Ria Hartman, Dog Behaviorist

07/23/2024

Being a dog behaviorist sometimes means play dates to socialize. This was Gracie's first time (Great Dane) and she did great! Lots of fun was had by all and they were all exhausted after.

07/16/2023

Relief from the summer heat!

07/16/2023

Dog Park fun!

03/17/2023

Little cutie, isn't she? She can be as sweet as pie but she can flip a switch and become furious at seemingly nothing. She's had a miserable life and I'll tell you why.

Today was rough. We had 2 rounds of her flipping out. In her previous home, the first false bite would have gotten her her way. And if that warning didn't get heeded, then came a real bite. People definitely gave her what she demanded then.

Not here though. It's my job to get her past this behavior and help her heal. So I endure the wounds, the bites, the bruised hands and bloodied fingers. All to help her become the happy dog she will be when we come out the other side of this.

"Is this worth it? Am I going to be able to get through to her?" I ask myself as she's laying there, learning to relax and give up the control she was never meant to have. Questions I ask every time I go through this, with every dog I help past these issues.

Of course it's worth it. If course I'll get through. It's just really hard in the meantime.

She was never abused. She was never mistreated. She was loved, a lot. She was cherished. Never neglected, never starved for either food or attention. She had a really "good life" according to human standards.

But according to dog standards? Her life was anything but happy. She never had leadership so she had to be the leader. She never had the protection of a leader so she had to do the protecting. So she became confused, irate at the littlest things, snappy, and just plain miserable.

Her humans didn't recognize that they were making her life awful. A living hell for her. They only saw the results of it and they became fearful of her. They finally reached a point where they couldn't take it anymore and decided to find her a new home. The problem is, just because the owner changes, doesn't mean the behavior does. Dogs like her are passed around and eventually put down because people don't know how to help them.

But she came to me. And I know what to do to help her. And it may hurt when she bites but I will prove to her I am the leader she has needed and wanted for her entire life. And then I will prove to her that she can trust my family to lead her too. And eventually, she will stop seeing people as beings to fear and tolerate, and then she will be ready for her forever home.

I don't know how long it will take or how many more bites I will endure, but we'll get there. She's worth it.

03/09/2021

Rainy and windy means indoor walks for us!

01/08/2021

Please don't get rawhide for your dog! There are so many better, healthier treats out there.

06/08/2020

Please don't feed your fur babies rawhide! Here's why...

https://youtu.be/Oc265q0ZRss

The most dangerous pet chew ever created: Rawhide! Find me on https://facebook.com/PlanetPaws.ca on https://www.facebook.com/rodneyhabib on https://www.insta...

05/26/2020

See Samson's new shoes? He has a birth defect that makes him walk funny and drag his feet and draw blood from the quick in his nails. The shoes help correct it for the most part and prevent him from hurting himself!

03/04/2020

Specializing in dog psychology and rehabilitation