The Dog Evolved, LLC

08/27/2024

Some of our Puppy 1 parents have been inquiring about the next steps, and classes start next Tuesday.
We hope to see you soon! 🐾

08/27/2024

To our local folks, this information is for all of us and is an excellent reminder of how to protect our pets.

08/26/2024

Classes resume next week!

08/26/2024

Today is a weather alert day due to the heat. Enjoy your dog inside! 🐾💞

When it's higher than 80°F outside, DO NOT heavily exercise your dogs outside!☀🐕

🚫🏃‍♂️🐶 No playing fetch or making your dog run alongside you while you run, bike, skateboard, or rollerblade, etc.
🚫🔥🐾 No letting dogs run on hot surfaces like asphalt or sand

✅🌅 A walk in the cooler hours of the day is fine or a slow meander when it’s hot
✅💧Always provide your dog fresh water and shade while outside on warmer days
✅🧐If your pet is at increased risk of overheating, monitor them closely while outside

Learn more here: https://aercmn.com/prevent-your-pets-from-overheating/

08/26/2024

Gaaaah! This dog. 😍Daisy had her private lesson today and she did so well. Loose leash walking, “quiet” and practicing her Recall. Good girl!

08/24/2024

🥰

08/23/2024

We all need to feel safe.

We have a similar nervous system, our brains fire the same way. We are exposed to similar emotional responses and have the same need for safety. Yet dogs are so often still expected to shut up and put up. Let's be a little gentler with the needs of our dogs shall we? We can help with that, drop us a line in the comments.

08/21/2024

There is only one spot left in Kindergarten I — it starts Tuesday night, Sept. 3rd at 8:00 pm

08/20/2024

Here is a great read. Our dog training industry is a bit of a mess right now, but our hope is that training is guided by ethics and not painful tools and a lack of building trust and respect.

I have been trying to ignore the latest drama in the dog training world, because honestly, it is just starting to get old and boring and most of us have better things to focus on. However, sadly, it has become apparent that the latest saga is affecting many of my colleagues and causing a lot of hurt and confusion for people who are genuinely trying to make sense of what is going on and why certain trainers or behaviour experts who have always claimed to have the best interests of dogs at heart are joining hands with and promoting those who believe that it is quite okay to routinely inflict pain and fear on dogs to get them to do what you want.

The people involved in this are not that surprising, as it is not the first time that most of them have gone down this road. I can only put it down to some underlying insecurity that drives certain people to want to "be like the cool kids" and join hands with balanced trainers to try and stay relevant or because they have run out of healthy ways to increase their followings. It is not incidental that social media is in a furore over this – in fact likely one of the main goals is to create hype and keep those involved in the public eye. There seems to be little thought given to the damage inflicted on dogs in the long run from their publicity stunts, the confusion created for the general public and the hurt to those in the industry who are actually in this to help dogs and promote welfare first.

The original campaign adverts using “superhero” imagery speak volumes about the egos and intentions of the people behind this. It is honestly just gross. They can phrase it all they like in terms of building bridges across the dog training world, but that is not what it is about, even if they are deluding themselves into believing that. It is about their own egos and publicity.

Yes, I am being judgemental and harsh, but I would no more interview or try to learn from a balanced trainer than I would a person who believes that any sort of domestic violence towards their family members (men, women or children) is justified and for their own good. It is honestly sickening.

I am also so tired of hearing about “The Science” and this being used as a weapon on both sides of the debate (anti and pro punishment). This is not about science. Dogs are not laboratory experiments. They are not a thesis. They are not there for us to carry out experiments on to find the quickest ways to get them to do what we want at all times. Dogs are sentient beings with intrinsic worth, who we should regard as part of our families. Our relationships with them should be governed by our ethics and values, not graphs and statistics.

Of course science has an important place in our understanding of behaviour and learning how best to handle problems that may arise (within ethical parameters), but I really would not give a damn if some scientific paper came along to “prove” that punishment would be more effective in a particular situation, because my relationship with my dogs is governed by love, trust and respect and not by what is most convenient or effective for getting my way.

