Z&E Canine Manners, LLC

05/25/2026

Teaching your dog to walk off-leash next to you doesn’t require a shock collar! Our little Havanese client is a great example of a positively trained pup. Tips:
- Start training when they’re young! Positive reinforcement based training allows you to start training when you’re pup is as young as 9-10 weeks old because there are NO aversive tools or intimidation tactics used.
- Find out what things motivate your dog. The motivation will differ depending on location, distraction, &/or circumstances. So don’t get stuck on a static way of thinking; be flexible, innovative, & creative.
- Know when to slow down, take a break, move forward, & abort to find a different approach.
- Leave your ego behind!
- Make training fun, enjoyable, & successful… for the DOG!

05/18/2026

For a fearfully reactive dog, having access to a pool, makes such a big difference in providing the dog with exercise & enrichment!

05/15/2026

Become Your Community Dog Bite Prevention Expert - Join Doggone Safe today!
Many dog bites can be prevented if people learn how to read a dog's body language.

05/08/2026

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05/08/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1DtsDThXvy/?mibextid=wwXIfr

04/16/2026

01/27/2026

We love our labels. "Reactive." "Stubborn." "High drive." "Shy." Walk into any training facility or shelter, and you'll hear these descriptors tossed around as if they actually tell us something meaningful about the dog in front of us.

But here's the uncomfortable truth: these vague labels are failing our dogs.

As I often tell students, if I call a dog "such a wing nut," friends who know me really well can probably guess what I mean. But if you call me and say "I looked at the video of your dog and frankly, I think he's a fruit loop"—well, is that good or bad? It's not particularly useful.

These imprecise descriptions create more confusion than clarity. When a trainer tells you a dog is "reactive," what does that actually mean? Reactive to what? Visual stimuli? Sounds? Touch? How quickly does the arousal spike? How long does recovery take? Without these specifics, we're building training plans on quicksand.

I've watched countless dogs labeled as "stubborn" when the real issue was a mismatch between the handler's communication style and the dog's individual temperament. I've seen "shy" dogs misunderstood when they were actually showing appropriate caution in overwhelming environments. These labels don't just fail to help—they actively limit our ability to see what's really happening.

The most damaging aspect of vague labels is that they focus on what we think is wrong with the dog, rather than understanding how this individual dog experiences and responds to the world.

Real assessment requires observable behaviors, not interpretations. Instead of saying a dog is "reactive," we need to identify the specific triggers, measure the intensity of response, and track recovery patterns. This precision transforms both our understanding and our training approaches.

Read more at the blog:
🔗 https://suzanneclothier.com/beyond-reactive-stubborn-vague-labels-fail-dogs

01/25/2026

We had to say goodbye to our little rescue terrier mix, Toph, on Friday, Jan. 23rd.

He was a special guy whom we fostered & eventually adopted from Dorchester Paws in 2019. He was brought in because his elderly owner had passed away. Though he was completely blind, due to a genetic illness, with his terrier tenacity, he quickly & proudly learned how to get himself out from our kitchen, down the ramp, through the garage, & into the yard & back, all on his own. He especially loved to go there after we had had 4-legged female visitors, whose scents he would skilfully locate… and p*e over.

Inside he was a cuddle bug who loved to be held & even carried around in our arms like a baby. How many terriers can you say that about?! He loved to give kisses almost as much as he loved getting baked goods! You could not warm up a croissant without his little nose swivelling from side-to-side & his pace sp*eding up to locate the yummy goods. He was trusting of his (adult) humans but suspicious of other dogs. However, he adapted beutifully to our mixed pack of small & large dogs, as he realised they were part of his new family.

Unfortunately old age & health issues caught up with him. His diagnosis revealed no effective treatment. So when he reached a point where he no longer could find comfort & joy, we decided to help him go on to a better place with the help of Dr Lara Allison from CodaPet, who came to our home with great sympathy & gave our old guy a peaceful, dignified end. We are very thankful to her & our Vets at Sun Dog Cat Moon for the great care & compassion they have shown Toph, as they did with our previous pups as well.

01/22/2026

Foster needed for female GSD currently at Orangeburhe County shelter.

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