A Canine Affinity

06/28/2025

Well, my birthday surprise this year was a trip to the emergency vet!

Turns out my senior dog — who is already disabled, because life loves a theme — broke his foot. Yep. A broken foot. On top of everything else.

He’s okay(ish), we’re managing, and he’s being such a champ through it all. But wow. Did not have “more medical trauma” on my birthday bingo card.

Luckily we already had a brace on hand thanks to and he can use that to heal over the next 8ish weeks, we still need a follow up with our orthopedic vet.

If you need me, I’ll be cuddling my bionic old man, handing out pain meds like a nurse in a doggie ER, canceling any plans for the next few months and stress-eating cake.

Follow along for the recovery, and all things anxious, disabled, senior dogs!

06/18/2025

Couldn’t keep this to myself. Tell me if you tried it and don’t keep it to yourself!!Everyone needs this smile today.

05/18/2025

This is a simple yet powerful truth in living with and shaping desirable behaviors in dogs. While we might think a treat or toy is their ultimate reinforcement, our dogs ultimately get to decide what’s truly valuable to them. It’s their life.
Maybe it’s that squirrel outside taunting them from the tree, the scent of a passing dog, cat or person, or even a basking in the sun.

Positive reinforcement training means using and providing access to what your dog finds reinforcing to encourage behaviors we want to see more of. It’s not about what we think should be motivating — it’s about what actually motivates them (increases the behaviors we like).

So, how do you find out what your dog loves most?
1️⃣ Observe: Pay attention to what they naturally gravitate towards - food? toys? smells? people? 
2️⃣ Test it out: Offer a variety of treats, toys, and activities in various settings to see what really gets them excited or what they blow off.
3️⃣ Adapt: What they love can and will change not only based on environment but over time — keep experimenting and be flexible!

A food loving dog might also be very reinforced by a new environment and food could take a backseat in a new place. Humans are the same ya know 😉

When we let our dogs choose the reinforcers, we set them (and us) up for success, but this doesn’t mean it’s always easy to predict- have options available and heavily reinforce your dog when they are doing amazing things!

What’s your dog’s go-to? Share in the comments! 👇

05/16/2025

I’ve been hearing from so many people lately who feel disheartened and frankly inconvenienced by what it really takes to help a dog overcome separation anxiety.
And I get it — the internet is full of “quick fixes” and “magic solutions” that promise instant calm. But the reality? It’s a journey, not a shortcut. If I had a better way I would shout it from the rooftops, I promise!

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or like you’re doing it “wrong,” you’re not alone. There are proven, compassionate ways to help your dog — and I’m here to guide you through it. Reach out with your questions or if you’re ready to take the first step. Let’s do this together. You can get a quick chat scheduled with me for free or set up an assessment to really get things moving for your dog!
(**Post features pictures of past clients the information on each picture does not directly relate to that dog)

03/25/2025

Would you leave a crying child alone to ‘toughen them up’? 💔
So often, puppies are left to cry it out, forced into spaces they don’t understand, and expected to be independent before they’re ready. This isn’t just outdated—it’s unfair.
Imagine being taken from your family, placed in a strange home, and then… left alone, scared, confused, with no way to ask for help.
Your puppy isn’t giving you a hard time—they’re having a hard time.
They don’t need to be ignored or forced into confined spaces if they aren’t ready. They need comfort, patience, and gradual learning.
Dogs deserve both physical and emotional comfort. The idea that ALL PUPPIES only need enough space to “stand up and turn around” for hours? It’s time we leave that behind.
🐾 A secure puppy becomes an independent dog—but only when they feel safe first. If you’re navigating this with your pup, Safe and Sound: A Puppy Parent’s Guide to Alone Time is here to help (Link in my bio)

✨ What helped your puppy feel safe when alone? Drop your experience in the comments to support other puppy parents! ⬇️

12/29/2024

Have you visited a Sniffspot with your dog? These "private dog parks" are hosted in the average persons back yard, extra land, farms and more!

We are hosts of a Sniffspot Peaceful Pooch Paradise in the Atlanta metro area of Roswell where we love sharing our 3.5 acres of woods, trails and creek with dogs and their humans! Only 1/2 acre is fully fenced but it is safe for large and small dogs and boasts sensory pleasures like a digging pit, dog safe gardens and lots of bird feeders. A swimming pool in the warmer months (most months in Georgia). 3 acres are partially fenced, have carved out trails, wildlife to observe and a beautiful creek for your dog to romp in! Come see us! And if you are work with rescues or foster please reach out for discounts and free visits!

Peaceful Pooch Paradise, Roswell, Georgia - Discover the Ultimate Dog Paradise. We offer an exclusive space that caters to every dog's dream and...

