Proud of My Dog - Dog Training

06/24/2024

I finally had the opportunity to work with a puppy at the shelter! ❤❤❤ Kip was a delight!
You can watch our session at https://youtu.be/QSyfnq1tVLM

06/17/2024

Back from our 'staycation'. It was a relaxing week with a little biking, extra training time, a trip to the Okanagan to visit family, and I managed to finish a few books!

06/16/2024

If you hear your self saying these words:

"I need to socialize my puppy/reactive dog/fearful dog"

this short reel by Dr. Tom Mitchell is a must listen.

Socialization isn't about greeting every person and dog you meet instead hey need to learn that most other people and dogs are none of their business!

97 likes, 21 comments. “This dog training advice is getting us all in trouble whether you’ve been told to do these things with your puppy or your older dog who barks, reacts or seems aggressive”

06/03/2024

Excellent graphic showing what "adult supervision" should look like when you have a dog and young kids in your home.

‼️Awake adult, active aware supervision is essential, especially in the first months of a newborn being in the home with a family dog. Don’t take a chance prepare in advance. Where will your dog be when you are resting sleeping? Check out this handouts for more information and helpful tips. It’s our hope to prevent unfortunate accidents from happening.

For more handouts and to download The 5 Types of Supervision, visit: https://www.familypaws.com/resources

05/28/2024

Proud of My Dog is starting another round of classes in June.

• Confident Puppy (online, Kaslo, Nakusp, New Denver)
• Becoming Adolescent (online, Kaslo, Nakusp, New Denver)
• Reactive Dog Fundamentals (online)
• Introduction to K9 Nosework (online)

Check them out at https://www.proudofmydog.ca/upcoming-classes-overview

05/25/2024

Nicky, Tikka, Piper and I had fun earlier this week working on our high and low hide nosework skills. Silverton turned out to be a veritable playground for our session! 🥰🤘❤

05/22/2024

If you are planning to visit friends and family with your dog and kids will be present "Ensure that no child has access to any dogs without adult supervision! "

As summer rolls around, we start to plan more visits from friends and family or our own travels, it's such an exciting time. Here's a quick tip as these visits begin!

Ensure that no child has access to any dogs without adult supervision! This is so important it’s ok to set out dogs up in a success station away from the festivities with a special frozen goodie! It will help decrease stress for everyone.

Depending on you dog’s comfortability levels with guests, you may or may not need a leash. For us, Bear doesn’t need a leash. But, years ago we had a dog who required more management and planning if we had a gathering. If your dogs are comfortable with guests, that’s great! If not, that’s ok too. If there are kids at the gathering as well, it. can be fun to have parent supervised activities - like having the kids help with stuffing KONGS or Toppls!

Feel free to also check out our Doggie Detective Coloring Sheets They’re free to download here: https://www.familypaws.com/resources/coloring-pages/

05/22/2024

Our previous session was May 8th. She rocked all the games she is learning! So proud of Daphne. 😍
Here she is taking a break during our training session.
Check out what she is learning at: https://youtu.be/CPxdhlwR4rw?si=zpODSOlyErb0v68Y

05/18/2024

Mike, Piper, and I have just returned from a relaxing week in Campbell River. We were visiting with my sister. We went on a different walk every day and Piper enjoyed all the new sights and sounds!

05/07/2024

Watch Daphne's confidence grow as she learns to weave around my legs (the Typhoon game)!
She is available for adoption from the BC SPCA West Kootenay shelter. https://adopt.spca.bc.ca/pets/717801/
Watch more of our training at: https://youtu.be/baIY_dZ01og

04/28/2024

During our Wednesday training sessions, Daphne was able to follow my food lure and do a complete right and left spin🎉🎯🥇.
You can watch more of our training session at https://youtu.be/BKrvJm1pTDw

04/26/2024

Find out why letting your dog sniff to their hearts content is good for your dog's mental health and a great way to make your walking time enjoyable for both of you.

Ed Yong explores the hidden features that make dog noses so incredible.Subscribe to Big Think on YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvQECJukTDE2i6aCo...

04/22/2024

Meet Zena. I worked with her for the first time at the BC SPCA West Kootenay shelter. Her arousal was quite high so we worked together on growing calmness. Watch our session and
- Learn how to feed with a flat hand to protect your fingers
- Watch Zena's calmness grow (not by much but 1% better is moving her in the right direction)
- Find out why your energy level matters

https://youtu.be/Kz2MEwAVFAw

04/21/2024

I love the analogy:
"How many times a day do you feel overwhelmed or need a break?
What happens when you don't take the time to have those quiet moments? Now, think about your pets."
You dog needs more downtime then you think. To grow a clam dog, make sure they have time everyday to relax.

How many times a day do you feel overwhelmed or need a break?
What happens when you don't take the time to have those quiet moments?

Now, think about your pets. Do you arrange times for them to relax, reset, and reprogram without interruption? We can all benefit from some regular downtime. You may also notice that your family dog may need more downtime or space in their success station after a busy day.

