3 of Hounds

15/01/2025

Be responsible. Be respectful. They've always been here.

09/01/2025

09/01/2025

COEXISTING WITH COYOTES

Eastern coyote sightings are not uncommon throughout Ontario and across North America. This resilient species has been a vital part of our ecosystem for over a century. Their fascinating genetic legacy began long before that period. Head back to the Pleistocene era to follow their evolutionary journey.

✅️ LEARN ABOUT COYOTES:

By applying common sense, and preventative techniques, and by being aware of the diversity of wildlife with which we share our communities, we can minimize human and wildlife encounters and conflict.

🐺❤️🐺COURTSHIP and MATING:

Some established coyote mates may be courting one another again, spending a great deal of time together in their homerange. With mating season around the corner, it is always vital to respect wildlife and keep pets under control by using a leash.
Coyotes are protective of their life partners and a loose dog may cause concern and a reaction. Other coyotes juveniles (9 mos. old) or yearlings (> 1 year old) may be navigating throughout the landscape trying to find an area that is vacant to settle in and make their own territory. Coyotes live very complex lives and there is a great deal happening during the winter months besides mating.

🚯 Coyote sightings often increase as a result of humans directly or indirectly providing a food source. People conclude they are seeing multiple coyotes when, in fact, the same coyote is making numerous visits to the same area where it has found a consistent food source.

✅️ ATTRACTANTS & ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES:

Overflowing bird feeders, mishandled compost, and fallen fruit attract a diverse range of prey species such as rodents, squirrels, chipmunks, and insects, which coyotes will utilize as food. Consider that the birds and small mammals that frequent bird feeder stations are potential prey food for other predator species such as owls, hawks, foxes, and domestic pets.

🔎 New infrastructure such as roads, fences, and urbanization impacts how wildlife moves throughout our communities. Urban boundary expansion creates a loss of habitat and green spaces for wildlife. Coyotes and other wildlife species must adjust to their ever-changing world and may be forced to establish new territories to rest, hunt and forage for sustenance; dens are destroyed through development activities and the resilient coyote responds to these environmental impacts.

✅️ DETERRING WILDLIFE KINDLY:

Establishing safe and healthy boundaries between people and wildlife through our actions and consistent messaging when a canid overstays their welcome or makes return visits to a site is an important responsibility that everyone in the community can contribute towards. Aversion conditioning (humane hazing) is an effective, humane method a citizen(s) can use when appropriate.

⚠️ PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING:

Never engage with adults that have pups, near a den or rendezvous site, if a coyote is guarding a food resource, or if an animal appears distressed, injured or sick.

🐕‍🦺 LEASH-UP!

Pet guardianship is a daily mindset and responsibilty. Never encourage your dog to chase, harm or harass wildlife. Consistently applying common sense control over our pets, protects people, other pets and wildlife. The onus is on pet guardians to practice respect, reverence and restraint. Reckless, bad manners are a people-problem, and not on the loose dog, other people or wild animals.

For more information about best practices for Aversion Conditioning and other coexistence strategies you can review about the highly intelligent, keystone coyote, please visit: coyotewatchcanada.com and check out our resource & research pages

See our mythbuster blog about coyotes, mating and misleading social media memes:
https://www.coyotewatchcanada.com/site/blog/2019/02/21/breaking-down-the-coyote-mating-meme

Content copyrighted Coyote Watch Canada

📷 Ann Brokelman, Canid Response Team, Coyote Watch Canada
(photo - zoom lens & cropped)

Please do share. Thank you!

07/01/2025

Coyotes don't lure dogs away to attack. They share similar body language & curiosity, but when coyotes retreat, dogs may not understand and follow, leading to defensive actions! Unlike the photo, leash your dog for their safety! Join Coyote Watch Canada and Toronto Animal Services on Jan 16 (6:30-7:30PM) to learn how to protect pets & wildlife: https://bit.ly/49G4gNw

***
les coyotes n’attirent pas les chiens pour les attaquer? Même s’ils ont une curiosité et un langage corporel semblables, lorsque les coyotes prennent la fuite, les chiens ne comprennent pas toujours leur intention et se mettent à les suivre, ce qui pousse les coyotes à se défendre! Contrairement à la photo, laisse ton chien en laisse pour sa sécurité! Joignez-vous à l’équipe de Coyote Watch Canada et Toronto Animal Services le 16 janvier (de 18 h 30 à 19 h 30) pour apprendre comment protéger les animaux de compagnie et les animaux sauvages : https://bit.ly/4iFQ9fb

25/12/2024

Happy Holidays Nerds 🤘⚡️

12/12/2024

It's okay to leave them out of the festivities.

27/11/2024

Working with a dog trainer is a partnership, and your success hinges on open, honest communication. If you’re struggling with something at home, unsure about a technique, or feeling overwhelmed—it’s okay to say so! Transparency helps us tailor the training to fit you and your dog’s unique needs.

We’re here to support you, but we can’t help if we don’t know the full picture. Let’s work together to set you and your dog up for success! 🐾

19/11/2024

When our dog stole the spotlight on our wedding day. 💕

The most handsome ring bearer. He did so well during our wedding day, rocked it during the ceremony, strutted his stuff down the aisle, and went for the biggest nap of his life afterward. Without all the training we've put in, he couldn't have done that. 30 mins of an insane amount of exposure to 60+ people.

We also had the most adorable signature cocktails with both Raiden (The Stormlord) and Trunks (Street Dog Margarita) for our party day.

How did you include your pet on your wedding day?! Or are you currently planning?!

Drop it in the comments 👇

A big thank you to my Blade of Honor for being Trunks' handler.
📸Special thank you for our photos.
💐Thank you to for creating my bouquet, boutonnieres, and Trunks' collar.

15/11/2024

3 of Hounds Clients! Here's the next Pack Sabbath.

14/11/2024

Your dog's individual needs and behaviors are essential to providing them with the right support and care.

🔑 word: INDIVIDUAL

08/11/2024

Waiting for your dog to 'grow out' of bad behaviors isn't a solution. It's a myth. Unwanted behaviors don't magically disappear with time. They become habits. Training is key to change, not patience alone.

01/11/2024

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.

27/10/2024

Happy Pit Bull Awareness Day for our APBT pals.

I also want to mention that not all 'pit bull' mixes actually have American Pit Bull Terrier in them—they often get mislabeled. It's common for rescues and shelters to label a block headed cutie with the term 'pit bull'.

The American Pit Bull Terrier is a recognized breed with distinct characteristics. Many people mistakenly use "pit bull" to describe a variety of bully breeds, like the American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and others, which have different genetic backgrounds. While these breeds share certain physical traits, they are distinct in their own right.

The term "bully breed" is more accurate when discussing these related but separate breeds collectively. This distinction helps prevent mislabeling and misunderstandings about temperament and behavior.

Trunks, being a bully mix with more AmStaff in him than APBT, still proudly supports his APBT pals!

17/10/2024

Just a collection of photos of the dogs that are currently in training.

I love the variety of breeds I get to work with.

Last post for a little while so I can take a much needed break and recover from burn out. 🤘⚡️💜

12/10/2024

My number one dog 💜⚡️

I want to know fellow dog owners. What was your biggest challenge that you've overcome with your dog? Even if it's not 100%.

We shouldn't be looking for perfection 💕

Ours was Trunks' fear. It took a while, and it's not perfect, but he now enjoys life with me and helps me help other dogs and their humans who struggle. His fear has turned into curiosity.

26/09/2024