Moca Paws

07/16/2022

Charlie • border collie • (& big brother in the background 😂)

Charlie is a very loving and adorable puppy who will steal your heart in a minute 🤍

we worked on potty training, jumping, door dashing and walks! 🐾

it’s good to set your puppy up for success from the beginning & start rewarding the behaviors you like right away 🦴

“training” your puppy doesn’t need to be intense - the goal is always for you to bond with your puppy & let them know they can communicate with you and you will listen 🤍🐾

04/29/2022

Mumford • mix • I just loved this little man and his super cute name! 🤍

our main goal was to positively integrate Mumford with his new roommate - a cat named Paco! 🐱

when wanting a dog & cat to live together harmoniously, there’s lots of things to consider to make it a successful, no/low stress relationship 🤍 and the slowest way is always the best way!

we also worked on Mumford’s reactivity towards other dogs on walks! this little guy has two very great parents who love him very much which always makes my heart happy 🤍🐾

04/15/2022

Sofie & Stella • labrador retrievers • these girls are your typical labs - they loveeeeee people & aren’t afraid to show it!! 🤍

for their parents, this sometimes created stress when guests came over that didn’t want to be mauled with kisses at the door 💋

we firmed up a consistent plan of having the girls settle behind a baby gate until all guests are seated, release them for a controlled greeting with treats, & then have them settle with a Kong or similar lickie toy 🦴

we also worked on some dog reactivity on walks, and putting “pool time” on cue so Stella doesn’t spend all day in the pool 💦

these girls are so fun loving and sweet and their parents are awesome! 🤍

03/24/2022

Harley • mixed • hi beautiful girl!!

with Harley’s session our focus was working on her on leash reactivity towards people & dogs. this is a very common issue and can make walks feel stressful for the dog and dog parents 🐾

if you are struggling with this, you want to avoid your dog’s triggers as much as possible until you can work with a certified, positive reinforcement trainer so we can work on changing your dog’s emotions towards seeing these triggers & create positive associations 🤍

Harley’s parents are so great & are doing whatever they can to make her more comfortable - like driving down to the ground floor of their apartment complex to start their walk instead of having Harley get stressed going through the hallways and elevator. doing that is a great use of Management to not trigger Harley before the walk has even begun 🐕‍🦺

03/23/2022

🤍🐾

What do you advocate for?

03/22/2022

Tito • goldendoodle • so much love for this little man!

with Tito we are working on the most common (& normal!) puppy behavior: nipping!😬

puppy parents - remember this is an age appropriate phase & with lots of patience, redirection, and providing your puppy with enough appropriate chewing, licking and mental/physical enrichment outlets, as well as providing adequate rest time - this stage will pass! 🦴

we’re also working on potty training, digging, sit, the basis of a “go to the couch!” behavior for when guests enter to avoid jumping at the door & getting him to like his harness being put on 🐾

I love this little baby & his family is doing such an amazing job with him! 🤍 👏🏽

03/20/2022

Macy • mixed • look at these puppy eyes!
Macy is one of the smartest pups I’ve ever met - her mom has taught her how to “talk” using buttons - so awesome! 🗣

we worked on reactivity towards dogs when on leash & new ideas to keep Macy mentally stimulated throughout the day so mom can get work done from home without lots of interruptions 😇

always remember exercising your dog physically is only a part of fulfilling their needs - mental enrichment is another big part! 🦴

02/05/2022

Cosmo • mixed • I think this sweet boy looks like he belongs in movies! ⭐️

Cosmo was recently adopted and despite his past not being the most loving environment - he loves people, other dogs & is adapting so beautifully to his new home! 🤍

we are working to teach Cosmo basic manner cues and also on his relationship with his new housemate - a cat! - which he is not accustomed to and thinks the only way to play is to chase 🐱

01/11/2022

Lenny & Gus • shih tzus • these brothers are a funny and adorable duo! 🤍

we worked on walks (incorporating sniffing and letting them pick the route), resource guarding, ‘stay’ and discussed potty accident & boredom behavior prevention! 🐾

