Auseez Dog Training LLC

01/01/2026

Easy to make treats good for skin, coat and immune health:

Apple
Goat's milk
Sardines

- blend and pour in molds
- can use as a treat or a food topper

Here's a link to an article about the benefits of apples for dogs:

https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/are-apples-good-for-dogs/

12/30/2025

ADVOCATE AT THE VET:

I want to share about a recent interaction at the vet with a standoffish puppy. This puppy is generally standoffish with people he doesn't know and is unsure in new situations.

The techs and vet both tried to lure him close with food while talking in high pitched voices. The tech cut in front of the owner when they put him on the exam table and tried to block the owner from holding him. Then they held him down to give a shot and he peed on the table. The owner did say that she felt that they were holding him down. The owner was afraid to speak up any further for fear of sounding like a know-it-all. When the puppy was set down on the floor he wanted nothing to do with anyone, including the owner! But when ignored, he came right over to see what was going on.

DO NOT let people try to coax your dog with food- even if it's at the vet. This does nothing to change how the dog feels about the situation and does not change the dog's emotional response to the situation. Often food will override how the dog feels for a brief moment while they take the food. This is often when people try to pet them on the top of the head (which just makes it worse). You will often see a dog stretch waaay out to get the food - a clear sign they want the food and not interaction.

A better way to approach this is to have people/vet staff ignore the puppy and let him explore the area. Puppies/dogs will often come over to investigate if they don't feel like they are being pressured to greet. It was ironic that after this exam they explained about "happy visits" where the puppy can just come in and get treats and have good experiences. How about making the actual exam a good experience? And I'm all for "happy visits," too.

Unfortunately what this puppy learned is that that the vet is not a safe place and his owner was unable to protect him. That fearful peeing on the table can easily turn into a bite later on if not addressed correctly.

Don't be afraid to speak up about what your dog needs at the vet - even if it feels uncomfortable. Your dog will thank you.

12/16/2025

PEOPLE FOOD

Many people do not feed their dogs "people food."

Whole, fresh food is good for our dogs and can make a great addition to their meals. I use lots of people food for training as it is more novel to the dog and often has fewer ingredients and preservatives.

Great foods to add to your dogs' meal (use in moderation and know what your dog tolerates):

-bone broth
-goat's milk
-fruit/veggies
-yogurt
-cottage cheese
-sardines
-kefir
-meat
-applesauce (unsweetened)

There are lots of enrichment groups that have great ideas for using these foods in food enrichment toys. Here is a link to one of these groups:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1747279312231501/

Try something new for your dog today!

12/15/2025

These are great and fun to make! I use them as a food topper.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DM1KUsUydBp/?igsh=NXR5bXBwaXQydG9v

12/11/2025

FREE DOG TRAINING SESSION

Did you adopt a dog from Safehaven Humane Society in November/December? Do you need a little help getting started with training?

Offering one, free, training session for newly adopted dogs. We can address your training needs and get you started off on the right paw with your new friend.

Please visit my website for more details:
https://www.auseezdogtraining.com

**Please contact me before signing up**

Happy Howlidays!

11/30/2025

DILUTING CUES/COMMANDS

It's important to be conscious of when we give cues/commands. For example, if we are leaving the house and tell our dogs to "stay" this is diluting the understanding of this skill. Dogs are not "staying" when we leave them. Rather "stay" means to stay in a position or area until released.

Another example is saying "stay" and then forgetting the dog - so dog just walks out of the "stay."

Be intentional about setting up training exercises- when they begin and when they end. This is how you build strong, understandable skills. This matters to our dogs! :-)

When leaving, consider saying, "see you later," to your dog. For my dogs this just means that I'll be back.

11/28/2025

Don't give up on dogs with reactive behaviors. They can be helped in a kind manner with positive reinforcement training (counter conditioning and desensitization). Science based training ftw!

Love this video:

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1AGb86CRy7/

Send a message to learn more