Kinder Canine Coaching & Behaviour Consultant

09/07/2024

We have 73 calendar submissions so far. What a great start to the contest. Only 27 to 100 and our goal this year for our judges is 240 submissions!!! We can do it!!

So keep those submissions coming.

We have 63 dogs, 9 cats and 1 horse!! Would love to see some other species in the submissions too.

All species welcome ... Just no humans in the photos.

Please enter your submission in the pinned post, on the original Calendar Contest post. Your submission will only count there.

Thank you to everyone who has entered already.

23 days to go!!

Start thinking about your Reserve A Day's!! You can submit your dates anytime now. Be the first to get your perfect date to celebrate your precious pet.

09/02/2024

Only Day 2 and we have 40 submissions already.
Incredible!!
Thank you all for starting off this year's contest with so much energy.

New this year, the first 20 submissions battled it out for their chance to win first dibs on a calendar feature month.

We had 20 submissions sent in by 12pm today.

The remaining submissions will continue the contest as normal.

Cory created a scent search (Wintergreen) and Mya helped pick our first featured winner!!

Note: The video doesn’t show it but we were waiting in the house in the living room while Cory built the course. We came from the other side of the shed so you could see us better. There was no peaking … we paw’mise.

(I am incredibly proud of Mya as she has no formal search skills - we just mess around for fun with no real rules after I get home from classes - and I wasn’t sure how she would do in the yard with kids calling & heckling her on top of all that, a typical windy day. Outside is a scary place for her on a good day so I thought for sure she would just walk off the course and say forget this lady🤣).

The winner is …

Congrats!!!
(Winner is in the comments)

09/01/2024

🐾 CALENDAR CONTEST IS OFFICIALLY OPEN!!!! 🐾

*** 2025 Kinder Canine Coaching Calendar Contest!!! ***

Want your precious pet to be featured in our 4th annual calendar contest?? YES, YES YOU DO!!!

Please read the following all the way through so you don't miss anything before submitting a photo.

Rules:
* 1 photo limit PER animal, ALL (non human) animal species welcome, but please no humans in the photos

* Submit your pictures in the comments below, WITH their NAME and AGE!

* Contest runs September 1st - 30th

NEW: This year the first 20 submissions posted on this thread will battle it out with Mya who will randomly pick one winner to start off our 2025 calendar contest.
The winner will get FIRST pick of their featured month.

* 11 remaining animals will be chosen by a panel of 4 amazing judges on October 1st.
October 3rd owners will be contacted and the winners will be publicly announced

* Each winner will be specially featured in a calendar month

* The top 12 dogs will get a special write up about them, along with your submitted photo and a free calendar shipped to them

* Purchase pricing and order details will be provided near the end of the month, however if you would like to be put on the preorder waitlist, message me your email.
Ordering will begin in October so calendars will arrive in time for the holidays.

* A portion of the proceeds will go to help support the Oromocto & Area SPCA in NB and Rescue Siamese in MB. (The remaining money goes to ordering and shipping costs - often the calendars cost more than the purchasing costs)

* RESERVE A DAY purchases: Have your precious animal pictured on their special day for only $5. Dates will be offered only as a first come first serve system to the specific date, with the option to choose another special date if it has already been purchased.
These RAD requests can be sent in at any time during the contest and until I submit the calendars for creation.

Timeline:
September: Calendar Contest/ 12 animals selected by random judges
October: Calendars ordered / sorted
November/December: Calendars mailed out

Calendars should (so long as there are no issues with the ordering company) arrive no later than the first week of December giving you plenty of time for the holidays

* Judges cannot participate

* Ensure photo submitted is of good quality for printing as it will be the photo used in the calendar

* Contest Details & Rules are subject to change at any time

* Only photos submitted to this comment section are sent to the judges to vote on

** Facebook has no connection with this contest

*** There is no cash value offered in exchange to the winners

Important!!!!
If you share (highly recommended), please ensure they add their photo on THIS ORIGINAL post and not your post.
The photos on this original post will be the only ones submitted to the judges at the end of the month.

I am soooo excited to see some amazing submissions...

