Walk This Way Canine Training

08/21/2025

Koda was adopted from Cincinnati Animal CARE and is having fun with jolly balls during his day training with me. Why settle for one ball when 2 are available😊

08/14/2025

This is a great summary of all the things to take into account with each dog as an unique individual that have different contributing factors affecting their behavior. We like to say train the dog in front of you.

THE RECIPE TO CHANGE BEHAVIOUR

Wouldn’t it be great if there was a recipe or instruction manual that when followed would guarantee to solve the problems of each and every dog and every situation?

There might be a general template that we can use to begin with, but there cannot be a specific recipe or a cookie cutter approach to change behaviour effectively or ethically.

Each dog and each situation have different “ingredients” that need to be assessed and considered. There are just far too many variables involved to use the same recipe.

Genetics, history, life experiences, environment, the individual dog, as well as the guardian or family situation and commitment, will all be different and have to be taken into account.

This is why ethical, suitably qualified dog professionals will often answer a question someone asks about dog behaviour by saying “it depends”, because it really does depend on all the different variables.

There are no quick answers, no quick fixes and no specific, cookie cutter recipes to bring about successful, lasting behaviour change.

Stay well away from promises or guarantees that there are.

07/20/2025

Covee is having fun pushing his Kong wobbler around to dispense his treats.
Another great enrichment idea is to place some of your dog’s kibble in a paper towel holder, close the ends in and let them shred to their hearts content.

07/15/2025

A great quick summary to be aware of the possible health issues associated with certain physical characteristics and genetic predisposition in different breeds.

The silent suffering that many dogs (ANY breed, but higher risk in some types) experience as a result of how we’ve designed them is a sad reality that is hard to think about because we love our companion dogs for how they look. They are to us, more than how they look. https://doggiedrawings.net/pages/dogs-of-the-world-book

Worth reading: What Should Dogs Look Like? By Dr. Jessica Perry Hekman.
https://open.substack.com/pub/companiondogproject/p/what-should-dogs-look-like?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Dr Alison Skipper: https://www.vethumanitiesuk.org/alison-skipper

https://functionalbreeding.podbean.com/e/dr-alison-skipper-the-health-and-history-of-brachycephalic-dogs/

Also check out this free download: https://doggiedrawings.net/products/buying-a-dog-ethically

If you are not a breeder and are interested in learning more deeply about breed traits, check out the Puppy Seekers Project

07/15/2025

Hey if you have ever wondered why when your dog is not wet why they do a shake off?
So important to pay attention to your dog’s body language and what it reveals.

JUST SHAKE IT OFF

A “shake off” is one of many types of body language and is one of the easiest ones to notice.

The shake off can provide us with important insight as to how our dogs are feeling.

Besides being a very effective way to get rid of dirt, bugs or water - dogs can remove up to 70% of water in one single shake off - the shake off is often seen just after something that a dog needs a mental reset from.

It’s a way to flush out adrenaline and could be compared to us taking a deep breath to reset our nervous system and calm ourselves down.

Dogs instinctively know they feel better when they just shake it all off!

It’s their way of saying “Phew, I’m glad that’s over, now I can put it behind me and move on”.

Shaking off is a positive way to calm down, reset and cope with stress – be that negative or positive stress.

It’s a healthy way of transitioning from one emotional state to another.

It’s important to be aware that shake offs may sometimes be caused by an underlying medical issue like an ear infection, allergies, itching or pain.

If you notice a shake off, look at what has just happened beforehand. This will provide a good clue as to what it is that your dog feels they need to reset from.

06/17/2025

The dog training field is very confusing for most dog guardians when they are trying to figure out how to pick a dog trainer for their companions. I am sharing my new rack card to help explain what to look for in a dog trainer and to help spread the message of positive reinforcement training methods. Please click on it to read.

06/10/2025

Please check out my updated profile trainer search in Association Professional Dog Training and let me know what you think. 😊

The Association For Professional Dog Training International

06/09/2025

Lorelai is a lucky girl from a Louisville rescue who found her loving forever home. She was able to learn to relax with me as a new person in her life and be on her own away from her family during her training sessions. Play can help build a trusting bond.

05/24/2025

 A dog’s nose is amazing so give them plenty of opportunity to use it when you take them for their walks. Sniffari walks are your dogs social media!

DO YOU KNOWS ABOUT MY NOSE?

Dogs largely perceive and interpret the world through their sense of smell, which is their strongest sense.

Their sense of smell can be powerful enough to detect substances at concentrations of one part per trillion—a single drop of liquid in 20 Olympic-size swimming pools.

Just like every person has a unique fingerprint, each dog has their own unique nose print made up of ridges and bumps that create a unique pattern.

While all dog breeds have an excellent sense of smell, brachycephalic dogs – breeds that have a short muzzle and a flat or snub-nosed face like Pugs, French Bulldogs, Boxers, Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, Pekingese, Shih Tzus etc. have been found to have the least sensitivity to scent compared to non-brachycephalic breeds

The Bloodhound and other hound breeds are thought to have the best sense of smell. Their long ears carry scents upwards from the ground and the loose skin around their head and neck trap and retain scents, which makes them excellent tracking dogs.

Providing different types of scent enrichment has huge benefits for any breed of dog, especially as it’s such a natural behaviour.

Scent games, sniffing walks, a new environment or area to explore are all simple ways to provide enrichment.

Scenting has been shown to decrease heart rate, lower blood pressure, build self-confidence, decrease stress and anxiety and help dogs feel more positive and optimistic.

Here are some links for simple scent games to play with your dog -
Indoor Scent Games for Dogs:
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/indoor-scent-games-for-dogs/

A YouTube Video from K9 of Mine - 6 Nosework Games for Dogs - easy, simple scentwork
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTYZ_cenuWw

05/24/2025

More cuteness overload from Miss Poppy an miniature Australian Shepherd. She is doing amazing with her training. It’s so important to start early and get good foundation skills in place to build your bond and relationship with your pup.

05/07/2025

 I am a member of the pet professional guild and a positive reinforcement trainer. I do not need to use adversive training methods and neither should any trainer. I’m sure you got a furry companion to build a trusting relationship with them not cause possible distrust with outdated adversive training methods.

At The Pet Professional Guild, our goal is to help you provide the best life possible for your furry family members:
https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/pet-owners/pet-owner-resources/canine-resources/