k9wise

08/20/2024

Research has shown that, in general, dogs show less stress at the vets if they remain in the proximity of the owner. There may be a tendency for some practitioners to feel the dog shows more undesired attempts at escape in the presence of the owner so they recommend examinations or procedures away from them. Work published in 2020 showed that dogs whose owners sat next to them in a chair during the vet examination (dogs were examined on non-slip matting on the floor) showed a reduced number of stress measurements compared with dogs whose owners were not in the room for the same examination

Amber Batson
Canine Behaviour in Mind
Edited by S Rogers

08/05/2024

If you hear or see any of these terms, choose a different dog trainer/walker/boarder/daycare/pet sitter/groomer, or veterinarian. There’s no place for pain and fear in professional animal training or pet services. Period.

Find the best dog service providers near you - FAST! The leading dog directory connecting you with vets, groomers, walkers, pet shops, trainers and more.

07/24/2024

“When we recently rescued Diesel, he came with a lot of really challenging behaviors. He would play tug-of-war with the leash every time we put it on, would never come when called, would jump on my daughters, would always be right at the table at dinner time, would not pay attention, etc…
We’ve had dogs in the past, but working with Gene, we learned so many new things about dogs that are helping us make great progress with Diesel. It’s so nice to sit and have dinner now while he is on his mat, walks are getting much easier, the jumping is ten times better, and just the other day I was so happy to see him come running straight to me at top speed (the first time I called him and from over two-hundred feet away)! I’m so glad that my veterinarian recommended Gene to me. He made the training sessions very convenient and made everything really easy to understand. I also highly recommend him! Thanks, Gene!” –Thomas

Ready to enjoy a calmer, quieter, more stress-free life with your furry best friend? Contact me today to schedule a free consultation! k9wise.com

07/17/2024

Congratulations Group 42!

"Graduation Day for Group 42! Thanks to Dr. Jodi Ford, Director of Career, Technical and Higher Education for the Georgia Department of Corrections for being our Keynote Speaker! The Rescued Program is so appreciative to all the staff and volunteers that remain steadfast in their passion in commitment in changing lives! ❤️🐾"

07/11/2024

It was great to get back to training today after the hiatus. Everyone is excited for graduation next week!

06/29/2024

Back in 2018, a review paper in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior outlined the reasons why, in their words, "there is no credible scientific evidence to justify e-collar use and the use of spray collars or electronic fences for dogs. On the contrary, there are many reasons to never use these devices. Better training options exist, with proven efficacy and low risk.” If you want to know more, you can read about the study on my blog: https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2018/06/study-outlines-reasons-to-ban.html in a post from the archives.

06/26/2024

Dogs and cats living together? Mass hysteria?

Thinking about adding a new puppy to the family? Dog won't leave the cats alone? Contact me today to make sure you and all your furry friends start off on the right paws! k9wise.com

"...thanks to Gene's guidance, we were able to seamlessly introduce Bowie to our [three] cats, creating a harmonious environment at home..."

"Gene is an outstanding dog trainer who worked wonders with our puppy, Bowie. His expertise and guidance were instrumental in teaching Bowie essential commands like sit, lay down, and come when called. With Gene's help, Bowie now walks on a leash with ease, behaves impeccably in the car, and respects boundaries around the house. Gene's online training program was highly effective, allowing us to learn and practice from the comfort of our home.Moreover, Gene didn't just focus on Bowie; he equipped us with the knowledge and tools necessary for successful potty training, selecting appropriate toys, and fostering good habits. Additionally, thanks to Gene's guidance, we were able to seamlessly introduce Bowie to our cats, creating a harmonious environment at home. Gene's dedication, expertise, and effective training methods have made a world of difference for Bowie and our entire family. We wholeheartedly recommend Gene to anyone looking for top-notch dog training services." -Beth

In-home dog training services for Clay & Cherokee Counties, NC, and Union & Towns Counties, GA. Virtual training available anywhere.

06/24/2024

♥️🐶😻🐾

06/21/2024

Brand new website is LIVE! Come on in and take a look around! k9wise.com

06/13/2024

06/11/2024

06/06/2024

We started off with a quick session to discuss any issues and/or positive events the group had over the last week. Fortunately, the rain held off, and we were able to do our training outside. We worked on loose-leash walking today - which literally starts with one step at a time. Teaching our dogs to not pull on a leash during a walk is an important skill for dogs to learn. While it is much safer for the handler and the dog, it can make taking your dog in public places much more pleasant. Everyone made great progress!!

05/02/2024

Another inspiring day with Class 42 and their amazing dogs. This morning, we learned that it’s important to let dogs be dogs. When a dog first goes outside or in this case, out of their crate in the dorm into a new area, let the dog go wherever he wants in the room and sniff without letting the leash go tight; keep it loose. Sniffing is the most enriching activity for a dog. As humans, we go on Facebook and the news to see what’s going in our friends lives and around the world. We get all our information say from our phone…a dog is gathering a ton of information while sniffing. Once he’s got all his information and puts his phone down…oh no, I meant stopped sniffing, the dog checks in with his handler and is ready to learn. We capture that behavior, and as we continue to capture other good behaviors, the dog is learning to give polite greetings, loose leash walking, and checking in with their handler…all these behaviors get me yummy treats…I’m going to continue to do this behavior. Afterwards we continued some work in the dorm to help the dogs get more secure in their environment and help reduce their stress over other dogs being in near proximity ~ k9wise

