Sit Pretty Behavior & Training

06/24/2024

Reactive dog or non-reactive dog, my feelings are the same.
I do not want to have an unknown dog run at my dog when we are out on a walk.

I do not know your dog, I do not know their social history, or how they are going to interact with my dog once they reach him. I don't know what "friendly" means or looks like to you.

I'm thrilled that your dog is friendly - I love that for you! - but my reactive dog doesn't care if your dog is the friendliest dog in the world, he still does not want that dog in his space.

Rather than putting me and my dog in a very uncomfortable and threatening position, consider our feelings in addition to your dog's.
I would much rather you called out "is it OK for our dog's to meet?" instead of just assuming my dog wants the same things as yours.

*Note: this post is pertaining to dogs approaching in a space that is not designated as an off-leash area. If your dog is not comfortable being approaching by other dogs, I would encourage you to avoid off-leash designated areas to prevent situations that may make your dog uncomfortable.

Photo credit: Florida Panthers GM, Bill Zito, raging after his team gives up a 3-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Finals. Who's going to lift the cup tonight?

06/20/2024

I'm willing to guess that the majority of your read this and thought something along the lines of "some trainer," or, "what a disobedient dog."
I get it.
What dog doesn't know how to sit? It's one of the first skills most folks teach their new dog.

Here's the thing.
My dog doesn't refuse to sit because he's stubborn, OR disobedient. It's not because he was poorly trained, or wasn't taught to "sit" in the first place (he actually learned this behavior VERY quickly.)

My dog refuses to sit because he is physically unable to.
My poor dog has arthritis in 4 out of his 4 limbs, which makes flexing certain joints difficult and painful to do. If you ask my dog to sit, he won't do it, because it hurts!

I share this with you, because I think it is so important if our dog fails to perform a behavior that we don't default to anger or punishing the dog for their lack of compliancy, rather, we stop to ask "why?"

* Is this behavior improperly trained?
Maybe my dog doesn't fully understand the behavior or the cue you are using yet, and are not sure what you are asking of them.

* Is my dog overwhelmed/distracted?
Is the environment too stimulating or distracting for my dog right now? Maybe we're in a park and my dog is observing kids playing for the first time, and is too distracted to properly respond to my cues (this suggests further training/proofing is required!)

* Is this behavior within my dog's physical limitations?
If I have done a thorough job teaching a behavior, proofing it around a variety of distractions, and my dog still won't perform the behavior, I want to determine if there is an underlying cause preventing my dog from being successful, such as pain.
Fun fact - many dogs experiencing pain DON'T walk with a limp! Your dog may appear to move normally, but can be suffering from an underlying injury or discomfort. It's best to schedule a vet check to rule out any health issues.

Before you label your dog as "stubborn" or label them as "disobedient." make sure you've done your due diligence investigating why your dog may be struggling in the first place.

Behavior happens (or doesn't happen) for a reason. It's our job to determine what that reason is.

06/06/2024

Meet our newest round of group class graduates! This adorable crew has been busy working on manners, basic obedience skills (such as polite walking, stay, leave it, and much, much more), and just becoming all around kick butt canine citizens.

Congratulations to all our teams for their hard work and dedication!

If you are looking for puppy training or manners training group classes, check out our website to see what we offer: www.sit-pretty.ca/group-training or send us a DM to see what class is the best fit for your dog.

06/03/2024

Whenever I talk to a prospective new puppy training client, I always ask them "what are your training goals for your puppy?"
They might go on to tell me that they want to find a solution to their puppy's inappropriate chewing, or curb the razor sharp nipping that seems to occur constantly, but more often than not, I'm told "I just want them to be a good dog."

I started thinking about what our puppies truly need from us in order to mature into "good dogs." Unfortunately, I don't think the answer is as simple as "read this book" or "take this class," rather, I think we need to peel back the layers and analyze the dog in front of us.

