Wee Paws Small Breed Dog Walking

01/29/2025

Sometimes you just gotta stop and smell the flowers. Right Riggs?

01/25/2025

01/21/2025

My dogs bark, my dogs don’t always walk at my ankle, they sniff and they get excited. They have friends and they have enemies. They don’t always fit into the category of the “perfectly obedient” dogs.

That’s ok. They have agency. They make mistakes. They communicate however they can. They do their best in a world not made for them. And I do my best to make their world as “dog friendly” as I can.

So if you have a problem with my dogs less than ideal behaviours… 🤷‍♀️

01/20/2025

The Swedes have it figured out.

01/09/2025

When you see it… 😂

01/08/2025

A very good read! “Oh my dog doesn’t have anxiety” is something I hear a lot. “Oh yes he does” is usually my answer (sometimes under my breath 😅). Anxiety shows in many ways that you wouldn’t always think of.

🤯 4 BEHAVIORS THAT OFTEN = ANXIETY
——
Several behaviors can be anxiety in disguise but are commonly mistaken for something else and therefore they are not resolved properly because they aren't treated as anxiety.
——

1️⃣ SLEEP
Many dogs will have poor sleep habits such as not taking adequate naps during the day and/or not sleeping well at night, possibly waking really easily or easily waking when sleeping during the nighttime.

This can be an indication of anxiety. Dogs typically sleep anywhere from 16-20 hours per day in a 24 hour period - yes, that's a lot! Puppies and older dogs sleep more than adult middle-aged dogs. But even then, dogs should get tons of good sleep that isn't interrupted during the day and at night.
——

2️⃣ EATING HABITS
Many dogs will be labeled as a “picky eater”or is difficult to get to eat regardless of what you are feeding. In times of higher stress they will likely refuse any treats or food offered, even directly from your hand.

A dog with poor eating habits is often due to anxiety. It can be due to a medical cause too, so always rule out medical reasons for being a picky eater if this applies to your dog.
——

3️⃣ HYPER-ACTIVITY/INABILITY TO RELAX
Many dogs will be unable to relax easily regardless of how much exercise they have had. This often looks like dogs that are bouncy, full of endless energy & often unable to lie down & chill without being totally exhausted.

This can go hand-in-hand with the Energy category, this can also look like a dog that jumps in your face constantly, cannot relax at home without being crated or so exhausted they don't have a choice. This isn't normal and could be due to anxiety.
I should make note that I've seen dog owners unintentionally create this dog as well because they don't give them adequate nap times and the dog is constantly being stimulated because the owner thinks that's what the dog needs. Either way, it's not normal.
——

4️⃣ ENERGY
Many dogs will appear to have endless energy regardless of what you do to try to lessen it. This can fall into the sleep category as these dogs have a hard time being able to relax without help.

While there are breeds that we know need a lot more stimulation physically and mentally than others, all breeds should be able to relax if they have received that proper stimulation - especially mental stimulation. If your dog cannot relax without long periods of exercise and/or really intense exercise, this isn't normal and could be due to anxiety.
——

⚠️ It should be noted . . . It is critical to get a professional in your corner to help with any behaviors that you need help with. Anxiety can present in so many ways you really need a pro to help evaluate, confirm & treat, usually more than one will be needed, including a Board Certified Veterinary Behaviorist.
——

——
Stacy Greer, CPDT-KA
🐕🐩🐕‍🦺🦮

COPYRIGHT NOTICE
© 2024 Stacy Greer
All rights reserved. Feel free to share via the “Share” link to the original post. Downloading for redistribution online or in print form is strictly prohibited.

12/29/2024

Don’t let your dog sleep in your bed… pfft. Please.

12/25/2024

A very Merry Christmas to all my furry friends (and their families). Have a wonderful day! ❤️🎄🎅🐾

12/15/2024

I get a lot of people telling me I have the perfect job. My response is usually “it’s not perfect, but close”

It can’t be perfect when you inevitably lose friends. For the 2nd time in a week, we have lost a good friend.

Stella passed away without warning yesterday and my heart hurts once again. She was a character and so much fun to watch. You and Porter take care of each other up there my stelli belli.

12/12/2024

Wee have lost a beautiful friend on Monday. Porter lost his battle with cancer and he is very missed by his Monday and Wednesday afternoon crew. Porter was a perfect mix of sweet and spicy which endeared him to my heart. Sleep peacefully my little man porterprtrprtrprtr. 💔🐾💔

12/02/2024

About time we see some happy pups living their best lives.

11/09/2024

Barney was all riled up after his bath and wouldn’t settle down. It turns out I forgot to tuck him in.

What are your dogs quirks that are too cute to comprehend?

11/01/2024

It’s bang bang time! I hope everyone has made plans for the furry loved ones. If you’re going out, did you turn the music or tv on loud? If you’re at home with your dog, do you have a plan for potty time? Collar and leash even to go in the pack yard. Very short p*e breaks never off leash. Let them p*e inside if your dog is freaked out. What’s a puddle or two for your dogs safety.

Remember, dogs will be anxious and on edge for days after so same applies for tomorrow too!

My two are on a small dose of trazadone and I’m watching TV way too loud for my neighbours liking!

10/11/2024

Wee have been in business for 7 years. Can you believe it? 7 years!

In these 7 years, I have been secretly studying your wee dogs body language and behaviour and have come to the conclusion that anxiety and fear is a major issue in the small dog world. I have an acute understanding of how anxiety and fear presents itself in body language (probably from trying to understand and recognize my own anxiety and fears) and can see triggers and situations that cause fear probably even before your dog can. But what I have noticed is that small dogs are so much more prone to this behaviour issue than the large breed dogs we come across. Why is this?

So, when tasked to do a project for a course, I knew that deep diving into this phenomenon was the way to go. This is the result. I'd love to hear what you think! (some random internet guru already thinks it's a load of rubbish haha!)

Wee Paws takes a look inside the small dog brain to find out why they have the reputation of "small dog syndrome". I'd love to hear from the neuroscience com...

09/30/2024

Sorry Dinosaurs, you had to go

09/26/2024

The season has begun. These faces are undecided on how they feel about it. ☔️

09/09/2024

When you watch this video what do you see? How are the dogs feeling towards these trainers?

I couldn’t even imagine using these videos as advertisement. Please for the love of dogs, learn your dogs body language. It’s all they have to tell you how they’re feeling.