Shel Graves Animal Consulting

08/26/2024

Happy National Dog Day! My International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants Certification is Certified Shelter Behavior-Dog.

08/26/2024

Happy National Dog Day! What's the best thing you can do for dogs? Learn more about their body language. They are communicating a lot to us if we pay attention! Here's a great video from Fear Free Happy Homes https://www.fearfreehappyhomes.com/video/dog-body-language-101/

08/24/2024

Really looking forward to teaching this class, Animal Behavior: For a Happier Life With Dogs and Cats, this fall at Edmonds College's Creative Retirement Institute. $45
https://www.campusce.net/edmondsarts/course/course.aspx?C=1611&fbclid=IwY2xjawE3HJxleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHa5bcaAAZOk_SuXTj3mw90olVME24d4_vlhT19Em8LD2JORU6O1ydzphrg_aem_ukyxkMVThR4BEldcy1eoLg

08/23/2024

Maybe you don't need to be reminded to Play With Your Dog, but Pat Miller's 2008 book includes some fun games and ways to inspire dogs who "aren't playful" to engage. It's heartwarming!

Just reading a book about ways to play with your dog and encourage a reluctant or fearful dog to play makes me happy. And it made me want to go play with my dogs.

08/22/2024

Vet visits are important for ,too! But what's one of the reasons cats get less medical care? People have a hard time getting them into carriers. Training can help with this! Shel Graves Animal Consulting can help with this. If you'd like to make going into a carrier and other important aspects of care (brushing, nail trims, taking medications) less stressful and actually enjoyable for your cat, please schedule an initial consult! https://www.shelgravesanimal.com/book-online

Cats deserve great care and a considerate approach!

08/21/2024

Unfortunately, I have not *yet* been able to be an foster, but I have adopted a number of senior pups and am definitely a fan and 💛🐾 advocate. Cute new 20th anniversary merch.

08/19/2024

"Animals speak all the time, as spoken through their body language, but many times their messages are misunderstood or go unheard. As a result, a dog may be placed in a situation or interaction where they’re uncomfortable, but if polite requests for help or requests for space go unheard, their body language and behavior may escalate to a louder shout (think: lunge or growl) to get others to listen." Fear Free Pets

Great resource, dog body language 101:

In this video, you’ll learn the key communication signs to attend to for better, safer interactions with dogs.

08/16/2024

If you've rescued a dog who spent way too much time confined in a crate, you may be reluctant to use one. I've been there! But here are a couple times when you may reconsider a crate. https://www.shelgravesanimal.com/post/dog-crates-woo-hoo-or-boo-hoo-do-you-have-to-use-them-crate-training-for-fearful-dogs-and-house

I have had and worked with a number of dogs who, prior to coming to live with me, spent way too much time confined in a crate. So, I understand the impulse when bringing a dog like this home to give them free-reign and as much space to choose from as possible. At the same time, there are big disadva...

08/09/2024

You are taking your daily walk and there’s a dog who is always in their yard behind a fence. As you pass by, your dog erupts into a burst of barking, lunging, running raucousness and so does the dog behind the fence. They are super excited! Woo hoo! They look like they are having a BLAST! What’s this all about and should you continue making this part of your daily walk? I answer this question and share my ice cream analogy in this new post: That Dog behind the Fence and Your Daily Dog Walk: Fenceline Running: “Woo hoo!” or “Boo hoo!” ? https://wix.to/nvIgcHb

Three strategies to try instead of making barking, lunging, and fenceline running part of your daily dog walk. And Shel Graves Animal Consulting shares their Ice Cream Analogy for why letting your dog run a fenceline for fun may not be the best idea.

08/07/2024

“What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult to each other?” — George Eliot, Middlemarch, 1871

08/06/2024

Favorite bath time behaviors!

08/03/2024

Nothing better than seeing fearful dogs blossom!

08/02/2024

💙 slo-mo version, you’re welcome & refill those water bowls!!

08/02/2024

💙

08/02/2024

How to Make Your Dog or Cat Happier, Shel Graves Animal Consulting at Everett Public Library this fall: https://wix.to/dlQLvOq

Shel Graves Animal Consulting will be speaking in-person at Everett Public Library. How to Make Your Dog or Cat Happier will be 2 pm, Sat., Sept. 28 at the Main Library, 2702 Hoyt Avenue, Everett. It may not surprise you to hear that I am extremely bookish. When I wanted, needed, to learn more about...

08/02/2024

Do you need a quick answer to a question about whether Shel Graves Animal Consulting can help you with dog training, dog or cat behavior help, or animal chaplaincy? Book a free discovery call to find out more.

Or, if you are ready to start solving an issue you are having or living a happier life with your dog or cat, then book an initial consult for immediate relief.

shelgravesanimal.com/book-online

08/01/2024

Shel Graves Animal Consulting has some free local workshops and low cost classes coming this fall aimed at helping you to have a happier life with your dogs and cats.

Spreading happiness is part of our goal of Doing Our Best for Animals!

07/31/2024

Boop!

07/31/2024

Animal Chaplains in the News: Read the article and my Tips for Grieving Losses https://www.shelgravesanimal.com/post/animal-chaplains-in-the-news-tips-for-grieving-losses

07/31/2024

"Incline us O God! ...to consider our fellow-creatures 🐈🦉🦆🐝🐞🐢🐋 🦔🐀🐇🐕🐓with kindness, and to judge of all they say and do with the charity which we would desire from them ourselves." — Jane Austen, 1775-1871

07/30/2024

Ooh, look what just arrived! Can’t wait to read!

07/30/2024

Charming new friend!

07/30/2024

Fun Activities for Happy Dogs and Happy Cats, 3-5 pm, Sat., Sept. 14 at Sno Isle Food Co-op! I wrote about why I love the co-op here: https://www.shelgravesanimal.com/post/sept-14-everett-shel-graves-animal-consulting-at-sno-isle-food-co-op-with-fun-activities-for-happ

Check out more fall events with Shel Graves Animal Consulting at shelgravesanimal.com/events

07/29/2024

Here’s a pic of my little introvert Tish. After crate-training, we used this crate for house-training and it worked a charm! Now I leave it out and open and Tish can choose to hang out in there if she wants. She can be very cuddly and likes to follow me around, but sometimes her social-o-meter gets full and she goes into her crate for awhile. We call it her “space out”. We have an agreement that I won’t touch her or bother her when she’s in there. She has the freedom to opt-out of social interaction. This is a great way to help build confidence in fearful dogs and put them at ease. Some individuals will really like the crate option. Some won’t. Tish’s extrovert sister, Lily, on the other hand, never chooses a crate.

07/29/2024

Shel Graves Animal Consulting: Doing Our Best for Animals
-- services
Dog Day Training
Dog and Cat Behavior Help
Animal Chaplaincy
Shelter and Rescue Consults

07/27/2024

Yesterday, I attended a dog’s Pokémon-themed birthday party which included party favors, dog games like dunking for vegan hotdog pieces, a doggy piñata, and a very elaborate homemade birthday cake with spinach-mashed potato frosting swirls. Happy 11th birthday Sookie! Yes, Doing Our Best for Animals can look like this!

07/25/2024

A favorite cat behavior, the affiliative belly flop as demonstrated by outgoing cats Atom, Mary Shelley and Fiver. Says “I trust you!” Not your invitation to pet!