For the Love of Dog

09/26/2023

Hey all. It’s been a long time and I’m not back yet but life fell off the rails and I had to start over on myself. My family is strong though.

I’ll be back. But not yet. Love your dogs for me!

07/13/2022

Buddy 007
Dinosaur

07/02/2022

Behaviour is a result of emotions. This is something we’re experiencing at home right now and it’s really interesting.

https://fb.watch/e0iA1i5YjG/

07/02/2022

Sharing this now and diving in when it isn’t family movie time, especially after I started writing about control and how it relates to colonialism in my manual today while puppy was napping.

Thank you Ruby for this post!

Save Rez Dogs   July is usually a month for celebration, but with the discovery of mass graves at residential Indian schools across Canada, it is a time for reflection and discussion. This Ask the Trainer series focuses on a First Nations dog advocacy organization- Save Rez Dogs and the

07/01/2022

https://www.facebook.com/105125148902440/posts/115879244493697/?d=n

Nap time! Why?

Unicorn had an amazing morning. She told me about some neighbours, we discussed them, then her and Cupcake had breakfast on the deck. Papa and I sat at the table outside and played a game, Cupcake was on my lap, Rio was laying down, Unicorn was just watching the world go by. There was no barking, no whining (Rio is typically a cereal whiner), it was monumental. Then we went to the yard, had a short play, play was getting rather barky which means she’s getting tired.

In we went, drink of water, and up to bed. I’m watching a show with headphones on and writing my program manual, Rain, Rain is on my phone for Unicorn and she’s having a restful nap.

An overtired pup can have difficulty relaxing for a restful nap. Annoying behaviours are often a telltale sign of being overtired. Watching for how your puppy is before this point can help you understand when to start nap time to ensure this thorough rest.

Sleep is how they file away the experiences that happen in between sleeps. Because it was such a great morning this sleep is extra important because when she’s awake and alert, her brain will be that much more comfortable with the world around her. Every day we spend with our puppies, how we expose them to the world, how we react to them, and what comes next all make a lasting impact on their future.

06/30/2022

Hey all, it has come to my attention that I am not getting all of my messages. If you have tried messaging me and not received a reply please comment here. Thank you!

06/27/2022

This is important not just for ourselves but when we’re talking to others including our dogs.

Dogs lack our cognition so live more emotional lives. All behaviour is a reflection of a feeling or an emotion.

I’m *feeling* hungry, I want to eat.

I’m *feeling* nervous, I want to bark.

We work through feelings by addressing them.

Eating fills our *feeling* of hunger.

Finding safety helps us feel more confident.

We can be our dogs safety, not just their feeder.

06/26/2022

Meet Cupcake,

Cupcake is my old gal, she’s 10 and has been people “reactive” all of her life. I’ve worked with her through the years, and the last shift I made in how I work with fear and anger, has been the most impactful.

What was this change? Being there while she processed her environment and worked through her problems on her own with me there as her shield.

While I do use some food, it isn’t about the food. It’s about trust and safety. About connection and comfort. About being calm to model calm.

I am my dogs protector.

This is the first time she has been in the yard and comfortable with the neighbours being present. She now shows me people, mostly with body language, and even when she does bark first/think second as soon as I show up she feels more comfortable and relaxes her body language, and moves on with her day.

Great job Cupcake!

06/25/2022

https://fb.watch/dT2zN9yH4Q/

06/21/2022

Hi everyone! I’d like to introduce you to the new family member Unicorn! I will be training her as my service dog and we’d like to invite you to follow our journey on her own page. Also watch for us in the community!

https://www.facebook.com/ServiceUnicornAndFriends/

Personal blog

06/07/2022

This. If I am not a good fit for you, that is perfectly fine. Maybe it’s personality, maybe it’s communication styles, maybe you want a different approach. That is okay! We all want what is best for our dogs!

Many of us have been in the situation at some point where we don't feel comfortable with the way we are being told to handle our dog, or the situation our dog is being put in.

It can be very hard to stand up for yourself and your dog, especially when you are paying a professional. You can feel like you're overreacting or that it's necessary for the greater good. But the truth is that if it feels wrong, it probably is.

Here is your reminder, and your permission to:
‍👉Ask questions
‍👉Leave the lesson
‍👉Find another trainer

Sometimes, it is hard to do this in the moment, and many of us have experienced that uncomfortable freeze when you can’t find your voice – and if this happens, don’t beat yourself up. Give yourself time to unpack the situation and if you feel able, talk to the trainer after the fact.

06/01/2022

Happy Pride Month. I am an ally and seek to be inclusive to everyone. Hope everyone has a happy, healthy celebration this month.

05/25/2022

What to do when your house succumbs to germs and the dogs are bored? Anything you can manage. If you feed kibble tossing it on the floor or in the lawn if it’s untreated helps work their brain and helps to manage some of their energy needs. If you can sit outside and sip tea the sunshine (provided it’s not snowing) it will help you too, plus it’s connection, then you’re both ready for a nap!

If you feed wet or raw, you can smear it in a muffin tin, or plastic cups. Just something different that needs a bit more work to get at.

There are also many enrichment products on the market, so if you have some already, now is the time to use them!

Guess the reason for this post! 🤒🤧🤮

Picture description: three dogs finding treats in a ball pit.

05/19/2022

This is so true and such an easy thing to do and so beneficial for them and your relationship. My dogs invite me outside every day and they’re so happy when I oblige! ❤️

Did You Know that there are many benefits to going out with your dog, as opposed to just letting them out? I hang out a lot in my garden with my dogs, so I've collected a few of the benefits I have found to hanging with them below, for inspiration 🥰

🐾 Hanging outside with a puppy is a great socialization opportunity. Your garden is a safe place, yet with many novel things.

