Canine Behaviour Therapy

08/18/2024

While I specialize in working with dogs - it’s nice to help out other critters as well!
Found this beetle/bug with some kind of human plastic goo on his little wings. He was flopping all around on the ground - I was able to get him to some cool grass that helped most come off and then got the last bit. But now he won’t leave me!

08/15/2024

How can this beautiful boy still be in need of a home?!

08/14/2024

A well exercised dog - body and brain will be calmer overall!
A really fun day at Red Barn Event Centre! Spice getting started in Rally-O and Goat brushing up his skills to come back out at excellent! Then Training fun in the beautiful agility field! Ok we’re all exhausted after the 2+hours of driving too, so a well earned nap 😇

08/12/2024

A beautiful t-shirt from my husband!
Just a thought to remember when you lose your beloved pet that you have the right to mourn them as you would any family member! They’re not just a dog! They are family, our constant companions, seat heaters, teammates and sometimes business partners. You deserve to be free to mourn and they’ve earned that place in your heart!

08/07/2024

Such a great place to play agility!
Agility helps in building confidence for your dog through a fun activity! What may have been scary becomes a truly loved activity! Also bills such a great bond between the dog and handler!

Alright folks! We have our events lined up for the remainder of the season, and all are open for booking on our website! We will be sharing them with you throughout the week.

First up is our last two Agility Fun Days!

Sunday August 18th is our next event. These have been very fun events all year long. Two courses, outdoors on grass.

Sunday September 22nd is our Agility Fun Day FINALE! In addition to our courses, we will be having a raffle, snacks, and prizes! Monica will also be at the finale to capture amazing shots of your dogs.

Both are open for registration now! Don't miss out, they fill up quickly!

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08/01/2024

I fully believe in muzzle training for all dogs - ideally in puppyhood but it's never too late! It does not mean that they're aggressive - potentially in serious pain, stressed out, uncomfortable with some situations/people/dogs. The muzzle shouldn't be used to force them, but to allow them to observe from a distance with no danger should things suddenly change. When new around children that are now part of the family circle, a muzzle is a safe place to start!
https://muzzleupproject.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawEYuVNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHXbk-5WmOEc5dbfTfzEZd2KObbfJx__lSZfes2Xn0X3NYHtZgQCvoAYc6w_aem_IYzTnku4Ae-sFXc27BqH2Q

Muzzled dogs aren't bad dogs. Muzzles are a fantastic tool to help keep dogs and people safe. The Muzzle Up! Project is here to help teach you all about muzzles and their proper use. Did you know that dogs wear muzzles for all sorts of reasons? Dogs might wear muzzles because: He eats rocks, socks,....

07/16/2024

A well socialized dog still doesn't always want to be social! Old age can bring some aches and pains and lower thresholds - pleae be aware of your dog's current needs!

Trainer Tip Tuesday:

07/13/2024

Helping dogs be as calm as possible is my mantra and dedication

CULTIVATING CALMNESS

We teach our dogs all sorts of things, but maybe don’t realise that teaching “calm” is also an important behaviour that has so many positive applications for both us and our dogs.

“Calm” can be defined as the absence of agitation or excitement; a feeling of tranquility; serenity and peace. These feelings are so often lacking in both our lives and that of our dogs.

Besides teaching dogs to settle on a mat or in another place or capturing and rewarding calm behaviour, here are some other ways to promote calmness.

Scenting or sniffing is a really effective and simple way to promote relaxation. It lowers the pulse rate and creates feelings of wellbeing.

Chewing is another powerful relaxation tool. Dogs use the chewing to relieve stress, frustration or anxiety. Chewing has a calming effect on the adrenal-pituitary axis in the brain which triggers the release of endorphins. It’s like self-medication for stress or anxiety.

Relaxing music that is specifically made for dogs can also work well, especially with dogs that get over excited in a car or have storm or firework fear.

When playing an exciting, high-energy game with your dog, take frequent breaks before starting up again to help your dog wind down and become calmer.

Aromatherapy, ear or other types of massage are other ways to help create calmness.

Cortisol holidays are also really important after a stressful event to prevent trigger stacking and allow cortisol levels to return to normal.