Last year we had 228 submissions, and I would LOVE to aim for 240 so the judges have a super hard time choosing JUST 11 winners. (Mya is choosing the very first one)

Some Calendar contest stats:
2022 - 70 calendars sold (20 given away for free) @ $28
2023 - 29 calendars sold (16 given away for free) @ $30
2024 - 35 calendars sold (17 given away for free) @ $30 (calendar price was $60 😭so I paid the donation out of pocket as it wasn't fair inflation took all of our sale money)
2025 Goal is 100 calendars (Once I have an answer from the calendar company, I will have a price for this year)

So far we have donated over $4000 to charity the past three years. This year I would love to donate $1000 to each charity as they both so desperately need it. I need your help to do that, and in return you get the most authentic calendar ever.

THANK you to everyone who has participated and donated in the past and making this contest something I look forward to every year. It is a LOT of work, but I love the outcome so much (sweat, tears, spelling errors and all).

THANK YOU to everyone who supports my mission, my work and my love for ALL animals every single day.
One day our animals will have a voice, and until then we will continue to work for them to ensure they live the best lives they so deserve.

🐾 Mya & Jamie

Start submitting your precious photos .... NOW!!!

A photo from 2015 taken by Amanda Coggins ❤






This year we are supporting two amazing rescue organizations:
Oromocto and Area SPCA
Rescue Siamese

08/27/2024

Someone is going to be so lucky 🍀 to have this sweet boy … I hope it’s very soon!

08/27/2024

❤️🐻❤️

08/24/2024

Today’s memories are a good one!

Look at me as an itty bitty puppy, Tre picked me out to join his family back in 2012 from one of the best shelters in Canada (possibly the world).

Soon after my adoption, Tre had a serious baseball brain injury at only 15 yrs of age.

Three years later … after a LOT of bed rest as we awaited surgery, it was finally the day.
We had such a bond … mostly bonded by napping and snacking, cause that was all Tre could do at the time 🤣

Once Tre’s surgery was over and he was able to walk, I travelled to go see my snack buddy as he had a long stay in the hospital to recover.

I was so excited when he was finally able to come home and we could share many naps and snacks again as he had a long recovery at home too.

Life takes crazy turns at the most unexpected times. Take them in stride and do your best to overcome the challenges.

Embrace the days, even the crazy unpredictable scary ones!!

🐾🐾 Mya

08/23/2024

The Sunday August 25th Sniff It Fun Match has 5 remaining search slots left.

$50/ search
3 searches max per dog

10:45 am
11:45 am
12:00 pm
12:15 pm
12:30 pm

You can sign up here
https://pawpartner.com/kinder-canine-coaching/active_id=1204708

Come to have fun or compete towards a title!! Perfect for those who are registered for the upcoming SDDA Trail!!

Mya is practicing her indication work here, but she LOVES when I come home and let her search for the hides from that class.

08/18/2024

Saturday Snuggles 😍😍

Snacks and movie time with my pawrents after a wonderful senior walk around the block.

I’ve been snuggling more and more lately; I know Ma LOVES it so much. (It’s honestly just so I can get in on more snack time)

Hope you’re having a fabulous weekend too.

🐾 Mya

08/17/2024

🐾🐾 August 2024 Calendar Highlighter 🐾🐾

I would LOVE everyone to meet Jolene 🥰

Here is her little bio from her family ...

"Jolene is a 2.5 year old Papillon. She is a St John Ambulance certified therapy dog that enjoys visiting her friends at the senior’s home.
Jolene is a high energy dog who will always enthusiastically play with her pet friends, big and small, and her humans.
She is a small girl with a big personality and an overactive licker!

When Jolene is not speeding around the backyard, winding between her retriever sisters’ legs, she is playing with her many toys indoors.
When it’s time to wind down, Jolene enjoys cuddling up with her mother and watching hockey games."

Congrats Jolene for being the August Calendar Highlighter!!

We hope your summer is going amazing, as you deserve all the love for everything you do for your community. 🎉

Hockey season starts soon, so enjoy those extra snuggles!!

We love you Jolene & Family! 🐾🐾

(The editor - insert husband 🤣who won't be hired to edit the calendars this year!! - missed a spelling error before production. The last word should be 'together'.)
Perhaps the auto brain delivered the right sentence to you ;)

08/17/2024

The Sniff It Fun Match is only one week away, and we are SOOOO excited!!!

Sniff It Fun Match August 25th, 2024 (Sunday)

There are a few morning spots available (11am - 12:30pm) if you are interested in testing (for fun or for competition) your team's sniffing abilities!!

3 passes (3 searches) earns you a certificate and a ribbon.
3 certificates earns you a WIG Title.

Message me if interested.

