Minglewood Kennels

Minglewood Kennels Owned and operated by Lisa Cerone and Michael Cerone Providing boarding, grooming and positive training since 1994

06/18/2025

Riddle me this ?
When is a yawn not a yawn ?
When it is communication and a subtle signal that they may be uncomfortable.

Have you noticed that intense yawn when they are touched?
That "turn head" yawn when you meet another person and their dog on a walk?
What about that weird yawn they do when visitors arrive and the house is suddenly busier and louder than normal?

Yes.... a yawn can just be a yawn but sometimes these can be shown at times when your dog feels uncomfortable.
Being uncomfortable isn't necessarily a bad thing either.... but could there be a bit more going on than just being a bit unsettled?

Yawning can be a displacement sign, a way dogs can show they would like to calm the situation down a bit, release some stress or diffuse tension.

Just because we don't see the issue.....it doesn't mean your dog doesn't feel anxiety or discomfort.
In fact, often when we take note of these yawns...patterns become clear.

That allows us to advocate.
We can put our dogs feelings first at times they may be anxious or just help distract them when they are mildly uncomfortable.

Communication doesn't really mean much if no one listens.
So we do need to pay attention.

06/11/2025

Weird....Why did you do that?

Notice those little "quirky" things your dog does?
Displacement behaviours can be responsible for those "Hmmmm" moments.
Seemingly normal, everyday movements that are shown at times where it just feels a wee bit "odd" to us.

➡️The sneezing around another dog
➡️Stopping mid play to have a good ole scratch or nibble on their leg
➡️Ignoring everything....even exciting situations occurring around them and suddenly being very, very interested in that little tiny patch of grass.

Every dog seems to have their own "preferred" displacement behaviours.
Their own individual "tells".

It is a little like our own habits of scratching when we are thinking or tapping our feet when we feel a little unsure.

Take a note of these little curious signals your dog gives.
It can be a strong communication signal.

Can it just be a scratch at an odd time.....absolutely.
Watch for patterns.
Similarities in other situations can lead you to make more definite conclusions.

Just a scratch?
Or is there a bit more too it?

06/05/2025

It’s easy to label a dog’s behavior as “bad.”

They bark, they pull, they chew, they growl, they ignore cues. And we’re quick to call it disobedience.

But what if we stopped looking at behavior as something to correct… and started seeing it as something to understand?

Because the truth is, behaviour is communication.

It’s your dog’s way of navigating a human world that doesn’t always make sense to them.

It’s how they express their needs, emotions, fears, and excitement. It’s their voice.

When a dog jumps on guests, they may be overjoyed and unsure how else to say hello.

When they pull on leash, they’re excited, curious, or possibly anxious.

When they growl, they’re saying, “I’m uncomfortable, please give me space.”

None of these behaviours are “naughty” or malicious.

They’re messages and signals. Opportunities to listen.

Yet too often, these behaviours are punished or shut down without ever asking why they’re happening. We silence the symptom without addressing the cause.

And in doing so, we risk making things worse: not only suppressing behaviour, but suppressing trust.

When we shift our mindset from "disobedience" to "communication," our entire relationship with our dogs transforms. We move from frustration to empathy.

We need to teach our dogs that they can trust us to listen when they’re struggling. We become their safe place, not their source of pressure.

So the next time your dog “misbehaves,” pause.
Ask yourself: What are they trying to tell me?

Because every bark, every growl, every moment of resistance - that's not defiance.

It’s dialogue. And dogs are desperate for us to hear them.

05/15/2025

Not all pain shows up as a "limp".
Sometimes it looks like a dog who’s suddenly distant.
Grumpy.
Avoiding touch.
No longer interested in the things they used to love.

Dogs don’t always cry, yelp, or show obvious signs when they’re hurting — especially chronic or internal pain.
Often, their personality changes first.
There may be subtle shifts that might not look like “pain”… but absolutely are.

If your dog seems “off”….. trust that instinct.
It might not be old age, "stubbornness", or mood.
It might be pain.

Save this. Share it. It could help someone recognise what their dog has been trying to say.

This graphic proudly made and designed by humans is available from our website the address is on the graphic 🙂

05/13/2025

This really is our "fault" as a society.❗
Socialisation is a very misconstrued and warped term.
"Socialisation" really isn't play.
Play is a very separate and important skill.
"Why can't they play"?
Never said they couldn't....
However, because of the societal pressure to meet/play with "all" other dogs and puppies (wherever we take them) we can VERY easily set our dogs up to view all dogs and puppies as a source of constant amusement and excitement.
Soon that can become reactivity.
At the mere glimpse of another dog or puppy, your dog may go to an extreme of emotions.
They may "dig in" and drag you closer.
You may have little control.
The barking, shrieking and spinning can start....for two reasons, the emotional extremes dogs now have attached to other dogs/puppies and the absolute frustration because they can't reach that other dog quick enough.
So maybe the term "socialisation" is the issue, because for us it means "socialising".
Acclimation is a far better term.

