WAGS: Wonderful Animal Guidance Services

05/29/2026

Tonight I ended up trying to help a friend whose puppy ate a kid's vitamin containing xylitol. Simple accident: kid dropped vitamin, puppy scarfed it down. (Note: this household is knowledgeable and is xylitol free, but a relative bought the vitamins, unaware of the risk to the dogs.)

The puppy only ate *one* vitamin. Which turned out to contain 1500 mg of xylitol.

100 mg/kg is the threshold for hypoglycemia which can be fatal. At 500 mg/kg, hepatic necrosis occurs -- destruction of liver tissue.

So just ONE chewable vitamin ended up creating a serious problem for a 30 pound pup (which is not quite 14 kg).

The emergency vet induced vomiting. Thankfully, the puppy had had a meal and so there was food in her stomach. In the vomit was the orange tablet, identifiable though dissolved.

Quick thinking on the owner's part (including grabbing the bottle of vitamins) and fortunately a nearby 24/7 emergency vet hospital meant that this pup received prompt treatment, and should make a full recovery.

Check your medications, vitamins, gum, candy, toothpaste, mouthwash, peanut butter and more for xylitol, also known as birch sugar.

This is useful information to have on hand:
https://www.calculatorsfordogs.com/health-nutrition-calculators/xylitol-toxicity-calculator

ALWAYS contact vet and ASPCA Animal Poison Control center immediately!

As for everyone (the non-vets) recommending the use of hydrogen peroxide, please update your understanding:
https://www.gsvs.org/woodbridge-nj/blog/hydrogen-peroxide-for-dogs-emergency/

Pass this along. I hope you never have to use it.

05/26/2026

🐾 Not every dog wants to be touched — and that's okay.

Dogs are not public property, and we should never assume that an unfamiliar (or even familiar) dog is inviting interaction just by being present.

The golden rule: don't approach unknown dogs. Give them space, stay relaxed, look slightly away, and let them come to you.

And even when a dog does approach you, sniffing, standing nearby, or coming close is NOT necessarily an invitation to pat them. Wait for clearer signals — loose, relaxed body language, leaning into your leg, gentle eye contact, a nudge, a paw, or a play bow. Those are consent.

Once you have those signals, you can ask their guardian if it's okay to interact. Keep it brief, and pause to check if they want to continue.

🚫 Avoid: patting on the head, pushing your hand in their face, hugging, or overwhelming them with too many people or too much intensity.

⚠️ Signs a dog is uncomfortable: lip licking, yawning, looking away, moving away, ears pinned back, tail tucked, whale eye (whites of the eyes showing) — and of course snapping or growling, which is an immediate request for more space.

This applies to children too — teaching kids that unknown dogs are not to be approached is one of the most important lessons we can pass on.

I've put together an infographic breaking all of this down — save it and share it! 👆

And if you want to go deeper, I've also made a video exploring whether people should even have the expectation to pat an unknown dog — and why "asking first" doesn't always make it okay 👇
📺 https://youtu.be/K2D8cOGUhs4

04/14/2026

BE GRATEFUL FOR THE GROWL

Not all growling is a sign that a dog is unhappy. Some growls may be part of a particular play style, seeking attention, from frustration, excitement or other reasons. They may all sound a little different and may be unique to that particular dog.

This post is about the early warning growls.

When a dog growls, especially when it’s directed at us, it’s natural for us to feel offended, insulted or perhaps even angry.

Surely dogs need to learn not to growl - growling is bad, it’s unacceptable, a problem that needs to be stopped or punished so a dog learns that it’s wrong, disrespectful and unacceptable, right?

This couldn’t be further from the truth! A dog that growls has just provided us with very valuable information.

In their way, they have just told us how they feel about a situation in a non-violent way without escalating to a bite.

Dogs use growling in an attempt to avoid having to resort to biting, not to initiate it. They could just as easily not have even bothered to growl and gone straight to a bite.

A dog that growls is trying to communicate how they feel. Ignoring or punishing only suppresses this communication. Punishment increases fear, anxiety and stress.

A dog that bites without the warning of a growl is a far more serious problem than a dog that growls but doesn’t bite.

Look for any other early warning signals that may precede a growl. Learn to recognize body language and any specific situations that trigger it.

Be grateful for the gift of a growl – it’s clear communication that we need to acknowledge, understand and respect.

A growl allows us to intervene, advocate and prevent escalation.

02/06/2026

I am sick and tired - and increasingly so are dog owners - of the public attacks dog trainers launch on one another. Throwing shade and using colorful language may add up to a few more views, followers or likes but it doesn't help dogs and is now hurting the profession. I explain much more in the story in the link in comments

01/30/2026

01/28/2026

This is a space for curious trainers and anyone who values thoughtful, ethical training. Together, we explore evidence-based insights and real-world inspiration.

And yet it also feels wrong for us not to acknowledge what is going on in the United States, as, together, citizens and non-citizens have been demonstrating against the activities of federal immigration agents in their communities, and these agents' repeated pattern of extreme force, violence, and intimidation.

But what does this have to do with animal training, some ask? Everything. The laws of learning and behavior change are universal and apply to humans as well. Moreover, the well-being of animals is inextricably intertwined with the well-being of their people and the safety of the community that surrounds them.

We know that fear-based methods erode trust, damage relationships, and lead to further fallout. We know that force and intimidation may suppress behavior in the moment, but they create anxiety, unpredictability, and breakdowns.

The enforcement actions we're seeing, the use of overwhelming force, the climate of fear, the unpredictability, mirror exactly what we've moved away from in animal training because we know it doesn't work. Not ethically. Not effectively.

This isn't just about principles aligning with our methods. It's about the people in our communities, our clients, our neighbors, our fellow humans, who deserve the same compassion, safety, and dignity we advocate for on the other end of the leash.

As trainers, we understand behavior change. We ask: what sets the occasion for that behavior? What are the reinforcers? What can we change in the environment if we want to change that behavior? These questions are the foundation of how we approach change, whether we're working with a reactive dog or confronting systemic problems in our communities.

So, we will continue doing what we do: connecting with the ideas, principles, and people that ground us in compassion, evidence, and effective change. We'll keep using our understanding of behavior to work toward the world we want to see. And we encourage you to do the same, in whatever way feels right and possible for you.

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Resources our team has found helpful:
https://bit.ly/49YXaEu
https://bit.ly/4t6CqDm
https://bit.ly/49YXbZ4
https://bit.ly/4bXeLza

01/27/2026

Did you know that a puppy’s most important socialization window happens between 3–14 weeks of age? By the time many families bring their puppy home around 8 weeks, nearly half of that critical learning period has already passed.

Puppy socialization is about helping puppies feel comfortable with people, other dogs, and the world around them. Early, positive experiences during this window can help puppies grow into confident, well-adjusted adult dogs and may reduce behavior challenges later in life.

Helpful tips for successful socialization:
👉 Keep experiences positive and controlled. Treats help.
👉 Aim for many short exposures rather than overwhelming ones.
👉 Introduce a variety of people, places, sounds, and surfaces.
👉 Watch for signs of stress and take breaks when needed.

What to avoid: high-traffic areas where unvaccinated dogs may be present. Always talk with your veterinarian about safe socialization options for your puppy.

American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) Indiana State Board of Animal Health IVMA: Indiana Veterinary Medical Association Purdue University American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)