Top Dog Canine Counseling

08/06/2021

Good description 😊

By far my favourite word for Autism 😌
- Jay

08/06/2021

Patreon.com/ScottMetzgerCartoons

08/04/2021

Body language is universal 😊

Another poem for the kids! Please continue sharing with your children and giving me your feedback! I very much appreciate your help with this project!

The mouth matters because it can help us identify how our dogs are feeling but it does not tell us the whole story, the whole body does along with the context and our dog’s learning history.

Happy mouths are those that are soft and open or slightly open on a relaxed face with relaxed ears and body. Whereas, an unhappy mouth is often accompanied by ears and lips pulled back on a tense face and body.

A dog who is feeling confident and ready to fight will have their lips and ears forward while baring teeth, while a dog who is terrified will have their ears pulled back — both dogs will have tense bodies and faces.

We can learn how to better set our dogs and our children up for success by understanding what can make a dog bite and recognizing when a dog needs space.

For more information on dog body language, please purchase Doggie Language by Lili Chin. You’ll be so happy you did!

07/26/2021

This is a pet peeve of mine. Not all dogs can be a service dog. An emotional support dog is not a service dog. Please do not make things more difficult for those folks that actually need a service dog.

07/09/2021

“Listen” to what your dog is telling you through body language. Your dog will appreciate your help 😊

"Cute" pictures of dogs often look ok to the untrained eye - but when you know what you are looking for it can be a real eye opener.

Dogs tell us all the time when they are uncomfortable, and we do not always listen.

Many bites could be prevented with just a little knowledge on dog body language.

Want to learn how to understand your dog?

Get in touch xx

07/05/2021

Well said!

Your dog owes you nothing. Not a thing.

The decision for him to be in your life wasn’t his, it was yours. He doesn’t owe you anything. If you look at your dog as owing you something in return for your attention, food, medical care etc, then that’s the first problem we have to tackle before we can even begin true training together.

Your dog doesn’t owe you “obedience” he doesn’t owe you “respect” he doesn’t owe you “good behavior” simply because he gets to share the same space and life with you. If you want that kind of relationship and behavior; that’s on you to create, not him.

YOU owe your dog. You owe it to him to understand his history, his development and his ancestors. You owe it to him to learn about his needs, his characteristics and his individual personality. You owe it to him to become educated on how he communicates with you, his body language and train him in a way he understands and enjoys and doesn’t cut corners just because it’s easier on YOU. You owe it to him to protect him and keep him safe. You owe it to him to modify YOUR environment to help him be successful.

Dogs are a privilege. WE created THEM. We’ve done them so many injustices and yet they still go to war with us, herd our livestock, protect us, find people for us, assist us devotedly, meet us at the door wagging their tails and comfort us when we are down. The tasks they do for us go above and beyond any other partnership between species imaginable, so you have to be willing to do your part too.

Your dog owes you nothing. You owe your dog. Remind yourself of that every time you get mad at him for simply doing dog things. Now, let’s get to work to make a great team.

Written by Helen St. Pierre. No Monkey Business Dog Training. Please share with CREDIT to the author.

07/01/2021

❤

07/01/2021

Many, many pets go missing during Fourth of July weekend. Please keep your fur kids safe and have a wonderful, happy holiday weekend!

A few Tips:
• Keep I.D. on fur kids at all times.
• Keep pets inside and away from doors and gates to the outside.
• When outside: Keep on leash at all times.

06/29/2021

JULY 4TH IS AROUND THE CORNER: IS FIDO READY?! Is your dog prepared for fireworks and 4th of July festivities?

Here are some tips to make this holiday more dog-friendly for Fido.

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND & BEST LAID PLANS ...
💥 Fireworks are not safe for dogs in any way. Keep your dogs at home. Do not take them to fireworks displays/viewing parks, no matter how far away.
💥 Be sure to give Fido adequate physical & mental exercise before you take off for the evening.
💥 Preferably keep Fido in a room, in a crate (when they are properly crate-trained & comfortable in a crate) with a box fan, calming music and administer calming treats beforehand (https://amzn.to/2IxXfAt)
💥 If must take Fido along with you on this day, make it earlier in the day at BBQ or time at the lake (if appropriate & Fido is comfortable doing this). But follow the above rules just before the fireworks start up.
💥 Be sure to update Fido's ID tag & microchip info.
💥 Put a collar & physical ID tag on Fido when you get up that morning, just to be prepared.

THINGS NOT TO DO ...
🚫 Do not leave Fido outside on this day. More pets go missing on July 4th than any other day all year.
🚫 Do not take Fido with you to the fireworks show.
🚫 Do not feed Fido anything he's not used to eating so he doesn't get sick. Watch him with others so that they don't feed him either.
🚫 Do not put him in situations that he isn't comfortable with. If he's not comfortable with crowds, kids, loud screaming, lots of activity ... don't take him to the BBQ that day!

If you'd like to do a little bit of counterconditioning for fireworks you can do this via the handy illustration below by Doggie Drawings by Lili Chin.

Text Copyright © 2021 Stacy Greer, CPDT-KA
Illustration Copyright © Lili Chin
Sunshine Dog Training & Behavior
sunshinedog.com
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