$50/ 10 min search
Choose between a Novice, Skilled or Proficient Level
Choose between a small, medium or large room
Choose between searching for food, toys, or scent (SDDA grade)
Only 3 search runs per dog allowed

Teams have been practicing super hard in class, as some are also registered for the upcoming SDDA Scent Trial. The Fun Match will be a great chance for them to practice searching in new environments before the trial.

Even if your dog has no scenting experience, you can still come out and have some fun watching your dog explore a new environment and get rewarded for finding hidden food, and using their nose to find something for you.

There is no greater way to bond with your dog than by allowing your dog to do what they were born to do, in a safe and fun environment.

Hope to see you next weekend!! 🐾🐾

08/16/2024

We are meeting up at Kildonan tomorrow morning at 9am to practice our leash handling skills and have some fun bonding time together.

$25/dog ($15 WIG Members)

Message if you would like to join in on the fun and learning!

08/11/2024

Today we turn 11 years old!!!

We became orphans at only a 4-5 weeks old left behind in an empty apartment building and we have been with Mom and Dad ever since (known as foster failures).

We are pretty healthy for the most part. I was born with Hydrocephalus and just recently diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism, and Boots has a leaky eye plus she will have a second dental soon.
As we age, of course we are encountering the typical senior issues. Most things are under control and managing very well.

My fav activities are playing in tunnels, boxes and chasing Mya's long lead around before and after her walks.
Boots loves to use my litter box and eat all of the wet food, and sleeping with Mom at night time.

We spend most of our days in our loungers, finding sun rays, stealing May's bed and begging for snacks.

We enjoy eating grass at the back steps, supervised as we have lots of birds that would pick us up near our yard. We don't venture too far as we prefer being indoor cats, but we love the sun just like Mom does.

I miss snuggling with Molly so much, and definitely had a mourning period for a long time, but I am feeling better now that Mom realized what was happening. I am found sleeping in Molly's bed a lot, so Mom is going to keep it for me.

Today we played in our new tunnels, got lots of treats, and our favourite activity of all ... being brushed!

Happy Sunday!

Remember, those annual exams are super important for cats too, specially as we age. We like to hide our pain and discomfort even more than dogs.

Cheers ... to more years bossing our humans around!!

🐾Hope, and my sister Boots

08/10/2024

🐾🐾 July 2024 Calendar Highlighter 🐾🐾

It's taken me a whole month to work up the courage to write this. Her 'would have been' 10th birthday came and went on July 8th, and it was my first birthday celebration without her. It was a very hard day. A day however, that I got to reflect, relive so much love and joy ... but a hard day.

Last Tuesday, August 6th I came to the classroom and found a dime on the floor. It was in the exact location where I typically put my bag down ... and not long ago, where Molly would hang out when I prepped the room for the class. A gift from Molly, and as usual - she always had the perfect timing.

So finally, here is our Calendar Highlighter for July 2024!!!

Meet the best working girl I have ever had the privilege to work with, bond with, and love for 9 wholesome years …

Molly belongs to the ‘one of a kind’ dog’s perfect breed group, but she was a mixed breed and a very sick one at that. She fought all of the odds and lived 9 years longer than anyone could have imagined.

She LOVED life so much, she LOVED her people to her core, and she LOVED her job like no other.
There has never been and will never be another dog like her.

As a young litter mate, she was the bully but in a ‘kind’ way. She knew she had to eat all the food in order to survive, as they were starved for four whole weeks and left to die. She was the largest of the litter, and pushed everyone around to get what she needed. Eventually they all kept growing and she became the smallest of them all for the rest of her years.

She was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis and secondary Megaesophagus at 1 years old. She nearly died but we had an incredible team working on her around the clock until they figured it out and they saved her life.

Her favourite thing on earth was going to work. She loved assessments so much, even when she wasn’t feeling the greatest. It probably aged her faster, but she was the dog who taught us all to live all in and happy vs safe and sad.

She learned what her body could and couldn’t do quickly, and that if she self regulated her muscle weakness and rested, she could do more in a day. She was a queen at ‘fast cat naps’ and making her body think she rested but she still played the entire time. Her face fights with her buddies were pretty epic to watch.

The best part of Molly was her insanely goofy terrier sense of humour. She played on everyone’s emotions, abilities and my patience … every.single.day.
If she had a middle name beyond brat face, it would have been ‘look what I can do’. If any one remembers her from the classroom or an assessment, you’ll remember all of the silly things she used to show off to you. So many laughs were had when Molly was in the room.

