Canine Connection Alexandria Va.

05/16/2024

This darling young cavachon is learning how to pay more attention to her people on walks. Her people are learning ways to maintain her engagement in ways that are fun for everyone. Sometimes that means letting her sniff and explore.

05/04/2024

She has beds all over the house, but the toy box is pretty cozy.

04/18/2024

I promise she was only airborne for a few seconds. This is Poppy. She was the smallest in her litter but don’t tell her that. Because small dogs are easy to pick up they often are. We always let the pup know what’s going to happen and pair it with a tasty treat. I tend to say 123. To infinity and beyond, up up, here we go are other cues I’ve heard. Making life more predictable for our dogs is important. Watch their body language and lift them slowly.

04/13/2024

Got my copy from Amazon yesterday! So excited to have this to recommend to new puppy parents! Alexandria’s own Kathy Callahan’s new book is a lovely read. There are many helpful tips for the people and loving insights into puppy/dog behavior. Spencer is a fan too.

04/04/2024

My little helper is fond of taking socks out of the dryer for me. Today he happened to pick one that looks like him. By the way, I let him run away with the sock. He’s not going to swallow it. In fact, he’s likely to drop soon it if I’m not paying attention.

03/02/2024

Our 2024 Trainer Academies are filling up... Come train with us!!! go to www.peaceablepaws.com .

03/01/2024

Spencer is ready for Spring and perhaps St. Patrick’s day. Thanks for a wonderful spa day. Spencer wiggles all the way in and would love to hang out even longer. He allows me to take him home eventually.

02/27/2024

This little princess, well named after one, already knows so many cues. We’re going to have fun learning more. She’s likely to be a world traveler. In fact she’s going to a country far, far away next year. If your person is looking at this, the red collar is a martingale. I always use them in addition to harnesses. Safety precaution if a pup slips the harness.

02/20/2024

At the vet for a check up. All is well. Spencer is smelling all the good smells He loves it there. He gets lots of attention and even saw a bald cat!.

02/16/2024

home safe ❤️❤️

‼️LOST DOG - sterling va - owners are visiting area / very worried!! and the cold & snow is coming!! 💔😢

“My sister is visiting with her dog and he slipped out our front door. Last seen in the woods behind NOVA community college and the cascades senior center. Medium sized, around 50lbs. Very shy. Please ☎️ 757-763-8283 if you see him!”

PLEASE SHARE 🙏🏼🙏🏼

02/13/2024

Spencer found a pacifier. Friend or foe? He doesn’t look quite sure.

01/30/2024

This is Benny. This very sweet Italian Greyhound rescue has an amazing new family. Alexandria is a lot busier than where he was last. His confidence is growing quickly inside. Outside is more challenging, but he’s got a new canine friend that is helping him with that.

01/23/2024

Spencer and I had the best time working with recently. She makes sure she understands your goals for the photographs before getting together for the session. In my case it was to update my website. We agreed on a location and I let her take it from there. I couldn’t be happier with the results. She also does amazing family dog portraits.

01/22/2024

Five pounds of cute. This girl is bouncy, confident, and smart. Perhaps a bit of an escape artist too. Climbing is probably a good skill to have when the world is so big.

01/14/2024

01/05/2024

Spencer relaxing in the January Sun.

12/03/2023

Wholistic Hound Academy is Alexandria's first and only training and learning center for people and their dogs!

10/14/2023

🤩💜BACK by popular demand! 💜🤩
Join our Intro to Nose Work and Scent Games class and learn all about the super fun and easy world of Nose Work!
Nose Work is a fun, low-impact sport designed to tap into your dog’s natural scenting ability, desire to hunt and curiosity about the world. Your dog gets great mental stimulation and low-impact physical exercise while learning to problem-solve, hone his hunting skills and find the scent.
Enroll Now!
https://www.wholistichound.com/specialty-classes-workshops

10/06/2023

The complete puppy package. Apollo is handsome, smart, and has very sharp teeth. 😉 We’re having a good time day training together. He’s a very good student.

08/16/2023

Free! Terrific trainers will help you help your dogs.

Please join us this Saturday, August 19 at 10:00 am ET for a free webinar, Understanding Thresholds: Help for Your Reactive, Fearful, Anxious, or Excited Dog.

When stressed, our dogs can enter an emotional state that makes thinking nearly impossible. Some escalate to lunging, growling, pulling, barking, or even biting, while others may appear calm, but are actually terrified to the point of paralysis. A dog “over threshold” can’t respond to your directions or calm down. However, a combination of thoughtful management and reward-based training can help your dog in the moment and build strategies and skills for the long-term. Learn how to support your dog when life gets challenging.

Speakers: Marnie Montgomery, PMCT4, CPDT-KA; and Susan Sanderson, PMCT3, KPA CTP

Register at https://yourdogsfriend.org/free-workshops/

08/14/2023

It’s like scrolling through social media but healthier.

Encouraging dogs to sniff on walks is not only natural and instinctual for them but also has many benefits for their physical and mental well-being.

Sniffing provides mental stimulation for dogs, which is important for their overall mental health.

A good sniff also helps them to learn about their environment, identify scents, and understand the world around them. Through sniffing they can also release pent-up energy, which can help to reduce behavioural problems.

Additionally, sniffing can help to alleviate stress and anxiety in dogs, making them feel more relaxed and comfortable on walks.

08/14/2023

Sniff spot play date in Alexandria. Spencer and Bailey had a blast. Both dogs live very nice lives but don’t get off leash much. You can rent a yard for play dates or off leash training.

08/10/2023

Are both dogs looking at me??? I gave my mother the stuffed lab I use in training when she moved into independent living. Thought I’d get “him” back when she moved to assisted living, but no. Rocko is living the dream and startling new employees regularly.

07/30/2023

This picture is not exciting and that makes me soooo happy. These two handsome boys are making substantial progress with behavior modification training. The three of us are on a trail and a runner is going to pass very close to us. A few weeks ago there would have been a lot of barking and maybe some spinning and lunging at a close encounter. On this day, they could snuffle kibble in the grass as the man ran right behind them. Training isn’t linear. On another day this king of interaction may not be so boring but I’m loving this moment.

07/13/2023

These folks will help you so much in your training journey!

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We're offering two 𝙁𝙍𝙀𝙀 intensives to help you launch or grow your R+ dog training business.

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We want to help you do both.

Visit dogbizsuccess.com/workshops to sign up and get workshop details.

06/09/2023

Living large in old town. Flo is already a celebrity in her neighborhood. Just had her first spa day

06/07/2023

Our little beast is a year old somehow.

Let me train your small dog or puppy for you. I’m a certified professional in the City of Alexandria.

06/01/2023

This little fellow is Percy. He’s a recent transplant from the Florida countryside. Planes, trains, helicopters, enormous dump trucks, and so many dogs are a little overwhelming. A lot actually. When his person called me the poor dog was too scared to potty outside. He’s much more comfortable now but it takes time to acclimate to so many new noises and things. Keep your rescues and new dogs close to the house for a week or two. Let them settle into the new routine slowly. Plenty of time to explore later. This is helpful for most dogs, but it’s really helpful for a seven pounder.