North Star Canines / Take a Bow Wow

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 (which is good practice in wildlife areas), leash up immediately 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. :-)

04/15/2025

The sweetest shih-chons are visiting. 😍

04/12/2025

The darling Diggidy Doo is visiting!

04/10/2025

Meet Loki, a 9 week old Bernerdoodle. Can't wait to begin working with him and his family!!

[Pic thanks to Ray V., New Fairfield, CT]

04/08/2025

In addition to sharing my life with many dogs over the years, I've also had the pleasure of owning lots of pet rats. Many people are unaware how affectionate and trainable and fun and CLEAN they are, and I had lots of fun training them.

Currently, I'm working remotely with someone in CA to help her with her own rats' training, and it is so much fun! Today, we swapped stories about how each of us once had a particularly fearless and fun rat. My rat's name was Scotti and she often had free range to romp around my house in the midst of my five dogs. One of her favorite things was jumping on my German shepherd's back and then riding around the house on top of Reina (!) who was unbelievably forgiving about such nonsense.

04/04/2025

Macey says it’s a good day for sunbathing.
Enjoy your weekend with your pups!

03/28/2025

If you'd like to get started on the right paw with your new puppy, and/or if you're already feeling a bit overwhelmed by your new pup's arrival, please give me a call. I'd love to help make your life easier!

03/05/2025

02/25/2025

😄

02/19/2025

Today's article is about helping high-energy dogs, especially when they have difficulty controlling themselves in exciting situations.

Hope you'll find it helpful. Please share if you know someone who may benefit. :-)

I'm currently working with a few clients whose dogs have lots of energy that can sometimes make them challenging to live with, especially when that energy is channeled into behaviors that are not appreciated by us humans, like stealing household items, garbage raiding, destructive chewing, indoor zo...

02/07/2025

Roo learned a new trick while she stayed with me. Look how cute she is performing it for her mama! 💜
Video thanks to Nicole S., Somerville, MA

02/01/2025

Roo, the guest cattle dog mix, can be pushy at doors and it's also an area where arousal levels can rise, so she's been learning how to back up and wait politely until given permission to go outside.

She picked this up quickly!

01/30/2025

It's lovely when your dog can travel with you while visiting friends and family, as well as being able to host a visiting dog at your home. Today's article offers some tips to help make the doggie visits peaceful and safe for everyone.

I'm currently looking after my brother's dog while he's on vacation. Roo is a very clever and feisty cattle dog mix. She lives as an only dog and prefers things that way. But because I have two dogs of my own, I've needed to manage her in certain situations to ensure each dog's safety and peace of m...

01/24/2025

It made me so happy to receive this email after a Zoom session yesterday. This lovely couple is fostering Parker for a rescue group that I provide remote support for.
Though most of my work is done in person with clients, remote support can be a legitimate and helpful option. We covered a bunch of topics with Parker — reducing painful jumping and nipping when entering and exiting his space, practicing lots of approach-then-sit behavior, exercise and enrichment ideas, to name a few.
Parker is lucky to have such dedicated fosters. 😊

01/18/2025

If you have a young pup, you've probably heard about the importance of socialization. Not only do we want our pup to have positive experiences with other people and dogs, we also should be teaching them how and *when* to greet in a mannerly way.

Today's article talks about why greeting behavior while out on walks can yield unintended consequences. Give it a read and let me know what you think. :-)

Helping to create positive experiences for our puppies, both early in their lives and as they continue to mature to adulthood, is very important. It builds their confidence, exposing them in a gentle way to the people, animals, places, and things that will be a part of their world, and sets them up....