Before our puppies can learn to become "good", well-mannered adult dogs, we need to meet them where they're at.
We need to investigate our puppies individual needs, and ensure that these needs are being met on a consistent basis. Does your Lab LOVE to lay into a nice, sweaty sneaker? Your puppy likely love to chew, and it will be important to find legal, healthy outlets for them to do just that.
Is your Beagle constantly dragging you from scent to scent while on a walk? Sounds like your puppy likes to sniff, and scenting outlets will be crucial to keeping them content!
Does your Heeler resemble a land shark most days (aka, puppy nipping)? Your puppy is genetically wired to use their mouth, so outlets for biting, tugging, and shredding will be vital to everyone's success.

Notice how I haven't once mentioned teaching your puppy to "sit" or "stay"? It's not that manners training isn't important (it is), it's just that, meeting their needs and providing regular outlets to "be a dog" is more important.
Dogs are bred to run, chase, dig, bark, chew, bite, and sniff, and it's up to us to ensure they receive opportunities to do all of the things that fill their furry puppy buckets.

Meet the puppy's needs first - figure out who they are, what they like (and don't like), and what makes them tick.
Training a puppy who is allowed to express themselves (in an appropriate way) will be a more fruitful experience than battling a puppy who is constantly having it's natural desires suppressed.

Have puppy questions? Send us a DM. We have answers!

06/01/2024

Look whose cutie is rehab patient of the month! 😍

05/27/2024

Meet Fern.

Fern is my most recent private training graduate, having recently completed her cooperative care training program.

Fern's guardians wanted to help Fern feel more confident and comfortable at the vet and with basic handling and husbandry procedures; including the scary, slippery stethoscope!

Fern already had a great training foundation when we started working together, and is eager to learn, which allowed her to make quick progress on her stationing behaviors. Her guardians immediately started implementing weekly "victory visits" to the vet, helping Fern associate this place and everything in it with good outcomes, where she is in the driver's seat.
We were able to make great progress desensitizing her to common handling and tools at home, and Fern's guardians are starting to transition this training into the veterinary clinic setting and with helpful staff members (arguably the most challenging part of any cooperative care training program!)

I cannot wait to see what more Fern and her team accomplish together on their cooperative care journey!

Want to learn more about cooperative care and what it looks like? Check out my reels section for videos showing you cooperative care in action, or head on over to my blog (link in IG bio) to read more!

05/10/2024

Meet our most recent Puppy Preschool Graduates, Cedar & Odin! 👩‍🎓🧑‍🎓

Did you know that we run our Puppy Preschool as an open enrollment class? That means, you can pick when you want to start your puppy's classes - no waiting around for the next class start date.
We do this so that puppies can start class as soon as they are able, to maximize on the safe, socialization opportunity and early learning that our young puppies are doing during their socialization period, which lasts between 6-20 weeks of age.
We want to ensure that you and your puppy get the most out of our classes, and have all the skills and resources needed to mature into a social, confident, well-mannered adult dog!

You can learn more about our Preschool classes here: https://www.sit-pretty.ca/training-options/puppy-preschool

Congratulations Cedar, Odin, and your wonderful guardians for your commitment to positive reinforcement training and early learning! You are off to do great things!

05/09/2024

Thank you City of Prince George for sharing this very important reminder. We need to be thoughtful and respectful of everyone around us when out with our dogs!

Mr. PG always puts a leash on his dog... he never yells "he's friendly!"... just sayin' 🙂

The fact that your dog is friendly is irrelevant to:
1️⃣ the terrified child
2️⃣ the person who will break out in hives from dog saliva
3️⃣ the small dog on a leash that is aggressive when threatened
4️⃣ the large dog on a leash that is petrified
5️⃣ the fact that you are in an on-leash area of the park
6️⃣ the fact that you are in a public park that does not allow dogs

Did you know that pets must be on leash on the trails at Ginter's and Moore's Meadow? The large open meadows are the only off-leash areas. Remember that you are also sharing our parks and trails with wildlife and sometimes even people riding horses if you're near Exhibition Park! If you don't want your pup startling a bear or moose - keep them safe by keeping them next to you.

