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Kay Attwood, Author of Canine Cognitive Skills, on teaching your dog to think for themselves
Episode 3817th May 2026 • The Yappy Hour • Yappily
00:00:00 00:51:18

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In this episode, Nathan is joined by Kay Attwood, founder of K9 Services and author of Canine Cognitive Skills, to explore a genuinely fascinating approach to dog training: Canine Cognitive Behaviour Training (CCBT). Kay explains how giving dogs the freedom to think, problem-solve, and make choices can transform behaviour from the inside out, particularly for anxious and reactive dogs. Whether you are a seasoned dog guardian or just starting out, this conversation will change the way you see what is going on behind your dog's eyes.

What you'll learn in this episode:

✅ What Canine Cognitive Behaviour Training (CCBT) actually is and how it differs from conventional reward-based training

✅ The difference between the "play brain" and the "reactive brain" and why it matters for your dog's behaviour

✅ Why giving dogs real choices builds confidence and reduces stress hormones

✅ Simple, low-cost games you can try at home using everyday household items

✅ How cognitive enrichment can support anxious and reactive dogs without medication

✅ Why slowing down and letting your dog think is one of the most powerful things you can do as a guardian

Key takeaways:

  • Dogs are continually looking for solutions; they are not trying to be difficult
  • Enrichment is not just about keeping dogs busy. It is about giving them meaningful mental engagement and genuine downtime
  • You do not need expensive equipment. A bag of plastic cups or empty water bottles can be the start of a cognitive training journey
  • The relationship between dog and guardian improves dramatically when both learn to communicate, not just instruct

Connect with Kay Attwood

Kay's website

Cognitive Canine Skills book on Amazon

Kay's Facebook page

🐾 Find ethical, qualified pet professionals near you at Yappily the directory for dog guardians who care about doing right by their dog.

🎙️ Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to The Yappy Hour and leave us a review — it helps more dog lovers find us!

Transcripts

Speaker:

Welcome to the Yappy Hour, powered by

Yappily, the podcast for dog lovers

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who want to better understand and

connect with their canine companions.

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I'm your host, Nathan Dunleavy, and

today we're diving into something

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truly fascinating how our dog.

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Think joining me today is Kay Attwood,

founder of K nine Services and

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author of Canine Cognitive Skills.

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Kay is a lead in voice in canine

cognitive behavior training and an

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approach that helps dogs learn to

solve problems, regulate emotions,

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and build confidence free thinking.

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Not just repetition, whether you are a

dog, parent or a pro, this episode will

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give you a whole new perspective on what's

going on behind those eyes and how to

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help your dog thrive in a thinking world.

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So grab a cup of tea, settle

in, and let's get started.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Back

to the Yappy Hour, powered by Yappily.

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I'm your host, Nathan Dunleavy,

and I'm so excited to bring you

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another episode of The Yappy Hour.

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Today.

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Joining me is the amazing Kay Attwood.

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Hi.

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Kay.

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Welcome to the Yappy Hour.

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Kay Attwood: Hi Nathan.

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Thanks for having me.

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It's my pleasure.

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It's lovely to meet you finally.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

It is lovely to meet you as well.

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So I've really been looking

forward to this chat, Kay.

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Because it is an area a subject

that I don't know nothing about.

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And you've got your book and we're

gonna talk about that as well.

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But the power of cog canine cogni

cognition, it's a bit of a mouthful.

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So cognitive canine

cognitive behavior training.

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So we're gonna shorten that to CC.

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BT.

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So it's such a fascinating area,

cognitive work within dogs.

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So for those that may be new to it.

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Kay, could you start by just

explaining what canine co cognitive

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behavior training actually is?

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The CCBT, what is it?

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Kay Attwood: Well, even now, it's

something that is fairly new on the scene.

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I mean, a few years ago people

didn't even talk about it.

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I never heard anyone say about

cognition or cognitive skills

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or anything like that, and now

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

A bit of a mouthful.

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I was struggling with it.

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Kay Attwood: Yeah.

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And now, you know, a lot of people are

talking about it, and rightly so, because

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not only is it a really exciting avenue

of all sorts of possibilities, but

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it's because when I first started, I.

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it.

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Really it was for something different

to do with the people in my classes

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and something a bit bit more fun to

do with the dogs, then it, it quickly

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became apparent the possibilities on

how you can actually change behavior

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by doing this cognitive therapy.

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And it happens because

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Kay Attwood: of happens organically

because it's all it things

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that happen within the circuit.

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The central nervous system intrinsically

with all these different hormones

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that the, that the dogs make and

that, and that we also make, they

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make you feel good, et cetera, as good

hormones, bad hormones, et cetera.

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more importantly that I found out.

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And that I found a huge benefit

to, and it just fascinated me.

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I had to know more is how a dog

can go from the play brain or the

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to the reactive and vice versa.

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Now, I was interested in how do we go

from the reactive brain to the play brain?

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do we go from creating a good pattern?

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process pattern to change

behavior, how do we do

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A long lasting effect?

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So for me,

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Kay Attwood: exciting possibilities

to teach a dog to do that switch.

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It's also

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Kay Attwood: to do anyway because the

exercises are far removed from obedience.

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Because we need to

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The dog and empower the dog and

motivate the dog to try harder,

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which then instills confidence.

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So it's, it's, you know,

it play in the play brain.

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It's all about emotion

learning and, and wellbeing.

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And, you know obviously when

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That, they kind of get stuck in that

reactive brain phase when they're

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Kay Attwood: You know, all the

hormones associated with stress.

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So for me it's, it's, it really

is a valuable tool to have in

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your toolbox for any trainer,

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Kay Attwood: You do classes or not,

or you are just a, a guardian that

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wants to care better for their dog.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Yeah, brilliant.

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I love not heard that analogy of a

play brainin or reactive brain before.

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So reactive brain is more about like, the

courts or the stress and things like that.

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But the play brainin, like you

say, is more about wellbeing

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and how they're feeling.

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Kay Attwood: of get stuck

in that reactive part.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh, okay.

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That's really interesting.

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Kay Attwood: switch over into play, and

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Sure.

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Kay Attwood: then you feel all the good

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Kay Attwood: with that.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Lovely.

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Kay, what first inspired you to explore

cognitive based approaches in your work?

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Kay Attwood: Well, I kind of

fell upon it, to be honest.

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I'll be absolutely honest with you.

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I,

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

That's what we all, that's

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what happens to us all.

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Kay Attwood: I had been running

classes and you know, from puppy

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all the way through to advanced,

and I had the same set of people.

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thank, thank you Lord.

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They kept coming back for more

and I kept thinking, well, I can't

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keep doing the same things with

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Right?

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Kay Attwood: every six weeks.

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I'm gonna have to think

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The box and find new things to do.

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Well by then, I'd got to know

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Kay Attwood: really well and I had

some that I knew they had triggers

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and we'd been managing them.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Kay Attwood: been managing them

in class that that was going

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Lovely.

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Kay Attwood: fine.

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'Cause if it wasn't, they

wouldn't come, keep coming back.

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But I had to new things to do with these

people and I thought, well, there's

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only so much obedience you can do.

