Moonlight Mutts LLC

11/03/2024

On October 25th at 533am, we welcomed our little man Logan into the world🩵💙 I will still be doing virtual training over the next couple months. Depending on the weather, I plan to be back to in person training by January or February. If you have any questions in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to ask!

10/02/2024

DON’T FORCE ME TO BE SOCIAL!
It may be really disappointing and frustrating when our dogs are not the social beings we expected them to be.

Many believe dogs should just naturally get along with other dogs, after all they’re the same species.

Some believe the “unsociable” dog has a behaviour problem that needs to be “fixed”.

Early, appropriately timed and correct socialisation is vitally important, but sometimes despite all of this, some dogs are just not that sociable.

Sometimes this can be improved, especially if the cause is from a negative experience, but genetics, breed tendencies, individual personalities, health and age all contribute to tolerance and sociability, which also change throughout life.

If we, as a human species, don’t get along with everyone we meet, how can we expect our dogs to?

Do we label every person that has an argument, doesn’t make friends with everyone they meet, doesn’t like every other person, prefers not to socialise - as having a problem that needs to be fixed?

Why is it so easy to accept that every individual person is different than to accept that every individual dog is different?

When we have done what we can to improve our dogs’ social skills, we need to accept and acknowledge our dogs for the individuals they are, allow and respect their choice of whether to be sociable or not and never force interactions that a dog is not comfortable with.

09/28/2024

Does your dog struggle with bath time? Working on cooperative care is important for regular grooming and vet visits. Honestly, Sierra and I could do better with no stress bathing. You can tell in this video that she is tolerant, but not exactly happy. After our bath I also clean her ears, then she lays down on the floor towels to dry some more. Nail trims are for another day, because I don’t want to overwhelm her.
Thankfully at the vet she is a little angel puppy! But it takes a lot of patience and consistency to get to this point. If you’d like to learn more about cooperative care, I’d love to help you out with virtual training sessions!

09/02/2024

Don’t miss out on our 3 session group class for all ages and breeds. Thursdays September 12th, 19th, and 26th, at 6pm. Class will be held at Centennial Park in Boulder. We will cover foundational skills, impulse control, loose leash walking, and recall. Space is limited to 6 owner/dog teams, and the cost for each team is $125. The last day to register is Friday September 6th, and proof of vaccinations will be due before the first day of class. We hope to see you there!

08/20/2024

08/19/2024

Are you ready to go back to school? Sierra sure is excited! Join us for our 3 session group class for all ages and breeds. Thursdays September 12th, 19th, and 26th, at 6pm. Class will be held at Centennial Park in Boulder. We will cover foundational skills, impulse control, loose leash walking, and recall. Space is limited to 6 owner/dog teams, and the cost for each team is $125. The last day to register is Friday September 6th, and proof of vaccinations will be due before the first day of class. We hope to see you there!

08/19/2024

08/15/2024

It’s so important to get your pups prepared for any changes to your household! Even something simple like rearranging furniture can be stressful. We are working hard to prepare Sierra for the baby, and for the most part she’s just very curious about all the new things!

08/12/2024

WHAT THE F?

Recognising stress responses in dogs.

Fight or flight are well known reactions to fear or stress, but these other “F” words are also important to understand and be aware of as they may not always be so obvious.

Freeze, Fawn, Fidget or Fool around are also responses to stress or fear and are also commonly seen in people.

Some dogs may have a genetic predisposition to one type of response while some react based on previous experience - what has worked for them before or what hasn’t. Some dogs have different reactions depending on the specific context.

Recognising and taking note of situations or circumstances where these responses are seen is important in understanding how our dogs are feeling.

When we recognise a fear or a stress response, we are able to intervene and advocate for our dogs.

08/06/2024

Effective September 1st, I will no longer be accepting new in-person clients. In preparation for the arrival of our baby boy in November, I have been advised to reduce my workload. I will continue to work with my existing clients through October, and will be available for consultations and day training on a case-by-case basis during that time. In December and January, I will only offer virtual training sessions via Zoom at a reduced cost. For my Boulder-based clients, I may have in-person availability as I will not be needing to travel. Thank you for your understanding and support. I plan to resume my full workload in the spring, pending our little man's cooperation! 🩵

07/24/2024

Just a reminder about our upcoming events to learn Tellington Ttouch!

Join us today at 1:00 for an introduction to Ttouch, and find out how you can improve your dog or cat's well being through touch - and strengthen your bond with them at the same time!🐶
🐱🐾🥰

07/18/2024

Alright, you guys... what is going on?!?

We did a GIANT adoption event last weekend and a ton of dogs went home, and I'm happy for them - but what about me?

I check like ALL the boxes of a good boy:
✅ I'm smart, despite what my silly faces make me look like...
✅ I'm lovable, like seriously, the snuggliest guy you will ever meet
✅ I understand the value of sleeping in, no need to take me for a run at 5AM (seriously... who does that?)
✅ I'm handsome, this is no time to be humble - I'm a total catch

I'm a good boy... right?

I've officially been at the shelter for over 100 days, and I'm desperate to find my people. I know you are out there, you just haven't seen me yet!

Just as a reminder of what I'm looking for - I'm not interested in sharing my home with dogs and cats, but that doesn't mean in the future I can't learn to get along once I'm past the stress of the shelter. I do great with kids, and I love having lots of snuggles.

Helena, please help share my story so I can reach my people!! Future family, I know you are out there, if you see this please reach out to my staff at [email protected]

06/29/2024

We are here at the Walk & Wag in beautiful Boulder. Our friend Tahlula says to stop by and say hello! Get training handouts for common problems, and grab a bag of our small batch treats! Lots of other great vendors here, for all your puppy needs! Paws ‘N Go Barking Mad Bakery Animal Shelter and Care of Jefferson County Southpaw Street - Food Truck & Catering

06/24/2024

Don't miss out on our 3-session group class on Wednesday evenings in July at Centennial Park in Boulder.
🐾 Visit us at the Walk and Wag event on Saturday, June 29th to learn more and register. We will have small batch treats for sale, and 10% of our sales will be donated to Animal Shelter and Care of Jefferson County. Additionally, we will have training handouts available for common issues like jumping and barking. We look forward to seeing you there! Walk & Wag Animal Shelter and Care of Jefferson County