Spry Dog

10/22/2026

Remember to be kind to your vets and their staff - heck, to everyone. These folks pull off miracles daily. And hurtful words sure won’t help your pet! 🪄🧞‍♀️❤️‍🩹

10/22/2026

It’s so easy to label a dog as “bad” or “naughty” or “mean.” This is a much better way to think about your pup’s strong behaviors. Always remember: he loves you lots.🐾

10/22/2026

Great tips to help your pup be safe and happy during Scary Halloween! Now’s the time to get ready. 🎃🎃🎃

See this graphic for Halloween safety tips for your 4 legged best friend.

10/05/2026

☠️ Is your pup ready for Halloween? Decorations and people in costumes are SPOOKY. Now’s the time to practice fun lessons - with lots of treats! BOO! 🎃👻

10/01/2026

Great advice!

You have that distance, and it doesn't help.😮‍💨
This is one of those things that can drive people nuts.
You've moved further away.
You've created space.
And still, your dog is struggling.

Because there’s something I think we overlook far too often.

What are we asking a dog to do once we get there?
Standing twenty metres away and moving past something is very different from standing twenty metres away and watching it for five minutes.

Moving is very different from sitting still.
And some dogs need that movement, even at that distance.

Trickier still?
Some like to sit.
They're perfectly happy to naturally sit, observe and process what's happening.
What can become an issue is insisting on that sit when it's not helping that particular dog.

And again, this is where nuance and individuality come in.

There’s lots of advice out there.
A ton of it.
But that doesn't mean every bit of good advice is good advice for your dog, in that moment.

Distance is great.
But sometimes we keep adding metres when what actually needs changing is what happens within those metres.

Can they move?
Process?
Can they look and move on?
How long are they expected to stay?
Are we asking them to hold a position they'd rather leave?

Because sometimes progress isn't hiding another ten metres further back.
It's lurking in what we're asking them to do at that distance.

09/16/2026

So much confusion about crating. Here’s top notch advice

The crate “solved” it.
The chewing stopped.
The jumping too.
That relentless pacing?
Gone.

They're not following you around.
Stopped getting into everything they shouldn't.
It's a very tempting “solution”.

But hang on a minute.
Behaviour stopping because a door is closed?
It's not the same thing as stopping the behaviour.
Similar.
But certainly not the same.

And I think we've gone beyond the old “how long is too long?” conversation around crates.
Because for some dogs, we're drifting into something else entirely.

Containment being mistaken for training.

Many times, that's just management.
Not training.

But the two shouldn't be confused here.

Management has a place.
A very important one.
Sometimes we absolutely need to prevent a dog rehearsing something while we work on what's driving this.
And we need a puppy somewhere safe because our eyes simply cannot be on them every second of the day.
Best of all?
A dog genuinely loves their crate and happily disappears in there for a snooze.

Great.

But none of that means shutting the door has taught the behaviour we wanted outside of it.
The puppy who can't chew the furniture from inside a crate hasn't necessarily learned what they can chew.
A dog who can't pace around the house hasn't learned how to settle.
And a dog who isn't jumping at visitors because they're confined hasn't necessarily learned what to do when visitors arrive.

That's completely different.

Crate training?
That's another aspect of this altogether.
A dog being gradually conditioned to feel safe and comfortable in a crate is a valuable skill.
Being able to shut the door isn't the goal.
Having a dog who can genuinely relax in their own little area? Brilliant.

But yes.
Crates can be misused.
They are misused.

Particularly when we're looking for a quick solution to behaviour that actually needs teaching, investigation or change somewhere else.

Because if the only thing preventing the behaviour is a closed crate door?
The crate didn't solve it.
The crate contained it.

07/27/2026

Twins? ❤️

07/22/2026

There are so many reasons dogs wear muzzles - do any surprise you?

Reason 8: Give fearful dogs space from strangers

"I would never"
The reality is, one day you might need to.

And perhaps not for the reasons you think.

We all have biases.

When you think of a muzzle, does your mind immediately jump to the more “obvious” reason someone may use one?

But what about the dog who can finally enjoy the beach because they can no longer eat mouthfuls of sand?

Or the dog who loves investigating under bushes where native birds are nesting?

What about a dog recovering from surgery or an injury?

Perhaps a veterinarian has recommended muzzle training so future examinations can be less stressful for everyone.

A muzzle is often a thoughtful, responsible management tool.

Sometimes it protects wildlife.
And sometimes it protects healing.

Many times, it gives a dog more freedom.
Not less.

07/21/2026

Great advice for dog owners - and their kids!

QUICK TIP: Most people, unless they've been properly instructed by a knowledgeable trainer, go about this backwards. I'm speaking of preventing resource guarding.

Healthy puppies don't normally guard resources. Puppies that do warrant a professional behavioral assessment.

Many people, misled by the outdated belief that dogs are "pack animals" who need a "pack leader" attempt to train their dogs to defer to their handling and removal of their dog's food.

Dogs aren't "pack animals" and they don't have or need a "pack leader. Just because something is on television, or even published in a book, doesn't make it true.

What dogs need is a human guardian who understands dog behavior and behavior modification.

What we should be aiming to teach puppies is not to respect our fictitious position of "pack leader" but rather, to accept us being near them when they are eating.

We do this through classical conditioning, aka associative learning. By pairing something positive with our presence, namely yummy food treats, puppies can learn to feel comfortable with our proximity to them while they're eating.

We don't need to put our hand in their dish or pet them while they're eating. That's intrusive and threatening.

All we need to do is add some yummy treats to our puppy's bowl while he is eating and then leave him alone. That's it.

The goal should be to teach your puppy to accept your nearness or the nearness of someone else while he's eating, not to show him who controls the food bowl.

He knows you do, and by placing your hand in your puppy's bowl or taking it away from him, you're actually teaching your puppy to be more possessive of his food and less comfortable when people are near.

Cindy Ludwig, MA, KPA-CTP, CPDT-KA
Owner, Canine Connection LLC
Willard, Missouri
Serving Southwest Missouri and Beyond

06/30/2026

🐕 SUMMER SAFETY FOR YOUR PETS⛱️

Car safety:

“70 and over, don’t taker Rover” Closed cars heat up over 100 degrees in under 5 minutes

For Walks:

The 7-Second Rule: if it’s too hot for your hand on the pavement, it’s too hot for their paws

Air Temp -85, concrete 105, asphalt 130
Air Temp -95, concrete 125, asphalt 140
Air Temp -95, concrete 140, asphalt 155