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So I started to think

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Kay Attwood: games and I thought,

I'm gonna really stretch them.

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And it stretched me.

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Which was, you know, great,

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Kay Attwood: too.

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And I quickly found that the

dogs that were, that I knew were

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triggered by certain things.

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They weren't being

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And the distance that they

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: oh.

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Kay Attwood: be from

the rest of the class.

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Was getting smaller and smaller

and they were coming, those

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dogs are a little bit nervous.

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Were coming out of their shell

more and coming out of their,

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they, they're all given little

areas to work with and they're not

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allowed to go into each other's.

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But these dogs that were behind

barriers were quite happy for a few

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of those barriers to, to disappear.

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So I, I

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Wow.

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Kay Attwood: something happening here.

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And that's when I, I kind of realized

that they were going from not being

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stuck in this reactive part of their

brain where they were habitually

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using everything associated with

reactivity and now starting to learn

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Kay Attwood: to be empowered and

make choices and good choices.

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So that for me was how.

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I kind of fell into it and just

started to learn more and more

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about it for my own shall we say,

my own learning curve really.

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So.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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I love that.

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Yeah, I love that.

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Kay, and please tell me and our

listeners, 'cause I've not really

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come across you much before.

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I've seen your name, like, and I know

you appeared on another podcast, but

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please tell me and our listeners about

like how you got into dog training,

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a little bit about your journey.

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I love a journey.

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Kay Attwood: wow.

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Oh gosh.

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I'll give you a, a whistle stop talk.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Whistle stop talk.

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Kay Attwood: Okay.

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was al

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah,

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Kay Attwood: the corporate

world and I was I had a busy.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: I'm same

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Kay Attwood: so I, I was a PA

for an international company

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and absolutely loved it.

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then I I was burning the

candle at both ends with work.

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So I would get up in the

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

as you do

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Kay Attwood: the early train into London.

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I would leave on the nine o'clock train.

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I would work till the small hours, go

to bed, have a couple of hours, and then

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go back and it would all start again.

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And I was a real workaholic.

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I loved it.

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But then sadly, I also.

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going through a divorce and then

one thing had to give and it

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh gosh.

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Kay Attwood: Unfortunately,

with the stress of that, that

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caused, I had heart attack,

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Kay Attwood: I started.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh my gosh.

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Kay Attwood: So I, I work from

home and all the time I was

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working from home, I thought, oh

great, I can finally get a dog.

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'cause I wouldn't have one all the time.

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I was obviously working stupid hours.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: good.

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Kay Attwood: took

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

No, that makes sense.

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Kay Attwood: him to a local dog

training school and loved it.

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Absolutely loved it.

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Ended up helping them run their

class and then after a while I

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was running all their classes.

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Loved it.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Wow.

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Kay Attwood: And the

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh, I love that.

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I.

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Yeah, I was in corporate, I was in

corporate banking with Barclays.

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So I was there for 13 years and I used

to go up to London, like head office

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and I started off taking one of my

poodles to dog training classes and then

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started helping out and with a class.

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And that's how.

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That's how I came about.

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So some similarities there.

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So that's great.

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So that was all part one,

finding more out about yourself.

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Kay.

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And the cc BT sort of

model, what it's all about.

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So we're gonna be moving on to part two.

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What is CCBT?

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So how does CCBT differ from

traditional other training approaches?

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Kay Attwood: Okay.

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Well, usually in obedience training or

typical obedience classes, you might give

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the dog an instruction on what to do.

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All right.

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But more with, with cognitive

skills or, or that type of thinking.

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You give the dog a

choice and you allow him.

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To decide what choice you're

gonna make and whatever his choice

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is, we are gonna go with that.

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We'll run with it.

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If it's the wrong choice, we'll help

him out as if to say, try again.

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when the dog quickly learns what is

reinforcing for him and what isn't.

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He learns to make better choices

because he wants to choose the right

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thing he wants to be successful.

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And if he's successful, that means that

he re, he earns more reinforcement.

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Whether that reinforce, now that

reinforcement for a lot of dogs, as

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you know, can be all sorts of different

things, and for some dogs, I found in

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these classes is that it was the, the

ability to be able to make a choice again.

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Off their own back.

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And that to some dogs

was a huge reinforcer.

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Some it was all

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Kay Attwood: what a

wonderful job they'd done.

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And for some you know, a bonus was,

would be a piece of chicken or a bit of

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sausage or something along those lines.

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So

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Kay Attwood: it's training that

is nothing like obedience because

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we are not gonna actually.

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Tell them what to do.

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Sometimes we might show them something

and then say, right now, tell me

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what you want to do with that.

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Or, tell me what you

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Should do.

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If you get it wrong,

nothing's gonna happen.

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Nothing.

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We don't even say anything because

then the dog, you are kind of forcing

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them into a thought PR pattern

of going well, can't be right.

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She hasn't said anything.

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She hasn't done anything.

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She hasn't given me anything.

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So it can't be that.

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It must be that because if you

only give them two choices, if

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one is right, other one's wrong.

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So if they choose the wrong one, go, oh,

well it doesn't matter that one's right.

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So it means that they learn far

more effectively and and quicker.

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So,

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Kay Attwood: that builds confidence,

but it, it uses their brain chemicals

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because they, they're, they're

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They're having fun.

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They're being empowered.

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They're being, they're learning

that they've got a choice.

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And it doesn't matter if they

make the wrong choice, 'cause

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nothing bad is gonna happen at all.

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So it it, it deals with

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Yeah.

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Kay Attwood: brain, the

hormones that they make.

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That they start enjoying themselves

and that's when they come out of

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Reactive brain and into the play

brain to go, this is great fun.

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Let's do the, or, you know, do this

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Bit more.

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So it's, you know, that part, the

nervous system is responsible for

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thought process and memory and learning.

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So it enables that communication between,

and coordination from, from dog to

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owner or dog to handler and throughout

their body for them to learn how it.

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They are in control of how they can feel.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Yeah, I love that.

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Is there just two parts, two

brains that play in reactive,

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or is there other brains?

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Kay Attwood: There are, it gets a bit

complicated, so that's the easiest

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way to explain it really, because.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

That's fine.

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Yeah.

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We like it that way.

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Kay Attwood: brain regions are all

different, responsible, but they're

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all talking to each other all the time.

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But the I, the

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Like to explain it to my customers

that I'm working with for reactivity is

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they understand what I'm talking about

when I talk about the play brain and

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the reactive brain because they know

all about their dog's reactive brain.

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They've seen it, they're

well versed in that.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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I bet they see that one more than the

play, I guess then don't they really?

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Kay Attwood: they do.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Kay Attwood: dogs don't,

don't know how to play.

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They have to learn how to play.

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The only time I met one dog in

particular, he, he knew how to play.

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Of course he did.

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He'd been playing with his owner

at home, but he could only play

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in his home environment as long

as there was no one else at home.

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Just him and his one.

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He, he had one lady owner,

just him and his lady owner.

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If any visitor came over.

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He couldn't play.

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He went into reactive brain.

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If he was outside of the

home, he couldn't play.

