Unleashed Behavior and Training Services

09/23/2025

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DISTRACTED DOG WALKERS

The distracted dog walker is commonly seen chatting on their cell phone, wearing headphones or socializing with other people while oblivious to what their dog is doing, how their dog is feeling or what is going on in the environment.

This may not sound like a problem, but it is something that many of us have a problem with, even more so if we have a reactive, sensitive dog.

I always compare walking a dog to driving a car. It’s not so much about our driving skills, but having to constantly be aware of the driving skills of others – trying to predict what they will do, which rules of the road they will ignore and how distracted they are. This is especially true in the country I live in, where driving can be a really stressful experience.

I understand that we often need to multi task – there simply doesn’t seem to be enough time in our day to accomplish everything we need to, but walking our dogs should not be one of these times.

Some may say – “but my dog is really friendly, well socialized, gets on well with everyone, is well trained, knows this environment well etc. and I hear that. But another dog might not be – maybe they need space, are reactive, sensitive, selectively social, have health issues, might be terrified of another dog racing straight towards them chasing a ball thrown from a ball launcher etc.

If distracted dog walkers have no regard for other dogs or other people, they should at least have regard for their own dogs.

Walking your dog should be a time of bonding, of connecting, of seeing the environment through the eyes of your dog, of reinforcing and rewarding wanted behaviours, of keeping them safe and protected.

Our dogs need us to be focused, to pay attention, to be aware and attentive. Our dogs depend on us to advocate for them.

09/22/2025

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09/19/2025

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09/18/2025

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09/17/2025

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09/16/2025

Contact Paws and Pals Premier Pet Resort to register today:)

09/15/2025

Spots available for Puppy-K starting this week! Contact Paws and Pals Premier Pet Resort to register. ❤️🐾🥰

09/12/2025

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09/11/2025

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Generalization refers to a dog's ability to perform certain behaviors in different locations, situations, and with people other than yourself. This concept of "proofing" behaviors must include intentional practice, as dogs typically don't understand that, "Hey, if I do this here, I can also do it there!"

Learning should begin at home and should gradually expand to different and more challenging environments.
Example of progressively more challenging locations: Home ➡ Your Yard ➡ Friend's House ➡ Public Patio

Learning should happen under a variety of different contexts and situations, starting with "calm" and gradually incorporating bigger distractions
🥱 Calm could mean at home, with only you, then at home with someone else around, then with that someone else moving around.
🥳 Busy could mean having multiple people around, possibly including children, or other "uncontrolled" distractions.

Learning should happen with an assortment of humans, especially humans who will be a bigger part of your dog's life. Incorporating different tones and inflections of your voice will also help build reliability with verbal cues!

09/10/2025

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09/09/2025

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I NEED TO BE NOSY!

There are so many benefits in creating activities that allow dogs to use their strongest sense – the sense of scent or smell.

Although dogs have an incredible ability to scent, so many dogs are never given the opportunity to use this sense in a way that’s meaningful to them.

We often expect our dogs to conform to our very visual and verbal human world, neglecting the fact that they largely perceive the world through scent.

The picture in this post is my eldest Schnauzer, Sophie. At 12-years-old, one of her favourite things to do is to find hidden treasures in empty boxes stuffed with balls of paper containing tiny treats. She will then proceed to shred the box into pieces, just in case she missed anything!

Yes, it makes a mess and has to be cleaned up, but being able to watch her sense of enjoyment, purpose, achievement and the calmness and relaxation she feels afterwards, is priceless.

I believe that scenting activities for dogs should be considered an essential need. It really doesn’t have to be difficult, time consuming or expensive.

Scent work is especially beneficial to dogs that may be nervous, fearful, lack confidence, are reactive, have big feelings or are high energy. It gives them a “job” to do in a world where they often have no outlets to fulfil this very natural, biological need.

Provide opportunities for your dog to be “nosy”, it really will make a difference to their wellbeing.

09/08/2025

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Rehomed over and over again
Why?
This is certainly one reason.
Adoption isn't the end of the journey, far from it. It really is the beginning.
They can look "out of control" when they are completely overwhelmed.
We forget that, we can dismiss it with a "she'll be right" attitude.

Some may adjust quickly but the vast majority of dogs that are rehomed or newly adopted do struggle.
Heck, they've just been uprooted from everything they know!
They don't know why.
Often it's home after home for these struggling dogs.

It can be very stressful on everyone having a newly adopted dog, you've done a great thing but I know it's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel when they have ripped your lounge suite, chewed on your rug and are constantly "on the go".

These can all be signs your dog is struggling.
You probably are too.

Reach out to the centre/organisation.
Get help from a trainer.
Go back and read the information you were given.

Take it slow. Reach out for support.

You are not alone.