Dog Training by Jess

10/15/2021

Registration for this class is closing tomorrow (10/16) I still have a couple open spots. Pre-registration and payment is required.

Classes will be Tuesday evenings starting the 19th.

We will be offering group classes in the next few weeks. These classes will meet once a week for 5 weeks. Cost for group class is $90.00 and will take place in Wabasso MN.

Currently looking at Tuesday or Thursday evening. Class size is limited to 5.

09/29/2021

Still have a couple spots open for this group class starting October 19th in Wabasso.
Class does need to prepaid to hold your spot.

We will be offering group classes in the next few weeks. These classes will meet once a week for 5 weeks. Cost for group class is $90.00 and will take place in Wabasso MN.

Currently looking at Tuesday or Thursday evening. Class size is limited to 5.

09/27/2021

We will be offering group classes in the next few weeks. These classes will meet once a week for 5 weeks. Cost for group class is $90.00 and will take place in Wabasso MN.

Currently looking at Tuesday or Thursday evening. Class size is limited to 5.

09/22/2021

From the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior... I truly believe this!

09/11/2021

09/11/2021

https://fox17.com/news/local/k-911-the-heroic-stories-of-rescue-dogs-and-their-lasting-impact-20-years-later-september-11-attacks-new-york-city-twin-towers-k-9-police-dogs-firefighters

As we reflect 20 years after America was attacked on Sept. 11, FOX 17 News is honoring the four-legged heroes who worked tirelessly at Ground Zero in the days that followed. An estimated 300 dogs assisted in search and rescue efforts after the attacks, that’s according to the 9/11 Memorial & M...

09/11/2021

https://youtu.be/TSaSWeSg9lA

Then and now, hope, resilience, and unity can lift us up as a nation. Together, we will .

09/08/2021

Currently working on booking appointment requests.

I still have slots available and more will be opening up. Appointment slots are currently a couple weeks out, if you would like to be added to the schedule please get in touch soon. Appointment availability can easily go from a couple weeks out to a couple months out.

08/19/2021

We will have private training openings starting after September 2nd.
Spots will be limited.

08/15/2021

What might a dog think of this? Reaching and grabbing are milestone developments for your baby, but our dogs are not fans of this behavior. Many parents make the mistake of allowing this type of interaction to happen rather than being ready and proactive. Our dog may not immediately show their dislike or distrust of this behavior, but over time many dogs anticipate this unpredictable and uncomfortable behavior from the baby. Then, growls and bites are more likely to happen. Become a Dog Aware™ parent and keep learning about your baby’s milestones and how your dog may respond. Babies grow, dogs age – we need to adjust at every stage! FamilyPaws.com #5 typesofsupervision

08/06/2021

🦭

07/27/2021

I fall in that middle category although I can certainly do the first one.

Also did some math earlier and realized I’ve been working with dogs for nearly 30 years!!! What?! Made me feel old lol.

Do a Google search for “dog trainer” and you’ll quickly get confused about whom to hire. If you search for a trainer, in less than one minute you might find a trainer with a Ph.D. in linguistics who calls himself a “dog behaviorist” and an “animal whisperer” who “has always been good with dogs”. Other trainers use words like “positive reinforcement”, “relationship based”, “humane”, “balanced” and “LIMA”. They all have different letters after their names and degrees in widely varied fields. To make matters more confusing, trainers with different certifications, no certifications, and divergent methods all show up on the same “best of” lists. You might call a trainer when your dog is actually suffering from anxiety and training basic manners, such as a sit-stay and eye contact, isn’t the right route.

It’s no wonder owners end up in the hands of poorly skilled professionals. I want dog owners to work with someone whose training decisions are guided by evidence so they have the best chance of a good outcome. So as a client, you might wonder, who goes where?

(EDIT: There are some solid professionals out there that understand the nuances of behavior and call themselves a dog trainer. It’s important to look for someone that has that experience and takes the dog’s emotional state into consideration when making a training plan. Not all issues can be resolved by teaching obedience behaviors nor can the be resolved by correcting the dog in order regain control.)

07/14/2021

🛇 Use your Manners! 🛇
The Sniff test - Stop doing that!
The sniff test - a badly engrained habit that society has been taught, without a clear understanding of what they're actually doing.