Leashes must be attached before entering and while leaving designated off-leash park areas. If you see someone breaking a bylaw, give us a call at 311. Read more: www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/bylaw-enforcement/pets-leash-areas

04/23/2024

Have ever seen your dog yawn in a situation and thought "now's an odd time to be tired"?

When it comes to our dogs, yawning can mean a multitude of things, some more critical than others.

Yawning can be one of the first indicators that our dog gives us when they are stressed by something - whether that's GOOD stress (ex. excited) or bad stress (ex. frightened.)
Because yawning can have different meanings, it's important to evaluate the context in which the yawn is occurring - did your dog just wake up from a long nap? It would make sense that your dog is tired/waking up and telling you just that.
Is your dog yawning while being pet by a small child they've never met before? This could indicate that your dog is stressed/uncomfortable with the interaction and wishes it would stop.

Taking the time to learn your dog's body language is incredibly value. This will allow you to better interpret their communication and result in you being better able to assist them when if are struggling.

Did you know these facts about yawning? Share this post if you found it helpful!

04/18/2024

The other day, I posted about how dangerous it is to punish a dog for growling. Punish a dog for growling, and we can eliminate their early warning system, resulting in a dog who escalates to more elaborate aggression without any prior indication to us that they're upset.
Punish a dog for growling and we have done nothing to address why the dog felt inclined to growl in the first place, and have thus solved nothing.

Understandably, many of you asked me, "if I shouldn't punish the dog for growling, what DO I do in those situations?"

A growl can mean a wide variety of things, and that meaning can change depending on the context, and the dog's supporting body language. Therefore, there is no cut and dry formula for how to approach a situation where a dog is growling. It would be irresponsible and unprofessional of me to try and give you advice about your dog's growling without knowing all the pertinent information about it.

This post is very general, yes; it is meant to be.
In order to truly understand the motivation behind our dog's behavior, and then determine if we should, and how we might, address that behavior, we need to dig much, much deeper. This is where a qualified trainer comes into play - someone who has experience with dog aggression, who understands dog behavior, and has formal education and scientific knowledge in their toolbox.

Remember, growling is normal dog behavior. It's a critical part of their communication, and it's important as our dog's guardians that we hear that growl, and do our best to understand what the dog is trying to tell us.

04/16/2024

Once upon a time there was a dog who got very nervous when people approached him, or tried to interact with him when he was eating his food.

This dog tried to communicate his feelings and ask his humans to give him space while he was eating by growling, snarling, and showing general tension when they were too close. The humans heard his growl and panicked, so they sought the advice of a trainer.

This trainer failed to address the motivation behind the dog's growling, and instructed the guardians to punish the dog by giving him a "leash correction" with a pinch collar every time the dog growled at them when they were near him while he ate his food.
The dog very quickly learned that sharing his feelings and asking for space resulted in a scary and painful correction, so he stopped communicating his feelings.

Two days later, the dog bit the guardian in the face.

This is a story that I hear on a regular basis, where a dog attempts to clearly communicate their discomfort (whether that's physical or emotional), and that warning is ignored, or worse, they are punished for those feelings.

Punishing a dog for communicating with you does absolutely nothing to change those underlying feelings. The dog still feels uncomfortable with your proximity while they eat, they've now been taught that it is unsafe to share those feelings.
When we punish a dog for communicating with us, we successfully eliminate the critical early warning system that tells us "back off, or else this behavior will escalate," which can result in a situation like this where the dog bites "out of nowhere."
Why?
Because we've taught them that providing any warnings is not safe for them to do.

This is a true story, and unfortunately, one that is too frequently told.

Punishing a dog for growling is like disconnecting your smoke detector and then being surprised when you receive no warning about a fire in your home.

04/10/2024

With Spring is on it's way - or at least we hope - your dog is probably getting out more. You may be finding that your dog is lacking some, er, "manners" as they meet new people, or go on new adventures.

Now is the time to finally set those dog training goals you've been thinking of all winter. To tune up your dog's manners, and make it easier and more enjoyable to take your dog out into public without fear of embarrassment!
We are here to help you reach those goals and feel confident in your dog's life skills!