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He went into reactive brain and that

was because that was a, an old set

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response to triggers and it was an

old way that he'd got stuck basically.

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we had

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Him really, really easy games or

teach her really, really easy games to

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play with him so that he could start

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Of these, this new skill set.

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And that's what cognitive therapy

is all about, is learning a new

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skill so that he could learn to

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Kay Attwood: outside of the home and in

the home when there was someone else.

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If she had a visitor, for example,

he couldn't even play on his own.

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So that for that one

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Wow.

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Kay Attwood: was absolute gold.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: It was

a bit of a somber thought when you said

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that some dogs dunno how to play that.

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Just, that just made me feel a bit sad.

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I.

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Kay Attwood: I know.

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It is sad, isn't it?

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

That's a shame

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Kay Attwood: to learn how to play because

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: we do.

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Kay Attwood: how to play a game

or knowing or, being able to

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recognize that something is in an

actual factor game and not threat.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm-hmm.

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Kay Attwood: look at

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Yeah, definitely.

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Kay Attwood: bits of apparatus that

we use in to play with our dogs.

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Now, not every dog recognizes

that, that whatever it may be is,

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has the ability to get play from.

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They just go, oh, that's a bit suspicious.

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I don't know that.

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So not, not

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Recognizes the ability or recognizes the

potential of a game or play, which is sad.

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I.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Brilliant.

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So why do you think it's such

a powerful approach for those

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emotionally and complex dogs?

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Kay.

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I.

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Kay Attwood: Because just like humans,

we are more in tune with mental

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health and wellbeing, and that is

exactly the case that we are learning

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about that our dogs have that.

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Years ago when I first got into

in:

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training, you know, if someone had

said, well, how does the dog feel?

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We'd all go.

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I

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Kay Attwood: does, does he, does he feel,

but yeah, we absolutely know that they

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do feel, you know, that it's, it's all

about emotions and that type of thing.

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Just as we are more in tune with

our own, we are far more in tune

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with, with our dog's emotions.

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And that I think is absolute.

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to understanding how your dog

functions and how he thinks and how

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he learns and that type of thing.

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So it's, it's all about a bit

more of a supported learning

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approach for our dogs Really.

385

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Okay.

386

:

Yeah.

387

:

Brilliant.

388

:

What does a cognitive based

session typically look like?

389

:

Hey.

390

:

Kay Attwood: Oh, gosh.

391

:

It could have all sorts of things.

392

:

I like to I've, I've got this real

thing about using everyday items because

393

:

they're readily available to everyone.

394

:

You know, I don't expect

395

:

To go out and spend 50 pounds

on a, singing, all dancing.

396

:

of equipment.

397

:

I like to use that you've got hanging

around the house, for example, in my

398

:

puppy classes to start that, that play

Brain Off in coming out of Fear Brainin.

399

:

I like to use empty plastic water bottles.

400

:

Everybody's got loads of

401

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh, okay.

402

:

Kay Attwood: and I

403

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

404

:

Kay Attwood: I do like we bottle bowling,

so I, I line them up like they're skittle.

405

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh

406

:

Kay Attwood: And underneath the each

407

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah.

408

:

Kay Attwood: is a little treat.

409

:

And of course, the dog approaches

410

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Right.

411

:

Kay Attwood: thinking, oh, I don't

recognize that this is a game.

412

:

Oh, I don't think this is play that.

413

:

I just see this as really scary.

414

:

Oh my God, they move, oh my God.

415

:

Oh, there's a treat.

416

:

So as all these bottles go flying

everywhere and they make a racket.

417

:

For some dogs I have to do it on

a towel or a bit of carpet so it

418

:

doesn't make such a big noise.

419

:

But that instills confidence to motivate

them to try it again, do it again.

420

:

'cause you know there's

treats under there.

421

:

You can smell them, but you've

got to knock all the bottles over

422

:

to if you want to eat them all.

423

:

So that motivates them to keep trying

and it teaches them, take your time.

424

:

There's no rush you can do.

425

:

You

426

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

427

:

Kay Attwood: your time, you'll get there.

428

:

So that's

429

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

430

:

Kay Attwood: thing that it could look

like, but it, it could take all sorts

431

:

of forms into, it might be pictures that

are taped on the wall and we are teaching

432

:

the dog look at a picture and identify

it by its name, just by a picture.

433

:

Not an item, a 3D item, but an actual

flat picture that is just on a wall.

434

:

So it could, it could be

all sorts of things really.

435

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

436

:

No, I love that.

437

:

I love that.

438

:

Like you say, you're telling people

to make use of their everyday items.

439

:

It doesn't have to cost money.

440

:

And just, yeah, think outside the

box a little bit and I love that.

441

:

One of my dogs was just barking,

so I said we were chatting offline

442

:

and Kay's pet sitting at me, she

said, oh, the dog's with a yak chew.

443

:

And I was like, oh, that's okay.

444

:

Mine are probably gonna start barking.

445

:

So it wouldn't be the yappy

hour without some yappy dogs.

446

:

It's if our listeners just heard

some barking, that would've

447

:

been my Milo heard a noise.

448

:

Of course they got a bark.

449

:

Oh, okay.

450

:

Maybe they may want to hear it, but

I'm just now like sounding like what

451

:

the hell's he getting all about?

452

:

But yeah, heard a noise and then just

alerting me and letting us know, right.

453

:

Lovely job.

454

:

So moving on to part three, which is all

about empowering the dog in front of you.

455

:

Okay.

456

:

How does CCBT support anxious or

reactive in inverted comm docs?

457

:

Differently from standard obedience

training, yeah, like that reactive work

458

:

that means, could mean a lot of things.

459

:

So anxious nervous dogs compared to

your standard obedience training.

460

:

Kay Attwood: Well

empowerment, but also choice.

461

:

E, even though

462

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

I love that.

463

:

Kay Attwood: choice, but also the

choice of whether you part or you don't.

464

:

'cause if the dog says to

465

:

No, I can't do that right now, or Do you

know, I'm just not feeling it right now.

466

:

I'm not up for it.

467

:

I just go, okay, fair enough.

468

:

Let me know when you are.

469

:

So it's

470

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

471

:

Kay Attwood: part of choice too, because I

think sometimes, I've certainly known some

472

:

dogs, I've had dogs of my own that have.

473

:

Said, do you know, I don't really wanna

do it, but I'm gonna do it 'cause you are

474

:

asking me, just 'cause you've asked me,

475

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Okay.

476

:

Kay Attwood: I'm, I don't really want to.

477

:

And I, how have I known that?

478

:

Because you know your

dogs really, really well.

479

:

And for ex here's a good example.

480

:

I had one of my dogs, Flynn, who was a

border colleague, cross Jack Russell.

481

:

A tenacious little dog,

482

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Interested.

483

:

Kay Attwood: clever little dog.

484

:

Loved a ball.

485

:

I used to roll the ball across the

grass to him, but once he'd had

486

:

enough, he wouldn't bring it back.

487

:

He would stay at a distance and

lay down and that's when I'd

488

:

go, okay, you've had enough.

489

:

Then you don't, he wouldn't bring it back.

490

:

'cause he knew if he brought

it back, I might roll it again.

