Calm Canine Dog Training

07/03/2024

This guy spent a few weeks with us and found his way into our hearts like none other! He came to us hyperactive, completely unable to settle, zero recall, a bundle of nerves, and independent on the leash (which is a polite way of saying he did whatever the heck he wanted to do and went wherever the heck he wanted to go).

He turned into a little farm dog! He was off leash, connected, super recall, calm in the house. He needed to learn how to be calm with attention as he had it previously associated with stimulation and over-excitement.

Our favourite thing was how he fell in love with the gator! He’d never been on a golf cart or anything but when he heard that gator ignition, it was his cue for a ride!!

Who knew that I’d fall for a pug?! 🙈😂

06/19/2024

Great demo! Your energy and body language matters! Calm energy. Take-charge body language.

06/17/2024

Here's a dose of tough love...the number 1 problem with dogs: THEIR OWNERS.
Look at yourself before you blame the dog. You are the problem, but you are also the solution!
Let me help you be the solution.
https://www.calmcanine.ca/

06/15/2024

This handsome young retriever stayed with me for a couple weeks. His owners were having trouble with how much exuberance he had. The problem was that with his over the top excitement, his impulse control was nil and he was jumping, unable to listen, running away and hyperactive. When we met his need for leadership, he was able to settle down and relax. His owners stepped up to the plate for him and his relief is plain and clear. He’s calmer, able to listen, and less buzzed. Of course he is still happy, full of zest and love.
Here’s what his owners just sent me: “We had tried numerous dog help facilities and sites to help our golden retriever. When Elaine was recommended to us with a great review, we knew it was worth a shot. The crazy puppy we had came home as a calm and behaved part of the family we had always wanted. It’s hard to believe the difference in two weeks. Elaine is truly a caring and professional dog trainer and will continue to recommend to anyone we know in search of dog obedience. Thanks Elaine!”

05/23/2024

https://www.calmcanine.ca/post/how-to-tell-if-you-are-your-dog-s-leader-or-not

"My dog for sure sees me as the one in charge!"
Uhhh...are you sure?
Your dog doesn't care if you THINK you're in charge. He cares if you're actually fit for the role. And that requires thinking like a dog.

I hear it very often. "My dog definitely sees me as the leader.""Oh, my dog for sure knows that I'm boss.""I'm my dog's alpha."When I hear lines like these, I have to dig a little deeper. "How do you know your dog sees you as the leader?" I ask."Because when I shout at him, he tucks his tail between...

05/12/2024

This guy is a farm dog who spends most of his time either in the house or off leash in the yard. Trouble is he’s never learned how to walk on a leash and he was actually pretty convinced it wasn’t his cup of tea. I think he’s figured out that it’s not so bad 🥰

05/09/2024

So much of working with our animals is about becoming a better person ❤️

I posted the other day on “Catching the hard to catch horse “.

This sums up the process…

04/27/2024

Went all the way to St Paul Minnesota to the Horse Expo to hear and meet Warwick Schiller. He’s a horse expert but his the way he describes his method is so aligned with the way I work with dogs. It all starts with their nervous system, attunement, relaxation, and relationship. Loved the trip and loved the presentation!

04/25/2024

The same is true with dogs. The problem is that we aren’t asking in a way they understand. We look at the world through human eyes and they look at it with dog eyes. The constant miscommunication is what leads to dog stress which manifests in what humans consider behavioural issues.

"A young rider was lunging a horse when an old rider came close. After having observed him, the old man asked the boy: And the boy answered Yes. So the old man closed his own hand into a fist and said to him: Then the boy used his strength in any way possible by pinching, hitting, pulling, pushing...but he just couldn't open the hand. So he finally asked the old man:

04/17/2024

I fall in love with all the dogs who come to stay with me and this guy is no different! He came very fearful to the point where he’d bite to protect his space if he had to. Classic case of being over-touched and over-handled without anyone helping to teach and protect his boundaries for him. He didn’t like dogs and he barked aggressively at people on the walk or if they came in the house. When we help the dog feel safe and we teach them boundaries and respect their boundaries, we build their confidence. He can now play with other dogs he meets on the walk and he can pass by strangers on the sidewalk without barking. Well done big guy!

04/10/2024

This lovely boxer was a bundle of nerves and a real deal separation anxiety, escape artist case. The first few times I helped him relax, his whole body was trembling and twitching as he released a bunch of the stress he was holding.
Harsh truth: Separation anxiety is man made. It takes much longer to heal the separation anxiety monster than it takes to create it. The whole process takes months to recover from. We have to remember that the fastest pace is the dog’s pace and we can’t rush it.
After two weeks, this crate-destroying dog was napping voluntarily in an open crate and I was able to leave him in the house alone for about an hour - with zero destructive tendencies or jumping. One of the tricks is to not go past his threshold. He has to learn to be calm and he can’t learn that if he’s beyond his limit.
There’s a solid plan in place to keep his progress up at home and I have every confidence that this guy is going to make a full recovery 🥰

04/03/2024

Slightly different language than I use but the essence is the same: don’t confuse clingy with connection.
If your dog is clingy with you or if you’re clingy with your dog, it’s not connection; it’s a stress response.

