Dog Lady

22/08/2025

Words to live by

💡✨ weekly reminder.

20/08/2025

I never p*e alone.

VELCRO DOGS
Dogs that follow us everywhere and always want to be with us.

When I say "I'M JUST GOING TO THE BATHROOM." My dogs hear: “FAMILY MEETING, ASSEMBLE NOW!" – I’m not sure where this saying originates from, but it’s so true.

Should we be concerned because by allowing dogs to do this, we might be encouraging separation distress (signs of stress and / or panic either when a dog thinks we are about to leave or what they do after we leave?
Are we encouraging neediness, clinginess or demanding behaviour, or is this behaviour a normal, natural need of a social being that is actually a compliment as to the way our dogs feel about us?

It can be a fine line and it’s always a good idea to encourage some independence and alone time to build self-confidence and resilience, especially in puppies, younger dogs or rescues.

It’s also a subject that like so many others, depends on the individual dog, history and circumstances.

This post is about recognising and accepting that the need to be with us and follow us around is a very normal and natural behaviour.

It’s a compliment that says “I feel safe with you, you are so important to me, I feel connected to you, I trust you, have a bond with you, being with you makes me happy!”

That’s not to say that dogs that don’t follow us around don’t feel that way about us!

Each dog is an individual with different social preferences.

Some dogs are loners, more independent and enjoy spending time alone.

Older dogs and seniors that are secure and confident in their environment may just not feel the need to be with us all the time.

If you have a Velcro dog that isn’t stressed or panicked when you leave home, accept the compliment, you’ve clearly earned it!

27/07/2025

I tell folks when they say their dog is "protective"- the dog is protecting him/herself. You just happen to be there.

One of the most common things I hear from dog guardians when describing reactive or aggressive behaviour is: “He’s just protecting me.”

It’s easy to assume a dog is being protective when they growl as someone approaches or bark at strangers on walks. It feels like they’re guarding you and it’s natural to find that reassuring or even flattering.

But in reality? That’s rarely what’s happening.

Most dogs who display behaviours that look like "protectiveness"; barking, growling, lunging are not acting out of duty or devotion. They’re acting out of fear, uncertainty, or poor socialisation.

In most cases, the dog is not saying, “I’ll defend you!” They’re saying, “I’m uncomfortable and I need this person/dog to go away.” It’s a survival strategy, one that’s often rooted in stress, insecurity, or a lack of coping skills.

Studies in animal behaviour and neuroscience support this. Protective or “guarding” behaviour in dogs is not equivalent to human altruism or heroism and is more often explained by resource guarding, fear-based reactivity, or territorial responses.

Van der Borg et al. (2015) found that dogs labelled as "protective" in household environments typically scored high on fear and insecurity in behavioural assessments.

Sherman & Mills (2008) noted that dogs who behave aggressively toward unfamiliar people or dogs while near their owner are often more anxious overall, and the behaviour reflects emotional arousal rather than purposeful defence.

Horwitz & Mills (2009) also emphasise that many owners misattribute fearful or reactive behaviour as loyalty or protection, which often delays appropriate intervention and support.

When we label a dog as “protective,” we risk missing what’s really going on.
If your dog is reactive around others when you’re nearby, ask yourself:

Do they show stiff body language, growling, or avoidance around strangers even when you’re not present?
Do they try to move away before they react?
Do they settle quickly when distance is created?

If so, this is less likely “protectiveness” and more likely a dog struggling to feel safe in their environment.

Dogs don’t owe us protection. Stop romanticising fear.

27/07/2025

When folks learn that I am a trainer, they almost always tell their dog to sit. Usually it is "sit, sit, sit, Sit, SIT, SIT". And most often the dog isn't paying any attention to them. I try to send the dog a message "Sorry, buddy, I know it is ridiculous""

Why is SIT the first thing? Why do we make our dogs SIT so much??

Since when did we equate sitting with "politeness" ?
Is it time to reassess the "Sit"?
It's a reflex of ours to always ask for it.
It becomes a "default" cue....whether it's "needed" or not.