🚩When you reach out towards a dog, you are using body pressure AT them, giving them no time to assess whether you are safe & whether they require further investigation to pick up your information. You are forcing an interaction of a relationship that hasn't had time to develop. To some dogs, this is quite rude & the reason a lot of dogs snap at or bite people. This can cause alot of behavioral issues because of layered stress due to forced interactions.

🚩If they are on lead, they have no where to go if they are sensitive to spacial pressure, so can end up shutting down, shying away or snapping at your hand so you back off. This is an example of how a dog is now using pressure to turn off pressure & make you back off so they aren't so stressed.

🚩People think by offering your hand it can give the dog time to sniff to know you're friendly... they can sniff without being forced to sniff your hand.Their noses are far more superior than ours & they don't need close contact forced upon them to smell you.

🚩Some dogs might not want to know you. You have no relationship with them and that's perfectly fine. They aren't your dog so you don't need to touch them or steal pats for your own satisfaction.

🤔 If you are meeting a dog, what should you do?
⚠Ask the owner if you can interact with their dog. Not all people want strangers touching their dogs. Especially strangers who you are unlikely to see again.
⚠Stand up straight & relaxed, with your hands at your side.
⚠Ignore the dog & talk to the owner.
⚠Don't stare at the dog & don't try to force an interaction by going in for a pat. If the dog wants to know you, it will come up to you & sniff around. Usually they will move away & then come back for a second sniffathon. Some dogs will bunt your hands & wag their tails, which are good signs that you're likely an accepted new friend. Give them a few slow pats down their back (NOT THEIR HEAD) & then stop. Is the dog happy? Has it accepted your interaction? This will determine whether you can give it more pats.

🐶This is a more stress free option for dogs & a reason why in consultations we can develop a good level of trust, especially with fearful dogs & aggressive dogs, without a bunch of negative side effects from forced interactions.

07/07/2021

I’ve recently come across some trainers who feel it is not their responsibility to suggest behavior related euthanasia.
Let’s be honest, it is a topic no one likes discussing I get that. But as an experienced trainer, it is absolutely in your wheel house and your duty to have those difficult discussions.

People want to jump into training because they love dogs. That’s great, but when you sign up for this you’re not just signing up to play with cute puppies all day. You now also have a duty to not only keep those dogs safe, you also need to keep their families safe as well as the community as a whole.

The unfortunate part is that some dogs just are not wired right and no amount of management, training or behavioral medications is going help them with their demons. If you think by suggesting behavioral euthanasia you’ve failed, you have not. You have saved that dog, from itself. You’ve potentially also saved a family the heartbreak of having to deal with severe injury or worse to a family member. You’ve saved the community from potential injury as well. I won’t go into what happens to that dog if things go that route, just know the days after won’t be pleasant for anyone.

So I will dare to say that if you don’t find it in your wheel house to suggest behavioral euthanasia that is a failure.

It is never something that is taken lightly and fortunately it doesn’t happen often. And I’d be lying to you if I said I wasn’t choking back tears having those discussions and that I didn’t go back to my car and drive a block or two just to pull over and cry. But it is my duty to have that discussion and I’ve even offered to sit with the dog if the family couldn’t so at least the dog had a friendly face to help it on its journey.

07/01/2021

Heads up! The sweetener Xylitol is being “rebranded” to Birch Sugar to sound more appealing.
This doesn’t mean it is any less toxic to your pets.
In the event your pet ingests food, gum, candy etc
containing this you need to seek veterinary care.

05/28/2021

Break time is over! We’re now booking appointments for June.
Appointment spots will be limited so book early or get on our list for upcoming openings.

05/03/2021

The black and white husky in this post is NOT the one found injured near Balaton today.

(Balaton husky is heavier and has a different face)

Sultan and Oso are Husky father & son missing from their home in Pipestone, MN. Sultan is black with white, Oso is gray with white. Sultan has been seen numerous times, but there has been no sign of Oso. They are friendly but very skittish so if you see them, DO NOT CHASE, CALL OUT, OR FOLLOW THEM. Please report any sightings to the number provided so we can get these boys safe!
__________________________________
Dog's Name: Oso and Sultan
Date Lost: April 23, 2021
Case Manager: Tammi Stangohr
Case Manager: Beth
Report Sightings To: 507-215-6214
__________________________________

04/28/2021

Edit: Owner has been found! Thank you for all your help!

Does anyone recognize this sweet boy? He was found running the streets in Cottonwood. Please call the clinic at 507-992-0200 if you know where he belongs, we would really like to help find his owner. Thank you!