Real World K9

12/01/2025

Working with hazel, from the charlestown animal shelter. She's up for adoption, she has been a wonderful guest at RWK9. If you would like more information you can message me or contact the Charlestown Animal shelter at 401 364 1211.

12/01/2025

Grace Day 135 Monday 12/1

Grace loved relax time. She especially loved it with her best boy Sieger by her side(which he always was😉).♥️🐾

12/01/2025

Grace Day 134 Sunday 11/30

Play is the way to learning. Grace was all about play. Play with your dogs!♥️🐾

11/30/2025

Responsible care protects everyone.

Madison Riley Hull was identified as the 23-year-old woman who was mauled to death while pet sitting three dogs in Tyler, Texas.

11/30/2025

Out with Lola n Sieger today to enjoy some fresh sea air. No shopping for this crew. We want to be out in nature, much more rewarding. 👍

11/30/2025

Miss Hazel enjoyed another Thanksgiving meal today, thanks to the donations coming into the shelter for holiday meals. 🙏She "gobble gobbled" it right up then a tryptophan nap on my lap.🤣🤣🤣💤💤💤💤

This girl is ready for a home, could that be you??? If you have no other pets she is all about that as well as older teens if a family is lookin for an awesome gal. 👍 contact Charlestown Animal Shelter 401 364 1211.

11/29/2025

Good read on boundary setting.

Imagine if you were walking down the road and a stranger ran up to you and you just had to let them do whatever they wanted without sticking up for yourself?

It's a bit unthinkable isn't it?

That's often the position we are asking dogs to be in when we try to silence their "reactive" behaviours that are actually not reactive at all, they're boundary setting.

Dogs are allowed to set boundaries. Some dogs have stricter boundaries than others. Some dogs get overtly cross when their boundaries are crossed, others get fearful. But expecting dogs to NOT have boundaries and allow absolutely everything anyone wants to do with them without push back is unrealistic.

🐾 If play gets too rough and rude, dogs are allowed to say so
🐾 If a greeting is far too fast and impolite, dogs are allowed to say so
🐾 If a human is touching a dog in a way that's making them feel threatened, dogs are allowed to say so.

The thing is, if we try to punish these boundary setting behaviours, we run the risk of making them worse. Boundary setting behaviours are controlled and appropriate to the situation. But if we try to silence them the dog may just react with more aggressive behaviour responses in a way that becomes inappropriate to the situation. For example, much more exaggerated a response, unable to control themselves, unable to have their say and move on.

Any cross words from our dogs and we immediately feel we need to apologise, they're in the wrong. But are they? Lily is one of the most gentle and friendly dogs I know. Certainly the most sociable I've ever parented! But even Lily gets cross. Even Lily has boundaries. A short sharp collection of woofs towards dogs jumping in her face too often and she moves on. That's boundary setting. That's normal.

Picture: we give our dogs boundary setting behaviours ALL THE TIME. Telling dogs to get off things, telling dogs to sit and wait, teaching a dog to walk nicely.... These are all boundary setting behaviours. We need to allow our dogs to have their own boundaries too. Boundaries aren't aggression 🐾💜

11/29/2025

Grace Day 131, 132, 133 Thusday Friday, Saturday.

Playing catch up! Our girl Grace doing some of her favorite things. Walks with her best buddy Sieger, napping, ball n pool time. This girl was adaptable to anything. She was so resilient. She loved us all so much and we loved her so much back. ♥️🐾

11/29/2025

You name it Hazel has been on it, chairs, sofas, dog beds, crates, laps. Hazel is really enjoying her stay here at RWK9. If you could see yourself cuddling up with this sweet♥️and fit her needs, give her a jingle at the Charlestown Animal Shelter 401 364 1211.

11/27/2025

Wishing you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving. We have so much to be grateful for, especially our 4 legged companions.🐾♥️🙏

11/26/2025

Grace Day 130 Wednesday 11/26

Water is the driving force of all nature. - Leonardo da vinci-
And Grace sure loved it.♥️

11/26/2025

Grace Day 129 Tuesday 11/25

Never...🥰