Walking with a Friend

06/29/2025

When we change our wording and think of the real need behind the behaviour. We can meet it with more purpose and calm.

06/15/2025

A wee gem 💎
Super easy.
Why wouldn't you add this in?
So many ways to use this too.
Reactivity?
➡️A well practiced movement word can help stop reactions from occurring.....yeah, I know that seems like a stretch... but it can and does help.

It becomes "automatic" to move them away from a trigger when you see that tension start to rise.
That "muscle memory" kicks in as soon as those words are spoken.

Changing direction
➡️Movement words make it a breeze.

Four minutes into smelling that same lamppost?
Do you have to get home?
➡️Say your movement word and off you go....easy!

But...
It needs practiced.
The good news is it is easier than you may think to add it in.

Opening the door for them to go to the yard "Let's go"
Jumping out the car door "Let's go"
Do you know your dog always walks out the gate after stopping for you to open it ?....."Let's go".

So many ways you can add this in.
With pretty much zero effort.

Use whatever word you want but it is best if there is a "new start" and no association with a previous word.

That is often the "hardest" part to this.

What is your word going to be ?

06/13/2025

This is one of those little wee secrets with reactive dogs.🤫
If you are really struggling with your reactive dog and have never thought about u turns...this little gem has the amazing ability to help you both.

The biggest reason this helps?

It’s not what most people think.

It’s because you become more in tune with your dog’s body language those first subtle signs they’re becoming unsure, overexcited, or frustrated.

That is key!

Reading those tell tale signs allow you to help your dog and stop those reactions.
I really do appreciate some of these signs can be tricky to spot and they can happen fast !!!

Give it a go if you haven't tried it.
Well worth it.

05/29/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/169NQHTsfX/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Maybe they are meant for us, the journey we are on. They help us grow patience, compassion, empathy. They make us look at ourselves more deeply.

Or maybe they are showing us a path we are destined to go down.
When we look this way at situations that challenge us it can sometimes help us make more sense of them.

05/27/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AzK2paLNp/?mibextid=wwXIfr

TEACH KIDS TO BE DOG FRIENDLY

I’m often asked - “How can I make my dog more child friendly?”

The question really should be - “How can I make my child more dog friendly?”

Children don’t come with an inborn ability to know how to interact with dogs. It’s up to us to teach them.

It’s surprising that there aren’t more dog bites considering how often children are seen treating dogs like stuffed toys.

If you think about it, dogs are actually amazingly tolerant and patient with us. They try their best to communicate with us, in the only way they know how, through using their body language.

A dogs attempt to show us they’re uncomfortable, scared, stressed or anxious is so often completely ignored or not understood.

As parents, I believe it should be a non-negotiable responsibility to teach our children about how to respect and behave around dogs to keep both of them safe.

Always supervise children and dogs, even if a dog seems relaxed and friendly.

Here are some links to free, on-line resources if you’re looking for more information on how to keep children and dogs safe together -

https://kidsarounddogs.co.uk/pages/free-resources

https://www.gooddoginabox.com/top-20-ways-keep-kids-and.../

https://www.familypaws.com/resources/

https://www.cooperandkids.com

https://poochparenting.net/blog/

05/26/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16fmTbdNYn/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Remembering the humans and animals who have served and paid the ultimate price.

05/25/2025

05/20/2025

Integrate training into your daily routine! Reinforce offered attention throughout the day to help maintain consistency and trust.

05/16/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16A7Ksjcr8/?mibextid=wwXIfr

It’s in our nature to repeat a cue over and over until we get a result.

But giving your dog time to think and process, just like you would another person, can be incredibly powerful.

05/15/2025