and tolerant dog would never bite.

Indeed, some dogs are a lower risk than others. But expecting a dog to NEVER bite is like expecting a person to go through their whole life without saying 'no'.

Everyone and every animal has a threshold. Some have far higher thresholds than others. But thresholds are not fixed. They fluctuate.

Bites are unfortunately too often the first behaviour people notice that reveals their dog is not as tolerant as they were yesterday.

Don't take your dog's tolerance for granted.

2️⃣ NO FACES NEAR FACES

I must have told my young nephew this 10 times across three hours on Monday when I visited my stepmum (who has two dogs).

A high percentage of dog bites are directed onto the face of a person. More often than not, this gives us clues as to what that person was doing immediatly prior to being bitten.

Children tend to have strong face-face orientation and a reduced sensitivity for proximity that others may find inappropriate or invasive.
Dogs as a species generally find face-face (especially head on and up close) threatening, with the threshold for perceived threat to be far lower (increased sensitivity) when the relationship is new or unstable.

When we see so many adult humans miss warning signals in dogs, can we expect young children to spot them too?

Warning signals include;

🎄 Angling the head away
🎄 Ears pulled back
🎄 Lip licking, yawning, tension in the face- especially in the muzzle (the mouth will often close tightly).
🎄 The whites of the eyes will often show (caused by the dog angling their head away whilst keeping their eye on the person and carrying increasing tension in their face).

Putting faces near or into faces doesn't enable an easy perspective to observe warning signals, nor does it give you much time to move away/ avoid should you see warning signals.

The safest thing is to is to not put faces near faces.
Proactively drill this saying into kids (nicely) until they start to remember.

3️⃣ STOP PICKING UP THE DOG / PUPPY

On my morning walk yesteday, I walked parallel to a family with two dogs for about 5-10 minutes. In that time I saw a young child pick up a small (ish) dog about 10 times.

The dog started running ahead and the child followed. The dog stopped to sniff something and the child opportunistically caught up and picked the dog up again.

If I were that dog, at some point I'd say "ENOUGH!" or "WILL YOU JUST F**K OFF!".

Running away didn't work for that dog, so how else can the dog communicate that they don't want to be picked up constantly?

A dog may be more quick to lose tolerance if they are stressed, tired, hungry or sore, and generally behaviour change (including reduced tolerance) is the first clear indicator people notice of a dog feeling any of these things.

Let's encourage children to not treat dogs like objects. Some adults will benefit from remembering this too.
Everyone should treat their dogs as though they were a Great Dane. Stop picking them up all the time!

Your dog has legs, they can move themselves around. Your job is to learn to communicate with your dog so they understand where you want them to move to, such as off the sofa, away from the christmas tree etc.

Interactions should be consensual.

🎄 Invite the dog to come over for attention.
🎄 Take 'no' for an answer (the dog doesn't respond to the invitation).
🎄 Interact with the dog without restraining them or blocking/ boxing them in. The dog should be easily able to move away.
🎄Stop the interaction after a few seconds, see if the dog wants to move away, settle down or asks for more fuss.

Excitable children and those who are enjoying the novelty of having a dog around them (visiting family with dogs, new dog brought into the family) are often at a high risk of invading that dog's space and doing so persistently.

Set clear boundaries, helping children learn to respect animals beyond forced cuddles.

4️⃣ LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE

How would you like someone going up to you and giving you a cuddle when you're in a deep sleep?
How would you like someone physically removing you from your resting spot without verbally inviting you to move first?

Dogs get tired. Especially at Christmas when their routine is disrupted by increased activity within the home and often longer, family walks.

Tired dogs can be startled or grumpy.
Make sure your dog gets plenty of rest and that they are left to rest in peace.

5️⃣ RESOURCE GUARDING IS NORMAL BEHAVIOUR (to some degree!)

It's normal in dogs and many other species, including humans.

Take my Christmas present off me unexpectedly and I'll probably express how rude that was. Request for me to pass it over so you can have a look, and I'll likely oblige.

Forcefully taking food items or an object your dog has found off your dog increases the risk of resource guarding behaviours.
Let your dog rip the used wrapping paper up, or trade any items of concern for treats.

Ensure guests know to leave your dog alone if they are eating (food or a chew), and to leave you to deal with any problem behaviours.

If your dog is thought to be a resource guarder already, give them something enjoyable to do away from a resource laden context- such as when the family is opening presents.


6️⃣ STOP TELLING THE DOG OFF

I meet a lot of dogs who get shouted at a lot. A stressful existence for both dog and people involved!

At family gatherings, young children can mirror adult behaviour and other adults may also be involved in responding to the dog.
Before long- everyone is telling the dog off.

I'm not suggesting that dogs should be allowed to do what ever they please and we just ignore undesired behaviour.
My dogs have boundaries, and boundaries can be communicated with kindness.

If you have not spent the time teaching your dog what you'd like them to do, it's not very fair to shout at them for doing something you perceive to be wrong.

It's likely too late to teach your dog to settle on a mat or on their bed while you all eat Christmas dinner, not jump as guests arrive, not steal newly opened presents- more so if they have a history of doing that undesired behaviour!

Manage the environment- give your dog something enjoyable to do elsewhere. Ideally behind a barrier nearby, so your dog is not isolated (unless they can relax whilst being shut away somewhere else).

7️⃣ BE PROACTIVE

All of the above can only be achieved if you are proactive.

🎄Communicate guidance to guests in advance.
🎄Manage the environment and consider utilising barriers if you are cannot supervise or trust someone else to.
🎄Supervise (simply observe, pay attention) to interactions.
🎄If in doubt, get them out. Ask the human involved to adjust their behaviour - should you have time. Recalling the dog away is often the quickest solution.

