Takin' The Lead Foundational Pet Training

05/19/2026

Post 12 – The House Lead & “Isn’t That Collar Harsh?”

As Fancy Pants starts her journey of integrating into the house, our focus is twofold: continuing to build trust while also beginning to build communication and gently introduce the rules of living alongside humans.

For a dog who has grown up in a dump, with little to no human contact—and even less positive contact—this is a delicate balancing act.

The house lead gives us a way to guide her with low conflict and minimal pressure if she needs redirection. In the clip of hubs and the criiter watchin 30 Rock reruns, you’ll notice that fast movements—especially hands—still make her flinch, even if its "her" person. You’ll also see stress signals like lip licking afterward as she processes those moments.

Because of this, Fancy’s house lead is longer than I would typically use. It’s simply a flat strip with no handle (to prevent tangling), and she wears it anytime she’s exploring the house. This allows us to gently guide her without reaching toward her in ways that might feel threatening.

Now let’s talk about the collar.

Yes, it’s a martingale—and you’ll notice my big dog wears one too. These collars sometimes get labeled as “harsh” or even called a “baby choke chain.” And while some people do use them that way, that is not how they are used here.

For us, martingales are about safety, not correction.

All of my dogs wear them do so for one of two reasons:
• Dogs like Butters, whose neck is larger than their head, making it easy to slip a regular collar—especially if startled
• Dogs like Fancy, who are a flight risk in moments of panic

Every tool can be misused, thoughtful use with the animals wellbeing and safety at the forefront of the decision is key to ethical use.

There is also a truth that is uncomfortable, but important to say out loud—many stray dogs in Manitoba don’t just experience neglect. They experience violence. They are chased off, shot at, and sometimes don’t survive those encounters. Others lose littermates or live in a constant state of fear because of dog shoots and other culling practices.

So when you see a dog like Fancy react to sudden noises—like a gate slamming or a loud bang—it’s not an overreaction. It can be a learned survival response.

As we slowly expand her world, I need to know that if something triggers that panic, I can keep her safe.

Every martingale I use is properly fitted—meaning when fully tightened, it is the exact size of the dog’s neck, not smaller. This prevents any choking or correction pressure, while still ensuring the collar can’t be slipped in a moment of fear. The rest of the time, it sits loose and comfortable.

At the end of the day, my goal isn’t to control—it’s to support.

We cannot correct our way to safety.
We build safety through trust, clarity, and thoughtful guidance.

And slowly, gently, we help a dog like Fancy learn that the world—and the people in it—can be safe… and maybe even a little bit kind.

05/18/2026

***Please give a share**
My day job is having a very exciting promo in June, open to both clients AND NON CLIENTS! Options for our local littles are very limited when it comes to those needing a little assistance with basic husbandry like nail trims & tidy ups- we'd love to help. Give a call to book your space June 8, 15 or 22 for the first ever Monday Minis promo!

Mondays are for Minis-
Tiny toes, tidy tushies, big glow-ups!

Join us at Brandon Hill Vet Clinic on June 8, 15, or 22 (8am–4pm) for our Monday Mini spa day — made just for cats and small critters!

✨ $15 Nail Trims
✨ $30 Full Tidy (nails, paw shave & sani shave if species appropriate)
✨ Mat removal starting at $20

We know grooming options for our local pocket pets can be limited — and sometimes you just need a hand. That’s where we come in… because special friends deserve special care 💙

Open to current AND non-clients!
(Yes, your neighbour’s cat can come too… if they allow it.)

The fine print (aka the “don’t make it weird” section):
• This promo is for cats & pocket pets only (rabbits, rats, ferrets, guinea pigs, etc.)
• Dogs, birds, reptiles, and your “definitely just a cat” raccoon? Not invited, sorry :(
• Booking a Monday Mini does not automatically make you a veterinary client, we are currently on an intake freeze for new vet clients
• Appointment required — tell us what your tiny diva needs when booking

Call 204-728-2292 to book in. Spots are limited — because even minis deserve VIP treatment

Please share this post so all our small friends can hear the big news!

