Soul Dog: Animal Behavior and Science

12/04/2025

Service dog Kai, in action, catching my scent of anxiety and alerting multiple times with a boop to the right hand. I was having a hard time and already took meds, but she let me know that was not enough. Added medication and DPT later and I was able to function better.

She’s an incredible dog.

12/03/2025

This four second video tells the story of a 7 month old puppy alerting to an anxiety attack naturally without the cue he has been taught or body cue. Only recently has he been working with my scents frozen. Even with other dogs in the way. The alert is booping my right hand. He’s never done that and I have not had anxiety issues through most of his puppyhood. But he has worked with my scent and different mood states.
So this alert was incredible to me.
My main service pup also alerted so they had 100% IOA lol.
I just had to share how meaningful this four second video was. I turned the camera on but not expecting his alert! So proud of young Jedi.

11/23/2025

Training run with Kai. Since I’m not in an active episode, I train her with the scents I collected over time.
She was sound asleep prior to lifting her head. I had a psychosis sample hidden in my sleeve. She smelled that scent before I even got passed the gate. Then a perfect alert.

I am so proud of her.

11/18/2025

Puppy Jedi practicing with a live anxiety scent and Kai getting in some extra practice. Both pups were train to smell me and then deliver the alert which is booping or licking my right hand.
It’s amazing Jedi alerts the same as Kai which tells me the samples are strong enough and smell some version of anxiety reliably.

11/16/2025

Jedi is a young Labrador learning his basics and also has begun scent training on my particular scents. This was his first live sample as I was in a massive panic attack.
Kai, the Newfoundland got a refresher and she is still incredible at what she does. I’m thankful for both pups! And this reminded me that certain mood states give off a certain kind of smell.

10/26/2025

Some amazing dogs are up for adoption at TCRAS! Again for Sophie. A year and a half old brown shepherd mix. She walks well with the leash, she is dog friendly- does best with other dogs that have similar energy, like Earl here. She loves people and can be so sweet.
Pictured below was an amazing play date with Earl! Both dogs have similar energy at the shelter and did so well with their play date and just having so much fun!
Earl is the dog with black and brown fur. He is just a love of a dog. Also gets along with other dogs! Earl has a special requirement to his adoption-TCRAS will be happy to explain the requirements! He is super friendly guy looking for his furever home. He is a one year old, looks like a shepherd pit mix.
Sophie and Earl are super similar dogs who are very fun to hang out with and would love to find their furever home!
Contact TCRAS today to make an appointment to see these pups. As you can see in the pictures they had a wonderful time together playing. Let’s find these pups a home this week!!!

10/26/2025

Mayor Fern doing her job this weekend and helping to find out which shelter friends are dog friendly or need some extra training.

10/25/2025

There are two amazing very adoptable dogs at TCRAS! Run, don’t walk, to see these amazing dogs. Both walk on a leash, especially if their favorite treats are on board! Sophie, a brown shepherd mix that is a year and six months! She is very amped in the shelter but calms when away from the shelter and is a huge love bug. She does well with other dogs, friendly and wants to play. She would do best with other dogs that match her energy. She would need to do a meet and greet for any other dogs in the home.
Then sweet River, a black lab mix about a year and eight months old. She loves going on walks! She is easy to direct. She especially loves a long lead to do a sniffari! After a walk, she was a cuddle bug and loved to just hang out and watch the world around her. She is also amped in the shelter with so many dogs and the noise etc. She has been with other dogs but extremely dog selective and would need a meet and greet to ensure she’s the right fit. She over excitable and amped up from the shelter environment. She loves to cuddle and was very settled after a walk.
These are two really good pups needing a home! Call TCRAS today to make an appointment to see these wonder dogs.

10/17/2025

Kai is a year and a half Newfie. She has been in service dog training for various aspects of my life. Brushing up on public access training as I’ve been a hermit and we haven’t been out much. But refocusing!

09/28/2025

This!

“We want to think about providing for greater expression as opposed to greater suppression.” - Kim Brophey

When dogs’ needs are met, it is much easier for them to be a “good dog.” They can relax into our human world because they have had the chance to meet their own needs first.

But when those needs are ignored, when they are chronically frustrated or deprived of opportunities to move, explore, play, forage, rest, or connect, obedience becomes an unfair ask. We cannot expect calm, compliant behavior from a dog whose welfare has been compromised.

Expression is not a luxury. It is the foundation. When we honor dogs as the animals they are, training becomes a bridge, not a battle.

07/27/2025

And so my soul dog turns 7. My beautiful boy who has stood by my side for 7 years. Time has changed both of us in different ways. He has lived through several different siblings and life. He has handled all that I’ve thrown at him with love. And I’m sorry for the times I didn’t protect him enough against other dogs that were unkind to him.
And still. Still. He is here with all of the love in the world by my side. I will never be able to thank Oliver enough for his unconditional love.

LITTLE DOG'S RHAPSODY IN THE NIGHT
He puts his cheek against mine and makes small, expressive sounds.
And when l'm awake, or awake enough
he turns upside down, his four paws In the air
and his eyes dark and fervent.
"Tell me you love me," he says.
"Tell me again."
Could there be a sweeter arrangement?
Over and over he gets to ask.
I get to tell.
- Mary Oliver

07/13/2025

Loose Leash Walking training! This is sweet Lark, a deaf almost two year old bully/pit mix. When I adopted him, he had severe orthopedic issues that took almost a year and a surgery to help him. One of his exercises was eventually pulling a sled. He was amazing at that. However, I started noticing then he pulled when we were walking. So training commenced. I struggled at first with him outside after mastering inside with little distraction. I called on my friends Amie at Pawsitive Vibes Dog Training LLC and Taylor at Adventure Tails Dog Training. Amie is a KPA-CTP and Taylor is a student currently. Karen Pryor Clicker Training. Thanks to both of them, Lark is doing so much better. Here is a montage of our first part of training.