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Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 11am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm Saturday 9am - 5pm

Silver Linings Canines LLC

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Mechanicsville, VA
Silver Linings Canines LLC

Welcome to Silver Linings Canines LLC! Message us today for private lesson inquiries!
(3)

03/14/2024

Important Announcement:

Silver Linings Canines was a dream of mine for a long time, and I am so blessed to have been its founder, trainer, and owner for the two years of its life. It is at this time that I must announce that Silver Linings has come to a beautiful and peaceful close. It is undetermined at this time if I will revisit the business, but it will not be as it was if I do. I have found an opportunity to train with another company and am more than happy to allow this chapter of my life to close. Thank you Silver Linings Clients for supporting me, uplifting me, trusting me with your dogs, and believing in my dream. Thank you for teaching me so many important lessons.

Sincerely, Mary

Photo credit Nicole Kasey

01/20/2024

Client Shoutout Saturday!
This is Gracie, she is a 2 year old Yorkie poodle mix from a rough situation. Her mom and dad reached out to me about 4 months ago after they adopted her to help her acclimate and learn about the world. Today, she graduated her program and I could not be more proud of her and her parents work. She has made leaps and bounds and I’m very pleased with her progress. This little girl had never been on a leash before and now takes confident walks with her mom and dad! Go Gracie!

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Silver Linings Canines LLC

12/26/2023

How many of you get annoyed when your dog barks presumably at nothing?
Where their ears perk up and they look wildly around in search of the sound that startled them and we stand there wondering what set them off in the first place.

Since becoming a dog trainer and owner of an environmentally sensitive dog, I have become sound reactive myself. I haven’t the slightest clue when this behavior started within myself where I hear the slightest of sounds, but it has helped me understand the dogs point of view much better.

For those of you with sound reactive dogs or even confident dogs, take a step outside and just listen. Birds sing, cars whizz past in the distance, generators hum, dogs exchange barks from afar, children laugh, and sometimes even music blares. And then remind yourself that your dog can hear all of that and more at twice the frequency that we can.
Even your kitchen appliances produce high pitched sounds that we cannot detect.

Humans hearing sensitivity is capped at 20,000 hz while dogs run laps around us at 47,000 to 65,000 hz.

Keep that in mind before you lose your temper at their concern, the world is much louder to them.

11/23/2023

Happy thanksgiving! 🍁🦃

Keep your pets safe this year by checking which foods are safe for your dog before giving it to them! Always better safe than sorry!
Make sure you have a safe place for your dog to retreat to if guests get overwhelming.
Keep your dog on leash while people are coming in to minimize jumping or bolt risks.
Stay safe and have a great day!

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Silver Linings Canines LLC

10/19/2023

𝕃𝕖𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕚𝕥!

Leave it is what we refer to as a “life saving” command. Dogs should never assume that they can eat dropped food or food they find on the ground. You might be asking: why? I like when my dog cleans up messes!

Picture this: you’ve got a headache, while reaching for medicine, you accidentally drop a pill. If you’re unlucky, you don’t notice your dog swallow it the ibuprofen that just hit the ground.
Teaching dogs that all food on the ground is off limits can keep them from tragedy.

“Leave it” also translates to other aspects of life: leaving the other dog on the hiking trail alone, not chasing the squirrel, ignoring the person who insists on making kissy noises at your dog, etc.

If you’re struggling with this skill, we would love to help! Shoot us a message to teach your dog how to ignore stimuli like a pro!

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Silver Linings Canines LLC

10/17/2023

Tongue (and teeth) out Tuesday anybody? 😂

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Silver Linings Canines LLC

10/06/2023

This is why we recommend to take collars and tags go off when dogs are unsupervised/in the house! So many accidents can happen in the blink of an eye.

