Positively Splendid Dogs

11/13/2023

✨🐾 Appropriate enrichment activities are a huge part of a dog's behavioral and wellness needs! While we do take advantage of many wonderful enrichment toys, there are also loads of "in a pinch" opportunities to be had as well 😁 And the best part is, it doesn't cost anything extra! Here's just one fun example..... Autumn Snuffle 🍂🍁

07/02/2023

🐾🎆🐾 Neighbors setting off fireworks yesterday afternoon was a reminder that the 4th of July (aka the world imploding as far as many dogs are concerned) is nearly upon us.....

Having four adolescent GSD household members means that I'm ALWAYS PREPARED for whatever may come 😂
And for silly teenage puppers, one day fireworks may be no big deal but after three or four days straight they may evoke a meltdown!

So I just thought I'd share a few of my own tips and tricks for anyone else who may want to help their zen dogs stay zen or support their fearful pups as best possible 😊

A. I like to utilize natural anxiolitics. 😌 Below are some that my pack find to be effective!*

B. Long lasting chews, best served on a silver platter - variety is the spice of life 🤌 (description in pic caption)*

C. Snuffle rugs, lick mats, and food puzzles 😅 oh my!*

*There are many options out there - be careful in your choices and do plenty of research 😊 Stick with what you believe is best suited to YOUR dog!

Playing music (whatever your dog finds enjoyable - for Evey it's very specifically the Italian Cooking Music radio on pandora 💃🤷🏼‍♀️) to help mask the firework noises can be helpful for some dogs, and always prepare a safe, cozy spot for them relax or even hide if need be!

Please note that this post is not geared toward doggos that are truly terror stricken and cannot be consoled - prescription meds from your vet are likley the best option in that case!

Feel free to share! Sharing is caring 🙂

02/15/2023

While our session covers a lot of behaviors that I really like and am continuing to build layers of by reinforcing in various ways, the MOST IMPORTANT aspect is always the dog’s emotional state during activities/training. I want this partnership to be one of mutual enjoyment 💕, so my goal is to create stability as best I can within the environment and provide support + clear guidance. By doing these things, I’ve been able to cultivate a GREAT RELATIONSHIP with Brida (and everyone else🐾)

While our session covers a lot of behaviors that I really like and am continuing to build layers of by reinforcing in various ways, the MOST IMPORTANT aspect...

01/30/2023

More Brida Burrito 😁

By playing with two toys of fairly equal value at once, we start to build the idea of releasing one (outing) to play with the other. Most important: the toy being played with needs to go still or “dead” while the other is then animated or made “live” - this helps her to distinguish which toy I’d like her engage with. I’m not actually using the verbal “out” cue, as building understating of releasing is the goal here. The cue is not added until I see a solid understanding of a release. I am using sounds in play/maintaining interest and in switching between the toys because I’ve found this aids her in understanding of what I’m asking. Short sessions with just a handful of reps 👍
*Brida knows this game and also understands the “out” cue, so the way she plays and responds may look different than a dog who’s just beginning to learn.

By playing with two toys of fairly equal value at once, we start to build the idea of releasing one (outing) to play with the other. Most important: the toy ...

01/30/2023

🐾Fun stuff😊

There’s a few things being worked on here: relationship, trust, & disengagement. The basic explanation is: Relationship building by “foraging” together, trust by learning that when I’m pointing/directing there’s value, and disengagement by working with three snuffle rugs at once and reinforcing her moving among them even when they still all contain food + leaving them at the end for a higher value item 🐾

There’s a few things being worked on here: relationship, trust, & disengagement. The basic explanation is:Relationship building by “foraging” together, trust...

08/02/2022

07/18/2022

Yeeeesssssss! Absolutley, positively, unequivocally, THIS ⬇️

🤗👍🌟💫🐾💖✌

"YOU are your dog's best advocate and guardian, you make appropriate decisions for your amazing dog!" ~ Lauren Langman

A MUST Read!!!

Courtesy of the Ballina Veterinary Hospital

My Dog is Friendly!

A Public Service Announcement
There is an epidemic happening across the country and no one is safe. It’s occurring on crowded sidewalks, on footpaths and on beaches. It doesn’t discriminate based on race, age, or economic status.

Innocent dogs and their owners are being terrorized, chased down the street, pinned into corners by…other dog owners.

But, you ask, don’t all dogs like to meet, greet, and play with other dogs, even unfamiliar ones? How rude of them not to greet me and my dog! Not so, kindhearted dog lovers, not so at all.

In every city, town, and suburb, loving, law abiding families share their lives with dogs that, for a variety of reasons, cannot or would rather not, socialize with other dogs.

Today we call on all dog lovers to take a stand on behalf of dogs that walk in public while they simultaneously cope with one or more of the following:

contagious diseases
leash reactivity
service or working dogs
injuries and painful physical conditions
intolerance of other animals
recovery from surgery
fearful of unfamiliar or rowdy dogs
aging and elderly dogs
learning self control around other dogs
are owned by people that want to be left alone.
Owners have every right to walk the streets with their dogs on leash using a standard 4-6 foot leash, without interacting with strangers, whether that be human or other dogs.

And yet…they are hounded, day after day, by cheery, well meaning dog owners who insist on meeting them, at the same time yelling "my dog is friendly"

PLEASE, IF YOU SEE A DOG ON A LEAD AND YOU ARE EITHER ON YOUR OWN OR YOU HAVE A DOG, ASK THE OWNER OF THE OTHER DOG IF ITS SUITABLE FOR THEIR DOG TO SAY HELLO OR BE APPROACHED.

IF NOT THEN SIMPLY SAY OK, ACCEPT THEIR DECISION AND CONTINUE ON YOUR MERRY WAY.

Here is an example:
An owner is working on his dogs manners, let’s say it’s leash reactivity. He has some issues with strange dogs, but is in training so that he can learn to stay calm in their presence. The owner spots another dog coming and looking out for their dog, they create some distance and do a sit-stay with eye contact. The goal: to keep cool while the other dog passes.
What happens?

Look! Another dog. "Let's go say Hi to that dog Milo" and so the owner takes a very excited Milo over to the dog in training and instead of asking, the owner says "my dog is friendly, he just wants to say hello"

What happens next is most likely a fight between the 2 dogs with two very upset owners. We see it often 🙈😢
What can you do?

Remember that you are the voice for your dog, you need to be the voice and protect him because no one else will do it for him. If you have a reactive, nervous, anxious, timid, shy, aggressive, young, old or dog in training, then you have a right to protect your dog.
A quiet, but firm warning, “My dog doesn’t like other dogs.” or "my dog is in training" should be enough to protect your dog and keep others away.

If you are the owner of "a friendly dog" just remember that not all humans like each other or even have to approach each other and it's the same with dogs. Not all dogs have to meet and greet one another. Also try and respect the other dog and his owner. Don't take it personally, don't get angry and don't get in a verbal altercation. Simply carry on with your walk ♥️

07/02/2022

As you prepare for the 4th of July holiday, here are some helpful reminders to protect your pet during the celebrations.