Dog Friendship Inc.

05/15/2026

Lovely dogs and a great example of how dogs can bring people together!

05/05/2026

Emergency Preparedness Week is May 4-10, 2026 and there’s no better time to make sure you and your furry family members are safe and prepared for anything.

If you already have your first aid kit ready - there may be a few things left - ask yourself these questions (and see how they can be answered at https://ontariospca.ca/pet-emergency-preparedness/)

04/18/2026

Do you have a first aid kit ready?

04/18/2026

Trainers hear this all the time, here-s a good explanation!

"One of the most common frustrations I hear from rally and obedience teams is, 'But he knows this.' And usually, they're right. The dog can sit. The dog can heel. The dog can pivot cleanly and perform beautifully in the space where the behavior was originally taught.

The problem shows up when something changes.

You move from the living room to the kitchen. You go from the basement to the garage. You step outside. Suddenly, it looks like the dog has never heard the cue before. This is almost always a generalization problem. "

Continue reading on the FDSA blog! Generalization: Why Your Dog “Knows It” at Home but Not Anywhere Else by Nicole Wiebusch.

04/18/2026

Mmmmm...what do you think?

If a stranger walked up and asked to touch your child, what would you do? Would you smile and say sure, my daughter is friendly! Go ahead and pet her hair!

Uh, no. I would momma bear the crap out of that situation. No way, a stranger is touching my kid.

Why is it different for dogs?

From a veterinary behavior standpoint, an unfamiliar person reaching toward a dog is not a neutral interaction. It is a social and physical intrusion that the dog must interpret in real time.

Some might like it.

Many dogs will tolerate it.

Many will try to avoid it.

Others—especially those with fear, anxiety, pain, or a history of threat—may escalate.

Aggression is not unpredictable. It is a distance-increasing behavior that occurs when a dog perceives a loss of safety and control.

When we assume access—without consent—we remove choice.

When we remove choice, we increase stress.

And when stress rises, risk follows.

This is why “friendly” is not a sufficient assessment.

This is why bites often occur during routine interactions.

This is why prevention starts before contact is made.

The standard should be simple:

Dogs just like kids are not public property. No one has the right to pet your dog no matter how much they profess that dogs love them.

Not because dogs are dangerous—

but because they are sentient beings with thresholds, histories, and limits.

Respecting that boundary protects the dog, the handler, and the public.

And that is good behavioral medicine.

04/17/2026

A great little article by a friend - Matthias Lenz -

Setting standards for the assistance dog industry since 1987

03/07/2026

Very highly recommend this author and book. If you want a reat Google her name and Crufts so you can see her trained dogs in action doing off-leash heelwork to music!

03/07/2026

Current medical theory is that inside every joint is synovial fluid, a natural lubricant - and cold temperatures can make this fluid thicker, which may increase stiffness and pain. Keep an eye on your dog during the frequent weather changes as we head to full spring!

Myth 5: “Pain only affects movement, not mood.”

✅ Truth: Chronic pain alters temperament, attention span, and interaction. A once “happy-go-lucky” dog appearing more withdrawn may be signalling discomfort.

For more guidance on identifying your dog's pain and a more in-depth look at arthritis, check out our 'CAM Essentials'' course:
https://www.cameducation.co.uk/course/camessentials (link in bio)

03/03/2026

So true!

Pets don’t just learn during training sessions. They’re learning all the time—during walks, at the door, when guests come over, when you leave the house.

Every time a behavior happens, it gets a little easier for your pet to do it again. Over time, those repetitions turn into habits. While you are gone all day, your dog is barking at anything and everything outside. Why would you surprised when he barks aggressively at your friends who visit?

When your dog is in the yard, he is running the fenceline barking. It isn't surprising that they bit someone in the yard.

When your cat meows, you immediately open a can of food. It isn't surprising then that your cat meows overnight when she is hungry and walks on your head until you get up.

Our pets are always learning, just like you and me. Rearranging the environment to reduce the expression of undesirable behaviors is cheap, easy and effective.

Because practice makes permanent.

03/03/2026

National Service Dogs' annual dog Easter egg hunt is set to take place again this year on April 3rd.

If your dog is calm and chill on leash around other dogs, here's a chance to have an fun weekend with your pooch while raising funds for a good cause.

Dogs and their humans will take over Riverside Park to hunt for thousands of treat-filled, colourful Easter eggs hidden throughout the park.

Participants will collect eggs containing treats and prize tokens, and every dog will receive a swag bag, with chances to win additional prizes.

Registration is open online for $25 per family. In-person registration on the day of is $30. https://nsd.on.ca/get-involved/events/easter-egg-hunt

Funds raised go to National Service Dogs' certified service dog programs, aimed at helping children with autism and restoring independence to veterans and first responders living with PTSD.

Sign Up Early and Get Exclusive Perks! Register as an Early Bird & Save! $20 per Family – Sign up early and save! Opens: Friday, January 31, 2026 Closes: Friday, February 27, 2026, at 11:59 PM EST Sign-up for a Hunt Near You Fundraising Perks Want to earn cool NSD gear while supporting a great [.....