Harmony Animal Training & Behaviour

11/05/2024

It’s that time of year again! ☀️🔥🥵

Langley Animal Protection Society (LAPS) has already attended to dogs left in hot cars and it’s only the very beginning of the 2024 summer season. Please either leave your pups at home where it’s cool or take leashed, non-stressed, and well-mannered pups into stores that allow them while shopping.

If you need help with the “well-mannered” part, we can totally help with that! 😊 Reach out using the contact form on our website. https://www.harmonyanimaltraining.ca/contact-us/

HEAT ALERT🔆 We are currently in the beginning of the first real heat wave of the year - with temperature expected to be in the high 20s both today and tomorrow!

As you enjoy the weekend please take the steps needed to keep your pet safe and cool. All pets can be effected by the heat: cats, dogs, rabbits, hamsters, rats, guinea pigs, birds, farm animals, and more.
How to keep your pet safe:
⛱ Stay cool in the shade
🚿 Wet your pet down with cool (not ice) water
🏠 Leave your pet at home and do not leave them in your car
🧊 Freeze water bottles and wrap them in a towel for your pet to lay on
💦 Provide access to fresh drinking water at all times!
🔥 Avoid walking dogs on pavement during the day: if it’s too hot for you to walk barefoot on, it’s too hot for them!

25/04/2024

Keep these tips in mind when you plant your garden this year! 🌻🌼

25/04/2024

Spring into safety! Here are some tips to keep your pet blooming this season. 💐

14/04/2024

A huge congratulations to Finn and his amazing pawrents on his Mind Your Manners graduation today! 🎉🏅😊 Just look at how handsome this boy is! 😍

11/04/2024

Happy National Pet Day! 🐶🐱

Happy National Pet Day!
Here’s something I drew for The Nib magazine back in ‘19 ❤️

12/03/2024

Welcome to the HAT family, Rocky! 🥰

At just a year old, Rocky weighs in at 110lbs. As an adolescent doggo, he loves to jump up on his humans. When you’ve got little kids and grandparents living with and interacting with you on a regular basis, you can see how big of a safety issue this could be. Rocky’s parents are getting some help with his inappropriate jumping from Trainer Brigette. In this photo, we’re practicing his settle on a mat behaviour…and Rocky’s nailing it! 👍

11/03/2024

Langley pet owners…is your pet microchipped? If so, are you 100% certain that the contact information attached to your pet’s microchip is current?

Head on down to Bosley’s Langley on Sunday, March 17 from 11am to 3pm to have your pet’s microchip scanned and update your contact details! 🏠☎️

Is your pet microchipped? Is the information on file correct? Come to our FREE microchip scanning event to make sure all the information on file is correct! We are working with and the B.C. Pet Registry to scan your pet and make any changes, if needed! Sunday, March 17 from 11-3! BC SPCA Surrey

06/03/2024

Happy Hump Day! 😊

HU***NG HOUNDS - It’s not always what it seems

Some dogs do and some dogs don’t, but if you have a dog that humps at the most inopportune times it can be downright embarrassing or annoying.

Other dogs, other people, visitors, toys, cushions, furniture, anything that can be mounted and clung to may be fair game.

As people, it’s natural to assume that this behaviour is of a sexual nature, that our dogs must be oversexed, sexually frustrated or the all-too-common incorrect belief that our dogs are just trying to be “dominant” or “the alpha”.

Hu***ng, like many other dog behaviours does not always have a simple reason. It can be a complex behaviour which is usually emotionally or socially based.

Looking at what may be triggering the behaviour should always be the first step before finding ways to change a behaviour.

The solutions will depend on the cause. It may be finding ways to reduce stress or anxiety levels, increasing mental stimulation, teaching calm behaviours to prevent over arousal, ensuring your dog is getting enough sleep, using management or in some cases a veterinary check up to rule out any medical causes.

When hu***ng is annoying another dog or person or causing frustration, discomfort or harm in any way, then obviously this behaviour needs to be immediately addressed, but sometimes we may need to ask ourselves – is it really something we need to stop our dogs from doing just because we see it as socially unacceptable?

