Who's A Good Dog Winnipeg

04/26/2025

Sometimes in a real crunch either timewise or painwise certain things just have to Get Done with our companion animals.

This is a great short article by Sarah Reusche,Paws Abilities Dog Trainingog Training on how to differentiate those “crunch times” from the regular cooperative care you do WITH your dog, as opposed to TO your dog. ❤️🐾

Cooperative care is incredible and should be used whenever possible! Making sure our dogs can be an active part of their own care and can opt in to cares is important in giving them autonomy, decreasing fear and anxiety, and improving long-term outcomes.

It’s also NOT necessary or right for every single thing.

Rig has a painful injury right now. We don’t know what’s wrong, but she hurts enough that she’s getting injectable pain meds over the weekend to keep her comfy until she can get x-rays on Monday.

The injection stings. It has to happen three times a day.

She’s trained to opt in to injections by resting her chin on an open hand when she’s ready.

I can’t think of a better way to ruin our start button behavior.

So for this particular care, we’re making it look NOTHING LIKE her monthly Adequan injections or yearly vaccines. My spouse picks her up and holds her in his arms. I inject her. We feed her a large, high-value treat and tell her how proud we are of her. No choice, no opt in, but also no poisoning of an important cooperative behavior. The goal is to be efficient and kind without a lot of fuss. It’s over before she can psych herself up about it, and then there’s an immediate distraction of something extra tasty.

For non-emergent and non-time-sensitive cares (think nail trims, ear cleans, tooth brushing, or yes, even Rig’s monthly Adequan injections), “no” from her is an acceptable answer. “No” means that we need to do more training and help her feel more confident, comfortable, and in control of the process. “No” isn’t her being stubborn or disobedient or “dominant,” it’s her telling us that she needs additional support to feel ok with that care - support we can provide by splitting down the training steps further and encouraging her to participate through easy, fun, highly-reinforced training sessions. But for controlling pain when she’s already feeling icky, that’s not something we can just put off until later.

Kindness is important in all things. Choice is also important for our pets, who have so few opportunities to make choices for themselves in their daily lives. For some situations, though, the former means that we can’t provide the latter, and that’s ok.

As our pets’ parents, we should always strive to provide the best life for them, free of pain and uncertainty. Training is an important piece of that, and we can help you develop robust communication to empower your dog be an active participant in their own cares and lives! We also advocate for responsible stewardship in making informed decisions about when NOT to use trained skills. For Rig this weekend, that includes avoiding her usual injection protocols.

Do you want to develop a cooperative care routine for your dog? From starting with solid foundations in Puppy Camp to tackling extreme aggression at the vet or groomers, we can help! Check out the comments section for links to solutions!

Picture: Rig, enjoying her pain meds.

04/11/2025

Do you like being petted on the head?

Dogs tell us all the time that they don’t want to be petted on the head -in most contexts-, even by the people they know best. And yet there we go, being human again. The funny thing is most humans don’t love being petted on the head either. Your dog will tell you very clearly what kind of interaction they would prefer- you just need to listen.

INAPPROPRIATE TOUCHING

I'm reading an amazing book called Amphibious Soul by Craig Foster, the Academy award winning documentary film maker of "My Octopus Teacher".

If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it, it is simply profound.

In the book he says "As a rule, I never touch an animal unless they touch me first".

In my work building relationship with horses, I do this too. Most times a horse will touch you with their nose/muzzle first, and matching that greeting (versus labelling the horse as a biter) is a game changer.

But there's a phenomenon I have noticed going on with people trying to build relationship with their horses that I have labelled "inappropriate touching", and it looks a bit like the photo below.

This picture was taken at a horse expo in Pennsylvania recently, where I worked with a demo horse who has a "biting issue". He would reaching out in a way that his owner was termed as nipping, whereas I interpreted as him saying hello, similar to reaching out to shake hands with someone.

When he reached out I would greet him with a flat hand that he is able to to nuzzle, lick or even scrape his teeth on. After doing this a while his snappy acting motions got less so, and he was no longer needing to say "hey, pay attention" , but was more "hey, how's it going". I was explaining to the audience that I was meeting him in the way that he was meeting me (with his muzzle) and that it's not an invitation to touch other parts (yet).

I then said that it's many people's default to reach up and rub a horse between the eyes, whether that's what they are offering or not, and that if you do, it's inappropriate touching and it gets in the way of connection. It doesn't meet their needs, and is all about yours.

With the horse in the picture, he'd been engaging me with his muzzle, and I said to the audience "watch what happens when I try to rub him between the eyes". As you can see in the photo, he has raised his head up and is clearly indicating "No, not there, on my muzzle".

