Play To Behave Pet Behavior Counseling

14/02/2025

Happy Valentine's Day!
❤️ Tell your dog you love them.
💙 Tell your dog they are brilliant, clever, the best dog ever.
🧡 Tell your dog they are a champion, an amazing athlete, a wonder.
🥰 Tell your dog you never dreamed a dog could do what they just did like an expert.

Oh yes, they know what you are saying. Your dog is... brilliant!

There is nothing quite like praise and if you need a little too, search youtube for "The Chris Hemsworth Video You Need"

My Valentine's gift to you!

13/02/2025

With Violet, any ball is a great ball! So no need to rotate those. But she gets bored after a week or two with others. Abandoned toys strewn about, my daughter would just buy more - "Stop", I said! Put them away for two weeks and they'll seem brand new. Worked with my kids. Works with puppies too 😊

Do you rotate your toys?

12/02/2025

Cup your hand around your throat and gently press. Notice how uncomfortable that feels—even with the slightest pressure? Now, imagine that pressure is a chain and it suddenly snaps against your throat. Yikes. That sudden jolt is exactly what a choke chain delivers.

Some argue that if the snap is painful enough, the dog won’t pull again. But here’s the problem: that assumes the dog clearly associates the snap with pulling.

In reality, pulling has ongoing long before the correction, so the dog might not make that connection at all.

Instead, the dog could associate the pain with passing people, other dogs, or even with whoever is on the end of the leash.

It might not happen in one day, one week, or even one month—but over time, your dog can gradually make that association, become fearful, and eventually reactive toward whatever has become linked with the pain.

Yes, choke chains can work. When I started training with my first dog, Sydney, 35 years ago, I used a choke chain. My dog picked it up quickly—and at that time, positive methods weren’t understood, used, or taught. I just didn't know any better. Nowadays, you can add prong collars and e-collars to the list.

Pain isn't necessary and it has some serious risks. We know better now—and we can do better.

Our dogs deserve training that is clear, kind, and builds trust, not confusion or fear. Our dogs deserve loving guidance.

05/02/2025

This morning, 5 mo old Violet and Mickey started chewing up a tug toy. It's made of boiled wool and about 6 ft long so it's a fabulous toy.

I don't want this toy or any toy, chewed up into tiny bits, so I distracted them with another toy and took this toy away. This toy requires supervision. If they are tugging with each other or with me, great, but chewing... it goes away. I didn't make it a big deal or get mad.

Prevention and management are the best ways to get the behavior you want.

Prevention is one way I taught my dogs not to chew up things in our home, although I admit, Rae does one thing that's a problem.

She's found there can be something yummy in bags left around so she searches them and in doing so, she sometimes gets bite marks on the handles of those bags, but again, she's gotten rewarded for that behavior with her "finds" so bags with handles are out of reach. Getting my husband and kids to stop leaving bags around with "prizes inside" is another story. 😁

26/01/2025

10/01/2025

We all need a little levity right now. Spot on New Yorker!

A cartoon by Zachary Kanin.

See all the cartoons from this week’s issue: https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/LA4rRu

05/01/2025

[Open Group Call tomorrow - Monday, Jan. 6 - see below!]
I shudder when I think about my daughter opening the door to the stairs that exit her apartment. Imagine facing slippery old wooden stairs—with high rises designed to save space—...
..with a 25 # strong puppy that does everything with gusto and feels like a bowling ball at the end of a leash.

This is my daughter’s situation, and it’s a big concern. She’s already slipped once on the stairs, and I’ve been worried about them ever since she got this high-drive, very busy puppy who is only going to get stronger!

Navigating any stairs—and leash walking with a strong-willed puppy—puts you at serious risk for injury. The pulling is one issue, but even off-leash, around stairs, a puppy or dog can easily trip you.

And don’t forget: an injury can mean doctor’s visits and unexpected costs—something no one wants to deal with.

That’s why it’s so important to have immediate measures to stop the puppy or dog from racing down the stairs and pulling you along outside.

The video here is not what you want! So...

While I’m helping my daughter with the same challenges, I want to share three strategies with you to make your life around stairs and walks safer and more manageable too.

So, I'm opening up TOMORROW's group membership call to you! Please join me:

NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED. JUST MESSAGE ME FOR THE LINK.

Monday, January 6th at 7:00 pm ET (6:00 pm CT, 4:00 pm PT)

I recommend joining early so you don't miss anything!

We’ll also have time for questions.

If you can't make it, please let me know. I may schedule another call.

18/12/2024

I feel blessed to work with the best people and dogs. 😊 This text made my day.

13/12/2024

That’s a piano. 😬 And no, I didn’t train this!

Clean Run shipment and Mickey will not give up! He wants a toy! 😂

David stopped him.

06/12/2024

Icy! Parking lot at this weekend’s agility competition. A good reminder that leash walking skills are needed year round - maybe more so in the winter! If you are interested in training, send me a message. 😊

04/12/2024

Online dog training... Can it work? Does it? Shane and Jocelyn hadn't ever had a dog when Bandit showed up on their doorstep. He was going to be their "outdoor" dog... and now we laugh as they have 4 dogs and share the bed. Dogs can change you and make all our lives better. I'm am honored to have worked with them. ❤️ They are my Dream Dog Lovers and brilliant online business coaches.

Find out more by listening to my fun guest appearance on their popular podcast with Shane and Jocelyn Sams. They are two of my favorite people in the world - genuine, kind and brilliant. And best... wonderful dog parents too. 😊 🐕

Here is a clip: https://www.youtube.com/clip/UgkxFXK8ZLDjC9Uqm3T9QWVsjdnXdRqNq3Ia
Full podcast on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=it3pvIIGCW4

27 seconds · Clipped by Carolyn Lincoln · Original video "Leveraging Social Media for Success w/ Dr. Carolyn Lincoln" by Flipped Lifestyle

23/11/2024

Just 2 more followers to 1000 on tik tok. You could be the one that #1000! I’m Violet says do it! 😁

21/11/2024

Early Black Friday Deal! If barking is driving you mad, interfering with work, sleep and your relationships, then don’t despair. Get 3 easy steps to stop excessive barking and you’ll have a more peaceful holiday ahead. $30 off until Sunday with the coupon: 2024STB10

Sudden excessive barking can disrupt your work, relaxation, and even sleep. It can cause irritability and even arguments. Stop excessive barking and reclaim the peace and quiet you need with just "3 Easy Steps To Stop Excessive Barking" using positive methods from a veterinarian trained in behavior.