08/29/2023

𝟝 𝕥𝕚𝕡𝕤 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕓𝕠𝕟𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕒 𝕟𝕖𝕨 𝕡𝕦𝕡𝕡𝕪/𝕕𝕠𝕘:

So, you brought home a new dog…this might be an overwhelming experience, learning how to adjust your routine to accommodate your new pet, learning how to bond, etc. This process can feel rather daunting to new and veteran dog owners alike. So how does one navigate this time period?

1. Hand feeding meals:
Hand feeding meals is a great way to create a relationship with your dog that is built on mutual respect. Hand feeding meals instead of feeding from a bowl is a great way to remain consistent with training and hold yourself accountable for the routine. Hand feeding also helps your dog create a positive association with you because food is a primary reinforcer(something that is necessary for survival). Teaching your dog that good things occur when you are present helps future situations where insecurity or anxiety is present. Your dog begins to look to you for guidance.

2. Playing with them:
Playing with your dog is a great way to create fun, positive experiences for both of you. Learning what motivates your dog helps with future training situations as well, rewards aren’t just about food.

3. Taking breaks when frustrated:
When your dog or you is frustrated, it’s highly advised to put them up and take a break from them. Pushing through aggravation may worsen the situation and lead to resentment. Don’t feel bad for crating your dog while you are home. A lot of puppies act up when they really need a nap time, just like toddlers.

4. Training games:
Training with your dog is one of the best ways to create a bond with your dog. You both develop an ability to read each others body language and figure out how to best communicate.

5. Time:
Time! Allowing your new dog time to adjust to your new home and household with patience and understanding is one of the kindest things you can do for them. It takes a bit for dogs to become fully comfortable with their new owners, their home, and routine.
Continued in comments:

08/26/2023

Happy International Dog Day from the Silver Linings Crew! Hug your pups a little extra today🥰

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Silver Linings Canines LLC

08/22/2023

This past weekend, I had the unique experience to take in and raise this little fella for a few days until I could get him in his new home. Little Mac has only been in Virginia a few days and has touched the lives of many. I cannot wait to continue watching his training journey. Thank you to for taking the leap and bringing this spunky little puppy home. Look forward to more Mac content in the next few days ☺️

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Silver Linings Canines LLC

08/03/2023

𝔾𝕣𝕠𝕨𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕚𝕤 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕒𝕝𝕨𝕒𝕪𝕤 𝕒𝕘𝕘𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟.

It’s no secret that dog behavior is complex and flooded with nuance.
While it’s safe to respect dogs warning signals regardless of how they present themselves, growling is not always an indicator of aggression or that a bite is imminent.

When assessing risk with a dog, it’s important to pay attention to all aspects of behavior, including ear and tail placement, facial tension, head carriage, and body posturing.

Growling can be caused by a number of reasons including:
-play
-frustration
-pain
-insecurity
-reactivity
-enforcing boundaries

Dogs often communicate through vocalizations, whether that be to initiate play or tell others to ‘back off’. If a dog growls, this doesn’t automatically mean that this dog is a bite risk or will become a bite risk, assuming their boundaries are respected (both by people and other animals).

Dogs are not black and white creatures, their psychology and thought processes are complex and often difficult to decipher.

If you are worried about your dogs behavior and vocalizations, please consult with a qualified trainer.

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Silver Linings Canines LLC

07/27/2023

Petsitting and Training client highlight!

One of these is not like the others🤔 Can you spot which one?🐱

Reminder that prices for A La carte services is raised starting August 1st. Sessions booked before the start of August will be honored with original quoted price.

I am taking clients for Training and Pet sitting in August.

I will be out of office August 4th-6th for a mini break!

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Silver Linings Canines LLC

07/18/2023

𝕀𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕨𝕒𝕟𝕥 𝕓𝕖𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕪 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕕𝕠𝕘: 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕝𝕖𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕞 𝕨𝕚𝕟.

There are a lot of opinions and nuances on whether to allow dogs to win games of tug or not. We WANT dogs to want to play with us, regardless of if the dog participates in performance sports, is a working K9, or is the family pet.

