Gigi's Behavior Services

02/06/2024

Are you and your dog ready to brush up their behavior skills? Gigi's Behavior Services has new classes starting June 5 and 8! Learn more and register for our upcoming Skills and Manners series and Puppy Preschool ➡️ https://gigis.org/train-your-dog 🐾

29/06/2023

Now is the time to get your pet ready for the 4th of July festivities!

💊 If your dog has anti-anxiety medications, check their Rx and call your vet today to refill if needed.
⏰ Give your pup their meds before the fireworks start.
🌜Avoid letting your dog out after dark, and consider taking them out on a leash when fireworks are likely.
🎆 If you're going to a fireworks display, leave your pup at home.
🥓 Provide your dog with a safe space in a quiet area of the house with a white noise machine or calming music (like Through a Dog's Ear) and a yummy food-based activity for distraction.
🐶 Make sure your pet is microchipped and their chip is registered to your current address. Double-check your dog's collar fits well and has a valid license and tags with your number.

14/04/2023

It is Dog Bite Prevention week! We unfortunately see dogs after a bite more often than not. All dogs can bite, and some do when we do things that make them uncomfortable or put them in situations where they are feeling fearful, angry or frustrated. Luckily, the majority of dog bites cause little to no injury, but they are still scary. Heed a dog's warnings - moving away, growling and snarling are some of the ways a dog may ask for space. Punishing these behaviors by forcing a dog to stay in the situation, correcting or punishing them can cause these behaviors to deteriorate and then dogs can escalate to biting more quickly when they are uncomfortable. Move away or remove your dog from the situation, they get to decide what makes them uncomfortable. If the behavior is elicited by 'normal' things that happen in their world, we can help you manage those situations and teach your dog to be more comfortable! Here is one of our favorite videos to help kids learn how to be polite with dogs, to keep themselves safe. The pat, pet, pause method works when adults greet dogs too! Not all dogs like to be pet and by giving them choice, people can avoid triggering a dog to feel uncomfortable in the first place! Try it with your dog too.

How do we teach kids how to greet a dog?

23/03/2023

It’s National Puppy Day! Not only does Gigi’s have a variety of puppies available for adoption, but we also provide resources for families with newly adopted puppies or for people who are considering getting a puppy in the future. Puppies are cute, cuddly and lots of fun! Adding that adorable new family member can also come with challenges, but we are here to offer tips and help you through those first few months.

Puppies are little sponges, constantly soaking up information about the world around them. It is our job to provide them with positive socialization experiences, ensure that they receive proper medical care, as well as to teach them desirable behaviors. When it comes to socialization, controlled exposure to people, dogs and environments is key. Your puppy doesn’t have to directly interact with strangers and other dogs in order to create positive associations- simply being able to observe humans and other dogs from a safe distance while eating tasty treats will go a long way to helping your puppy become a well-rounded, social adult. Arranging for supervised play dates with adult dogs that you know will be an appropriate match for your puppy is a wonderful option for allowing your puppy to practice their play skills.

Enrolling your puppy in a class specially designed to help you learn how to teach them the basics and expose them to husbandry tasks is also beneficial. Knowledgeable instructors can help answer questions and guide you through the challenges of puppy biting, house training and adjusting to the crate. We encourage you to look for trainers and organizations that focus on reward-based training and creating positive associations.

It is always so exciting to bring home a new member of the family and we share in that excitement with you! If you are interested in more information about our current puppy class offerings, please visit gigis.org/train-your-dog

19/02/2023

Tug of War can be a wonderful way to play with your pup and encourage bonding, cooperation, and confidence building. It's also a great way to work out extra energy or redirect sharp puppy teeth! In honor of International , here are some tricks from our experts for optimal tugging with your pup at home!

⏰ Tug of War does not cause aggression, but it’s important to play safely and monitor your pup for signs of getting overexcited. Train a reliable ‘drop it’ cue and occasionally ask the dog to give up the toy during play. If they can’t respond, they may be getting overly excited and ready for a break.

