Canine Culture

05/19/2026

05/03/2026

This is our new foster Benedict. We call him Benny. We are fostering him for Friends Forever Animal Rescue .
He is just about perfect. Is that possible?
He is about 1-2 years old. He clearly had a loving home at some point, because he walks very nicely on a leash, and even waits at the door, rather than rushing out. He sits to be leashed, knows the situation command, and is learning down, here with us.
If you are looking for friendly, he is it.
He loves to snuggle. A lot. And sometimes likes to be squirmy and playful about it.
If you want a dog who isn't too big, but also isn't too small, he is ALSO it.
He is very smart, and learns quickly. Gets along with dogs, is not reactive to cats.
The perfect gentleman.

Fill out an application with Friends Forever and come visit him. EVERYONE who has met him has fallen in love, very quickly. But we are all at our canine maximum capacity.
Are you canine deficient?
Meet Benny! You won't be!

After your application is approved, contact me, or Caleb at Sweet Paws Pet Grooming and Boarding for an appointment for a meet-and-greet!

04/20/2026

I want to talk about calmness.
Some people feel like it is a personality trait. Something that is unattainable with their dog (or child) if it is not innate in their behavioral make up or temperament.
It is okay if your dog is energetic and silly?
Of course!
But do we want an off switch? Yes.
When their excitable behavior is considered anxiety, obsessive, or hyper, we need to give it another look.
Sometimes it can be a lack of exercise.
But sometimes it can be that they have a lack of self control, that they just never learned.
They never learned how to do nothing.
They were always redirected to alternate their focus on another behavior. Chewing, eating, toy, tug, obedience, etc. And that's not wrong. But were they ever taught how to relax? To be calm? How do nothing, sometimes.
Often they just need help with that.
Not only can you attend a workshop called Relaxation Response, which has been filling quickly (but we have scheduled ANOTHER), which teaches you a bodywork technique you can use with your dog that helps reduce stress and anxiety, and also earns you trust and respect, and gives you a tool to teach calmness and self control. The new date is Saturday May 16th at 10am.
I highly recommend giving it a try!
But in addition to that, I am going to be offering another workshop which focuses on behavioral techniques that can help teach your dog how to settle. How to develop self control, so you don't have to micro manage.
If you would be interested in learning more about that, or possibly interested in a evaluation/consultation, please reach out and feel free to contact me to sign up for a workshop, be on waiting list, or schedule an appointment.
Classes are held at Sweet Paws Pet Grooming and Boarding or at your home.
Private classes are also always available.
Lisa 315-280-0107
CanineCulture-CNY.com

04/13/2026

Do you have experiences with your dog that limits your ability to enjoy them freely? Or have them enjoy exploring the world with them?
You are not alone.

Lots of people don't take their dogs out with them as much as they would like.
Perhaps your dog is reactive to other dogs or people. Which can be stressful, embarrassing, or even unsafe to walk them. So some people don't. The dog is relegated to a fenced yard or tie out, or only being walked at nite when not many others are out.

Sometimes a dog is very anxious or fearful. So the owner thinks the dog will feel better staying home, because they don't know how to help them.
It doesn't have to be that way.

Often behaviors you have just accepted as "the way it is", can make dramatic improvements. And might even be changed, much more easily than you think!
Sometimes very minor changes in your understanding, and the way you handle things, can make ALL of the difference! Quickly!

Owners often are quite surprised to experience dramatic change in their dogs behavior, for the better, after just ONE class!

I am trying to offer multiple different ways, in private classes, groups, and workshops, to improve the dog and human experience.

I also offer referral rewards. If someone refers me to someone else, and they become a student in some form, that referring person will receive a discount to future events or classes.

If you have questions, and would like to talk about your experience, and see if it can be improved, please contact me. I can schedule you for a evaluation and consultation on what I would plan to do to help you get on the right track.
You might be surprised!

Lisa 315-280-0107
I have appointments available at Sweet Paws Pet Grooming and Boarding in Cicero, and also possibly available at your location in the central NY area.

04/06/2026

ABOUT ANXIETY.
Anxiety is defined as a fear, apprehension or nervousness about impending, uncertain, or future events.
When is it a problem?
Is it continuous? Excessive? Is there no impending threat?
Even if it's not, and there is a specific trigger, would you like to be able to help your dog in a real way?
It is absolutely possible.
Your pets anxiety does not have to define his personality and temperament, and rarely actually needs to be medicated. Although it frequently is. And studies have shown that anxiety can actually reduce your dog's life span by up to 2 years. Not to mention, it definitely affects their quality of life.
You can have the power to really help your dog.
Your affection and intention alone, are not enough.
Training can definitely have an impact. How you address their stress and reaction, can affect their experience and association.
But there are other skills as well.

