Connected Canine

Connected Canine Connected Canine is here to help you build a relationship of trust and respect with your dog
(9)

When it comes to caring for animals, owner Linda Watson has learned from the best. She has worked with dog behaviorist Cesar Millan — better known as the 'Dog Whisperer'. Following his expertise, Linda now resides in Sooke BC and works with animals throughout the Greater Victoria area. She is the proud owner of two rescue dogs that initially struggled adapting to being on-leash, but are now both t

hriving and enjoying pack walks everyday. Send a message and let Linda know how she can help with dog care services that include training, walking, and proper socialization for both pet and owner.

Wise words from our good friends at DogFit Dallas- Dog Behavior Dogs learn through consistency and repetition. If you ar...
07/31/2024

Wise words from our good friends at DogFit Dallas- Dog Behavior

Dogs learn through consistency and repetition. If you are not being consistent and clear in what you are asking of your dog, how can you expect them to know what you want?

We are here to help!

TAKE THE LEAD: REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

NEXT SESSION STARTS SEPTEMBER 14TH!

Here it is folks! Welcome to Take The Lead! A 6 week course designed to teach you how to be the best pack leader you can be for your dog. Let's be honest every dog wants to please. There is not a dog out there that doesn't love to hear the words good boy or good girl. Most often it is we as humans that are not clear in our direction or really understanding how to ask our dogs for what we want.
Classes will run Wednesday and Saturday for 6 consecutive weeks.

During these six weeks we will be working on creating a bond of trust and respect between you and your dog. You will learn proper leash handling skills, how to keep your dogs full attention in both calm and distracting environments, socialization, recall, and so much more.

Classes will run rain or shine and space is very limited to ensure maximum safety and enjoyment for all participants.

PM for more details.

We look forward to helping you achieve balance and harmony with your four-legged best friend!

MEET THE PACK! Say hi to Tasha! Tasha us visiting from up island and has been hanging out with us this past week.She had...
07/29/2024

MEET THE PACK! Say hi to Tasha! Tasha us visiting from up island and has been hanging out with us this past week.
She had so much fun making new friends at Bad Dog Brewing Company yesterday!

If you've not secured boarding for your upcoming travels, we are filling up very quickly.
Contact us today to reserve your space!

TAKE THE LEAD: REGISTRATION IS OPEN!NEXT SESSION STARTS SEPTEMBER 14TH!Here it is folks! Welcome to Take The Lead! A 6 w...
07/12/2024

TAKE THE LEAD: REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

NEXT SESSION STARTS SEPTEMBER 14TH!

Here it is folks! Welcome to Take The Lead! A 6 week course designed to teach you how to be the best pack leader you can be for your dog. Let's be honest every dog wants to please. There is not a dog out there that doesn't love to hear the words good boy or good girl. Most often it is we as humans that are not clear in our direction or really understanding how to ask our dogs for what we want.
Classes will run Wednesday and Saturday for 6 consecutive weeks.

During these six weeks we will be working on creating a bond of trust and respect between you and your dog. You will learn proper leash handling skills, how to keep your dogs full attention in both calm and distracting environments, socialization, recall, and so much more.

Classes will run rain or shine and space is very limited to ensure maximum safety and enjoyment for all participants.

PM for more details.

We look forward to helping you achieve balance and harmony with your four-legged best friend!

Wise words from The Good Dog Training And Rehabilitation Turning Babies Into MonstersIt seems so harmless. You get a dog...
06/29/2024

Wise words from The Good Dog Training And Rehabilitation

Turning Babies Into Monsters

It seems so harmless. You get a dog, you’re wildly in love with them, and you desperately want them to be happy.

You also deeply enjoy the feeling of giving them whatever it is that makes them happy. This could be affection, freedom, toys, cuddles, treats...

This new dog has your heart, and all you want to do is give. It makes total sense. We’re heavily programmed to nurture, and like I said, it feels so good.

But babying your dog, meaning there’s only nurturing and love, and zero discipline or accountability, is the most common way dogs are ruined.

Whether it’s craziness towards guests, explosions on walks, resource guarding, obsessive barking, or actual aggression, spoiling is the perfect way to turn your baby into a monster.

We see dog after dog who come through our doors who are a wreck. They’ve bitten people or dogs, they’ve taken over the house, they’ve made the walks a war zone. And almost always, when we dig a bit, we get the confession: Yeah, I really treat him like my baby.

Ahhh, there we go.

And it’s easy to see. The dog doesn’t respect the owner, doesn’t listen, and usually is hyped-up and made crazy just by their presence. But you wouldn’t expect anything else, would you?

If you spoil, allow, and baby, you’ve basically created an entitled brat, who has no sense of right and wrong, and no reason to not do whatever feels like the best choice in that moment.

To be balanced, a dog needs to not only know what you want, they also need to know you’re worthy of respect.