🐕Mind Your Manners🐕
* Who: Dogs of all ages (6+ months recommended) who are up-to-date on their vaccinations
* When: Tuesday 6:45-7:45pm, starting April 30th (5 weeks of classes)
* Cost: $230.00/dog
* What: This class is all about the foundations - the building blocks of all your dog training. We focus largely on life skills that will teach your dog how to behave out in the real world as a responsible canine citizen. Skills such as:
* polite walking,
* settle (great for when you have visitors over),
* leave it,
* wait at a boundary (no more door dashing),
* come when called,
* and SO much more.

Class spots are limited. For more information, or to register today: https://www.sit-pretty.ca/training-options/group-training

🐕Puppy Preschool🐕
Who: Puppies 8-25 weeks of age who have had their first vaccination (at minimum)
When: Tuesdays 5:30-6:30pm (5 weeks of classes.) This class is "open enrollment," meaning you can choose your start date for maximum convenience and flexibility!
Cost: $200.00/dog
What: In this class, we focus greatly on what your puppy needs in order to grow into a well-mannered, confidence, and capable canine. This class talks a lot of socialization - what it is, how to properly do it (this is harder than you might think), and why it's important. We do this through:
* restraint and body handling exercises (fear of the vet? Not these puppies!)
* puppy play,
* exposure to novelty
We also talk a lot of about common puppy problems, such as play biting, house training, and more!
For more information, or to sign-up: https://www.sit-pretty.ca/training-options/puppy-preschool

03/25/2024

Anyone else in the trenches right now dealing with the Spring thaw and consequential mud? 🙋‍♀️

This year, I decided to consult with an expert to see if there was more I could be doing to keep my dog somewhat clean during the mucky season that is Spring. I reached out to certified fear free groomer Amy with Northern Noses Pet Services and learned a lot about bathing dogs and everything that goes with it.

Head on over to the blog to see what you might learn - and maybe save yourself a bit of mop water in the process! Blog: www.sit-pretty.ca/blog/ (link in IG bio!)

Share with me how much YOUR dog embraces mud in the comments - emojis only! (If we're not laughing, we're crying, right?) ⬇

03/13/2024

This week on the blog I talked about puppy socialization - what it is, why we do it, and what to include in your socialization efforts.

This topic is an in-depth one, and one that it incredibly important for our young, impressionable puppies.
Because of this, I have created several resources, and want to share those (and others) with you today!

Please share this post so it can reach other soon-to-be/new/puppy guardians too!

*EDIT: Apologies, this graphics were supposed to contain links, but that was a social media fail on my part. Here's how to access these resources!
Puppy socialization webinar series: https://www.sit-pretty.ca/training-options/puppy-socialization-webinar-series
Dog Care for Puppies book: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/buyagain?ats=ewogICJleHBsaWNpdENhbmRpZGF0ZXMiOiAiMTY0NzM5MjYzMiIsCiAgImFzaW5JbnRlcmFjdGVkIjogInRydWUiLAogICJjdXN0b21lcklkIjogIkEzSkFETEtDTFlCQzBGIgp9&ref_=sr_ppb
AVSAB Position Statement:https://avsab.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Puppy_Socialization_Position_Statement_Download_-_10-3-14.pdf

03/11/2024

Socialization is always a hot topic in the dog training world, and for good reason.

I would argue that socialization is the most critical part of raising a young puppy. Unfortunately, it's also something that is commonly misunderstood, misinterpreted, incorrectly performed, or skipped altogether.

Today on the blog, we're opening the book on the socialization subject, and I am going to talk about what socialization REALLY is, why it's so incredibly important to be doing (and doing right), and how to do it properly.
Check it out: https://www.sit-pretty.ca/blog/the-in-s-out-s-of-puppy-socialization (link to the blog in my bio & stories!)

In the comments, share what you think socialization means for our dogs (no wrong answers, we're all here to learn!) ⬇

03/07/2024

For dog guardians of confident, social dogs, vet visits are just another task on that day's to-do list.
You go, the appointment occurs, you go home.
Piece of cake, right?

