Dogs in Good Hands

01/01/2025

Hope you’re ringing in the New Year with some fun with your dog!

12/23/2024

Happy Holidays from me and Calvin!

We are doing an in-home petsit & train with some client dogs for a couple of weeks, but I’ll be fielding scheduling emails. Have fun with your dogs! 🌲🌊☀️🐕

12/21/2024

One of my favorite dog accessories is the light up noxgear tracer vest for humans. It is lightweight, reflective, has a variety of light options, and I rarely have to change the batteries. I wear it backward so the light pack helps light my path. I find the light noxgear sells separately to light your path painfully bright and don’t want the dog to have to look into it.

12/17/2024

11/20/2024

Increased risk of sneaker waves the next few days--keep pups farther from the water.

Dangerous wave action associated with the onset of the strong Atmospheric River will result in hazardous swimming and surf conditions the next few days. Large waves can sweep across the beach without warning, pulling people into the water from rocks, jetties and beaches. Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to dangerous surf conditions.

10/30/2024

For people who own a livestock guardian breed and have no livestock

10/16/2024

ABILITY TO COPE MORE IMPORTANT THAN OBEDIENCE.

🟡In today’s fast-paced world, there’s often too much emphasis on ensuring dogs are obedient, while their ability to cope with an increasingly chaotic environment is overlooked. While being well trained is important, it should be secondary to helping our dogs develop resilience and emotional stability. The modern world presents dogs with constant noise, busy streets, and frequent changes to their environment, which can lead to anxiety or stress if they aren’t prepared to cope with these challenges.

🔴Research supports the idea that emotionally balanced dogs are more adaptable and capable of learning. A 2019 study from the University of Helsinki found that training that focuses on a dog’s emotional state, rather than just their behaviour, leads to a stronger overall ability to handle stress and unfamiliar situations. Dogs that are trained solely for obedience without addressing their mental resilience can often struggle in unpredictable environments, which increases the risk of behavioural issues.

🟢When dogs are allowed to learn to cope first, their ability to navigate a busy world with confidence vastly improves. And more confident dogs respond better to training cues, not out of fear or command alone, but because they trust us and understand how to manage their environment. Building that foundation makes all other training a natural extension, rather than the primary focus.

🟣If we want our dogs to be truly well-adjusted, we must prioritise their emotional well-being and coping abilities. By shifting the focus, we are ensuring that dogs not only follow commands but also feel calm and capable in an ever-busier world.

10/08/2024

Sometimes when our dogs our taking their time, they are also reminding us to slow down.

09/29/2024

A Heat Advisory has been issued for the entire Bay Area and Central Coast from 11 AM Monday - 11 PM Wednesday. Interior areas will reach the low to mid 100s while coastal areas will be in the 80s to mid 90s.

09/23/2024

Not done with the heat yet.

A Heat Advisory is now in effect for portions of the Bay Area on Monday and Tuesday. High temperatures are forecast to be in the 90s to near 100° F. HeatRisk concerns will range from Moderate to Major.

09/19/2024

Another win for the Ruffwear Trail Runner bowl:
Calvin is afraid of bowls going into his travel crate for water. He is not afraid of drinking out of a p**p bag, but they don’t hold shape so they dump to the side. Enter the Ruffwear Trail Runner bowl, which is more like a bag.
I won’t keep this in his crate while I am not standing with him yet.

The Trail Runner is my favorite on the go water dish.

09/12/2024

I used to look forward to summer, but now I look forward to fall because my dog can come with me more often! That really is key for me in being able to use my dogs during work appointments and train them in novel locations.

08/26/2024

Our new Woof Pupsicle and Stella & Chewy's Meal Mixers came today, so Calvin is getting pupsicles to celebrate National Dog Day!

08/17/2024

This afternoon at Rio Del Mar is a great example of how it can look not that hot when the conditions will actually affect the dog more than if the sky was all blue and the ambient temperature was higher. When I first pulled in, I was disappointed at how overcast/foggy it looked. It was deceptively hot, though. The sand was hotter than the black walking path. Calvin drank throughout the walk and drank 2 cups of water when we got back to the car. The car and metal parts inside of it were hot to the touch. It is especially important to be aware of conditions like this when taking out puppies, muzzled dogs, and brachycephalic dogs, and to not leave dogs in vehicles in these conditions. This should affect the length of your outing. Even with a breeze, I wouldn’t want to sit on the beach with a dog in the sun for a long time in these conditions.

08/16/2024

California State Parks is asking for public input on redesigning Big Basin Redwoods State Park. If you would like dog access in a park where it has been limited, you might scroll down to the text boxes and write a sentence or two about that at:

Para realizar esta encuesta en español, haga clic aquíThe Big Basin Facility Management Plan is the park plan to guide future rebuilding of recreational facilities at Big Basin Redwoods State Park after the 2020 CZU Fire according to the Reimagining Big Basin Vision Summary completed in 2022. The ...

07/21/2024

If you or someone you know is working as an Election Officer on Election Day in Santa Cruz County and need a dog visit or two during those long hours, let me know ahead and I will fit as many free visits as I can into my schedule that day.

07/14/2024

What’s the weirdest or most random dog convo you’ve had? I’ll go first…

Talking about dog incontinence and whether there are pelvic floor exercises they can do. Turns out there ARE:

- VIGOROUS TAIL WAGGING!!!! (Which makes sense)
Teach your dog to wagon cue, 3 sets of 30 *VIGOROUS* wags a day. I died… 🤣💖
- and acupuncture is reported to help, too.

Your turn.

06/16/2024

As a pet guardian or professional, it can be difficult to measure improvement once the pet starts medication.

Medications, both daily and fast acting, can help improve behaviors. Here’s what you should watch for: