Graceful Touch: Canine Training & Rehabilitation

04/07/2025

SOME POOCHES DON’T LIKE SMOOCHES!

Many of us, myself included, enjoy hugging and kissing our dogs. After all, it’s how we as people show our love, devotion, affection, provide comfort and it makes us feel good - but dogs are not people and we often mistakenly just assume that they enjoy it as much as we do and that they understand what we are trying to communicate.

Some dogs may enjoy being hugged and kissed, some dogs have learnt over time to tolerate it, but there are many dogs that show clear body language signs of stress that often go completely unnoticed.

The terminology used to describe the discomfort a dog feels when being hugged is sometimes called restraint sensitivity. Many dogs feel stressed and anxious because it restricts their movement and they feel trapped.

These feelings are linked to the fight or flight response because being physically restrained by hugs or kisses can feel threatening.

Many dogs prefer the affection of gentle stroking, tummy or ear rubs or massage.

It’s so important to be aware of how our dogs are feeling by learning basic body language.

It’s one of the only ways that our dogs can communicate and we owe it to them to understand their language.

Respect a dog’s personal space. Provide a choice. Seek consent. This is what builds relationship and trust.

Save your smooches for the people in your life that enjoy them!

04/07/2025

Words of wisdom from the late Mo Lindley.

04/07/2025

“Why is your dog wearing a muzzle?”

A question we love to answer! 🙂

Too many people still assume a muzzled dog is dangerous. That it’s aggressive. That the human on the other end of the lead has failed. But the truth? That muzzle is often the result of love, training, and responsibility.

🐾 Some dogs are muzzle trained because they get overwhelmed in busy environments.

🐾 Some wear one at the vet… because they’re in pain, and pain makes behaviour unpredictable.

🐾 Some have a history of trauma or reactivity, and a muzzle gives them safe access to the world.

🐾 Others have a habit of scavenging… things like chicken bones, trash, or even medications left on the ground.

🐾 And for many, it’s just about being prepared. Emergency situations happen fast, and a muzzle trained dog is safer to handle when things go wrong.

Pain, fear, stress, overstimulation… these are real, valid reasons a dog might struggle. A muzzle doesn’t mean they’re a threat. It means they’re protected.

The more we educate, the more we create empathy. 💕

The more we normalise muzzles, the more we protect dogs from judgment… and from situations that could cost them their lives. 💕

We muzzle because we care. Let’s start changing the question from “What’s wrong with that dog?” to “How can I learn more?”

Who is with us?

03/22/2025

You don’t have to *actually* train your dog to engage in problematic behavior, you only have to allow it — from there nature will do the rest.

It typically starts out as a small, “no big deal”, testing of the waters. And because the behavior is so small and seemingly benign, many let it go. But as the waters repeatedly permit the tiny, seemingly benign behavior to be repeated over and over, something strange occurs…

The once small, innocuous, “no big deal” behavior has now become anything but. It now occurs far more frequently, and it’s far stronger and firmer in its presentation.

This is the place where many owners reach out for help from professionals. And usually they will relay a story of the issues coming virtually out of nowhere. But that’s never the case. Problematic behavior always starts small (that’s the “out of nowhere part”), and always grows into something more if allowed.

So here’s one of the most important tips I can share with you. What you allow is what you train. And the reason you allow it is almost always because it doesn’t appear to be that serious initially. But then at some point it becomes something you’re no longer able to ignore. So instead of doing what so many do, and falling into the trap that so many fall into, work to see the small moments of unwanted behavior as your “go-signal” for addressing the issue. These are your chances to head problem behaviors off at the pass, and also to ensure your relationship dynamics never end up in the dysfunctional space that so many owners end up in.

And maybe just maybe, you’ll never need a professional to help — because you never allowed the small stuff to become the big stuff. :)

08/05/2024

06/23/2024

So excited to start this! The changes fresh and raw feeding have implemented in my dogs have been immense. Time to up it another level!!

05/08/2024

03/26/2024

03/16/2024

A SUPER common pet dog training issue is going out in public and being calm.

