High Five Animal Training by Joanna Wachowiak-Finlaison

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High Five Animal Training by Joanna Wachowiak-Finlaison

I help reactive dog owners and spicy cat attendants achieve a better relationship with their pets. C

01/05/2024

Is your kitty a little bit peeved with their litter box?

It happens! 🙂

Save these tips and feel free to tag a cat parent who needs to see these tips! 👋

01/04/2024

What I did over the holiday break 🐶🐶🐶

Had fun making these dogs inspired by my clients. They now live with their real life models :)

Next - a sheep 🐑

01/03/2024

Practising recall on our walk to the beach with Fuji. 🌊

Reinforced by a treat and a release to go and run.

No shock collar ever. 🙅‍♀️

If you’re watching this video and want to see more of this for you and your dog in 2024, then get in touch! 🙂

Hit the link below and make it happen!

https://www.highfiveanimaltraining.com/schedule-a-call

12/30/2023

Help your pet celebrate New Year… Fear Free!

Check out this awesome infographic from Fear Free Pets that can help you ensure your pet stays calm and safe while you bid farewell to 2023 and welcome in 2024.

A bit of planning can go a long way in creating a happy new year for your pet!

It’s not too late to talk to your veterinarian, if you think your pet would benefit from some extra help.

Share this post! 😉

12/27/2023

Has anyone noticed that their dog is acting a little out of sorts after Christmas Day? 🎄

They maybe have reacted to something completely out of character.

They might be barking at guests when they normally wouldn’t bother.

Their recall has gone out the window!

Perhaps they are off their food a little.

Or they could be extra loopy at the park and doing zoomies.

This could actually all be down to trigger stacking!

Christmas festivities can get a bit too much, even for us mere humans! 🙂

You may find that your dog needs a couple of days to chill and decompress. Take some time out, enjoy some quiet time together, go back to basics with the training, and give your dog (and yourself) a break — it's Christmas after all! 😊

12/23/2023

Wishing all my clients, past, present and those I’ve yet to meet, a Very Meowy Holidays and a Pawtastic New Year! ✨

Thank you for your continued support.

I’ll be having a short Christmas rest between December 23 and January 3 - I hope you’re all doing the same!

Here’s to 2024! 🥂

12/23/2023

My new custom signature red Chucks. Sadly, there was no option of animal paws for embroidery, so this middle-aged woman is rocking some hearts.

12/18/2023

SAVE THIS POST: Keeping those doggos safe during the holiday season! 🎄

Ornaments and Christmas decorations 🎄
When using hanging ornament on the tree, consider using non breakable (or put those nice breakable ones at the top!) on the tree. Equally important, be cautious of any decorations at the bottom of the tree that your dog can get to - they can easily be confused as their new favourite chew toy!

Christmas food 🍗
With so much food around, it’s super important to be aware of foods that you should keep away from your dog. You can still treat your dog on Christmas day but be careful with festive foods as there are some that your dog cannot eat!

Chocolate, grapes, dried vine fruits, and turkey meat is okay as long as it’s not fatty and doesn’t contain skin or bones. Watch out for stuffing, which contains onions, garlic etc.

Festive plants 🌿
Be mindful of your dogs near some plants that are poisonous to them, such as Mistletoe, Ivy, Holly, poinsettia and pine needles from the Christmas tree.

Create a safe space ☁️
The Holidays are a busy time, so give your dog a quiet, safe space to take themselves off to. This could be their crate, their bed… anywhere they are happy to go.

Christmas gifts 🎁
Keep an eye on those gifts under the tree - especially the ones that may contain food or batteries. Consider using baby gates to restrict access during the exchanging of gifts or perhaps take them to their safe space with a long lasting chew (that isn’t one of your gifts! 🙂)

Share this post! 🙂

12/15/2023

⭐️ “Awesome to work with! Both my dogs and I learned a lot and came out better because of Jo” ⭐️

Thank you Tina! It's always a team effort and a team success! 🙌

Give these two some love (how cute are they!!)