01/04/2022

Baby • mixed • this sweet little girl is a riot! she LOVES people - so much so that on walks, all she wants to do is run and jump on every person she meets and tackle them with kisses! 🐾💋

we practiced Baby giving her mom attention on walks and letting her sniff to bring her stimulation level down. we’re teaching baby that when we say “ok!”, she can run and greet a person with enthusiasm and when we don’t, we’ll reward her for keeping to move with us 🤍

12/23/2021

So sweet! 🥰

12/18/2021

🤍 couldn’t agree more 🤍🐾

Dogs are not "it," they are "he," "she" or "they." They are not objects.

I don't want an "obedient" dog, I want a dog who has learned cues and follows through because she chooses options that are rewarding and beneficial.

I don't want a "submissive" dog, I want a friend. One with the ability to choose and to have the freedom to say "yes" and "no."

I don't want a "well-behaved" dog, I want a dog who has fully learned social skills in order to respond to her environment in ways that make her feel safe, comfortable and happy. I want her to be free to be in control of herself and her environment.

I don't "command" my dog. I ask. We have a partnership not a dictatorship. I make sure our interactions are consensual. If asking isn't an option, I make sure that I provide her with information in a consistent and meaningful way and teach her to feel okay with those situations when they arise.

I don't need to "fix" my dog. She's not broken. I do want to help her better cope with her challenges and learn new strategies that will help her navigate this human-centred society she lives in.

Language matters in the way we construct dogs and the way it shapes our own behaviour and attitudes.

12/08/2021

Katy & Behr • goldendoodles • these pups are the sweetest!

we are focusing on leash walking for both of them but especially young & spunky Katy!

In our first session we switched to 10ft leashes for them and it made a huge difference so that they were able to sniff at a reasonable distance without pulling 🤍

we also practiced rewarding the pups for checking in, which they picked up on very quickly! I can’t wait to practice with them again next week! 🤍

12/06/2021

Bruce • boxer • look at those puppy eyes! 🤍

at only a few months old, Bruce is already doing great learning his basic manners with his new family!

in his first session, we focused on jumping, “go to your bed” and walking on leash since he likes to bite at his leash as a fun game 🦴

we also talked about him playing with other dogs and how to make sure we help Bruce understand when other dogs have had enough & it’s time to take a break 😇

he picked everything up very quickly and is a super star student! Yay Bruce!

10/21/2021

Honored to have been interviewed by Voyage Miami for their Shoutout series! 🐾

You can read the article here: https://shoutoutmiami.com/meet-monica-crowley-certified-professional-dog-trainer/

10/08/2021

Loki & Lilly • malinois mix & frenchie• I love this adorable & sweet duo so much!

with both dogs we are working on guests coming over and people coming to the door to help reduce barking and overstimulation - a common thing - especially in a multi dog household where dogs tend to feed off each other’s energy. they are both doing great with this! 🤍

we are also working on transitioning Loki to a body harness for walks & managing Lilly’s feelings on walks towards seeing people and other dogs! 🦮

distance is our friend here and we’re using walks to a local park during our sessions to make sure we can give her lots of space 🐾

09/24/2021

Hoagie • mixed • you can see in Hoagie’s body language here that he’s fearful so this pic was taken quickly and at a distance while I tossed chicken!

Hoagie was rescued from a bad situation and is fearful of new people, especially women! so when I went over for our session, I followed some tried & true rules to make Hoagie feel safest:
• endless amounts of jerky bits, chicken & cheese were tossed to Hoagie as soon as I arrived and all throughout me talking to his parents (he didn’t have to get close to me to get this reinforcement - just my presence = treat party)
• I avoided eye contact and never approached Hoagie or put my hand out towards him
• I walked in very slowly and calmly and sat on the floor

all of these things put no pressure on Hoagie to interact with me and he could “take me in” from a distance at his own pace/comfort level 🤍

this led to Hoagie feeling comfortable enough towards the end of the session to come sniff me and eventually go lay down and close his eyes which was a huge win since normally he’s on alert the whole time around strangers 🤍

we are also working on separation anxiety with this sweet boy. I am so glad he is now in a safe and loving home 🙏🏽