A dog listens so well at home with nothing going on, so why won’t he listen when you have people over, or go out?

The answer is in the question- with nothing going on. To have a properly socialized and trained dog it’s necessary for that training to be generalized to many situations.

Where to start?
🐾 Know your dogs limits. Start there- if that is the house so be it! Train randomly in bits during your time at home with your dog.

🐾 Slowly build up distractions during training by going outside, walking down a not so busy road, playing traffic noises on your phone, having someone over to ignore the dog so you can practice recall, the list is endless!

🐾Whatever situation you find you and your dog in, do a little training. If every situation includes some training, it becomes generalized and expected from them. (This can be as simple as walking to the mail box practicing leash skills then asking for a sit.)

🐾Take it slow. Our dogs should always feel safe, and once they do they will be a lot more apt to train and learn.

🐾Be consistent. Dogs learn by patterns, if you aren’t consistent with the practice, you can’t expect them to know what to do.

03/07/2024

It can be so hard when the dogs in your house dont get along. I want you to know I admire your commitment to your animals and I see you doing your best 💚

03/05/2024

Separation anxiety does NOT mean you can’t crate your dog!

02/07/2024

💚🫶🏻 T.W: courtesy rehoming post

Zuko 🐶 This dude is 8 months old and a ball of fun, love, and potential! He is a Border Collie/ German Shepherd. He will do best in an active home with access to mental and physical outlets

💉UTD on vaccines, neutered and microchipped

🦮Trained in the crate, potty, and with basic commands(sit, down, stay, recall, manners), will need to master leash walking and public access skills however as he gets excited with new things. But is willing to work on it if you are!

🐱lived with kitties.

🐾very food, and socially motivated. He loves making new dog and human friends and eating snacks! (As long as you make him work for them!)

🫶🏻 He just KNOWS someone is waiting to give him their love and make him their ‘pup’entine 💜❤️🐶 Please message us to see if Zuko would be a good fit for you!

*reason behind this decision is solely life circumstances and his family knows he could have a much more fufilled lifestyle. He will come with a few follow up lessons with me to help transition him into the home!

01/29/2024

“Place”…. It’s a team effort at our home🤣

Atleast Tavi is learning from some of my best!

You can tell how Sylvester ’Sully’ feels about the situation “really mom, I HAVE to share?” And Echo is just happy to be included🤣🫣❤️

01/29/2024

01/28/2024

What is the best birthday gift?

Knowing I’m putting things into my dogs body, that are naturally meant to be there! Raw and fresh feeding are intricate and a constant learning process that require more attention and commitment to detail in your canines diet. BUT WORTH IT! Without this could result in serious health issues for your pooch. How has raw helped my dogs?
🐾it has helped get on top of Sully’s skin allergies(since I’ve had him) and he no longer has itchy greasy scabs, and hair is growing back on his chest!
🐾the dogs have much less stinky, or large poops
🐾Tavi, as a growing young man needs vital nutrients for his brain and joints to grow properly. Supplements as well as raw vitamins aid this. (Think proactively preventing future problems!)
🐾Echo has had notoriously bad GIT issues and sensitivities to kibble. It has helped me gain a better understanding of what is causing it (without all the preservatives and chemicals in kibble) and provide her with proper care instead of suppressing the problem with constant antibiotics that actually can do immense harm if given W***y nilly!
🐾it makes feeding time much more enriching and rewarding for the dogs knowing it’s not the same old bland thing.
🐾my dogs can regulate themselves better due to their body getting what it needs to function at full capacity.

What’s in this?
-different blends of 🐶Turkey, Chickdn and pollock🐶 Beef and salmon🐶 all blended with organs and bones and pre portioned for the dogs
-honest kitchen veggie mix, supplements for skin, joints, probiotic, and salmon oil
-goats milk
-blueberries
-a raw egg
-peanut butter
-some freshly baked kibble for crunch!

01/27/2024

Simon says like this post, 👍🏻💜
Simon says Clap your hands👏🏻👏🏻
s I m o n 🫶🏻 s a y s … thank your dog for making your house a home 🏠 🐶🧡

01/27/2024