Wise Mind Canine

11/07/2025

July is Disability Pride Month! If you've been here awhile you probably know that I am disabled.

What you don't know is that it took me a long time to embrace that as a unique and wonderful part of my identity. I had to work through internalized ableism and the way the world treated me because of disability in daily life. I had to learn how to self advocate. To understand the laws and programs that protect people like me and how to access them and ensure their enforcement. To live well alongside my disabilities, to recognize my worth, cope with them and find joy. In other words, it has been a process. A long process.

The reason I'm transparent about these things is because I want other people to know that there can be hope in self employment for those of us who don't fit the standard mold of the workforce. Working is sometimes possible when we are given the freedom to accommodate ourselves fully and unapologetically. Is it hard? ABSOLUTELY. Does it feel impossible sometimes and impact my bottom line, also yes. But I do this for the joy of it. For the connection to my clients. For the possibility of making my disabled life better with the help that money can buy.

Let me be really clear though, disabled people are worthy and valuable, period. I was just as valuable when I could not work as I am today as a business owner. If you're sitting at home unable to work I want you to know that you matter. That I am glad for every cent of my taxes that goes into making sure you have what you need. That as the government attacks our rights, protections, and the supports that keep many of us alive, I am thinking about what it means to show up for people hit the hardest by the changes that are coming. Because years ago, I would have been one of those people. I know how terrifying things have to be right now.

If you are disabled and facing the prospect of having to change your living situation to stay afloat, and that living situation requires integrating dogs, please reach out. I have scholarship spots for you.

For my clients and followers, thank you for supporting my small business. There were many years of my life where I thought working was never going to be in the cards for me again. Instead you've given me years of slow and steady growth. Every dollar you spend here changes my life. It pays for things like cooling vests, anti nausea watches, prescription sunglasses, cooling/compression clothing, prescription medication, piles of electrolyte powder, grab bars and a hundred little things that make my disabled life easier to live with a lot more freedom. Wherever I can I try to pay that forward by providing scholarship services to disabled clients and assisting disabled people in my community. This Wise Mind Canine adventure has been truly life changing and I am grateful to get up and do this job that I love every day.

Disability Pride, disability rage, disability joy, disability wrath: It's okay to have complex feelings about Disability Pride Month. But recognizing Disability Pride Month is so important! Here's a few reasons why:

- Civil rights protections under the ADA have existed for only 35 years - and are still under attack.
- Disabled activists have fought for decades to protect those rights and continue to do so.
- Disability is not a "tragedy" or a "fate worse than de*th"
- Eugenics is still the default
- Ableism, including internalized ableism, is still rampant
- Disabled people have inherent value, and our communities are resilient
- Celebrating our lives and our joy is important in a world that thinks we don't matter.

Disability Pride Month is about cutting through the isolation so many disabled folks experience, celebrating who we are, and (re)committing to the fight for our rights and value to be recognized.

Of course, being disabled can suck. Living in chronic pain and fatigue and not having access to places and things isn't easy. But that doesn't mean our lives aren't valuable and worth living.

You matter. We'll keep fighting and celebrating for you!

02/07/2025

I LOVE client updates. Stick and Hero's people put in such effort to create a harmonious blended multi dog household when they moved in together. So proud of them all! Plus, look at the beautiful places these dogs get to explore together.

Helping couples sort through this transition with their dogs is one of my absolute favorite things to do. I'll have a resource on my blog on the topic really soon.

ID: The dogs, A brown and white Australian Shepherd and a brown and white border collie mix stand close together while exploring large rocks against a shore. Calm water is in the background.

01/07/2025

Look what came for the wall behind my desk on the very last day of Pride Month! I wanted something that would be visible every day while I'm on video chat with clients.

It has been quiet here. A story for another day perhaps, maybe for Disability Pride month in July.

But I wanted to pop on and wish everyone a Happy Pride Month before it was over. It's my first Pride out as Bisexual and I haven't quite known how to interact with things. So I took some introspective time and started reading some really amazing books on the history of Q***r activism. Seemed appropriate for these times.

Anyway, please know that you're welcome and wanted here.

31/05/2025

Struggling to decide whether adding another dog to your home is a good idea? This will help you decide.

ID: A German Shepherd head tilts next to the words, "New on the blog: should I add another dog?" The Wise Mind Canine logo is on the image.

23/05/2025

Sometimes your setup makes all the difference.

Today I worked with a local case which allowed me to replace a gating setup that wasn't working for them with something more solid from my garage.

Before we had to use a less ideal location for exposures between these dogs because the setup that was here before had dogs trying to push over gates, nearly jump them, and nosing at the edges to slip through. That brought up everyone's stress levels because not only were they learning new things, they also had that insecurity factor of "what happens if the gates fail?".

At the same time the dogs were really struggling in the alternative location with secure gates because:

1. It was too close to the smaller dogs' safe area so they felt defensive.

2. The little dogs didn't have much ability to seek distance.

3. There are 4 dogs in this case and none of the dogs are ready to work at the same time. We have to work in groups of 2. In the old location the second small dog in this case could hear everything and react from behind the door, setting everyone off.

By using taller 42" solid metal panels, high strength zip ties, pinning gates between walls and furniture (to be replaced by hooks in the studs and carabineers or zip ties attaching later) everyone was finally able to be successful in the better location.

Now the dogs:

1. Had no reason to try and jump a gate or knock it over because it wasn't going to work.

2. All had a lot of distance to retreat, including out of sight options. The small dogs in this case who are most anxious can even retreat to a lower floor.

This is of course not the only measure that was taken in this case that helped create this moment. We've done enrichment, medical assessments, behavior meds, and skillbuilding too. But getting this environmental change done on top of what was tried before really changed the game. This was a huge win today and I'm so proud of everyone, it was a real team effort for this wonderful family.

P.S. I know you have all been waiting for longer than I ever wanted for Thriving Multi Dog Households. I haven't forgotten. Between some rocky health issues for me and my senior dogs (12 & 14) having their own, I feel like I need about 4 of me right now. I promise it's worth the wait. It's on my list to show you what the new online classroom looks like with all of the upgrades next week. I've learned a thing or two about web design in the past 5 years and I know you'll all appreciate the upgrade.

VD: Videos shows a Chinese Crested and a Boxer separated by tall, black metal barriers in an open concept home. There's at least a 6ft gap between barriers. On one side a Boxer snuffles in a box filled with treats, a puzzle, and other items. On the other side the Chinese Crested is hanging out with a person and a lickable mat.

28/04/2025

Do ALL of your dogs have comfy and desirable places to be when you all settle down for the evening? Sometimes it takes some trial and error to find what each of your dogs love but it's worth the effort. In my living room we have a dog bed on a cot, an armchair that one of them is obsessed with, and an old oversized ottoman. Plus all the extra space on our couch, the area rug and hardwood floor. More options = less conflict.

My dogs also know that we're not going to let any of them pressure another dog to leave a comfy spot so they can take it. They learned that through our consistent and kind redirection whenever they have tried it in the past. Eventually you get dogs who don't even try to steal comfy spots in the first place.

ID: Multi Dog Monday Tip of the Week. Make sure that there are far more comfy spots to rest in your home than there are dogs. Especially in places where your family gathers in the evening after school and work. While there still may be favorites or issues, this can prevent tension for many dogs. To further support your dogs, gently redirect a dog who’s pressuring another dog to leave a bed or waking them out of sleep. The Wise Mind Canine Logo is on the image.

22/04/2025

I don't know about you, but I like to eat my meals in peace. No one hovering or trying to grab my food off of my plate. It's nice. And we don't have to answer the question of what I'd do if someone grabbed my scrambled eggs off my plate. (Do I bite? Maybe. Eggs are expensive.😂)

Yet many of us ask our dogs to tolerate this every day during meal time. Luckily the solution is simple. Give each of your dogs their own space to eat. Take your dog's worry of "will this food remain mine?" and replace it with feeling relaxed/safe around their meals. Plus, letting dogs eat in their own contained space opens up more options for using meals as enrichment experiences. Win-win.

ID: Multi Dog Monday tip of the week. The Wise Mind Canine Logo is on the image. The easiest way to reduce conflict over meals is to simply feed your dogs in their own spaces with barriers of some kind between them so they can’t come into contact with or bother one another. If your dog changes the way they eat when the other dog is in view versus out of view you can always choose an opaque barrier like a door or a temporary visual block like a blanket over a baby gate. Make sure you pick up those bowls before you put them back together.

19/04/2025

Been navigating some health challenges recently that have my hours and days all out of order. But I just got done watching a whole batch of client videos and there is no pain killer or fatigue overcomer quite like getting to help clients with their dogs.

From the cutest Basset Hound play bow to the infectious joy of watching an oh so happy Rottweiler do the most enthusiastic place cue I've ever seen. Plus the best herdy mix who is oh so serious about muzzle training. Not to mention getting to hang out with the Boxers to try out enrichment and work on appropriate greetings. Can't forget helping a Chinese Crested and a tiny Terrier mix get their first introduction to learning trained skills. This job is truly just the best job. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

While I specialize in multi dog households, the reality is that in doing that, I work on everything else you can imagine too. I leave no stone unturned when it comes to helping every individual dog live the best life they can with their family. So don't hesitate to reach out for private training if you've only got one dog. I'll just thank you for putting me on household dynamics easy mode for a little while.

That last April spot is still hanging in there if you need it. At this point I'm debating closing out May to new private clients in order to finish my Thriving Multi Dog Households project. So speak now or you might have to hold until June. If I leave May open there will only be one additional spot.

ID: Image shows a dog in front of a laptop with a banner with my name Katie Sipple IAABC-ADT above it. 1 slot remaining for private training with an April start date. Claim it soon! Contact me here, via email [email protected], or on the website. The Wise Mind Canine logo is on the image.

17/04/2025

Today had me reflecting on how truly challenging some cases can be. Sometimes even figuring out simple enrichment options can be a big process with a lot of frustrating dead ends. For me. For my clients. For their dogs. Basically the sub quest to the original problem can suddenly feel like a whole entire quest of its own.

When I talk about complex multi dog households being my favorite puzzle, I mean it. But I am also incredibly cognizant of the fact that my clients are living the puzzle day in and day out and they need relief. So when this local "sudden" 4 dog household was handing me heavy helpings of humble pie, well, I had to physically go out there for some intensive troubleshooting. The first time I've felt I absolutely HAD to do that in 5 years.

This was one of our huge breakthroughs this week. Troubleshooting taking the Boxers on neighborhood walks together with only one of their people. These two spent most of their walk happily side by side and taking shared sniff breaks. They saw triggers but were able to watch or disengage. We had an equipment safety net (leash belay) so that those two wouldn't be able to hurt their person or get free if they did react to something or start pulling hard. There's still work to do here but they were so thrilled and content getting exercise that could previously only happen on weekends.

Linking back to my Multi Dog Monday tip earlier in the week, notice this isn't a picture perfect walk by people standards. They pulled sometimes. They were focused on the environment and each other. They wanted absolutely nothing to do with food. We didn't work on anything other than putting one foot in front of the other. But what was it? 2 dogs and their person getting to enjoy a cool, crisp, spring day together, safely and enjoyably. It was freedom and fun!

We didn't do anything super fancy here training wise, this was just:

1. My client pre exercised the dogs with yard time.
2. We worked their brains inside on another issue.
3. Tried a couple different leash combinations for human confidence and comfort until we landed on the belay and what you see here.
4. Me coming along for backup and coaching.

We can build skills over time to make things go more smoothly, but for now, everybody gets the stress relief of a neighborhood walk and they're one step closer to getting these dogs in the right headspace to try to properly integrate them with their new housemates.

Alright, time to sleep, I just wanted to share how darn proud I am of this family! They've been doing HARD work and it was so nice to see them reap some reward. I have loved that my body is cooperating for some in person client time right now with such awesome people.

VD: 2 adult Boxers walk side by side down a neighborhood sidewalk on a split bungee lead attached to harnesses. The larger has dark brown fur mixed with white and the smaller has light brown and white fur. They go different directions for a second and then land on sniffing the same spot. One of the harnesses has patches that say "best friend".

15/04/2025

How about a 3 minute late Multi Dog Monday?