👍 Let the dog do most of the work and keep the toy low so their neck is aligned properly. Focus more on side-to-side motions, rather than up and down. This helps prevent injuries to the dog’s neck and spine.

🧸 Use a special tug toy and keep it out of reach until it's time to play. This helps make the toy special and signals to your dog when it's go time.

🦷 If teeth touch human skin, the game ends and the toy gets put away - no exceptions. Try again when your pup is calmer. If this happens frequently, you may need to use a longer toy so that there is more distance between hands and teeth.

⚠️ Play on a surface that your dog will not slip on, such as carpet, grass or other soft flooring. Dogs can slip easily during tug and could become injured if playing on hard, slippery floors.

💪 Let your dog win sometimes. No one likes to lose every time, pups included.

🐶 Incorporate fetch and training into your tug sessions, making it even more fun! Try asking your dog to ‘drop’ and then throwing the toy so that they have to bring it back to play. Or, ask them for an easy behavior and reward them with a few seconds of tug.

31/01/2023

What are your dog's favorite things? A quiet walk where they get to sniff as much as they want, a romp with friends or undistracted snuggle time with you? Bringing joy to our dog's lives is not about giving them more walks, it is recognizing what they, as an individual, enjoy most and giving them opportunities to do those things when possible. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/fellow-creatures/202004/why-dogs-happiness-not-obedience-is-what-counts?fbclid=IwAR2rRfsM7TCkawmpYiUiZvdjYcKptGeSOmfx29MPgLL3d5_Zr8-XrAh9CLc

When we focus on making dogs happy, it’s better for them and us.

27/01/2023

Using toys that you can fill with your dog's meal is a great way to add variety to their daily routine. We love using Kongs and Toppl toys. Check out this pro hack! Batch fill cavity toys so you don't have to make each one fresh. Using mostly kibble and wet food keeps calories in check and your dog will spend more time enjoying their meal.

Stuffed Kongs are a great pacifier. We love to use them for the shelter dogs at Gigi's. Batch filling and freezing Kongs is a great way to have them on han...

09/01/2023

We invite you to celebrate Train Your Dog month with our team here at Gigi's! Teach fun tricks to build your relationship with your dog. Share your dog doing this 'spin' trick in the comments.

03/11/2022

We would love to help you brush up before the holidays!

We've got a few spots left in our final adult dog training classes of the year! Let our Gigi's Behavior Services team help you and your pet build new skills, brush up on doggie manners, and address common behavior challenges. ➡️ Visit http://gigis.org to register for either of our upcoming series of classes, which begin Sat, 11/5 and Weds, 11/9.

30/08/2022

We'd like to officially introduce... Gigi's Behavior Services! 👏 Our talented team of trainers and behavior pros is growing and now offering more services!
• Group Skills and Manners training sessions
• Puppy classes and Puppy Passports program
• Private behavior modification
• Remote consultations
We'll teach you how to utilize positive reinforcement techniques and family-friendly training methods to help you and your dog thrive! Learn more and register for training classes at http://gigis.org!

30/06/2022

Are you Fireworks ready? Many dogs develop a sensitivity to fireworks as they get older! Be cautious even if your dog has been ok with them in the past. Have a safe and happy holiday weekend everyone.

📣 PSA from Gigi's board-certified Veterinary Behaviorist Dr. Meghan Herron: Get your pup ready for the holiday weekend festivities! 🇺🇸 More pets are reported missing over the 4th of July weekend than any other time of year.

🎆 If your dog has anti-anxiety medications, check their Rx and call your vet to refill if needed.

🐶 Make sure your pet is microchipped and their chip is registered to your current address.

🐾 Double check your dog's collar fits well and has a valid license and tags with your number.

🌳 If you have a fenced yard, check for holes, potential climbing spots, and broken latches.

15/06/2022

Need something fun to do with your dog this summer? We would love to see you in class!

Secure your spot for our next training class! Our experienced staff will help you and your pup build new skills, address common concerns, and gain a deeper understanding of dog behavior. Learn more about our upcoming puppy classes and adult dog skills and manners series, and register by tapping "Schedule" 👉 https://gigisbehavior.org