We had a Connection And Attunement retreat here at the Journey On Ranch a week ago, and I used my wife Robyn to illustrate this point to the participants. I said "imagine I'm at a gathering and meeting Robyn for the first time". We walked up to each other in that way people do when they see someone new and they can tell an introduction is shaping up, Robyn reached out with her hand to say hello and instead of me reaching out to shake her hand, I gently reached up and lightly brushed a wisp of hair from her cheekbone and tucked it behind her ear.

The participants all gasped and the ick factor was high.

Even though it was caring, and gentle, it was inappropriate at that moment.

Now Im not saying you can't rub your horse on the forehead. I'm saying if your horse has a disregulated nervous system around humans because they don't feel seen (and safe), try to meet their needs first, before trying get get yours met.

I recently saw an instagram post from a University in the UK, and the professor was explaining that they were doing studies on horses to determine levels of stress. In the background a horse was standing with his head out over a Dutch door. While he was explaining their investigations on stress, a female student (or maybe another professor, I don't know which) walked up to the horse. The horse reached out with his muzzle to greet her.

She ignored this and reached up to rub the horse between the eyes.

He turned his head 90 degrees to the left to communicate that wasn't what he was offering.

Her hand followed him and kept rubbing.

he then turned his head 180 degrees to the right, saying "No, not like that".

Smiled, gave him another pet between the eyes, and walked of camera.

While the professor was saying that they are doing experiments determining the amounts of stress horses are under, someone in the background was actually creating stress, without either of them even knowing it.

Once you understand how sentient horses are, and how subtle their communication, you can't unsee it.

04/10/2025

Who is Dr. Jim Crosby?

Canine Aggression Consulting LLC. Dr. James Crosby M.S., PhD., CBCC-KA, is a retired Police Lieutenant (Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, Jacksonville, FL) and has professionally trained dogs, taught individual and group obedience classes, and addressed canine behavior problems since 1999. He served as Division Management Consultant of Jacksonville Animal Care and Protective Services, the municipal agency responsible for rescue and adoption needs, investigation of animal cruelty, animal fighting, and regulation of Dangerous Dogs for the 964 square miles and nearly 1 million residents of Jacksonville.

Holding a Master of Science in Veterinary Forensic Medicine and a PhD in Veterinary Medical Science, Dr. Crosby is recognized in and out of Court as an expert in the US and Canada on Dangerous Dogs, canine aggression, fatal dog attacks, and related issues. He has personally investigated over 30 fatal dog attacks on humans and, has post-attack, evaluating over 50 dogs that have attacked and killed humans.

Dr. Crosby teaches safe handling and rehabilitation of Dangerous Dogs and Investigation of Fatal and Serious Dog Attacks to police, animal control agencies, and others across the US and Canada. He has been instrumental in a number of successful prosecutions focused on dog related fatalities. Dr. Crosby continues to present training seminars internationally in Italy, Canada, the UK, Warsaw, Poland, in Australia, where he was project Chair for revamping and improving Animal Services for the Australian Capital Territory. During the Fall of 2023 he will be presenting training internationally in Liverpool, England, Dublin, Ireland and Gold Coast Australia. Domestically he will be presenting training in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and South Carolina. Dr. Crosby also maintains on-line training offerings through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants.

04/04/2025

*** MISSING *** URGENT, ran into the river by the St James bridge. River Heights. Wellington Cres and Lanark St - Please Share!

Last seen heading East on April 3,25 at approx 3:30 pm.

Rae is a 8 month old female Australian Shepherd.

Email from Jan April 03, 2025

03/30/2025

Peanutbutter usually comes with antibiotics at my house, too. 🐾 👀

03/29/2025

Excellent article!

Rethinking the Swap: Resource Guarding and Consent in Dogs

In the springtime, we see an influx of puppies and new adoptions as people prepare for more pleasant weather. By autumn, many of these puppies—now in adolescence—begin to show signs of resource guarding. It’s a common trend for behaviour professionals to see such cases during seasonal shifts.

Resource guarding (RG) can be a completely natural canine behaviour—dogs may protect what they value, whether it’s food, toys, space, or even people. But because it’s often viewed negatively, a common approach to preventing RG in puppies is teaching a “swap” behaviour—offering a treat or something of higher value in exchange for the guarded item. On the surface, this seems practical and positive. However, the swap technique can fall short if it’s not grounded in a deeper understanding of canine emotional safety.

The Problem with Swap-First Approaches:

If a dog has not been taught the concepts of consent, safety, and choice, then “swap” becomes just another transactional demand. The dog may still learn that humans might take things unpredictably, and while a treat might be offered, the experience lacks trust and voluntary participation. Over time, this can actually create or exacerbate guarding behaviour rather than prevent it—especially if the dog perceives repeated loss of valued items.

Choice as Foundations:

Dogs raised with concept training—where the emphasis is on emotional safety, agency, and choice—are far less likely to develop RG issues in the first place. When a dog knows they won’t be forced, that their needs are heard, and that communication is two-way, they’re more likely to offer items freely, making a formal “swap” unnecessary.

