PTC Pet Salon

03/12/2026

Look who is ready for Easter 💕

03/02/2026

Sadie is ready for Easter

02/27/2026

Excited to share that I just got recognized as one of Peace of My Heart, Puppy Training & In-home Boarding's top fans! 🎉

01/25/2024

BE A DOPAMINE DEALER NOT A CORTISOL CREATOR

Although there are other chemicals that have an effect on behaviour, the neurotransmitter dopamine and the hormone cortisol are important ones to understand.

Force free, positive reinforcement, reward-based methods result in a release of Dopamine which provides important motivation to seek out rewards, increases attention, memory and reinforces a behaviour. Behaviour is far more likely to be repeated when Dopamine is released.

Using punishment or aversive, old fashioned methods causes stress which increases the release of cortisol. Cortisol inhibits learning, affects memory, decreases motivation and can cause emotional, psychological and even physical damage.

Some ways to increase Dopamine levels and lower Cortisol levels –

Only using positive reinforcement, force free, reward-based techniques.

Slow, sniffing walks in a quiet area, interactive play, puzzle toys, lick mats, snuffle mats, foraging, providing mental stimulation activities, routine and predictability, enough rest and sleep and a balanced and nutritious diet.

Give your dog a “cortisol holiday”. Cortisol levels can take between two to six days to return to normal after stress.

This “holiday” could look like stopping walks for a week or changing the time of day you walk to a quieter time, covering or blocking access to a gate, fence or window, avoiding visitors or generally just taking a break from anything that may be causing stress.

11/16/2023

EMOTIONS MATTER!
Dog’s emotions really do matter, far more than we may realise.

Emotions matter because emotional states drive behaviour.

Think about how our emotions have a direct affect on our behaviour – we may lash out at others because of the emotions of fear, anger or frustration. Be irritable if we are tired or in pain. Struggle to focus or learn something new if we are stressed or anxious, shut down or over react if we feel insecure or unsafe ….

When a dog’s emotional needs and well-being are not supported and not addressed, behaviour problems are often seen.

Unwanted behaviour shouldn’t be looked at independently or as a specific problem that needs to be fixed.

When needs are met, when emotions are recognised, when body language is understood and listened to, a dog’s emotional state will change, which will in turn bring about positive changes in behaviour.

These are the foundations on which behaviour change is built.

11/04/2023

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/5SQpaQarQbdzqxFe/?mibextid=WC7FNe

10/17/2023

🔸Xolos, one of most ancient dog breeds in world, originally from Mexico.

A genetic study using mitochondrial DNA found that DNA sequences of Xoloitzcuintle were identical to those of dogs from old world.

Xolo's hairlessness is result of a genetic mutation that is also responsible for dog's lack of premolars. This distinctive dental trait makes identifying remains of xolos in archaeological contexts relatively easy.

In ancient times, Xolos were often buried with their owners to act as guides to soul on its journey to underworld. They have been found in burial sites of both Maya and Toltec.

For Native Americans, they were guardians of night and underworld, protectors against evil spirits, companions of wizards and witches, and guides of mortals during difficult times and across land of dead.

📷 © Credit to the Owner

Don't click here;
https://instagram.com/archeo80?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

04/07/2023

The longer you’ve been around dogs and the more dogs you’ve been around, the more things there are that you would never do with your dog’s safety in mind.

04/07/2023

03/30/2023

Learn first-aid techniques now – including the Heimlich Maneuver – so you can save a choking dog in an emergency.

02/28/2023

Does your dog have arthritis, neuropathic pain or chronic pain? Then chances are your vet has prescribed gabapentin. But there have been ZERO controlled research studies on gabapentin to treat chronic pain. And case reports show mixed results. And it hasn’t even been FDA approved for dogs!

And one vet told us it wasn’t helping the dogs and the ones coming to her had bad reactions … like tarry diarrhea, aggressiveness, low energy, tremors, difficulty breathing, anxiety, loss of appetite and digestive issues.

There are better options when your dog has pain. Click the link to find out more about why you should avoid gabapentin ... and learn about natural pain relief for your dog.
https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/gabapentin-why-this-vet-will-never-prescribe-it/