Jeanette Muldoon is a trainer and behaviourist, and co-founder of Easy Peasy Puppy Training and the Family Dog Club, known for her calm, kind approach to raising confident, connected puppies. In this episode she talks through the reality of the first few weeks home, why puppy biting and barking are completely normal, and how to socialise a puppy without overwhelming them.

Whether you're mid puppy-blues or preparing for a future arrival, this conversation is full of reassurance and practical, force-free advice. Settle in with a cuppa and give it a listen.

What you'll learn in this episode:

✅ Why the gap between puppy expectations and reality catches so many new dog guardians off guard

✅ How to shift from "fixing problems" to building connection with your puppy

✅ What actually matters in the crucial first week at home

✅ Why puppy biting is normal, and how tiredness and arousal drive it

✅ How to handle barking by understanding the reason behind it, not just stopping the noise

✅ How to socialise a puppy calmly, on their own timeline, without overwhelm

✅ How to lay the groundwork for home-alone confidence and healthy enrichment

Key takeaways:

• Puppyhood is joyful, but it's also a real adjustment. Puppy blues are common, you're not failing, you're just human
• Focus on connection, not perfection. The relationship matters more than how many cues your puppy knows in month one
• Socialisation is about calm, positive experiences. Confidence is built through gentle exposure and thoughtful support, not meeting every dog and every person
• Arousal affects sleep and behaviour. An overtired puppy is a bitier, bouncier puppy, so watch their body language and let them rest
• You don't have to figure it all out alone. Support from a trainer or community like the Family Dog Club makes a real difference

Connect with Jeanette

Easy Peasy Puppy Training website

The Family Dog Club website

Easy Peasy Puppy Training Facebook

The Family Dog Club Facebook

🐾 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!

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Welcome to the Yappy Hour, powered

2

by Yappy, the podcast for dog lovers

who want to better understand and

3

connect with their canine companions.

4

I'm your host, Nathan Dunleavy,

and today's episode is.

5

Dedicated to puppy parents

past, present, and future.

6

Joining me today is Jeanette Muldoon,

a brilliant trainer, behaviorist,

7

and co-founder of Easy Peasy Puppy

Training and the Family Dog Club.

8

Jeanette's known for her calm,

clear, and kind approach to helping

9

families raise confident connected

puppies without all the overwhelm.

10

Whether you've just bought home an eight

week old whirlwind, or you are preparing

11

for your future pup, this episode is full

of helpful insight, encouragement, and

12

realistic advice to get you through the

puppy phase and to help you enjoy it too.

13

So grab a cup of tea, settle

in, and let's get started.

14

Jeanette, welcome to the Yappy

Hour, powered by Yappily.

15

How are you doing today?

16

Jeanette Muldoon: Thank you.

17

How are you?

18

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: you?

19

Very well.

20

Very, very well.

21

Thanks so much for coming on.

22

I'm really looking forward to this

episode and it's about one of my favorite

23

subjects or topics, and that's puppies.

24

Jeanette Muldoon: Yeah.

25

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

absolutely.

26

Love the puppies.

27

So we're gonna be chatting about

how we can help our new puppy

28

parents take a breath and feel seen.

29

So thanks for being here and yeah,

I'm excited to chat with you today.

30

Alright, so before we dive into puppy

chaos, can you first tell us our listeners

31

just a bit about your own journey into

dog training and, you know, you why

32

you chose to focus on puppies as well?

33

Jeanette Muldoon: Yeah.

34

So we, me and my husband Gav,

35

A beautiful Staffie called Apache.

36

And he very quickly

became our whole world.

37

So everything was based around him.

38

Every adventure, every holiday,

everything was around him.

39

So we became very, and then

it was always really hard to

40

leave him okay to go to work.

41

I really struggled and that,

so G's dad would come in and

42

walk him and everything for us.

43

Then we got to the point

where we had our first child.

44

So we had Isabella in 2010.

45

And everything changed for me overnight.

46

Literally, I was a, I was working in

pricing, I'm a qualified accountant.

47

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yes

48

Jeanette Muldoon: and overnight

I, everything changed.

49

So it no longer, I was no longer

ambitious in the sense of I wanted

50

to, you know, you know, to go high

in a career or anything like that.

51

I just absolutely love being a mum.

52

So I wanted to be at home as much

as possible and also just to create

53

a life where we, I could have

that really nice work life balance

54

where I still work, but I still get

to spend time with the children.

55

But also I get to spend a

lot of time with my dog.

56

He's actually found a dog

walking franchise and we bought

57

a dog walking franchise, so.

58

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

I didn't know that.

59

Jeanette Muldoon: Yeah.

60

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Okay.

61

Jeanette Muldoon: Yeah.

62

So Gab started and very quickly, so we,

63

And very quickly, because it was quite

new at the time we got very busy,

64

very quickly, as you can imagine.

65

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

66

Jeanette Muldoon: And we then employed

other dog walkers and did daycare.

67

But in the process of all of

this we also discovered the IMDT.

68

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yes.

69

Jeanette Muldoon: So we

did their two day course.

70

Turned everything that I

thought I knew upside down.

71

And then very quickly became

addicted to dog training.

72

So did every single course

possible that we could.

73

So the, the dog training side kind of went

alongside the walking and the daycare.

74

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

75

Jeanette Muldoon: We then over time became

very busy with the day the dog training.

76

So we were able to let the

walkers go out on their own.

77

We did, we still did daycare for a

while, but actually in the end, for

78

us, the, the issue with daycare was

that I didn't want to charge too much.

79

I felt bad charging too much, but at the

same time, I didn't want too many dogs.

80

So it was that whole, you

know, it was that conflict.

81

We were doing it breaking even really.

82

So we then were lucky enough to

be able to just do the training.

83

So we now run training classes.

84

Gav does the training.

85

So he is out Monday, Friday,

all day long training, walking

86

and Saturdays, bless him.

87

And then he runs a team on Sunday.

88

But so with the way that we went, I went

down the behaviorist route, then Gav

89

does a much, the more the training side.

90

And yeah, from day one, puppies

have always been my favorite.

91

It is never changed.

92

I'm still in, in week one in puppy class.

93

I'm still pathetic.

94

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah,

95

Jeanette Muldoon: still in

love with every single puppy.

96

But I think the thing for me is, is

I love working with new puppy owners

97

'cause they, I love working with

people, love working with people and

98

if you can help them to have a lovely

journey with their puppy and my job, I

99

feel, is to help the owner understand

what the puppy's trying to tell them.

100

'cause that to me is behavior.

101

They're trying to tell us something.

102

So I educate owners into what

their puppy's trying to tell them.

103

And then obviously the training

side as well and the management.

104

But puppies to me are like a sponge.

105

So there's so much you can do in those

first few months with those puppies

106

and it can make such a big difference.

107

That's where I, yeah, I love,

and don't get me wrong, I

108

do work with other clients.

109

I do behavior and everything

like that as well.

110

But puppies is my

111

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Is your

112

Jeanette Muldoon: absolute, yeah.

113

I love.

114

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

115

And your puppy, she's,

no, she's not a God.

116

She must be, what?

117

Three years old now?

118

If it

119

Jeanette Muldoon: She is two and a half.

120

But you would think she,

she is still like a puppy.

121

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Your little staffy puppy.

122

Yeah.

123

Jeanette Muldoon: Yeah.

124

I love her.

125

So we were, we were thinking about

along the lines of, 'cause g at some

126

point would like a gun dog to do his gun

dog training and stuff with, but she's

127

not grown up enough to have a puppy.

128

No, she, I absolutely

adore the pants off her.

129

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

130

Jeanette Muldoon: she's

like me an adore, basically.

131

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh, brilliant.

132

Well I did know a little bit about

your backstory 'cause obviously

133

we are local to each other and we

134

Jeanette Muldoon: Yeah.

135

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

as well, so that's lovely.

136

But it's just so nice to

hear people's like journeys.

137

And obviously you come from

a corporate background.

138

Like me, I was in banking, corporate

banking, you were in accountancy.

139

Jeanette Muldoon: Yeah.