“Never let the dog win, you’ll teach them they are the alpha” is an age old mindset surrounding play dynamics with dogs, and it couldn’t be farther from the truth. Brushing the whole “alpha theory” aside, dogs are not so dissimilar from us when it comes to motivation.

Think of it this way:
Have you ever played a game with somebody and you NEVER were able to defeat them? Maybe it was Uno, maybe chess, maybe Smash brothers, it doesn’t really matter what the game was. This person always beat you, and I bet you feel pretty frustrated about it! Odds are, you eventually stopped playing with this person because there was never any history of reward or payout. Never a victory. What happened? Your play drive died for that game with that person.

Play with humans isn’t always a skill dogs naturally have, it takes time to teach them the rules of the game:
1. Let go/drop it when I tell you to
2. Target the toy and not my hands
3. Accept when the game is over

Regardless of what your specific rules are, dogs need to win sometimes in order to continue to want to play.

What games do you play with YOUR dog?

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Silver Linings Canines LLC

07/04/2023

ℍ𝕒𝕡𝕡𝕪 𝟜𝕥𝕙 𝕠𝕗 𝕁𝕦𝕝𝕪!🇺🇸

Thank you to our veterans and all those who have served our country!

For those with Pets, please remember that this is a very difficult day for them and more dogs are lost on the 4th than any other day of the year.

Please be courteous to your dog and keep them inside instead of taking them to firework shows or having them be outdoors during the holiday.

Make sure your dog has their dog tag on and visible.

Do last potty breaks early before it gets dark and the fireworks start and if you must take them out again once they’ve started, keep them supervised at all times. Fences don’t always stop dogs from getting panicked and lost.

Keep routines to decrease stress, don’t overwhelm your dog! Having a safe space for them to hide where they will be unbothered is great too.

Be safe and enjoy the holiday everybody!

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Silver Linings Canines LLC

06/20/2023

We are all booked for the next two weeks! First availability for training or pet-sitting is the second week in July.

For inquiries, feel free to message us directly here or reach out via phone/email.
Established clients get first priority over session time slots.

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Silver Linings Canines LLC

06/07/2023

𝟝 𝔾𝕒𝕞𝕖𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕪 𝕚𝕟𝕕𝕠𝕠𝕣𝕤 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕕𝕠𝕘

With the air quality being what it is from the Canadian Forest Fires affecting the east coast, here are a few ways you can mentally tire your dog out while it’s unsafe to participate in outdoor activities:

1. Hide and Seek

You can either have your dog in a stay or have another person hold your dog while you go hide. Release your dog and let them come find you. Have a praise party when they do!

2. Teach a new trick

Got a trick you've been dying to teach your pup? Use this opportunity to mentally stimulate your dog by training something new.

3. Place-Place Recalls

Set up two beds/cots/blankets in different locations and practice either calling your dog to you or sending them to their place/bed from different spots in the room. Make sure to vary rewards in stays as well!

4. Find

Hide your dogs kibble/treats/favorite toy and let them go find it! For a more difficult search, hide it higher up or hide multiple items. For advanced dogs, have them find articles of clothing or trained scent samples.

5. Impulse Control Fetch

Have your dog in a sit or down and throw their toy down a hallway/open space in your home. Have them wait to go and get their toy until released. For advanced dogs, wait for eye contact before release.

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Silver Linings Canines LLC

06/06/2023

Meet Blu! He is working on different house manners. His parents have a page for him, isn’t that so cool?😍 Blu Blu Can’t wait to see how this little man progresses!

