K9 Pawsitive Solutions

24/10/2025

Many people are surprised to learn that dogs rarely show pain in the way humans do. When we’re in pain, we often rest, complain, or seek help because we understand that help is possible. Animals don’t. They have no concept of treatment, pain relief, or medical care. So instead of showing vulnerability, they do what evolution has taught them: they cope, hide it, or change their behaviour to get through it.

Showing weakness can make an animal a target. Predators and competitors notice when another animal is limping, moving slowly, or acting “off.” To stay safe, most species have evolved to mask discomfort as long as they can. Because dogs don’t understand that pain can be treated, they adjust their behaviour instead of seeking help.

They:

Move differently or avoid certain positions.
Growl, snap, or shy away from touch.
Refuse stairs or jump less often.
Become irritable, restless, or withdrawn.
Lick, chew, or fixate on one area of their body.

These changes are often subtle at first, which is why owners sometimes assume their dog is “being difficult,” “stubborn,” or “suddenly reactive,” when in fact the dog is simply coping with discomfort the only way it knows how.

Pain changes behaviour and many people may respond with punishment or increased pressure, which only adds fear and tension to the mix. Recognising pain isn’t always easy, but it’s one of the most important parts of behavioural work. Many “behavioural” issues improve dramatically once pain is identified and managed.

Watch for changes in posture, movement, or mood even small ones.
Record patterns of behaviour (time of day, activity, weather, etc.).
Seek a veterinary check if your dog’s behaviour changes unexpectedly.
Avoid confrontation or punishment. A dog in pain needs compassion, not correction.

Animals don’t mask pain because they’re stoic or dramatic; they do it because they don’t know there’s another option. They can’t connect “I hurt” with “someone can help me.” So they cope, compensate, or protect themselves the only way evolution taught them to.

10/07/2025

During this wonderful (but toasty!) summer season, Nyssa would like to encourage everyone to grab their favorite toy, find a prime location in front of an a/c vent, and take a well deserved rest. You've earned it. 😉

07/07/2025

Some days, training at the VCA rescue doesn't look like training at all. Some days it's snuggling on the couch for a nap because they just want a little bit of normal. That was our day yesterday. Sad, tired eyes, that pleaded for a comfy nap with a trusted human. (Of course, I was happy to be his pillow.)

Other days, we're achieving things that excite everyone, like Koda and Sasha becoming friends.

Sasha was terrified of everything and everyone not very long ago.

Today, she's the rescue's critter therapist/emotional support pup. Friend and wrestle buddy to scared kittens, and a comfort pup for the scared dogs. She seems to be thinking "I know what it's like to be afraid. I'm here to help."

Koda is quite fearful of other dogs and barks loudly to try to make them go away. With a lot of work prior to going to his previous home, he got to where he could be neutral around other dogs, but I never thought I'd see Koda play with another dog! After being charged by multiple off leash dogs in both foster and his former adopter's homes, it seemed like all that work was gone.

Thanks to Sasha's calm, non-threatening demeanor and playful puppy antics, we've gotten to see him turn into a loose, wiggly, goofy puppy. Even if the play only lasts for a minute or two before everyone needs a break, it's a win their whole team is going to celebrate.

Next, maybe we'll work on looking at the camera at the same time. 😁

(Koda still doesn't feel safe with other dogs in general, but making even one dog friend has given us all a lot of hope. It's *possible* for him to trust the right kind of dog enough to LIKE them with work and careful progression. He is fantastic with cats and children who are big enough to tolerate occasional excited jumping.)

If you'd like more information on Koda, please message me, I can talk about that amazing boy all day.

21/06/2025

Koda still loves to learn. We refreshed some former skills and worked on a few new ones. We're currently working on cooperative care for nail trims so he can opt in or out rather than feeling trapped.

This boy is the best I've ever seen at reading and respecting animal body language. He loves cats, and was happy to make friends with a kitten at rescue, until the kitten hissed at him. He now refuses to go within 4 feet of the kitten, even if I'm holding the kitten. He looks over and you can almost hear him say "nope, he doesn't feel safe with me there, I'll just stay over here until you put him away."

If you're a cat person and have always wanted a dog, this is the boy for you.

We are actively working on his fear of other dogs, so for now, Koda needs to be the only dog in the home. It may take awhile to get him back to where he was before. He's been charged by off leash dogs several times, which has undone much of our work in that area, but he remembers our training, and is quickly improving.

This boy is all love, and just wants to snuggle on the couch with his humans. He can be trusted in a home without being kenneled, he'll just nap while he waits for you.

Training is also super fun for him, so if you like teaching your dogs new tricks, this boy will rock them all.

Message me or VCA for more information on Koda. And please, share him! He's been dealt raw deal after raw deal. He deserves a forever home who will love him as much as we do.

14/02/2025

I'm officially adding 'Fear Free Certified trainer' to my credentials. 😁

08/10/2024

30/08/2024

The following content may be disturbing for some viewers, as it covers the tragic demise of Crocky.

In the short time he lived in our home, he spent a vast majority of his time being carried around or cuddled by one dog or the other, with Nyssa often opting to abandon Cooper in favor of her new, blue, best friend. Crocky's only alone time was while a squirrel mercilessly taunted his soon to be murderers from the safety of a tree in the yard.

Crocky knew love and life for a lengthy 22 hours and 51 minutes before being brutally disemboweled by my two vicious beasts.

In order to spare you the full horror of this heinous attack, I've trimmed Crocky's final 5 minutes down to a mere 70 seconds, and placed his final photo in the comments.

Crocodile tears will be shed by all.

28/08/2024

Every once in a while, I like to waste money and play a game called "How long will this survive my two, 60-lb dogs?" My initial bet was 20 minutes... but it does seem fairly sturdy, so I'm going to give it a full 48 hours before it gets its first hole, and a week before it's completely destroyed.
What are your guesses?

27/07/2024

We had a wonderful discussion on creating clarity between you and your dog for this month's roundtable. If you weren't able to join us live, you can catch it here:

Join Victoria and the Positively Episode in another information packed Roundtable Discussion about creating clarity between you and your dog.