140

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

it is just funny how we we

141

just flip and then we go

142

Jeanette Muldoon: Yeah.

143

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

a completely different

144

career working with dogs.

145

Jeanette Muldoon: Yeah, it, it is

bad and I've never looked back.

146

I think the thing that with dogs

is as well is I'm kind of, I like

147

to learn, so I like to be learning.

148

Yeah.

149

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Always

150

Jeanette Muldoon: Yeah.

151

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: I

152

Jeanette Muldoon: I always like

to learn and I feel like there's

153

always something new to learn with

dogs, you know, you are never at

154

a point where you know everything.

155

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

156

Jeanette Muldoon: there's always

things to learn and then there's

157

always that dog that is never, you

are like, well, you know, I haven't

158

heard of that happening anywhere.

159

And it, so it's a puzzle and yeah.

160

I love it.

161

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: I

love, I picked up on the point as well

162

is that a lot of people get into dog

training 'cause they think they're

163

solely working with dogs, but it's

164

Jeanette Muldoon: yeah.

165

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: it's the

166

Jeanette Muldoon: Yeah.

167

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: element.

168

You said you like working

with people, you have

169

Jeanette Muldoon: Yeah.

170

I love working with people.

171

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: you have

172

Jeanette Muldoon: Yeah.

173

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

people and like working with them

174

if you're getting into dog training

175

Jeanette Muldoon: Yeah, I've

worked with a few trainers that

176

have just come into the industry.

177

And their reason for doing it is

they don't like working with people.

178

And I have very quickly explained

that you are gonna, you may

179

experience burnout quite quickly.

180

And actually sometimes they're,

those roles the better off

181

in like in rescue center.

182

So you, you are working with the dogs,

you know or volunteer, you know, being

183

a daycare or something like that,

because actually no, you really, and

184

I think like you having a corporate

background means that, you know, I've

185

sat in meetings with CEOs, I spoke to

all different types of people I've been

186

spoken to in all different ways as well.

187

So you have a very wide range of

skills when it comes to people, and I

188

think that's really important as well.

189

You really have to understand and have

empathy when people are struggling.

190

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

191

Yeah,

192

Jeanette Muldoon: And I

want to make them feel good.

193

Like I want my clients to go away

thinking I've got this, I can do it.

194

And

195

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

196

No,

197

Jeanette Muldoon: yeah.

198

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

thought it was so important to

199

mention that and pick up on that

point about obviously you are dealing,

200

it's the human that pays the bill.

201

At the end of the day, you've gotta have,

202

Jeanette Muldoon: Yeah,

203

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

those skills to be able to interact

204

and communicate with the humans.

205

Jeanette Muldoon: the dogs are easy.

206

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

The dogs are easy.

207

Brilliant.

208

Well, thank you so much that, so

we're gonna be moving on to our

209

first section, which is all about

puppyhood expectations versus reality.

210

Jeanette Muldoon: Yeah.

211

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: let's

get real, Jeanette puppies are ado.

212

Adorable.

213

Cute, but they're exhausting.

214

Jeanette Muldoon: Yes.

215

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: do

you think people are often blindsided?

216

Jeanette Muldoon: I

217

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Personally,

218

Jeanette Muldoon: I think what

I tell it depends on whether or

219

not they've had a puppy before.

220

But most people I work with

haven't, they've, it is their

221

first time having a puppy.

222

Now we have all of these thoughts

and beliefs that have come from,

223

we don't necessarily know where

but as soon as you get a puppy,

224

these beliefs come out because we

hear similar things all the time.

225

You've gotta be able to

take food away from them.

226

You've gotta be able to

do this and that, and.

227

We dunno where it comes from,

but it's like society almost, you

228

know, and like a cultural thing.

229

So very quickly, I think what happens

is people go, okay, I want a puppy.

230

It tends to often start with,

especially if it's a family, they've

231

been somewhere and they've seen

another family with a dog, and then

232

they come in love with that dog.

233

So they think they're getting that dog.

234

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

235

Jeanette Muldoon: So, and then you see

all the videos on TikTok, on YouTube.

236

I mean my, you know, you can imagine what

my algorithms like, the similar as yours.

237

The amount of dogs I see is crazy.

238

And I love watching dog things

and things like that, but people

239

only tend to show the good stuff

240

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

241

Jeanette Muldoon: online.

242

So you see all these cute things and

you think, oh, it's gonna be wonderful.

243

We're gonna have this life.

244

Then you've got the media and nothing

against the media, but sometimes

245

some of the stories, you know, if you

wanna stress free life, have a dog.

246

No.

247

No, it doesn't work like that.

248

You'll get stressed before

you get the stress free load.

249

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

250

Jeanette Muldoon: but again,

it's these sort of things.

251

And I do say to people as well, you

have to realize that you do see a lot

252

of bombproof dogs outside, but a lot

of the dogs that can't cope with that

253

environment are also inside as well.

254

So we don't get a realistic

picture until we get a, a puppy.

255

So I think sometimes, and I did, as soon

as Gav gave me the green light to go

256

and get a puppy, I was on it, you know?

257

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

would you?

258

Jeanette Muldoon: Yeah.

259

He, but he, so this is before

I knew what I was doing.

260

When he said I could get a puppy, when

we had a Apache, I'd literally had

261

three or four lined up to go and see.

262

And he was like, absolutely not.

263

You're gonna do research.

264

He was the one that

stopped me, made me do it.

265

'cause I was quite impulsive

266

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Okay.

267

Jeanette Muldoon: because

I just wanted a puppy.

268

And luckily we did all the research

and we got, he was gorgeous and

269

stuff, but I think like, very

much like me, it's the excitement.

270

Once you know you can have a puppy, all

you can think about is all the good stuff.

271

And actually.

272

Home.

273

Then the reality goes,

ah, what do I do now?

274

You know, it,

275

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

It's a shock to system.

276

Jeanette Muldoon: it's a

ha shock to the system.

277

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: I like I

was chatting the other day, sometimes some

278

people say it's, it's harder than kids.

279

Obviously

280

Jeanette Muldoon: Yeah,

281

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

so I don't have kids, but

282

some people said it's harder.

283

It's like having kids again,

284

Jeanette Muldoon: yeah, yeah.

285

It definitely, it definitely is.

286

And I think having children, you are, you,

you know, you have a long time to prepare.

287

You get yourself ready.

288

There's like groups you can go to.

289

You do all the, I mean, with

both of mine, I did a lot of

290

research 'cause I like to learn.

291

So by the time I had my

children, I kind of knew.

292

I, I felt, I knew what I was,

you know, able to do, you

293

know, keep 'em alive anyway.

294

So, so when you, so having children

sometimes, and your body's prepared

295

as well as a female, you know,

your body knows that you are

296

gonna, there's gonna be change.

297

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm-hmm.

298

Jeanette Muldoon: Whereas with

a puppy, all of a sudden you've

299

got this whole new thing.

300

You can't put in a cupboard and go,

I'll worry about you next week, the

301

minute you bring that puppy home.

302

You are, your whole life

changes literally overnight.

303

And then there's different

factors, isn't there?

304

Like, as you know, like it depends

on the puppy, it depends on the

305

breed, depends where they live.

306

Depends how big the garden is.

307

There's so many different factors that

can yeah, make it quite hard work.

308

And then you've got the

sleep element as well.

309

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

310

Yeah.

311

Jeanette Muldoon: for a lot of

people, that is the hardest.

312

And, you know, don't get

me wrong, I like my sleep.

313

I don't need a lot of it,

but I do like uninterrupted

314

sleep, so I would that as well.

315

So I, I have empathy for my clients,

you know, that are getting up two, three

316

times a night and things like that.

317

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: I've

just got visions of putting a puppy

318

or a kid in a cupboard at the moment.

319

You can't, you, you can't do that.

320

Jeanette Muldoon: You can't.

321

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

so what would you say, or what

322

would you, what is something you

wish every new puppy Guardian knew

323

before even bringing in new puppy?

324

Jeanette Muldoon: Well in an ideal world,

and I do get a few, ideally they would

325

speak to someone like myself before

they even choose the breed of the puppy.

