Mark Singer Dog Behaviour Specialist | Dog trainer

Mark Singer Dog Behaviour Specialist

Phone: +61 416 705 463

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23.01.2022 New ruling for dog owners. Dogs are no longer allowed to be placed in a position whereby they need to escape discomfort (negative reinforcement) to reward an appropriate behaviour. They must then, I assume, ignore discomfort until presented with a treat? For example, your dog must stay in the sun, no matter how hot it gets until we use positive reinforcement such as a treat to encourage the dog to go to the shade. Or keep your dog out of the sun! Sound ridiculous? Sure does... This is what it sounds like when we use emotive reasoning and not logical science to remove quadrants of operant conditioning, for no other reason than to appease emotionally fragile people. Remember, negative reinforcement and positive punishment are cruel and abusive, because they hurt emotionally fragile feelings, and not caring they are 2 of the most powerful quadrants to potentially save life. In nature, negative reinforcement and positive punishment are 2 of the most used learning principles. Even the simple act of eating food utilises the principle of negative reinforcement. Being hungry is very uncomfortable...

23.01.2022 A good leader is a leader you want to work with, not one that bullies you to work for them. A worthy leader is consistent and fair, and treats you with respect, so as to earn respect back from you. Remember that when interacting with and training your dog. This doesn't mean you shouldn't be enforcing rules and boundaries, but there is no reason to be an asshole about it. Your dog will respect you and therefore willingly work with you, however, only if you are worthy of that ...type of respect. Actions controlled by anger and frustration have no place in training your dog, or your relationship with your dog. Be the leader your dog instinctively looks up to and respects, not fears. A dog has no concept of being good or bad. It only understands consequences, consistent consequences. If your dog isn't doing what it's told, its because you are not consistent with appropriate consequences, and therefore your dog has no understanding of what you want. Your dog isn't being bad! I find most people that have issues with their dogs behaviour are applying inappropriate consequences that enforce behaviours they don't want... "My dog will not come when I call it, even if I get mad at it!" Really? Can you blame it? Maybe that's your issue in the first place? You are proving your dog right, it's better to avoid you. If your dog doesn't understand what you want, and then you use anger to make your dog comply, this just shows your inability to understand your dog. Don't blame your dog for your lack of understanding and knowledge, and therefore applying inappropriate consequences that encourage behaviours you don't want.

23.01.2022 It appears I will now be leaving for Vietnam on October 31. I will be taking bookings for Behavioural Consultations up until October 28. Due to my upcoming departure, I am now offering a substantial discount for behavioural consults, for bookings made from my website as of today. This discount is only available for new bookings. My 2 hour in-home behavioural consultation is now only $195, that is a saving of $75. I have also added a 1 hour consultation for $125.... If you'd like to see me before I leave for Vietnam, get in fast, as there are only a few slots available. Please note, I am now only offering consults within the QLD Gold Coast Area ( Area A, green area, on the map on my website). To book, please follow the link below. https://caninetraining.com.au/gold-coast-dog-behaviour-home

20.01.2022 The void must be filled Humans are instinctively social animals, that are really no different to any other genetic social based creature on the planet. Bring a group of people together to achieve a task from the most simple to the most complex (such as survival), what is one of the first instinctive processes that will usually take place, without which there would only be chaos?... At an instinctive level, what void within a social group must be filled for that social group to be productive, and for it to be able to act, behave and survive as a cohesive unit? Why do dogs bond with humans? Is it due to an instinctive need to belong to a social group? And if so, once a member of the social group, what void are they instinctively seeking to be filled, that we, also being social animals, are instinctively seeking? Not that the dog is consciously seeking to fill that void, but instinct dictates it must be filled. No different to a group of humans that need to achieve a task, for something very simple, to the very complex (such as survival). Those that suggest that domesticated dogs do not instinctively look for the void to be filled, is like suggesting that a group of humans will successfully achieve a set task in the most productive way without that void being filled. Because without that void being filled we only have chaos, and all social animals know that instinctively. Someone within the social group must step up to the task, to ensure the social group will survive, and therefore achieve tasks as a cohesive unit. The survival of the group depends on the void being filled. Are you stepping up to the task for your dog? Or are you expecting your dog to fill the void? Which by the way, it will instinctively try to do, to the best of its ability if there is a void to be filled, as after all, instinct dictates, that the void must be filled...

17.01.2022 What an informative day it was on my reactive dog class today. I am sure those that attended learnt a lot. Especially from my work on modifying the black Labrador, that had built up so much fight on the leash. It was a very good example of how negative reinforement is far superior than any form of positive reinforcement, for a dog that had become so hyper-aroused on the leash, that it fought the slightest leash pressure with aggression. Once this dog learnt how to yield to le...ash pressure, ALL of his hyper-arousal and aggressive reactivity on lead disappeared, and he became a much happier, calmer and relaxed dog around all of the dogs on the class. Modifying this dog's behaviour took me about 20 minutes, but boy it was worth it. Seeing the change in this dog touched me deeply. It's why I do what I do, and love doing so much. The dogs owners had been trying for such a long time to work their dog through this extreme behaviour, using a harness and food. Not their fault, but like so many other dog owners, following trainers that they thought were giving the right advice. Positive only. What did I use? A slip lead, and the correct application of leash pressure. That was all... I am sure next week we will have a little more work to do, but we now have the foundation set for this particular dog.

11.01.2022 FULLY BOOKED I have 1 place now available on my Reactive Dog Class commencing on Saturday September 26 at Robina Gold Coast, due to one attendee needing to withdraw from the class. Please click on link below for more info and to book your place.

10.01.2022 In regards to my previous post. I was outlining the issues. However, I would like to stress, the owners of the dog in question have done well with the dogs general obedience around the home. What I found though, is that it doesn't take much for the dog to start feeling anxious (uneasy) if there is any form of assertive interaction. It doesn't take much for the dog to start feeling uncomfortable, this is when you observe either flight or fight starting to kick in. Fight is thi...s dogs strongest instinctive reaction now. Most of the dogs training was food based, which I have no issues with, however, the dog all the way growing up from a pup had never experienced any pressure during training, it was mostly, do it if you want too. I feel that the only time the dog experienced any pressure, was when it was punished for the resource guarding by the breeder (also understand this is the information I received from the dogs owners), and this punishment I feel was inappropriate for this particular dog, and in my professional opinion, for any dog. This dog now feels uneasy if any pressure is placed on it, due to what I believe happened the first time that it experienced (inappropriate) punishment. I offered the dogs owners a few options, however stressing that something needs to be done, ASAP. I suggested either: 1: returning the dog to the breeder. 2: I suggested a particular dog trainer that specialises in working breeds, who takes them in for intensive behavioural training. I suggested this would be their best option, to send the dog away for a month or so for some intensive behavioural training. 3: I am willing to continue working with the dogs owners to guide them through these issues, however, I feared this maybe to much for them to handle, due to their lack of experience, and feeling overwhelmed due to no longer fully trusting the dog. I am, unfortunately, not in a position to take this dog in full time to help modify its behaviour. I hope they opt for #2.

06.01.2022 You do not solve aggression issues by being aggressive! I've come across an 18 month old working line GSD with severe psychological and aggression issues, which in my opinion intensified due to the 12 month old pup with resource guarding instinct being punished inappropriately and with such severity (not by the owner, by the breeder) when it resource guarded a bone, that it ran off cowering pissing itself! This traumatic experience in my opinion has negatively affected the do...Continue reading

04.01.2022 PLEASE NOTE: I will not (at this stage) be conducting home consultations after October 23, as I am departing for Vietnam (hopefully) on October 27. The next 4 weeks are going to be an extremely busy period for me, as not only do I have home consultations to complete, I have so much to organise in preparation for my departure. I am receiving a lot of general inquiry emails, which I am doing my best to reply too. I apologise if you are waiting for a response. There are still s...lots available over the next 4 weeks if you'd like to book a home consultation with me before I leave (but get in fast). Please note, I am now only offering consultations in the Gold Coast area (unless you already have a prepaid consultation outside this area). A map is available on the link below displaying my service area. I am now also offering a $25 discount on my home consultations for bookings made as of today. Details available by following the link below. Please don't expect a lot of posts from me over the next 4 weeks. However, I am sure to be posting a lot once I am in Vietnam. If you are a current client, and need to contact me, please either SMS me, or contact me on WhatsApp If my situation changes, such as my flight being cancelled *sigh*, I will definitely post updates. I do apologise for any inconvenience caused due to my trip to Vietnam.

02.01.2022 A dog that will lure for food, is not a trained dog. It's a dog wanting food. Get passed the desire for food, then I'll agree, you possibly have a trained dog. Addition: I am not suggesting food shouldn't be used as a motivator to teach commands. The issue I have, is trainers informing dog owners their dog is now trained when it's obvious that the dog won't or can't respond to a command without food being present.