12/13/2023

Looking to start the new year off on the right paw? 🐾

Want my help? Awesome! 🙂

Schedule a call with me, I’d love to meet you! Link below.

highfiveanimaltraining.com/schedule-a-call

12/11/2023

How to take a picture with your cat, Taylor Swift-style, without getting your face scratched (and stressing your cat 🐱):

Step one: Have some cat treats and your phone ready

Step two 🐾: Sit on the floor in front on a couch and invite your cat to get on the couch behind you (tip - if you force your cat on the couch, she will just run away. Use the treats to lure her instead)

Step three 🐾: Encourage your cat to peek around your shoulder. You can use treats or (if your cat likes pets) reach behind with your arm (just like Taylor Swift is doing!) and give her some scratches.

Step four 🐾: Get your phone and take a selfie of your beautiful, unscratched face and your happy cat!

Forcing your cat on your shoulders or scruffing it to take a picture may result in you getting injured and your cat getting scared and avoiding you at least until Taylor Swift drops a new album! 🙂

As you can see from my photos, Kicia and I had this technique covered way before her Time's cover! 🤷🏻♀️

Give it a go and let me know how you get on! 📸

12/08/2023

To begin with, it's crucial to do some research and find a suitable and comfortable muzzle. 👈

It should enable your dog to eat, drink, and breathe easily.

Next, let's create positive associations by rewarding your dog whenever they encounter the muzzle. It's important to make sure good things happen! 🙂

Lastly, remember that consistency is essential. Start training your dog with short sessions and gradually extend the duration over time.

If you found this useful, remember to tap save!

12/07/2023

High Five Animal Training - helping Houston’s spicy cats since 2020! 🐈

Litter box troubles, cat fights, and biting from your cat can be a headache. I can help! 👋

https://www.highfiveanimaltraining.com/cat-behavior-trainer

12/05/2023

Christmas Hack for you… 🎄

Who has a dog or cat who likes nothing more than ripping the paper on the Christmas presents under the tree?

They probably don't know why they aren't allowed - it's 'enrichment' after all! 😂

So, a simple hack for you - to avoid the mess/rewrapping /pet eating wrapping paper:

Use fabric to wrap the presents instead! 🎁 You could either use sheets of festive fabric or fabric gift bags!

And if you want to make it extra pretty, check out the traditional Japanese art of Furoshiki wrapping - in the photo I've used a cat-patterned Furoshiki to wrap a gift. Cats… but make it festive! 😻

Fun facts about Furoshiki - it's one of Japan's most historical everyday accessories, going back to 1,200 years ago. In Japan, they are also used as handbags, shopping bags and even tablecloths!

Another cool thing about wrapping presents in cloth is you can use them again next year... and the year after and the year after! Eco-friendly Christmas! 🌏

Tag someone who needs to know about this hack! 👇

12/01/2023

Tell me…

Do you struggle to get out of the house without letting the hounds out?

Ranger is a stereotypical husky escape artist and her humans were worried about her getting out.

Now… we could have gone with a proper “go to your place” training, but it was something that needed to be solved right away!

So here is our exit strategy!

There is a jar of treats that lives on the table by the door and every time someone leaves, they get a few treats out, say “Bye bye Ranger!” and toss them away from the door, onto a snuffle mat. 🚪

Right now, this works as a management strategy - Ranger follows the treats to the snuffle mat and stays busy there, which gives people time to exit without struggling at the door.

With time, this departure ritual will become a cue for Ranger to move away from the door before the treats even get tossed, and we might reduce their number from a handful to just one. The key is staying consistent and teaching Ranger that good things happen away from the door! 🙂

When it comes to training, sometimes simpler is better :)

Is this something you struggle with? Let me know! 👇

11/29/2023

Some days I think I have the best job in the world! 🥰

What do you think they are thinking? 🙂 Let me know! 👇

(Did you notice that they arranged themselves in the size order?)

11/27/2023

You actively avoid other dogs when out for a walk. 🦮

You dread the thought of visitors and often don’t tend to invite over. 😳

You go for walks at unsocial times of the day where it’s less busy. 🌛

Let me assure you, I understand precisely what you're experiencing and the overwhelming sense of hopelessness that accompanies it.

There is help - my comprehensive reactivity and aggression programs are designed to give reactive dog guardians knowledge to maintain their dogs' new (& improved!) behavior. I will help your dog make sense of the world and ultimately become more relaxed and attentive, leading to a happy you.