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Silver Linings Canines LLC

Address

Mechanicsville, VA
23111

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	11am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+18042129167

Website

https://silverliningsk9s.com/

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Videos

7 things I’m doing with my puppy as a dog trainer! Follow for more training content! ——————————————————— Silver Linings Canines LLC #dogs #dogtraining #dogtrainer #puppy #puppytraining #puppyclasses #obedience #obedienceschool #workingdog #servicedogs #behaviormodification #separationanxiety #rvadogs #reactivity #reactivedog #smallbusinessowner #smallbusiness #groupclasses #hikingwithdogs

Want your dog to trust you with resources? LEAVE THEM ALONE! Age old advice of sticking your hand in your dogs bowl or touching them while they eat is contributing to more and more resource guarding cases. Across all species, nobody wants to feel threatened while they eat- you ever have siblings or Roomate you had to hide your leftovers from? Dogs deserve to eat in peace without harassment. Remember: growling is communication. They are telling you they are uncomfortable with a situation and they need space. If your dog has started resource guarding, please seek the advice of a qualified trainer in your area instead of trying to rehab this problem by yourself. While your dog is eating, either A. Leave them alone till they are done B. Put them in the crate while they eat C. Hand feed them/train with meals Follow for more training content! ——————————————————— Silver Linings Canines LLC #dogs #dogtraining #dogtrainer #puppy #puppytraining #puppyclasses #obedience #obedienceschool #workingdog #servicedogs #behaviormodification #separationanxiety #rvadogs #reactivity #reactivedog #smallbusinessowner #smallbusiness #groupclasses #hikingwithdogs

𝕀𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕝𝕝𝕚𝕘𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕖 ≠ 𝔼𝕒𝕤𝕪 𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕚𝕟 Many dogs are purchased under the assumption that they will be easy to live with because their breed is noted for its intelligence. It’s important to note that dogs who are highly intelligent often learn tricks quickly, but their behavior is hit or miss. The common problem with highly intelligent breeds is they are often smarter than you- and regularly get bored with the mundane. For example: Border collies are notably highly intelligent and easy to train new behaviors but they are difficult to satiate their exercise requirement. Under stimulated border collies often resort to destructive behaviors and herding tendencies that make living with them difficult or even unmanageable. Intelligence often comes in many forms, and many dogs are self serving. Dogs are opportunists, they will seek to self reinforce any opportunity that they can. Before you adopt or purchase a dog that is labeled as “Very Smart”, make sure to look at the big picture. Do you have time to dedicate to channeling that acuity? What is their exercise requirements? Is stubbornness associated with this breed? Are they biddable? People oriented? What is their prey/herding drive? Don’t mistake “smart” as “easy”. Follow for more training content! ——————————————————— Silver Linings Canines LLC #dogs #dogtraining #dogtrainer #puppy #puppytraining #puppyclasses #obedience #obedienceschool #workingdog #servicedogs #behaviormodification #separationanxiety #rvadogs #reactivity #reactivedog #smallbusinessowner #smallbusiness #groupclasses #hikingwithdogs

𝔾𝕣𝕠𝕨𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕚𝕤 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕒𝕝𝕨𝕒𝕪𝕤 𝕒𝕘𝕘𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟. It’s no secret that dog behavior is complex and flooded with nuance. While it’s safe to respect dogs warning signals regardless of how they present themselves, growling is not always an indicator of aggression or that a bite is imminent. When assessing risk with a dog, it’s important to pay attention to all aspects of behavior, including ear and tail placement, facial tension, head carriage, and body posturing. Growling can be caused by a number of reasons including: -play -frustration -pain -insecurity -reactivity -enforcing boundaries Dogs often communicate through vocalizations, whether that be to initiate play or tell others to ‘back off’. If a dog growls, this doesn’t automatically mean that this dog is a bite risk or will become a bite risk, assuming their boundaries are respected (both by people and other animals). Dogs are not black and white creatures, their psychology and thought processes are complex and often difficult to decipher. If you are worried about your dogs behavior and vocalizations, please consult with a qualified trainer. Follow for more training content! ——————————————————— Silver Linings Canines LLC #dogs #dogtraining #dogtrainer #puppy #puppytraining #puppyclasses #obedience #obedienceschool #workingdog #servicedogs #behaviormodification #separationanxiety #rvadogs #reactivity #reactivedog #smallbusinessowner #smallbusiness #groupclasses #hikingwithdogs

