Zen Dog Seattle

11/26/2024

11/26/2024

If you plan on gathering with friends and/or family this week for US Thanksgiving, there are a number of things you can do to keep your dog (and your visitors) safe.

Remember, there is nothing "wrong" with your dog if you need to manage amid all the chaos; that is 100% normal. Many dogs don't do well with large gatherings, changes to their routine and all the tempting food readily available.

Download your copy here: https://rescuedbytraining.com/safe-holiday-gatherings/

And, check out this blog post for more info on how you can implement each of these strategies: https://rescuedbytraining.com/2022/11/14/holiday-gathering-tips/

11/26/2024

ARE YOU MANAGING?
Are you managing your dog’s environment to prevent or improve unwanted behaviour?

As people, we tend to prefer and look for the more complicated solutions to problems. This tendency is termed “complexity bias” - the tendency to prefer complicated explanations and solutions instead of looking for the simpler ones.

Surely a complicated, time consuming, detailed solution has to be more effective, superior, impressive, or correct?

Complexity bias is so relevant when it comes to changing a dog’s unwanted behaviour. We often get so stuck on trying to modify behaviour through counter conditioning, desensitization or detailed training plans when sometimes the simplest solution to the problem lies in simply managing the environment.

Dogs will do what dogs do – when an opportunity arises to help themselves to food left on a table, to bark at the gate at anyone passing by, to have a drink from that big water bowl at the perfect height, that we call a toilet, to running off with irresistibly smelly dirty underwear, to rummaging through bins in search of anything that may or may not be edible, to running out an opened door in search of adventure - the list is long - dogs will be dogs.

Parents of little children use management all the time without giving it much thought. Baby locks on cupboards, covers on electrical sockets, valuable or dangerous items put far out of reach, fences and locks around pools, etc.

We wouldn’t just train a toddler not to stick their fingers in an electrical socket, not to open cupboards, not to touch a hot plate – it’s far safer, simpler and logical to first manage the environment, to prevent potential incidents.

The same principle should apply to managing a dog’s environment to prevent unwanted behaviour.

The more a behaviour is practiced the more difficult it is to prevent. The more a behaviour is rehearsed the better dogs become at it.

Preventing the behaviour from happening in the first place by using management is the logical, simple and effective way to address it.

Be a good manager – it’s far less stressful, for both us and our dogs.

11/20/2024

🌬 Thank you to tonight's puppy class students who made it to class and worked in the semi-darkness for the last 15 minutes. Stay safe, everyone! 🙏

11/19/2024

Cinnabear & his feline brother Simon! Meeting kitties is always extra fun!🧡💛

11/19/2024

Cute little Max can be easily overwhelmed by people, crowds, and certain noises, but he's in great hands with his dedicated parents

11/19/2024

1yo Rosie and 12yo Max, the best friends!💞

11/19/2024

Congratulations to our Workshop graduates! Cooper, JoJo, Kona, Jess, Kenya, Jellybean, and Penny Kola! ❤

11/17/2024

11/16/2024

MYTH: "Don’t take your puppy anywhere until they're fully vaccinated."

FACT: "The primary and most important time for puppy socialization is the first three months of life. For this reason, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior believes that it should be the *standard of care* for puppies to receive such socialization before they are fully vaccinated. Behavioral issues, not infectious diseases, are the number one cause of death for dogs under three years of age." (AVSAB Position Statement on Puppy Socialization)

FACT: If you wait until your puppy is full vaccinated, you've missed their critical socialization period.

Vets, rescues and breeders who are clinging to the outdated belief that dogs should be prevented from socialization until fully vaccinated are not keeping up with the current research, literature and recommendations from behavior professionals.

11/16/2024

Congratulations to Control Unleashed graduates! Ava, Lexi, Leo, Noodle, Brady, and Zorro! 🎉 One of them used to be dog-reactive 🥰

11/16/2024

👏 Congratulations to Reactive Rover 102 graduates! Kashi, Zoey, Rex, Honey, and Jasper! Kudos to everyone who practiced despite the rain and darkness! 🌧️🌙

11/14/2024

Congratulations to tonight's Reactive Rover 101 graduates! Cacao, Brandi, Simba, and Fig! 😍

11/10/2024

🤩 Registration for 2025 classes is now open! Hope to see you there! https://www.zendogseattle.com/group-classes

📌 2hr Workshop
Sun, 11/17, 10am-12pm (FULL)
Wed 12/4, 6:30-8:30pm
Sun 2/23, 10:45am-12:45pm

📌 Reactive Rover 101
Starting Wed 1/16 at 6:15pm
Starting Wed 1/16 at 7:30pm
Starting Thu 1/16 at 7:30pm (FULL)

📌 Reactive Rover 102
Starting Sun 1/19 at 12pm (* 2 spots left!)

📌 Ultimate Puppy
Starting Tue 1/21 at 5:15pm

📌 Surviving a Teenage Dog
Starting Sun 1/19 at 9:30am

📌 Intermediate Manners (Game-N-Train)
Starting Sun 1/19 at 10:45am

📌 Control Unleashed
Starting Tue 1/21 at 6:15pm

📌 CGC Prep - TBD

📌 Agility 101
Starting Mon 1/20 at 6pm

📌 Agility 102
Starting Mon 3/3 at 7:15pm

📌 Agility 103
Starting Mon 1/20 at 7:15pm

📌 Nosework for Fun
Starting Mon 1/20 at 3:15pm
Starting Mon 1/20 at 4:30pm
Starting Tue 1/21 at 7:30pm (FULL)

📌 Fungility (level 1)
Starting Sun 1/19 at 4:10pm (FULL)
Starting Sun 3/9 at 4:10pm
Starting Sun 3/9 at 5:10pm

📌 Fungility (level 2)
Starting Sun 1/19 at 5:10pm

Zen Dog Seattle specializes in fear-free, force-free, positive dog training and behavior modification based on behavioral science.

11/10/2024

Clifford is a super gentle soul who is wonderful with his new human baby sister ❤❤

11/08/2024

This is Griffy from our private lesson. Shelter thinks he's Irish terrier, Pointer mix. What do you think? He's about 70 lbs and very tall.🤫