Paws to Enjoy

11/03/2026

Bode & Thor ❤️

11/03/2026

Recall fun

11/03/2026

Mouse had a big day today.....his annual checkup with our vet! People outside the family are a huge fear trigger for Mouse. This wasnt always the case....but a behavior that developed around the time he was a year and a half old. I have worked with him to overcome this when I can, and in doing so found that a ball was his saving grace. You throw his ball for him and he immediately relaxes (at least for the most part).....so the ball is a tool I use for training and when people come over. In addition to the ball, I have muzzle trained Mouse to help everyone feel more at ease. Muzzle training was 100% positive for him and I used a step by step approach.
Before his appointment today, we did a ball training session, a muzzle training session and then another ball session to get him ready and tired! To take the edge off, I use a small dose of trazadone for vet visits as well....just a little to relax him a bit. On top of all this....we have an amazing vet who uses a fear free approache to her vet care and keeps things low key. She and her techs are also amazing and take the time to bond with Mouse using his toy. All of this is so worth it and allows us to get him thoroughly examined and vaccinated every year with minimal stress. 🙌❤️ I was proud of my Mousie boy today

10/31/2026

Pixel & Noir working on door manners when guests enter and stay commands ❤️

10/29/2026

Working dogs 💓

Visitors to Grand Canyon National Park may notice a new four-legged member of the wildlife team patrolling parts of the South Rim this summer. Blue, a specially trained Conservation K-9, is helping park biologists reduce human-wildlife conflicts and encourage elk and bighorn sheep to return to more....

10/27/2026

Luna was sleeping on the job

10/27/2026

Bode boy and Thor ❤️

10/27/2026

Muzzle training Bode for the first time. His owners want this introduced to him as a safety measure to keep him from eating things in the backyard. Poor Bode has some sensitive tummy issues and they want to ensure he isnt sneaking anything in the yard when he is out going to the bathroom. Due to his stomach issues, the only thing he can eat is his special kibble.....which some days he is into and others not so much. I was worried this would be a challenge since his food drive can be very inconsistent. He is also a dog who doesnt like being restrained too much, so I wasn't sure how he would tolerate a muzzle. When I first got it out I just let him sniff it. As soon as I dropped a kibble in it he looked at me like....yea lady, what trick are you trying to play on me 🤣 I didn't force it and instead put the muzzle down and played with him. A few minutes later I got an idea. Bode knows how to "find it" (I hide kibble around and he uses his nose to find it). In the video I ended up putting the kibble in the muzzle and telling him "Bode, find it".....and sure enough the patterning and learned game kicked in and he put his muzzle right in to find it. I will transition the command to "muzzle", but that little trick got him instantly over his reservations about putting his nose in.

10/25/2026

Refreshing muzzle training with my dog Mouse. I trained Mouse with a muzzle a while ago, but it isnt something he frequently wears. In fact, we only use it for vet appointments. While I dont believe Mouse would ever bite, never say never, especially with a dog who has some fear based reactivity issues. The muzzle helps the vet and techs feel safer and that in turn helps him feel safer. Dogs can vibe off the energy the people around them give off. If that energy is apprehensive because of your dogs behavior , then chances are if the vet or tech is nervous your dog will become more nervous. Since we only use it for vet appointments, I always make sure to do short refresher sessions for a month or so leading up to the appointment. You dont want to slap a muzzle on your dog and then put them in the very situation that triggers fear....that will make the muzzle a very negative thing. Instead spend time making it a positive. Mouse literally sees the muzzle as a treat dispenser and over time we have built upon this. For him the buckling of the clip is a bit much, so you can see how I loop it over his ears already buckeled. This was done slowly over time and as we work I tighten the straps the appropriate amount. I will do short sessions (3 to 5 minutes) every day for about a month and always with high value treats and lots of praise.

10/25/2026

6 month old Maybelline holding a sit stay and waiting for her release command to have at the treat ball