Courteous Canine of Jackson County NC

10/11/2025

Dogs can be trained to easily accept the muzzle see The Muzzle Up Project

Send a message to learn more

09/28/2025

09/28/2025

DOG REFUSE TREATS AT TIMES?

😣 If you are trying to work with your dog there are a few things that can indicate your dog is what we call "over threshold" - in which your dog's stress levels are too high to properly learn, listen or think properly.
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‼️ Thresholds are important in training because they can make or break your success.
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There are several indicators that your dog is stressed. (Not an exhaustive list!)
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1️⃣ Refusing food

2️⃣ Spitting out food

3️⃣ Barking/lunging

4️⃣ Appearing to "not listen"

5️⃣ Heavy panting

6️⃣ Scratching (as if itchy)

7️⃣ Full shake off (like a wet dog does)

8️⃣ Freezes or won't move

⏱ If your dog frequently goes over threshold or is stressed and you aren't sure what to do, or if what you're doing isn't working, it's time to start a behavior modification program to get it under control!

🦸🏼 Get in touch with the proper professional for optimal results.

📸 The attached handout/image (click to enlarge) is from Grisha Stewart's BAT protocol (Behavior Adjustment Training) and shows stress on a very lovely illustrated, easy-to-understand scale. Illustrated by Doggie Drawings by Lili Chin
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Stacy Greer, CPDT-KA

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COPYRIGHT NOTICE
© 2025 Stacy Greer
All rights reserved. Feel free to share via the “Share” link to the original post. Downloading for redistribution online or in print form is strictly prohibited.

09/08/2025

Pay Attention!

Dogs communicate at different “volumes.”

Noticing and listening to the more subtle signs (low volume) enables us to intervene and help dogs feel more comfortable so they don’t resort to the more overt signs (high volume).

Get your copy here: https://rescuedbytraining.com/dog-communication-infographic/

09/04/2025

Puppies like babies NEED naps

09/03/2025

PUPPY BITING: Ugh!

Does your puppy nip or bite at you in some way with those awfully sharp puppy teeth?! Ouch! They are like shark teeth!
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WHY THEY BITE

🐾 Undertrained/underworked: no clear rules or outlets

😵‍💫 Over-stimulated: overtired = mouthy gremlin

🎲 It’s a game: (often unintentionally taught)

👶 They’re…puppies: baby teeth, big feelings
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HOW TO FIX IT

⏲️ Prevent over-stimulation: From 8–10 wks, do ~20-min out-of-crate bursts: potty → train → play → potty → back to crate/x-pen. Add a little freedom weekly. Puppies need lots of sleep.

🧊 Act fast, stay calm: First nip = end scene. Quietly park pup in crate/x-pen. Not punishment—downtime. Wait for relaxed pup before retrying.

🧒 Kids getting chomped? Adults step in. End play. Coach “Be a Tree” (hands tucked, look down/away, stand still), then park the pup.

🧸 Use the right play: Hands ≠ toys. Always use a toy (tug, ball, puzzle).

🔁 Redirect well: Trade skin for a real chew (bully stick, buffalo horn, antler—something that holds attention).

🧠 Train + enrich: If pup’s out, they’re training with you, playing appropriately, or calmly chewing. Balance = fewer teeth on you. Great ideas here: bit.ly/canineenrichment
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Puppies are spicy but fixable. A good in-home trainer can fast-track all of this.



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Stacy Greer, CPDT-KA

🐕🐩🐕‍🦺🦮

COPYRIGHT NOTICE
© 2025 Stacy Greer
All rights reserved. Feel free to share via the “Share” link to the original post. Downloading for redistribution online or in print form is strictly prohibited.

08/26/2025

GREAT WAY TO WORK WITH A NERVOUS OR REACTIVE DOG. Be far enough away from the action not to get a reaction.

I pull up to grab a coffee, open the boot and let the lazy lesson begin. It’s the easiest dog training and totally underestimated.

Dogs don’t only learn by doing, they learn by watching. Pongrácz showed dogs figured out detour problems quicker when they’d seen a human do it first. Fugazza and Miklósi proved with “Do As I Do” that they can even copy novel behaviours on cue. Range found that when dogs watch other dogs, they don’t just copy, they take the goal and work out the most efficient way to get it. Watching counts.

And while they’re watching, they’re smelling. Classic work by Scott and Fuller showed puppies exposed to more sensory experiences, including scent, grew up less fearful and more resilient. Gazzano confirmed that varied exposure in puppyhood leads to pups who explore more and adapt better. Jezierski and McGowan showed that familiar odours act as a social buffer, reducing stress and helping dogs settle. Smelling the world counts - possible as much, if not more than watching.

So, when these pups are sat in the car boot with the world rolling past, they’re not wasting time. They’re learning. They’re building a bank of information about how the world looks, moves and smells. When they’re too young for a walk - get owners to take them for a drive. Science tells us those quiet moments matter.

Learn more at: www.thejrhacademy.com

08/24/2025

Don’t be a primate when doing dog-dog introductions!

This week I write about how our primate behavior of circling around a newbie is the worst way to watch dogs meeting each other for the first time. Just. Keep. Walking! I beg of all of us, and illustrate some fun body language when Skip, kick-ass rescue terrier Rocky, and shier Leo meet up at the farm.

Let’s have a conversation—how do you handle introductions between two dogs?