05/18/2026

Post 11 – Expanding Worlds

Today was finally the day. Just over a month in, and Fancy (yes… Muppet has officially been replaced) made her way downstairs to join the family!

What sounds like a simple milestone was anything but. Those stairs? Steep, curved, unfamiliar, and honestly… pretty scary. With patience, gentle luring, and lots of calm encouragement, she worked through it. It took multiple tries, but she did it—and the confidence boost was immediate.

Once down, both Fancy and Butters hit the jackpot with LOTS of high-value snacks, celebrating a really big win for fancy and creating really good associations for Butters.

Here’s the important piece: stress is NOT always the enemy.

The right kind of stress—introduced thoughtfully and at the right time—is actually what builds resilience and confidence. Growth doesn’t happen in total comfort. It happens when a dog feels safe enough to try, to engage, and to push just slightly past what was easy yesterday.

For fearful dogs especially, timing matters. They need to be in a space where curiosity is starting to outweigh fear—where they want to engage, not feel forced. That’s where real confidence is built.

And today, we saw that payoff.

Fancy hung out on the couch, watched TV, and everyone shared dinner on the main floor with zero issues or guarding. Huge.

Afterward, she chose to head back upstairs to rest and process—another important part of learning. Over the next few weeks, we’ll slowly transition to living more on the main floor, introducing potty training outside, and finally… learning the “rules of the house.”

Up until now, those rules have mostly been a secret. Our focus has been on feeling safe—getting comfortable with people and other pets, building feeding and kennel routines, and using p*e pads. And like any big life change, there have been progressions and regressions. That’s normal when your whole world is brand new.

For now:
• Couch sheets are on duty for muddy paws
• House leashes are in place to help guide choices
• Soon, we’ll start introducing basic manners

Stay tuned—progress may be slow and steady, but it is happening. And days like today? They’re everything.

05/13/2026

🚨 LAST CALL – 2 SPOTS LEFT 🚨
Reactivate Spring Session

Got a dog who has big feelings about… well… everything?
Dogs, people, noises, walks that turn into chaos? This class was built for you.

Reactivate isn’t a quick fix—and anyone promising that isn’t being honest. You won’t “cure” reactivity in 5 weeks.
But here’s what you WILL get:
✔ Clear, practical tools that actually make sense
✔ A better understanding of why your dog reacts
✔ Real-time coaching in a structured setting
✔ The ability to start changing your dog’s behavior through consistency

This is where progress starts—and what you do at home is what makes it last.

📅 May 19th start
⏰ 6:45–7:30 PM
📍 Paws Crossed Animal Shelter & Adoption Centre grounds

💡 Fundraiser class – registration is non-refundable
⏳ Registration closes Saturday

If you’ve been waiting for the “right time”—this is it.

📩 [email protected] for questions or to grab the last spot

04/29/2026

Post 10 – 2 Week Update

Two weeks ago, the wonderful Toni from WALA Westman Area Lost Animals trapped a tiny, fuzzy creature who had been surviving at the dump since puppyhood. And now? That same little gremlin is living her best slightly-chaotic, increasingly-fancy life indoors.

In just 14 days, she’s had a full glow-up: vetted, de-matted (goodbye dreadlocks, hello tiny legs), upgraded to premium dining (kibble = yes, wet food = absolutely not, how dare you), and accessorized with cozy beds and blanket nests reminiscent of the princess & the pea.

She’s met the resident cats, is being slowly introduced to the dog, and has claimed the upstairs as her kingdom—complete with lookout posts on top of her kennel and the printer stand. Obviously, elevation = power lol.

She has also earned herself a new name: Fancy Pants (sorry Toni Gramiak it’s sticking). Turns out when you discover personal preferences are an option, you become a little... opinionated.

And the biggest news of all…
Today, on her 2-week anniversary—we played.

Actual. Play.

I was so excited I almost missed getting it on video. (Also please ignore the current state of my house—“Dexter-esque muppet-proofing chic” is a temporary aesthetic, even more so now that we know p*e pads are used every time)

Now, did the toy squeak and immediately end the fun? Yes. Yes it did.
But still—this is HUGE. Play is trust. Play is confidence. Play is the beginning of personality coming out instead of just survival mode.