491

:

we didn't bring it back going.

492

:

I'm not bringing it back 'cause I

don't want you to roll it anymore.

493

:

I've had enough.

494

:

So that was his way of telling me.

495

:

So I would just go, okay, we're done.

496

:

And then he would get up with it in his

497

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

498

:

Kay Attwood: and just walk beside me.

499

:

He wouldn't drop it in

case I picked it up.

500

:

So it's,

501

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Okay.

502

:

Kay Attwood: that communication

skill that's, that communication

503

:

to me is a two way street.

504

:

I communicate with you and

you communicate with me.

505

:

If we don't communicate to each other,

then we're not having a conversation.

506

:

And it should be a little dance of skill.

507

:

You, you bring your skill to the table

and I'll bring my skill to the table

508

:

and look what we can achieve together.

509

:

So.

510

:

You know, it's, it's

511

:

That.

512

:

Envi up the envi environment to matter

to both you as a learner and the dog as

513

:

a learner, I still learn every day from

514

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

515

:

Every day is a school day.

516

:

And we're seeing that word

choice, consent agency.

517

:

They're really big buzzwords

at the moment, aren't they?

518

:

And I'm loving that.

519

:

We're seeing a shift towards that more.

520

:

Kay Attwood: Yeah.

521

:

You know, I think it

used to be about choice.

522

:

When we thought of choice, we, we think

of choice totally different now, which

523

:

I think is, can only be a good thing.

524

:

You know, when you would used to

think of choice, it was choice

525

:

of whether you do or you don't.

526

:

there are far more choices to be made.

527

:

Like, I like to teach a dog to

show me what your choice is.

528

:

I'll ask the question and you

tell me what your choice is.

529

:

than me tell you

530

:

Choice is gonna be.

531

:

That's how we used to train years ago.

532

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: It

was, and like it was when I used to do

533

:

puppy classes in person stuff, I'd be

like, oh, identify a high value treat.

534

:

So you are almost telling the dog,

well, this is your high value treat.

535

:

So then I used to do the taste test

and I say, put things under a cup and

536

:

let the dog choose what they want.

537

:

So it could be they choose all

three, or choose two or one.

538

:

But rather than us say, well, chicken's,

your high value treat, let the dog

539

:

make that choice for themselves.

540

:

Kay Attwood: but also learning

that today it might be chicken

541

:

and tomorrow it might be cheese.

542

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Yeah, that's okay.

543

:

Kay Attwood: Yeah, absolutely.

544

:

that's what you wanna work for.

545

:

Fine.

546

:

I always come,

547

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

I love that.

548

:

Kay Attwood: to my my customers in

my obedience classes, I used to say,

549

:

come with lots of denominations.

550

:

Don't just come with pound coins.

551

:

Come with five pound coins and

two pound coins and 10 pence

552

:

pieces and come with all sorts

553

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

I love that.

554

:

I love that analogy.

555

:

Different denominations.

556

:

Kay Attwood: dunno what

you're gonna have to pay with.

557

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Exactly.

558

:

I love that.

559

:

Kay.

560

:

What are the benefits of giving our

dogs more say in their own learning?

561

:

Kay Attwood: Wow.

562

:

That's a great question.

563

:

And to you see, to me it's obvious,

but to not everyone is obvious and

564

:

that's why I love doing what I do.

565

:

The value of it is, is to teach the dog.

566

:

That the ch that there are many

different types of choices to make

567

:

Take part or not?

568

:

And either answer is a good answer.

569

:

There's no wrong answer.

570

:

You either do or you don't.

571

:

If you don't,

572

:

We'll go, we'll try.

573

:

I'll ask you again later.

574

:

Okay.

575

:

But.

576

:

If, if he makes a hundred

percent choice all the time,

577

:

he learns, he has that choice.

578

:

It means that you are encouraging

him to think, and that means you are

579

:

encouraging him to problem solve.

580

:

If he's thinking and he's

solving problems, he's going

581

:

through a thought process.

582

:

If he's going through a thought, if you.

583

:

If you know how he thinks, you know how

he feels, you know what he's going to do.

584

:

So it comes down to think,

feel, do one drives the other.

585

:

You, you you think therefore

you feel, therefore you behave.

586

:

How that denotes you see what I mean?

587

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Yeah, definitely.

588

:

Kay Attwood: So

589

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

590

:

Kay Attwood: creates feel good hormone.

591

:

So it has a, a knock on effect.

592

:

And it's a, it's a circle.

593

:

You end up back where you are, where

the dog just goes, well, let's, let's

594

:

see if we can do that with this.

595

:

And you know, like there used to

be a thing I, the, the actual.

596

:

Words describe it escape

me right at this moment.

597

:

But we used to, when we first used to

do clicker training, we used to give a

598

:

dog a cardboard box and we used to just

click choices of what, what the dog does.

599

:

'cause he does it 'cause

he's choosing to do it.

600

:

And then you would end up shape shaping.

601

:

That's what it is.

602

:

You would end up shaping behavior.

603

:

Well, it kind of is a little

604

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

605

:

Kay Attwood: that, but you are.

606

:

You are doing a little bit of guiding

and a little bit of shaping, but

607

:

mostly you are allowing that dog.

608

:

behavior therapy is more organic because

it comes from within, that means the only,

609

:

the good thing about that is, is that

not, not every dog, of course, is that

610

:

because it's organic, times out of 10, you

don't need to go down medication route.

611

:

And that can only be a good

thing 'cause medication.

612

:

know, not only does it cost money,

but if you don't need all sorts

613

:

of medications, then you should

try to avoid them if you can.

614

:

If cognitive behavior therapy is

all about remodeling the brain.

615

:

From one area of the

616

:

Reactivity to play, then great.

617

:

That's, that's the, the way that

I would go down every single time.

618

:

I'm not saying that I don't use medication

for behavior modification programs.

619

:

do that with hand in hand with that,

with my client's vets, of course I do.

620

:

But most of the time with cognitive

skills, we don't need any medication.

621

:

It happens organically.

622

:

I.

623

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

That's good.

624

:

Yeah.

625

:

And obviously with medication there

comes potential side effects as well.

626

:

Kay Attwood: Oh yeah.

627

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

628

:

Are you able to share an example

at all where a dog's behavior

629

:

changed dramatically through

cognitive engagement at all?

630

:

Kay Attwood: I, I mentioned earlier

that in my classes, some of the

631

:

dogs that I knew that had triggers.

632

:

Whatever

633

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

634

:

Kay Attwood: may be, but I did notice

that they weren't having to, we

635

:

weren't re reliant on such a big area

for them to, to work in, and that the

636

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Okay.

637

:

Kay Attwood: comfortably come

outta their area momentarily with

638

:

their handler comfortably, and

then return back at his will.

639

:

I noticed

640

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: say,

641

:

Kay Attwood: were quite happy to

stay of their comfort zone, they

642

:

were relying less reliant on having

that comfort zone to retreat back

643

:

into whenever he felt a little

644

:

What's the word?

645

:

Don't ever get menopause, Nathan.

646

:

It's awful.

647

:

You, you get, need a little bit.