Christmas can be chaotic. Booze is often involved, the environment is full of resources and things that smell delicious to dogs!

Things can get loud, people want to switch off, relax and fully enjoy the moment....... and that is unfortunately why so many dog bites happen at Christmas.

15/11/2025

Dog A.I.D. is facing closure. Please donate what you can today. We urgently need to raise £100,000 so we can continue helping physically disabled people to live more independent lives with the support of their Assistance Dog.

14/11/2025

02/10/2025

12/07/2025

Recent research by Vet Compass and the The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) showed correlation between human heat warning and heat stroke cases.

Yellow heat health alerts are now in force with temperatures expected to hit 34C (93F) in parts of the UK this weekend.

Is it true that if we use cold water on heat stroke pets they will go into shock?

One of the most common things we still hear is that we can only use tepid water on a pet with heat stroke, incase they get some complications like hypothermic overshoot, peripheral vasoconstriction hindering a cooling response, and cardiogenic shock...

We have heard not to use cold water in case it causes shock... this rarely happens!

But guess what? In a recent study over 26% of dogs presented with heat stroke died, with flat faced breeds making up nearly half of heat stroke cases seen in the study.

You should:

💧Get someone to call the local veterinary practice and tell them you're going to travel down with a heat stroke patient
💧Pour, hose or if safe immerse the pet in very cold water (this should obviously be done under constant supervision, ensuring the head is fully above water and immersion should not be attempted if the animal is too large, or you are unable to do so without hurting yourself)
💧NB: If using a hose pipe, make sure it has run through until cold, as they can often contain water that is extremely hot in the tubing initially
💧Do not drape in towels and leave them in situ. Keep the cold water flowing.
💧Move to a cool, shaded area
💧Prepare to transport to vets in a cold, air conditioned car

In studies they found that:

🌅International consensus from sports medicine organisations supports treating EHS with early rapid cooling by immersing the casualty in cold water.
🌅Ice-water immersion has been shown to be highly effective in exertional heat stroke, with a zero fatality rate in large case series of younger, fit patients.
🌅Hyperthermic individuals were cooled twice as fast by Cold Water Immersion as by passive recovery.
🌅No complications occurred during the treatment of three older patients with severe heat stroke were treated with cold‐water immersion.
🌅Cold water immersion (CWI) is the preferred cooling modality in EHS guidelines and the optimal method applicable to UK Service Personnel
🌅Studies suggest using either ice-water or cold-water immersion

The best intervention is PREVENTION, but if you find yourself with an animal with heat stroke, using cold water either by pouring, hosing or ideally (if safe) immersion then this may help reduce their temperature to safe levels while you transport to a veterinary practice.

Read more below with updates from Hot Dogs - canine heatstroke education for dog owners

https://www.vetvoices.co.uk/post/cool-icy-cold-or-tepid

26/06/2025

This is a great post which backs up what I'm always saying about collar vs harness.

✨ Structures Around Your Dog’s Neck – Why a Harness Matters ✨

Collar vs Harness is a frequently debated topic, but from a musculoskeletal and neurological perspective, the evidence strongly supports the use of a well-fitted harness over collars—particularly for dogs that pull on the lead.

❗ Contrary to popular belief, harnesses do not encourage pulling—lead pulling is a training issue, not a consequence of the equipment used.

⚠️ Potential Risks of Neck Pressure from Collars:

1. Muscles of the Neck:
Collars can cause soft tissue trauma including contusions, strains, and micro-injuries to cervical muscles, contributing to pain and dysfunction (Pauli et al., 2006).

2. Spinal Cord & Vertebrae:
Repetitive or forceful pressure may result in cervical spinal compression, intervertebral disc herniation, or spondylosis deformans. This can lead to chronic pain and impaired mobility (Ogburn, 2020).

3. Nerve Damage – Including the Vagus Nerve:
The vagus nerve, which runs through the neck, influences heart rate, digestion, and respiratory function. Chronic pressure may lead to gastrointestinal upset, or cardiovascular changes (Dobias, 2015).

4. Arteries & Veins:
Neck pressure can increase intracranial pressure, restrict cerebral blood flow, and raise intraocular pressure, potentially exacerbating neurological or ocular conditions (Pauli et al., 2006; NTU, 2020).

5. Larynx, Oesophagus & Trachea:
Force from collars may cause laryngeal bruising, tracheal collapse, or difficulty swallowing—particularly in small or brachycephalic breeds.

6. Hyoid Apparatus:
Although rare, trauma to this delicate structure, which supports the tongue and larynx, may cause pain or swallowing dysfunction.

7. Thyroid Gland:
Located in the neck, the thyroid gland is vulnerable to chronic trauma. Repeated collar pressure may cause inflammation, leading to immune-mediated hypothyroidism, particularly in large, strong-pulling breeds (Dobias, 2015).

8. Eyes & Vision:
Studies have shown that pressure on the neck from collars significantly increases intraocular pressure, posing risks for dogs with glaucoma or corneal injury (Pauli et al., 2006).

🙏 Please consider:

If your dog pulls, or if you’re guiding them by a collar or head collar, you may be unknowingly putting these critical structures at risk.

A correctly fitted Y-front or support harness helps distribute pressure across the chest and shoulders, protecting the delicate anatomical structures of the neck.

📚 References:
• Pauli, A. M., Bentley, E., Diehl, K. A., & Miller, P. E. (2006). Effects of the application of neck pressure by a collar or harness on intraocular pressure in dogs. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 42(3), 207–211. PMC4925585
• Nottingham Trent University. (2020). Collars risk causing neck injuries in dogs. NTU Article
• Dobias, P. (2015). Dog Collar Injuries Can Cause Thyroid Disease. Peter Dobias DVM Blog
• K9 Bridle. Dogs That Pull on the Lead. K9Bridle

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