326

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

327

Jeanette Muldoon: so I could

recommend breed based on their

328

lifestyle, that sort of thing.

329

And then I would temperament go

with them to, you know, the litter

330

and choose the puppy for them.

331

But like I said, most of the time

what happens is actually people

332

get puppy and then they are,

they get the advice afterwards.

333

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

334

Jeanette Muldoon: I always say with

the people I do get there, I expect,

335

I say to them, have, have it in your

head that it's gonna be hard work.

336

Don't go in thinking it's gonna be fluffy

and flowers, because then actually,

337

if you're expecting it to be as hard

as this and it's not, then at least

338

you've got a little bit of, but if

you're expecting it to be really amazing

339

and you know that sort of thing, then

you, you are more likely to struggle.

340

Every puppy is different as well,

and that's what I have to be really,

341

you know, even within a lit of

puppies, like, you know, they've

342

all got different characters,

they're all different personalities.

343

There's gonna be different thing.

344

They're gonna have a different role.

345

So even within a lit of puppies, you

are gonna get differences as well.

346

So I was, you can't have too many pre

expectations is what I say to people.

347

So I tend to, a lot of the

time someone will get a breed

348

based on a dog that they know.

349

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

350

Jeanette Muldoon: Okay.

351

And that happens a lot.

352

So I got a cockapoo because my next door

neighbor's got a cockapoo, yet they bring

353

their cockapoo and they're a completely

different version of a cockapoo.

354

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah,

355

Jeanette Muldoon: and then they struggle.

356

And then that's difficult because

it's that expectations and reality.

357

And especially with children as well,

I find that, you know, I find not hard,

358

but I have a lot of empathy for those

children that had a certain expectation.

359

And then the reality is very different.

360

So yeah, people going into it,

I'd like, you know, to realize

361

that it's not gonna be easy.

362

Don't base go and learn about the breed,

363

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

364

Jeanette Muldoon: they 'cause That

will really help you to understand.

365

You know, if you get a spaniel,

they don't always sleep.

366

Things like, you know, if you're

getting a working breed, understand

367

they're more likely to want to work.

368

You know, you're gonna need a job.

369

If you get a herding breed.

370

They're more likely to nip the back

of the ankles when they get as tired.

371

So if you can have an understanding

of what you are getting rather than

372

based on one dog, it can just go in

there with much more information and

373

be much more prepared for that, that

puppy that you're getting and don't

374

Yeah, don't expect it to be all roses.

375

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

376

And also I, what I see is they

can, if they, if they, if they're

377

not first time dog owners or pet

378

Jeanette Muldoon: Yeah.

379

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

And they've com they always

380

compare it to their previous dog.

381

Jeanette Muldoon: Yeah, yeah.

382

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: And, and

383

Jeanette Muldoon: And often, yeah, and

let's be honest, I don't mean it like, it

384

sounds a bit morbid, and I don't mean it

like that, but often the dog was very old

385

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yes.

386

Jeanette Muldoon: and the very old

dog in a routine and things like that.

387

It's so much different to having a puppy.

388

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

389

Jeanette Muldoon: and you've also got the,

the process of grieving there as well.

390

I've worked with a few where

they, they want their own.

391

Yeah, they want their old dog, but

the new puppy is gonna take them time

392

to build that relationship and stuff.

393

So it's really important

that you're in a good place.

394

That's why I've got three

dogs, so I'm never with,

395

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

396

Wow.

397

Yeah.

398

Now,

399

Jeanette Muldoon: yeah.

400

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: won't,

we won't, won't me talk about that again.

401

Jeanette Muldoon: But

402

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

just, yeah, I was just

403

Jeanette Muldoon: yeah.

404

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

to work with a dog in front of you.

405

You can't compare it to your

previous dog, unfortunately.

406

Jeanette Muldoon: yeah.

407

Definitely.

408

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: like

what you said about the grieving, like

409

people do rush into it and they need

410

Jeanette Muldoon: Yeah.

411

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: and

412

Jeanette Muldoon: Yeah.

413

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah.

414

So how can people shift from

fixing in inverted commas problems

415

to building that connection?

416

Jeanette

417

Jeanette Muldoon: So.

418

I or so when you've got a puppy,

okay, what you need to really

419

establish is that you don't focus

on problems as such because your

420

puppy has no idea that they're doing

421

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: they're

422

Jeanette Muldoon: anything wrong as such.

423

And they expect, you know, they

don't, they've got no idea,

424

they're just doing what a dog does.

425

So you can do things like.

426

Set them up for success.

427

So to me, I want my puppy to have

an area where everything in there

428

is game for her to investigate.

429

Okay, if she picks something up,

I'm not gonna take it off her.

430

If she sniffs something, I'm not

gonna rush over and move it away.

431

I'm gonna move things away.

432

So that environment is puppy safe.

433

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Puppy

434

Jeanette Muldoon: It's

the same in the garden.

435

I want them to, I want her to have an

area where she can go in and she can

436

build her confidence and things like that.

437

Now, what you have to be really

careful of is, as an owner, you

438

don't focus on those negatives.

439

Okay?

440

So often, and again, and I'm not being

rude to the owners, because like I

441

said, I love working with people,

but sometimes you can go round and

442

there'll be a long list of things

that they don't want the puppy to do.

443

Now I try and change that

mindset of brilliant.

444

What do we want them to do instead?

445

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yes.

446

Jeanette Muldoon: But what also

are they doing that you love?

447

Because we, we miss that too many times

they'll be like, you know, I could.

448

When I'm there for the hour,

I can go, they're being

449

absolutely perfect right now.

450

And they're like, oh,

they're just sleeping.

451

I'm, I'm, they're just resting.

452

And I'm like, but that's what

you want more of, isn't it?

453

In this visitors and they're

resting, that's perfect, isn't it?

454

To see that as a really good positive.

455

And if they're not asleep, we

can reinforce it, you know?

456

So I try and change that

mindset of what do you love?

457

Even if you're just getting small

glimpses, let's write down all

458

the positives about your puppy,

459

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: because

460

Jeanette Muldoon: otherwise we

can just get into those negatives

461

and it becomes a negative feedback

cycle where they just frustrate you.

462

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

463

Jeanette Muldoon: So love about them,

what, what they do, and then just look

464

for those little glimpses of when they

are being what you want 'em to do.

465

Obviously I don't use any

correction, any punishment.

466

I'm gonna manage the situation.

467

So if I don't want my dog to nick my

sandwich, my puppy and they're young

468

and they don't understand, and I

haven't taught them any sort of food

469

manager, I'm gonna manage it so they

can't get to that sandwich rather than

470

let the sandwich and then get annoyed.

471

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: it.

472

Yeah.

473

Jeanette Muldoon: That sort of thing.

474

So it's all about, to me, when they're

first puppies, you manage the situation.

475

It's up to us to manage that situation,

to make sure they're not able to

476

rehearse the behaviors that we don't

want them to do, and then we train

477

them something, an alternative.

478

It just takes time.

479

And that's the thing.

480

We can't expect a puppy to come home

and we train them straight away.

481

There was an old kind of old school kind

of thingy that they're almost like robots.

482

And if you train them, they

will always do what they want.

483

You know, like say you often, you still

see an article, a dog's biting someone

484

and they say that dog's not trained.

485

Well, no, it's got nothing

to do with training.

486

It's the emotional side of the dog.

487

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah.

488

Jeanette Muldoon: But there's still

that kind of school of thought as well.

489

So yeah, so part of my job is to make

them see the really good stuff because

490

you would be surprised at how much, and we

all do it, we all focus on the negative.

491

You know, they might have done one thing

that day that's really frustrating.

492

They might have done 20 amazing

things, but we focus on that one

493

thing that we didn't want 'em to do.

494

You know,

495

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

496

That's it.

497

And also they're not

meaning to do it either.

498

Jeanette Muldoon: no, no,

499

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: thing.

500

They're not doing it on

501

Jeanette Muldoon: no,

502

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Like

503

Jeanette Muldoon:

they're just being a dog.

504

They're literally just being a dog.

505

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: And

506

Jeanette Muldoon: It's the.

507

No.

508

Exactly, and it's the same with children.