I teach a bodywork exercise that I call Relaxation Response. It is designed to create calmness and relaxation by affecting their nervous system, and ultimately creating an associative response of calmness, to a particular type of rythmic touch.
It also builds even more trust and respect in your relationship, desensitizes to handling and restraint, and creates a better understanding how to respond to physical pressure cues.

I am having a workshop coming up at Sweet Paws Pet Grooming and Boarding on Sunday May 3rd. At 10am.
The class size is limited. If it fills quickly, I will offer one that afternoon as well.

If you would like to learn more, this is a great, inexpensive opportunity.
Students typically see immediate response before the end of the class. If you make it a regular part of your relationship, the improvements can be immeasurable. Significant difference in many dogs in just a week or 2.

If you would like to experience this technique, but would prefer to do this privately, at your convenience, I can absolutely schedule you an appointment.
We can get your dog off anxiety medications. If you have been thinking your dog might need something like that, please try this first. It can make a real, learned difference. Not just alter their experience with a narcotic.

Private temperament/ behavior evaluations are also available, at your availability.

Please contact me, at 315-280-0107 if you have any questions, or to be added to the workshop class list.
Please share this with any friends that you feel could benefit from this. I would love to make a big difference in the large number of dogs that are suffering.

See my website CanineCulture-CNY.com

Photo of Shane, one of our foster dogs from Friends Forever Animal Rescue who also benefitted from this technique. He is a wonderful, happy boy who learned to have an "off switch" ❤️

03/19/2026

We received our newest foster from Friends Forever
I would like you all to meet Pepper

03/05/2026

Hello friends!
We thought we would try something new.
I would like to offer small group classes, maximum of 4 dog participants at a time, that I call a "Group Social".
The goal is basic control, for social experience with people and dogs. The dogs would be learning calmness and appropriate behaviors for self control in social situations and environments. Ideally they will develop great manners for public access situations.
They would consist of a total of 4 classes. The goal would be for everyone to be able to go together to a dog friendly location together. Ideally a restaurant or ice cream store, that allows dogs, and have excellent public behavior.

Please comment, or private message me, if you are interested in this type of classes.
Also, please comment with restaurants you know, who allow well behaved dogs. Not just service dogs. One place I enjoy, and have attended with my dogs and students in the past, is Heritage Hill Brewery and restaurant, in Pompey.

Picture below is our new foster dog Cecelia from Friends Forever Animal Rescue, here at Sweet Paws Pet Grooming and Boarding in Cicero, for training, before finding her new home. Please wish her luck, since she has a meet and greet, with possible new owners, this Saturday! 🥰

02/24/2026

Hello followers!
I am Lisa at CanineCulture-CNY.com and have partnered with Sweet Paws Pet Grooming and Boarding in Cicero, as my main location for indoor dog training.
Sweet Paws and I have partnered with Friends Forever Animal Rescue and are working hard to offer workshops, private training and group classes when we can fill them.
But we need to spread the word.
There are a lot of pets and owners out there who could use help. And we want to help you. Whether it is to give basic training, or specialized training, to keep a dog in a home, or to improve their life in your home.
There are many dogs out there suffering from a variety of fear and anxiety issues that can be easily improved in a very short period of time. Most dogs currently being medicated for a variety of behavior problems, can be helped.
Please reach out for a free consultation. Don't believe "that's just how they are". Even if they are a rescue, or have had stressful events in their past.
If you have friends who could benefit, PLEASE SHARE this post and "like" our page, so you can see upcoming events and workshops.
A free consultation, and help, is just a phone call away.

Also check out the Relaxation Response workshop we have coming up this Saturday. That workshop would actually be a GREAT introduction to see how much of a difference your dog could experience, and how easy it is for you to do.

Canine Culture offers balanced dog training in Cicero NY, Syracuse, and surrounding areas

02/03/2026

Updating on our sweet foster dog Shane.
How can you ask for more?
Not too big, not too small. Perfect medium size.
The consummate couch potato athlete. Busy enough to participate in an active lifestyle, but calm enough to help you hold down the sofa during our long winter.
He is gentle, even when playful. And is the consummate cuddler and touch-a-holic. So if you don't want a dog who enjoys physical affection, this is not your guy.

He's doing great in his training. Loves his crate, doing well with house training, walks well on the leash, and is working on 'place'. Come is something he always is ready to do, because that involves attention. Distractions are still a work in progress.
This boy MUST be seen to be appreciated. Schedule a meet and greet. What he lacks in fluff, he makes up for in affection.

Fill out an application at FriendsForeverNY.com
He is being fostered by Sweet Paws Pet Grooming and Boarding and trained by Lisa at CanineCulture-CNY.com

His new owners will also be provided with private obedience classes to make sure he makes the perfect transition to his new home.