A change of position does not change their emotions.
It can be incredibly frustrating for them.
Is there anything wrong with just standing near us?

Do we insist on a sit when they are clearly showing us they are feeling anxious?
Is it always the most asked for position?

Does it really help?....or is it a habit that we have and it's difficult to break?

20/07/2025

Burn out is real. So is Compassion Fatigue.

Please be kind to your animal professions - trainers, groomers, veterinarians, vet techs, shelter and rescue workers etc.

Although from the outside our job may seem like a “dream career” to most, the majority of us in this profession carry an immense burden on our backs every day. It is amazing to do what you love every day, but what we love also can come with a cost. We spend our days as a counselor, a mediator, a translator, a teacher, a caregiver, a cheerleader and so much more. We wear so many hats just in one day.

To be a good animal handler and worker you have to have been blessed with extreme empathy, hyper vigilance and at times be infuriatingly compassionate. We need to feel deeply, be constantly aware of body language and signals and always helpful. We often times put others needs well above our own and can push ourselves to the point of emotional exhaustion if not careful. We truly take our work home with us a lot, sometimes literally but almost always in our hearts and minds too. We can’t just punch out at the end of the day and forget what we’ve seen, heard, tried to fix etc. Compassion fatigue, depression and anxiety are very common in this field and it’s one of the reasons i am so grateful for my group of fellow colleagues who know to check in when needed.

This doesn’t mean we don’t WANT to help. It means that there are things you can do to help your animal professionals each day.

- Update us with good news when you can. We get panicked, hysterical, tense and terrible emails and calls every day. It truly breaks it up for us when we get an update telling us things are going well.

- Respect our family and down time. Calling 3 times in a row then emailing then texting then calling again at 8pm at night can send us into a tailspin of guilt and panic. Guilt at not being able to answer OR leaving family to answer or panic at what could possibly have happened/gone wrong. We will always get back at a timely manner, but we need to take a breath too.

- support our causes. Share our events, celebrate our victories, and donate when you can to things that you can. Knowing we aren’t alone in the battles we fight makes a huge difference sometimes.

- forgive our strangeness. We are people too, and yes we have lots of animals and may make strange jokes or wear weird t-shirts but it’s all what makes us unique and special in the community. Everyone needs at least one crazy dog friend. Forgive us for being the one who always has dog hair on our clothes no matter what the occasion.

- when you see us outside of work, talk to us about something - ANYTHING - but our work, unless we ask first. We love our job but we also love to talk about things apart from the consistency of your pets last bowel movement or a new leash you found online in a sale. Ask us about our family, the weather, anything! It shows us that you value us as a person not just as a service.

- laugh and cry with us. Understand that your victories are our victories. We truly feel that attached to your animals and you. Many of my clients become like family to me and I have laughed and cried right along with them as they went on their journey together.

- remember we may get things wrong sometimes. We may not always know. We are human and still very capable of mistakes, even small ones. Life is too short to sweat the small stuff, so forgive us if we mess up sometimes.

- and of course, lastly, refer friends to us. Knowing you trust us with people and animals you love is the biggest compliment you can give us, on top of letting us help you. It also shows us you enjoyed your experience enough to send others and that is a huge accomplishment.

Thanks for reading. ❤️
- Helen St. Pierre

19/07/2025

YES!!! I ❤️ this. So. MUCH! 🫶

19/07/2025

These are the things that set my hair on fire 🔥 People insist the dog is tolerant. Yeah, until they aren't. Please teach your children that dogs are not toys. They are living beings that will protect themselves.

16/07/2025

⬇️All of this⬇️

15/07/2025

Welp, I learned something new! 🐓

08/07/2025

😳
And I thought my dogs were big shedders!!

30/06/2025

Gosh never heard that one...with my three dogs all walking in front of me.

This really is my *actual face* I make. 😏

Thanks, I haven't heard that one, ever.

Very original material, real knee slapper there. 🥱 🙄