VALLEY CANINE Specialists

10/23/2024

The word "PACK" means FAMILY of dogs. (NOT dominance!)
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I can't stand how a term that *literally* defines a natural family unit is now seen as a bad word that somehow automatically refers to the opposite.... i.e. dominance and control and alpha hierarchy.
("Pack Mentality" = "Dominance Theory")
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💕 PACK = FAMILY! 💕

I LOOOVE my adopted family 💕PACK💕 of rescues! ❤️‍🩹 As a family-oriented group we live a healthy-happy and go for bonding & adventuresome off-leash amongst a daily schedule & agenda. Meaning that we lovingly include our of in our daily AS our actual !! ❤️‍🩹

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My work and life with both individual dogs and groups of dogs are 100% relationship-based, trust-based, rewards-based, and dog-centric.
🐾🥰🐾 Nothing else is needed!

I try to understand and speak their language as I would hope they might learn some of mine. --
-- Somehow 😜 hundreds of hours spent fascinatedly analyzing and absorbing the minutiae of dogs' intricate body language in various contexts and how different dogs all interact with each other can actually show one how to communicate a little more effectively and naturally with canines in both directions. 🩵
(🤔 Who'da thunk.)

10/23/2024

🧬Results are in!🎉 DEXTER is officially 100% MUTT!! 😁🐾 .

Not sure where his wonderfully smooth buttery-biscuit-colored coat came from, the lean lanky structure, or the irresistably velvet-soft fur on the top of his head, but he definitely has the highly *VOCAL* and super *ENERGETIC* hyperactive traits of the HUSKY!! 🐕 .

AND the super *SMART*, focused, determined, *DRIVEN* traits of both the husky and SHEPHERD... But surprised there was not more Laborador as the shelter had suggested. 🤔

BUT I 💙LOVE💙 me a and am so glad he is such a unique, one of-a-kind, specialty shelter service dog in training.

🤪Oh and I "can't wait" for all the MANY times per outing we will be stopped and approached for inquiries about his breed. 🙄😅🤦‍♀️

➡️Full results posted in comments

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10/08/2024

SHELTER PUP =》 SERVICE DOG PROSPECT GRADUATION!! 🎓🎖🎉
DEXTER's first exposure to Public Access...

In order to enter public facilities, service dogs need to be desensitized and trained on how to behave in public. This young dog has never been exposed to a store situation, so the first step is to just sniff walk around the parking lot, and then sit near the entrance and observe all the sights, sounds, and smells associated with a store environment.

Today we did a sniff walk at Carter's Pet Mart parking lot, and then we hung out near the entrance of Home Depot, which gave him the chance to see people coming in and out, carts going by, flat trolleys for heavy materials, cars, automatic doors, etc. None of it phased him as he watched with keen interest.

It was obvious that this was all new to him, but his behavior and reactions were absolutely stellar! He was relaxed and excitedly fascinated and interested at the same time. No signs of nervousness or stress, perfectly stable temperament while happily absorbing everything he needs to know in order to start Public Access training.

In the photos you can notice his relaxed body, relaxed face & mouth that is slightly open, a bit of tongue hanging out, ears perked forward, and tail high and wagging somewhat slowly the entire time. He had a friendly interest in the people going by but not overly excited. His behavior and reaction to this complex new environment while absorbing all the brand new sights, sounds, and smells was SPOT ON.

Observing his behavior in these experiences as well as watching his reactions to everything leading up to this, including insanely loud farm equipment starting up right in front of him, observing sheep and goats for the first time, walks along the road, exploring the farm and house, being handled for exams, anything new, people, dogs, etc while I watch his body language very closely... has all been included in an overall functional assessment. While he is just coming off "probation" where he's been leashed in the house to ensure proper household behavior, and while he still needs a ton of training as we start from square one, his reactions to everything are very stable, and he is passing these service dog requirements with flying colors.

Basically this SHELTER DOG is 100% SERVICE DOG material!!

