Inspiredk9s

25/01/2024

“Ullie”
8 x 10 Oil on Canvas

I very much enjoyed painting this commissioned piece of a lovely and soulful guide dog. 😊🐾

02/11/2023

"Perhaps the secret of living well is not in having all the answers but in pursuing unanswerable questions in good company." -Rachel Naomi Remen

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27/09/2023

When we teach from where the dog is, when they are in a calm mental state, success is more likely to happen. It is up to you to see the small steps of success they are giving you, then work on from that success.

25/08/2023

“Freddy”
12 x 12 Oil on canvas

Sometimes a special creature comes into our lives and into our hearts in ways that are hard to describe. Freddy was a very special cat and companion for his family, a very special soulful boy that will always be remembered by his family with fondness. This painting was commissioned a few months ago. I don’t have much time to work on commissions these days but when I can and no time restrictions are in place, I’m honored to play a part in helping commemorate specially beautiful animal that left such an imprint in people’s hearts like Freddy did. ❤️🐾

*t *tos *to

05/08/2023

👀See…

👇We really aren’t the only ones who knows exactly how it works👌👌👌.

23/06/2023

Observation, Observation, Observation! See your dog for who they are in rest, play and movement. You will see what they are saying to you and then your relationship will move into a higher dimension of mutual understanding.
Love your dog for who they are, not what you expect them to be.

16/06/2023

Fantastic capture of this Common Merganser with her chicks

📸 jlynpphotography

16/06/2023

Looking forward to being a speaker alongside the amazing Ann Howie (author of Teaming With Your Therapy Dog) at the Soothing Paws conference in Morristown, NJ later this month.
Hope you might join us if you're interested in learning more about therapy animals. Link in the comments!

05/06/2023

27/05/2023

“Grizzly Bear mom and Cubs” 🔴 SOLD
24x30 Oil on Gallery canvas
Inspiration from image gracefully shared on Pixabay.

This is one of a larger size painting for me. It’s taken me a while to finish it. I have great respect for these beautiful animals and although I would be thrilled to see one in the wild, I would also be terrified. When I travel to AB or BC and find myself driving through areas where this sight could be possible, I often have my camera near me. I’ve seen other wildlife but not grizzlies. They are majestic and impressive and would never want to be near a mama grizzly without some sort of shelter for protection.

20/05/2023

We can so easily miss these opportunities to be in the moments where our dog is having fun.

Don't get distracted by your phone or people in conversation.
Go and have some fun with your dog, especially if what you are teaching, is not working. Laugh, be silly and see what your dog would like to do and go and have some fun......and laugh!
Your Dog will know when you are being authentic in your voice, body language and how you interact with them.
Go on...have a fun filled day with your dog and you will both change how you see each other!!

20/05/2023

The collars are being considered "inhumane treatment of animals" and will soon be banned in Queensland.

18/05/2023

Take time to know your dog. And your dog will get to know you. No expectations, allow them to shine and 'See' who they really are. And they will see who you really are.

13/05/2023

Trust takes time to develope.
When your dog shows concern, show them how to move away gently, and give them a choice to move away.
In time the dog will become more confident in passing concerns when they know you are listening and supporting them and giving them choice.
Don't control your dog by thinking if you do not go past they are 'winning'.
That is old dog theory.
Your dog is an emotional being, listen to what they are saying and support them in building up trust with you.
Teach them the 'choice skills' they need in the outside environments, in a safe place where they can mentally learn easier and more deeply.
And remember, you cannot teach a skill where the problem is occurring as the dogs mental state is one of surviving not thriving.

"We cannot change who in essence the dog is. However, we can transform them into being the best of themselves" Jane Madigan

12/05/2023

It is possible to have a relationship based on mutual respect, free from anything that remotely resembles sensory deprivation, and still have a dog who will work his heart out for you and even more importantly, with you.

10/05/2023

As an example: Any type of distraction your dog faces, cannot be solved in that moment. Your dog is not able to respond, but reacts. Learn the skills you need to help your dog and give them the skills they need and then start teaching and practising gently. And remember, your dog always learns more quickly and deeper when they are mentally and physically calm, just like you.

10/05/2023

This image is so powerful.
Speak with your vet and/or qualified dog trainer when your dog shows signs of behaviour issues. They may be communicating that they are uncomfortable, in pain, or anxious.
Avoid all forms of punishments. The best way to get the behaviour to stop is to address the root cause.

02/05/2023

- And a safe place is usually in the home environment. Then you will have to build your relationship with them, based on trust and safety and fulfilling their basic needs to move them into a Thriving state.
When in a thriving and calm state, you can teach your dog absolutely anything!