You’re job is to clearly articulate the rules, and enforce them. If you choose to only do what feels good for you, you can’t blame your dog when they fall apart.

Babying is about you. Not your dog. It’s a selfish act. Sorry to be blunt, but them’s the facts. And when you see dogs losing their quality of life, their homes, and sometimes their lives, it’s time to be blunt.

REGISTRATION IS OPEN for both our 6 week Take The Lead program, and our 8 week Basics To Achieving Balance program; both...
06/24/2024

REGISTRATION IS OPEN for both our 6 week Take The Lead program, and our 8 week Basics To Achieving Balance program; both starting September 14.

These classes fill up very quickly and space is limited.

PM to register.

TAKE THE LEAD: REGISTRATION IS OPEN!NEXT SESSION STARTS SEPTEMBER 14TH!Here it is folks! Welcome to Take The Lead! A 6 w...
06/19/2024

TAKE THE LEAD: REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

NEXT SESSION STARTS SEPTEMBER 14TH!

Here it is folks! Welcome to Take The Lead! A 6 week course designed to teach you how to be the best pack leader you can be for your dog. Let's be honest every dog wants to please. There is not a dog out there that doesn't love to hear the words good boy or good girl. Most often it is we as humans that are not clear in our direction or really understanding how to ask our dogs for what we want.
Classes will run Wednesday and Saturday for 6 consecutive weeks.

During these six weeks we will be working on creating a bond of trust and respect between you and your dog. You will learn proper leash handling skills, how to keep your dogs full attention in both calm and distracting environments, socialization, recall, and so much more.

Classes will run rain or shine and space is very limited to ensure maximum safety and enjoyment for all participants.

PM for more details.

We look forward to helping you achieve balance and harmony with your four-legged best friend!

MEET THE PACK! Say hello to Azul! Azul's folks are visiting from Alberta and had booked a fishing charter with 2 Reel Fi...
06/06/2024

MEET THE PACK! Say hello to Azul! Azul's folks are visiting from Alberta and had booked a fishing charter with 2 Reel Fishing Adventures ...so while his peeps were out on the water today, Azul got to hang with our pack! Such a great day!

This is something I ask clients all the time.If your dog isn't listening to you, take a minute, take a breath, and check...
05/26/2024

This is something I ask clients all the time.
If your dog isn't listening to you, take a minute, take a breath, and check your energy.
Are you frustrated? Are you being unclear with the directions you're giving your dog?
Would you follow you?

I can't believe this 8 weeks has gone by so quickly and our current groups of Take The Lead and Basics to Achieving Balance are going to be graduating next week!!!

We will be taking the summer off of our group training programs, but registration is open for September.

If you'd like more info, comment below or send us a message 😉

We are here to help!

Some VERY good dogs  at Sooke Bosley’s today! Place training with some pretty HUGE Distractions. So so proud of you all!
04/27/2024

Some VERY good dogs at Sooke Bosley’s today! Place training with some pretty HUGE Distractions. So so proud of you all!

Basics To Achieving Balance and Take The Lead both start THIS SATURDAY. Basics is full and we have ONE space left for Ta...
04/04/2024

Basics To Achieving Balance and Take The Lead both start THIS SATURDAY.
Basics is full and we have ONE space left for Take The Lead!
Can't wait to work with you all!

Our next Take The Lead group training program starts THIS SATURDAY APRIL 6!There are only 2 spaces left!This will be our...
04/02/2024

Our next Take The Lead group training program starts THIS SATURDAY APRIL 6!
There are only 2 spaces left!
This will be our last session until the fall! PM for details or to register!

We are doing it again!!! April 6 we start our  next 6 week round of TAKE THE LEAD! During our 6 weeks together, you will...
03/30/2024

We are doing it again!!! April 6 we start our next 6 week round of TAKE THE LEAD!

During our 6 weeks together, you will learn everything from proper leash handling skills, to polite and appropriate introductions to other dogs, off leash training, agility training and so much more.

This program is open to all dogs! We work with puppies, reactive dogs and everything in between!

This is our LAST group program until September.
PM.for more details. Space is very limited.

IT'S A DOGS LIFE! HAPPY EASTER from our Pack to yours!
03/29/2024

IT'S A DOGS LIFE! HAPPY EASTER from our Pack to yours!

MEET THE PACK! Say hi to Loki!This guy loves people! He's hanging out with us and working on his confidence around other...
03/29/2024

MEET THE PACK! Say hi to Loki!
This guy loves people! He's hanging out with us and working on his confidence around other dogs. I'm so proud of you already buddy!

MEET THE PACK! Say hi to Max! Max is a super social pup who LOVES other dogs. He's hanging out with us for a few days. T...
03/27/2024

MEET THE PACK! Say hi to Max! Max is a super social pup who LOVES other dogs. He's hanging out with us for a few days. This afternoon he met Jack, Dobey and Bear. He was such a good boy! *currently out cold*
A tired dog is a happy dog!