648

:

My cognitive skills at the moment are.

649

:

It's a little bit of nerves,

but, but you know, when,

650

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh

651

:

Kay Attwood: when he you know, when

he would have to go back into that

652

:

little area for safety, I, I could see

653

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yes.

654

:

Kay Attwood: having to use

that area of safety as often.

655

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

That's really good.

656

:

That's so good

657

:

Kay Attwood: And they,

658

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: that he

felt comfortable not to need it as much.

659

:

Kay Attwood: but you could see that

they were trying really hard, that

660

:

they were motivated to give it a go,

whereas before they kind of switched

661

:

off and said, no, that's too difficult.

662

:

I can't possibly think about doing that.

663

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm-hmm.

664

:

Kay Attwood: so it

665

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Yeah, that's.

666

:

Kay Attwood: all really,

really good stuff.

667

:

Huge of huge value, value to these

dogs, but value to these owners because

668

:

these owners could suddenly see a light

at the end of the tunnel that their

669

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yes.

670

:

Yes.

671

:

Kay Attwood: for the better.

672

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

673

:

That's what they wanna see.

674

:

Kay Attwood: Yeah.

675

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: That

must be so rewarding as well, helping

676

:

like guardians come to that realization.

677

:

Kay Attwood: Yeah.

678

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: I.

679

:

Kay Attwood: biggest thing for

me, and I think it, it still to

680

:

this day, is a big thing for me.

681

:

It's not only watching the transition

these dogs, but also seeing that there,

682

:

there's a light bulb moment goes on in

their own head that says, I thought my dog

683

:

was thick, I thought it was just a badden.

684

:

I thought he was just naughty, but he was.

685

:

He is neither

686

:

Or a bad dog, or thick.

687

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

definitely not.

688

:

Kay Attwood: he's quite intelligent I

689

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yes.

690

:

Kay Attwood: oh my God, I

thought he was just thick.

691

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh bless.

692

:

Oh, brilliant.

693

:

Thank you so much for that.

694

:

So we're gonna be moving on to part four,

which is all about thinking at home.

695

:

So everyday cognitive enrichment.

696

:

So we might have touched on this already

with some of the bits that we can

697

:

just use, obviously household items.

698

:

But are there any games or

activities that you'd recommend to

699

:

someone new to cognitive training?

700

:

Kay.

701

:

Kay Attwood: Well, I think the golden rule

is when you first start is keep it simple.

702

:

Don't try and reinvent

the wheel straight away.

703

:

Keep it really, really simple.

704

:

And I always like to start people off

with either the empty bottles or I,

705

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh yes.

706

:

Kay Attwood: if you've got a little

pound shop, go to the pound shop and buy.

707

:

You can buy for 99 p you can buy a pack of

50 plastic cups and they're really thin pa

708

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh, okay.

709

:

Kay Attwood: cups.

710

:

Alright?

711

:

And then you do treat towers.

712

:

So you'll put a row of say, five cups

upside down or the treat under each

713

:

one, and then a cup on top of that

so that you make a little pyramid.

714

:

a little bit like your bottle bowling,

but again, it's just with different cups.

715

:

And then you can also

716

:

Once the dog learns the concept

of there's treats under the cups,

717

:

you can then move it around to

718

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

719

:

Kay Attwood: maybe three cups, but only

one of them's got a treat underneath.

720

:

And without touching the, the dog,

without touching the cups, start to

721

:

tell me which one you think it's under.

722

:

So you'll be moving them around and you

might lift the cup up and say, there's

723

:

the one with the treat underneath.

724

:

And then move it around and

let them watch that cup.

725

:

Now, don't make it too complicated.

726

:

Don't move them around really,

really quickly, let the dog learn.

727

:

Oh, I need to watch that one cup.

728

:

then they all come to a standstill

and they go, well, which one is it?

729

:

And the dog goes, it's that one.

730

:

So he is not allowed to knock

it over and help himself.

731

:

But then you lift it up and then when

it's correct, you let him eat it.

732

:

You then increase the difficulty.

733

:

So the dog has to really pay attention.

734

:

But that's for focus and concentration.

735

:

But what a, what a, a great little

gain just to teach those two skills.

736

:

I mean, if they're not life

skills, I dunno what are

737

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Yeah, definitely.

738

:

Kay Attwood: so.

739

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

How can the

740

:

Kay Attwood: Sorry, go on.

741

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

No go on my love.

742

:

Kay Attwood: I was just gonna say

little, little everyday items like

743

:

that, I can usually go go anywhere in

a house or I love a pound shop mate.

744

:

Or I can go anywhere and look at

something and go, oh my God, I can

745

:

see a game and I can find a game.

746

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh, really?

747

:

Kay Attwood: most things I can find again.

748

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

I love that.

749

:

Brilliant.

750

:

How do these little moments of thinking

benefit day-to-day life with a dog?

751

:

Kay Attwood: Well, if the dog isn't

sure of the answer, will usually ask.

752

:

'cause I usually say to

people, don't help him yet.

753

:

Don't let him, give

him some thinking time.

754

:

And puppies have a shorter thinking

time before they'll give up.

755

:

And older than older dogs,

756

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

757

:

Kay Attwood: 'cause of brain development.

758

:

But I'm, I'm always saying to

people, just, just hold on.

759

:

Just let him think.

760

:

Just give him time to think.

761

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

762

:

Kay Attwood: not sure,

763

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

764

:

Kay Attwood: ask you.

765

:

And then a lot of people say,

766

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

767

:

Kay Attwood: he gonna do that?

768

:

He'll just stop and look at

you as if to go his hand and

769

:

wait for him to look at you.

770

:

And when he stops what he's

doing to look at you, that's him

771

:

saying, can he give me a clue?

772

:

Don't show him what to do, but guide him,

773

:

Him in that general direction

of whatever the game is.

774

:

So.

775

:

They'll start, they'll offer behaviors.

776

:

Some dogs will go at it like

a bull in a a China shop.

777

:

They're the ones that you need

to slow down brain activity.

778

:

All right.

779

:

Some

780

:

Just let them find their own flow.

781

:

dogs, you have to slow it down

because with their brain activity

782

:

is too fast, then you get

incorrect choices being made now.

783

:

Now that's not the dog

784

:

Incorrect choice because he's going,

I'm just gonna make any odd choice and

785

:

you'll tell me what the right one is.

786

:

That's 'cause he's not just not

learned to slow down and think.

787

:

Far more effectively when he can slow it

788

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

789

:

Kay Attwood: and he gets it

right first time, every time he

790

:

goes, Eureka, I'm now a thinker.

791

:

can think things through.

792

:

It means my, route to reinforcement has

now become faster and that at the end

793

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

794

:

Kay Attwood: he wants.

795

:

So for some

796

:

To slow them down.

797

:

Some of them.

798

:

You have to speed up a little bit, but

that's, I've, I've, I don't think I've

799

:

met many dogs that you have to speed up.

800

:

They just get there in the end.

801

:

They get faster.

802

:

They think they think more faster

as you leave them alone to get on.

803

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

804

:

I was thinking that it probably

helps with the relationship and the

805

:

bond with the caregiver as well,

806

:

Kay Attwood: yeah.

