A Little Help for Dog Friends

08/05/2023

What's the best dry dog food, and what should you look for when shopping for healthy dog foods? Here's the criteria to look for, read on.

06/14/2023

05/08/2023

Are you pregnant, know someone who's pregnant, or planning on expanding your family in the future? Don't miss our Dogs & Storks - Preparing Families with Dogs for Life with Baby workshop being held June 10th at 2 pm at Sandy Meadow Farm in Westfield, MA. Pre-registration required. https://www.pawsofnature.com/services/dogs-and-baby

03/11/2023

Things people say about their dogs that I can totally relate to.

“She really doesn’t like strange men approaching her”

Same.

“He hates being restrained”

Same.

“She’s super food motivated”

Same.

“When we go somewhere new with a lot of noise, he gets really anxious and wants to leave”

Same.

“If you touch her while she’s eating she gets really stiff and looks at me like she might growl”

Same.

“He doesn’t want to go to the bathroom outside when it’s raining”

Same.

“I can tell when I ask her to do something, she looks at me wondering if she’ll get a reward”

Same.

"He's fine with new people, but gets uncomfortable if they try to touch him"

Same.

“If she’s in the middle of doing something and distracted, and I ask her to come over to me, she doesn’t do it right away she finishes that and then maybe she’ll listen but I usually have to call her again”

Same.

Why are these behaviors that are so totally normal and understandable with humans and other animals not acceptable or “problems” with dogs? Why are we so quick to assume that just because we have dogs in our lives, that their personal preferences, individual personalities and also natural behaviors should just change simply because it’s more convenient for us? Seriously.

Maybe the first step is looking through a new lens. A lens of understanding and empathy and realizing dogs are the ONLY creatures on this earth we do this to….. other than our kids but that’s a whole other can of worms. No one has ever called me in tears after trying to give their cat a bath and told me the cat didn’t like it hissed at them, and they don’t know what’s wrong with it - but I get calls like this for dogs all the time. It’s just assumed that dogs should and will tolerate what we expect and when they don’t, that’s a problem. But what if it isn’t? What if it’s just that dog? Why are we doing this to them? It’s making them crazy…. And making dog trainers even more crazy.

Take a step back. Look through a new lens. Behavior can be worked on, of course. But maybe it’s your behavior that has to change first, then we can talk about the dog.

02/15/2023

SALE ENDS SOON! HURRY!

We’re doing our best to make it really hard for you to say no to a pretty great offer to help you make changes in your dog’s life!
Don’t just believe us – listen to some class alumni:

“Seriously, it’s the most thoughtful, thorough, and comprehensive course with evolving concepts for lasting changes that I have ever experienced. Forever grateful to you both for your patience and guidance in helping us progress with our dogs.” – Pat

“Having access to Mark for direct responses to my questions. The thoughts he shared regarding how to address certain concerns and issues are helping us move down a much more productive path with Buddy in helping him overcome his fears (reactivity of a different kind). Also, there is so much helpful information available in the videos and Q&A sessions, and having the video replays of those Q&A sessions is hugely helpful.” – Susan

Jump in now at today’s very special price - that's 20% off, today only!

To claim your 20% discount, visit:

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and then input the special code HEARTDOG23 - don't forget to click the button to apply your discount!

10/07/2022

As each holiday comes around the sundial, it presents new challenges for worried dogs. Halloween might not include backyard fireworks (yet), but it does offer surprises where dogs otherwise walk comfortably every day.

If you're not already walking your dog with a good treat pouch hooked to your waist, you might be missing a good opportunity to practice counter-conditioning skills. When you encounter any graves, ghosts, skeletons or jack o'lanterns, watch your dog's reaction. If you see any hesitation or concern, back away and offer food with a happy voice (you know the voice - the kind that brings neighbors to their windows with concerned expressions). The most important piece is to allow your dog to make his own choice about approaching.

It's not necessary to feed only approaches and curiosity. Feeding worry can also be very helpful.

If your dog is significantly frightened, leave and give it another go tomorrow; there are weeks to go for changing your dog's emotional response from fear to indifference (or, more likely, excitement about more cheese).

08/22/2022

Shocking price increases in some pet food brands.

08/22/2022

Ever noticed those slits at the sides of a dog’s nose? Why do dogs have them?

