In Stride Pet Dog Training LLC

09/10/2025

Love this 💖🐶🐾😉 Look for progression not perfection

Being the perfect dog guardian doesn’t mean never making mistakes because perfection doesn’t exist.

It means showing up with curiosity, compassion, and a willingness to learn alongside your dog.

It means honoring their needs, their biology, and their emotions... even when the journey is messy.

Perfection isn’t the goal.
Building trust and safety in your relationship is.

And we know everything good takes time, with plenty of hiccups along the way 💛

Follow .plus.dogs for more insights into raising resilient, understood dogs.

09/09/2025

Yes please 💖🐶🐾🥰

Separation Anxiety Isn’t About Leaving, It’s About Feeling Safe
We often hear that dogs need to “get used to being left.” That separation anxiety is something to be trained out, managed, or ignored. But what if we approached it differently? What if, instead of focusing on absence, we focused on attachment?

What Attachment Theory Teaches Us:
In child psychology, attachment theory shows us that confidence doesn’t come from being left alone, it comes from feeling safe. Children who experience consistent, attuned caregiving develop a secure base. From this base, they explore the world, knowing they can return to safety when needed.

Dogs are no different. They are a social species who need connection. Emotional regulation, resilience, and independence all stem from trust.
Creating emotional safety for our dogs isn’t about avoiding separation forever, it’s about building a foundation where separation becomes comfortable because the dogs feel secure.
This safety is built through:
• Predictability: Dogs thrive when their environment and guardians responses are consistent.
• Calm communication: Our tone, body language, and emotional state matter.
• Understanding their signals: Responding appropriately to subtle communication builds trust.
• Being a safe emotional space: When dogs know they can express distress and be met with empathy, they learn to regulate, not suppress, their emotions.

When Dustin came to us at four months old, he was already carrying the weight of health issues and uncertainty. He lacked confidence, and we knew that leaving him alone would only deepen his anxiety.
Many people told me I was making a rod for my own back by never leaving him. But I understood the psychology of building confident individuals. Confidence isn’t forced, it’s grown.
For the first 15 months of his life, Dustin was never left alone. We rearranged work shifts, asked favours from friends, and made sure he always had someone nearby. It wasn’t always easy, but it was necessary.
And then, one day, Dustin told me he was ready.
He didn’t lift his head when I walked out to do the bins.
He chose not to come to bed with me one night.
He let me know that he felt safe enough to be alone.
That moment wasn’t trained. It was earned.

Separation anxiety isn’t a behavioural flaw, it’s a communication of unmet emotional needs. When we shift our focus from “fixing” the behaviour to supporting the dog, everything changes.
We stop asking, “How do I leave my dog?”
And start asking, “How do I help my dog feel safe enough to be left?”

09/09/2025

Trying to get back into the groove with my air cast. I broke a bone in my foot a little over two weeks ago and was given the okay to walk on it without crutches! 💖🐶🙌

09/09/2025

Great resource 💖🐶🐾🙌

🐾 Fostering Respectful Relationships Between Kids and Dogs 🐾
As we teach our children about safety in the kitchen, it’s equally vital to guide them on how to interact respectfully with our canine companions. It's about leading by example, showing them the importance of giving dogs their space and listening to what they're telling us. 🍳👉🐕
Growing up with my beloved German Shepherd, Hatja, was a lesson in understanding and respect. My parents were instrumental in teaching me to never disturb her while she was eating, sleeping, or resting. They showed me the importance of respecting her wishes if she chose to walk away, demonstrating that saying "no" to an interaction was her right. 🐾❤️
We must remember that dogs communicate their comfort and discomfort in various ways. A dog walking away, turning their back, or even growling is simply voicing their boundaries. These signals, especially growls, are often a last resort after more subtle cues have been overlooked. 🗣️🐕
Furthermore, the internet is rife with images of dogs and children where dogs are showing signs of stress (whale eyes, licking a child's face or hands, leaning away, among others). These snapshots should not be mistaken for examples of a harmonious child-dog relationship. They often indicate a dog in distress, not a picture of mutual enjoyment or comfort. 🚫📸
Let's commit to understanding our dogs' signals and teaching our children to do the same, ensuring interactions are based on mutual respect and consent. By embodying this understanding ourselves, we set the foundation for a safe and loving relationship between our kids and dogs, far removed from the misconceptions perpetuated by social media.
A big shoutout to all parents who instill in their children the understanding of our dogs' needs for space, safety, and to be heard. It's vital to remember that teaching kids and dogs to safely co-exist is a two-way street. Dogs are sentient beings, capable of communicating through their behavior, like growling, which often comes after other signals have been missed. 🗣️👂
For those looking to deepen their knowledge and ensure a safe, respectful, and loving environment for both kids and dogs, check out these fantastic resources:
• Family Paws LLC Dog Behavior Consulting Services: Family Paws LLC Dog behavior consulting services
• Pooch Parenting: Pooch Parenting
• Doggone Safe: Doggone Safe
Together, let’s champion a culture of respect, kindness, and informed interaction between our children and furry friends, ensuring true friendship that respects both parties' boundaries and wellbeing. 🐕👧👦💕

09/09/2025

Love this 💖🐶🐾😉

09/09/2025

Great information 💖🐶🐾😉

We need to learn to look beyond the label when it comes to reactive dogs.

The dogs I work with aren't "reactive" – they're individuals with complex temperament profiles that influence how they experience and respond to the world. Some have hair-trigger arousal systems paired with excellent recovery. Others have moderate arousal but poor resilience. Some get overwhelmed by visual stimuli, others by scent or sound or social pressure.

Each combination creates a unique individual who deserves to be understood, not categorized.

Read more at the blog:
➡ https://suzanneclothier.com/reactive-dogs-reveal-true-selves/

09/09/2025

If you are hoping to drop in for the Puppy Playgroup program tonight at 6pm, please check in with me and let me know. See you all soon!
💖🐶😉

09/09/2025

Things to remember 🐶💖🐶😉

Categories of Enrichment: Social (The Sociability Spectrum)

Sociability is a spectrum which happens to closely mirror human sociability.

A small number of dogs are Dog-Aggressive. They dislike all other dogs in general, but might have a dog friend at home.

A small number of dogs are Dog-Social. We see these dogs everywhere because they CAN go everywhere.

The vast majority of dogs fall into the Dog-Selective range in the middle. These dogs can tolerate most dogs, but will correct some behaviors or avoid some dogs. E.g., some tolerate most dogs, some don’t like excited puppies, some prefer gentle play, others might correct dogs who are too exuberant or play too rough and some will only tolerate a few select dogs. Many dogs transition from social to being more selective as they become adults and develop stronger preferences.

It is very unfortunate that it is those unicorn dogs, the Dog-Social dogs that are depicted in social media being out there doing all the stuff. This creates a misleading impression that every dog should be a social butterfly.

Listen to your dog’s body signals to see where he fits … never try to force an introvert into becoming an extrovert. Whether or not the other categories of enrichment are being fulfilled will affect your dog’s sociability - as does his personality and genetics.

Thank you to Every Dog Austin for their fantastic Dog Sociability graphic that this diagram is taken from.

Whether you need advice on how to help your fearful dog, have concerns about aggressive behavior, are struggling with puppy issues, or just want to set your dog or puppy up for success, I can help. Contact me today at [email protected] or visit my website at https://www.crimsonhound.com .

09/09/2025

Great information 💖🐶🐾😉

Trainer Tip Tuesday:

09/08/2025

Great information 💖🐶🐾🙌

❌ Myth: Dogs should be walked every day

It’s one of the most common beliefs in dog ownership but here’s the truth: not every dog needs, or benefits from, a daily walk.

For reactive, anxious, injured, or overwhelmed dogs, the outside world can be too much. Busy streets, unpredictable dogs, loud noises, and sensory overload can actually raise stress levels rather than reduce them.

🌿 Enter the decompression day.
A day spent at home, away from triggers, where your dog can rest, sniff, chew, and just be without the pressure of a walk. These days are not lazy; they’re restorative.

🧠 Instead of a walk, try:
• Scent games in the garden or home
• Long-lasting chews or lick mats
• Short enrichment sessions
• Calming touch or massage
• Reinforcing calm behaviour indoors

Walking is great when your dog is ready for it. But remember, mental wellbeing matters as much as physical activity. Rest is part of the training process not a break from it.

💬 Let’s normalise doing what’s right for the dog in front of us, not what social pressure says we “should” do.

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