In our latest episode, dog training professional Glenn Cooke sits down with a unique individual who has navigated the intricate pathways of canine cognition, detection dog training, and law enforcement – Cameron Ford. As a former police officer and an integral part of the Navy SEAL program, Cameron brings a wealth of knowledge to our conversation.
The turning point in Cameron’s career was the tragic 9/11 terrorist attacks, which brought the significance of detection work to the forefront. This drove him to start his own business, harnessing the power of our canine companions in explosive detection.
A major aspect of Cameron’s work lies in his innovative “Odor Pays” detection training, which has gained widespread recognition. But more than training dogs to detect, Cameron emphasises the importance of understanding how dogs think. His insightful knowledge in canine cognition is a result of his direct learning from Dr. Brian Hare of Duke University, a preeminent figure in the field.
Cameron’s journey is a testament to the impactful role our dogs can play beyond companionship. Whether it’s working with the Navy SEALs or serving as part of a police force, dogs have the potential to greatly assist us, especially when we tap into their natural instincts and cognitive abilities.
Join us as we delve into Cameron’s journey and explore the fascinating world of canine cognition. Stay tuned for an enlightening conversation that you won’t want to miss!
In our quest to ensure our beloved dogs live happy and healthy lives, it is crucial not to overlook the vital aspects of dog socialisation and habituation. In this episode of “The Podcast for Pet Carers,” dog training experts Glenn Cooke, a renowned canine behaviourist and trainer, and Verity Sanders, a respected dog trainer, discuss the significance of these factors in shaping well-rounded and balanced dogs.
Socialisation and Habituation: Building a Strong Foundation
Glenn Cooke emphasised the importance of early socialisation in pets, stressing that exposure to various people, animals, and environments allows them to develop vital social skills and prevent behavioural issues later in life. Verity Sanders echoed this sentiment, emphasising the value of habituation—gradually exposing pets to unfamiliar stimuli, such as sounds, objects, and situations. This controlled exposure helps them adapt positively, preventing fear and anxiety-related problems.
Positive Experiences: A Key Component
Both experts agreed that creating positive experiences during socialisation and habituation is paramount. By rewarding dogs for calm behaviour and carefully managing their exposure to potential stressors, we can help them associate new experiences with positivity. This approach strengthens their overall well-being and cultivates a confident and well-adjusted demeanour.
Long-Term Benefits: Thriving Companions
Investing time and effort in early socialisation and habituation yields long-term benefits. Well-socialised and habituated pets exhibit better behaviour, enjoy improved relationships with humans and other animals, and cope more effectively in new or challenging situations. These skills are vital for their happiness and overall quality of life.
Overall, Glenn Cooke and Verity Sanders, through their insightful discussion, remind us of the significant impact socialisation and habituation have on our pets. By providing positive experiences, gradually exposing them to new stimuli, and well-planned training techniques, we can shape well-rounded and confident canines. Let’s prioritise socialisation and habituation to ensure our dogs thrive in a world full of new adventures and experiences.
If you need help, the trainers at Canine Evolution can assist with a variety of services that can be tailored to your dog.
Sian Gildon, the manager of Dural Pet Resorts Australia, has a background working with exotic animals in zoos. She brings her unique experience to her role in managing staff and providing pet care services for dogs and cats while their owners are on holiday.
One of the challenges Sian faces is ensuring each animal receives personalised care and attention. Unlike zoos, pets in a boarding facility require individual attention to thrive. Sian and her team work with pet owners to learn about their pets’ needs and preferences. This enables them to provide a level of care that goes above and beyond what other boarding facilities can offer.
Sian’s experience working with exotic animals has given her a unique perspective on animal welfare, which she applies to her role at Pet Resorts Australia. She ensures that all staff are well-trained and equipped to handle any situation that may arise.
Sian’s background working with primates is particularly useful in managing the care of dogs. Primates are intelligent and social animals that require enrichment and stimulation to remain healthy and happy. Similarly, dogs require mental and physical stimulation to thrive. Sian’s experience working with primates has given her insight into how to provide dogs with the enrichment they need, such as doggy daycare, dog training exercises, and playtime with other dogs.
In addition to providing personalised care for pets, Sian also ensures that the facility meets industry standards for animal welfare. This includes providing a safe and comfortable environment for animals to rest and play in.
In this episode on dog training, we’ll be discussing the importance of early intervention with dog aggression and behaviour. I’m Glenn Cooke, and joining me is my co-host, Andrew Clark. We’re both passionate about dog training and have seen first-hand how important early intervention is in shaping a dog’s behaviour.
