Pawsitive K9 Trainers LLC

11/06/2025

I’ve taught my lab Aztec to tolerate nail trims using either a Dremel or clippers I started cooperative care with him at four months of age. Many of my clients tell me they struggle with nail trims so I’m going to begin offering lessons on how to use a scratch board. Here is Aztec first time using a scratch board after three short sessions of scratching a towel.

11/06/2025

Something to consider .

They're just "off".
Something has unsettled them and we just cant see it.
There's no dog around.
No people either, but they are struggling.
Time to look a bit deeper.

Candles, diffusers and even a change of your perfume can be deeply unsettling for a dog.
If you have two dogs and need to take one to the vet or the groomers, sometimes the welcome home is confusing.
Colder or even aggressive.
Their friend looks the same but they smell totally different (and scent is everything to a dog).

Of course dogs can be stressed by storms but before that thunder and lightning they may be acutely aware of a change in the atmosphere, long before we even notice.
It doesn't need to be an actual storm either, a change of weather is sometimes enough to unsettle dogs.

Those ultrasonic devices we have in our homes, the pest control devices can cause dogs anxiety but so can our modern TVs and devices on standby. Some can emit high frequency sounds that we can barely hear. Even a heat pump turning itself on and off and adjusting output can trigger dogs and even the compressor unit outside cause stress.

We often think of triggers they can see and miss all the other ways our dogs can be affected.

Back to the candles, oil burners and plug in air freshener units for a second.
They may be pleasant for us, but deeply disturbing for a dog.
For some dogs, they can really take a toll.

Maybe rethink if you really need them.

You may be surprised just how relaxed your dog is when you don't use them.

11/04/2025

11/02/2025

Dogs need to be conditioned to nails clipper ,dremels, harness , leashes even bowls. I take my time with clients to explain that you want to pair new things with treats to help the dog understand that this “thing” won’t hurt them , it might be uncomfortable but they eventually get used to it . Slow and steady wins the race . Dogs need their owners to understand this take time and patience .

If every time nail clippers appear, your dog gets tasty treats, they may start wagging their tail at the sight of the clippers — that’s a positive CER (+CER). Conversely, if clippers predict discomfort, the sight of them may trigger fear — a negative CER (–CER). Thoughtful pairing helps create calm, confident learners.

10/30/2025

One of my clients had an ah-ha moment this afternoon . We have had 3 sessions so far and all suggestions have been taken and implemented . We were working on recall this session and Rowdy Mae nailed it , this lab is so much fun !

Her owner said “ I always thought disciplining a dog would teach her what not to do , but rewarding the wanted behavior is so much better and works better “

Yes !!!!! He got it , it’s always an hallelujah moment for me when it clicks 💖💖💖💖

10/29/2025

Congrats to Delta who completed my program today . This beautiful girl has had many life changes in her young 14 months . Thankfully she landed with a dedicate owner who is putting the work in to help her adjust especially into their new apartment. It was exciting to see her progress so quickly . I love my profession 💖💖

10/29/2025

I caution people when they want to meet dogs on leash to be aware that wagging tail is not always an indicator that the dog is friendly . Feelings and reactions from dogs can change instantly.

SECONDS COUNT
This post is not advocating that dogs meet every other dog, but rather about how to go about it in a safer way, if and when it does happen.

The 3 second rule for dogs meeting each other is used as a guideline to help foster positive introductions, prevent either dog from feeling overwhelmed or trapped and prevent any potential reactivity and stress.

A short 3 second introduction is enough time to provide important information to both dogs.

Enough time and information for dogs to decide – “are you a threat?”, “do I like you?”, “do I want to learn more about you?”, “do I really dislike you?”, “do I want you to go away?” etc. Both dogs may not feel the same way – one may not be happy to engage while the other may want to.

All interactions should ideally happen like this, not just initially. Just like us, dogs can have off days – things like pain, trigger stacking, lack of sleep or a host of other reasons can influence a dog’s emotional state and whether a dog wants to interact or not.

There are countless times I have witnessed meetings or introductions between dogs that have gone on just a few seconds too long and have not ended well.

This can have long lasting effects on future behaviour when meeting other dogs.

Understanding body language is critically important. If we are going to share our lives with another species, protect them, advocate for them and help them feel safe, then we need to understand and respect their language.

The examples in this post of red and green flags are just a few general ones to look out for – there are many more and these will differ depending on the individual dog, context and circumstances.

Here are some resources that provide more detailed information about body language –

The Veterinary Behaviour Centre
https://bit.ly/4hwC8k1

On Talking Terms With Dogs - Calming Signals, 2nd Edition by Turid Rugaas
https://bit.ly/4oftWqW

Make sure those first 3 seconds count – they can make all the difference.

10/27/2025

Animal welfare , specifically safety must come first before we expect to teach them basic manners or life skills . Once a dog feels safe in their environment they can focus on learning . This along with much more is what I help my clients learn and understand to change unwanted behavior . Contact me today to set up a free discovery call to discuss your needs 😀🐶

Learning can only happen when dogs feel safe.

Dogs depend on us to create a world of safety so let’s start being the best humans we can be and we can keep dogs at home instead of in shelters.

Find help if you’re struggling with your pup and only from trainers who will not cause pain, discomfort or anxiety. Be thay person they can trust to help them feel safe.

10/24/2025

Congrats to Cinder who completed my program , this sweet boy has come so far in a short period of time . Added much needed mental enrichment activities and taught predictable patterns so he understood the expectations . As a new rescue into this home it took a while to settle in and feel safe , his awesome owners followed through with my suggestions and it was a win-win for all .

10/23/2025

Halloween is around the corner and the kiddos are excited to dress up and get that candy! What about your dog? Costumes, outside decorations, and spooky sounds can create a lot of confusion for dogs because they don’t understand what it is. It’s also very scary when there are inanimate objects moving about and making noises. Many owners with good intentions are asking their dogs to go up to these decorations to show them that there’s nothing wrong with them and they shouldn’t be scared, while the dog is freezing, pulling away, barking, etc. Do your dog a favor and leave them home when you go trick-or-treating in the evening; it may be more stressful for them than you realize .