TRI-dogs

01/04/2025

Explore. walk. play. rest.
These are 4 core things dogs need to feel complete fulfillment on a daily basis.

Ears back. noses up. Moving forward but not pulling. We are moving as a unit. Even tobi (fluffy guy off leash) is fully tapped in without being teatherd 😁

This is what dogs look like when fully engaged in pack drive. (my personal favourite of the dog drives)

This is one of my most rowdy group of dogs on my weekly hikes. I put so much emphasis on tapping into inate behaviors such as migration to help fully satisfy dogs on our walks. This in combination with sniffing breaks, food work/ engagment and play time, I manage to fulfill the dogs Inate needs before they come home to rest.

01/03/2025

It's a common misconception, that people think when a dog's hackles are up that they are going to be aggressive, but that couldn't be farther from the truth.some dogs have larger more dramatic hackles when raised.
It's very important to look at all the dog's body language signs when their hackles are up to see what they are truly feeling. A dog's hackles, being up simply means excitement or that they are over stimulated. In the dog training industry we call this arousal.

Today was my 1st day back to work after the holidays and Ms. Maisy was just pumped to be out on a walk again. If you look at her other body language, I think it's pretty obvious that she's not aggressive😆 can you spot the telltale signs that this is purely play and not a fight?

12/31/2024

2025 TRI-dogs calendars have been ordered and should be ready by the end of the week 😁 is only printed 15 because I wasn't sure about suply/ demand, so reach out to claim yours as they are 1st come 1st serve ❤️🎁 happy new year to everyone! 🥳🥳🥳
Cost is$15/ print

12/18/2024

I've been mulling over and idea lately and I'm hoping everyone will be as excited as I am !

I want to start making calendars with some of the photos I get on our walks. Phone camera quality has gotten so good and I get some really great shots out there !

I'm curious if anyone would be interested?
If it becomes popular I'd offer the
Option of a personalized calendar with just photos of your own dog, in the future 😁

Any feedback back is welcomed!

12/14/2024

What does enrichment look like for your dog?

There are so many ways to meet your dogs instinctual needs.
Sniffing, engaging in play, migration, Dissection , chewing, digging , hunting, herding, guarding the list goes on!
All of these behaviors come very natural to dogs and depending on your dogs breed they will find some of these activities more enriching than others.
When working with clients I always recomend them to focus on breed specific enrichment activities in addition to walks and other forms of exercise.
Did you know that 20 minutes of enrichment or brain activity can equal a whole hour long walk with your dog? Mental stimulation is king when it comes to enriching your dogs life and making them less anxious, More relaxed and happy in general.
I'm not exaggerating when I say Jake chewed on this kong for about 20 minutes straight and then passed right out 😂❤️

12/06/2024

It's been a little while!
Here is this week's body language breakdown down.
Featuring Alfie (ausie doodle) and ruby (golden) as well as the rest of the pack in the background 😁
Normally, these two engage in play very nicely. Today, however, alfie was not feeling his usual self. There are a few factors to why He did not feel like playing with Ruby today. Some of which include the steam train could be heard leaving the station and blowing its horn from the area we were walking in. We had also heard some coyote activity off in the distance.
Alfie was on alert, there where new sounds and potential threats in the area. He was not in a playful mindset.
Ruby however lives in this area and is not phased by the sounds of trains or wild life as she has grown accustomed to them.

I actually had to stop the video a couple times to step in and advocate for Alfie as ruby was not taking his hints.
You can see him use avoidance and some displacement sniffing. He even tries to correct her a few times as to say "not right now, I need to figure out what's going on with these strange noises"
He loves ruby so his corrections are gentle but he was in defense drive and alert to his surroundings. there was a no nonsense adittude which is not common for this playful guy.

It's so important to step up and advocate for your dogs when you notice they are not enjoying an interaction. If these types of introductions are allowed to continue without intervention they can absolutely cause reactivity in an otherwise friendly dog.

12/04/2024

As winter sets in its important to keep in mind that our dogs all handle the change in weather diffently!
Some absolutely thrive in winter conditions but some other dogs may not enjoy it at all.
It's impotant to watch for signs, such as lifting paws often, stopping frequently and toe licking, whinning, shivering, etc.
As they can be early signs of potential frost bite. Dogs feet are better designed for the outdoors but that doesn't mean they don't feel the cold!
Very similar to summer its our responsibility as pet owners to know how cold is too cold !

While we've been fairly fortunate to have a mild winter so far there is still potential for temperatures to drop significantly. Walks and training sessions are subject to cancelation at any time if I feel it's become too cold for myself or the dogs to be out in the cold.
Have a safe happy holiday season everyone !!!

11/29/2024

As the new year approaches, there are a few big changes coming for TRI-dogs.
As my business grows and starts to wean off of the walking side of things, i aim to drive my focus to the training side of my business.
Going forward i will no longer be accepting any new hiking clients. Any slots that become available will be reserved for clients who have done training through TRI- dogs obedience courses or private lessons.

The amount of support I've recieved in my first few years of business is overwhelming and I seriously cannot thank you all enough 💜

11/27/2024

If you own a long haired or curly haired dog im sure this will look familiar!
The snow clumps on dogs legs can be irritating and even painful if they get between their toes or if they get large.
They are a pain to remove as well, often taking a long time to melt and tracking water all through your house!
A great way to prevent these snow pants, as i call them, is with a simple coconut oil rub. Warm about a table spoon of coconut oil in your hands and massage it into the fur on your dogs feet, legs and chest about an hour or two before your dogs walks in the winter.
This is a cheap, non toxic single ingredient alternative to expensive pet products that claim to do the exact same thing.
😁

11/03/2024

I got another great video this week and couldnt wait to post it!
So here it is.