Combining these temperament observations along with his ability to already alert and respond to my seizures in under 2 weeks of being brought home from the shelter... He is NO LONGER a service dog PROSPECT but now a fully vetted SERVICE DOG IN TRAINING!! 🎉🎓🎖

CONGRATULATIONS DEXTER!! ❤️‍🩹🥲👏

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⬇️ More From Ronni Hopfer ⬇️

This Stockton SHELTER DOG's traits being 100% SERVICE DOG material only backs up the study I shared earlier: Shelter dogs are not there due to bad behavior! (link below 👇)

His only challenges for the average human would be his high energy as a puppy coming out of a stressful environment and a quickly resolved tendency to mark in the house (where many other rescue dogs have already marked before). Both of which are normal dog behaviors and resolved easily with the training he deserves.

This beautiful shelter dog is going to have an unbelievable life helping my medical situation as he accompanies me everywhere I go, which to him will be amazing adventures.

As people worry about a service dog's quality of life being always on duty, this is not the case! Home life will include living and running around on a farm with a one acre pond and plenty of other dogs to play with daily.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=557888483430166&id=100076270571836&mibextid=Nif5oz

10/03/2024

STUDY:❗️SHELTER DOGS ARE NOT THERE DUE TO BEHAVIOR❗️Rather they are displaying normal dog behaviors that any typical dog would show in a stressful shelter environment.

👇CANINE STUDY 👇
Saving normal: A new look at behavioral incompatabilities and dog abandonment to shelters.

"The published research does not provide compelling support that the general population of dogs in shelters are there because of behavioral incompatabilities in their prior home."
➡️ i.e. Shelter dogs are not there because of behavior.

"Far more people live with dogs described as having behavioral incompatabilities than chose to relinquish them to a shelter."
➡️ i.e. Dogs with supposed unwanted behaviors are most often kept in their homes instead of abandoned at shelters.

➡️ Study describes how satisfied most people are to keep their pet dogs, even though they have the exact same behaviors as the small portion of shelter dogs that are supposedly dropped there due to "behavior".

"This gives no indication [that] these behaviors [are] outside the normal range, and thus constitute candidates for “rehabilitation,” which must carry the implication of pathology."
➡️ i.e. Shelter dogs are only displaying typical dog behaviors, and they do not need specialized training any more than the average dog."

"Although behavioral incompatabilities are frequently mentioned as a reason for return [of shelter rescues], that number appears to represent

09/11/2024

08/30/2024

Starting
Master of Science in Canine Studies.
Here we go!!
🤩🤞🙏😬

08/21/2024

TPLO surgery is the current "gold standard" for CCL tears in dogs. (Similar to ACL tear in humans.) Large dogs such as mastiffs are especially prone to this injury. The longer you let this CCL tear go, the more they are at risk for damaging the other side.

JACKSON (140 lbs) is here for his TPLO today, and we are hoping he makes a full recovery. In order to help ensure this we are going to set him up with post-op physical therapy. Please send us your prayers, crossed fingers, and well wishes!

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08/13/2024

Update: ❤️‍🩹!! REUNITED !!🥲
(Via Nextdoor app- remember to post everywhere) Their daddy came to pick them up and promised to get them ID tags!
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FOUND TOGETHER: East of Lodi
on Harney between hwy99 and Alpine

1) All black long-haired lab/retriever type dog, UNCHIPPED but collar & friendly, matted but appears taken care of.

2) Brindle & white terrier/staffy mix, CHIPPED but unregistered. Chip was dispensed via City of Lodi Animal Services who opens tomorrow morning.

They are contained and safe for the time being.

Text: 209-280-0892
[email protected]

08/10/2024

Don't tell me the costs are your excuse. Here's the answer: If you can't afford a dog, don't get one. SAVING ONE RESCUE DOESN'T HELP IF YOU PRODUCE 10 MORE.

P.S. If you FOSTER a dog, all the costs for any care are 100% covered by the rescue or shelter.