11/29/2024

This weekend only! Up to 15% off separation anxiety services and packages. Code: 12OFF for 12% off Foundational Assessment
Holiday15 for 15% off assessment & training package combos.

For more details on this and savings from all of your favorite small businesses check out my Holiday Gift Guide: https://www.acanineaffinity.com/general-resources/ -Gift-Guide

11/04/2024

Separation anxiety can feel overwhelming for both dogs and their guardians, but the path to recovery is within reach. 🐾 Introducing the S.A.F.E. Strategy – a comprehensive, holistic approach to navigating and addressing your dog's separation anxiety with empathy and science-based methods.
✨ Here’s what each step entails:

1️⃣ Stressors: Identify, Address and manage both immediate and distant stressors. This includes your absence suspension, data tracking for environmental stressors, health, pain and overall wellness checks and more. Some you will need to address before moving forward some may need to be managed long term.

�2️⃣ Assess: Understand your dog's alone time threshold in specific and various conditions. What can your dog handle at the start of training and how does that progress? This will help inform foundation.

�3️⃣ Foundation: Build an environment that supports your dog's daily needs. What needs adjusting in the environment? Enrichment support to encourage behavioral wellness and more.

�4️⃣ Exposure: The final step! Gradually desensitize your dog to alone time in a controlled manner. While it’s tempting to start here, skipping the earlier steps can lead to setbacks.

Want to dive deeper? Let’s set up a Foundational Assessment for your dog to get you on the path to recovery!

Check out my free webinar and discover how to apply the S.A.F.E. Strategy for your dog's recovery journey. Head over to my website to learn more: www.acanineaffinity.com

10/28/2024

Thrilled for the opportunity to share on this important topic! Join me tonight! Tickets are still available and you can watch live to join the Q&A or anytime after.

📣 Tomorrow, on Monday, is our 4th speaker - the lovely Melissa of A Canine Affinity !!

Join us tomorrow at 5:00 PM MTN/MST for Melissa’s presentation on “Enhancing Adoption Success by Reducing Problem Behaviours in Rescue Dogs”.

Don’t worry if you haven’t yet purchased your tickets or that you’ve missed the other speakers. You can STILL get tickets and recordings of the presentations! 🎫

Once you purchase the tickets, we will send you any recordings that you may have missed.

If you work in a shelter or rescue, DM us for the promo code and we will take $10 off the ticket price!

Get tickets here https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/trainers-for-rescues-workshop-tickets-1023068243657?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

Can’t wait to see you and hear Melissa’s presentation tomorrow! 🧡

10/11/2024

Huge thank you to for the wonderful feature! I was honored to be asked for this interview in their Portraits of Atlanta: Inspiring Conversations series!

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Dallier Hi Melissa , please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.Sure! My journey into dog training and behavior consulting started in a bit of an unexpected place: the New York City acting scene. After getting into moun...

09/25/2024

There is still time to register for tonights FREE webinar!

Is your dog struggling with separation anxiety? You’re not alone! Separation anxiety can be such a challenging behavior to witness and live with, but with a humane, evidence based holistic approach, you can help your dog feel more comfortable when left alone. In this free webinar, Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer Melissa Dallier will guide you through understanding what separation anxiety is, what the S.A.F.E. framework entails, and how you can support your dog through the recovery process.

Don’t miss out! Secure your spot now for this informative session, featuring a live Q&A with Melissa, where space is limited and filling up fast. Whether you're a dog guardian or an industry professional, this webinar is your chance to gain valuable insights and practical steps to help your dog or clients.

🗓 When: Wednesday, September 25 at 7:30 PM EST
📍 Where: Zoom
💡 Why Attend: Free expert advice, actionable tips, and a chance to get your questions answered live!
Register now to ensure your dog’s journey to stress-free alone time starts here.

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_z8r1arM-SNisREK5FiWhMg

08/23/2024

Dogs with separation anxiety deserve to feel SAFE when alone.

Our dogs that struggle with separation related behavior challenges often receive delayed care and treatment simply due to the lack of comprehensive treatment plans available to today’s guardians.

Many guardians take the information found on the internet and use a “throw it at the wall and see what sticks” approach, which at best gives some insight into what works and doesn’t and at worst causes more harm for the dog and despair and hopelessness for the guardian.

These dogs don’t need more obedience.
These dogs don’t don’t need a heavy hand.
These dogs don’t need to just get over it.

Our dogs need a holistic approach that prioritizes the dog’s wellbeing and a focus on what truly matters.

SAFE, lasting, alone time.

I’ve got something exciting coming that I feel will help more guardians understand how to approach separation anxiety recovery.

Follow me here for all of the details and head to my website (www.acanineaffinity.com) to join my mailing list to be notified about the first FREE webinar in my new series coming in September:

S.A.F.E Solutions
Navigating Your Dog’s Separation Anxiety

Does this sound like something you and your dog need?