Autumn Rose Dog Training

04/16/2026

When your boyfriend calls you and says he’s picked up a husky off the side of the road… I think I’m rubbing off on him? 😏❤️

I think this is a great opportunity to highlight one of my favorite tools for caring for dogs, Tractive 📡

Use my link for 30% off on your very own GPS tracker: https://tractive.com/r/oQtBHt

**the owner reached out to us, and we are waiting on them to pick her up**
What a lucky dog to get scooped up by a dog trainer’s bf 😉

04/15/2026

IT’S FINE TO FEED YOUR DOGS SEPARATELY

I work with loads of lovely multi-dog households and it’s really common for mealtimes to be a bit tense 😅

It’s often not the main issue they come to me about but it quietly adds a lot of stress and can really impact how dogs feel around each other.

I see it all the time:
🐕 Dogs fed in different corners of the same room
🍖 Bowls a few feet apart while the owner stands in the middle like a referee
🐶 One dog finishing first and then hovering over the other
🐩 Bowl inspections after eating that cause stress

A really simple change?
Feed them in separate rooms.

THE BIT PEOPLE OFTEN MISS

If you don’t know what to look for, it’s easy to think your dogs are “fine” eating together.

But subtle stress can look like:
– Eating really quickly when another dog comes near
– Slowing down or stopping eating
– Standing still and hovering over food
– Taking food away to eat elsewhere

And then the clearer signs:
– Stiffness, stillness, lip curls, growling
– Making themselves small, tucked tail, worried body language

Those are all dogs saying: “I’m not comfortable.”

SEPARATING THEM ISN’T A FAILURE

If you’re having to stand between them, they’re not relaxed.

Feeding separately isn’t admitting they “don’t get on”, it’s actually really normal in multi-dog homes.

In fact, it often improves their relationship because you’re removing pressure.

BUT AREN’T DOGS SOCIAL EATERS?

Yes, but that doesn’t mean eating right next to another dog.

“Social” can be:
– You in the room with them
– Another dog behind a stairgate

I actually love stairgates for this, they allow that sense of company without the pressure or risk.

WHY THIS REALLY MATTERS

Even if there aren’t full-on fights, small moments of pressure add up.

A dog hovering, rushing over, licking another dog’s bowl- these things can slowly build resentment over time.

A lot of issues between dogs don’t come from one big event, they come from lots of small, repeated stresses.

Feeding separately:
✅ Reduces stress
✅ Helps dogs feel safe
✅ Protects their relationship

It’s not a failure, it’s good management.

Laura McAuliffe, 2026 Dog Communication

04/15/2026

Please, as a professional dog trainer, I beg you not to punish the growl 😩

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.

04/10/2026

Trust that ‘huh’ moment.🤔
You know the one.

You’re out with your dog and something just makes you pause for a second.
Not a big reaction. Nothing obvious at all really.
Just enough to make you think, “why did they just do that?”

Maybe it was a quick lip lick.
A few blinks in a row.
A weird little grin.

To someone else, your dog looks completely fine.

But to you?
Something felt different. It was a little bit “odd” and maybe you are starting to connect the dots some more.
Maybe you noticed that scratch always happens when a certain visitor arrives, perhaps a nibble on the paws too?

Those teeny tiny moments are often your dog trying to say,
“I’m not so sure about this.”

They ARE communicating with us.
It’s small, it’s often a bit “odd” too, but they are speaking clearly.

The least we can do is listen.

04/08/2026

🙃

DOUBLE TROUBLE
The challenges of raising two puppies together.

The problem behaviours that are commonly seen in dogs that are raised together is often mistakenly called “litter mate syndrome”, but these behaviours are not specific to dogs from the same litter and can occur with any 2 dogs that are raised together.

The problems that may develop have nothing to do with sharing similar DNA or coming from the same litter, but depends on how the pups are raised and how their environment is managed.

Problem behaviour is usually a combination of relational dynamics, poor socialization, habituation, a lack of separate experiences and no individual resilience or self-confidence building.

Many people believe it’s a great idea to get two pups at the same time. They’ll be able to keep each other company when left alone, they won’t be bored; they’ll have each other to play with; they will always have a friend; both children in the family can have one; the breeder said it’s a good idea, you just couldn’t bear to leave the other one behind….and more, but this can lead to long term problems if there is no awareness of how to prevent potential problems.

Relying on the relationship between the dogs to fill the missing pieces of responsible pet parenting is setting the stage for the development of problem behaviours.

Although sibling pairs or 2 pups together may come with unique challenges, pups raised together can absolutely form healthy human bonds and develop into well-adjusted, confident dogs as long as we are aware of what could go wrong and are prepared to put in the work to prevent problems.

04/07/2026

I LOVE having my two bestie girls, Greta & Livi stay with me 💕 I’ve known these beautiful girls since they were BABIES 🥹

04/07/2026

This is why I tell everyone not to take their dogs to dog parks, as well as the importance of vaccinations and deworming!

04/07/2026

Still can’t get your dog to switch off?

More walks didn’t fix it.
More stimulation didn’t work either.
You don’t add energy to a nervous system already stuck on high alert.
You have to shift it.

They need a way out of the noise.

Scatter feeding does exactly that.

It looks simple. Almost too simple. Just food on the ground.
But watch the shift.

The nose drops.
The breathing slows.
The muscles soften.

Sniffing isn’t just a "boredom buster" , you are tapping into how they can actually lower stress levels.

And you’re not just feeding your dog.
You’re teaching them how to regulate.

Start with just one scatter fed meal a day and see what happens.
It doesn’t have to be every meal. They still deserve some that are easy, with no effort attached.

This is a simple add in that can change everything.

03/24/2026

HOT DIGGITY DOG! 🌭🐾 KHS is paw-ticipating in The Collective Louisville's first-ever WE**IE DOG DERBY on Sunday, April 19! 🤩

Join us at E.P. "Tom" Sawyer Park at 12 p.m. on 4/19 for an afternoon full of dashing dachshunds! 🏃 With FOUR racing categories - puppy, adult, senior and special - this event is perfect for all kinds of kinds. 🐶 You'll enjoy food trucks, family fun and plenty of puppy snuggles while watching the We**ie festivities - and all while supporting KHS!

Learn more here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1614916022868221

03/24/2026

We’re thrilled to welcome Autumn Rose Dog Training as a Mint Julep Sponsor for the 3rd Annual Derby Dog Festival on April 25!

With a focus on positive training and helping dogs and their humans succeed together, Autumn is an amazing resource for our community — and we’re lucky to have her as part of our festival committee too!!!!!!

Make sure to visit her booth at the event!