Spry Dog

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Many people, misled by the outdated belief that dogs are "pack animals" who need a "pack leader" attempt to train their dogs to defer to their handling and removal of their dog's food.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

05/13/2026

You’re teaching your dog ALL the time - not just when you’re “training.” Did you know that when you respond to anything he’s doing, he learns to do it more. Corrections, praise, food, punishments - all of these reactions from you reinforce his behavior and make it stronger. Contact Spry Dog if you want to know what to do instead.

They’re getting better at it.
It’s just not what you wanted.

Life happens.
We get busy. We get tired.
Management slips.
Doors get rushed at, and windows get barked through.
Behaviours get rehearsed.

It’s ok. This isn’t about perfection.
One of the hardest parts with behaviour change is that dogs don’t only learn during training sessions.
They learn from repetition all day, every day.

That’s why behaviour can sometimes feel so confusing and frustrating.

We may have had a fantastic training session in the morning, aimed at reducing that unwanted behaviour.
Then that same behaviour is unintentionally practised another 15 times across the rest of the week, or even in a day.
Those repetitions matter.

Behaviours that are practised regularly become faster and more “automatic” over time.

Management gets a bad rap sometimes but it’s one of the greatest tools we have to build new habits.
Management is not about “avoiding the issue”.
What it can do is reduce the rehearsal while we teach better coping skills and patterns instead.

That can be a huge shift for many dogs.

Behaviour change really is much bigger than that single moment we are trying to stop.
One thing’s for sure though.
If they practice it.
They’ll get better at it.

We just have to be careful with what “it” is.

05/02/2026

Great demo showing how to teach your dog to like having his teeth brushed. P.S. Brushing their teeth can keep them healthy much longer!

05/02/2026

If your dog is really “busy” much of the time, read this ^..^

If you don’t physically exhaust them… they just won’t stop.
Whoa there.
Let’s look at the bigger picture.... not just a quick “fix” for today.

I get it, I really do.
Running them longer..... throwing the frisbee for another 10 minutes, chucking that ball again and again, because if you don’t, they’ll pace, whine and struggle to settle.

Here’s the tough question.
Is it helping your dog… or just creating a cycle where they crave more and more?

Their stamina climbs higher.
Their demands increase.
Their adrenaline is off the charts.

Then "suddenly" the amount of exercise you need to give them is unsustainable .
There just aren’t enough hours in the day to “satisfy” them.

What's the solution?
Do less… but carefully.
Reduce that high energy exercise, while adding enrichment in its place.

Low arousal activities that tire them in a different way:

Scatter feeding
Scent walks
Enrichment games
Puzzle toys

Still not convinced?
Try it.... really try it , for a few weeks.

You’ll never look at “tiring them out” the same way again.

05/02/2026

Great explanation!

It's not about the crate.

I know people feel very strongly about crates.
And I understand why.

So this isn’t about crating every dog.
But we do need to prepare them for times when they may have no choice.

Think overnight stays at the vet.
Evacuation centres that insist on them.
Kennels or dog stays that use them if you need to leave your dog.

This is about making sure they can cope if they ever need to.

The same crate can be a safe, predictable space or somewhere they panic in.

That difference doesn’t come from the crate.
It comes from what your dog has learned to feel in it.

Rushing is where distress starts.
Closing the door too soon.
Using it when they’re already stressed.
Expecting them to “get used to it” or “cry it out”.

That builds stress and pressure.
And those two things will never create the calm we are aiming for.

A well-introduced crate should be quiet, cosy and predictable.
A place where good things happen.
A place they can truly settle.

A poorly introduced one feels very different.
Restricting.
Confusing and distressing.
Somewhere they just don’t want to be.

Dogs don’t resist crates for no reason.
They’re responding to how it feels.

How it feels is up to us.

04/18/2026

If your pup has behavior issues - fear, anxiety, stress, shyness - these folks can help you. Lots of knowledge, care and heart. Animal Clinic

https://www.facebook.com/100063863100501/posts/1083386550466772/?

04/18/2026

This symposium is guaranteed to be ultra informative - I’ll be bringing my own popcorn! 🍿