Also, if you adopt from a shelter or rescue, they are ALREADY neutered and spayed and vaccinated and microchipped. Please don't complain about the costs there either because the veterinary care they put into the dog just for those services cost FAR more than they are charging you. Not to mention that it is still cheaper than what you would pay a breeder.

(e.g. We have an AMAZING bully shepherd for which we spent $5,000 in vet care that we are only charging $200 as an adoption fee. Hit us up if you're interested!)

Yes there ARE free & low-cost programs out there, so please don't tell me that either. Any time you put a dog under anesthesia, it's going to cost at LEAST several hundred dollars; if it doesn't, then you are already getting a low cost surgery subsidized by the city, the vet, or a nonprofit.

ALSO, There is no such thing as an accidental litter; it's human irresponsibility. If you have an intact dog, they will more than likely breed. So please don't use "accident" or "I can keep them separated" as an excuse. Male dogs will travel over a mile and jump or break down fences and tear through doors to get to a female in heat. And if you didn't know yet, there is such a thing as an invisible heat where they do not show signs.
"Accident" happens FAR too often.

And the biggest part...
DON'T PAY SOMEONE TO KEEP BREEDING. There are homeless puppies of EVERY breed and age out there who need homes. Entire litters are being abandoned everywhere. Please consider rescuing instead of purchasing.

[ I'm sorry if this sounds blunt, but these are all of the many many comments that I always see under every post about spaying and neutering. Be part of the solution instead of the problem. ]
💕🙏🐾

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08/07/2024

Everyone gets a PUP CUP on their way to the VET! 🩺 With this boy's body-handling issues that we are still working on, he needed a cone and heavy sedation shot first (which he did GREAT for) and is going to be put under for a variety of things to be addressed: Hip and hind leg x-rays, tail x-ray, removal of bump on nose, ear infection cleaning, under-tail exam, teeth check, toenail trim, etc. Let's see if we can get this boy tip top!
. .

UPDATE:
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=517703407448674&id=100076270571836&mibextid=Nif5oz

07/09/2024

CULTIVATING CALMNESS

We teach our dogs all sorts of things, but maybe don’t realise that teaching “calm” is also an important behaviour that has so many positive applications for both us and our dogs.

“Calm” can be defined as the absence of agitation or excitement; a feeling of tranquility; serenity and peace. These feelings are so often lacking in both our lives and that of our dogs.

Besides teaching dogs to settle on a mat or in another place or capturing and rewarding calm behaviour, here are some other ways to promote calmness.

Scenting or sniffing is a really effective and simple way to promote relaxation. It lowers the pulse rate and creates feelings of wellbeing.

Chewing is another powerful relaxation tool. Dogs use the chewing to relieve stress, frustration or anxiety. Chewing has a calming effect on the adrenal-pituitary axis in the brain which triggers the release of endorphins. It’s like self-medication for stress or anxiety.

Relaxing music that is specifically made for dogs can also work well, especially with dogs that get over excited in a car or have storm or firework fear.

When playing an exciting, high-energy game with your dog, take frequent breaks before starting up again to help your dog wind down and become calmer.

Aromatherapy, ear or other types of massage are other ways to help create calmness.

Cortisol holidays are also really important after a stressful event to prevent trigger stacking and allow cortisol levels to return to normal.

Conventional wisdom says that the ability to remain calm is a character trait that most of us lack, but Neuroscience teaches us that remaining calm under pressure is not an inborn trait, but a skill that needs to be learnt, practiced and managed and this applies to our dogs as well.

06/28/2024

DO IT Before the 4th!! The one day of the year by far when the most cats and dogs go missing!

📢You asked and we listened

We are proud to be having another FREE microchip event. The clinic will be at Tractor Supply in Lodi. We want to extend a huge THANK YOU to Lodi Animal Services Foundation for their continued support in sponsoring the microchips. Mark your calendars and save the date! This event is open to non Lodi residents. Please see the attached flyer

05/02/2024

"Study after scientific study has shown that when we use punishment and aversive training on aggressive dogs, the first side effect is increased aggression."

By Ren Volpe