This video features Jake (my own dog ) skye (gsd) and rocket (catahoula)

Jake and skye are undeniabley besties. They play very well together and always match each other's energy.
Rocked desperately wants to be a part of that.

Note Jake's body language. He's very tense. Ears forward and perked ,tail in the air( harder to tell as his tail is quite curly) no fluidity in his motions. Constant eye contact and even a bit of avoidance. Lots of lip licking and even a stress yawn.

Jake is telling rocket" dude, you're too much right now, "
Jake is small but he has BIG energy . He is calm and assertive in this interaction.

Skye is trying to assert dominance but she isn't a super confident dog in these types of interactions so rocket isn't getting the hint.

Rocket is purly playful and using as much apeasment as he can to try and get them to engage in play.

Dogs will use apeasment to deescalate a situation. Rocket doesnt want the smoke , he wants to play.
However his play style doesnt match up with jake and skyes energy.

And he is on a leash for this very reason(and also terrible recall but we're working on that)
If Jake and /or skye try to leave this interaction,rocket doesnt have the skills to understand he shouldn't follow them, that's where fights can also happen.

10/31/2024

It's that time of year again!
Kennel cough is much more active this time of year and though we cannot bubble wrap our dogs or the world we can take some extra precautions to ensure our pups stay healthy and happy this spooky season!

Some things you can do and should know:

Avoid high traffic dog areas, illnesses like kennel cough can be passed along and spread so easily and the more hosts the more likelyhood of contraction.

Never share dog bowls, and although it's a nice thought avoid dog dishes left outside of business on the streets. they are a breeding ground for these illnesses

Avoid interacting with unknown dogs or people. This should be a common practice anyhow

Be aware that kennel cough virus can live on surfaces and clothes for up to 48 hours.

It can take up to 5 days for your dog to show symptoms after contracting and they are fully capable of spreading it during this time frame.

For a week after your dog stops showing symptoms they can still cary the virus and spread it. Full quarantine for up to 3 weeks is the best plan of action if your dog has a confirmed case.

Always consult your veterinary professional if you think your dog may have contracted an illness of any kind.

And lastly if your dog is vaccinated for kennel cough they can still contract it but symptoms may be lessened!

Be safe and have a happy Halloween everyone !

10/29/2024

This week's body language breakdown!

This may be one of the best first interactions I've personally witnessed.
Skye (GSD) and panda (collie mix) absolutely hit it off!
This is a perfect example of respectable play that both dogs fully enjoy.
A play bow to ask or invite to the game.
There is lots of loose, less tense body language. Large swoopy tail wags and they take a couple breaks to check in with one another before continuing the game.

This is a pretty great interaction that has very little chance of escalating to a fight.
Is is the exact level of intensity that both dogs enjoy in play. There is give and take of turns chasing and being chased.
And really, overall, just lovely interaction 👌

Edit to add*
After watching this video a couple times I realized that there may be a secondary reason for posting!
I as a dog trainer who spends a lot of time with dogs and different breeds and observing their behavior find it very easy to point out why this is such a great interaction for but the average dog Owner This may not be as obvious.
skye is a German Shepherd, and they tend to have more Subtle cues in their body language than some other breeds. Their ears are always pointed up and it can make position changes less noticable. (Until uncomfortable or scaredears go flat or pinned back
)Their tails in a relaxed position are naturally much higher than many other breeds.so a happy wag is less distinguishable from a tail pinned high.
As well sky is fairly new to these types of social interactions. Her body language is a little less obvious that she is enjoying this interaction.I was aware of it because I spend a lot of time with her and , dogs in general.
she is not as comfortable being completely care free with her movments The way panda is with his body language. He really wears his emotion on his sleeve, so to speak.

10/21/2024

Here's another one for you guys.
Is this a display of good play etiquette?
What are some of the things you notice that would persuade you one way or the other ?

Hint: the ques are much more subtle in this video, you'll have to watch closely.

10/20/2024

Being the sole owner/operator of TRI-DOGS, is one of the most rewarding things I've done with my life, and I honestly couldn't do it without the on going support from my clients and followers!
You guys are always recommending and raving my small business, it truly makes me feel special and appreciated. So it's with reluctance that I make this post to announce I will not be accepting any new clients until the new year!

My pack walks are at capacity.
My private and group training schedule is stacked and my heart is full❤️

Some new things are in the works that demand a lot more focus from me and I look forward to what 2025 holds for TRI-DOGS !
Thank you to everyone who continues to support and recommend TRI-DOGS as your local pet care provider 🐶

10/16/2024

10/16/2024

How well do you know dog body language?
So often we think dogs are playing and enjoying themselves, but have a closer look and tell me what you think is actually going on here .

I'll post a response in the comments.

10/09/2024

"How to make a friend"
-Freya the Swiss mountain dog

Step 1:do the weirdest play bow you can muster
Step 2: go absolutely bananas !
Step 3: entertain yourself because everyone thinks you're a little odd 😅
Step 4: repeat with a stick in your mouth

09/21/2024

My heart strings where pulled today. My sweet boy Linden had his last puppy party with some of his best dog friends and people. He was always the most hairy and slobbery but also had the most love to give❤️
Dogs are taken way too soon . This special boy had a place in my heart that is going to be empty for awhile after he goes across the rainbow bridge. Hug your fur babies extra tight today