We’re not “done” (not even close):
She still startles with fast movement and loud noise.
She’s currently a “look, don’t touch” display model.
And while she’s a p*e pad professional, the concept of “outside bathroom” is… pending.

The progress so far though? Faster than expected. And a solid reminder:
the dog sets the timeline—not us.

So here’s to where we started, how far we’ve come, and all the work still ahead.

Happy 2 weeks, Ms. Muppet… aka Fancy Pants- or Fancy for short 😀

04/29/2026

Post 9 – Why Not Hand Feed?

I’m often asked why, when working with a largely unsocialized foster, I don’t hand feed every meal.

On the surface, it makes sense. Hand feeding can create quick, positive associations and encourage interaction. But in my experience, while it may produce fast results, it doesn’t build the kind of relationship I’m actually aiming for.

I’m in this for the long game.

Many of these dogs come in living in survival mode. They’re overwhelmed, unsure, and often not ready to engage. So instead of attaching pressure to something as essential as food, I prioritize making sure their needs are met in a way that feels safe and predictable—daily meals, served with zero expectation or interaction required.

That safety matters.

Now, that doesn’t mean I don’t use food as a tool—because I absolutely do. I’ll use treats or kibble to gently encourage a dog to step out, explore, or begin engaging. But I don’t believe every single meal should come with a requirement to “work” or interact to earn it.

I should note some dogs truly love working for their food—and when they’re ready for that, it’s fantastic enrichment. Readiness and genuine fulfillment from it is key.

Instead, I focus on paying for progress. Food first, then eventually play, praise, affection environmental and life rewards—those all become reinforcers for choices the dog makes when they feel safe enough to make them. In the early stages, food is often the highest value currency we have, so we use it thoughtfully.

Taking this approach may not lead to interaction in a matter of days the way forced hand feeding can. But what it does build is far more important:

Confidence.
Trust.
A sense of safety.

By offering choice instead of pressure, dogs decompress more effectively. They learn their needs will be met without expectation, and that interaction is something they can opt into—not something required for survival.

And that’s where real, lasting relationships begin.

As always, questions are welcome. This series is meant to be a resource for those interested similar situations.

04/26/2026

Post 7 – Days 7–10: Routine, Consistency, Predictability & Progress

Somewhere after that first week, things start to feel… a little less chaotic and a little more predictable (which, for dogs like this, is everything).

Dinner is served at 9:30pm—always in the kennel, lights out shortly after. Breakfast shows up around 6:30am, also in the kennel. And despite having full freedom overnight, every morning she’s right where you’d expect her: waiting quietly in her kennel like, “yes, I live here now.”

Before the humans are even functioning (shoutout to the 5:30am alarm), she’s already handled her business on the pads like an absolute professional.

On workdays, the kennel closes around 7:30am and stays that way until someone gets home mid-afternoon. And honestly? She handles it beautifully. No accidents, no panic—just a chew, a toy, and a solid nap schedule.

When people are home, life happens around her. Calm movement, quiet voices, treats appearing like magic, cats doing cat things, the occasional dog cameo. There’s no pressure—just steady, predictable exposure.

She’s not ready for touch yet, and that’s okay. Quick movements or sudden noise still send her back to her safe place. But… she’s started eating in front of us. Taking treats from calm, patient hands. Choosing to stay present just a little longer each day.

And while it might look like she’s “always in the kennel” in photos—that’s actually her choice most of the time. It’s her safe zone. We do still close it during set times to keep that comfort with confinement strong (future adopters will thank us), but the door is open far more than it’s closed.

One of my favorite moments lately? Finding her and two of the cats perched together, watching birds out the window like a tiny, slightly dysfunctional family.

We’re not “there” yet—not even close. But these small, steady shifts? This is the work. This is how trust starts.

We’re coming up on two weeks since trapping, and little pieces of personality are beginning to p*ek through. Trust will come—but first comes predictability, and the quiet understanding that nothing bad is going to happen here.

And for those wondering why I’m not hand-feeding every meal… that’s a whole post on its own. Stay tuned.

As always, questions are welcome. This series is meant to be a real look at the timeline of working with fearful/feral dogs—not the highlight reel, but the actual process.