All of this without the use of fear, pain or punishment.

I offer a range of services for reactive dogs, each one is fully customized to meet their individual needs.

Get in touch, let's make the (what feels like) the impossible, possible! 🙂

highfiveanimaltraining.com/reactive-aggressive-dog

11/24/2023

Got any training tips like mine? Share them below! 👇

I use Ziwi for my training treats - don't forget you can use my code HIGHFIVE20 for 20% off Ziwi products.

ZIWI Pets

(but absolutely love these treats!)

11/23/2023

Thanksgiving is a time for family and food! 🦃

But hold on… before you invite your pets to the table, be aware of some Thanksgiving dangers for pets.

Here are tips to ensure your pet's safety this holiday:

Turkey: It's the star of the show, but not for your pets! Keep them away from turkey meat, especially fatty dark meat and skin. No turkey bones either, as they can splinter and cause serious harm. It’s ok to give them a little of the white non seasoned turkey as a treat!

Garlic, Onion, Leeks, and Chives: These seasonings are notorious in many Thanksgiving dishes and are toxic to your pets. Avoid sharing anything cooked with these ingredients, such as green beans, potatoes, stuffing, or gravy.

Desserts: Pies, fruitcakes, and cookies should be out of your pet's reach. Chocolate is well known to be harmful to pets along with raisins and currants.

It's not just about avoiding toxic foods – make sure your pets don't get into the trash in search of tasty scraps. Kindly ask your family and guests not to feed your pets and secure your trash can.

Share this post and Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃

11/20/2023

Cats and boxes 📦

If you are a cat mom or dad, you know all to well that an empty box is just way too tempting for our kitty!

But why? Why are cats head over paws for boxes? I’ll tell you! 👇

First up, boxes are like kitty castles of security and comfort. Cats adore cozy hideaways where they can feel all snug and secretly spy on the world outside. 👀

Boxes are an excellent way for cats to satisfy their natural instinct to hunt and stalk, as they can pounce on imaginary prey from inside the box.

And let's not forget about the naps! Boxes make the coziest and warmest cat beds. Our kitty cats can lounge in that box for hours! 😴

Photo is of my wonderful Kicia 💙

Is your cat box-obsessed? Let me know! 👇

11/17/2023

We're just a few days away from Thanksgiving!

Here's how to keep your turkey safe from your dogs! 🦃

Thanksgiving is always an exciting time for everyone, including our pups! With the change in routine and the possibility of visitors, it's no wonder that our dogs are filled with energy during this holiday season.

Plus, with the smells from all of the cooking, it's likely that some management will need to be in place to protect Thanksgiving dinner!

A dog's nose has a lot more olfactory receptors than a human's. We only have about six million receptors compared to their 300 million. A dog's brain is specifically designed to analyze smells, so it's 40 times better than ours at it. So, if turkey and trimmings smell good to you, they'll smell even better to your dog!

Please know, even the best trained dog in the universe will struggle with this, so it's time to use management.

Here's a simple one - don't leave your dog unattended with the turkey near him... especially if the turkey can reach your dog’s mouth!

You can pop your dog behind a stair gate while you eat or ask them to go to their bed if they know how to settle. It is also a good idea to prepare a lickimat in advance (maybe a lickimat with a Thanksgiving twist!) so they can have it while you have dinner.

And if you decide to give your dog turkey, make sure it has no seasoning. Only feed them the meat, without the skin or bones.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! 🙂

11/15/2023

If It Fits, I Sleeps!

Any cat parent knows, if you can’t find your cat, it’s time to start looking in the tightest of spaces - in a box, in the sink, tucked away in a cupboard, in the tumble dryer, in the washing basket.. I can go on! 😂

The crampiest of space, sometimes the better.

But have you ever wondered why?

It has to do with their instincts.

Cats retreat into enclosed spaces to protect themselves from potential attacks and feel safer. They prefer small spaces with at least three sides, as these provide a cozy environment. Having a top on their enclosure adds an extra layer of security. Another reason for this behavior is that curling up in a small space helps cats stay warm by using their body heat.

Overall, hiding in boxes makes cats feel snug and comfortable. Makes sense to me! 🤷♀️

What strange places does your cat(s) like to sleep in?

