Christine's Canine Consulting

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Waubaushene, ON
Christine's Canine Consulting

Fostering a human-dog relationship through communication, trust and understanding.

10/28/2025

This is why we can't have nice things 😂 The level of unbothered Hank is... 💀😂

10/26/2025

🦔 Raised hackles — or piloerection — happen when a dog’s autonomic nervous system is activated.
Tiny muscles at the base of each hair contract, making the fur stand up along the spine.�

It's supposed to look intimidating — making the dog look bigger, but it doesn't mean they're going to act aggressively.

🧠 To really understand what’s going on we have to look at the whole picture — all of a dog’s body language and the context it's happening in.

Hank, Lucy and Ella are not about to attack a pile of garbage 🤪
They're on high alert, slowly creeping towards it, because they don't know WTF it is or why it's suddenly shown up in a place we walk every day.
To add to the weirdness, there's been a lot of fox and coyote activity here recently and they've probably left their scent all over the area too.

Context is everything when it comes to behaviour.

10/21/2025

Ella always chooses violence 😂 Needless to say, breakfast was promptly served 🍳

10/21/2025

We often see and describe dog behaviour in such simple terms. Happy or sad. Excited or scared. But they experience much more complex emotions just like we do.

Yesterday, we stopped by my parents’ place before Ella’s ophthalmology appointment. She was excited to see my Dad, but was also a bit anxious or nervous.

Those conflicting emotions often show up as displacement behaviour — when a dog does something “normal” in a context that doesn’t quite fit. For Ella, it was sniffing.

As my Dad turned around, holding a piece of wood, her ears dropped, her body lowered, and she veered off to sniff a plant.
A second or two later, she paused, looked to the left — a calming signal to de-escalate and say, “I’m not a threat."
As he crouches down, she rushes in. She stays briefly before moving away and sniffing again.

When my Mom appeared, it was a completely different story — full run, straight in for scratches. She even sneezed at the end, a little stress-release sign as she came down from the excitement.

The difference between how she greets them is:

Environment: My Dad was far away so she probably wasn't sure it was him.
The wheel barrow, wood and wire he was working with were unfamiliar to her.

Past Learning: She's used to seeing him out front, or inside when we get there. My Mom coming out of the house was more familiar to her.

Information Gathering: By the time my Mom got home she had sniffed, pooped and checked out the pigeons and his shop. She was more comfortable in the environment when she saw her.

Relationship: In general, Ella is more comfortable around my Mom than my Dad. And women in general which is pretty typical for most dogs.

I'm forever fascinated with the subtle ways dogs express how they're feeling ❤️

10/03/2025

Because confidence changes how your dog navigates the world 🌎

✨ Confident dogs are more resilient. They bounce back faster when startled, adapt more easily to new places and people, and face challenges with curiosity instead of fear.

🧠 In training, confidence means they’re willing to try—even when they’re unsure. Each little success sparks feel-good chemistry and strengthens the pathways in the brain that connect effort with reward. Over time, that cycle builds resilience and helps learning stick.

❤️ And beyond skills, confidence is about your relationship. Every moment you encourage, support, and celebrate your dog’s efforts turns something small—like hopping across rocks—into a big step toward trust and teamwork.

10/01/2025

Recall training is a big deal but it doesn’t have to be complicated.

Playing the name game on walks builds an automatic “what’s up?” response when they hear you call their name.

This simple habit is the foundation of rock-solid recall.

Practicing in easy, everyday moments like this means getting in a bunch of mini reps that add up to reliability later on.

✨ Start simple.
✨ Keep it fun.
✨ Reinforce every response.

09/26/2025

We all want our dogs to be as healthy and comfortable as possible as they get older.

Research has shown that 80% of dogs over eight show signs of osteoarthritis—a chronic and progressive disease that leads to joint cartilage loss, inflammation, stiffness, and pain.

But by making simple, thoughtful changes in their environment and care make a huge difference to their comfort and mobility.

🪜Limiting Stairs
Dogs love to follow us everywhere but over time, repetitive strain contributes to arthritis and pain. Baby gates, ramps and pet steps really help with that.

🛏️ A Variety of Dog Beds
Older joints need extra support. Memory foam or orthopedic padding help reduce pressure points and ease discomfort from arthritis or hip dysplasia. Multiple beds in different spots lets dogs choose where to rest—because choice matters for well-being too.

🐾 Rugs & Runners
Slippery floors are a hazard at any age and can cause sprains, torn ligaments, and lasting mobility issues. Strategically placed rugs and runners give traction, confidence, and help prevent injuries.

💅 Nail Trims & Paw Care
Overgrown nails change posture and gait, straining joints, worsening arthritis, and even affecting the spine. Keeping nails trimmed, fur between pads neat, and paw pads moisturized helps with mobility.

🐕 Meeting Needs
Senior dogs need exercise and stimulation just adjusted to their unique needs. That along with varied enrichment and a balanced diet all help reduce stiffness, support overall health, mobility and cognitive function.

Supporting our dogs as they age means giving them comfort, safety, and dignity in their golden years. By making adjustments—like better traction, supportive beds, or limiting stairs—we can protect their comfort, mobility, and quality of life.
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09/22/2025

Follow me for more decorating tips 🫙😂

09/19/2025

Busted 😂😂😂
Mum had a couch delivered during our training session today so Hope and I headed outside to get out of their way.

She's fine with people coming into the house. A little suspicious is all. Which is perfectly normal.
But a game of tug is a great way to distract her and channel any bad vibes into an activity she loves 🖤

09/09/2025

I just had the best—and nerdiest—conversation with my husband about chicken behaviour 🐓
How does this relate to dog training, you may ask? Buckle up!

🐔 Long story short: he trained our chickens to go into the coop without words, hand signals, sounds, or anything that would scare or stress them out.

Tonight, I asked him:
“If I had asked you to do the exact same thing—step by step—made it as simple as possible, and for just five minutes a day… would you have done it?”

He said no. For three reasons:

▪ It’s a lot work.

▪ What if it didn’t work?

▪ I’d want to figure it out myself.

And honestly, most people would probably say the same thing.

But those three reasons?
They’re fuelled by discomfort, fear of failure, and… ego.

💡 You know what it really takes to build a great relationship with your dog—and for them to make the choices you want them to make?
A willingness to be uncomfortable.
An openness to being wrong.

You have to trust that failure becomes less likely when you have the tools and the support you need to make it happen.

And you have to remember: it’s not about you!
Training is about how your dog communicates, how they learn, and how they experience the world. That will motivate you to put in the work.

Change is not easy or comfortable. It brings up a lot of not so great feelings. But trust me when I say it's worth it.

08/29/2025

Collectively known as "The Bumbles."
Hank, Hanky, Big Boi, Chubbo, Big Man, Mr. Baby, Hankenstein
Ella had her own post.
Hazel, The Fuzz, Fuzz-a-leen, Fuzzo, Baby Fuzz
Lucy, Lulu, BooBoo, Lucille, Baby Lu
Not pictured is Penelope, P, Pe**ee, Pe**eeWeePee, kitten, kitten face.
I'm sure I missed a few. I am mad 😂🤪

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Waubaushene, ON
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http://www.christinescanineconsulting.com/

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