My life has been a little bit of a whirlwind for the past 11 months as I navigate my work day without my best friend. Work is truly not the same without her, but I thoroughly cherish the many, many days I got to spend with her.

So for the month of July (Her birthday was on July 8th) … we celebrate BratFace Molly who saved hundreds of lives in her short 9 years.

Congrats on being July’s 2024 Calendar Highlighter sweet baby girl, and thank you for being the most amazing MG/ME Warrior. I hope you are dancing in the clouds and harassing your brothers.

🐾❤️🌈❤️🐾
Molly 2014-2023 (a loss like no other 😭)

08/10/2024

Next KCC Group Walk ... August 17th @ Kildonan Park 9am!!!

We won't be walking with toilet paper, but we will learn how to NOT rely on your tool in order to communicate and control your dog while out for a walk.

A walking relationship relies on trust, communication and safe boundaries, NOT leash control.
Dog's are like toddlers, and they do not understand that running after things can be dangerous.
So yes, boundaries are life essential for a city dog to learn but it doesn't have to be taught with pain, fear or stress.

Leash skills are my FAVOURITE activity to work on with my dog, because a dog and handler who can master their skill while on a leash is a dog team that can go anywhere together.

It isn't just up to your dog to change their habits to fit your needs, it is also your responsibility too.

Join us if you would like to master your leash handling skills!!

$25/dog ($15 WIG Members)

TP Loose Leash Challenge
https://youtu.be/nlb-CRbTMnA

This demo was way too easy for Molly, plus she was battling her MG (you can see she is a bit stiff, robotic and slow at times) that day, but she was the queen of leash and off leash skills. She made learning look so easy, but trust me when I say she was actually the hardest dog I have ever worked with. I wasn't her motivator, the environment was. She valued people, dogs and life FAR more than me. So every response I got from her all of those 9 years together was built on SO much time, patience, love and trust. I worked super hard on a daily basis to ensure I was more motivating than everything else around her.
I always joked that she never liked me, but we were an incredible team. I treasure with all of my heart every day we got to spend together.

So even if your days with your dog currently are a struggle; take a breathe, ask your dog what they need and listen. Then apply the steps that can help them, rather than fight them at every turn.
Create the team you want and set aside the idea that they have to 'obey'.

Hope to see you next Saturday!!

Can you and your dog work together and not tear up your TP Leash?!?! Mols n I added more difficulty to our challenge, but start off easy and work your way up...

08/09/2024

Happy National Cat Day! Did you make the dogs get your snacks for you today?

Can you believe that we both turn 11 in 3 more days!!!!

🐾 Hope (featured in the video with her bestie Molly) & Boots

08/04/2024

An oldie but a goodie!

Ma taught all of us to lift our paws on walks for ease of leash handling.

Less is more she always says!!
Meaning work smart not harder.
This skill allows me to get untangled even when in movement.

Perfect for dogs no matter their emotional state, but even better for dogs who are fearful of lots of hand movements.

Ma’s next KCC group walk is scheduled for August 17th, 9am at Kildonan Park - where she teaches you some really cool skills to make your walks enjoyable.

$25/dog
$15 Current WIG Members

Let’s get those tails waggin’ Winnipeg!!

🐾 Mya

08/03/2024

Demanding Ma to send out the upcoming events messages right away, so keep an eye out!!! (And check your junk mail too just incase it’s been awhile)

So many great courses to dive into with Ma, that will have your pup’s tails waggin’.

Any questions let me know and I can pass them off to Ma!!

Thanks for all of your support; near and far.

🐾 Mya

07/21/2024

🐾🐾 KCC Upcoming Specialty Events 🐾🐾

Thank you so much for your continued support, and for so many of you … it’s been a LOT of years together!!

It truly means so much to me.

To register, visit the website where you can choose your favourite event on the Paw Partner Booking System.
You can also send me a message and I can register you. (Current Wag It Members, ensure you select the event for your discounted pricing)

Lots of amazing events to choose from, and there will more added to the calendar in the coming months … so stay tuned. (Such as the Pet Tech CPR & First Aid Certificate Course, drop in classes and more)

I am also SOO excited to announce Winnipeg’s first ever Wag It Games Seminar & Trial soon. More details to come!!

Happy Saturday,

🐾 Jamie

07/15/2024

It was only four days, but I am SOOOO glad to have Ma back home!!!!

Dad was pretty fun, but I’m a Ma’s girl 💯

Hope you had a great weekend too!