807

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

types of games.

808

:

It probably really helps strengthen,

when you invest in that time.

809

:

It helps with the

relationship, I'd imagine him.

810

:

Kay Attwood: because if you know,

you, you, if you, if you become more

811

:

educated on how better thinker your

dog is, means that you allow them that.

812

:

Flexibility to think things through.

813

:

And that means that your dog

814

:

Can you, you know what it's like when you

go, oh, what was that film with Tom Hanks?

815

:

And oh, don't tell me.

816

:

Don't tell me.

817

:

Hang on.

818

:

It's on the corner.

819

:

And then someone goes,

oh, that was for Gummy.

820

:

Oh, I was nearly there.

821

:

That is so frustrating,

822

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

823

:

Kay Attwood: Yeah.

824

:

So can you imagine how frustrating it

is for a dog when he's almost there

825

:

and you go, there it is right there.

826

:

it's like,

827

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh no.

828

:

Yeah,

829

:

Kay Attwood: knew.

830

:

You mean

831

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

just gimme a minute.

832

:

Kay Attwood: I swear I've seen a dog go.

833

:

I knew, look at the owner if to go.

834

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah,

I like what you said about obviously,

835

:

just give them a minute because the

thing is like, we are in a world now

836

:

where we want things done quickly and

everything's gotta be quick and it's

837

:

all, and but like, if you're gonna like

for some basic cues, like asking the dog

838

:

to sit or down, rather than saying Sit.

839

:

Sit.

840

:

Sit.

841

:

Just give him a minute to bloody

process what you've asked for him to do

842

:

before you keep re repeating the word.

843

:

Because then you're just

gonna poison the cure.

844

:

And they ain't gonna have a,

they're not gonna know what to do.

845

:

Kay Attwood: only that,

repeating cues makes dogs lazy.

846

:

And it it 'cause what it teaches

847

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yes.

848

:

Kay Attwood: teaches them is you

don't need to think what that means.

849

:

She'll tell you in a minute.

850

:

They just go, I'll wait patiently.

851

:

You'll soon get fed up and

then you'll just tell me what

852

:

it is and then give it to me.

853

:

Rather than go, think I

ought to be doing that.

854

:

'cause I always say be still.

855

:

don't speak.

856

:

Whoever speaks first is gonna lose.

857

:

Trust me, I earned that from my sales

day when I was in sales years ago.

858

:

But if you speak at that moment

in time, you interfere with

859

:

that thought process of the dog.

860

:

not only that, if you repeat cues, you

just teach them that the cue for sit

861

:

is sit, sit, sit, rather than just.

862

:

but not only that,

863

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

864

:

Kay Attwood: dogs to be lazy and go,

well, you know, you'll give it to

865

:

me anyway in a minute, so I'll wait.

866

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah,

867

:

Kay Attwood: want them

868

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

that's no good.

869

:

Yeah, definitely.

870

:

What or do you think enrichment

is sometimes undervalued when

871

:

compared to structured training?

872

:

I.

873

:

Kay Attwood: Yes, we all love a bit of

874

:

And sometimes enrichment.

875

:

it doesn't include you, it's just

your dog his self, enrichment

876

:

that can be for the dog.

877

:

It can be a bit of downtime.

878

:

Now, I've done, I've just done some

879

:

Skills with you.

880

:

I'm feeling a little bit tired.

881

:

I'd be, I'm more than happy for

you to just give me my calm and

882

:

you go and do the washing up.

883

:

I'm gonna enjoy this

calm, so for downtime.

884

:

In it, it has, its its value.

885

:

Yes, of course it does.

886

:

But problem solving can be this,

if you start simple, you think

887

:

of it as your dog's me time and

downloading what he's just done.

888

:

So it's time where you can just

switch off and do something.

889

:

But you're, you are doing

something, but you are, you are not.

890

:

Your brain function isn't at

such a high level as it was.

891

:

As it was say a moment ago when

you were doing a bit of training.

892

:

So enrichment can be undervalued.

893

:

It definitely has its place, but if

you give too much enrichment, how much

894

:

of it are they having to work for?

895

:

So sometimes it should be easy.

896

:

Downtime and other time that

enrichment could be where he has to

897

:

think it, think it through, whether

it's with you or without you.

898

:

So there's all different

levels of enrichment as well.

899

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah,

I've never really thought of or heard of

900

:

enrichment being downtime, but you get,

you can't, that makes sense because they

901

:

could have been doing something that's.

902

:

Increase their arousal, and

obviously enrichment helps

903

:

bring that arousal level down.

904

:

So yeah, kind of downtime decompression.

905

:

Yeah.

906

:

I love that.

907

:

Brilliant.

908

:

So part five is all about deepening

the connection through cognitive work.

909

:

How does cognitive training

shift the relationship between

910

:

the dog and the guardian?

911

:

Kay.

912

:

Kay Attwood: It makes

them a better partnership.

913

:

They work better together in as

914

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Love that partnership.

915

:

Kay Attwood: yeah, sometimes if

you've got someone that isn't.

916

:

Their dog isn't coping very

well, and they're stuck in that

917

:

reactivity part of the behavior.

918

:

And their owner doesn't under, not

only do they not understand it, but

919

:

they don't know how to help the dog.

920

:

That causes frustration in

both the dog and the owner.

921

:

So if you,

922

:

You then start to deepen your

connection through cognitive

923

:

work, it means that you work.

924

:

Better together because your understanding

of each other is, is, is better round.

925

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

926

:

Kay Attwood: as soon as you are a

better partnership, your together are

927

:

more, you enrich each other really.

928

:

So instead of kind of

929

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

930

:

Kay Attwood: with each other all the

time, I dunno how to help you, you

931

:

dunno how to be helped, et cetera.

932

:

You, you enrich each other.

933

:

So we're back at enrichment

again, aren't we?

934

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: we are.

935

:

No, I love that.

936

:

I love it should all be

about a partnership and Yeah.

937

:

Enriching each other's lives.

938

:

That's a really nice sort of thought.

939

:

Yeah.

940

:

That's lovely.

941

:

What what's one of the most

rewarding transformations that

942

:

you've witnessed through this work?

943

:

Kay.

944

:

Kay Attwood: I think I mentioned it

before is that people who realize that

945

:

their dog isn't naughty or stupid.

946

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yes.

947

:

Yes, absolutely.

948

:

Kay Attwood: Exhibiting is

born from something else.

949

:

So let's address what is

950

:

It.

951

:

And that means that the behavior

will change and nine times out.

952

:

Well, we all know that, you

know, emotion can drive behavior.

953

:

So if we can change the emotion,

the dog changes its behavior because

954

:

we can't force it to do anything.

955

:

He has to make that choice to change.

956

:

So cha choosing to change because of how

he feels differently through, you know,

957

:

cognitive behavior therapy has to be key.

958

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

959

:

Yeah.

960

:

I love that.

961

:

Can CBT help prevent behavior

problems before they've even started?

962

:

Kay Attwood: they can, you know, if

it's something that your dog enjoys

963

:

that they, they will choose to do them.