Is it a harmless way of relieving stress or anxiety after a difficult day or a way to expend pent up energy that is not causing anyone harm?

Is a little hump now and then okay if it’s not causing any harm?

If we prevent this, correct it, or at worst punish this behaviour are we removing a harmless natural outlet and risking another unwanted behaviour taking its place?

Hu***ng is one of the most misunderstood behaviours.

Very often, behaviour is not about the way it looks, but the way we perceive it from our human perspective.

07/02/2024

DOG MYTH
Some dogs are stubborn. They know what to do and ‘decide’ not to anyway.

IN THE REAL WORLD
Dogs don’t refuse to act out of spite. If your dog is not following a cue you’ve given them, it is likely due to one of the below reasons:

- They don’t understand the cue fully yet.
- The cue hasn’t been practiced in many locations.
- Distraction level is too high for dog’s training level.
- They didn’t hear/see/feel you.
- That cue hasn’t been adequately reinforced.
- They aren’t feeling motivated right now - we need to have realistic expectations, dogs aren’t robots.

Discover what motivates your dog.

26/01/2024

Just a head's up for our students and clients!

Trainer Brigette will be away from the training facility and out of office from Wednesday, February 7 to Sunday, February 18, 2024. Although she'll be in the sunshine and warmth of the Jamaican tropics, she's there to scatter her mother's ashes, so it's a bit of a somber trip for her.

She will not be available vie email, social media, or phone during this time, but looks forward to replying to your inquiries once she returns.

26/01/2024

Trainer Brigette is thrilled to be spending her long weekend learning from the very best instructors at ClickerExpo LIVE! 😊

This is an annual virtual conference that she attends every year to keep abreast of the most up-to-date research and training techniques to best serve her amazing clients!

Trainer Brigette will also be attending the in-person ClickerExpo conference in Portland, OR in April 2024. Collaborating and touching base with her colleagues in person is an important part of her learning as well.

20/12/2023

As we come to the close of 2023, Trainer Brigette would like to thank our students, clients, friends & supporters for their good will & patronage this year. We wish you, your family, and your furry loved ones a very happy holidays!

Just a note that Trainer Brigette will be taking time for rejuvenation & spending time with family from December 18 to January 8. See you in 2024!

14/12/2023

11/12/2023

Which holiday plant do you think is the most lethal to cats and dogs? Put your answers below!

It's time to test your veterinary knowledge! Which is the MOST lethal to cats and dogs? Click to check your answer: https://mrkmnls.co/3RaGpgl

07/12/2023

Looking for a gift for your pet? Check out our gift guide from amazing small businesses across British Columbia.

29/11/2023

You heard it here, straight from a veterinary behaviorist's mouth! 😉

It's so critical to safely and positively expose your puppy to various sights, sounds, scents, textures, body handling, and experiences (aka "socialization") as early as possible - ideally, as early as 8 weeks old and before they've had their full round of vaccinations!

We sanitize our floor and equipment with a veterinarian grade sanitizer and check vaccination records for all dogs coming into our training facility.

The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior has a position statement outlining the importance of early puppy socialization and how it can help prevent future behavioural problems in dogs. You can read it here: https://avsab.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Puppy-Socialization-Position-Statement-FINAL.pdf.

A good puppy class is run by a qualified and certified instructor (effective puppy socialization is too critical to be taught by someone less experienced), who plans out a thoughtful curriculum. Our Puppy Start Right Preschool group class is the perfect option for your Langley, BC puppies! https://www.harmonyanimaltraining.ca/puppy-start-right-preschool-group-classes/

There's no excuse! Start your puppy in puppy class 2-3 days after they get their first deworming and vaccinations.