Read on: http://bit.ly/4lCnp7E

08/02/2025

Find the "YES"!

🛑 NO! FIDO! STOP! 🛑
Do you find yourself trying hard to stop your dog from doing XYZ?
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Behavior changes more quickly and reliably, while having lasting results, when you find ways to say "yes" more than "no".

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✅ Dog training is hugely successful when you find way to teach your dog alternate behaviors to replace the bad ones instead of trying over and over to stop or punish the bad behavior.

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EXAMPLES

1️⃣ If you have a dog jumps on guests instead of punishing the dog for jumping a better solution is to train your dog to do a behavior instead of jumping. So, training Fido to lie on a mat when the doorbell rings and guests enter would eliminate his need or ability to jump on the entering guests.

2️⃣ If you have a dog that pulls on the leash instead of jerking the leash and trying to stop the pulling, give treats and rewards when Fluffy walks nicely next to you. Train her that walking on a loose leash next to you yields treats, and then sniffs to the grass to follow then she'll look forward to walks and learn that walking on a loose leash brings on good things. She'll choose that behavior every time the more she's trained to understand this.

3️⃣ If you have a dog that barks out of the window instead of punishing him for barking, teach him to settle on a mat away from the window and/or that when he sees things outside good things happen and there is no need to bark frantically.
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⁉️ Are you finding ways to tell your dog yes instead of no? If not, you should start.

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Here is a great poster designed by Dog Latin Dog Training and Behavior Consulting illustrated by Doggie Drawings by Lili Chin .

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Stacy Greer, CPDT-KA

🐕🐩🐕‍🦺🦮

COPYRIGHT NOTICE
© 2025 Stacy Greer
All rights reserved. Feel free to share via the “Share” link to the original post. Downloading for redistribution online or in print form is strictly prohibited.

07/28/2025

06/29/2025

THIS!!!

06/26/2025

💪🏼 8 WAYS TO BUILD CONFIDENCE IN YOUR DOG‼️
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Building confidence can be trying for dog owners of anxious dogs, but it can be done and the payoff is huge when the results are noticeable!
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1️⃣ CREATE PREDICTABILITY
Scenarios where your dog is anxious should have a pattern.

Example 👉🏼 Greeting people causes your dog some stress.
Each person that greets the dog should learn a behavior to perform or ask for such as scattering food or asking for a target to a hand or foot instead of reaching to pet the dog.

If this becomes the norm for greetings the dog will gain confidence in greetings not being so stressful because she will know what is going to happen during those greetings.

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2️⃣ USE MANAGEMENT EFFICIENTLY
Management can be a tool that helps in areas where training can't take place, shouldn't or makes the specific situation easier on all involved.

Example 👉🏼 Your dog stresses when people come into your home.
Put your dog in a place in your home where he feels safe & isn't exposed to people entering until that is something you can work through with training & other skills.

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3️⃣ GIVE SNIFFING THE UPPER HAND
Exercise is perfect when done properly & the correct exercise is chosen for each specific dog & case. Sniff walks are something all dogs can do & while walking!

Example 👉🏼 You want to exercise your dog but going around the block isn't do-able at the moment.
Put your dog on a long line, walk in front of your home & toss a handful of your dog's food or yummy treats in the grass for him to sniff out. Sniffing is calming for dogs & this can help while also allowing you to do some walking. You can also walk short distances while allowing your dog to sniff all the things, you know be a dog!

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4️⃣ PROPER PLAY
Play is a great stress release & is hugely beneficial to our social companions. Learning proper play will build your relationship & build confidence.

Example 👉🏼 Teach your dog to play tug with you, drop it on cue & start when you say. Let her win some & lose some, but lots of wins. Throwing a ball over & over isn't great play as it builds arousal so there are lots of other types of play we can do with our dogs.

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5️⃣ TEACH USEFUL CUES & UTILIZE POSITIVE TRAINING
Using positive training & teaching your dog to respond to different cues will benefit you & him in all sorts of areas of life.

When your dog knows cues, responds & gets rewarded, his confidence will go up. It will also help in situations so you both know what to do & how to respond.

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6️⃣ PROPER SLEEP
Sleep is just important for all living beings! Dogs should sleep at 12-18 hours a day, depending on age. This includes day & night. So your dog should get a lot of sleep throughout the daytime for proper brain rest & lower stress levels.

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7️⃣ AUTONOMY & CHOICES
This would be where you listen to your dog & respect what they are "telling" you while also allowing her to make safe choices about what is comfortable for her.

Example 👉🏼 Your dog doesn't like sitting next to you while you pet him. Let him move to a spot he wants to or just don't pet him at all if he's showing signs he doesn't want that in that moment.

Example 👉🏼 Your dog starts to show signs of not really wanting to be on a walk with you, then don't go on that walk or head straight home if you're already out.

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8️⃣ CONSISTENCY!
All of the above things won't matter if you cannot be consistent. In fact it could be more harmful in the long run if you do somethings one way one day and differently on another day. That will negate #1 and cause unpredictability!
🔑 So consistency is key!

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Stacy Greer, CPDT-KA
🐕🐩🐕‍🦺🦮

COPYRIGHT NOTICE
© 2025 Stacy Greer

All rights reserved. Feel free to share via the “Share” link to the original post. Downloading for redistribution online or in print form is strictly prohibited.