09/21/2021

Otis • mini goldendoodle • I loved meeting this happy, adorable guy! 🤍

Otis and his parents live in nyc & were here visiting family so we got a training session in to set puppy ‘Otie’ up for success!

our main goal for Otis is getting him comfortable walking in the busy & loud city by encouraging sniffing & choices! we’ll be rewarding attention on walks which will help with pulling. we also worked on jumping, nipping and talked about separation training 🤍

he did great in our session & I look forward to continue working with Otie virtually as he gets back to his home in nyc 🏙

09/16/2021

Butters • maltipoo • Butters had a hard first few years of life which has made him very fearful and reactive towards strangers, both in his home and while on walks. his fear comes out as very stressed out barking which can be hard to manage and stressful for mom and Butters both!

our goal is to reduce stress in Butters’ life by making him realize that strangers are ok- we won’t let them pet him without him saying yes and he will get yummy food whenever they’re around 🐾

we’re also going to add in new feeding toys for inside the house that he can lick and sniff when guests are over to help destress him. here he is at the end of our session, finally starting to relax with me in his home, enjoying a chew - yay!

he is such a good boy & I’m so happy his mom is dedicated to helping him

09/09/2021

Hudson • golden retriever • can anyone handle this level of cuteness?! 🥺

we are working with Hudson on all normal puppy things! nipping, potty training, name recognition/come, drop it & what to do when that “bewitching hour” full of zoomies and craziness hits at night 😂

he loves his meal times so we’re using puzzle toys to slow him down & give him some extra mental stimulation 🧠

obviously I think he is an angel & an A+ student 🤍 I can’t wait to keep watching him grow and learn!

09/08/2021

“The prongs convey the same amount of force from pulling or a correction as the flat collar does, but the force is focused into a much smaller area.

We are aware of this intuitively every day. If you are walking barefoot through your house, would you rather step squarely on a Lego piece or a paperback book? Putting a good portion of your weight on a Lego piece hurts, even if the piece is not sharp enough to cut you. Why can you walk on top of the snow in snowshoes, but if you try it in spike heels they will punch through the snow and the rest of you will probably follow? Your weight is the same, but the force is concentrated.

Here’s why a prong collar works more like stiletto heels than like the webbing of a snowshoe....”

https://eileenanddogs.com/blog/2017/08/10/why-prong-collars-hurt/?fbclid=IwAR1mCqlAVcUkILEx_PlK4CtbwAc7JU2raTjTjXlXmiWe6I56n7iwxfY8sYk

The plain mathematical facts about prong collars compared to flat collars.

09/03/2021

Normal Dogs part 2....!

09/03/2021

Normal dogs.......

08/20/2021

I am not a machine.
I am not a tool.
I am not an entertainer.
I am not a therapist.
I am a horse.
—
I have emotions.
I feel pain.
I feel joy.
I feel fear, anxiety, rage, terror.
I feel contentment, affection, calmness.
I feel excitement, enthusiasm, curiosity.
I am a horse.
—
I am capable of self-expression, self-confidence, self-determination.
I am athletic.
I am proud.
I am playful.
—
I am capable of unimaginable beauty.
And unimaginable depth.
And unimaginable pain.
—
I have helped build your modern world.
Helped harvest your food.
Helped pull your carts.
—
I fought your wars.
—
I am not here to serve you.
I am not here to win your ribbons.
I am a horse.
—
I have sacrificed for your country.
—
I have been sacrificed for the pleasure of gamblers.
—
I have been put in solitary confinement... kept in boxes, behind bars.
I have been whipped. Kicked. Forced to submit my body for human pleasure, without consent.
—
It’s not too late to change this.
But only you hold the power to make a difference, for I am helpless against the whims of humans.
—
It starts with seeing me. Really *seeing* me.
As a horse.
As one who deserves love, respect, dignity NOT for what I can do for you, but for who I am.
-Kathy Sierra ()

08/13/2021

Games are only fun if you have a chance play... and win.