Hutch would like you all to know that our next round of Take The Lead starts April 6! Basics to Achieving Balance also s...
03/19/2024

Hutch would like you all to know that our next round of Take The Lead starts April 6!
Basics to Achieving Balance also starts that day and is almost full! Only 2 spaces left!
These will be our last group programs until September.
Don't wait! PM with questions or to register today!

03/13/2024

Happy Testimonial Tuesday! Check out what Dave has to say about volunteering with ElderDog Canada 🐾

"I am having rewarding experiences with ElderDog; and it fits my retired lifestyle perfectly!
There has never been any pressure to take on tasks. I volunteer to dog-walk when I am
available. I get excited to meet a new client and their dog. I enjoy seeing the pet’s wagging
tail and the smile on the owner’s face when I walk their dog."

- Dave, ElderDog Canada Elderdog Canada Ottawa Pawd

Thank you to all of our amazing volunteers who help us to keep love in the home across Canada. Find a Pawd near you and join us: https://elderdog.ca/

If you know me at all, you know I love my "bully breeds". I will advocate for these dogs until my last breath. I will fi...
03/07/2024

If you know me at all, you know I love my "bully breeds". I will advocate for these dogs until my last breath. I will fight BSL with every fibre of my being.
I tell clients all the time. When you have a dog that looks like this, your dog has to be the best behaved dog on the block. Because of how they look. Because of ignorance and stereotypes. These dogs don't often get second chances.

And, as much as I love all dogs, every now and then a dog will come along and just steal my heart. That's what Stryker did.

It all started with a simple query on facebook..."do you work with reactive dogs?" I sure do! And so Strykers mum signed them up for group class.

We spent 6 weeks together, and the transformation was INCREDIBLE!

Giving credit where credit is due. Strykers mum put in the work with this guy! He went from being quite dog reactive to playing and happily greeting his new friends in class. I swear watching this guy play with his new bestie Rudy, a little doodle, made my heart swell so big I thought my chest would burst. Literally brought a tear to my eye.

Saturday, February 24, 2024, Stryker graduated Take The Lead.
The following Wednesday he was gone 🌈💔😭

He was only a year and a half. To say we were all gutted would be a huge understatement.

Stryker, buddy, run free. I hope you're making lots and lots of new friends over the bridge. I am so so very proud of you big boy. Really proud of your momma too.

Congratulations to all of our recent graduates!!!Our next Take The Lead session starts April 6! Registration is open! Do...
03/05/2024

Congratulations to all of our recent graduates!!!
Our next Take The Lead session starts April 6! Registration is open! Do not wait, these sessions fill up quickly!

So proud to live and work here
03/05/2024

So proud to live and work here

We're making news because we're working hard to meet our goals.

Please consider a donation at this important time of our growth as we work to do more for the rescue and rehabilitation nonprofit organization, Salish PAWS!

salishpaws.com

From the Sooke Chamber of Commerce newsletter:

"Let's Celebrate - Member of the Month!

Connected Canine - Linda Watson

Linda comes highly qualified, having completed Levels One and Two of Training Cesars Way with Cesar Milan and has also trained with Colleen Aguilera of LAK9. She believes that absolutely everything is connected to our energy. "Energy says more about a person than words ever could, and dogs sense this." Her goal is to educate people and their dogs on the importance of calm assertive energy and dog psychology.

Linda was recognized and awarded by the Mexican government for helping with a project called Help for Pitbulls, rehabilitating abused dogs and assisting in finding them their new forever homes here in Canada.

Thank you, Linda, for all you do helping dogs in need, finding balance and love.

Need some help with your furry family member? Give Linda a call!"

Rex is soooo proud of himself! And he should be! Our Take The Lead group graduated today! These dogs (and their hoomans ...
02/24/2024

Rex is soooo proud of himself! And he should be! Our Take The Lead group graduated today! These dogs (and their hoomans too).worked so hard and learned so much! I couldn't be more proud of this group!

Our next session starts April 6! Registration is OPEN

You HAVE to show up for your dog.https://www.facebook.com/share/p/XnPMHcasKNoVR3ok/?mibextid=qi2Omg
02/21/2024

You HAVE to show up for your dog.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/XnPMHcasKNoVR3ok/?mibextid=qi2Omg

HARRY POTTER DOG TRAINING

I feel sorry for professional dog trainers.

You see, they are hired to train a dog, but the first thing they have to tell the client is that they are not going to train the dog – they are going train the client to train the dog.

When this is said, there is always a lot of smiling and nodding by the client, but there’s no real comprehension and probably not too much acceptance either.

Even the dog trainer doubts it can really be done.