Once again, nature proves her elegance in the design of our dogs. When we humans inhale and exhale, air comes in the same way it goes out. Any smells that come in through our mouths are forced out as we exhale.

When a dog exhales through his nose, however, the exhaled air is released through those slits and off to the side so that nice, smelly air going into the dog’s nostrils doesn’t get diluted with the outgoing air. Put another way, the slits allow the dog to avoid smelling what he just exhaled.

The slits help the dog hold scent particles in the nostrils even as exhaled air passing out the slits creates a swirling air turbulence allowing interesting odors to be inhaled directly into the centre of each nostril. Since dogs breathe faster when trying to sniff a certain smell, they widen their nostrils to pull in more air which makes it possible for a dog searching for smells to have a steady stream of air coming in for up to 40 seconds, maybe even longer.

The slits also allow dogs to wiggle each nostril independently which gives them the ability to know which nostril a smell entered. This is how a dog can pinpoint where a smell is coming from, and why a dog searching for smells on the ground will weave back and forth as he follows a trail.

We all know the superb smelling abilities of dogs, but let’s use an analogy between scent and sight to really put it into perspective: What we as humans can see at a third of a mile, our dog can see more than 3,000 miles away and still see as well.
Vetscene

08/22/2022

So valuable to understand this.

08/21/2022

Have you ever heard of a big dog suddenly chasing and killing a much smaller one? Perhaps they were playing even, just before the sudden switch. I have. It's unfortunately happened in the last few years in my own village. It's devastating, it's unpredictable, and it's real.

Importantly, IT IS NOT AGGRESSION. It's a phenomenon called predatory drift and it's why my own canine family are managed so closely and responsibly.

Pictured are two of our dogs. Little and large. Beast and button. Big sis and little sis. Call them what you like, but just because they know each other VERY well does not mean they will ever coexist together like similar sized dogs can. It would just not be safe. And it would be neither of their faults.

Just a run and squeal from the little'un could trigger off the big'un. Any "prey-like" behaviour and she could trigger off instincts in her that are akin to a wolf catching and ingesting prey. It's instincts, not aggression. It's not even a choice she would be making.

ALL DOGS CAN BE TRIGGERED INTO PREDATORY DRIFT if the environmental circumstances around them trigger it off e.g. if they're around a dog much smaller than themselves. Daycares for example and even dog walkers need to be aware of this when mixing breeds.

The risk of predatory drift is heightened as well if:

* There is more than one large dog to the small
* They are allowed to play (which has its risks just for sheer size differences as well!)
* The smaller dog is in any way fearful and likely to run, whine or squeal
* The dog is likely a "finisher" i.e. would normally not hesitate to catch a squirrel and eat it right then and there. Some parts of the predatory sequence have been enhanced and/or inhibited in some breeds, but some dogs would still exhibit the full sequence from eye to kill to digest.

How do we manage our family?

* The dogs are never walked together without the both of us humans present. EVER.
* We use long lines as a management tool
* We keep all walks calm and environment focused.
* Absolutely no direct interactions with each other is encouraged on walks. They are in fact called away from any direct interactions.
* They are kept in separate rooms in the house. ALWAYS.
* We do not slack on our management or supervision even for a second. Because that's all it could take. And again, it would be neither of their faults.

(It is our choice to implement this level of management from our own risk assessment of these particular dogs since our family joined together a year ago. Our dogs also have other difficulties beyond the risk of predatory drift so strict management is key for their safety).

As you can see the size difference is significant. They have a lovely relationship. Their tails will wag when they see each other coming into the house and they will touch noses either side of the baby gate. But being the "best of friends" wouldn't stop an accident happening. Predatory drift is not born out of anger, frustration, dislike of one another. It's completely separate. The only way of ensuring it doesn't happen is through awareness and management.

A quick google search will bring up lots of articles on predatory drift and the risks. It is important to be aware of this, whether you're the guardian of a giant breed, or guardian of a toy breed, or frankly, anything in between. Predatory drift between dogs is not too common, but it always has devastating consequences.

Knowledge and awareness is key 🐾💜

Please note: predatory drift is NOT dogs fighting as a result of over stimulated play. Predatory drift is NOT dogs arguing over a resource such as food. Predatory drift is NOT dog-dog reactivity. There are many reasons why one dog may show aggressive behaviour responses to another and the majority of them would not count as predatory drift.