Malleable Mutts Dog Training

18/12/2024

Here are a few tips to make sure every family member has a safe and joyous holiday:

🎄Christmas trees (real or fake) present potential hazards. Their needles are sharp and harmful if ingested, the lights have electric cords that can cause electrocution, ornaments are easily broken or may be covered in toxic paint. Tinsel can quickly cause a GI tract obstruction. Edible decorations (popcorn strings/dried fruit) are tempting & may cause Fido to knock down the tree to reach them.

Keep a close eye on Fido and use tools like placement, back tying, crating, ex-pens, baby gates, and other tools if you aren’t able to supervise them around the tree.

🕯 Candles are apart of many holiday traditions. While magical, their flame can pose a threat to Fido. Avoid putting them in areas such as coffee tables, window sills, side tables, or other easy to reach areas. Those happy wagging tails need to stay far from any open flame. Use natural candles made from beeswax with vegetable-based dyes and unbleached cotton wicks so you aren’t accidentally emitting harmful toxins in your home.

🔥 Fireplaces will be keeping many of us cozy this winter season. Dogs are instinctual about fire and keep their distance. If you’re dressing up Fido near the fireplace for that perfect photo always have a fire screen in place. A stray piece of fabric can quickly catch fire. Hopefully you have been acclimatizing your pup to their new “clothing” so they’re stress-free during the photo-op.

🌱 Festive Plants, such as the Poinsettia, Holly, & Mistletoe are all poisonous to our pets and cause a range of harmful health problems. ANY plant you bring home should be pesticide free to keep you and your pets safe.

🕰 This is a busy time of year, be sure to set aside time for Fido, tire him out before visitors arrive, keep a close eye on him, give him rest in a quiet part of the house, and do your best to keep up with your training regime.

Send along photos/videos/stories of your holiday plans with Fido and family!

17/12/2024

With the holidays fast approaching, I wanted to remind everyone that supporting a small business doesn’t have to cost a thing!
Here are some simple ways you can make a big difference:
1. Like their posts to boost their visibility.
2. Comment to show your support and start a conversation.
3. Share their content with your friends—it’s the gift of free exposure!
4. Save the posts you love to help their content reach more people.

Your support, big or small, helps turn dreams into reality! Thank you for making a difference this season. ❤️💚

17/12/2024

17/12/2024

Meet Fern! 👋

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of working with Fern and her amazing mom during our consultation. She is deeply committed to Ferns growth, putting in the hard work to ensure her training and exposure is on point from day one. I couldn’t be prouder of their dedication and am so grateful for the chance to be part of their journey! 💚🐶🌿

Let’s give a warm welcome to this sweet lil nugget as the newest member of the ! 😍

11/12/2024

We are CLOSED Dec 24th to Jan 1st for a holiday break and will respond to inquiries on the 2nd. ❤🎄💚

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season!

Love,
The Malleable Mutts Team

09/12/2024

With the holiday season right around the corner I thought I would share a post about burn out.

If you are feeling burnt out, you’re not alone 🐾

Burnout is real, and it can creep up on anyone, even in the most rewarding careers or hobbies. Whether you’re a dog trainer, a business owner, or just juggling life, the constant push to be “on” can take its toll.

Here’s the thing: you can’t pour from an empty cup. Taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of your responsibilities. As someone who works with dogs and their people, I’ve learned a few lessons about dealing with burnout:

✨Take a Break: It’s okay to step back. Rest is productive.
✨Reconnect with Your Passion: Remember why you started and focus on the joy it brings.
✨Ask for Help: Whether it’s delegating tasks or talking to a friend, support makes a difference.
✨Prioritize Self-Care: A walk with Yama in nature or a quiet moment to reflect can reset everything.
✨Set Boundaries: Know when to say “no” and protect your energy.

Burnout doesn’t mean failure—it’s a sign that it’s time to regroup and refocus. What do you do when you’re feeling burnt out? Let me know in the comments!

Let’s keep growing, learning, and thriving together. 🐶💜

01/12/2024

Due to the cold weather, tomorrow’s client pack walk is cancelled. Stay safe and warm everyone!

29/11/2024

🎄🐾 What’s YOUR Dog’s Elf Name? 🐾🎄

The holiday magic is here, and we’re having some fun with our pups! 🐶✨ Ever wondered what your dog’s Elf name would be? I’ve got a fun chart that helps you find out based on your dog’s first name letter and birth month!

