K9 Kounseling with Nikki

04/29/2022

Laundry day….😴

03/30/2022

When we met, this little cutie demanded attention by barking, yapping and jumping. Following the critical relationship work, that has all faded and she is now eager to learn. Focused, and providing great eye contact (“watch”), as we do a quick rehearsal of “sit” and “down” and then progress to the introduction of “stay”. This little stinker has been transformed into a little thinker. 🐾🤔❤️

03/30/2022

This little 15-month-old cutie possessed a list of undesirable behaviors:

💩failure to potty train,
🐶excessive barking,
👈demanding tendencies accompanied by a bossy and sassy attitude, and
👟running from her person when trying to get/reach her.

The biggest culprit and misunderstanding regarding potty training, was the use of potty-training pads. After witnessing the lack of success in utilizing these pads with many clients, I implore all puppy owners and advise that you DO NOT potty train with potty training pads. There is a place for them, and they provide a service, such as when I relied on them for our convalescing dog following a surgical procedure; but as for potty training, they only provide a false sense of success (until they don’t), as in this case.

This sweet little girl was in fact, potty trained – trained to potty in the house, using (and often missing) the potty pad. This was a situation where we had to go back to basics and launch a rigid and well-disciplined, potty-training regimen to reverse what she had already learned, allowing her to re-condition her mind and potty-ing association from what she already knew, to what she now needed to know.

Working simultaneously through the new potty-training plan, we also immediately began utilizing the appropriate relationship building tools and took the steps to meet her at a place her little doggo mind understood. Once we began implementing this program, she willingly came around, released the authority she believed she had, easily calmed down and relaxed. Now a content girl, comfortable with this newfound freedom of disengaging from the triggers of her environment also gave her the ability to focus on enrichment activities when we introduced obedience training, in which she responded to beautifully.

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03/15/2022

Honor your dog by loving them the educated way. When this happens, your relationship with your dog is strengthened and in turn, they honor you. They become a truly content, well rounded and well adjusted canine companion as problematic and troublesome behaviors melt away.

03/13/2022

Seem familiar? What does it mean to your dog when you leave them home alone? What really happens in your absence? Is your dog anxious and stressed? Barking? Whining? Restless? Destructive? House broken, but potties when you are gone? Fido has a message he's trying to tell you - let's decode it together!

03/03/2022

Is your dog listening? Can they "hear" you?

When leading your dog, calm and quiet body language will always win them to your way of thinking. Minimize verbal speak to reduce and eliminate confusion which adds potential for chaos and conflict. Check-in on your energy and "noise" to validate theirs.

03/02/2022

03/02/2022

How does your dog spend their down time?

Give your dog a bone...or a bully stick as recommended and pictured here. A bully stick is not only favored by teething puppies, but it is a great enrichment exercise for adult dogs as well. The time your dog spends gnawing on a bully stick not only satisfies their natural desire and need to chew, but it is also a boredom buster just as you and I would read a book, build a puzzle or scroll through social media. When you offer your dog a bully stick, be sure to have plenty of fresh water available.

03/01/2022

Can we talk? Tell me what would your dog say about your walk?

02/27/2022

Read this and break the old school thinking. Set dogs up to succeed. 🐾⭐️

🛇 Use your Manners! 🛇
The Sniff test - Stop doing that!
The sniff test - a badly engrained habit that society has been taught, without a clear understanding of what they're actually doing.

🚩When you reach out towards a dog, you are using body pressure AT them, giving them no time to assess whether you are safe & whether they require further investigation to pick up your information. You are forcing an interaction of a relationship that hasn't had time to develop. To some dogs, this is quite rude & the reason a lot of dogs snap at or bite people. This can cause alot of behavioral issues because of layered stress due to forced interactions.

🚩If they are on lead, they have no where to go if they are sensitive to spacial pressure, so can end up shutting down, shying away or snapping at your hand so you back off. This is an example of how a dog is now using pressure to turn off pressure & make you back off so they aren't so stressed.

🚩People think by offering your hand it can give the dog time to sniff to know you're friendly... they can sniff without being forced to sniff your hand.Their noses are far more superior than ours & they don't need close contact forced upon them to smell you.

🚩Some dogs might not want to know you. You have no relationship with them and that's perfectly fine. They aren't your dog so you don't need to touch them or steal pats for your own satisfaction.

🤔 If you are meeting a dog, what should you do?
⚠Ask the owner if you can interact with their dog. Not all people want strangers touching their dogs. Especially strangers who you are unlikely to see again.
⚠Stand up straight & relaxed, with your hands at your side.
⚠Ignore the dog & talk to the owner.
⚠Don't stare at the dog & don't try to force an interaction by going in for a pat. If the dog wants to know you, it will come up to you & sniff around. Usually they will move away & then come back for a second sniffathon. Some dogs will bunt your hands & wag their tails, which are good signs that you're likely an accepted new friend. Give them a few slow pats down their back (NOT THEIR HEAD) & then stop. Is the dog happy? Has it accepted your interaction? This will determine whether you can give it more pats.

🐶This is a more stress free option for dogs & a reason why in consultations we can develop a good level of trust, especially with fearful dogs & aggressive dogs, without a bunch of negative side effects from forced interactions.