A good puppy class:
🐾 verifies vaccinations and deworming before each class
🐾 doesn't let puppies interact in unsafe ways
🐾 is taught by experienced trainers
🐾 is indoors where urine and f***s can be cleaned up
🐾 controls access with dogs who have unknown vaccination and deworming
🐾 has specific places where puppies are walked to reduce exposure to parasites and infectious agents
🐾 enforces pet parents picking up urine and f***s

08/11/2023

"Training is not a luxury. It is an essential part of animal care." ~ Ken Ramirez

Trainer Brigette loves this quote! 💙 Have you taken a group class or private coaching with us? If so, you and your dog's training doesn't end there! 😊 It's something that we need to do with our dogs on a daily basis. Not only to maintain our dogs' good behaviour, but to enrich their daily lives. Spending just 5 to 10 minutes a day is all that's needed, but it's super important for your dog's continued good behaviour and quality of life. Tell us in the comments what you'll be working on with your dog today! 😁

08/11/2023

Continuing education is critical for trainers and behaviour consultants. Trainer Brigette is so proud to announce that she's completed Aggressive Dog's Aggression in Dogs Master Course with Michael Shikashio.

This Master Course is the most comprehensive course on dog aggression designed specifically for dog professionals who regularly work with aggression/reactivity cases. The course consists of 23 modules led by world-renowned aggression experts.

If you're dealing with aggression or reactivity with your dog, you can be assured that Trainer Brigette can help! Reach out today at https://www.harmonyanimaltraining.ca/contact-us/.

05/11/2023

As we move into the holiday season, let's help set your dogs up for success through this stressful and busy time.

Do you have a dog that likes to counter surf? Here's an excellent article from Karen Pryor Clicker Training about how to manage the dog's environment (hot tip: don't leave delicious turkey out where the dog can access it!) and training alternative behaviours to curb counter surfing.

Let us know in the comments if you have any other ideas on how to manage or train through this challenging behaviour. 😊

Many dog owners complain that their dogs steal food from kitchen counters or even the dinner table. A new term was even coined to describe this behavior: counter-surfing. If you're tired of losing your dinner to a sneaky pooch every time you turn your back, here's what you can do about it.

21/10/2023

Our late Fall 2023 group class schedule is now available! This upcoming term starts November 5th.

Our Puppy Start Right Preschool (NOW open enrollment - start anytime!) and Mind Your Manners classes are great for puppies and dogs with no or little training foundation.

Our Manners & More and Loose Leash Walking classes are perfect for those dogs that need some fine tuning of their skills.

Class sizes are small and are led by a multi-certified professional trainer. Limited spaces available at our training facility located in downtown Langley City, BC.

Register now on our website at www.harmonyanimaltraining.ca!

21/10/2023

WE'VE GOT SOMETHING NEW FOR YOU! 😁

Our Puppy Start Right Preschool group class is NOW open enrollment! What does that mean for you? It means that you can start socializing your puppy as soon as your new family member arrives without having to wait five weeks' time for an upcoming class! 🐶🥳

You'll attend a mandatory 60-minute Orientation session *without* your puppy on Thursdays at 7pm. Once complete, you'll be registered for the open enrollment Puppy Start Right Preschool group class (Mondays at 6pm). You'll attend four consecutive weeks so that we cover all of the PSRP curriculum modules. And the best thing? You can start as early as the following Monday after your Orientation session!

If you anticipate having a new puppy in your family soon, be sure to register for the upcoming Orientation session that starts on Thursday, October 26 in preparation for the first open enrollment Puppy Start Right Preschool group class that starts on Monday, November 6. Spaces are limited, so don't wait to register! You can sign up for the Orientation session using this link: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=15694195&appointmentType=54153952 .

We can't wait to see you and your new puppy in class! 🥰

04/10/2023

Look who joined us for Puppy Start Right Preschool this week? Say hello to Waldo, a 10-week old miniature Goldendoodle! 😍 Welcome to the HAT family, Waldo - we're going to have so much fun learning and playing together.

This week's Puppy Start Right Preschool module was all about Wheels & Children's Toys. We use this equipment as part of our structured, positive acclimation (aka "socialization") with young puppies so that they learn that things like vacuum cleaners, carts, tunnels, and things that move under their feet aren't scary. It's critically important that we socialize our young puppies to various objects, sounds, surfaces, smells, and body handling at a very young age - before about 14 weeks of age - to help prevent any behavioural concerns as they get older. This means that socialization starts in safe, sanitized, and controlled environments even before their full set of puppy vaccinations are complete.

