Pawsitive Paws Dog Training and Behavior, LLC.

09/14/2022

Great insight here.

THE CHOICE TO CHOOSE
WHY DOGS SHOULD BE ALLOWED CHOICE
Imagine that every little detail of your life is controlled - what and when you eat, where you sleep, when you’re allowed inside or outside, when you’re allowed to go out for a walk and if you’re allowed to stop and explore, who you’re allowed or forced to interact with, what activities (if any) you’re allowed to participate in, when you’re shown affection or receive attention, where you’re allowed to be touched etc., etc.…. This situation would create stress and anxiety, a feeling of helplessness, apathy, a lack of confidence and many other negative emotions. The same is true for dogs.
Dogs live in a world where just about everything is controlled by us. Allowing choice, no matter how simple that choice may be, provides many benefits. The context in which we allow choice is obviously relevant. Safety, boundaries, environmental factors, other people or animals always need to be taken into account.
Dogs that are allowed some control over their environment and how they respond to situations are more confident, more emotionally balanced, better able to cope with stressful situations, less anxious, less stressed and have fewer behaviour problems.
Allowing simple choices like which direction to take on a walk, which tree to wee on, how long to sniff that fascinating blade of grass or which toy to play with, which treat to choose, what game to play or allowing your dog to choose to interact or be touched by someone are all simple ways that we can provide choice for our dogs and help them to cope in a world that controls them.

06/22/2022

DogFoodAdvisor.com has just announced a recall on FreshPet dog food after reports of Salmonella contamination. For more information go to DogFoodAdvisor.com

The Dog Food Advisor's unbiased dog food reviews and ratings searchable by brand or star rating. Find the best dry, canned or raw food for your dog.

05/22/2022

Dog owners that give their dogs peanut butter, and of course any humans who eat peanut butter, should be aware of the massive Jif recall because of Salmonella contamination. As a peanut butter addict, I can attest that these jars are in the area because I've been hit with it.

The J. M. Smucker Co. is recalling select Jif® peanut butter products sold in the U.S. due to potential Salmonella contamination.

03/30/2022

If you feed your dog this brand of food, you will want to read this.

Complete details of the FDA court order for Bravo Packing to stop selling pet food as reported by the editors of The Dog Food Advisor.

02/23/2022

So often we attribute our dogs' refusal to act as defiance or stubbornness because i5 resembles human behavior. Rben we react to the dog in line with our own theory. Dogs do what works for them so I'd they are more motivated to do something else, they will. Example: Coming in from the backyard. Learning how to get your dog to see coming inside as better than sniffing a bunny hole requires practice and benevolent motivation

I’M NOT STUBBORN! I’M JUST NOT MOTIVATED….
There are so many reasons that a dog’s behaviour may look like a dog is just being stubborn.
What we may think is a dog just being stubborn is usually a reaction to something else that is going on, on an emotional, physical or environmental level.
Motivation is the driving force behind behaviour. Without motivation there is no reason or need to behave in a certain way. Think about how we behave –
We may tell children to eat their veggies so they can have ice cream (the motivation), finish a work project so we can get paid (motivation), exercise because we want to lose weight or get fitter (motivation). Just like us, dogs need motivation to behave in a certain way.
Be consistent in always rewarding behaviours you’re looking for with lots of positive reinforcement and motivation. When a dog knows that a particular behaviour will be rewarding it will result in a dog being motivated instead of "stubborn".

06/09/2021

11/03/2020

If you are looking for a puppy beware of puppy mills masquerading as reputable breeders. Puppies from puppy mills are denied proper socialization to people and are often confined to crowded cages, thus denied important early human contact due to mass breeding. Behavior problems such as abject fear or aggression to humans can manifest early in these puppies. Do your research carefully. The PA Dept of Agriculture has a site that shows all the kennel inspections and the grading of the breeder in many areas. Some of these kennels demonstrate a good record, however, at the bottom of each inspection report, the inspector provides a count of the number of dogs and the number of puppies on-site on the day of inspection. High numbers such as 120 dogs and 98 puppies found on site is a good indication that the pups are not being properly socialized or given the time and attention needed. Mass breeding and the availability of a wide selection of breeds from one breeder should send up red flags as well.

Responsible breeders provide a healthy, loving environment for their dogs. They seek the same in a new family for their puppies. Responsible dog breeders:

Will introduce you to the puppy’s parents and show you where they live
Will explain the puppy’s vaccine and medical history and give you vet contact info
Will not have puppies available year-round; may keep a waiting list of interested families
Will answer any questions you may have about the puppy’s background and care, as well as their breeding practices.
Will ask about you: your family’s lifestyle, why you want this kind of puppy, how you will care for and train it, etc.
Will not use pressure sales tactics. Ethical dog breeders and rescue groups are not in it to make money. Rather, they believe in maintaining and furthering the breed, and finding a good fit for every dog.

Adding a puppy to your family is a big decision. You have to make sure...

05/06/2020

Thanks go out to all our current clients and those waiting until the all-clear comes to start working with their dogs. We are eager to get started. Stay safe out there.

03/23/2020

Love, love, love this! Be safe out there.