Instead of jumping to training a trade, teaching the underlying concepts that support cooperative behaviours might be more beneficial. Concept training helps dogs understand ideas like “sharing is safe,” “giving things up doesn’t mean loss,” and “my voice matters.” These foundational lessons make behaviours like swapping more meaningful and reliable.

Passive Tips for Preventing RG:

💡Observe Body Language Closely

Watch for subtle signs of discomfort or tension when the dog has something—even if it’s not deemed valuable. Respecting their signals is essential for establishing a foundation of trust.

💡Practise “Trade” with More Choice

When offering a swap, let the dog choose whether to engage. Offer the alternative without demanding the original item. If they keep the original, that’s okay—trust is more important. Practising trades out of context (when there’s no conflict) is especially beneficial.

💡Use Consent-Based Handling and Interaction

Teach a “can I?” cue. Before reaching for an item, offer a hand and wait for the dog’s engagement. Reward curiosity, not compliance.

💡Reinforce Voluntary Sharing

If the dog brings something, praise them—even if there’s no need to take it. Reinforce the act of offering rather than focusing on possession.

💡Avoid Unnecessary Takeaways

Not falling into the habit of routinely taking things “just because.” If the dog has something safe and appropriate, let them enjoy it. Constant interruption teaches distrust.

While teaching a puppy to swap can be useful, but without the deeper work of building trust, consent, and communication, it risks becoming a quick fix rather than a sustainable solution. When dogs feel secure and respected, they’re naturally more cooperative. The real prevention for RG lies not in teaching them to give things up, but in nurturing a safe environment that builds trust.

Boo Blackhurst, CDBC

03/24/2025

There are breeds that are bred to work with us and breeds that are bred to work away from us or independently. They aren’t stubborn, their motivations just different.

The more challenging breeds are the ones who should excite us, an opportunity to think outside the box, to figure out how we can come together on a mutually beneficial behaviour.

We don’t need to up our threats, we need to up our skills.

After all, lions, crocodiles, tigers and hyenas are just some of the many animals we train using reward based methods.

03/18/2025

Justin is officially on a plane from Unalakleet heading back to Anchorage, and I wanted to give a huge public shout out to him before he gets back into range and can balk at me posting this 😂

Many people may not know the full extent of the kind of work Justin puts in on a day-to-day basis. Outside ReRun Kennel, he works full time for the State of Alaska as a marine mammals biologist. Before work each day, he's up early feeding dogs and scooping p**p. He then drives the 40min into town, works a full day, and on a good day comes straight home.

When we are both home from work, we have dinner - sometimes we make time to cook, sometimes it's cereal haha. That usually puts us to ~7pm. Then he goes out and harnesses up the race team.

Around December and January, he started doing loooooong runs. 40, 50, 60mi single runs and also long back-to-back camping trips. He'd run until 2am, sometimes well into the next morning if it wasn't a work night. Sometimes all weekend on multi-day trips. On some work nights he'd come home, put the team away, give everyone belly rubs and dinner, and be in bed at 3am just to wake up at 6 the next morning and do it all again. He never complained and said it was good training for Iditarod.

All of this has been on top of him also serving on the board of two nonprofits with me: the Alaska Skijoring and Pulk Association where we organize races and teach beginning skijor clinics, and the Second Chance League which is a rescue our board is getting back on its feet to be able to pull sled dogs from the Fairbanks shelter and into foster and permanent homes. Justin has also helped me a lot with temporary foster sled dogs we get from the Fairbanks shelter and has done a lot of mentoring with junior mushers the last 3 years, teaching them about dog mushing and supporting them in their own races.

On top of all that he also plays a huge role in helping with the day-to-day tasks of maintaining our off-grid property: hauling enough water to feed 32 dogs (we go through about 30gal a day, all of which we haul from town ourselves), keeping gas cans filled, keeping the generator running, and keeping the wood stove stoked so the house can stay warm for our adopted hamster, Penelope (lol).

Between all the things Justin has on his schedule plus the borough Animal Control Commission I serve on, the community band I play in, and the agility classes I take our medical needs dog to since he can't be a sled dog, sometimes during the busy part of mushing season Justin and I only see each other in passing on our way out the door for work in the morning. It's kind of an intense lifestyle for the peak of the winter.

All this is to say Justin is so committed to these dogs and this lifestyle. Iditarod is just a race, but giving these dogs their best life is forever. I'm so proud of him. Iditarod never started with the countdown at the starting line, it started long before. And our adventures with the dogs are nowhere close to ending. Justin deserved every second he got to spend with those amazing dogs out on the trail, and I can't say enough how proud I am of his accomplishments.

03/17/2025

Thousands of US Department of Agriculture employees, including food inspectors and disease-sniffing-dog trainers, remain out of work, leaving food to rot in ports and pests to proliferate.