Conventional wisdom says that the ability to remain calm is a character trait that most of us lack, but Neuroscience teaches us that remaining calm under pressure is not an inborn trait, but a skill that needs to be learnt, practiced and managed and this applies to our dogs as well.

07/13/2024

💪🏼 8 WAYS TO BUILD CONFIDENCE IN YOUR DOG‼️
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Building confidence can be trying for dog owners of anxious dogs, but it can be done and the payoff is huge when the results are noticeable!
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1️⃣ CREATE PREDICTABILITY
Scenarios where your dog is anxious should have a pattern.

Example 👉🏼 Greeting people causes your dog some stress.
Each person that greets the dog should learn a behavior to perform or ask for such as scattering food or asking for a target to a hand or foot instead of reaching to pet the dog.

If this becomes the norm for greetings the dog will gain confidence in greetings not being so stressful because she will know what is going to happen during those greetings.
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2️⃣ USE MANAGEMENT EFFICIENTLY
Management can be a tool that helps in areas where training can't take place, shouldn't or makes the specific situation easier on all involved.

Example 👉🏼 Your dog stresses when people come into your home.
Put your dog in a place in your home where he feels safe & isn't exposed to people entering until that is something you can work through with training & other skills.
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3️⃣ GIVE SNIFFING THE UPPER HAND
Exercise is perfect when done properly & the correct exercise is chosen for each specific dog & case. Sniff walks are something all dogs can do & while walking!

Example 👉🏼 You want to exercise your dog but going around the block isn't do-able at the moment.
Put your dog on a long line, walk in front of your home & toss a handful of your dog's food or yummy treats in the grass for him to sniff out. Sniffing is calming for dogs & this can help while also allowing you to do some walking. You can also walk short distances while allowing your dog to sniff all the things, you know be a dog!
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4️⃣ PROPER PLAY
Play is a great stress release & is hugely beneficial to our social companions. Learning proper play will build your relationship & build confidence.

Example 👉🏼 Teach your dog to play tug with you, drop it on cue & start when you say. Let her win some & lose some, but lots of wins. Throwing a ball over & over isn't great play as it builds arousal so there are lots of other types of play we can do with our dogs.
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5️⃣ TEACH USEFUL CUES & UTILIZE POSITIVE TRAINING
Using positive training & teaching your dog to respond to different cues will benefit you & him in all sorts of areas of life.

When your dog knows cues, responds & gets rewarded, his confidence will go up. It will also help in situations so you both know what to do & how to respond.
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6️⃣ PROPER SLEEP
Sleep is just important for all living beings! Dogs should sleep at 12-18 hours a day, depending on age. This includes day & night. So your dog should get a lot of sleep throughout the daytime for proper brain rest & lower stress levels.
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7️⃣ AUTONOMY & CHOICES
This would be where you listen to your dog & respect what they are "telling" you while also allowing her to make safe choices about what is comfortable for her.

Example 👉🏼 Your dog doesn't like sitting next to you while you pet him. Let him move to a spot he wants to or just don't pet him at all if he's showing signs he doesn't want that in that moment.

Example 👉🏼 Your dog starts to show signs of not really wanting to be on a walk with you, then don't go on that walk or head straight home if you're already out.
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8️⃣ CONSISTENCY!
All of the above things won't matter if you cannot be consistent. In fact it could be more harmful in the long run if you do somethings one way one day and differently on another day. That will negate #1 and cause unpredictability!
🔑 So consistency is key!

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Stacy Greer, CPDT-KA

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COPYRIGHT NOTICE
© 2024 Stacy Greer

All rights reserved. Feel free to share via the “Share” link to the original post. Downloading for redistribution online or in print form is strictly prohibited.

07/12/2024

Looking for some input on what type of butterfly this is? Seeing lots of them but not great pictures on my cell…Phylis Short?

07/10/2024

So important!

07/10/2024

Copying directly from The Red Mare, as some danged algorithm has mucked around with people seeing what I post. Once upon a time it was typical to have hundreds (and sometimes thousands, if I hit a nerve) reading my posts. Either I've gotten flat out boring or you're not seeing all? 'Tis a mystery and one shared by many, who knows why. Please share and give the following a try if you would.

From The Red Mare:
The suggestions are, if you want to make sure you see my posts:

*Like and leave even the shortest comment - one word will do - so that Facebook then brings me to your feed.