As responsible dog owners, it’s essential to recognize that early intervention is key to preventing or minimizing aggressive behaviour in our pet and working dogs. Whether you’ve just welcomed a new puppy into your home or have an adult dog with behavioural issues, early intervention is crucial.
The first step is to recognise the signs of aggression in your dog. Aggression can manifest in various ways, including growling, barking, biting, snarling, and snapping. It’s crucial to understand that aggression is not always the result of an inherent trait in a dog’s personality. Instead, it can stem from various factors, including lack of socialisation, fear, anxiety, and even pain.
Early intervention means addressing any behavioural issues as soon as you notice them. This might involve working with a professional dog trainer who can help identify the root cause of the aggression and develop a personalised plan to address it.
One essential aspect of early intervention is socialisation. Puppies that are socialised correctly are less likely to develop aggressive tendencies later in life. Exposing puppies to different environments, people, and other dogs helps them learn appropriate behaviours and how to interact with the world around them.
For adult dogs with aggression issues, early intervention may involve a combination of behaviour modification techniques and medication, depending on the severity of the behaviour. A qualified dog behaviourist can assess the dog’s behaviour and develop a plan to modify it, often involving counter-conditioning and desensitisation exercises.
It’s essential to remember that aggression in dogs is not always the result of a behavioural issue. Medical problems such as pain, hormonal imbalances, or neurological disorders can also cause aggression. If you notice any sudden changes in your dog’s behaviour, it’s important to seek veterinary attention to rule out any medical issues.
Early intervention is crucial in preventing or minimising aggressive behaviour in dogs. As responsible dog owners, it’s our responsibility to recognise the signs of aggression and address them promptly. Working with a professional dog trainer or behaviourist can help you develop a personalised plan to address any behavioural issues and ensure that your dog lives a happy, healthy life.
In our most recent episode, we got to discuss many of the misinterpretations in the HR world, particularly around bullying, harassment and discrimination with people and culture specialist, Cheryl McKenzie.
Human resources play a vital role in any organisation by managing and developing the workforce. It is responsible for recruiting and hiring employees, managing employee benefits and compensation, ensuring compliance with Fair Work regulations, and promoting a positive work environment and supporting employee development.
People and culture are two of the most important factors that shape an organisation. The culture of a company is the set of shared values, beliefs, and practices that define how things are done within the organisation. It is created and reinforced by the people who work there, and it has a powerful influence on employee behaviour and performance.
When it comes to people, having a diverse and inclusive workforce is crucial for organisational success. A diverse group of employees brings a range of perspectives and ideas, leading to more creative and effective problem-solving. Inclusion, on the other hand, ensures that all employees feel valued and respected, regardless of their background or identity. When employees feel included, they are more engaged and motivated, which leads to better performance and retention.
Creating a positive culture and fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce requires ongoing effort and commitment from leadership. It is essential to establish clear values and communicate them effectively, provide opportunities for employee development and advancement, and hold all employees accountable for promoting a positive culture.
In summary, people and culture are closely related and both crucial for organisational success. A positive culture promotes employee engagement and motivation, while diversity and inclusion lead to better problem-solving and decision making. To achieve both, leadership needs to be committed to creating a positive culture and fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce.
If you enjoyed this episode and would like to speak to Cheryl, you can contact her by the following.
In this episode, Canine Evolution‘s head dog training professional, Glenn had the great honour of sitting with his friend and very experienced Council Ranger, Greg Tredinnick. Greg has been working in this field for many decades in many states of Australia and has been a very strong advocate for training and development of his fellow rangers and the general public. Greg and his colleagues have seen it all, entitlement, cruelty, violence – just to name a few negative traits of mainly pet dog owners. Even though it’s not all a ranger has to do, it still forms a large part of their work because people keep allowing their dogs to do things they should not be doing. Sometimes it’s by accident and other times it’s just pure neglect.
During the episode, Greg made a point several times which Glenn totally concurs with, which is, “you don’t have to pat every dog!”
It’s 100% accurate as it’s not a right of yours to touch someone else’s dog without their expressed consent. When this has happened and dogs have bitten, it will be the dog and their owner who will now have to defend themselves against someone who created the situation and now wants action taken. This is why Glenn, Greg and many others in the canine education space are advocates for more training in schools and a simple, common language in the general public around responsible dog ownership. Naturally, this includes better behaviour from the public around other people’s pets.
Greg also explains to me what the differences are between a nuisance dog order, a menacing dog order and finally a dangerous dog order. He also explains some of the very expensive costs involved and the immense amount of anguish. Ultimately Greg and people like him are trying to help us learn about responsible dog ownership and avoid these issues