509

You know, we shouldn't be telling, we

should be guiding children rather than

510

telling them off when they're young.

511

You know, when they're at an age where

they do understand, then obviously you can

512

say to them, you know, that's not okay.

513

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm-hmm.

514

Jeanette Muldoon: when they're young

and they don't understand, it's

515

for us to guide them and show them

how to kind of do those things.

516

So it's the same with our dogs.

517

It's not for us to tell them off.

518

They're not doing it to

be, you know, naughty.

519

Even though

520

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: That's

521

Jeanette Muldoon: it might feel like,

522

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

523

It might feel

524

Jeanette Muldoon: yeah,

525

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

but a lot of the times we're probably

526

kind of gonna be coming onto it.

527

Oh yeah.

528

We are actually like,

they're tired and they

529

Jeanette Muldoon: yeah.

530

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: they

531

Jeanette Muldoon: Yes.

532

Yeah, yeah.

533

And that's what, sorry, I was

say in a minute about the,

534

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

535

Jeanette Muldoon: I was just saying.

536

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Go over my lovely.

537

Jeanette Muldoon: So they always, it

makes me laugh that, you know, when

538

they're tired, when they're looking at

you, when they've got their mouth around

539

the one thing that you don't want them

to do, and you know that they're tired at

540

that point and their eyes are like this.

541

And I'll always say, they're not doing

it to be, they just know that they're

542

gonna get your attention and they, they

can't regulate themselves at the moment.

543

Again, they're looking for connection.

544

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

545

Jeanette Muldoon: So

546

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

547

Jeanette Muldoon: but it's hard to get.

548

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: It is.

549

Yeah.

550

Well, let's move on then to

those, like those first few weeks.

551

Then, you know, sleep

deprivation, they need sleep.

552

They

553

Jeanette Muldoon: Yeah.

554

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

necessarily need, it's their

555

first few weeks at home.

556

What actually matters.

557

So what do you recommend to guardians

that they should focus on during

558

that crucial first week at home

559

Jeanette Muldoon: So for me, the

first week's all about safety.

560

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

561

Jeanette Muldoon: about making

them feel safe within that home.

562

So I, again, like I said, I'm

gonna set them up for success.

563

I don't want to bring a puppy home

and then constantly telling them they

564

can't touch that they can't have that,

they can't do this because I want

565

them to feel really safe and secure

to know that they can explore in my

566

home and they're not gonna be grabbed,

pulled away, that sort of thing.

567

So safety to me is huge.

568

I would like, I would definitely

practice reflex the name.

569

So say their name, give them some food.

570

If they offer me a set.

571

Then brilliant.

572

I'm gonna reinforce that.

573

Okay.

574

I'm gonna reinforce the stuff

that I do see, but I'm not

575

gonna go in and go, right.

576

I want 'em walking on a lead.

577

I want 'em doing this.

578

Like, that's, at that point,

it's not important to me.

579

I want them to be, had to have full

access to me at all times as well.

580

So that connection again I'm not

looking to work on the separation

581

stuff, especially for the first

few days where they've come away

582

from all they've ever known.

583

I want 'em to have full access to

a human at all points before we

584

start to build up those things.

585

And this is where it can get really quite

hard for puppy owners in that this is

586

where sometimes the comments come in.

587

Well if you, if you don't leave them

straight away, they're, or you're

588

making a rod for your own back and

all those sort of things, you know.

589

And it's just trying to

say no, it'd be fine.

590

The safer the puppy feels, the easier

it is gonna be to leave them later on.

591

And especially as, I mean, you know,

like poodle mixes they're very popular

592

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah,

593

Jeanette Muldoon: they're

very sensitive dogs.

594

Really?

595

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

four, four Peles.

596

Jeanette Muldoon: Yeah.

597

Yeah.

598

And they're very sensitive to change.

599

So the change from where they've

known to your home takes 'em

600

a little while to adjust.

601

You know, if you were to then leave

a poodle or a poodle mix within

602

those first few days, you, you

know, they are not gonna feel safe.

603

So for me it's all about safety.

604

And then start to work on little

bits of like, maybe I might

605

start a little bit of recall.

606

But if I call them and they come to

me again, I'm gonna reinforce it,

607

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: It.

608

Jeanette Muldoon: but I'm not gonna have

like a training plan in that first week.

609

It's all about just adjusting

610

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: just

611

Jeanette Muldoon: and just, yeah.

612

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: all.

613

Getting used

614

Jeanette Muldoon: to both, you

know, us getting used to them and

615

them getting used to us as well.

616

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

617

Well, they've

618

Jeanette Muldoon: and that sort of

619

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

away from like their siblings,

620

their mom, they've got this new

scary place, different sounds,

621

Jeanette Muldoon: Yeah.

622

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: So it's,

623

Jeanette Muldoon: Hundred percent.

624

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

safety first, isn't it?

625

And

626

Jeanette Muldoon: Yeah.

627

With Missy, she was in a fear

period, so and we noticed that within

628

a few hours of having her hair.

629

So we just kept her in

the front room really.

630

We just made sure it was completely

puppy proof, put blankets down,

631

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm-hmm.

632

Jeanette Muldoon: and just

stayed there with her until she

633

was happy to go off and explore

634

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

635

Jeanette Muldoon: other areas.

636

Luckily where we've got other

dogs, we could still do a little

637

bit of toilet training 'cause

she would happily follow them.

638

But yeah, it was very much about

making her feel safe and no.

639

Yeah, you wouldn't figure

640

She is a diva.

641

I love her.

642

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

bless her.

643

I love it.

644

sure.

645

She's not a poodle.

646

My poodles are divas and drama queens.

647

Jeanette Muldoon: She,

she's, yeah, she cracks well.

648

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

bless her.

649

Love her.

650

So what are your thoughts then,

Jeanette, on crate training?

651

Puppy zones and sleep routines?

652

Jeanette Muldoon: So I, every puppy to

me needs to have a safe space, a den.

653

I, I do crate train.

654

Personally, I think it's

a very good thing to do.

655

I think for any dog, you never know

the amount of puppies that do break a

656

limb and end up on crate rest anyway.

657

And it is much better for them if

they are used to that environment.

658

But at the same time, I don't

re, I don't get head up on it.

659

If, for example, I'm working with

a golden retriever and it's in

660

the summer, I will often say they

prefer a cold kitchen floor often.

661

And a crate for a retriever can

actually be, you know, 'cause they

662

can't move around in it and stuff.

663

It's just the one breed.

664

I do find sometimes you're better

off leaving the crate door open.

665

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Okay.

666

Jeanette Muldoon: With our setup,

I always have a crate within a pen.

667

The crate door open.

668

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah.

669

Jeanette Muldoon: But at nighttime, I'd

shut the crate door because obviously I'm

670

not there and I don't want anything to

happen without me being there and stuff.

671

But I also have, I'm quite

strict with the kids.

672

They're not allowed to go in that pen,

673

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: right?

674

Jeanette Muldoon: so

that is her safe space.

675

So no going, yeah, yeah.

676

She can come and ask to come out.

677

He or she, you know, whatever puppy.

678

And then we'd, we have a cushion

there and then they can come out.

679

But we don't let the kids go in

that area 'cause it's a safe space.

680

And Missy, even now at two and a half,

she quite happily, she'd take herself

681

off quite often and go in her crate.

682

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

That's good.

683

Jeanette Muldoon: and actually

she doesn't need a crate now, but

684

it doesn't hurt at the same time.

685

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm-hmm.

686

Jeanette Muldoon: I know if I go out

for a few hours, she's quite happy and

687

she'll curl up in there, you know, so,

688

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

No, I love

689

Jeanette Muldoon: yeah.

690

So I think every puppy

needs a, a safe space.

691

They need a place they can chill.

692

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

693

Jeanette Muldoon: This is,

again, sometimes with owners.

694

I will, they will have in their head,

where is a good place for the, for pup.

695

So it's often where there's a flaw that it

can be easily mocked and things like that.

696

But I then have to say to the

people sometimes, like, that's

697

probably not the safest feeling

area of your puppy to start with.

