Pooch Pals LLC

08/20/2024

Good morning from all the dogs at the water park!

07/29/2024

Good morning from Happy the golden retriever!

07/09/2024

Say hello to Boba the puppy!

06/07/2024

Happy Friday from Clifford the big red dog and Mr. Goodbar!

05/09/2024

Clifford & Mr. Goodbar wearing their watermelon bandannas!

02/22/2024

01/25/2024

https://nextdoor.com/pages/pooch-pals-llc-alexandria-va/?init_source=org_pages&utm_campaign=1706223859044

26 Faves for Pooch Pals LLC from neighbors in Arlington, VA. Pooch Pals was founded and owned by Josh Hickey who love dogs and decided to work with them full time over 10 years ago! Josh and his team have helped hundreds of dogs and their owners. Pooch Pals is a licensed, bonded, insured, small busi...

01/25/2024

Happy the puppy!

01/10/2024

Great walk with Sunny and her friend Murphy!

12/29/2023

Who loves hot dogs?! Because we are having a party

12/05/2023

Beautiful and sweet new puppy Happy!

11/08/2023

Sunzi and Dashi!

04/18/2023

Puppy Nala and her friend Dezi playing. Bestie’s!

04/13/2023

13 week old puppy Nala working on her sitting

04/02/2023

One of my favorite dogs right now. Dezi bringing me her collar politely waiting for our walk!

03/31/2023

Good morning and Happy Friday! Hope everyone has a great weekend!

03/30/2023

This can happen in a second. Fixation/hyper fixation is an escalation in awareness and if you have a reactive dog....usually there is barking, lunges, whining and "digging" in immediately after fixation.....and unfortunately that reaction can happen just seconds after a "locked on" gaze.

The good news is there are ALWAYS "tells" that your dog has gone from looking to hyper fixation.

If you have a reactive dog, learning all those subtle and not so subtle tells are SO very important. You need to start to read these changes in posture and behaviour so you can act.

Ears change, softness in the body changes, mouths often "slam" closed and there may be a leaning in with a long lowered neck.

Not all dogs show all these changes and the graphic is a generalisation...but it lists many common signs that your dog has become aware of a trigger.

Your dogs coat may never be raised when they see a trigger, they may have a shorter, curlier coat.
There may not even be any changes in the tail for some breeds as they may have little to none or a tightly curled tail.

BUT....there WILL be signs that your dog has just changed from looking to fixating.
A good way to get a better idea of the changes is to have someone film you and your dog when you are nearing a trigger for your dog.....whether that be a cyclist, person, dog or cat. Have someone film it for you.

Watch the video and look at what happens in a split second or seconds leading up to fixation...
Leash tension.
Lowering neck.
Straining forward.
Mouth shutting.
Tail tucking or in a high flagging position.

This is ALL information you can use to lessen reactions and prepare an action plan for when you see those tell tale signs.

Reactivity is a beast.
It is complex and very individual....but if you learn all the signs your dog does give you.....you are on your way to making a real and positive change for you and your dog.

All the best on your reactive journey.

03/19/2023

273 Likes, 0 Comments - Lovelydogthings () on Instagram: "Follow for more 🐶 -Make sure to follow! -Make sure to follow..."

03/17/2023

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day from Guinness the dog!

03/15/2023

Man's best friend

03/07/2023

Great visit with new German shepherd puppy Ruby!