🐾 Mya

07/12/2024

They are alive and well those pesky ticks!!

07/12/2024

Winnipeg …

Dani is ready to find her furever home!!

She is about 8 months. You can email any questions to the adoptions team at [email protected]

Dani is still waiting for her forever home while spending time with her amazing foster mom ❤️

07/11/2024

I will be away this weekend, and will respond to all emails, messages and such on Monday, July 15th when I return home.

Have a wonderful weekend with your furry best friends!

I can’t wait to hear all about your weekend shenanigans when I get back.

💕 Jamie

07/06/2024

July Book of the Month …

Hope you join the book club and follow along with us as we dive in and discuss all things relationships with our dogs.

We get started Monday July 8th.
You don’t have to have the book to participate, although highly recommended. You will still have access to all materials needed.

The book will be covered in two months to give us time to discuss many topics.

Donation of $10 can be sent to [email protected] to participate.

If new, please email so I know who you are in order to send you the link to join.

07/06/2024

Join us tomorrow on zoom to discuss why Door Manners are really important … and NOT because we are their masters!!

Door Manners teach calmness, confidence and social etiquette vs bully, intimidating and other dangerous behaviours (hit by car running in the street, jumping out of a car and attacking a dog).

Door etiquette is the foundation to all good things!

Mya demonstrates going through a gate at a SniffSpot adventure while a neighbouring dog was lunging, and barking at her at the adjacent fence. Her calmness helped calm the other dog, and prevented her from joining in on his chaos.

Door etiquette is life saving, and does not need to be taught with any aversive.

Tomorrow we are discussing the book Feeling Outnumbered by Patricia B. McConnell at 10am Central and this will be the highlight of the conversation among other important discussion topics from the book.
It is $10 to join if you are not a Wag It Games Member or Book Club Member and all proceeds will be shared between the Oromocto SPCA in NB and Rescue Siamese in MB.

The call is approximately 60-90 minutes.
You can register on the website or send me a message.
Donation can be sent to [email protected]

07/06/2024

We had such a great time last year celebrating hard work!!
❤️❤️🐾🐾❤️❤️

07/02/2024

A little throw back to some previous CD Celebrations!

Trio with our handsome Jack in 2018
Duo again (after 7 years as a trio with Yoda) in 2019.
This year, my first year as a solo household dog. The first time in my entire life.

It’s been a journey the past several months, but I am really rocking the solo life!

🐾 Mya

07/02/2024

May & June KCC Group Walk Highlights ...

We visited several local parks and we had so much FUN playing and learning in new environments.

KCC Group walks focus on practicing Canine Good Neighbour skills in our community.
I LOVE watching the dogs grow with every walk, and their relationships building with their humans.

Going for a walk with your dog is one of the most fun things you can do with them, but it can also be incredibly frustrating when it doesn't go to plan.

Tips on having the best time when on a walk together:

🐾 Practice your foundation skills until they become muscle memory

🐾 Ensure you work in an environment that your dog can remain under threshold

🐾 PLAY and focus on your dog!!

🐾 Use a harness and a long line

🐾 Practice both on leash and off leash (when safe to do so )

🐾 Practice with your neighbourhood friends in curved or lateral patterns

🐾 Practice LOTS of rest games where you just watch the world go by.

🐾 Distance is your best friend when your dog is struggling

The biggest complaint with leash skills that pet parents talk about is the dog who is distracted by everything around them.
But have we stopped (no pun intended) to teach them HOW to just watch and be calm?? Most of us have not, or have not spend enough time practicing.

So take a book to the park or on the front steps and let your dog just chill watching the world go around.
If this will be too difficult, start in your house looking out the window together.

Thanks to all the teams for coming out to have fun with me!

Happy practicing 🐾🐾

07/02/2024

June highlights from the classroom!!

The Wag It Games classroom is a place where we play AND learn, and in that order. A motivated dog, is a focused one!

Games we play focus on foundation skills, canine good neighbour skills, obedience skills, simple every day skills, and some skills just for 'tricks'.

Dog's, like children learn better through play, quick movements and choice.

A few examples of what the teams practice:
Sit, Down, Stand
Wait
Stay
Distractions
Passing another dog
Leash manners
Focus
Verbal/Hand cues
Confidence
Target
Balance
and sooo much more ...

Thanks for coming out to play to all the amazing teams!
We had such an awesome month in the classroom 😍🐾