05/04/2025

I love this

Author Ross McCammon

05/04/2025

May the 4th be with you and your Scots!

05/03/2025

Difficult subject.
We often ignore very clear signals given.
We don't mean to, but sometimes our needs override taking a step back and assessing.
➡️Our insistence as a society on patting dogs we just meet
➡️Ignoring subtle signals from our own dogs
➡️Not respecting that a dog can consent to touch (just as we can).
➡️Teaching children to say "yes" to patting dogs they have just met and do not know.
➡️Patting dogs when they are resting/sleeping because they look "just so cute".
➡️Not respecting that they have the right to change their mind and that the patting and cuddling habits may have changed today...and that is OK !
➡️Completely ignoring the moving away, turning away and sometimes "wrestling" with a fidgety dog just to give them love...by patting.

In saying all this, this graphic is also very individual.
Some dogs will flatten their ears in preparation for a good pat session that they thoroughly enjoy.

Take a second look.
Adjust what you are doing if you have to.
It will only increase your bond...not diminish it.

This is handout is available through https://www.abcdogsnz.com/product-page/abc-dogs-patting-a-dog

05/02/2025

Behavior “problems” people tell me their dog has (and they want to fix) that I find extremely relatable -

- He doesn’t like it when people he doesn’t know come to the house, especially if it’s a man.
- SAME
*dogs don’t understand company coming over. They have no concept of UPS, Amazon Prime, or family barbecues. The majority of time in human civilization that dogs have existed with us did not include ANY of these things. They are mostly still hardwired to view unknown visitors on their territory as a potential threat or danger. We forget that most of the time we KNOW who’s coming, but our dogs don’t. And imagine if you didn’t know and suddenly a stranger showed up wanting to come in and hug you. I bet you’d freak out too*

- He’s fine with people he knows, but he doesn’t like it if a stranger tries to or does touch him.
- SAME
*dogs are not public property. I wouldn’t allow a stranger to touch my child or baby simply because she’s cute, why my dog? Dogs should be able to choose if they want to interact with someone and people need to learn how to accept and understand when they say no politely, before the dog feels they have to escalate to get more distance*

- She doesn’t want me to touch her while she’s eating and will sometimes growl or grumble if she has a toy and I try to take it away.
- SAME
*ever try to take away a kids Easter candy? How about taking someone’s money that they are holding in their hand? How do you feel when someone takes food off your plate? Sharing doesn’t come naturally to humans OR dogs, but for dogs it’s rooted in survival and completely normal.*

- She growls when the kids lay on her if she’s sleeping, or if I try to move her when she’s on the couch napping.
- SAME
*not wanting to be bothered when resting is also natural and normal. If I groan and get irritated when my kids do that to me, I’m not labeled as aggressive or unpredictable. What dogs do to communicate irritation or discomfort is absolutely acceptable, and yet they are the ONLY creatures that we see this behavior as a problem*

- He used to be fine with big social gatherings like the dog park. Now he’s not.
- SAME
*behavior and ideas of “fun” change as we get older and mature. Same happens to dogs. I’d love a nice bath and a book at the end of the day now, not a night on the town. Nothing happened to me, I just grew up. Dogs are the same way many times. Their likes and dislikes aren’t always concrete and we have to learn to adapt with them, just as we do ourselves*

I seriously could write these all day. All it takes is a mild shift in perspective to see the issues we label as bad or rude or negative in dogs are often COMPLETELY normal mix and “fixing” them first starts with understanding them, then helping your dog, and meeting in the middle. Training is appropriate in lots of different situations but it’s useless if we fail to actually realize dogs as the animals they are. The more we do this, the easier life with these amazing creatures is for both of us.

- Helen St. Pierre

04/25/2025

"Help❗"
"Calm my dog down."
I get it....I really do.
Teaching "Find" seems too simple to actually help.
Years ago I thought the same.
We can forget about a dogs natural instincts and just HOW important they are to encourage.
We can lose sight of the fact that many dogs enjoy being mentally challenged.
If you want to add relaxation, boost confidence, add enrichment, increase optimism......AND calm them.....teach this.
Easy video tutorial in the comments which also has other ways to help calm a dog.

This dog training graphic is available from https://www.abcdogsnz.com/product-page/abc-dogs-nz-find-simple-and-rewarding-fun?srsltid=AfmBOorG8zowpPmQNon7SpwAAQaPqcPUia5MXFgTy9u54x4oqMlgLTqt

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83 Sliker Road
Glen Gardner, NJ
08826

Telephone

+19088322104

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