Amy's Groom Room

04/24/2024

02/13/2024

WHAT WE ALLOW, WE TRAIN.

Want to know how to stop your dog from being overly aroused and excited each and every time they see another person or dog?

Stop ALLOWING it! 😉

Dogs are gifted with anticipating patterns. So if every time your dog spots another human, and they’re ALLOWED to pull to greet them, guess what happens? Yep. They continue to do it. Why? Because the behavior and excitement were rewarded by pets from the stranger. This then intensifies the more it is practiced, where now your 70lb ADULT DOG drags you all over on walks, jumps on every human they come in contact with, and is always disengaged from you, their person.

Although it is imperative to socialize a new puppy with new experiences and people, it’s even more important to prevent humans or other dogs from becoming triggers for over arousal. Add to this the challenge of discouraging the masses who want to pet, play, and wind up your pup at the mere sight of them.

Your puppy doesn’t need to meet or greet each and every person they see. Learning boundaries and how to remain calm despite what may be occurring around them is the difference between a well behaved DOG, and one that is completely out of control and can’t be taken anywhere with you.

01/26/2024

The Groom Room got a much needed boost! The sun did a lot of damage in 3 years.
Thank you so much to Joe and especially Will at Signs and Designs! They did a wonderful job!!!

https://thesignpeople.net/

01/02/2024

Dog do not change until we do.

Crystal clear social structure: where YOU run the house, YOU make all the decisions, YOU are in control, YOU are the leader (NOT THE DOG), is the difference in Knowing versus Doing.

Tools and training, without THIS critical component in defining a relationship with a headstrong, pushy, and demanding dog, are useless...

A smart, opinionated dog may very well KNOW what “Down” means, but may make the choice to ignore your command when you haven’t earned the proper respect from them. Tools and training may have them rejecting your “suggestions” when respect hasn’t been earned and is missing from the relationship.

Dogs, especially the headstrong, will always try to get away with whatever they can. If showing teeth or snapping gets them out of having to surrender to their current situation, they will. And why wouldn’t they when your commands were always up for negotiation.

Dogs are masters at exposing our own personal shortcomings. We cannot fool them with irregular decisiveness or firmness. Regardless of the tools or training strategy we’ve learned to master, inconsistency and a lack of fortitude will be translated into weakness, where commands turn into spineless suggestions.

If we want to turn our dog’s behavioral issues around, our presence, our intention, our willpower, our determination, and our emotional balance will all fuel your believability, and all are necessary for your journey through life together — and not just when you think you need it. You have to cultivate a sustained believability that your dog is willing to follow in EVERY interaction.

Here’s the thing... dogs don’t change until YOU change yourself. Your dog is always observing and waiting for you to truly BRING IT.

Regardless of our personal gaps or internal struggles, our dog reflects back precisely what is needed for us to become more aware and mindful of our moment to moment decisions. Transformation begins with YOU, and makes way for change with your dog.

12/30/2023

Tips to help her feel more secure and less afraid:

Create a Safe Space: Designate a quiet area in your home where she can retreat when she feels scared. This could be a cozy corner with her bed, some toys, and maybe an item with your scent on it.

Desensitization Training: Gradually expose her to the things she's afraid of in a controlled way. Let her explore the area or item she is afraid of. Gradually increase the frequency of exposure over several days or weeks. Always reward her for calm behavior.

Counter-Conditioning: Pair the scary experiences with something positive. For instance, if she's afraid of lifting her leg, give her treats or play a game she likes when you’re lifting her leg.

Routine and Exercise: Dogs benefit greatly from routine and plenty of exercise. Regular walks and playtime can help reduce overall anxiety.

Training and Commands: Teach her commands like 'sit' or 'stay' which can be used to distract and calm her during stressful situations.

Remember, patience and consistency are key. It's important to move at her pace and not force her into situations that are too stressful.

With time and care, she can learn to feel more comfortable and secure.

Hope this helps. :)