Thought provoking quotes by inspirational philosophers and authors.

03/26/2024

Don’t let those big brown eyes fool you! This sweet girl could demolish any crate her owners could manage to get her in. Coupled with separation anxiety, she was quite revved and anxious.
It didn’t take long for her to relax…she really was craving it and the very first night with me, she slept in her crate snug as a bug.
You can see, by the end she was pretty happy to nap and relax in the crate.
Happy to report that her owner can leave her nap in the crate and separate from her. It’s all still new and fresh so we take it slow for lasting success!! Well done pup!

03/08/2024

The next time you wonder how smart your dog is or you say, “It’s like my dog knows…”

They are that smart. And they do know. 🤯

02/25/2024

This foxy little lady is with us for the next couple weeks. I can’t get over how much she looks like a fox…except she has these little corgi legs. (A bit like myself…maybe I could’ve been foxy too but God blessed me with these thick short legs 😂)
She’s here to let go of some anxiety that has her barking at nothing and pacing. The anxiety is there because her nervous system is wound so tight. This happen dogs when we confuse clinginess with connection. Clinginess is a stress response and when we give a clingy dog attention (because feel a bit clingy ourselves 🤔) it keeps the dog’s nervous system wound right up.
My job is to help her nervous system reset to a calm, confident and relaxed state. I do that by modeling real connection for her, leading her through her stressful feelings, and helping her navigate situations where she feels stressed. She’s already come down a few notches and she is able to settle to sleep for long, healing naps.

02/21/2024

My dear Milo. I’m biased, I get it. But he’s a real looker if you ask me 🤩😅

02/21/2024

Step aside everyone, I have found The. World’s. Cutest. Puppy.
This little lady is only 5 months old and her owner was looking to help her calm down and grow into a calm, confident dog. 👏👏👏
Don’t let those big brown eyes fool you though; we also had to work through some sassiness!

02/06/2024

Going to spend the next two weeks with this big gorgeous guy. His eyes mezmerize me 😍
The goal is loose leash walking, manners, and better recall. I think those are my favourites to work on.
The biggest challenge: keeping him somewhat clean for the next couple weeks😅

02/05/2024

A NEW approach to dog training! Read my new blog here. https://wix.to/4QfBMqk

There are so many dog training experts out there. You can hire someone to train your dog for you, or you can go to classes, or you can take advice from a trainer online. But how do you know which way to go? How do you tell WHO should train your dog? Who is the best person to train YOUR dog? YOU are....

02/05/2024

❤️💔❤️

Dogs lives are short, too short, but you know that going in. You know the pain is coming, you're going to lose a dog, and there's going to be great anguish, so you live fully in the moment with her, never fail to share her joy or delight in her innocence, because you can't support the illusion that a dog can be your lifelong companion. There's such beauty in the hard honesty of that, in accepting and giving love while always aware that it comes with an unbearable price.
Maybe loving dogs is a way we do penance for all the other illusions we allow ourselves and the mistakes we make because of those illusions.

(Art: Photograph of Alain Delon by Benjamin Auger)

02/01/2024

I fell in love with this Rottweiler pup! His owners contacted me because he was rowdy and boisterous beyond management and had taken over the house and all the people in it. They said they felt like hostages in their own home with the dog calling the shots. When I showed up, it didn't take long until the dog settled right down and fell asleep on the carpet...for the first time ever! He had been looking for his owners to take the job of leadership from him and when they did...*sigh* he could finally relax. The most beautiful, loving, quiet dog was just under the surface, waiting to come out. ❤
Read what his owners have to say...

01/26/2024

Blew my mind. This dog with a spunky, independent personality had (almost) complete freedom, but without any encouragement from me, he decided to gift me off-leash walking. It wasn’t trained behaviour, it was a desire in him to be close. The result of trust and respect in equal measures. ❤️

01/26/2024

Today I met this drool-worthy dog and her brother. Absolutely gorgeous dogs who need just a few tweaks around the house and yard to calm down and relax. I fell in love and was so tempted to take her home 😍

01/26/2024

I’m having a lovely time with this little fella for a couple weeks. He looked almost aggressive when I went to his house to pick him up, barking and jumping up, and trying to elevate himself over me by climbing some stairs. I brought him to my house and it turned out he was so scared and timid he didn’t even want to come out of his crate. It proves that most aggression is fear based. When he was no longer responsible for protecting his owner, he was just afraid rather than aggressive.
It took a week for him to warm up to me and now we’re working on loose leash walking so he can be relaxed passing other people and dogs.

01/16/2024

Love this!!
I feel like 50% of my job is gently breaking it to folks that jumping, licking, and demanding attention is NOT love!
The other 50% of my job is teaching people how to love their dog the way their dog needs ❤️