Muzzles Up Dog Academy LLC

06/08/2025

Our YouTube channel is live! There’s nothing posted just yet, but you’re invited to keep up with our progress. Our goal is to have at least one episode out before July! 🫶🏻🐾

🎧 https://youtube.com/?si=yA0wRGh5R9VKoPcg

06/06/2025

Hi friends!

We’re gathering questions to address on upcoming podcast episodes, and we want to hear from you! Comment here, or email us with any dog behavior related question (or story!) big or small - and we’ll put your question/story on the air, with some thoughts!

06/02/2025

Check out what we’ve been up to - we’ve created a nice little hub just for Muzzles Up friends and family! We’ve created a safe space for you, where you can learn to create a safe space for your dogs. Join us over there, where you can ask questions, find resources, share pics and stories, and enjoy a few other perks as we grow!

https://discord.gg/wsbpZJ4p

06/02/2025

Muzzles Up Monday!!

Let's see pics of your dogs with their snouts in the air! If you don't have one, take one! How? Hold a treat in one hand, in a position that they have to look up at it. Hold your camera in the other hand, and snap a shot!

05/31/2025

Busy summer? Back to the office?
We can help keep your dog mentally stimulated, physically exercised, and happy!

05/28/2025

In an effort to occupy our minds with something to honor Dira and ALL dogs, the kiddo and I have been hard at work creating a dog community on discord. She’s done most of the heavy lifting - my part comes later. If you’re on discord and you’d like to join us, we’ll be talking about all things dog, sharing resources, giving advice, chatting, sharing memes and pics…and plotting podcast episodes with your help!

Link in bio!

05/27/2025

This weekend, we are beyond heart broken to announce we’ve lost one of the Muzzles Up family. After nearly ten memorable years together, Indira was laid to rest just before midnight, May 24, 2025. Dira was not only part of the family - she was the inspiration for Muzzles Up. I had worked in the animal industry off and on at vet clinics and rescues since 1994. When Dira came into my life, all of her trials through her life before me, and the desperate need to communicate with her, lead me to behavior work. I bet all of us in the industry have that dog.

As many of you know, Indira came from the dog meat trade in South Korea. Humane Society International rescued her and 102 others from a farm, and trained the farmer on other, lucrative ways to use their land to ensure at least that one wouldn’t grow again. When Dira came to us, she was already nearly an adult and had not learned love or trust. We brought her home, and instinctively I knew to give her space. I puttered around the house, cleaning dishes, doing laundry…and within a couple of hours she was following me. (It certainly helped that I had other dogs who were doing same at the time.)

She imprinted on me almost immediately. Some days I swear she could read my mind, and I, hers. She mimicked things we did (like pulling one bed on top of the other for a more cushy spot after watching us do it once.) She gradually learned to trust the rest of the people who lived with her, and a few specific friends.

She also began to use her voice. She would bork at me when it was dinner time. Or she wanted to lie in the sun on the deck. Or if she just wanted a snuggle, because I’d been too busy to initiate it myself.

When we picked her up at the shelter, they warned us that Indira may never bond with a human. She’s been through too much trauma. She’d never even felt grass under her feet, let alone known when (or what) her next meal would be. She didn’t wag her tail for quite some time. She didn’t really know how to *dog*. Thanks to the fact that I’ve always lived in a multi-dog household, she learned those ropes almost as quickly as she bonded with this human.

Eventually I was able to use her as a friendly dog for reactivity work with other dogs. She didn’t look at them, so their threshold was easier to stay under. We would gauge distance and gradually be able to parallel walk. She made it easy, because she trusted me, so she was confident in her safety, and therefore she was calm a relaxed - which they picked up on even from far away.

She loved - LOVED - cheese. And anything WITH cheese. She also loved her greens. And really anything she could talk us out of. She also loved beef cheek rolls, collagen sticks, duck heads, pig ears, chicken feet, and beef snouts. Turkey necks were her favorite. She loved going for rides. She’d curl up on her bed on the floorboard in the back, just happy to be included.

Watching her age, I knew the time to say goodbye was approaching. I just wasn’t prepared for it to approach this quickly. Who ever is? Her decline was swift - I only had a few hours to prepare myself. I may still be questioning whether or not the decision was right, although she let me know it was.

I extend my apologies to every dog she would have helped if she had been able to hold on longer. I extend condolences to all who knew and love her.

Rest in love, my soul dog 💞

05/24/2025

We ADORE Brutus! He’s such a sweet lovey guy 🥰

(Remember, we offer a 30-minute FREE consultation with each CASA adoption to help you and your new family member learn each other’s language!)

❤ OVERLOOKED PUP - BRUTUS ❤

We can't believe this big hunk is still here! Here is Brutus! This big, lovable goofball is on the hunt for his forever home. Brutus is very loving 6-year-old, Pitbull mix. He dreams of a cozy place where he can lounge and live his best life! Brutus is a bit on the hefty side, so he's looking for a dedicated human to help him shed some pounds. Due to the arthritis in his knees, long walks are a no-go; Brutus prefers short strolls—he’s the ultimate couch potato! Brutus fancies himself as the only canine king, as he can be a bit choosy with his doggy pals and might get a little overwhelmed. But hey, if you have a calm, similarly sized sidekick, a meet and greet could be in the cards! As for feline friends? Brutus prefers a cat-free home. This big guy would be perfect for a laidback person who enjoys relaxing as much as him. Brutus has been patiently waiting for his special someone for a while now. If you think you and Brutus could be a match made in doggy heaven, swing by the shelter today!

05/21/2025

Happy National Rescue Dog Day! Show us yours 🥰

05/16/2025

Look what came today!
Let me know if you’d like a few for referrals!

05/15/2025

We stopped in and made some friends today at in Everett! We were extremely impressed by the variety of quality foods, treats, toys, enrichment tools, Squishmallow beds, and all SORTS of other stuff, including their own private brand of long lasting chews! (Obviously we had to bring some home.) We’re so excited to connect with them - we highly recommend checking them out! Easy to find, and parking is a breeze!

12/17/2024

It’s Tongue Out Tuesday!

Whatcha got?