*Have a look at previous posts and like and comment on those too. Apparently this will 'speed things up'. (Not entirely sure what that means, but I'm going with it.)

*If I am not coming up in your feed, click unfollow and then follow again. This resets something. (Again, not quite sure what.)

I do hope these might work. The problem is that if you are not seeing the posts any more, you're not going to see this one. So I'm not quite sure how we can resolve the glitch.
(Suzanne added: But suspect sharing this on YOUR feed might help?)

Thank you!

Bliss and Jolene are wondering as well, though to be fair, technology is NOT their strong suit.😉

07/10/2024

Trainer Tip Tuesday:

07/09/2024

Absolutely love this perspective!

Victoria we are in for some Ontario Heat today and next week, Please keep your animals safe! This afternoon is expected to feel like 32’ celsius!

Please keep your animals well hydrated, walk in the shade & on the grass whenever possible and please do NOT run or make your dog walk on burning asphalt.

07/08/2024

Such a fun day with All About Dogs at their AAC Fun Match! It was so well run and everything went so smoothly.
Goat did great as usual, but of course had to put up with me not remembering the course …but it was Spice’s very first outing! While for sure she was a little overwhelmed she still had tons of fun! Here she is chilling for the evening after all of her excitement.

07/04/2024

Please be so careful with your dogs on hot days!

🐾 Hot weather tip from your furry friends' favorite hospital! 🌞

Is the pavement too hot for paws? Remember, the streets can be a scorching 20-25 degrees hotter than the air temperature! 🐾

Keep walks cool by strolling in the evening when the pavement has cooled down, making it more enjoyable for your furry friend. Don't forget to keep them well hydrated throughout the day, provide shade, and never leave them in a parked car!

Let's make this summer really enjoyable for everyone! ☀️🐶

07/04/2024

June adoptions 💜💙💚

It appears to have been a poodle and doodle month.

Puppy millers are well known for breeding "doodle" type mixes. We are part of a coalition that helps give mill dogs a second chance at love and life ❤️

Please think twice before purchasing puppies off Kijiji or from backyard breeders. Their parents are most likely living life in a barn stall, a basement, or in a cage or crate.

Shelters and rescues have been overwhelmed with displaced, homeless dogs for the last several years and there's no sign of things getting better any time soon 😔😔

We definitely need stronger laws, more spay/neuter clinics and NO Kijiji or other online access for these "greeders" who profit off the backs of beloved dogs 😢

Now for our JUNE DOGS 🎉🎉🎉🎉:

07/01/2024

It’s 11:20. The public fireworks are over long ago. But selfish people feel entitled to keep setting off their own. Please stop!

06/26/2024

Kevin wants a loving home with a couch coach!

It's Kevin from heaven! This tiny treasure has not had one person ask about him 😟🥺He's fun, sweet, affectionate, and housetrained! Here he is keeping his foster dad company watching sports. Kevin is a sports fan, and also a mystery and reality show fan - Kevin is actually a fan of all things TV (so he gets the chance to snuggle) He came to us from a hoarding situation in QC and is just a lovely soul. See more of Kevin at: https://www.speakingofdogs.com/available-dogs/

06/25/2024

I love a good graphic that tells such an important story

Dogs do talk, they communicate well with us, they show us what they need and tell us (usually very politely) when they need space. If you need help understanding your dog's languge, drop us a line below.

06/24/2024

Please please be very aware of what the dog is so desperately trying to tell kids! It’s not cute it’s dangerous to let a child be too interactive. They mean no harm but neither will the dog when they try to push the child away…

Be a Dog Detective – Dogs Do Not Like Hugs and Kisses
https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/resource/be-a-dog-detective-dogs-do-not-like-hugs-and-kisses/

06/23/2024

Such a nice day with Speaking of Dogs rescue! Go visit and support them tomorrow at Woodbine Beach’s Woofstock!! Just love some of the things I got there- all funds going to the rescue!

06/21/2024

Been away for a week and these were ready to bloom - so pretty to come home to!

06/13/2024

We need to show dogs what it is that we do like - and that they'll be paid for! Praise, treats, interactions all count - NO teaches them nothing

Training Tip Tuesday: