Wee Paws Small Breed Dog Walking

08/29/2024

Look. Wee know, Ok? WEE KNOW!

08/27/2024

It’s international dog day!!! My life would be so drastically different if I didn’t have these two nutty floofs in my life. So grateful they found their way to me.

08/20/2024

I thought I would put this out there to the community. I have a class project for my training program that requires some cartoon drawing and animation (possibly). Is there anyone out there that is a good cartoon artist that can draw quickly? Subject will be dog and environment related. I’m thinking along the lines of those 2D whiteboard videos. I unfortunately can’t afford the 800-1000 I’m seeing in fiverr (what happened to $5?? 😅). Is there anyone around that loves drawing and does it for fun? I’ll pay of course, I just can’t afford much. I’ll walk your dog for free as tradesies.

08/18/2024

Never punish a growl! Communication is key! We demand our dogs learn English language. Let’s take a moment to learn dog language!

Growling is a communication of feelings and emotions...I'm uncomfortable, I'm worried, I'm angry, I'm scared, I'm tired, I'm stressed, I want space...

08/16/2024

Yesterday, sweet Rukus has crossed the rainbow bridge. Rukus was the best park fren to the wees and walked with us frequently. Rukus swore himself in as the protector of the pack. He was the best sheriff and referee. and the best friend our wees could ask for. You're pain free now. Run amok good friend.

08/16/2024

Just dogs.

08/03/2024

Very important to be aware of! These are EVERYWHERE in Ladner. They’re near impossible to avoid on walks around town. Be aware and be vigilant. They not only can wreak havoc in the nose, but the paws as well. Ouch!

07/31/2024

Oh the things I’ve seen at the dog park. Education is key! I was green and ignorant once too. But I vowed to never stay that way, for the love of my dogs. Never finished learning.

Working with dogs or in some sort of dog-related industry is a dream come true for many people. Unfortunately, an incredibly small percentage of those people take the time to learn about the dogs they love and work with. Instead, they rely on exposure to dogs as their expertise.

If you work or volunteer in a dog-related business, you should have a basic understanding of the following:

1. BODY LANGUAGE. If your description of body language is limited to dominant or submissive (or calm-assertive and the like), it's time to learn more about body language. Here’s a DVD I consider required viewing:

https://amzn.to/2vciSSS

Without it, you could be missing the signs that tell you a dog is frustrated instead of stubborn, afraid instead of dominant, or dangerously close to biting instead of “fine.”

2. HOW DOGS LEARN. I don’t care what methodology you subscribe to or what equipment you use, you damn well better understand the science behind what you're doing. This includes both classical (learning by association – affecting emotions) and operant conditioning (learning via consequences – affecting behaviors), which are in effect regardless of the method.

https://amzn.to/2OFMRKT

http://www.scienceofconsequences.com/

3. STRESS AND LEARNING. If you think a dog is dominant and not food-motivated because he “doesn’t listen,” and ignores a treat waved under his nose when encountering other dogs on walks, you need more information on how stress affects concentration and learning.

http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/pets/dog-behavior/how-to-tell-when-your-dog-is-stressed

4. CHANGING BEHAVIOR. It doesn't take any knowledge or skill to drag a dog across a linoleum floor, but if you believe that a dog “gets used to” something by being exposed to or immersed in it, now is the time to learn what desensitization and counter-conditioning actually are.

http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pet-health-information/article/animal-health/introduction-to-desensitization-and-counterconditioning/131

5. How HEALTH affects behavior. Because sometimes a dog's refusal to sit or lie down is not defiance, but pain. And pain and discomfort increase stress. You don't have to be able to diagnose (nor should you, unless you are a veterinarian) a medical condition, but if you are giving training or behavior advice, you should be able to spot a potential health problem and/or recommend a veterinary exam.

6. MODERN METHODS. If you think that clicker training means carrying a clicker to get the dog to listen. If you think that dogs trained with food must see food before they will respond, it's time to learn how to use food rewards with skill. If you claim to use “whatever works,” then you should be open to adding capturing and shaping techniques to your training toolbox.

http://a.co/gfms5tx

STREAMING KNOWLEDGE

You don't have to spend thousands of dollars to attend days-long seminars like I have (and still do). The following organizations offer free and low-cost webinars on all of these topics and more:

www.4pawsuniversity.com

www.apdt.com

http://caabchats.com/list-of-chats/

www.centerforshelterdogs.com

http://www.dog-ibox.com/

www.petprofessionalguild.com

There is a service that delivers DVDs of seminars by top experts right to your door. Just like Netflix. They recently added 500 streaming titles to their collection, as well.

www.tawzerdog.com

KEEP LEARNING, DO BETTER

I've been in the world of dog training for fifteen years. I have worked with over 4,000 dogs and over 150 breeds. I've used "balanced" training. I've used prong collars and e-collars/shock collars, alpha rolls/dominance downs, collar grabs, scruff shakes, hard stares, leash corrections, verbal corrections, and more.

I don't use those methods any more. I don't need to. And the reason I don't need to is because, in spite of my belief that those methods and equipment were absolutely necessary with some dogs and in some cases, I loved learning and kept attending seminars, webinars, online courses, and workshops, as well as reading new books on learning and behavior.

And just when I think I'm at the top of my game, I read or watch something by animal trainers like Ken Ramirez, neuroscientists like Dr. Jaak Panskepp, biologists like Dr. Robert Sapolsky, and experts in psychology and learning like Dr. Susan Friedman. And I realize just how much more I can learn.