How it works:
1️⃣ Find your dog’s first name letter.
2️⃣ Match it to their birth month.
3️⃣ Voilà! You’ve got your dog’s Elf name! 🎅✨

Drop your dog’s Elf name in the comments below—let’s see who has the most magical pup this holiday season! 🎁🐕❤️

25/11/2024

Meet Leeno! 👋

This handsome pup has started his training journey with us, focusing on e-collar foundations and recall. Leeno is smart, full of energy, and eager to learn, so we’re building a strong foundation with play to help him thrive.

E-collar training allows us to fine-tune communication, ensuring his recall becomes rock-solid no matter the distractions. It’s all about clarity, consistency, and keeping training fun and positive! We are using the one and only, Mini Educator at a level 3 out of 100 from which is our go to device for electronic collars!

In the past few weeks, Team Leeno have been learning so much! I am so proud of this hard working, driven team! 🤩 I look forward to helping them continue growing, learning and thriving!

Join me in welcoming this amazing team to the 💜

24/11/2024

🤍🤍🖤🧡🧡

23/11/2024

One of my fav training treats is on sale for black Friday! Normally $17/bag and they are on for $10!!! https://amzn.to/4ih6gQv

Our Freeze Dried Beef Liver Mini Trainers are made from 100% Canadian Beef Liver. We start with federally inspected beef liver, cut it into bite-size mini cubes and freeze-dry it for optimum flavor and freshness. Dogs love this treat because of the delicious aroma from the freeze-dried chicken. T...

15/11/2024

Let’s hear the appaws for Henley! 👏

She received her Fido Foundations dog-torate and I am SO proud of this pack! 🎓

Congratulations, good girl! 🎉

05/11/2024

Meet Keeper! 👋

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of working with Keeper and his amazing family during our consultation. They’re deeply committed to his growth, putting in the hard work to ensure his training and exposure is on point from day one. I couldn’t be prouder of their dedication and am so grateful for the chance to be part of their journey! 🧡

Let’s give a warm welcome to this sweet lil nugget as the newest member of the ! 😍

05/11/2024

Now that it is dark at 5pm, I highly recommend this rechargeable light up vest for both you and your dog! Yama has had hers for years and we LOVE her LightHound vest!
They're on sale right now too!

The LightHound LED dog harness allows you and your pup to experience more together with the peace-of-mind knowing that your best friend is safe and highly visible at night and in low visibility conditions

02/11/2024

This industry can be challenging, and having someone put those feelings into words helps capture what dog trainers might feel but struggle to articulate. Thank you for such a powerful, beautifully written post, Hannah. 🖤💜 3 of Hounds💜🖤

To my fellow Dog Trainers,

I wanted to take a moment to make a post to remind you (and myself) that you're not alone in the weight you carry. In our line of work, we put so much energy into finding balance for our clients, but we often overlook the balance we need for ourselves. We’re the support system for dogs and humans who need help—and while that is a privilege, it’s not without its challenges. It can drain us physically and emotionally, and sometimes, it can feel like we’re giving everything we have without saving anything for ourselves.

It’s okay to admit that this job isn’t easy. So many of us face the same struggles: the heartbreak of seeing dogs who have been through trauma, the frustration of wanting to help every client who reaches out, the reality of when BE happens, when rehoming happens, and the challenge of knowing when to say "I can’t" or "I need a break." These feelings don’t mean we aren’t strong or passionate; they mean we’re human.

There will be days when the exhaustion is heavy, and burnout feels closer than we'd like to admit. But during those times, we need to remember why we started this journey in the first place. Remember the moments when you’ve seen even the smallest victories, when a dog who was terrified took their first steps toward trust, or when a client looked at their dog with new understanding. Those moments are why we do what we do, but they’re not the only reason. We’re also here to live lives filled with meaning, with relationships outside of work, and with time for ourselves and our own dogs.

Take breaks. Give yourself permission to step back, even if just for a day or two. I know it can feel like we’re letting someone down when we say “no,” but taking care of ourselves allows us to continue helping others sustainably. And as much as we want to help every dog and every human, we can’t. We can't do it all. We’re human. We give everything we can, but we have to leave something for ourselves, too.

We’re all in this together, and there’s no shame in needing support, in taking time, or even in feeling a little lost. Let’s remember to be as compassionate with ourselves as we are to our clients.