30/04/2023

You will always have a chance to change your input for the better. Then your dog will be able to respond by changing their output for the better.
This is what success at both ends of the leash looks and feels like.
You will both grow because of it.
Be empowered to make the changes for the both of you.
This is where the real learning begins, then take each step as it arrives.

29/04/2023

Understanding, analyzing and resolving behavior or performance problems requires a good deal of detective work. Sherlock Holmes knew no detail is insignificant. Observation skills and attention to detail is the hallmark of great trainers.

29/04/2023

In a ‘historic moment for animal welfare’ The Kennel Club has welcomed news that the Government has laid legislation which will completely ban the use of remote controlled electric shock collars in England, as of 1 February 2024, following a ten year campaign to .

https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/shockcollarsbanned?fbclid=IwAR1Ok-0P_ScU0ggVsVxgfr7cbcvI7j6FSTf6_osuDZrScXHqM-4BYAwjo-8

28/04/2023

This is the best news I’ve heard in a long time and while there is a little bit of a wait, it is finally happening! 🎉

We’ve known for a long time that shock/e-collars are unnecessary for teaching our dogs and cause unnecessary pain and suffering.

A number of countries in a world also have already had them banned, alongside Wales in the UK, and dogs there are not somehow all being euthanised or mauling people all the time.

Because of course not. These tools do not make dogs or anyone else safer.

Some excuses we might hear are along the lines of “leashes can break” or “dogs can escape their leashes”, but shock/e-collars can just as well malfunction, and run out of battery. On top of that, dogs can develop a punishment callous and start to ignore the shock. And on top on top of that, if our dogs are now shocked around certain stimuli regularly (e.g. livestock), they can start to see that stimuli as a threat and react defensively towards them.

We must do better for our dogs and our dogs absolutely deserve better! It’s so important that we refrain from aversive tools like shock/e-collars not just for a dog’s wellbeing, but for the safety of everyone around too. I do hope a ban on prong collars and choke chains will come next, but this is a great first step.

But for now, this win for dogs should be celebrated. The future is indeed force-free. ❤️

Find out more at : https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/shockcollarsbanned

ID: The text on the top says “We are finally banning electronic shock collars in England!” And next to this is a small celebratory icon. Under this is a smaller text that says “Coming into effect in 1 Feb 2024”. Under this is a cat out picture of Dave, a brown Singapore Special dog with pointy ears and a curly tail, sitting and giving Rachel, who is wearing a black t-shirt and a black beanie, a high five.

25/04/2023

When you listen to your dog, through observation, you will see that they are extraordinary, in their own way!
And when you see them for who they really are - then your relationship will develop into something magical!

23/04/2023

Your dog will always show you how they are feeling in the moment. To calm, connect with your breath as you move your hand slowly down their shoulder. Watch their response.
Do this a couple of times and allow their sensory systems to process that information.
How do you feel when you do this?
Has your dog changed in their posture and demeanour? Observation is key here.
What are you seeing and what is your dog seeing in you?

18/04/2023

Teaching calming skills to the dog, will put them in a healthier state to be receptive to the teaching you are giving.
Anxiety and stress will inhibit the learning process and cause more anxiety and stress.
Your input to the dog has to change first, in order for the dog to be able to change their output.

08/04/2023

Sit quietly, watch your dog but do not interfere with them, with whatever they are doing. Turn all your distractions off. Be in your dogs moment, focus on your breathing, slow and steady, remain focused on your breathing....even if it is for only 20 seconds at first.
Do this every day with your dog...this is you and your dogs time. Watch how your dog responds. You will find they will settle and their breathing will be deeper and slower.
As you progress, your time in your dogs moment will get longer. You will feel calmer, as will your dog. You are connecting at a really deep level. You will find your energy shift. Your dogs energy will shift.
It's a great way to improve your dog's mental health as well as your own. Let me know how you do. Love, Light and Fun🦋

07/04/2023

Designed for professionals this course provides you with five basic Relationship Centered Training techniques to teach clients and help create a solid foundation of skills that are invaluable for reactive dogs.

03/04/2023

Observing your dog, in a calm way (not staring at them), will help you see who in essence they really are and what they may need help with.
This gives you the chance also to see their happiness and what they love to do.
And talking to your dog in a calm reassuring voice, especially when they are doing something well, is from their perspective, making them happy to be with you.
Your dogs mental health is important for both of you.

28/03/2023

And Bud always had the last word!