Walking multiple dogs at the same time can be a challenge! But it's not impossible and it can even be enjoyable with the right skills. Usually when people talk about this they're talking about heeling together or loose leash walking within a few feet of their person. Those are important too, especially if you tend to walk in areas with tight spaces like the city. But when I talk about skills for walking multiple dogs I'm also thinking of things like:

1. Intermittent auto check ins with their people.

2. Directionals. Have you ever tangled leashes? Being able to ask a dog to move a certain direction can help.

3. Coming back when called.

4. Skills for soothing arousal like pattern games.

For me, multi dog walks are for their enjoyment of just being dogs. I love watching what they decide to do together. From carrying sticks, to sniffing all the same spots, to getting excited and trying to play. Wherever possible I'm going to let them just do their thing and not stress about that perfect picture of loose leash walking. I'm not ruining their fun or their bonding activity by panicking about a leash that got tight. But I do need them not to drag me down the street, avoid wrapping each other up in knots, move away from something when I ask, and bring that energy level back into thinking brain territory if something overexcites or upsets them.

What skills do you find most important while walking multiple dogs?

ID: Multi Dog Monday Tip of the Week. Are you having a disastrous time walking your dogs together? You’re definitely not alone. It’s important to work on leash walking skills with each dog individually first before you try to ask them to perform those skills together. Be prepared to work on those skills again, often from the beginning when you switch to working with both dogs. The behavior will slip because of the added distractions. A commonly missed part of this process is practicing inside your home first. Then gradually transition outside. When you first start walking together it can help to make loops around the same block so the environment becomes less distracting. The Wise MInd Canine logo is on the image.

11/04/2025

There seems to be a pressure on people to throw everything they have into their dogs. Especially when things aren't going well with behavior which is ironically the time people are most overwhelmed.

Here's the thing, sometimes you need a break. Sometimes life is just really hard and I think all of us can relate to the feeling that there's just not enough of us to go around and do all we need to do. The dogs will truly be alright if you can't go for a walk today or if you need to skip that enrichment activity or training you had planned. If you need "you" time. Take it. You'll be a better dog guardian for it later. Your needs matter too.

If you find yourself struggling to balance your needs with those of your dog professional support can go a long way toward making your lives together run more smoothly. Send me a message if you want to find out how Wise Mind Canine can help you with that.

ID: Large text says "YOUR DOGS WILL BE OKAY IF YOU NEED A BREAK TODAY" in all capital letters. Will be okay is bold. Smaller text says "You have to take care of yourself to take care of them. If this day or this week or this month have to be about you, it’s OK. Your needs matter. Their needs matter. You have to honor both." The Wise MInd Canine logo is on the image.

10/04/2025

Did you know that medical issues in your multi dog household can contribute to the risk of a dog fight in your home?

I've seen multi dog households face dog fights with medical issues as major contributing factors:

-Undiagnosed mystery symptoms.

-Long term and painful surgical recovery.

-Disabilities that impact the dogs' ability to communicate or respond to communication from other dogs. Things like blindness, deafness, canine cognitive dysfunction etc.

-Osteoarthritis, hip, and elbow dysplasia

-Chronic GI issues

- Allergies

-Thyroid problems.

-Neurological issues like seizures or vestibular problems.

Your veterinarian is an amazing resource for preventing dog fights in your multi dog household. Keep up on your preventative care. Bring the dogs in right away when you suspect something. Address chronic diagnoses to the best of your ability and get serious about pain control. Your dogs will thank you. Remember, if behavior changes "out of the blue" it's time to go to the vet first. If you find that your dog is living with a chronic condition, they may need extra support from you to thrive alongside the other dogs.

ID: Dog Fight Risk Factors with a red alarm and veterinary care symbol. Text reads "One or more of your dogs have medical issues that cause pain, disorientation, a decreased ability to respond to signals of other dogs, general discomfort or anxiety. These conditions may be known or unknown to you. This is why it is especially critical to keep up on veterinary care in multi dog households. Dogs with medical issues need care from your veterinarian. If you need help supporting your dogs’ interactions alongside medical complexities. Contact Wise Mind Canine today." The Wise Mind Canine logo is on the image.