For guardians of nervous dogs - those who are fearful of strangers, uncomfortable being handled, or generally reactive - veterinary visits are a monumental task.

There's pre-planning before the visit - what's the quietest time to go? Who's going to take the dog? Do we give pre-visit sedation or not?

Then there's the visit itself - how do I safely and successfully get the dog inside? Where is the best place to do the exam? Who is my dog even remotely comfortable with? What happens if my dog gets anxious or reactive? What if it's a vet my dog doesn't know?

We're scanning, we're reassuring, we're feeding treats, we're advocating, we're monitoring body language, and on top of all of that - we're trying to listen to what the vet is saying to us.

A dog who struggles with veterinary care can be a challenge. As that dog's guardian, more often than not, you find yourself stuck between a rock and yet another hard place.
Often times we're just trying to minimize damage to the best of our ability, while still providing our dog with necessary and recommended care.

Guardians of dogs who struggle at the vet:
I feel you.
I've walked a mile (several) in your shoes.
You are a rockstar. You got this.

03/04/2024

You know that transition we stumble through as humans, when we switch from our 20's to our 30's? The one where, we start to prioritize a solid 8 hours of sleep at night, and are no longer worried about cramming every minute of our social calendars?

Dogs go through that transition too; however, that dirty thirty milestone doesn't look quite the same for them.

Today on the blog, I am digging into the important, but often forgotten about, topic that is social maturity in dogs.
What is it?
What does it look like?
What does it mean for my dog?

Head on over and see what I have to say on the topic: www.sit-pretty.ca/blog/all-played-out

02/26/2024

Some of you may have heard horror stories about adopting shelter dogs.
When adopting a dog from the shelter, you might not ever know a complete history or picture about the dog in front of you. It's a gamble, there's no doubt about it.

Today on the blog, I want to introduce to you two of the dogs I have adopted from the shelter, and why I want to encourage you not to write these dogs off.

Go check it out: www.sit-pretty.ca/blog/

Have you ever lived with a shelter dog? If so, I'd love to hear about your experience in the comments. ⬇

02/19/2024

As a dog guardian, you’ve probably had training wins…as well as some failures.
We may not always know what we’re doing, or a tutorial that looks simple and flashy on Instagram might be far more complex and confusing in real life.

Let’s say you’ve decided to give positive reinforcement training a try.
You load your pocket with cookies, you decide what behavior you’re going to reward, and you get to work.

But…. it doesn’t work. Your dog doesn’t learn what you’re trying to teach, and the whole training plan falls apart.

You might find another self-proclaimed expert online that tells you that the problem is that your dog can’t learn via this training method. They might reason that because of their breed, age, size, eye color, which direction they turn circles in before they settle down to sleep at night, positive reinforcement won’t “work” for your dog.
They might tell you that your dog needs more structure than someone else’s, or requires a “heavier hand” in order to be trained.

What is the real reason why positive reinforcement doesn't work for some dogs? You're going to have to head on over to the blog to find out the answer:
www.sit-pretty.ca/blog

02/14/2024

Stuffed toys are nice,
Bully sticks, too,
but learn & respect my boundaries,
and I'll always love you.

- Your dog, probably.

Dogs don't come with a textbook list of likes and dislikes. Like humans, dogs are individuals, with individuals motivators, and comfort zones that may vary from dog to dog (even situationally!)
Learning your dog's boundaries - what they are/are not comfortable with, what they do/do not like - is something that all dog guardians should strive to do. And then, here comes the hard part, we then need to find a way to honor and respect those boundaries.
My dog doesn't like to be picked up? I need to make a choice not to pick up my dog unless absolutely critical to do so (life or death, here.)

For Valentine's Day this year, and every day to come, let's show our dogs how much we love them by respecting them, their boundaries, and their rights as living, breathing, sentient beings.

02/12/2024

Presenting to you our Prince George January group class graduates!

Not only have these students been busy teaching their dogs useful life skills (such as leave it, polite greetings, comfortability with the vet, veterinary tools, and restraint), and manners (leave it, settle in place, stay), they have also been learning all about how dogs learn, how to capture, shape, and reward new behaviors, and how to guide their dogs to be their best canine selves.