04/25/2024

What a wonderful morning for all at Colwell Rescued Program! We worked on polite greetings with the first three dogs that arrived Tuesday, as we excitedly awaited the arrival of the next three dogs to complete our class. The dogs got to meet their new handler and check out their new home for the next 12 weeks. To set the dogs up for success and as little stress as possible, we received the dogs out in the yard, let them sniff around, and took only one dog at a time into the unoccupied dorm with their handler to take all the time they needed to sniff everything and get acclimated to their new space with as little stimulation as possible. We then brought that dog out and introduced the next dog, etc. Once complete, all dogs were returned to their crate, and we completed the class in the dorm. The dogs were rewarded for their quiet behavior; even when Officer Carter came in to perform a test head count and check the back door, the dogs remained quiet and were reinforced. It was an absolutely amazing intake day, and we look forward to working with Class #42.

04/25/2024

Please consider how we are using crates...

Dogs shouldn't be in crates 8 hours a day. Crates are for assisting with toilet training and to help teach young dogs what they can and cannot chew.

Crates shouldn't be used to confine our dog from 8am until 5.30 pm while we're at work with or without a break during the day for toileting.

If we're using crates for nighttime sleeping, our objective should be to have them sleeping in their beds within the shortest time frame for them as possible.

I'm aware that I'm using the word "should" a lot here. This is based in my education and experience.

Please consider how we are using crates.

EDIT - please don't comment anything supporting keeping a dog crated all day. Please don't comment saying "I leave the door open" etc, because you're not "crating" your dog in the way I'm educating against here.

04/23/2024

The first three new dogs have arrived, and Group 42 is off to a great start! We began the morning learning important handling skills, such as the correct way to hold a leash and how to put on a harness. The men learned how to mark and reinforce desirable behaviors, and how to not reinforce undesirable behaviors; reinforcement drives behavior. Next, one by one, the dogs were brought into the dorm, where they were allowed to sniff to their heart's content around what will be their new home for the next three months.

One of the dogs was so full of wild energy, constantly jumping and grabbing people’s legs, that for the training demo, we channeled that energy by clicker training “sit.” It was great to watch as she went around in a circle and proudly and joyfully sat nicely for a treat from the thirteen individuals in the room! Looking forward to the next three dogs arriving on Thursday! -k9wise

04/18/2024

Group 42 - Dog Body Language with k9wise New dogs arrive next week so stay tuned!! ❤️🐾

04/09/2024

It’s very fitting that Scout’s “Graduation Day” from our Shy/fearful Dog Training Program happened to take place on a campus. Her family has done so much to learn about her and to help her to feel safe. Today, she truly enjoyed walking around a very busy campus while having many positive encounters with people. She even started to approach a couple of people or to just lie down calmly and watch them walk by. It’s been such a joy and an honor to witness her epic transformation!

04/08/2024

"Until you've had a reactive or fearful dog, you can't understand what these dogs (and their owners) go through after an encounter with an unleashed dog."

Until you've had a reactive or fearful dog, you can't understand what these dogs (and their owners) go through after an encounter with an unleashed dog.

It not only increases anxiety in your dog, but it makes YOU anxious, as well. The result? The next time you're out for a walk, instead of enjoying the time with your dog, you are constantly on guard, your eyes scanning the area relentlessly for a dog to come running at you out of nowhere.

Like clockwork, you will yell to me that your unleashed and uncontrolled dog racing toward us is friendly, but that's not the point. My dog is fearful, and that fear is going to trigger a reaction. My dog is on a leash so that I can (1) ensure his safety and (2) control his environment - both of which are compromised when your unleashed dog approaches us.

After the encounter, my dog and I are left trying to decompress from the very stressful situation that just happened.

Our relaxing walk ruined.

Our bonding time rudely interrupted.

In most public spaces, the law requires dogs to be leashed. It's for their safety and the safety of others.

Our dogs depend on us to keep them safe.

Our community depends on us to be responsible owners and leash our dogs.

When in public and sharing common space with others, we should have (at the very least) a BASIC RESPECT for ALL those around us.

PLEASE LEASH YOUR DOG!!

04/06/2024

They work because they hurt. They are not pain-free, humane, or safe.
Please read.

By Ren Volpe

04/01/2024

That moment when, after lots of patience and focused training, your client’s shy/fearful dog has a major breakthrough!
Scout was terrified of men. We have now successfully introduced her to four new men while keeping her feeling calm and safe. She’s come such a long way in just a few weeks.
Today, for the first time, she nearly jumped into my lap to try to lick my beard, all while her tail was in a comfortable, happy position.
I’m so happy for Scout and her family who are well on their way to a more confident and happy four-legged companion…

03/30/2024

Group 41 graduation is this Tuesday!

03/26/2024

"Human Behaviors Predict Dog Bites."

Our goal is to prevent, treat and effectively manage behavior problems in companion animals to enhanc

03/22/2024

You asked for it and we listened!

We are very excited to launch our brand new website that’s going to make it easy for people and their dogs to get expert dog training in-home locally, and online across the country and around the globe.

Stay tuned for an announcement of the official launch date! Coming very soon…
k9wise.com