🐾 Hanging outside will super-charge your house training because it's nearly impossible for your dog to p*e the wrong place, which in turn offers you plenty opportunities to reward.

🐾 Hanging outside with your dog can help reduce fence reactivity as you will be there to prevent, interrupt, or train the issue. Need help? Check out my blog on fence reactivity https://easypeasyobedience.com/what-the-bark/

🐾 Hanging outside is pure fun. Outside Is a great place for some roughhousing, sniffing the flowers, and maybe just watching your dog find scattered food in the grass. The latter can also be a very relaxing activity for us humans.

🐾 Hanging with your dog outside also provides supervision which makes for fewer opportunities for the dog to invent their own entertainment.

🐾 Watching your dog while you hang outside with them is also a great way to figure out their preferences and get to know your dog better in general.

Do you hang out with your dog? Feel free to share a picture😍

05/16/2022

This is something you will hear me talk about a lot in all of my sessions. Shake-off’s are my favourite thing to see a dog do (while dry 🤣).

Challenge time: try to count how many shake-offs you see in a day in your dogs. What happened before the shake off? Where were you? What was your dog doing? You can start to track what your dog is needing to process and possibly cause stress (good or bad), through their shake-offs.

The video show the effect on dog's pulse after the shaking it off behaviour.Music : reCreation by airtone (c) copyright 2019 Licensed under a Creative Common...

05/09/2022

It's true! What are your nicknames for your furry friends?

Grrr was Grrrtholamew Barkfarticus the First, Grrrza Schnauzer Sport Racing, GrrrGrrr, Schnauza Powza, Buddy and Buddy Boy.

Rio is Rio Dogjenaro, RioRioRio, and Smoochy-Boy.

Cupcake is Bug, Bugaboo, Pest, Ratticus Finch and kiddo calls her Cuppy.

Support

Patreon.com/ScottMetzgerCartoons

05/08/2022

Happy Mother’s Day to all the fur-moms out there! This can be a difficult day for many people, this little bug here kept me going when I was trying to become a future-mom. So I would like to focus this post on the fur-moms!

You are amazing, you are special, and you are enough. I see you and I’m sending you so much love!

05/05/2022

Today is Red Dress Day. This is to bring awareness to the missing and murdered Indigenous peoples, not just the women but all of them. Please take some time today to reflect on this ongoing crisis.

05/04/2022

What I love the most about my field right now is that science has really started to take an interest in domestic dogs. There is always something new to learn, and never a dull moment. The caveat being choosing which book to buy, or which course to take at any given time. Sometimes I slip and fall on my phone accidentally hitting purchase buttons on four part series about brain development through the life stages, and sometimes those brain development lectures lead me down other rabbit holes such as this. Regardless, I know what I’ll be doing for the next hour and a half.

What are you learning about? It doesn’t have to be dog related, anything that is brain candy for you!

05/03/2022

My helpers helping me write my puppy program. I’m getting much more typing in than when Rio decided the keyboard on my laptop was a suitable pillow 🤣.

Image description: messy bed with English Cocker Spaniel sleeping on left and Toy Poodle sleeping on right of my legs under blankets.

05/03/2022

Cupcake, the recovering Rageahaulic, cheering her Papa on at his first baseball game. By providing her with space, time to process, and water available she’s calm and enjoying the fresh air and scenery. Good job Cupcake!

05/02/2022

Living with puppies is HARD! I get it! You have a baby, who can move around, explores with their paws and their mouths, doesn’t have much control of their bowels, and don’t speak our language. Hang in there, you’re not alone, and it gets better!

Brilliant Infograph from my friend at Easy Peasy Obedience.

Chewers! Puppies chew. Adolescent dogs chew. Adult dogs like to chew too. Chewing is a natural part of being a dog, but sometimes it can be rather difficult for a dog to understand the difference between $150 sneakers and plush toys.

🐾For puppies, making chew toys and snacks readily available can reduce unwanted chewing.

🐾Puppies use their mouths to explore the world like babies use their hands in a similar fashion.

🐾Toys of different textures are great to help the puppy discover their favorite texture without sampling the furniture.

🐾Those $150 sneakers? Put them away. Shoes in particular are very popular with dogs because they smell like us - a lot. Your puppy may just be the nudge you needed to get that storage solution you always wanted. Don't let that chance pass you by😉
In general, all things that are expensive, priceless to you, or dangerous to the puppy should be out of reach. For the safety of your dog, and because you don't need the stress of worrying about it.

🐾If your puppy has snatched a trophy, chasing can cause resource guarding and increased stealing as the chase become a treasured game. Show interest in their loot in a happy tone and offer a reward for giving it up. If necessary, teach a formal trade.

🐾My personal favorite for stolen goods is "🎵hey, what do you have there? Can I see? I have a snack, and it's all yours! You're the best dog for finding my stuff!🎶"

🐾In adolescent and adult dogs excessive chewing can be a symptom of needs not being met, health issues, or anxiety disorders. If you suspect any of these issues with your dog, please reach out to a professional. Sudden onset of chewing in a dog that normally doesn't, also needs to be discussed with a professional.

🐾Excessive confinement may prevent chewing, but it has little to no teaching value in regards to teaching the dog to navigate the environment they're supposed to live in, without chewing up the wrong things.

05/02/2022

05/02/2022