Let me know 👇

Photo of Hobbes, doing his best croissant pose!

11/06/2023

So much fun and so many great people this week at . On my way home inspired and invigorated ❤️

11/02/2023

How to work with me 👋

I specialize in helping the most dedicated pet owners in Houston overcome their cat and dog behavior challenges. Whether you're dealing with the everyday struggles of introducing a new kitten, managing those pesky barking issues, or tackling more complex problems like litter box troubles, resource guarding, or dog aggression, I'm your partner in solving them.

My collaborative and holistic approach is all about ensuring a happier life, not just for your beloved pets but for you too.

So if it’s Cat Behavior Consults & Training or Dog Training & Behavior Consults - I’ve got you! 🙂

Book in a call with me! Together, we'll conquer those pet behavior challenges

highfiveanimaltraining.com/schedule-a-call

11/02/2023

Ready to conference!

11/01/2023

Day -1 of the PPG Summit at Arizona Humane - business workshop for animal trainers. Soundtrack by a couple of huskies, singing us the song of their people 😜🐕🐕

10/31/2023

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM FUJI (and me!) 🎃🛸

A few reminders for helping your pup (or cat!) through the spooky season!

🦮🚶‍♀️Take a pre-Halloween walk for stress relief. Let them sniff around; it's a natural stress buster!

🏡 Create a safe, cozy space away from the front door. Consider using white or brown noise to muffle door knocking.

🚪 Prevent escapes: Keep a close eye on your pet when opening doors for trick-or-treaters.

🍬 Keep candy, especially chocolate and sweeteners, out of reach for your pets.

🍖 Provide long-lasting treats for a happy distraction, just like our chocolate delight!

💀 Respect their comfort level - some pets may prefer to steer clear of Halloween, and that's okay.

Share how your pet handles Halloween in the comments! 🐾👇

10/29/2023

Happy National Cat Day! 🐈

Though to our cats, every day is National Cat Day! 🤷♀️

We wanna see your fur-babies! Post a photo of your kitty cat below!

10/26/2023

Have you ever noticed this about your cat...

That adult cats only meow at humans, not at other cats?

Meowing is an interesting vocalization - adult cats don't actually meow at each other, just at people. Kittens meow to communicate needs to their mother, but once older, cats reserve meows for humans.

Isn't that fascinating? Adult cats have a special vocalization just for connecting with us.

Have you noticed this cat behavior before? Let me know in the comments!

10/24/2023

To use a Head Halter or not to use a Head Halter….

My thoughts 👇

While head halters like the Gentle Leader or Halti can be useful tools in some situations, they are not my first choice for most dogs.

Want to know why? Head over to my blog where I’ve got a bit more to say about this! 👇

highfiveanimaltraining.com/blog/why-i-dont-recommend-head-halters-for-dogs

10/23/2023

As a dog trainer, I know Halloween can sometimes be a scary time for some pups. 🎃

The costumes… the decorations… not to mention the trick or treaters that regularly knock on the door.

Here are my tips for helping dogs cope with all the Halloween hullabaloo👇

🎃 Take them on a walk before the spooky festivities kick off. Make sure to let them have lots of time to sniff, this is a natural stress release!

👻 Make sure they have a safe space, somewhere comfortable away from the front door. White or brown noise is also great for buffering the door knocking.

😱 Make sure your dog (or cat) doesn’t dash outside when you open doors for trick or treaters

👽 Keep candy especially chocolate or anything containing sweeteners out of your dog (or cat’s) reach!

🧟♀️ Have some long lasting treats to hand - licking and chewing for dogs releases feel good chemicals, just like the feeling we get when we have chocolate!

💀 You could also slowly expose them to costumes and decorations in advance so they aren't shocked on the big night. Let them investigate at their own pace.

🪦 Don’t force them to participate. Some dogs may find costumes aversive and if they are more comfortable having nothing to do with Halloween, then let them be.

How does your dog find Halloween, let me know below! 🙂

10/20/2023

As a cat behaviorist, I know our kitties act like royalty and we are their humble servants. But beneath their poised exteriors, cats show love in subtle, special ways!

Cats see themselves as providers - bringing "gifts" and gracing us with snuggles when they want them. We in turn provide food, shelter and ear scratches on demand.

