Team Percy Pet Center

11/16/2024

He is the happiest dog when I come in to let everyone out, and he absolutely loves this toy!

11/16/2024

Goat shenanigans...

They decided to make a break for it and use the barn stairs as their personal jungle gym 🤦‍♀️

The convicts have been apprehended and are currently on house arrest awaiting trial 🤣

11/15/2024

Dixon update!

Last weekend I went to a dog show in Kalamazoo, while I was away family took care of Dixon and the other dogs. Dixon was very stressed and when I came back he was having accidents in his crate more frequently and escaping the kennel he was in.

I decided to try an X-pen that was taller than the kennel he was in and we have had no escapes since yesterday. He also seems much calmer having a larger area.

I did put puppy pads in the x-pen because he tends to use them if they are available, making clean up much easier.

Overall he has gained weight, none of his ribs show anymore, although his spine and hip bones still poke out, I think muscle tone and time will improve that.

He is a much happier boy now and it is time to begin training.

As mentioned previously, he does have some training, I am going to polish that up and teach him tracking or scent work (not sure which one yet, possibly both!).

He also loves the other dogs and we have introduced him to them but still don't allow rough play because we don't want him to get accidentally injured.

11/13/2024

11/12/2024

🐶Special holiday boarding and training!🐶

Boarding: Are you traveling this holiday season? Put your mind at ease and board your dog with Team Percy Pet Center. Prioritizing comfort and safety I ensure every dog gets everything it needs to have the perfect holiday!

Training: Worried Fido is going to ruin the holidays with his antics? Contact me today to book a private consultation and start training as soon as the next day!

Limited space available, inquire today!

https://forms.gle/TqEtgSfqLanZFoiQ6

11/11/2024

A huge thank you to everyone that helped Dixon out!

Everything is coming in very handy for the boy.

Also, he was very unimpressed that I siezed the opportunity for a photo op. 😂

11/11/2024

Dixon update!

I was gone for the weekend at a dog show in Kalamazoo and I had family taking care of Dixon and the other dogs.

He was not very happy that I was gone but he was ok. He started having acidents in the crate again, and escaping the crate. When he escapes he isn't destructive, he just plays with toys and eats any food that he can find.

My family set-up my indoor/outdoor Retriver kennel (about 4.5' by 4.5') for him, he can jump out of it, but he uses the puppy pads that are in there.

Thank you everyone that contributed to Dixons wishlist!

More updates to come, I am just recovering and gettibg reorganized.

11/03/2024

Amazon wishlist for Dixon!

I tried to keep everything on the cheaper side so that it was affordable for anyone that wants to contribute.

These are all things that I am using/would be greatly helpful while he is getting into a better physical condition.

If there is anything that you feel would be helpful for him that is not on the list, please message me a link and I will look into it.

He has not had any accidents in the crate since Friday! So he is doing very well with that and I am comfortable giving him bedding (albeit washable).

Dixon Supplies - Amazon Gift List - https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/WWOP1XFEJUZC

All products will be exclusively used for Dixon.

11/03/2024

Do you have a dog with a chronic skin, ear, itch or gut condition that you just can't get right? If so, check out my NEW & FREE 5-step protocol over on drconorbrady .com.

This approach WILL work for the majority of dogs suffering such issues.

Better still, it costs bu**er all (certainly compared to what you're currently spending...with no end in sight...).

On the site you'll now find a series of 5 short vids which will explain what's going on, that long-term healing from the above issues comes from focusing on the gut. It heals the majority of such cases I deal with. Sadly, as the veterinary sector today pays zero regard to the link between gut health and inflammation, dogs with issues centralised here will never recover.

This new approach is actually for my neighbour who has a chronically itchy dog that cut me off mid-sentence during the week "Conor, for the love of God, give me the baby and not the birth".

That happens me a lot, you won't be surprised to hear.

[Do you like my image, supposed to be like a rising sun of hope behind...]

