North Star Canines / Take a Bow Wow

06/19/2025

Talented! 🤣

06/08/2025

I've been working with a lovely family and their Yorkie, Bo. In just a very short time he went from a mini pulling sled dog on leash to this -- so proud of the family for the fine work they've done with Bo!

[video thanks to Fernanda S., Danbury, CT]

06/03/2025

Sweet Chloe had her first grooming since moving to her new home. Look how cute!!
The groomer did a great job clearing the hair away from Chloe's eyes, so she has an unobstructed view. This is especially important for dogs on the shy side -- we don't want things to catch them by surprise. :-)

Pic thanks to Michelle W., New Milford, CT

06/02/2025

Be still my heart! This darling little Frenchie puppy is Rocky and I get to meet him for our first lesson this Sunday. Isn't he yummy?!

[pic thanks to Jamie H., Norwalk, CT]

05/12/2025

Makes me happy my critters genuinely enjoy each other.

05/07/2025

This is Green Goblin, formerly known as Allie. She desired a more festively colored coat and so she rolled in freshly mown grass. Her mom says I should feel lucky it wasn't a roll in wild animal poo. Indeed I'm glad about that, and also glad she was totally cooperative for her bath!

05/04/2025

Dogs are amazing 💜

https://www.cnn.com/world/africa/dog-training-poaching-africa-wales-spc/index.html?ck_subscriber_id=2454664808&utm_source=convertkit&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The+US&fbclid=IwY2xjawKECMNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHjRMpaOnVcp37phwr5peqhe-xiTq01tE-GRJMA91p-xHpcwzUwEPkA2o8Nm-_aem_ynygiN4o3ZtBiFeAu4I9Lg

Welsh non-profit Dogs4Wildlife trains dogs to support anti-poaching units in their efforts to protect endangered wildlife across southern Africa.

04/29/2025

This is my newest client, the delightful Chloe! She is an affenpinscher (nicknamed "monkey dogs"), a breed I rarely get to work with. Looking forward to watching her learn and grow in confidence.

Pics thanks to Michelle W., New Milford, CT

04/21/2025

Good info to keep in mind —

https://www.facebook.com/100064617827092/posts/1102944601869457/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

Has a coyote ever “followed” you or your dog on a walk?

If so, you might have felt afraid. Maybe you thought the coyote was stalking you or that an attack was imminent. But the truth is, you were likely being escorted!

Contrary to common belief, coyotes don’t typically stalk humans with the intent to harm. What you're seeing is often a natural behavior called escorting, where a coyote follows at a distance to make sure potential threats—especially dogs—leave their territory. This behavior is most common from early March through late April, when coyote parents are protecting dens and caring for vulnerable pups.

Escorting usually happens in the early morning or evening and is most often experienced by people walking dogs, as coyotes may view dogs as a threat to their young. Like any good parent, coyotes will look out for their families!

So, what should you do if a coyote starts escorting you?

First and foremost, don't panic! Coyotes are naturally afraid of people. In most cases, they want to avoid us, unless they've become habituated or feel threatened. Stay calm and keep walking at a steady pace. The coyote will typically stop once you’ve left their space.

If your dog isn't leashed, leash up immediately (which is good practice in wildlife areas) and keep your pup close. Most coyote conflicts happen in the presence of dogs, which they often see as competitors or intruders, so responsible pet guardianship is key to preventing problems.

🐾 On the rare chance the coyote gets too close, shout, wave your arms, and try to scare them off. This is called humane hazing. Learn how here: https://projectcoyote.org/hazing-field-guide

🐶 Explore our Dogs & Coyotes Fact Sheet: https://projectcoyote.org/dogs-and-coyotes-sheet

🐺 Want more tips on coyote behavior and coexistence? Check out our brochure: https://projectcoyote.org/coexisting-with-coyotes-brochure

As development encroaches on natural habitats, coexistence with wildlife like coyotes is more important than ever. Understanding their behavior and adjusting our own helps create safer communities for all species.

04/17/2025

Thank you to Casey, who happens to live right in my neighborhood, for the positive Google review she just posted. I loved working with Bourbon and, BTW, isn't that the most awesome name for a chocolate lab?!

"Virginia was amazing with our chocolate lab Bourbon! She taught us tricks that truly helped us with just a few times of implementation. With having a 1 year old, we needed to learn to set boundaries and she helped us with this flawlessly! Would recommend Virginia to anyone who needs a little help training their dog!"

Casey M., Danbury, CT (posted 5-star Google review)

04/16/2025

Check out today's article for ideas on how to create a calmer and more pleasant leash-walking experience with your dog!

Taking our dogs for walks is good for both ends of the leash -- we get exercise and our dogs enjoy all the enrichment our walking environments have to offer. But in anticipation of this fun activity, many dogs works themselves up into a joyful tizzy and this sure doesn't set the stage for a calm wal...

04/16/2025

This video popped in my FB memories today and while it's a lovely example of a play bout with a bunch of dogs, the more interesting bit is how every single dog respectfully avoids bumping into Tavish, the dog sitting in the grass, every single time they go by.

I regularly have clients tell me that their dog runs into THEM while racing around the yard (and this sometimes leads to serious injuries for the person!). I then ask if the dog also runs into trees and fences while racing around and the answer is always "no." That tells you it's not an accident when the dog runs into you.

The good news is, respect for your personal space can be taught in a positive way through a series of exercises, and I'd be happy to work with you and your dog if you need help in this area. :-)