Day of the Dog Training

03/02/2025

We used to think that putting our hands in the food bowl was a way to test and work with food aggressive dogs. We now know better.

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There are some great ways to prevent food aggression, but messing with, taking or putting your hand in your dogs food is not one of them.

The more we mess with our dogs stuff, the more likely they are to become defensive around it. Just like we might!

11/10/2024

Great advice. Toss these out asap.

Please do not buy. Throw them away if your dog gets one as a gift. Giving rawhide to a dog is never a good idea.

Many of these so called treats end up with the dog "enjoying" some time in a veterinary surgery over Christmas. The vast majority of these rawhide products and treats come from China.

The chews are made from cattle or horse hides and their journey starts with the hides being soaked in a toxic sodium sulfide to remove the hair and fat. More chemicals are used in order to split the hide into layers which is then washed with hydrogen peroxide to give the white "pure" look and remove the rancid smell.

Now comes the pretty festive colors and the glue to form cute shapes. On testing, these chews have shown traces of arsenic, mercury, chromium and formaldehyde.

If that wasn't bad enough, they regularly cause intestinal blockages, poisoning from chemical residue and choking. The chews go slippery when wet and are near impossible to get hold of to save a choking dog.

09/26/2024

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08/08/2024

Well stated. I agree with everything except the barriers to adoption which I don't think makes any difference. I've seen dogs in shelters that people paid lots of money for and gave up on and I've seen homeless people who take better care of their animals than the wealthiest adopter. Otherwise, SPOT ON!! Heartsticks and gas chamber killing should be illegal.. When I worked in the Lake County shelter, that was one of the first things I changed. No heartstick euthanasias and no animal would be euthanatized on the cold wet concrete floor of their kennel. Speak up people. It's time for change at Polk County Animal Control.

NOTE FROM TED: This talk contains a graphic description of animal abuse. This talk only represents the speaker’s personal views and understanding. TEDx event...

07/21/2024

Shared by my friend Debbie Thomas. Faults and imperfections, just like people.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=250286871103784&id=100083674194172

07/19/2024

Great words of wisdom. We totally agree.

06/29/2024

In Florida, this is everyday in the summer. Not just this weekend.

06/27/2024

Absolutely great advice. And especially stop telling kids to put their hand out for the dog to sniff. If the dog chooses to interact, you will know it.

If you need help with your dog, contact me at [email protected].

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3239508456132259&id=526204004129398

🛇 Use your Manners! 🛇
The Sniff test - Stop doing that!
The sniff test - a badly engrained habit that society has been taught, without a clear understanding of what they're actually doing.

🚩When you reach out towards a dog, you are using body pressure AT them, giving them no time to assess whether you are safe & whether they require further investigation to pick up your information. You are forcing an interaction of a relationship that hasn't had time to develop. To some dogs, this is quite rude & the reason a lot of dogs snap at or bite people. This can cause alot of behavioral issues because of layered stress due to forced interactions.

🚩If they are on lead, they have no where to go if they are sensitive to spacial pressure, so can end up shutting down, shying away or snapping at your hand so you back off. This is an example of how a dog is now using pressure to turn off pressure & make you back off so they aren't so stressed.

🚩People think by offering your hand it can give the dog time to sniff to know you're friendly... they can sniff without being forced to sniff your hand.Their noses are far more superior than ours & they don't need close contact forced upon them to smell you.

🚩Some dogs might not want to know you. You have no relationship with them and that's perfectly fine. They aren't your dog so you don't need to touch them or steal pats for your own satisfaction.

🤔 If you are meeting a dog, what should you do?
⚠Ask the owner if you can interact with their dog. Not all people want strangers touching their dogs. Especially strangers who you are unlikely to see again.
⚠Stand up straight & relaxed, with your hands at your side.
⚠Ignore the dog & talk to the owner.
⚠Don't stare at the dog & don't try to force an interaction by going in for a pat. If the dog wants to know you, it will come up to you & sniff around. Usually they will move away & then come back for a second sniffathon. Some dogs will bunt your hands & wag their tails, which are good signs that you're likely an accepted new friend. Give them a few slow pats down their back (NOT THEIR HEAD) & then stop. Is the dog happy? Has it accepted your interaction? This will determine whether you can give it more pats.

🐶This is a more stress free option for dogs & a reason why in consultations we can develop a good level of trust, especially with fearful dogs & aggressive dogs, without a bunch of negative side effects from forced interactions.

06/18/2024

It’s the time of year to leave your dog home when you attend outside events. It’s way too hot for them. And always check how hot the pavement is before walking them. If you can’t leave you hand on the pavement for 5 minutes, it’s too hot for your dogs feet. And absolutely no running with the dog. Heat stroke is real.

06/16/2024

So easy to keep everyone safe. Please parent your children and give your dog a choice to walk away.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=426557830124064&id=100083095514192

Let's talk about this photo. It's cute, except it's not. I see a dog who cannot get up without telling the child to get off. How do you think a dog is going to do that?

The 7 Golden Toddler Dog Rules:
#1: If a dog walks away from you, you DO NOT FOLLOW.
#2: Always leave room for the dog to walk away from you.
---that right there is 90+% of dog bites eliminated---
#3: We do not climb on the dog.
#4: We do not grab or pull on the dog.
#5: We do not hit or throw anything at the dog.
#6: We do not touch the dog's food.
#7: We do not go into the dog's kennel.

I promise these are not overly difficult concepts for littles, nor will they rob a kid of their bond with the family dog. It will deepen that bond, while keeping everyone safe.

"Oh, it looks like Moose is walking away from you. She is saying she wants a break. Let's play with this instead!"

"It's Moose's dinner time! Let's give her space to enjoy her yummies."

"That is Moose's room(kennel) and only she is allowed to go in there."

"If Moose wanted a break, could she walk away from you right now? No she really couldn't. Let's move away from the play house. You can keep playing but now she can leave when she wants a break."

In conclusion, ***parent your child or your dog will do it for you, and you will not like how they do it.***

06/11/2024

I am not one to ever recommend that you adopt two puppies at the same time. I am of the belief that each puppy needs to acclimate into a family individually. Sibling syndrome is real in the dog world. Not every time, but often enough to cause concern.

However, I also work with cats and that syndrome does not apply if adopting kittens. It is BEST practice to adopt two kittens at a time. See the reasons why here.

Need help with your spicy cat/kitten or your new puppy/dog. I can help. Contact me. [email protected].

05/20/2024

Old Habits die hard. With humans and dogs. Teaching a new brain process takes time and patience. Usually the undesirable habits dogs form are from being, maybe inadvertently, reinforced for years. For example: When the dog jumps at the door or all over the human at the presentation of the leash, then the human hooks them up and takes them outside. Inadvertently reinforcing the undesirable jumping behavior!

Read on and contact me if you need help with your dog.

[email protected].

After owning the same basic van for 30 years I have upgraded and downsized. As a dog person it took some serious consideration to move myself to a smaller vehicle, but it’s time. Without so many big dogs to haul around I can get by with something smaller. Plus I haven’t been traveling to dog

05/09/2024

Contact me for positive science based training for your dog. Let’s build a better relationship with your best friend. [email protected].