If the odds are not in your favour in a game you might still try. You might try a few times in fact, but if you don't win, even just once, soon your interest will fade and you may leave with a negative experience swearing off that activity for life. Winning keeps you engaged and focused. Little wins, big wins they all add up as endorphin hits to your brain which aid you in continuing on.

Our dogs get it. Ever watched play between a socially confident big dog and a little dog? The bigger dog will self handicap themselves by getting on the little dog's level. This is in order to provide an even, fair match. In these healthy exchanges the game is all about the joy it brings to the participants. Both dogs are 'winners'.

When our dogs are not able to succeed in activities because we have incorrect ideas about what it means when they do or when access to resources means they need to preform tasks first we are making life far more complicated and less enriching than it should be.

🏆 Play tug with your dog... and let them win.
🥓 Give your dog that treat... without asking for that trick.
🍃 Take a walk... and let your dog's nose lead the way.
🥣 Feed your dog their dinner... no one makes you 'wait' before you eat.
🛋️ Cuddle your dog... on the couch. And the bed.

08/11/2021

Gwen • pittie • rescued first by Everglades Angels Dog Rescue & then adopted by her amazing mama 🤍

Gwen is the most adorable & sweet “pocket pittie” who will win your heart over in 2 seconds 🤍

we are working on Gwen’s reaction to seeing other dogs on walks (which sometimes looks like over excited pulling but then not knowing what to do once she gets close!)

we’re also working on helping her feel less on edge in general in her busier neighborhood/apartment complex 🐾

she was an angel on our first walk as we kept a good distance from other dogs and rewarded her every time we saw one. can’t wait to see her again next week 🤍

08/05/2021

Penny • great pyrenees mix • Penny is a gorgeous sweet girl, rescued first by Big Dog Ranch Rescue and then adopted by 2 of the most amazing parents!

we are working on consent testing for petting, separation anxiety, fear of loud noises/walking in a busy city area which is full of them!, and resource guarding.

I love how dedicated Penny’s parents are to doing the best for her and keeping her happy & stress free 🐾

she is the sweetest dog (who gave me full body hugs & kisses upon meeting!) and I’m so happy to be a part of her journey 🤍

07/24/2021

Finnegan • mini daschund • is 100% puppy - full of energy, super loving & ready to play at all times! 🤍

his mom wasn’t able to take him out much due to waiting on puppy shots so now we are easing him into exploring the great big world! 🐾

we worked on nipping, barking (recognizing the different types like demand barking vs overstimulated while playing barking, etc) & talked about all the fun ways to fill his daily schedule to meet his physical, mental and emotional needs 🤍

his mom adores him - he is one lucky (& super cute) boy! 🤍🐾

07/22/2021

Maisy • goldendoodle • I’m so happy Maisy’s mom rescued her 🤍 she lived her first year and a half of life outdoors or in a crate with no human interaction 🥺

we’re working with Maisy on meeting her needs so we can see behaviors like jumping and overarousal (being “hyper”) lessen! 🐾

we are adding backyard play sessions into her daily routine & lots of mental enrichment, as well as rewarding calm behaviors and teaching Maisy how to relax 🤍

she LOVES fetch in the backyard & next session we’re going to start leash walking. I’m so honored to be a part of Maisy’s journey & can’t wait to watch her flourish 🤍🐾 all she wants is love!

07/20/2021

Maggie • mixed • how cute is this sweet puppy girl!?

Maggie lives in New York so I did a virtual session with her & her awesome mom 🤍

we talked about “come”, jumping, leash walking & drop it/leave it since if left to create their own fun...puppies like to grab shoes & other things they shouldn’t and run around with them 😂

so happy her mom has decided to use positive reinforcement with Maggie - they’re a great duo 🤍🐾