I made plenty of mistakes in my career. I look back on some of the things I wrote and recommended and cringe. We all do the best we can with the knowledge we have in the moment. The key is to keep expanding our knowledge so we can continually improve.

Choosing to maintain ignorance of these subjects only serves the ego. And egos don’t make for good dog trainers, vet techs, shelter directors, daycare employees, or rescue volunteers. More importantly, egos tend to become a priority over a dog’s quality of life. It’s hard and sometimes painful to admit that your knowledge may be outdated, that advice you’ve given could have been harmful, or that you’ve made life/death decisions about dogs that might have been wrong. I've done it. Any positive reinforcement trainer who has been in the business for over 10 years has done it.

You have a choice. To stay where you are and trust that your knowledge is sufficient, or to admit you might have more to learn. If you choose to move forward, try to forgive yourself as you learn. You can’t change the past, only the choices you make going forward.

“I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.” ― Maya Angelou

COPYRIGHT NOTICE
This post is free to share on Facebook via the “Share” link. Downloading for redistribution online or in print form is strictly prohibited. ©2015 Lisa Mullinax. All rights reserved.

07/23/2024

Did you know your emotional state has a direct result in your dog’s behaviour and well-being?

Dogs Detect Human Stress Smell, Affecting Their Mood and Choices

Research shows dogs exposed to human stress odors make more pessimistic choices, indicating a negative emotional state.

The study highlights that human stress smells affect dogs' learning and perception of rewards.

This finding can improve the care and training of companion and working dogs.

The deep connection between human emotions and canine responses is more profound than previously understood.

https://neurosciencenews.com/human-stress-dog-emotion-26471/

07/19/2024

Lexi’s K-9 Services comes through for this beautiful baby that, through no fault of his own, had a rough go through life. If you’re looking for a new forever family member, reach out to Lexi!

UPDATE: Thank you Lexi at https://m.facebook.com/lexisk9services/ for offering a spot to this boy. Looking forward to seeing his progress under your care. See you tomorrow 😀🐶😀

Here we go again!!!

Immediate foster needed for a dog set to be euthanized tomorrow. Long story short there was an apparent bite. It can’t be verified as it was with the 2nd owner who didn’t want the dog and returned it after 2 years by tieing it to the original owners tree in the front yard and calling to say it had bitten. I went to assess the dog today and didn’t see a dog that needed to be immediately put down. So, I’d like to bring him into the rescue and observe his behavior.

Looking for an adult home who has some experience with dog behavior. I did not see anything that was worrisome other than being little uncomfortable with being matted.

This dog is located in the lower mainland.

If you can help us, please email Karen at [email protected]

07/09/2024

Heat waves mean walks get cancelled. So here are some much needed photos of dogs having the time of their lives… in much cooler weather.

06/15/2024

Great advice! I would just add that if the dog is in danger don’t hesitate to call the police non emergency line. They have members driving around and can control traffic to make sure the dog remains safe

🐾 Found a Lost Dog? Here's What to Do! 🐾

If you come across a lost dog, here's a quick guide on what to do to help reunite them with their owner. (A reminder to always use caution when approaching an unfamiliar animal and if it seems scared or fearful... Do not chase it, just give us a call!)

Thank you for being a kind-hearted animal lover! 🐶❤️ Let’s help our furry friends find their way back home.

05/18/2024

Build me up, buttercup!

04/27/2024

Be on the lookout!!

04/17/2024

There’s a whole lotta ridiculous going on here.

04/10/2024

THIS is how it should be done. 👏👏

03/25/2024

What is this!?! A white floof convention??

03/22/2024

Spring has sprung and the dogs are loving it!

03/07/2024

Photies of the cuties.

02/28/2024

Be on the lookout! Last seen in the fields around 28th and 53 (near backroads market).

Terrified new rescue from Mexico. I won’t get into how I feel about these dogs “flipped” and handed over to inexperienced fosters. But we need to start doing better by these dogs.

02/28/2024

The power of a dog

199.2K likes, 8859 comments. “Jon Stewart remembers his best boy, Dipper.”

02/22/2024

It’s either happiness or gas. I can’t tell.

02/15/2024

Can a day BE more spectacular?

01/30/2024

New rescue. In survivor mode. Poor thing.

01/28/2024

Abbotsford friends?

UPDATE: FOSTER FOUND! Thank you so much village!

We are in urgent need of a foster for a 7 year old, small dog starting on Monday.

The owner of the dog has gone into palliative care and has asked for our assistance with their dog.

Preference would be a home in Abbotsford as this is where the owner/dog are currently living.

If you are able to help, please put your information into our foster form here: https://tinyurl.com/sdrbcfoster and we will contact you with more information. This is a sensitive situation and we are waiting on more information about the dog. However we want to get some potential fosters lined up so we are prepared when we go to meet the dog and owner on Monday.

We really appreciate your help village!

01/27/2024

Sweet Cha-chi has passed over the rainbow bridge today. Chachi was an OG with the Wee pack and my sweet nephdog. You will be missed.

01/22/2024

Reminder! No walks this week. Sorry for the inconvenience.

01/09/2024

Freezing rain? Shake it off.

01/09/2024

Just us?

12/25/2023

Wee wish you a merry Christmas!