You see, people are people, and they are difficult to change. When a dog or a dog trainer shows up in a person’s life, that person already has a schedule and it probably does not include 30 minutes, twice a day, of walking the dog.

Is a dog trainer going to be able to win that kind of time and exercise commitment from his or her new client?

Probably not.

Think about how many people start with a gym membership, and how few are still going to that gym two months later. Think how many people start a diet, and how many fall off the wagon.

When a dog trainer shows up at the door of a new client, honesty may be the best policy, but telling a client “you’re fat and lazy and so is the dog, and both of you need to walk two miles a day” may not be the best way to build up a referral dog training business!

MAGIC WANDS

When people hire a dog trainer, they are not looking for a change in lifestyle or a change in values.

They are looking for a magic wand.

And why not?

We live in an age of miracle diets, miracle bras, and five minute workouts to lift and tone the body.

We have instant answers from Google, satellite mapping systems in our cars, and one-minute rice on the stove.

Surely there’s a 10-minute cure for any and every canine problem?

Come on now: What would Hermione do?

Of course in the world of Harry Potter, it was not Hermione that had a way with creatures, it was the game keeper Hagrid, who was never seen to wave a magic wand.

Instead, Hagrid’s magic was of a more down-to-earth kind. He knew that the secret to training animals, from dogs to dragons, was exercise, consistency, earned affection, and simple corrections and rewards.

THE HOUSE AS PRISON PLANET

And what do we Muggles offer up to our canine charges instead?

Tell the truth now. What really happens when we come home from work?

Too often we are both exhausted and distracted. We plop down in front of an electronic screen of some sort – a television set, a computer, or a cell phone. It’s been a mad day, and we just want to unwind between telephone calls and emails that demand a reply.

What about the dog?

He’s fine we tell ourselves.

After all, we buy it the best dog food, we spend a tidy sum on veterinary care, and the dog has a basket full of chew toys. We even put in a flap door so the dog can exit to the yard whenever it wants – no need to even ask.

But, of course, if the dog could talk, it might tell a different story!

Imagine, for a moment, that you and your dog have exchanged roles.

Instead of a dog living in your house, you are a small child that has come to live in a cave inhabited by four or five dogs. You are an only child, and the cave is attached to a small yard. You were brought to live in this cave when you were only two years old, and ever since that time you have only been able to communicate with other humans on those brief occasions when you have been allowed out on a short leash.

Now here’s a question: Would you be happy? Would you be fit? Would you know the language of humans? Would your mind be fully developed? What kind of adult would you be if you were raised in these same conditions?

Do you see the parallel? The wonder is not that some dogs are discipline problems, but that almost all of them are not as crazy as bed bugs!

When dogs deprived of exercise, socialization and instruction act out and are brought to a trainer for remedial work, their owners are almost never looking to be part of a drawn-out process that will cost a lot of money and extend over many weeks or months. Instead, the average owner is looking for an event; a quick incantation or party trick that can be repeated in two or three sessions, after which order and calm will be restored.

THE MAGIC STARTS WITH YOU

But are there really such tricks in the world of dog training?

Yes and no.

Yes, there are specific solutions for narrow and specific problems.

That said, the most important part of dog training has never been a secret any more than eating less and exercising more has been “the secret” to losing weight.

The most important part of dog training is active, consistent and focused participation by the owner in the education of his or her own dog.

The magic does not start when you hire a trainer. The magic starts:

▪️When you exercise the dog every day.

▪️When you pay close attention to your dog and communicate consistently with it through well-timed rewards and signals.

This is not to say that there aren’t tools, and that many of them aren’t great.

Every dog catalog and magazine is packed with ads offering up various types of collars, halters, and leashes. Every bookstore is packed with dog training guides promoting clickers, hand signals, e-collars, food rewards, ball rewards, scent-training, and every kind of freshly-potted canine philosophy.

But no device or method matters if the owner does not have the self-discipline to show up everyday to actively work with his or her own dog.

This is Hagrid’s secret, and it’s not one you can buy in the magic shops in Diagon Alley.

Just a friendly reminder that we are SLEEPING IN tomorrow and taking Family Day off. Pack walks will resume Tuesday.  Ha...
02/19/2024

Just a friendly reminder that we are SLEEPING IN tomorrow and taking Family Day off. Pack walks will resume Tuesday. Happy Family Day!

WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE! Our current Take The Lead class is graduating NEXT WEEK! WELL DONE EVERYONE! Registration is op...
02/15/2024

WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE! Our current Take The Lead class is graduating NEXT WEEK!
WELL DONE EVERYONE!

Registration is open for our next 6 week program starting Saturday April 6, 2024.

These classes fill up quickly! PM for more info or to register today!

🥰💞💘❤️🥰
02/15/2024

🥰💞💘❤️🥰

Address

Sooke, BC

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Connected Canine posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Connected Canine:

Videos

Share

Category

Nearby pet stores & pet services