Congratulations to all of our amazing graduates and their dogs!

If you are interested in attending a group training class with your dog, go check out what we have to offer: https://www.sit-pretty.ca/group-training
Don't see a class you were hoping for? Send us a DM and let us know!

02/12/2024

IYKYK.... but seriously, how is my dog so good at telling time?

02/01/2024

So much talk happens about how best we can support our dogs on a daily basis, whether this be through management, providing appropriate physical & mental outlets, or meeting their individual, normal dog "needs."

But what about the other end of the leash?

The only way we are able to be there for our dogs is by taking care of ourselves. That means, we also prioritize our own decompression and stress management, we avoid putting ourselves into positions that set us up for failure, and we even take breaks from it all.

You cannot pour from an empty cup, so be sure you are doing what you need to fill your own cup.

This next week, I am going to be filling my cup while away on vacation. I plan to do lots of reading, soak up a lot of sun, and enjoy some unscheduled time being with my family.

I will catch up with you when I return!

01/29/2024

Have you ever gone out to walk your dog and realized you are NOT prepared for that walk?
Yeah, me too.

I learned early in my reactive dog's training journey that being prepared was a huge part of our ability to be successful during trips out of the house.

We talk a lot about management during walks, to prevent our dog from being put into situations they are not yet ready to handle, and to try and reduce their reactions (when possible), but what about the equipment we are choosing and utilizing during our walks?

Today on the blog, I am sharing with you my top three equipment recommendations for walking your reactive dog.
Head on over to read more about this: www.sit-pretty.ca/blog/ (link in bio IG fam!)

If you had to pick YOUR top three pieces of equipment, what would they be - bonus points for telling me why! 3️⃣⬇

01/24/2024

For reactive dog guardians, there is no such thing as simply "going for a dog walk."
We are usually master multi-taskers, and we can make it look OH so easy, too!

01/22/2024

My dog turns twelve this month. We don't know the exact day, as we adopted him from a shelter, so we just celebrate him every January.

As my senior dog gets older, birthdays bring about a lot of mixed emotions. Joy for having him in my life. And fear, because we are one year closer to the end of his time here with me.

Today on the blog, I want to share with you all of the things I have learned from my dog so far, and some of the feelings that I am processing as my dog ages.

This post was a hard one to write, but the worlds felt like they needed to be share.

To those of you living with a senior dog, who have lost a dog (senior, or otherwise), this one is for you. ❤

You can read the blog at: https://www.sit-pretty.ca/blog/what-i-have-learned-from-my-senior-dog (link in my IG bio!)

01/18/2024

Dogs who are nervous around novel people, or people in general, often find being approached quite threatening.
Let's look at this from another angle to better understand WHY.

I am TERRIFIED of spiders (I know, how cliche). If a tarantula were to skitter across the floor towards me, I would either run away (flight response), or try to kill it (fight response) - but you'd best believe I would NOT be comfortable, and would not likely feel any better about spiders encountered in the future.

The same is true for our dogs who are nervous with people. Having something scary enter into your personal space bubble is not a comfortable experience, and is doing nothing to help your dog feel safe or secure around new people.

On the flip side, if the dog is allowed to approach the stranger on THEIR terms (when they are ready, at a speed they are comfortable with, or maybe not at all, if that's what they prefer), that dog has some agency over that interaction, and is likely to feel less pressure and thus more comfortable in that situation.

For myself, if a tarantula was in it's terrarium and I was given the option of approaching and looking at it closer, I would feel more secure with that spider's presence then if it was forced upon me.

Pushing dogs into social interactions they are not interested in, or comfortable partaking in, can do a lot more harm than it can good.
It can result in a disintegration of their trust in you, and might even result in an escalation of their behavior, as they feel they have no options to avoid the perceived conflict.

Our goal with a dog who is fearful of people should be to work at a level they are comfortable with and not experiencing stress. This might mean a lot of distance to start, and that's OK!

How does your dog greet new people? Comment below ⬇