698

If you're looking at a kitchen, you've

got noises, fridge, that sort of thing.

699

If you're in a conservatory area,

there's a lot of windows, a lot of doors.

700

Our pet is always in the front room

next to our sofa, so whenever she

701

chilled, go and grab a cup and sit

next to her just to get used to it.

702

But even there are times now you can

imagine two and a half year old Staffie

703

where she's in a high state of arousal

not guilty and she just needs to chill.

704

So I give her a tube

and pop her in there and

705

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Sometimes they can, yeah.

706

Jeanette Muldoon: yeah.

707

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

they can't do that self-regulation.

708

They just need to be

709

Jeanette Muldoon: Yeah,

710

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

with a chew, just some

711

Jeanette Muldoon: yeah, definitely.

712

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

713

Yeah, go on my lovely.

714

Jeanette Muldoon: sorry, I carry on.

715

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: So yeah.

716

And what about the sleep then?

717

Because no, they don't realize that

they need about 18 to 20 hours.

718

Is that still the

719

Jeanette Muldoon: Yep.

720

Yeah, so they need a lot of sleep.

721

It does depend on the puppy.

722

They do need a lot of sleep.

723

I should have said this actually,

so initially as well with sleep.

724

So I always have safe space, but I

also would recommend having a crate

725

by the bed or sleeping downstairs.

726

So the way we do it is Gav

sleeps downstairs on the sofa.

727

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

of nights.

728

Jeanette Muldoon: Yeah.

729

So pops in her in the pen and crate area

and then Gav sleeps down there with her.

730

So she wakes up, he can

get her straight aside.

731

But she also, because we've got our

other dog, Ruby, she very quickly

732

was okay being on her own downstairs.

733

For some dogs, especially like

poodle mixes, you, you've got a good

734

few months probably before there

735

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

736

Jeanette Muldoon: or like, or never.

737

But they want to, you

know, it's that safety.

738

So it's important that actually

we don't leave them, you know, and

739

we don't just leave them at night

to cry out or anything like that,

740

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm-hmm.

741

Jeanette Muldoon: are there for them.

742

But yeah, definitely having a

safe space in a area where they

743

can settle is really important.

744

For the one thing with sleep

to be really important remember

745

is arousal affects sleep.

746

So if your dog's in a high state of

arousal, you are actually gonna struggle

747

for them to go to sleep, apparently.

748

'cause I don't go to the gym.

749

It's like going to the gym, coming

home, and then trying to sleep.

750

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

751

Jeanette Muldoon: No

752

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Your body's just full of like

753

Jeanette Muldoon: adrenaline.

754

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

755

Jeanette Muldoon: Yeah, so they,

if you've been throwing a ball or

756

something like that and they're in

a high state of arousal, they're

757

less likely to be able to settle.

758

So I tend to teach owners a bit of a

routine of, if they're in a high state

759

of arousal, do a little bit of training,

nothing too taxing on the brain, and

760

then finish with some little food on the

floor, calm them down, and if they need

761

to chew, Missy has to tear something up.

762

So she shreds typical terrier.

763

She'll just give her a wrapper

or something, she'll shred

764

it and then she'll sleep.

765

Whereas, and, or a chew, you know,

766

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah.

767

Jeanette Muldoon: but she's less,

she's not bothered about chews anymore.

768

It's much more about the wrappers.

769

So yeah, yeah.

770

So every dog's different.

771

But they need that kind of self-soothing,

a way to be able to soothe themselves

772

to be able to lower their arousal so

they can actually be able to sleep.

773

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

774

Jeanette Muldoon: So yeah,

so it is just important.

775

What you don't wanna be doing

is running around with puppy,

776

puppies biting everyone.

777

You think they're really tired

and popping away with nothing.

778

They need something

779

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

780

Jeanette Muldoon: to soThe themselves.

781

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

782

And sometimes they might be that little

bit more bitty because they are tarded.

783

It's like children, apparently

784

Jeanette Muldoon: Yeah.

785

So, yeah.

786

Do you want me to talk

about puppy biting or

787

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: on.

788

Yeah,

789

Jeanette Muldoon: subject?

790

So puppy biting is normal.

791

That's what I always get in.

792

As soon as you know, with owners,

there are situations I have

793

worked with aggressive puppies.

794

I don't like to label 'em so puppies

with showing aggression, sorry,

795

rather than aggressive puppies.

796

So I never fob anyone off when they say

to me my puppy is showing aggression.

797

Okay.

798

'cause I have worked with

situations where it's been linked

799

to like resource guarding, pain,

anxiety, those sort of things.

800

But if it's that situation,

then it's really important

801

to work with a professional.

802

But at the same time, puppy biting

can at times feel like extreme

803

aggression and you can feel like

your puppy wants to kill you.

804

And, but again, that's quite normal.

805

It's high arousal state.

806

So first thing in the morning,

high arousal, the world's woken up.

807

It's exciting.

808

Often puppies haven't had enough

sleep, so very quickly they

809

will get bity in the morning.

810

And that's where a routine can

come in really handy at that point.

811

So I tend to use like dressing gown

ties at that time in the morning.

812

To have a play with them.

813

They, something they can really get

their teeth into because it needs to

814

be as inviting as my hands and my legs.

815

Fluffy slippers, you are walking

around with two toys on your feet like.

816

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

817

Jeanette Muldoon: But yeah, just

do a little bit of play with them.

818

And then again, I do some

training and then I always

819

give a puppy something to do.

820

So whether it's a snuffle mat or

a Kong or something like that,

821

while I then go and get ready, if

822

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: there's

823

Jeanette Muldoon: one downstairs and

they worry about being on the sales,

824

I'll just bring it upstairs with me

while I get ready, that sort of thing.

825

But I always give them something.

826

And then often what you tend to

find is after that they, depending

827

on how old they are in those first.

828

Few weeks, they'll often go back to sleep.

829

As they get older, they might just

need a little walk or something

830

or a bit more training, and

then they'll go back to sleep.

831

Then during the day, again, it is

when they can't regulate themselves.

832

So it is that arousal again.

833

It can be tired, so they've done a lot.

834

You know it can be that they've been

chilled all morning and you have a visitor

835

and within 10 minutes they are biting.

836

Because it is just a massive change,

huge change in arousal, but it doesn't

837

always mean that they need to go to sleep.

838

They just often need quiet time.

839

So if, if we are out and about, if I'm

out and about of a puppy owner, sometimes

840

when they get into that overstimulated

state, they're grabbing hold of the lead.

841

Sometimes just taking them off and

actually just sitting down with

842

them for a bit and cuddling, you

know, nice calm affection and things

843

like that can actually really help.

844

And then they can regulate themselves

again to be able to carry on.

845

So it, it does matter if your

dog isn't getting, if your puppy

846

isn't getting enough sleep,

847

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: they're

848

Jeanette Muldoon: very bity.

849

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: mm-hmm.

850

Jeanette Muldoon: and it's

gonna be a lot harder work.

851

And then you've got the whole,

this is where it's really difficult

852

with children that are at school

because they come home from school,

853

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh yeah.

854

Jeanette Muldoon: they

bought tea puppy, okay.

855

They're really excited to see puppy.

856

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: it up.

857

Jeanette Muldoon: Yeah, the

environment literally just changed.

858

As soon as a kid comes in, everything

changes, especially at school bag.

859

So and so, and their mom normally is doing

this, that, you know, you're cooking.

860

It just gets crazy normally

if you've got kids.

861

So very quickly, puppy goes up here and

then very quickly puppy wants to bite.

862

So in those situations, I always say to

people, if you've got children, if you

863

can get 'em into a routine, we come in,

we get a pot of treats, we train the

864

pup, and we get into that kind of routine

rather than that high arousal running

865

around, chasing and stuff like that.

866

And then you've got what we call like

the witch an hour in the evening where

867

they are mental often and they, the, the

mistake you can make is assuming that

868

zoomies means they have energy rather

than that they're about to collapse.

869

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

As well, zoom, but it,

870

Jeanette Muldoon: yeah, I

always say stay out of the way.

871

Missy will leave and do

it now at two and a half.

872

I've only gotta say to her,

go, and she'll probably go.