But did you know how to spot when your cat is saying ‘I love you’?

- kneading (aka, making dough!)
- slow blinking
- grooming
- eye contact
- special gifts (IYKYK 🐦🐭)
- purring
- snuggling

Kitty parents/servants, does your cat have any cute rituals to show you some love? Share your stories below!

10/19/2023

Couple of conferences coming up, so an upgrade to a more professional look 😜

What do you think? 🩷

10/18/2023

Having a great time and getting my geek on at the 2023 APDT/CAPDT Annual Conference! 😀

Association of Professional Dog Trainers

10/17/2023

Sunday fun day!

All three of us had a very stressful couple of weeks so the nice weather on Sunday called for a mini-trip to the beach to de-stress and decompress. 😎🌊

Fuji adores the seaside and she had so much fun chasing the birds, swimming in the ocean and trying to trip Daddy with zoomies! 😜

Fuji might have also had the best doggie cookies ever from Common Bond Bistro & Bakery drive-through!

Take this as a reminder... it's OK to take time out for yourself sometimes (and eat cookies), ok? 🙂

10/16/2023

Just Fuji enjoying her extraterrestrial road trip last month! 🛸

Got any photos of your dog on holiday? Quirky photos welcome! 🙂 Let me see them in the comments! 👇

10/13/2023

Meeting new people can leave some pups feeling shy or unsure. They want to engage but don't know how. Conflicting times for our pups!

My trick? I whisk out a snufflemat loaded with tasty treats or a Lickimat smeared with something yummy. This gives them a rewarding, calming activity without any human interaction.

As they sniff and lick away, pups learn good things happen around strangers - even if they don't directly interact. The mat encourages deep breathing and repetitive licking has a soothing effect.

I only use the HIGHEST value treats for these situations - ZIWI Pets is my go-to! Don't forget you can use my code HIGHFIVE20 for 20% off Ziwi products.

Do me a favor? SHARE this post! (thank you!! 🙂)

10/13/2023

You got a fancy food puzzle (because I told you to😜) but your kitty won’t use it? Try these tips!

09/20/2023

Have we mentioned we love Ziwi?!? 🙃

(we really do!)

If you want to try Ziwi out I have a discount you can use for 20% off your first order. Use code: HIGHFIVE20 at checkout on https://us.ziwipets.com

Enjoy! 👋

09/18/2023

It's true cats are independent, but they still need mental and physical stimulation! 🐈

Cat enrichment at home can be simple and affordable. All you need are household items like toilet paper rolls, boxes and paper bags.

For example, try this fun food puzzle:

Poke holes in an empty toilet paper roll

Put kibble or treats inside

Let kitty bat it around and nibble out the contents!

This kind of enrichment promotes mental and physical activity, reduces stress, allows natural behavior, and can help prevent separation anxiety (yep, cats can suffer from Separation Anxiety too… but I’ll save that for another post!)

What other easy enrichment ideas do you use to keep your cat entertained? Share your favorite household item toys and puzzles below!

Alt text: Gif of a cat hugging and pawing the camera lense that it is being filmed on. Text on graphic 'let's talk about cat enrichment'

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Houston, TX
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Website

http://www.highfiveanimaltraining.com/

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Videos

Practising recall on our walk to the beach with Fuji. 🌊 Reinforced by a treat and a release to go and run. No shock collar ever. 🙅‍♀️ If you’re watching this video and want to see more of this for you and your dog in 2024, then get in touch! 🙂 Hit the link below and make it happen! https://www.highfiveanimaltraining.com/schedule-a-call

Wishing all my clients, past, present and those I’ve yet to meet, a Very Meowy Holidays and a Pawtastic New Year! ✨ Thank you for your continued support. I’ll be having a short Christmas rest between December 23 and January 3 - I hope you’re all doing the same! Here’s to 2024! 🥂

To begin with, it's crucial to do some research and find a suitable and comfortable muzzle. 👈 It should enable your dog to eat, drink, and breathe easily. Next, let's create positive associations by rewarding your dog whenever they encounter the muzzle. It's important to make sure good things happen! 🙂 Lastly, remember that consistency is essential. Start training your dog with short sessions and gradually extend the duration over time. If you found this useful, remember to tap save!