964

:

You might, some people might say,

well, he chooses to be reactive

965

:

to the postman every five minutes.

966

:

He seems to enjoy that, but it's,

you know, that it's, that's not

967

:

strictly ch Some dogs enjoy that.

968

:

Yeah, I'm not denying that.

969

:

But if they enjoy an activity,

they will choose to repeat it.

970

:

But what is driving that?

971

:

So we still need to look at the

driving force behind it that yes,

972

:

it can help before they start.

973

:

If you know that your dog is going

to bark at the postman, then maybe

974

:

when you know the postman is due, put

the dog in a different room or bring

975

:

your letter box and put a cage on it.

976

:

Or, there's lots of things you can do

to change things before they start,

977

:

if you know that they are a problem.

978

:

But.

979

:

For young dogs, if you can

teach them all about choice and

980

:

problem solving, you probably are

981

:

To avoid various types of

behavior starting going forward.

982

:

Yeah.

983

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

984

:

And also obviously, in Richmond

scent work, nose work that helps

985

:

with brain and mental stimulation.

986

:

Does this cognitive work

on a similar premise?

987

:

I.

988

:

Kay Attwood: Yes it does, because

it's all about their you know,

989

:

their senses and things like that.

990

:

And we know that, that can create

good hormones that make them

991

:

feel good, and dogs are natural.

992

:

They're, you know, they're really

good at finding things through their,

993

:

through scent and that type, and it's

something that they do enjoy doing.

994

:

So we know that it can prevent

various behaviors happening.

995

:

If we can tap into the things that

you already know your dog enjoys, what

996

:

activities do they enjoy and you know,

to, it can be very satisfying to a

997

:

dog to find something on man trailing

or to find a scent within a, a wall

998

:

of bricks and that type of thing,

because they get reinforced for it.

999

:

But it's the actual searching and the

finding that is also a reinforcer.

:

00:44:56,478 --> 00:45:01,008

Not, or it could, it doesn't need to

be something that they can eat to find.

:

00:45:01,008 --> 00:45:04,338

It could be the, you know, they find

their ball and they get to play with it.

:

00:45:04,338 --> 00:45:07,188

Or the, it could do, you know what the.

:

00:45:08,493 --> 00:45:13,323

The openings that are

available to us are so huge.

:

00:45:13,563 --> 00:45:15,273

We can't go down.

:

00:45:15,303 --> 00:45:16,803

We can't be blinkered, visioned.

:

00:45:16,983 --> 00:45:17,973

We really can't.

:

00:45:18,274 --> 00:45:18,694

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm-hmm.

:

00:45:18,783 --> 00:45:19,833

Kay Attwood: that's the exciting

:

00:45:19,924 --> 00:45:20,214

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

:

00:45:20,373 --> 00:45:23,373

Kay Attwood: about it all, is

that there's no holds bars.

:

00:45:23,373 --> 00:45:28,533

There's no right or wrong for every dog in

every act, every owner, or every handler.

:

00:45:30,439 --> 00:45:31,009

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

:

00:45:31,459 --> 00:45:31,969

Brilliant.

:

00:45:32,659 --> 00:45:33,079

Wow.

:

00:45:33,079 --> 00:45:36,289

Literally, we have sailed

through this episode.

:

00:45:36,289 --> 00:45:38,179

It is been jam packed with.

:

00:45:39,004 --> 00:45:39,484

Wow.

:

00:45:39,484 --> 00:45:41,734

Amazing information about this.

:

00:45:41,764 --> 00:45:46,064

This particular type of training,

my mind is blown and I'm buzzed.

:

00:45:46,214 --> 00:45:48,524

I've literally find it so fascinating.

:

00:45:48,524 --> 00:45:52,894

So we're gonna spend the last sort of

five or so minutes wrapping up and with

:

00:45:52,894 --> 00:45:55,294

some final sort of questions and thoughts.

:

00:45:55,294 --> 00:45:55,804

Kay.

:

00:45:56,134 --> 00:46:03,124

Kay, what's one thing you wish every dog

Guardian knew about how their dog thinks?

:

00:46:03,124 --> 00:46:03,154

I.

:

00:46:03,888 --> 00:46:09,048

Kay Attwood: That they are capable of such

thoughts and they should be encouraged to

:

00:46:09,048 --> 00:46:14,478

do so that they, that they are con dogs

are continually looking for solutions.

:

00:46:15,318 --> 00:46:17,448

not looking to make problems.

:

00:46:18,228 --> 00:46:23,478

like problem solving, but they're not

looking to be difficult or make trouble.

:

00:46:23,658 --> 00:46:25,968

They're looking for solutions.

:

00:46:26,238 --> 00:46:29,928

It might be that the solution that

they're looking for isn't the same

:

00:46:29,928 --> 00:46:31,698

solution that you are looking for.

:

00:46:31,998 --> 00:46:35,238

You need to find an even ground,

but it's that, that they are

:

00:46:35,238 --> 00:46:38,838

capable of thought and harness it.

:

00:46:39,138 --> 00:46:39,888

Go with it.

:

00:46:39,918 --> 00:46:40,518

Love it.

:

00:46:43,024 --> 00:46:44,674

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Yeah, I love that.

:

00:46:44,854 --> 00:46:46,534

Gimme solutions, not problems.

:

00:46:46,908 --> 00:46:48,323

Kay Attwood: Oh, I was always saying that.

:

00:46:48,719 --> 00:46:49,219

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh my God.

:

00:46:49,299 --> 00:46:51,419

I think that must be from my

corporate background as well.

:

00:46:52,599 --> 00:46:52,889

Okay.

:

00:46:53,934 --> 00:46:54,894

Give me solutions.

:

00:46:54,894 --> 00:46:56,094

I don't wanna hear your excuses.

:

00:46:56,094 --> 00:46:57,654

Gimme solutions, not problems.

:

00:46:58,024 --> 00:46:58,654

Right.

:

00:46:59,044 --> 00:46:59,764

Kay.

:

00:47:00,064 --> 00:47:02,314

Where can our listeners find your book?

:

00:47:02,374 --> 00:47:04,649

Tell us about your book, first of all.

:

00:47:05,103 --> 00:47:05,853

Kay Attwood: Okie Coke.

:

00:47:06,103 --> 00:47:13,303

You can buy it from my website,

which is www.kaynineservices.co.uk.

:

00:47:13,753 --> 00:47:16,873

Or you could buy it on

Amazon if you just search K

:

00:47:17,109 --> 00:47:17,329

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yes.

:

00:47:17,353 --> 00:47:18,673

Kay Attwood: or cognitive skills.

:

00:47:19,093 --> 00:47:23,293

If you, you can contact me via

email or social media and I'll

:

00:47:23,293 --> 00:47:24,733

point you in that direction.

:

00:47:25,468 --> 00:47:26,608

But you can also buy it

:

00:47:26,789 --> 00:47:27,449

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah, I,

:

00:47:27,538 --> 00:47:28,978

Kay Attwood: Performance Dog uk.

:

00:47:29,428 --> 00:47:31,438

They're on Facebook and everything else.