01/10/2023

Trainer Brigette has been a busy bee this weekend, both attending and moderating the virtual version of the Aggression in Dogs Conference 2023! 🐶

Continuing education is so critically important for behaviour consultants and trainers. We need to be continually learning so that we can increase our expertise and skill to better coach our clients and their dogs. Conferences like this one bring together diverse presenters from around the world who share their vast knowledge and resources. Trainer Brigette always leaves conference experiences feeling incredibly inspired and excited! 😊

19/09/2023

Our early Fall 2023 group dog training classes started last week! Here's the current students from our Mind Your Manners class on Monday night! Let's welcome Pepper (look at those eyes! 😍), Daisy, and Mack to the HAT family! 🐶💙

10/09/2023

Trainer Brigette generally isn't one to toot her own horn...but she enjoys sharing client testimonials that toot it for her! 😉

A huge thank you to client Laura for leaving this wonderful Google review! 💙

If you've had positive results from your time working with Trainer Brigette, you can also leave a Google review for her here: https://g.page/r/Ca6uxpeboVCSEBM/review. Just like our clients and their dogs, she also thrives on receiving positive reinforcement! 😊

09/09/2023

31/08/2023

Our early Fall 2023 group class schedule is now available! This upcoming term starts September 10th.

Our Puppy Start Right Preschool and Mind Your Manners classes are great for puppies and dogs with no or little training foundation.

Our Manners & More and Loose Leash Walking classes are perfect for those dogs that need some fine tuning of their skills.

Class sizes are small and are led by a multi-certified professional trainer. Limited spaces available at our training facility located in downtown Langley City, BC.

Register now on our website at www.harmonyanimaltraining.ca!

Professional Dog Training Harmony Animal Training & Behaviour offers professional dog training services in Langley, Aldergrove, Maple Ridge, Pitt...

15/08/2023

Do not give hydrogen peroxide to cats!
The internet can be full of misinformation, and whether or not hydrogen peroxide can be given to cats is unfortunately, a topic that can lead to deadly consequences. There is no safe or effective way to make our feline friends vomit at home, that includes using hydrogen peroxide. In fact, using something like hydrogen peroxide can cause significant injury to a cat’s gastrointestinal system, potentially causing more damage than the original issue. Cats are extremely sensitive to the gastric irritant effects of hydrogen peroxide and giving any amount by mouth can have severe negative effects that can lead to death. If your pet ingested something you are concerned may be toxic, call your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline right away before attempting to perform any treatments at home.

02/08/2023

Trainer Brigette is taking some time away in August. She'll be returning to the office on Monday, August 14th and will have limited training spaces available for the remainder of the month.

For the time that she's away from the office, she will not be replying to emails or client inquiries. Please look forward to her reply after August 14th.

Have a wonderful final month of summer, everyone!

01/07/2023

It's been our experience that the general dog-owning public has a huge misunderstanding of what effective puppy socialization looks like. Here's some information on what makes for good early socialization (between the ages of 8 and approximately 12 to 14 weeks old). 🐶

In a standard 60-minute Puppy Start Right Preschool group class, your puppy will interact with other puppies for a maximum of 8 minutes – that’s only 13% of class time. The other 87% of class time is spent socializing to various sounds, smells, objects, substrates, and body handling, as well as learning how to ignore other dogs/humans. That other 87% is the critical part of effective puppy socialization! ✅

It’s also why we hold both our Puppy Start Right Preschool group class and all Puppy Socials even if there is only one puppy registered. Because the majority of puppy socialization happens one-on-one with just your puppy and you in various environments! 😊 This socialization can happen anywhere that’s safe from the threat of disease – sidewalks, parking lots (away from cars), public parks & greenspaces that aren’t overrun with other dogs (no dog parks!), dog-friendly stores, etc.

All exposure and experiences should be positive ones for your puppy! Read your puppy's body language to ensure that they're feeling safe and unafraid - use treats liberally to help with that.🥩🧀🌭