873

But she loves it.

874

She finds it funny, but they, the

zoomies means I'm at the end of

875

my kind of, I'm about to collapse

and go to sleep or just chill.

876

They can often get a massive

rush of energy afterwards

877

with a stressful situation.

878

So you tend to find a lot of puppies.

879

If they're socializing, they

will have the zoomies halfway

880

through or something like that.

881

Just because it was a stressful

situation, they coped and then

882

boom, I need to run this off.

883

But yeah, you want to, with the

zoomies, let them have it get out

884

of their way, then bring everything

down, but don't take anything up.

885

If you take it up, you are

kind of, you are gonna struggle

886

to get that puppy to sleep.

887

And then again, don't make the mistake

of keeping puppy up thinking you are

888

gonna have longer in the morning.

889

Once they're tired, let them sleep.

890

Same with babies.

891

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

892

Jeanette Muldoon: And,

893

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: when

I was training, when, when I was doing

894

a lot of in-person training I was

telling people to do a sleep diary and

895

then they, they couldn't, they couldn't

believe the, the lack of sleep the puff

896

Jeanette Muldoon: Yeah.

897

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

by recording it, or they're like, oh

898

yeah yeah, he gets loads of sleep.

899

I'm like, what, like 18 to 20 hours

sleep or rest time and do a diary.

900

Then they couldn't believe like, it's like

901

Jeanette Muldoon: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

902

And then, and then you tend to

find, with a lot of clients I work

903

with that just getting the dog into

a routine and getting more sleep

904

can resolve so many of the issues.

905

Even things like picking things up,

you know, like dogs at a tire will just

906

pick things up endlessly when they're

out on a walk and stuff like that.

907

And it's, but it's also getting

'em to understand that, you know,

908

certain breeds, spaniels love them.

909

Need context, it's sleep time.

910

You know, I tend to with us, but I would

always recommend if you've got a really

911

worky spaniel, they would literally stay

by your side and go what we're doing,

912

what we're doing, what we're doing.

913

It's really important to have somewhere

that says to them, it's chill time.

914

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah,

915

Jeanette Muldoon: these dogs you do

need to grab a cup and chill with them.

916

You know, you can't go and

do the hoovering 'cause

917

they wanna help you Hoover.

918

Again, that's, it is really important and

a lot of the time with Spaniels love them.

919

It is literally because they're overtired.

920

And not all, but, and some dogs just like

children can't cope with being tired.

921

They, their behavior becomes

very toddler like, is a way to

922

get people to understand it.

923

You know?

924

They just dunno what to do.

925

They'll throw things around,

they'll just leap on you.

926

There, there's no

thought process going on.

927

And it's often just

because they are tired,

928

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm-hmm.

929

Jeanette Muldoon: love them.

930

Yeah.

931

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: So

we've spoken about biting and, and wow.

932

I don't wanna call him problem

behaviors, but it's what.

933

Jeanette Muldoon: It's

what owners call them.

934

Yeah.

935

Yeah.

936

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

So we've spoken about Biden.

937

So what about barking?

938

How can people handle barking in a

de developmental appropriate way?

939

Jeanette Muldoon: So barking.

940

The important thing is, is to understand

that there's different reasons for

941

them to bark and to establish that, you

know, what those different reasons are.

942

So for example, if I was outside

with a puppy and they started

943

barking at an object, then

they're worried about that object.

944

So I'm gonna do the whole thing of

they're probably on a long line.

945

I'll put some treats where they are.

946

I might go towards the

object might touch it.

947

I never take an object towards

a puppy and I never force 'em

948

to come towards something.

949

But that barking to me,

they need reassurance.

950

Okay?

951

I need to let them know that they're

safe and that they're okay if they

952

are barking because they had a noise.

953

Again, I, you know, I'm

gonna reassure them.

954

It's okay.

955

Thank you.

956

You know, acknowledge

that they've let me know.

957

We've got a guardian breed blue,

so barking is, you know, it is,

958

it wouldn't be fair on him to,

for him to not be able to bark.

959

He's a guardian breed, you know, that's

his then if they're barking during play

960

and things like that, I tend to try

to maybe do something else rather than

961

reinforcing that barking at that moment.

962

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: because

963

Jeanette Muldoon: you, it

might become their go-to when

964

they're in a high arousal state.

965

Some folks in a high arousal state,

so as soon as they're in high arousal,

966

they just bark, it becomes their go-to.

967

And for some owners that's absolutely

fine, but other owners, maybe

968

they're a bit noise sensitive.

969

They really struggle with that.

970

So it's definitely worth if

they're barking at me with play or

971

something like that, I'm not gonna

reinforce that and play with them.

972

I'm just gonna walk off and

ask them to do something else.

973

I might say, come over this

way, or something like that.

974

But I don't wanna reinforce the barking.

975

It's the same.

976

If they're socializing and

they're barking, I'll probably

977

stop the play at that point.

978

Again, I'm not gonna tell them off.

979

I'm not correcting them.

980

I'll just ask them to come

away just 'cause I don't wanna

981

reinforce that barking as such.

982

But it's really important to

know why they're barking rather.

983

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

a reason.

984

Jeanette Muldoon: Yeah, a hundred percent.

985

Like if they're looking at an object

and something's worrying them, it's

986

actually quite cruel if we just drag

them past it, you know, and we don't.

987

Don't acknowledge the fact that

at that moment they were quite

988

worried about that situation,

989

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah.

990

Jeanette Muldoon: And that sort of thing.

991

But if you, you know, a lot of

people will, I will get in touch

992

with me, my dog barks a lot, and I'm

like, right, what have you tried?

993

And I say, I say no.

994

And I'm like, okay, how long

they've been doing it, mum?

995

Okay, it hasn't worked, does it?

996

No, I'm like, you're just saying

that for your benefit, it's

997

not actually working your job.

998

But it's, it's un like I

say, it's understanding the

999

why is the most important.

00:38:28,686 --> 00:38:29,916

Missy will bark.

00:38:30,006 --> 00:38:35,016

She, she thinks she's every breed

going, every part of the pre motor

00:38:35,556 --> 00:38:36,906

pattern, everything, honestly love.

00:38:38,253 --> 00:38:41,163

But if blue barks,

Missy will bark as well.

00:38:41,163 --> 00:38:42,483

And again, I don't turn her off.

00:38:42,483 --> 00:38:43,803

I'm just saying, okay, thank you.

00:38:43,930 --> 00:38:44,220

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

00:38:44,223 --> 00:38:47,977

Jeanette Muldoon: And then I'll say

but for her reassurance works blue.

00:38:48,397 --> 00:38:49,147

You insult him.

00:38:49,147 --> 00:38:51,307

If you reassure him, he's

just alerting you, you know.

00:38:51,517 --> 00:38:54,817

But for Missy, just a, you know,

reassurance works at that moment, I

00:38:54,817 --> 00:38:56,977

just call her over to me, give her a

cuddle, and then she'll stop barking.

00:38:57,310 --> 00:38:57,710

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

00:38:58,580 --> 00:38:58,910

brilliant.

00:38:59,690 --> 00:39:00,049

great.

00:39:00,049 --> 00:39:03,110

So we're gonna be moving on to our

next section all about socialization.

00:39:03,110 --> 00:39:04,400

So you touched on it just then.

00:39:04,400 --> 00:39:05,840

It was a nice segue into it.

00:39:05,840 --> 00:39:09,140

So socialization without the overwhelm.

00:39:09,799 --> 00:39:13,370

So socialization is such a buzz word,

00:39:14,417 --> 00:39:14,637

Jeanette Muldoon: Yes,

00:39:14,960 --> 00:39:16,820

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

but it's often misunderstood.

00:39:17,600 --> 00:39:17,720

do

00:39:17,767 --> 00:39:17,988

Jeanette Muldoon: it.

00:39:18,980 --> 00:39:19,400

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Hmm?

00:39:19,430 --> 00:39:21,440

How do you explain it to your clients?

00:39:21,908 --> 00:39:25,087

Jeanette Muldoon: So for me,

socializing is in having positive

00:39:25,087 --> 00:39:29,138

experiences around different

stimuli in different environments.

00:39:29,497 --> 00:39:30,877

But they must be positive.

00:39:31,237 --> 00:39:36,067

It can't be, I don't want my dog to go to

the park, have three good interactions,

00:39:36,067 --> 00:39:37,567

and then a negative interaction.

00:39:37,977 --> 00:39:41,817

I want to be fully aware, I want

to build up my socializing in

00:39:41,817 --> 00:39:45,387

terms of a plan that, okay, we're

gonna have an experience today.

00:39:45,777 --> 00:39:49,377

And then as soon as we've done that

experience you know, like maybe we've

00:39:49,377 --> 00:39:53,577

gone near a railway or something like

that at distance where a puppy could

00:39:53,577 --> 00:39:57,267

cope, do a few treats, have a little

bit of time there, and then we go home.

00:39:57,327 --> 00:39:59,367

That's socializing to me, ticking the box.

00:39:59,727 --> 00:40:04,917

If I go to the park and there's too many

dogs, I can't watch the body language

00:40:04,917 --> 00:40:08,697

of my puppy and guarantee that they're

actually enjoying that interaction.

00:40:08,997 --> 00:40:12,297

Now, when it comes to me

socializing puppies, I do it

00:40:12,297 --> 00:40:14,127

on a very individual basis.

00:40:14,217 --> 00:40:16,382

So I don't have one size fits all.

00:40:16,654 --> 00:40:17,074

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm-hmm.

00:40:17,262 --> 00:40:20,022

Jeanette Muldoon: It will completely

depend on the puppy and what I see.

00:40:20,412 --> 00:40:22,392

So I use my dog Ruby.

00:40:22,732 --> 00:40:23,962

She's amazing with puppies.

00:40:23,962 --> 00:40:25,042

She absolutely adores them.

00:40:25,222 --> 00:40:29,572

But I'm going to socialize a

confident Labrador very differently

00:40:29,572 --> 00:40:32,392

to what I am, a nervous cava poop.

00:40:32,542 --> 00:40:32,842

Okay.

00:40:32,872 --> 00:40:35,722

I'm gonna do very different

things with the confident lab.

00:40:35,962 --> 00:40:39,412

I'm going to man the long line, let

them go up and Ruby's brilliant, she'll

00:40:39,412 --> 00:40:40,732

like move away and stuff like that.

00:40:40,732 --> 00:40:43,282

And then depending on what

the lab does would be depend.

00:40:43,492 --> 00:40:46,462

So if it's nice interactions,

quite calm, you know, maybe goes

00:40:46,462 --> 00:40:47,632

into a playbill, that's cool.

00:40:47,632 --> 00:40:49,042

I'd let that interaction happen.

00:40:49,382 --> 00:40:49,472

If.

00:40:49,709 --> 00:40:49,929

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: if

00:40:50,442 --> 00:40:53,622

Jeanette Muldoon: The pup starts to jump

on Ruby, their arousal's gone too high.

00:40:53,832 --> 00:40:57,252

I might just hold the lead and then she'll

walk off and then we'll go for a walk.

00:40:57,282 --> 00:40:59,562

So the pup still gets the

interaction with dog, but they're

00:40:59,562 --> 00:41:01,332

not practicing jumping all over them.

00:41:01,762 --> 00:41:05,032

If they're a really nervous little

caba poo, I'll do it with a barrier.

00:41:05,242 --> 00:41:07,672

So I'll have ruby behind

one ba, the barrier.

00:41:07,672 --> 00:41:08,932

I'll just chuck some food on the floor.

00:41:08,932 --> 00:41:12,562

She'll completely ignore pup, and

then I'll let pup process at their

00:41:12,562 --> 00:41:15,412

own pace as to how quickly they

want to go and say hello to her.

00:41:15,752 --> 00:41:18,212

And then sometimes I might

even do an interaction at that

00:41:18,212 --> 00:41:19,662

point where I let Ruby out.

00:41:19,662 --> 00:41:22,542

Ruby's trained to focus on me, so

she'd ignore what the puppy's doing.

00:41:22,822 --> 00:41:25,792

So often they get to come up,

sniff her bum, run away, come up,

00:41:25,792 --> 00:41:28,792

sniff her, bum, run away, and then

second time the meat like rubs.

00:41:28,792 --> 00:41:31,982

They love her 'cause they're

like, oh, she's a so it's very,

00:41:31,982 --> 00:41:33,842

very individual to each dog.

00:41:34,637 --> 00:41:38,237

Some you are looking at gaining

more focus around other dogs

00:41:38,237 --> 00:41:41,237

because they just wanna be that dog

that plays with every single dog.

00:41:41,389 --> 00:41:41,809

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: mm-hmm.

00:41:42,077 --> 00:41:45,647

Jeanette Muldoon: you always have to have

in the back of your head, is what they're

00:41:45,647 --> 00:41:48,707

doing gonna be okay when they're big?

00:41:48,869 --> 00:41:49,289

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: mm-hmm.

00:41:49,997 --> 00:41:51,407

Jeanette Muldoon: you know,

are you gonna be okay with

00:41:51,407 --> 00:41:52,787

them running over and jumping?

00:41:52,787 --> 00:41:56,057

You know, you want to have in your

head at the beginning, okay, I wanna

00:41:56,057 --> 00:42:00,917

teach them, you know, to play with

dogs from the beginning in a nice way.

00:42:01,247 --> 00:42:07,037

And this is where we can't assume based

on their breed, that they're gonna be

00:42:07,037 --> 00:42:09,917

polite and thingy towards other dogs.

00:42:09,947 --> 00:42:13,547

Often some people can just assume that

I've got a certain breed, so they're gonna

00:42:13,547 --> 00:42:16,367

be friendly, but actually it's friendly.

00:42:16,367 --> 00:42:17,747

Do they listen to those cues?

00:42:17,747 --> 00:42:18,647

Do they break away?

00:42:18,647 --> 00:42:20,447

Because all of these things

are really important.

00:42:20,807 --> 00:42:24,347

I think socializing is the most

important out of all of it.

00:42:24,707 --> 00:42:27,917

But I, I also think you

can get it so wrong.

00:42:27,989 --> 00:42:28,279

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah.

00:42:29,222 --> 00:42:32,462

Jeanette Muldoon: For some it,

yeah, you, you can do more damage

00:42:32,462 --> 00:42:33,572

than good, if you know what I mean.

00:42:33,572 --> 00:42:36,212

So again, depending on the puppy.

00:42:36,212 --> 00:42:39,512

So if you've got a slightly

anxious puppy, do it really slowly.

00:42:39,572 --> 00:42:39,842

Do it.

00:42:39,842 --> 00:42:41,342

Really, really fragile.

00:42:41,522 --> 00:42:46,112

One dog at a time, preferably older dogs

that are not gonna be really bouncy.

00:42:46,392 --> 00:42:48,762

And if you've got friends with

dogs, go for a walk with them.

00:42:48,762 --> 00:42:52,542

That sort of thing, that, that's the way

to help a, a pup, you know, like that.

00:42:52,882 --> 00:42:56,542

When I do my talk in the Healthy

Pet Store, which I do once a month

00:42:56,542 --> 00:42:59,182

on a Saturday, I absolutely love.

00:42:59,212 --> 00:43:01,192

We, it is have quite a few times.

00:43:01,192 --> 00:43:03,622

The dog, the puppies come in

and they're really nervous.

00:43:03,622 --> 00:43:05,572

I just say to the owner, just

sit there and cuddle them.

00:43:05,572 --> 00:43:05,872

Okay.

00:43:05,969 --> 00:43:06,319

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: don't

00:43:06,442 --> 00:43:10,372

Jeanette Muldoon: have to do anything By

the end of it, it is amazing to see those

00:43:10,372 --> 00:43:14,902

puppies because we've allowed them that

time to actually go, oh, I might get down

00:43:14,902 --> 00:43:16,372

and I might just go and sniff that one.

00:43:16,372 --> 00:43:17,152

And then this one.

00:43:17,392 --> 00:43:22,852

And we had one pup in class who

we had a doberman who was, I love

00:43:22,852 --> 00:43:25,732

him, but he is really, really

wooty loving, really scared.

00:43:26,842 --> 00:43:31,802

And this tiny little dog was really

flirt, like being really sweet with him.

00:43:31,802 --> 00:43:35,372

And we actually let 'em have an

interaction and it was really sweet.

00:43:35,372 --> 00:43:38,822

And then just based on that one

interaction, he could then he was

00:43:38,822 --> 00:43:41,702

more comfortable with the other dogs

in class and then he was rocking it

00:43:41,702 --> 00:43:44,882

by, you know, he was the social one.

00:43:45,242 --> 00:43:49,682

So if you let them do it at their own pace

and we don't push them, we can really,

00:43:49,682 --> 00:43:51,662

really help to develop their confidence.

00:43:51,882 --> 00:43:54,792

But it's important that

it's done at their pace.

00:43:55,122 --> 00:43:56,592

And it's not about meeting every dog.

00:43:56,652 --> 00:43:58,302

It's not about playing with every dog.

00:43:58,842 --> 00:44:00,612

It's not meeting every person.

00:44:00,942 --> 00:44:06,582

It's being around those environments, but

again, it's not really fair on a Labrador

00:44:06,792 --> 00:44:11,142

or a retriever, a really social breed to

take them to a park where there's kids,

00:44:11,142 --> 00:44:15,162

dogs and people and not expect them to

want to say hello to everyone because,

00:44:15,702 --> 00:44:17,082

you know, they're bred to do that.

00:44:17,532 --> 00:44:22,002

So again, you know, breed plays

a massive part, but working with.

00:44:22,377 --> 00:44:27,327

A trainer for the first year can really

help you with all of that sort of thing.

00:44:27,327 --> 00:44:30,417

You know, I mean, I have clients

that are nervous to socialize, so

00:44:30,417 --> 00:44:31,797

I do all the socializing for them.

00:44:32,034 --> 00:44:32,574

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah.

00:44:33,777 --> 00:44:34,167

Jeanette Muldoon: yeah,

00:44:34,314 --> 00:44:34,884

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

I love that.

00:44:35,134 --> 00:44:39,064

You've mentioned some activities, but is

there any kind of act any other activities

00:44:39,064 --> 00:44:43,834

or experiences that you'd recommend for

So for socializing a puppy responsibly,

00:44:44,827 --> 00:44:48,937

Jeanette Muldoon: so just in

general anyway, so responsibly

00:44:49,187 --> 00:44:50,717

just be really careful.

00:44:50,957 --> 00:44:51,317

Don't.

00:44:51,707 --> 00:44:54,767

You've gotta be mindful that the

other person may say their dog is

00:44:54,767 --> 00:44:58,877

friendly, but their other dog may

not want to meet a puppy on that day.

00:44:58,877 --> 00:45:02,027

They might be in pain, they might be

tired, they might not like puppies.

00:45:02,327 --> 00:45:05,417

So just be really mindful

when there's an interaction.

00:45:05,417 --> 00:45:06,647

You are watching the whole thing.

00:45:07,037 --> 00:45:08,572

And I'm watching the older dog always.

00:45:09,317 --> 00:45:12,317

It's their body language I'm watching,

and if they wanna get away, it's really

00:45:12,317 --> 00:45:16,427

important that I manage that situation

and I, I move puppy away from them.

00:45:16,797 --> 00:45:18,507

But in general, socializing.

00:45:18,507 --> 00:45:22,377

So as a new puppy owner to me, what I

feel one of the most important things

00:45:22,377 --> 00:45:24,987

is to do is to sit down as a family.

00:45:24,987 --> 00:45:28,557

Or if you are on your own or with a

partner or whatever, sit down and work

00:45:28,557 --> 00:45:33,657

out what, what sort of lifestyle you have,

what you are gonna want your puppy to do.

00:45:33,687 --> 00:45:36,507

So are you a person that

goes into cafes a lot?

00:45:36,507 --> 00:45:38,307

Are you a person at coffee shops, pubs?

00:45:38,667 --> 00:45:43,437

Do you go, you know, do you travel over to

France, the island, those sort of things.

00:45:43,437 --> 00:45:45,147

Are you on a train a lot bus?

00:45:45,147 --> 00:45:48,537

Because actually what you need to

do then is tailor their socializing

00:45:48,867 --> 00:45:50,997

to help them with those situations.

00:45:51,297 --> 00:45:55,407

So for example, if I am, you know,

I like to go out and to have coffee.

00:45:55,737 --> 00:45:58,077

I'm going to wanna get my

dog used to coffee shops.

00:45:58,287 --> 00:46:01,392

I'm not gonna throw her in the deep end

and go to Costa, you know, that's busy.

00:46:02,727 --> 00:46:06,897

I am gonna go somewhere really quiet where

we can sit in a corner at a quiet time.

00:46:07,107 --> 00:46:07,797

She can have a two.

00:46:08,637 --> 00:46:08,997

Yeah.

00:46:09,177 --> 00:46:12,657

And then we'll gradually build it up

till the point where they are okay.

00:46:12,657 --> 00:46:13,857

Going in those situations.

00:46:14,007 --> 00:46:16,617

So that's a massive part

of socializing as well.

00:46:16,837 --> 00:46:20,527

If you are gonna go places where there

are gonna be a lot of dogs and you know,

00:46:20,677 --> 00:46:25,357

people then actually get your dog used to

not saying hello to every dog and actually

00:46:25,357 --> 00:46:28,357

when they see another dog, they can check

in with you and get a treat instead.

00:46:28,717 --> 00:46:32,317

So when I'm working with puppies, I'll

often, my aim will be to get down high,

00:46:32,407 --> 00:46:36,347

high street and no one can say hello

to Pup and that sounds really mean.

00:46:36,497 --> 00:46:39,222

But as a can get away with that

because I can turn around and say,

00:46:39,437 --> 00:46:43,007

when we're in training, I'm working

on focus rather than, and I'll

00:46:43,007 --> 00:46:47,577

say, I will walk back through, you

know I really want my pub, I want.

00:46:48,207 --> 00:46:51,927

To be able to cope in those situations

rather than not know what to do.

00:46:52,327 --> 00:46:56,737

And yeah, and puppy on puppy

socializing isn't the best.

00:46:56,957 --> 00:46:59,957

If we, in Cville we've got

some really good matches, we

00:46:59,957 --> 00:47:01,067

do let the puppy say hello.

00:47:01,067 --> 00:47:02,507

We have free second rule in the lead.

00:47:02,507 --> 00:47:04,157

Those sort of, we teach

a lot of body language.

00:47:04,157 --> 00:47:05,297

They all meet our dogs.

00:47:05,517 --> 00:47:08,247

So they do get the opportunity to

socialize and if we think there's

00:47:08,247 --> 00:47:11,367

good matches, we will often, you

know, let them have a little play and

00:47:11,367 --> 00:47:12,837

talk about body language and stuff.

00:47:13,047 --> 00:47:16,887

But if there's a big variety and

the personalities and stuff, it's

00:47:16,887 --> 00:47:19,107

just not worth putting them through.

00:47:19,257 --> 00:47:22,737

You know, something that they

may not enjoy as such very

00:47:22,737 --> 00:47:24,087

individual to each puppy.

00:47:24,087 --> 00:47:28,887

And I think socializing has been made

this big thing that is all about playing

00:47:28,887 --> 00:47:33,477

with other dogs, and that's not, it's

just about them feeling safe and secure

00:47:33,679 --> 00:47:34,099

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm-hmm.

00:47:34,287 --> 00:47:35,577

Jeanette Muldoon: other dogs and people.

00:47:35,844 --> 00:47:36,204

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

00:47:36,294 --> 00:47:36,624

I love

00:47:36,867 --> 00:47:37,927

Jeanette Muldoon: It's

my favorite thing to do.

00:47:38,544 --> 00:47:38,844

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah.

00:47:38,844 --> 00:47:39,774

Safe and secure.

00:47:39,774 --> 00:47:43,164

So how can the guardians avoid

accidentally overwhelming

00:47:43,374 --> 00:47:44,994