:

00:47:32,999 --> 00:47:35,039

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah,

I'm glad you said that because I've got it

:

00:47:35,039 --> 00:47:39,509

in my Amazon basket, but then I've noticed

it's a bit cheaper on Performance Dog.

:

00:47:40,258 --> 00:47:43,708

Kay Attwood: Ah, sometimes

Amazon can be a little bit more,

:

00:47:44,098 --> 00:47:45,298

but you, you, you might even

:

00:47:45,389 --> 00:47:46,079

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

:

00:47:46,288 --> 00:47:47,038

Kay Attwood: on my website.

:

00:47:47,038 --> 00:47:47,638

I don't know.

:

00:47:47,668 --> 00:47:48,538

You'd have to have a look.

:

00:47:49,349 --> 00:47:51,509

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh, well

I'll have to have a look on your website.

:

00:47:51,509 --> 00:47:52,469

I didn't check on that one.

:

00:47:52,469 --> 00:47:52,859

Yeah.

:

00:47:52,859 --> 00:47:53,249

Brilliant.

:

00:47:54,269 --> 00:47:55,019

Oh, okay.

:

00:47:55,199 --> 00:47:58,649

So where can our listeners

find out more about you?

:

00:47:58,779 --> 00:48:00,399

You've said your website,

but please do repeat.

:

00:48:00,399 --> 00:48:04,959

How can they connect with you or

learn more about K nine services?

:

00:48:05,133 --> 00:48:08,093

Kay Attwood: All sorts of

social media obviously.

:

00:48:08,153 --> 00:48:08,543

I.

:

00:48:08,603 --> 00:48:10,073

Love people to contact me.

:

00:48:10,073 --> 00:48:13,283

I'm more than happy to for

people to email me, text me or

:

00:48:13,283 --> 00:48:15,563

whatever, or message inbox me.

:

00:48:15,873 --> 00:48:20,313

But also if you've got a local dog

school that you go to, it might be

:

00:48:20,313 --> 00:48:24,873

that they've either hosted me before

or that they might consider hosting me.

:

00:48:25,113 --> 00:48:29,403

And that means that I would then come to

your part of the country and we might get

:

00:48:29,403 --> 00:48:31,653

to meet and work with you and your dog.

:

00:48:31,923 --> 00:48:33,513

So I do I ha.

:

00:48:33,863 --> 00:48:39,983

I, I'm very fortunate that people do

pay me to travel and teach workshops

:

00:48:39,983 --> 00:48:41,843

at their own dog training schools.

:

00:48:42,143 --> 00:48:42,653

So,

:

00:48:43,144 --> 00:48:43,924

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Wow.

:

00:48:44,213 --> 00:48:44,603

Kay Attwood: So then

:

00:48:44,674 --> 00:48:45,304

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

:

00:48:45,503 --> 00:48:45,773

Kay Attwood: me.

:

00:48:47,584 --> 00:48:48,094

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

:

00:48:48,124 --> 00:48:48,694

Okay.

:

00:48:48,754 --> 00:48:51,244

So just back off, just

going to your website then.

:

00:48:51,244 --> 00:48:51,694

Yeah.

:

00:48:51,743 --> 00:48:52,073

Kay Attwood: Yeah.

:

00:48:52,354 --> 00:48:53,434

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

To find out more.

:

00:48:53,453 --> 00:48:55,163

Kay Attwood: you, if you want

to know more about hosting,

:

00:48:55,163 --> 00:48:56,483

then obviously just email me.

:

00:48:58,324 --> 00:48:59,704

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Do you wanna just tell our listeners

:

00:48:59,704 --> 00:49:01,024

what your email address is?

:

00:49:01,024 --> 00:49:01,054

I.

:

00:49:01,173 --> 00:49:05,793

Kay Attwood: it's info at

ka y nine services.co.uk.

:

00:49:08,044 --> 00:49:11,069

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: And just

repeat your website again for us as well.

:

00:49:11,391 --> 00:49:15,391

Kay Attwood: www.kay9services.co.uk

:

00:49:18,139 --> 00:49:18,469

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Lovely.

:

00:49:18,469 --> 00:49:20,389

We'll put all that in

our show notes as well.

:

00:49:20,389 --> 00:49:20,959

I love that.

:

00:49:20,959 --> 00:49:23,059

Your KAY nine services.

:

00:49:23,059 --> 00:49:24,954

I love that little spin on it.

:

00:49:25,503 --> 00:49:26,673

Kay Attwood: Born for the Job,

:

00:49:26,964 --> 00:49:27,314

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Right.

:

00:49:28,259 --> 00:49:29,429

You were right.

:

00:49:29,459 --> 00:49:34,709

Kay Attwood, thank you so much

for joining me on the Yappy

:

00:49:34,709 --> 00:49:37,799

Hour, powered by Yappily today.

:

00:49:38,069 --> 00:49:41,169

I've absolutely loved

speaking to you today.

:

00:49:41,169 --> 00:49:42,669

It's been so fascinating.

:

00:49:43,069 --> 00:49:44,299

Thank you for your time.

:

00:49:44,408 --> 00:49:45,968

Kay Attwood: thanks for

having me on, Nathan.

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00:49:47,784 --> 00:49:48,949

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

You are most welcome.

:

00:49:48,949 --> 00:49:50,004

We'll chat again soon.

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00:49:50,078 --> 00:49:51,158

Kay Attwood: look forward to it.

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00:49:56,052 --> 00:50:00,092

That was such a brilliant and eye-opening

conversation with Kay Attwood.

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00:50:00,972 --> 00:50:04,362

Here are a few of my

favorite key takeaways.

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00:50:04,662 --> 00:50:09,492

Number one, dogs need to think

not just follow, encourage, and

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00:50:09,492 --> 00:50:13,872

problem solving, how reduce stress

and builds emotional strength.

:

00:50:14,382 --> 00:50:18,072

Number two, cognitive

training deepens your bond.

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00:50:18,342 --> 00:50:20,172

It's not about control.

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00:50:20,172 --> 00:50:23,292

It's about conversation and understanding.

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00:50:23,652 --> 00:50:27,732

Number three, you don't need

fancy tools to get started.

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00:50:28,092 --> 00:50:34,272

Enrichment can be simple, creative,

and fun, and makes a huge impact.

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00:50:34,542 --> 00:50:39,912

Number four, this approach creates

a calmer, more confident dogs

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00:50:40,302 --> 00:50:42,432

and more confident humans too.

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00:50:43,392 --> 00:50:43,932

Kay.

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Thank you so much for sharing your passion

and giving us all so much to reflect on.

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00:50:49,782 --> 00:50:57,042

For anyone interested in learning

more, head to KKAY nine services.co

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00:50:57,282 --> 00:51:01,212

uk or checkout Kay's book K nine.

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00:51:01,347 --> 00:51:06,597

Cognitive skills and, and as

always, if you loved this episode,

:

00:51:06,867 --> 00:51:08,637

don't forget to subscribe.

:

00:51:09,027 --> 00:51:12,597

Leave a review and share

it with fellow dog lovers.

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00:51:12,987 --> 00:51:16,592

This has been the yappy hour,

and I'll see you next time.

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