How to calm a high energy dog Follow for more training content! ——————————————————— Silver Linings Canines LLC #dogs #dogtraining #dogtrainer #puppy #puppytraining #puppyclasses #obedience #obedienceschool #workingdog #servicedogs #behaviormodification #separationanxiety #rvadogs #reactivity #reactivedog #smallbusinessowner #smallbusiness #groupclasses #hikingwithdogs

Some Agility fun with my personal dog, Frankie plus some bloopers at the end 😜 What fun things have you done with your dog recently? Follow for more training content! ——————————————————— Silver Linings Canines LLC #dogs #dogtraining #dogtrainer #puppy #puppytraining #puppyclasses #obedience #obedienceschool #workingdog #servicedogs #behaviormodification #separationanxiety #rvadogs #reactivity #reactivedog #smallbusinessowner #smallbusiness #groupclasses #hikingwithdogs

With Dog Training, it is imperative for owners to change their habits as well. It is not all reliant on the dog and the choices that they make. It is a team effort that cultivates progress. Follow for more training content! ——————————————————— Silver Linings Canines LLC #dogs #dogtraining #dogtrainer #puppy #puppytraining #puppyclasses #obedience #obedienceschool #workingdog #servicedogs #behaviormodification #separationanxiety #rvadogs #reactivity #reactivedog #smallbusinessowner #smallbusiness #groupclasses #hikingwithdogs

Your only competition is yourself. Follow for more training content! ——————————————————— Silver Linings Canines LLC #dogs #dogtraining #dogtrainer #puppy #puppytraining #puppyclasses #obedience #obedienceschool #workingdog #servicedogs #behaviormodification #separationanxiety #rvadogs #reactivity #reactivedog #smallbusinessowner #smallbusiness #groupclasses #hikingwithdogs

Life is short, the world is wide, I wanna make some memories 😌 Follow for more training content! ——————————————————— Silver Linings Canines LLC #dogs #dogtraining #dogtrainer #puppy #puppytraining #puppyclasses #obedience #obedienceschool #workingdog #servicedogs #behaviormodification #separationanxiety #rvadogs #reactivity #reactivedog #smallbusinessowner #smallbusiness #groupclasses #hikingwithdogs

My opinion on toys and pet care items at my local TJ Maxx! Please note that these are opinions and shoukd be taken with a grain of salt. If something that I mentioned disliking works for you and your dog, then by all means, keep doing what works! There is no one size fits all, cookie cutter approach to dog ownership. Follow for more training content! ——————————————————— Silver Linings Canines LLC #dogs #dogtraining #dogtrainer #puppy #puppytraining #puppyclasses #obedience #obedienceschool #workingdog #servicedogs #behaviormodification #separationanxiety #rvadogs #reactivity #reactivedog #smallbusinessowner #smallbusiness #groupclasses #hikingwithdogs

How to hold treats/food properly! Follow for more training content! ——————————————————— Silver Linings Canines LLC #dogs #dogtraining #dogtrainer #puppy #puppytraining #puppyclasses #obedience #obedienceschool #workingdog #servicedogs #behaviormodification #separationanxiety #rvadogs #reactivity #reactivedog #smallbusinessowner #smallbusiness #groupclasses #hikingwithdogs

Education vs Experience??? Dog trainers: let’s discuss! What route did you take? Would you do it again? Would you recommend it to other aspiring trainers? Let’s have a chat about your thoughts on the topic but please keep discussions civil, hate will not be tolerated. Follow for more training content! ——————————————————— Silver Linings Canines LLC #dogs #dogtraining #dogtrainer #puppy #puppytraining #puppyclasses #obedience #obedienceschool #workingdog #servicedogs #behaviormodification #separationanxiety #rvadogs #reactivity #reactivedog #smallbusinessowner #smallbusiness #groupclasses #hikingwithdogs