Cooperation Canine Positive Behavior Change for Dogs and Their People

03/31/2025

CAR RIDE #5

No whines, no cries, no muss, no fuss. Had a chew and fell asleep.

03/22/2025

And without further ado, meet Ganache. He is Lemon’s new best friend (videos to follow). Thank you, Tony and Martha from TonMar Labs!!!

02/23/2025

“Uncle came for a visit wid my wite-now boyfrwend, Finley the Doodle. Shhhh dough. Dis a see-cwet. My uddah boyfwend went to Fwaw-wi-duh. Mom said I is scandawusss.”

“Lemon, Stoli did give you a promise toy before he left. I’m not sure about all this. Don’t you think you should tell him?”

“Tells him what, dough? I really is too young to be commented.”

“Do you mean committed?”

“I mean whatever will let me pway wid dee uddah boys.”

02/13/2025

This beautiful girl came to the client for a training session. Super smart and gorgeous! Dasha is available for adoption through - contact them directly for more info!

01/22/2025

“Hi. Dis Lemon. And dis my bestest fwend, Stoli. I call him Ma-goli. He calls me Lem-lem. We been pwaying a looooong time together and Mom says we are a ga-wate match. She said we both play wike ass-hats becuz we twust each other. I wee-wee think dats a good thingy. We can wuff house, and wee-lax. He’s my favorwit!”

When two dogs play together, they are communicating and learning about one another. When there is a good match in play style, the choices the dogs make in play are familiar to the other. When those choices happen consistently over time, play partners become predictable and that is the cornerstone of trust.

Lemon and Stoli play really well together. Sometimes it’s very physical, sometimes there is an ear pinch or a knock down that they each take in stride - backing off and moving forward as has been fostered through their relationship and hours of play.

I love these two so much! .makowsky - you should be very proud!

01/06/2025

Speechless. She’s dead asleep.

12/17/2024

“I’z gonna help.” she’s the best!

12/13/2024

We were the recipients of a free personal pizza from !!! We got the Chicken Bacon Ranch and it was delicious!!! Lemon did a nice settle and wait with the pizza well within striking distance. 🍕Such a good girl.

12/07/2024

Can anyone guess who is 6 months old today? Lemon Chelo Lessa is an amazing pup who’s growing, up making friends, and bringing a ridiculous amount of comic relief to this family. And HAPPY 6 MONTH BIRTHDAY to all of the Mila/Otto litter from - Thank you, Joe and company!

09/19/2024

When life gives you Lemon…🍋💛

                 

09/16/2024

This little cutie, Esme, is an adopted pup from Save One Soul Animal Rescue League who's been visiting us for life skills and manners in our Cooperative Care space.

Keep up the great work, Esme!

09/09/2024

Basil was much, much more than a ball of cuddles and love. She was also INSANELY smart and was often a shining example to our furry client friends. Basil had learned to break down certain foundational skills that we teach (mat work, in particular) so that we could carefully demonstrate each step while training.

For example, instead of jumping ahead and just laying on her mat when instructed to, she would go through each step individually. Basie, we’ll forever be missing your fun-loving spirit and intelligent self.

09/09/2024

Basil was much, much more than a ball of cuddles and love. She was also INSANELY smart and was often a shining example to our furry client friends. Basil had learned to break down certain foundational skills that we teach (mat work, in particular) so that we could carefully demonstrate each step while training.

For example, instead of jumping ahead and just laying on her mat when instructed to, she would go through each step individually. Basie, we’ll forever be missing your fun-loving spirit and intelligent self.

Breaking down mat work into 4 easy components

08/22/2024

We were worried Gravy wasn’t going to love Lemon, but as it turns out, he makes the perfect big body pillow. 🍋

08/15/2024

We want to take some time over our next few posts to honor Basil and all that she brought to those who were lucky enough to have met her.

To know Basil was to love Basil. She had a way about her where she would make you feel so special. She loved with all of her heart. She was the cuddliest, sweetest, most loving nugget who was a fan of her stuffy fwends and an even bigger fan of her brother and sister.

Seriously, this girl was the definition of unconditional love. She taught us so much. We should all take a lesson out of Basil’s book. The world is a little less brighter without you in it, Basie.

07/27/2024

It is with the deepest sadness and heart sick pain that I’m writing to all who may not have heard.

On Wednesday, June 24th, Basil died. She was in surgery for a tooth extraction. They found something in her jaw that was unidentified. She also had a full course of antibiotics before the surgery and her bloodwork was absolutely normal.

During the procedure, her heart just stopped. They did everything they could - administered meds, did CPR - and they could not revive her. Based on all of the above, they think a blood clot was the cause.

For everyone seeing this who knew Basil and I, I don’t have to say anything more about what this is like. Anyone who met Basil, even once, knew what a tremendous soul she was. Wonderfully intelligent, optimistic about life, and an energy that filled her house with so much light, laughter, and amusement.

She and I were deeply connected on a level that I have never experienced before and may not again. I could fill this post with all the Basil-isms, her habits, and behaviors and it still would not do her justice.

I loved her more than anything and in a way that was unique. We moved through this world as one. No matter how down I was she picked me right back up with a few wags of her little nubbin. She looked deeply into my eyes and touched my soul every single day.

I miss her so desperately and I know that living with her and losing her way too soon has changed me. Right now, I am walking around just trying to get through the day. Just trying to integrate this loss and somehow manage the unthinkable - Basil is gone and I will never do the things that we did together ever again.

Right now, I am broken into too many pieces to count.

Basil - January 26, 2017 - June 24, 2024
Squeak that toy, wiggle that bum, run like the wind.

07/27/2024

It is with the deepest sadness and heart-sick pain that I’m writing to all who may not have heard.

On Wednesday, June 24th, Basil died. She was in surgery for a tooth extraction. They found something in her jaw that was unidentified. She also had a full course of antibiotics before the surgery and her bloodwork was absolutely normal.

During the procedure, her heart just stopped. They did everything they could - administered meds, did CPR - and they could not revive her. Based on all of the above, they think a blood clot was the cause.

For everyone seeing this who knew Basil and I, I don’t have to say anything more about what this is like. Anyone who met Basil, even once, knew what a tremendous soul she was. Wonderfully intelligent, optimistic about life, and an energy that filled her house with so much light, laughter, and amusement.

She and I were deeply connected on a level that I have never experienced before and may not again. I could fill this post with all the Basil-isms, her habits, and behaviors and it still would not do her justice.

I loved her more than anything and in a way that was unique. We moved through this world as one. No matter how down I was she picked me right back up with a few wags of her little nubbin. She looked deeply into my eyes and touched my soul every single day.

I miss her so desperately and I know that living with her and losing her way too soon has changed me. Right now, I am walking around just trying to get through the day. Just trying to integrate this loss and somehow manage the unthinkable - Basil is gone and I will never do the things that we did together ever again.

Right now, I am broken into too many pieces to count.

Basil - January 26, 2017 - June 24, 2024
Squeak that toy, wiggle that bum, run like the wind.

07/24/2024

We have TWO events with adoptable dogs on the docket this week!

Join us Thursday, July 25th from 6pm to 8pm at Wakefield RiverFire🔥 in downtown Wakefield, RI! We will have an adoptable dog or two and some awesome volunteers set up along the Saugatucket River.

And then on Sunday, July 28th, SOS retail is hosting an Ice Cream Social 🍦 from 1pm to 3pm and plan on having as many local adoptable dogs as we can get. We are expecting new arrivals this weekend (puppies!!) and are hoping to have at least a few there if you’re in need of a puppy fix.

To see who is available for adoption and to learn more, visit https://sosarl.org/available-dogs/.