04/25/2026

Post 6 – Finding Our Voice

During the decompression period, there are a few benchmarks I watch for—and one of the biggest is noise.

Very shut down dogs don’t bark. They shrink, stay quiet, and try not to be noticed. So when a dog starts to use their voice—draw attention to themselves, express something—we’ve hit an important turning point. We’re no longer just surviving… we’re starting to participate.

Because Ms. Muppet has proven she’s safe to explore, and because I’m a light sleeper (somewhat disheartening at times), she gets some freedom overnight. Like many dogs, she feels safest when the world is quiet, so nighttime has become her time to investigate.

And on Day 6… at 2:30 a.m.… we found our voice.

Now, before we call this cute—and yes, it kind of is—this is still a dog expressing overwhelm. But the difference is, she’s expressing it outward instead of shutting down. And that’s something worth celebrating… even if the entire house is suddenly awake before 3 a.m. 😅

From here, I expect a few more small wins… and probably a bit of regression too. Progress in a home environment is rarely linear. It’s more like one step forward, two steps back, and then a random 2:30 a.m. announcement just to keep things interesting.

But these small milestones? This is exactly why we do it.

🐾

04/23/2026

Post 5 – The Slow Intro

Almost every foster home already has animals of their own. We choose to foster because we love them—and want to give others the same chance our own pets have had.

But that also means you’re not just caring for your foster… you’re managing relationships within your entire household (furry and not). Setting everyone up for success is exactly why slow introductions matter so much.

The experiences you create during this time—and the information you’re able to pass along to adopters or the rescue—can have a huge impact on your foster’s long-term success.

This is also an area where I often see a lack of guidance and support, so this will likely turn into a short series rather than one very long post.

Stage 1: Separation

The beginning of a proper slow intro is full separation. No contact. No meet-and-greets.

Your new foster should be set up in their own space (as we talked about earlier), while your resident animals become aware of them through scent and sound only. Even without seeing each other, they know someone new is in the home.

I recommend maintaining this for at least a week.

This gives:

Your foster time to decompress and establish a safe space

Your resident animals time to adjust without pressure

Everyone a chance to settle before expectations are introduced

Starting Introductions

When I begin intros, I always start with my “main man,” Pilot.

He’s my last remaining member of the old guard—well-practiced in welcoming new animals of all kinds. His personality (very orange boy energy), dog-like recall, and people focus make him an ideal “ambassador.” He’s calm, predictable, and confident.

He’s also older, well-vaccinated, and has a strong immune history, which makes him a safer first introduction—especially when you don’t fully know your foster’s health status yet.

How I Start

The foster stays in their kennel—relaxed, fed, and secure.

(Quick note: every foster I bring home, dog or cat, is kennel-fed. The kennel is their sanctuary. If they’re inside, no one approaches or invades that space. It’s where they can exist without expectation. That clarity builds trust fast.)

From there:

I invite Pilot upstairs

He usually sits at the top of the stairs and observes

If the foster remains calm, we gradually decrease distance (often hanging out on the bed)

Sessions stay short—about 5 minutes to start—and build over time

Next Step: The Dog

If things go well with Pilot, I move on to introducing my dog using the same structure:

Controlled entry

Sit or down at a distance

Calm observation

Short sessions that gradually increase

Sometimes we’ll just exist in the space. Other times, we’ll do a few simple cues or tricks to keep things neutral and structured before heading back downstairs.

The Goal at This Stage

Calm. Predictable. Non-invasive.

No rushing.
No crowding.
No overwhelming energy.

If you’re unsure how your resident animal will respond—or know they may struggle—use a leash. This isn’t the time to “see what happens.”

We’re not just preventing negative interactions—we’re actively modeling calm, appropriate behavior. Your resident animals are teaching your foster what’s safe, and you’re reinforcing that through your own actions.

This is where that idea of modeling really comes into play.

This is already getting long, so we’ll pause here and pick up with Stage 2 in the next post.

As always, if you have questions, drop them in the comments. This series is meant to be a practical, real-life resource for current and future fosters—no matter what organization you’re working with.