For the Love of Dog

09/26/2023

Hey all. It’s been a long time and I’m not back yet but life fell off the rails and I had to start over on myself. My family is strong though.

I’ll be back. But not yet. Love your dogs for me!

07/13/2022

Buddy 007
Dinosaur

07/02/2022

Behaviour is a result of emotions. This is something we’re experiencing at home right now and it’s really interesting.

https://fb.watch/e0iA1i5YjG/

07/02/2022

Sharing this now and diving in when it isn’t family movie time, especially after I started writing about control and how it relates to colonialism in my manual today while puppy was napping.

Thank you Ruby for this post!

Save Rez Dogs   July is usually a month for celebration, but with the discovery of mass graves at residential Indian schools across Canada, it is a time for reflection and discussion. This Ask the Trainer series focuses on a First Nations dog advocacy organization- Save Rez Dogs and the

07/01/2022

https://www.facebook.com/105125148902440/posts/115879244493697/?d=n

Nap time! Why?

Unicorn had an amazing morning. She told me about some neighbours, we discussed them, then her and Cupcake had breakfast on the deck. Papa and I sat at the table outside and played a game, Cupcake was on my lap, Rio was laying down, Unicorn was just watching the world go by. There was no barking, no whining (Rio is typically a cereal whiner), it was monumental. Then we went to the yard, had a short play, play was getting rather barky which means she’s getting tired.

In we went, drink of water, and up to bed. I’m watching a show with headphones on and writing my program manual, Rain, Rain is on my phone for Unicorn and she’s having a restful nap.

An overtired pup can have difficulty relaxing for a restful nap. Annoying behaviours are often a telltale sign of being overtired. Watching for how your puppy is before this point can help you understand when to start nap time to ensure this thorough rest.

Sleep is how they file away the experiences that happen in between sleeps. Because it was such a great morning this sleep is extra important because when she’s awake and alert, her brain will be that much more comfortable with the world around her. Every day we spend with our puppies, how we expose them to the world, how we react to them, and what comes next all make a lasting impact on their future.

06/30/2022

Hey all, it has come to my attention that I am not getting all of my messages. If you have tried messaging me and not received a reply please comment here. Thank you!

06/26/2022

Meet Cupcake,

Cupcake is my old gal, she’s 10 and has been people “reactive” all of her life. I’ve worked with her through the years, and the last shift I made in how I work with fear and anger, has been the most impactful.

What was this change? Being there while she processed her environment and worked through her problems on her own with me there as her shield.

While I do use some food, it isn’t about the food. It’s about trust and safety. About connection and comfort. About being calm to model calm.

I am my dogs protector.

This is the first time she has been in the yard and comfortable with the neighbours being present. She now shows me people, mostly with body language, and even when she does bark first/think second as soon as I show up she feels more comfortable and relaxes her body language, and moves on with her day.

Great job Cupcake!