Packlife Dog Retreat

02/21/2025

Feeding your dog raw is easier than you might expect! In fact, you can get started in just 3 simple steps 🥩

1️⃣ You can calculate approximately how much raw food your dog will need to eat daily by using the free calculator on the website! All you have to do is input their weight, age, and activity level in order to get a feeding estimate.

2️⃣ Once you know how much to feed your dog, it’s time to make the switch! If your dog is currently doing well on their kibble, we suggest starting with that same protein on raw. Wait 12-24hrs after their last kibble meal in order for the kibble to fully digest, then feed them all raw meals moving forward. There is typically no need to mix raw and kibble together for a gradual transition, unless your dog is prone to stomach issues.

3️⃣ Once your dog has fully transitioned to raw meals, simply observe them for any changes (good or bad) on this new diet. We suggest feeding the same protein for about 2 weeks to ensure it agrees with them, before trying to add in a second protein. Watch for any signs of allergies (increased itching, feet chewing, ear infections), as well as any weight gain or loss and adjust the amount you’re feeding accordingly. Please note that it is very common for a dog’s water intake to decrease drastically when on raw, as it has a much higher moisture content than kibble!

For more information on raw feeding, or to place a Raw Performance order through us, email us anytime at [email protected] 📧

02/21/2025

02/20/2025

It’s a winter wonderland out there! While a snowstorm means lots of shovelling and slow winter driving for us, it also means lots of outdoor fun for our pack! We couldn’t resist sharing a few of our favourite daycare picks from this past week. We hope you enjoy these smiling, snowy faces as much as we do! ❄️❄️❄️

02/18/2025

It’s time for another ! This week we are focusing on the “drop it” command.

Drop it is a useful and potentially life saving command for your dog to know, as if they ever pick up something dangerous you will be able to get it out of their mouth quickly and effectively. It is also a great way to prevent resource guarding, as it teaches your dog how to calmly and politely give you anything they have in their mouth without a fuss.

In order to teach your dog drop it, hold the object they have firmly beside their mouth. Don’t try to pull or pry it out of their mouth - we don’t want to force them or to turn it into a game of tug. Simply hold your ground and wait. As soon as they release the object, say “drop it” once firmly.

Dog’s learn through association, which means they associate commands with actions. So if you say “drop it” while your dog is holding tightly to the object, they will think “drop it” means to hold the object as tight as possible! By saying the command as they let go of the object, we are teaching them that’s what the command means. Once they understand this, you can say “drop it” ONCE when you first go to get the object, but if they don’t let it go don’t repeat the command again and instead hold the object and wait for them to release it.

You can practice this command during play, or if your dog picks up something they shouldn’t. Give it a try and let us know how it goes!

Email [email protected] for all training inquiries 📧

02/14/2025

Happy Valentine’s Day, from our Friday pack to you! 💕

We hope today and every day that you are all surrounded by love, friendship, and joy. Three things that dogs are always willing to give us without hesitation, which is why we love them so much! 🐶❤️

02/11/2025

This week’s is all about keeping your dog calm at doorways! 🚪

Doorways lead to a lot of new and exciting things for our dogs. They lead to a backyard with lots of smells and squirrels, a fun walk in the neighbourhood, or even a new guest coming over for a visit. Because of all the exciting things that happen around doorways, it is important that we teach our dogs how to be calm in these spaces. Doing this regularly can help prevent pulling on walks, jumping on guests, and rushing through open doorways without invitation.

In order to practice calm at doorways, put your dog into a sit and keep them in that sit while you open the door. Use your body and the leash to block them from rushing out and to put them back into a sit if they get up. Repeat this process with the door open until they stay in their sit and give you calm, steady eye contact. Once you’ve achieved this, calmly turn and lead them through the open doorway. We don’t suggest using a release word here (ie. “okay!”) as these tend to trigger excitement in the dog, which is exactly what we are trying to avoid! You turning and walking through the doorway is the non-verbal release.

Give this a try and see if you notice a difference in your dog’s behaviour and state of mind around doorways! 🐶

Please email [email protected] for all training inquiries 📧

02/10/2025

Happy Monday everyone! We hope your week is off to a fantastic start.

We wanted to post a quick reminder that we will be CLOSED this coming Monday February 17th for Family Day. Our regular Retreat Day hours will resume on Tuesday February 18th. If your dog normally attends Retreat Days on Mondays and you would like to add them in for a different day next week, please send us an email to [email protected] and we can make that change for you. We hope you have a wonderful long weekend! ☀️

02/07/2025

Have you been curious about trying the Mini Educator from , but were unsure of how exactly it works? This post is for you! 🤓

There is a common misconception that these e-collars are “shock” collars that use electric currents to shock the dog. This is NOT true at all! In fact, the mini educator is fully waterproof and safe for your dog to wear when swimming. 💦

Rather than using electric shocks to communicate with your dog, the mini-educator uses technology similar to that of a TENS machine to stimulate the muscle on their neck. The intensity of this stimulation can then be adjusted up or down based on what your dog needs in that moment. This makes these collars safe and effective (when used properly) for dogs of all sizes, temperaments, and behavioural levels!

While the e-collar is a fantastic tool, it should not be used without proper training and guidance from a professional. If you are interested in learning more about the e-collar, or our e-collar training programs, please email us anytime at [email protected] 📧

02/06/2025

It’s safe to say the dogs had a great snow day today!