Pawsitively Positive Dog Training

08/25/2021

Wednesday Wisdom:

08/18/2021

I have always strongly advised against free feeding, and this article supports my beliefs and gives the reasons why.

Whole Dog Journal‘s mission is to provide dog guardians with in-depth information on dog food, training, behavior, health, and more.

04/15/2021

Be sure to make lots of time for sniffing walks!!!!!

Imagine going on a long-anticipated walk, through beautiful scenery, after you have been cooped up all day in the same place, but you have been fitted with a blind fold and are being dragged along at a fast pace. I imagine that this is how dogs feel when we don’t allow them time to stop and sniff the environment. Dogs largely perceive their world through smell and it’s how they collect and process information and make sense of their world. Taking away an opportunity for sniffing on a walk is not in their best interests and as much as physical exercise is important, the mental stimulation that sniffing provides is equally, if not more important.
Studies have shown that allowing dogs to spend time sniffing provides so many benefits – promoting calmness, lowering stress and anxiety levels, lowering pulse rates, preventing cognitive decline and providing mental stimulation and enrichment are just some examples.
Make time for a slow “sniffing walk”, where your dog is allowed to decide which direction to go and allowed to simply follow their nose to their noses content! It may take more patience as we wait for them to finish smelling that blade of grass, but the benefits are well worth it.

04/26/2020

Some tips on what you can do with your dogs during this lockdown.

Working from home comes with positives, like being nearer the biscuits and working in pyjamas. But it also has challenges, like communicating with colleagues and keeping the children entertained.

11/09/2019

11/08/2019

Imagine your sense of happiness being 100% dependent on someone else who limits your movement, is usually busy and doesn't speak our language very well. Where would that leave you?

10/17/2019

This article begins with my favorite thing -- rock-solid recalls. However, there is also a lot of other good information here!

The off leash training goal: Enjoying a walk with your dog running free by your side. The tips in this article may help you gain the reliability you want.

09/05/2019

"A great relationship is based on choice; the dog chooses to spend time with you because you are important to him."

I recently had the privilege of working with a dog/handler team that had particularly good interpersonal play skills. Without using food or toys, this handler could engage her dog for several minutes at a time. Further, she could then ask the dog to work for her in this engaged state, which allowed....

08/27/2019

It's National Dog Day!! Post a photo of your dog(s).

08/01/2019

Get out in nature, and let your dog just 'be a dog'!!

I first heard the term “decompression walk” used by Sarah Stremming on her Cog-Dog Radio podcast. I remember finding myself exclaiming “yes” over and over and over again as I listened to her describe it. Up until that moment, I never considered that what I had been doing with my dog, and wha...

06/28/2019

If you still free feed, please read this article and consider changing things for the good of your dog.

he knew to sit and wait