11/02/2024

Dixon update!

We have had quite the week!

Monday was the vet visit, Tuesday was the first day with minimal accidents in the crate, Thursday Dixon decided to escape his crate and partake in good old thievery from my current boarding dog (minties and h**p treat, surprisingly very little effect), yesterday I found a tick on him (I got it off, it was very small).

He has also been trying to steal one of my other dogs blankets from through the crate bars and yesterday, I finally caved and gave it to him (I hadn't wanted him to to make a mess of it). He had it in his crate last night and this morning he had no accidents in his crate, at all. I was so proud of him!

I also got to thinking this morning, and I wanted to ask you guys. Would anyone be interested if I set-up an Amazon wishlist for stuff that would be helpful for Dixon? I would keep it exclusive to Dixon, and there wouldn't be much on it, but I thought I would ask.

10/29/2024

Guys we are celebrating a win with Dixon today!!!

This is the first morning that he has not had an issue in his crate overnight. I am so proud of this boy!

As I mentioned yesterday, he is on an antibiotic, a dewormer, a nutrient supplement, and psyllium husk (fiber). So something definitely worked for him!

I will share a bigger update tomorrow.

10/28/2024

Dixon update!

He went to the vet today, I learned he doesn't really like being at the vet. It is definitely something we will be working on.

We ran a f***l to rule out any intestinal parasites, and a heartworm and tick-borne disease test. He tested positive for lyme disease and is on a 30-day course of antibiotics. The vet did not see any intestinal parasites, but there is a 20-30% chance he has whipworms and they didn't show up so he is on a 3-day course of dewormer for that.

He also recieved his Rabies, DHPP, and Bordetella (kennel cough) vaccines.

I also learned he really likes car rides...

10/22/2024

Update on Dixon!

He is doing great!

I am working on getting weighton him and just overall regulation of his body.

From what I have observed/heard of him he did not have a steady routine at all and that is one of the most important things for dogs.

He is eating very well, he is getting just under 3 cups per day currently.

He loves being outside and doesn't like the crate very much, especially overnight. He doesn't hate it, he is just very anxious about it.

P.S. I was very busy yesterday and was unale to sit down and get an update written up.

Pictures of him catching treats and practicing his down command this afternoon.

10/18/2024

Update on Dixon!

I decided to make a video today. It's almost 14 minutes long because apparently I don't know how to keep explanations short 😂

Anyway, here's the link!

10/16/2024

Introducing Dixon (formerly Birch)!

This guy has been owner surrendered due to some minor issues in the home that caused tension with the landlord.

He is very sweet, nervous but that is expected.

He does seem to have some prior training but it needs worked on.

I am told he is a Schiller Hound mix (I am leaning towards him having sighthound in him due to his deep chest and very slim build).

I am assessing his behaviors over the coming weeks.

10/28/2023

This is the blog post I just published. I wanted to share it as a post here so that you can share it. I would love it if you shared this with your friends. I think that this is truly something that more people should be aware of before seeking a trainer.

This may ruffle some feathers, just a forewarning.

I also want to make clear that this is MY OPINION

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Hello everyone,

It has been quite a while since I wrote a blog post and sent out a newsletter.

First, let me give you a quick update!

I am now a veterinary assistant. I am loving it so far!

That means I am not training as much. I am still training, I am not letting anyone take that away ever again. But I am only training on Saturdays, and have had quite a few new clients which is very exciting! If I continue getting inquiries I will have to compile a waitlist.

Anyway, that was not the focus of this post. The focus of this post is to address specific training methods and people within the industry who use methods that I disagree with.

Now please do not take this as a change in my stance on everyone getting along, I truly believe that we should try to get along in this industry, but there are methods that I have seen a couple of people that I thought were good role models using methods that don't make sense.

Before I explain my stance I would like to explain the method (I am deliberately avoiding the word "technique" because I truly don't think this method takes technique).