Looking for more tips and resources? Visit us at www.familypaws.com. 🐾🤗

04/19/2024

Daphne and I had a fun training session this week at the BC SPCA West Kootenay shelter. We covered a wide variety of games including Spin/Turn, Paws Up (on an object), Airplane Feeding, and FUNder.
Check out our training session at https://youtu.be/cRuBanBdeu8

04/15/2024

Could you be Daphne's forever home? She is located at the BC SPCA West Kootenay shelter. I worked with her for the first time last week. She enjoyed fetch and playing a variety of training games. You can watch our training session and find out more about Daphne at: https://youtu.be/VRZjPlnAwQ8

04/14/2024

This is Juniper. A lovely young dog who is looking for her forever home. She is at the BC SPCA West Kootenay shelter. I have been going to the shelter one day a week to work with the dogs.
This week, Juniper and I worked outside with a focus on teaching her to self-manage her arousal. We played:
Orientation Game + loose leash walking
Magic Hand (another skill to grow loose leash walking)
Pattern walking with pace changes (growing her dimmer switch).
Watch our training session at https://youtu.be/ZlMH-6EPTC0

04/10/2024

I have moved my online 'Intro to K9 Nosework' class to start Monday April 29th at 6:00pm PT.
Nosework is a sport that anyone and any dog of any age can do. It provides mental stimulation and physical exercise and builds a dog's confidence and focus. You will learn how amazing your dog's sense of smell is, and enjoy a fun and "no pressure activity to do with your dog.
Check out this great Ted-Ed “How Dogs See with their Noses”

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-do-dogs-see-with-their-noses-alexandra-horowitzYou may have heard the expression that dogs ‘see with their no...

04/08/2024

Proud of My Dog is starting their Nakusp and Kaslo in-person classes next week and New Denver the week after.
The classes will be held outdoors so I am already starting my 'I hope it doesn't rain' Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday afternoon chants :-)
If you have a puppy or an adolescent dog, learn more at

Upcoming Classes Overview

03/29/2024

As a follow up to yesterday's blog post, here is a video of me starting a walk with a focus on bringing down Piper's arousal. Her brain is 'in the moment' when we start walks from home but her arousal goes up when we start walks from the car!

03/28/2024

I've just published my March blog post. This month's topic is "Stop Leash Pulling in 3 Unexpected Ways".
The post covers three areas:
• Change the Equipment
• Grow the skills: calmness, value for proximity to you, disengagement
• Change how the walk starts.
Check out the post when you have time.

Learn the 3 unexpected ways that you can skill up your dog to walk nicely on leash.

03/23/2024

I've posted this week's shelter dog videos. Check out Badger's progress and meet Bella and Juniper

Thinking of adopting one of the West Kootenay SPCA Shelter dogs? You may see one (or more!) videos of me working with your future dog. Watch their individual...

03/22/2024

When what you get isn't what you expect😍

03/17/2024

You can check out my newest videos of Tundra and Badger, two dogs waiting for their forever home).

Thinking of adopting one of the West Kootenay SPCA Shelter dogs? You may see one (or more!) videos of me working with your future dog. Watch their individual...

03/09/2024

I've posted the videos from my session at the BC SPCA West Kootenay shelter this week. I am happy to say that Goose and Maverick were adopted. Their new people will find them smart and eager to learn. I will miss those two dogs!

Thinking of adopting one of the West Kootenay SPCA Shelter dogs? You may see one (or more!) videos of me working with your future dog. Watch their individual...

03/06/2024

Check out my newest blog post: Three Ways to Grow Disengagement in a Distracting World.
https://www.proudofmydog.ca/blog/three-ways-to-grow-disengagement

03/04/2024

Woke up to 4" of new snow and sunshine. What a beautiful morning for a walk.

02/29/2024

Great information if you have a multi-dog households or are thinking of getting another dog.

MANAGING MULTIPLES
Having multiple dogs is challenging and time consuming.

This picture is of my 4 Schnauzers sleeping contentedly and peacefully together, albeit having their separate beds and space.

Pictures can be deceiving though, and this is certainly not always how it is.

Dogs don’t get to choose their housemates. We expect them to just get along with any other dog we choose to add to our home and are frustrated and stressed when this sometimes isn’t the case.

Just like people sharing a home, dogs certainly don’t always get along – at some time, there will be conflict and sometimes this can become a serious problem.

Different personalities, different needs, energy levels, ages, conflicts over resources, spaces, people, entrances, exits, health issues etc. are just some of the things that can lead to issues.

The importance of learning, recognizing and taking note of body language is so important, especially when caring for multiple dogs.

When we ignore the “whispers” of body language or simply don’t understand or notice, the whispers may soon become shouts or screams and we have missed an opportunity to manage and diffuse a situation.

Over time, sometimes just seeing the other dog becomes the trigger where initially it was only the specific circumstance or situation.

Prevention is always better than trying to “fix” a problem.

Being proactive instead of reactive is so important in managing multiple dogs.

02/27/2024

I've started on a new project. Once a week, I am going to the West Kootenay SPCA to work with the dogs in the shelter. I'm video taping my interactions to allow potential adopters to see how smart these dogs are and to improve their chances of finding a forever home!

I had my first session with the dogs last week and enjoyed working with each of them.

You can follow us at:

This is the official YouTube channel of Proud of My Dog-dog training.In-person dog training in the North Slocan Valley, Nakusp, Kaslo, and New Denver.On-line...