I am more and more finding that I want to withdraw completely from the wider dog training space to my own little corner of the world, where I can hopefully make a difference in the lives of dogs and people in my actual community and avoid the continual merry-go-round of social media dog trainers. I sometimes wonder if any of these people still work with actual people and dogs in the real world or whether they only exist online? I know so many wonderful trainers, who while they may not be good at marketing or have an interest in becoming social media celebrities, do so much good in the lives of real people and dogs on the ground, that I think they are worth more than all these celebrity trainers put together. Perhaps dog training was never meant to be a career that brought fame. We often say that good training, done right, is as boring as watching paint dry, so maybe this is why those seeking fame have to continually invent drama to stay in the limelight.

So here is to all my colleagues, both my good friends here in South Africa and those I catch a glimpse of elsewhere across the world. To those of you doing your little bit in your community, improving welfare one dog and human at a time - you are making a real difference. Thank you for putting dogs and their people first and valuing human and animal welfare above fame and status. Keep doing what you are doing – you are the real heroes.

08/19/2024

We will be working with this handsome fellow very soon. He's had some life changes and feels uncomfortable, and his guardian is impressive. Introducing Kash. 🥰😍

08/18/2024

This ⬇️.
“What do you need?”
“How can I help you?”

08/17/2024

Daily Funny 😂🤣

08/16/2024

Check out these Thursday night graduates! 🎓🐾 This class transformed so much from the beginning to the end; seeing it was amazing. We tackled challenges together, and the dogs and their guardians improved quickly every week. What a fantastic bunch of students - we'll miss you all! (Not pictured is Nico 💞

08/15/2024

Congratulations to our Wednesday night graduates! All your dogs were ready to play, and you wrangled them beautifully, tapping into your skills and successfully engaging them in focusing on you. Giving dogs access to what they want, letting them do "dog things," and understanding their needs made us very proud. Well done!

08/14/2024

Hey, Tuesday Grads, congratulations! 🎉 You all were absolutely amazing, and your relentless hard work over the past six weeks has genuinely paid off. We couldn't be prouder of every one of you. (And a special shoutout to Prince and Hazel – we missed you both! 💞)

08/13/2024

Monday night marked the start of Graduation week for our classes. 💞Our team was on fire answering the quiz questions, but the kid nailed the correct answers with lightning speed! 🌟💡What a smarty-pants! Please enjoy a few representative pictures— these groups worked very hard. Last night’s classes were Kindergarten I and Kindergarten II.

08/12/2024

Good things happen for quiet Beagles. ♥️🐾🌟♥️

08/10/2024

Sometimes, Management is the whole answer.

Did you know?

Management entails taking steps to prevent the dog from being exposed to situations that cause anxiety and stress. The benefits of management are several.

Discover several behavior modification mistakes to avoid: https://pethelpful.com/dogs/When-Dog-Behavior-Modification-for-Aggression-isnt-Working-as-Planned

08/10/2024

We met a new friend. This is Poppy, and she will be joining us in class very soon. 😍

08/09/2024

Zoom! Zoom!
Last night, Shelley Belle, Nico (who wears the cutest jelly bean harness), and Zamboni practiced racing to their humans in new and distracting locations. Back on their mats, they perfected "Leave It." 🥰

08/09/2024

Bruce, Dax, and a little loose leash walking. Good job, you two! (Clover, we missed you 🥰)

08/08/2024

Week five of puppy kindergarten spent time on Recalls and helping puppies learn to like body handling and vet experiences. We had cones, stethoscopes, weird sounds, (and lots of play.) These kiddos are doing so well.

08/08/2024

Have you met Winnie yet? Last night, while waiting for class to start, she found a new toy, all while wearing her cool new harness. She's an absolute sweetheart!

08/07/2024

There are so many positive aspects to mention about the Newfs and their hardworking families. But for a moment, let's highlight their continuous growth! ♥️

08/06/2024

Hazel and Ziggy can run like the wind, which made practicing “stay” more doable in today's class. We missed you, Prince!

08/06/2024

With the heavy rain last night, our Puppy II kids really needed to play. Their guardians did a great job of calling them out of play for a snack and then sending them back in. After that, we practiced wearing hats and cones. Graduation night is next week! 🤩

08/06/2024

How can we be in week five of classes?!
Tonight was filled with play, crate games, leave it, and more play. ❤️

08/04/2024

This dog is all heart. 💘
Today’s private session focused on engaging in other behaviors that didn't involve vocalizing at the top of her lungs. 📢🔊
We love you, Daisy! You are fun to train.

08/03/2024

Today was cleaning day! With John Allen's assistance, we hung the picture, vacuumed, mopped, and organized. Surfaces are washed, and mop heads are in the laundry. Everything is in order!