Robin's Nest Pet Care & K9 Training

01/20/2025

This was my view today..what was yours?

01/19/2025

Yesterday I had a lesson with an anxious, insecure reactive dog.

We had a good session. The dog was put through stress and learned a different way of behaving. Improvements were made. It was the first lesson.

At the very end, I saw a dog and owner walking through the park. I’ve seen them before. The owner is oblivious and allows his over aroused dog to pull toward dogs and humans.

I told the client to put the dog away. Why? Because we had a good session. The dog was tired. We were ending on a good note. I didn’t want the dog to now have to deal with this dog. It wouldn’t be fair. 7 years of rehearsing bad behavior doesn’t get fixed in one lesson and is completely unfair to expect the dog to handle this situation appropriately.

There’s more to dog training than commands and getting the reps in.

01/19/2025

I tell this to my clients all the time. And when they tell me they socialized the dog, I ask what that looks like and their definition.

Exposure, neutrality, boundaries and impulse control for the win!

01/17/2025

This is absolutely a team effort. It won’t work otherwise.

The training process is a team effort shared between the trainer and the owner(s). Each party has a responsbility in helping the dog become the absolute best.

One party is responsbile for identifying, addressing, and reshaping unwanted behaviors, then coaching on how to proceed.

The other party is responsible for committing to the process and understanding that the (hard) work moving forward is all for a happier, more enjoyable life with their dog.

It’s a useless process if a dog excels during a training program, then upon returning home, reverts back to old patterns due to the family not continuing where the trainer left off. In the big picture, a dog spending time at a program is a mere blip in their life compared to how much time they’ll spend at home with their family.

01/14/2025

This !

What you allow will continue.

If your dog wakes you up in the middle of the night and demands to go outside, you have just taught your dog that this is permissable.

With the exception of illness or any emergency, if my dog starts to explore a behavior that contradicts previous habits, that's a management issue, nothing more.

When my dog wakes me up in the middle of the night, I *know* something is wrong because it's out of character for any of my dogs to do this.

Once a pattern is established, it can act as a beacon for issues that fall outside that pattern.

If I make my dog relieve itself on my property before I go for a walk, my dog knows that's the last opportunity to 'go' before we return home.

If my dog *has to go* outside of that parameter, I am immediately looking for causes.

I don't tolerate marking behavior and will correct a dog for doing so. I don't permit my dogs to urinate on any vertical surface that is not a designated urine spot, nor do I permit them to relieve themselves on private property that is not mine.

Urbanites and suburbanites freak out when I tell them that. I consider it disrespectful.

I am observant enough of my dogs' behavior that I can tell the difference between an urgency to empty and the desire to leave a calling card. They can mark their own territory, they are not allowed to mark someone else's.

It's not that hard.

And people wonder why dogs are losing the privilege of being in public.

None of this is hard.

If you need help teaching your dog where it is permissable to *go*, we're here when you're ready.

If you want to argue with me, just think of how disgusted you'd be walking down the streets of DC, Baltimore, San Francisco, and every other metro area teeming with homeless people that will drop trou anywhere they want.

It's the same thing.

01/06/2025

💯

Why yes my dog would LOVE to say hi, but I’m still going to say “no thank you” and move on. Why?

1. Because I want my dog to learn that every time we see people it doesn’t mean it’s a party for him. I’d like him to continue his focus on us together as a team and not create conditioned excitement and expectation every time we are approached by someone.

2. Because I don’t know what saying hi means to you. Will you politely touch him? Will you allow him space to move away if he wants? Will you put your face too close to his? I don’t want him to have a negative experience so I’m going to avoid that by continuing our walk.

3. Because maybe I feel overwhelmed or stressed in public places and conversations with strangers may make me uncomfortable, so even though you’d like to talk and meet my dog, I’m protecting myself too.

4. Because we’re in a rush and have to get something done quickly.

5. Because I said no. Even social, sweet, friendly dogs and their handlers have every right to say “no” to a request to meet and be touched by people. This shouldn’t just apply to reactive, worried or bubble space dogs. Dogs are not public property, and saying “no thank you” to touching my dog shouldn’t be regarded as rude or unkind, any more than if a stranger asked to hold my baby.

Please normalize hearing “no” OR even better, normalize ignoring more dogs in public. Let them carry on with their handler and admire them from a far. It would do a world of good for dogs and humans everywhere, trust me.

- Helen St. Pierre

12/31/2024

Missy enjoying the grounds while she boards here. She’s able to enjoy off leash walks because she is trained.

12/25/2024

Warmest Holiday Wishes and Season's Greetings from Robin’s Nest Pet Care & K9 Training !! 🎁🎄🎊⛄️🖤

12/20/2024

12/18/2024

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12/10/2024

So many people think this kind of stuff is funny. It’s not. It’s really not.

12/09/2024