If you have never heard of it I want you to become aware, if you have and agree with it I love that for you and I am sure some dogs MAY benefit, and if it worked for you that is lovely, if you have heard of it and disagree with it I am going to explain in detail why it doesn't make sense to me and it may resonate with you as well so please read on.

The method I am speaking of is called "bonking" It is utilized by a couple bigger-name trainers and a trainer that I met on a trip to Traverse City with my sister.

In a nutshell, bonking utilizes a rolled-up towel dropped or thrown at a dog's head with the intention of hitting them with it as a means of correction.

I have never desired to learn about this method so I cannot give you the explanation someone who agrees with and understands it may be able to give you.

My issues with this method are a bit complicated.

First, I do not believe in hitting a dog, with anything, for any reason. I truly believe it breaks any relationship you have with that dog and if the first thing a trainer does is bonk your dog with a towel that will ruin any chance of that trainer ever having a trusting relationship with that dog.

Second, have you ever seen a mother dog correct her pups by hitting them on the head? Have you ever seen a wolf correct another wolf by hitting them on the head? No? Okay, so why are humans attempting to use this as a way of "communicating" with a dog? Logically this method does not make sense to me. A leash correction, yes, you are using a place on the dog that is commonly used by other dogs to communicate. A prong collar, yes, because this gives very primal feedback to the dog by simulating the way a dog's teeth feel on another dog's neck. Those are tools that make sense to me. And when TAUGHT how to understand it a dog can also understand an E-collar, but I don't see these trainers teaching these dogs to understand anything.

Third, we are removing dogs from homes that physically abuse them every day, we remove children from parents who physically abuse them, and we give those dogs and children safe places to go until better can be found, we expect those children to communicate with us and tell us when someone is not safe, and when we truly take our time we can see that dogs are doing the same. The trainers that use bonkers are using physical abuse (in my opinion) but without the physical evidence left behind that would communicate that would tell us that they are abusing these dogs. But the mental and emotional damage is there and for those of us who work with reactive, fearful, formerly abused dogs we can see that mental damage and it cuts us to the quick every single time because all we want is for these dogs to trust us and feel safe.

Something else I learned when I met with this other trainer is that not everyone believes dogs have emotion and that body language exists, how you can work dogs and not understand how they communicate is beyond my comprehension but to each their own.

I also learned that some people will simply correct a dog before they have even taken the time to UNDERSTAND why a dog is doing something. Understanding the why behind a dog's actions will allow you to make a decision on how to deal with that particular behavior. I do not believe in simply correcting a dog without first understanding everything about that "unwanted" behavior. A lot of the time dogs are simply attempting to communicate and we are simply unable to understand them.

Dog body language is at the core of my work, I watch every single dog I work with, I listen when they tell me something is uncomfortable or scary, and I work through it or find a different way because every dog deserves to feel safe and trust the person handling them.

If you have read this far, thank you. I know that this was kind of a rant on my part and it may have put some people off but I truly believe that more people need to know about this method of training and that trainers that use this method are, in my opinion, preying on dog owners' ignorance.

When I work with dogs I am very open and transparent about my methods and I try my best to work with owners to find the best solution for their dogs.

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Thank you again to everyone who read this whole thing and thank you to everyone who likes, shares, and/or comments.

09/23/2023

Indy is still available! FEE-WAIVED!

I am going to try to post about him more often but my schedule has changed quite a bit recently (in a good way!) And I am not getting the chance to get as many photos and videos of him like I used to.

Indy would make a wonderful all-around sport dog or pet for an active home.

He is great with other dogs!

He is believed to be a border collie mix.

If you are interested or know someone who might be please message me, comment, and share this post!

09/09/2023

Went to the beach for some exposure today!

He's really good in public, he does bark at new things and sometimes wants to watch people or dogs, but he is very neutral other than that!

This guy would be a perfect camping companion!