Tell me… Do you struggle to get out of the house without letting the hounds out? Ranger is a stereotypical husky escape artist and her humans were worried about her getting out. Now… we could have gone with a proper “go to your place” training, but it was something that needed to be solved right away! So here is our exit strategy! There is a jar of treats that lives on the table by the door and every time someone leaves, they get a few treats out, say “Bye bye Ranger!” and toss them away from the door, onto a snuffle mat. 🚪 Right now, this works as a management strategy - Ranger follows the treats to the snuffle mat and stays busy there, which gives people time to exit without struggling at the door. With time, this departure ritual will become a cue for Ranger to move away from the door before the treats even get tossed, and we might reduce their number from a handful to just one. The key is staying consistent and teaching Ranger that good things happen away from the door! 🙂 When it comes to training, sometimes simpler is better :) Is this something you struggle with? Let me know! 👇

Got any training tips like mine? Share them below! 👇 I use Ziwi for my training treats - don't forget you can use my code HIGHFIVE20 for 20% off Ziwi products. ZIWI Pets #ad #sponsored (but absolutely love these treats!)

Have you ever noticed this about your cat... That adult cats only meow at humans, not at other cats? Meowing is an interesting vocalization - adult cats don't actually meow at each other, just at people. Kittens meow to communicate needs to their mother, but once older, cats reserve meows for humans. Isn't that fascinating? Adult cats have a special vocalization just for connecting with us. Have you noticed this cat behavior before? Let me know in the comments!

It's true cats are independent, but they still need mental and physical stimulation! 🐈 Cat enrichment at home can be simple and affordable. All you need are household items like toilet paper rolls, boxes and paper bags. For example, try this fun food puzzle: Poke holes in an empty toilet paper roll Put kibble or treats inside Let kitty bat it around and nibble out the contents! This kind of enrichment promotes mental and physical activity, reduces stress, allows natural behavior, and can help prevent separation anxiety (yep, cats can suffer from Separation Anxiety too… but I’ll save that for another post!) What other easy enrichment ideas do you use to keep your cat entertained? Share your favorite household item toys and puzzles below! Alt text: Gif of a cat hugging and pawing the camera lense that it is being filmed on. Text on graphic 'let's talk about cat enrichment'

I think I make a pretty good aggressive dog 🙂 Having fun at the Aggression in Dog workshop this weekend with Michael Shikashio. Also an awesome girly weekend away with Beth Brown and Suzanne Turner #highfiveanimaltraining #houstondogs #houstonpets #dogsofinstagram #dogsofhoustonheights #dogsofhouston #houstondogtraining #houstondogtrainer #dogtrainerhouston #positivereinforcementdogtraining #positivereinforcementdogtrainer #dogbehaviorhouston #texasdogtrainer #dogtrainertexas #certifieddogtrainerhouston #noforce #nofear #trainingmethodsmatter #traininggame #ditchtheprong #aggressionindogs #aggressivedog

Little Mabel learned the chin rest today:) I love the chin rest, it has so many uses! #highfiveanimaltraining #houstondogs #houstonpets #dogsofinstagram #dogsofhoustonheights #dogsofhouston #houstondogtraining #houstondogtrainer #dogtrainerhouston #positivereinforcementdogtraining #positivereinforcementdogtrainer #dogbehaviorhouston #texasdogtrainer #dogtrainertexas #certifieddogtrainerhouston #noforce #nofear #trainingmethodsmatter #traininggame #ditchtheprong #trainyourdog #havanese #chinrest

Cat fight or playtime? Which one is which? Let me know in the comments if you can tell the difference! 👇 #houstondogs #houstonpets #dogsofinstagram #dogsofhoustonheights #dogsofhouston #houstondogtraining #houstondogtrainer #dogtrainerhouston #positivereinforcementdogtraining #positivereinforcementdogtrainer #dogbehaviorhouston #texasdogtrainer #dogtrainertexas #certifieddogtrainerhouston #noforce #nofear #trainingmethodsmatter #traininggame #ditchtheprong #trainyourdog #houstoncatbehavior #catbehaviorhouston #certifiedcatconsultant #houstoncats #catsofhouston