See Spot Grin

04/29/2025

Food for thought....

I love learning. When I was a kid I couldn’t wait to get home from school so I could do my homework, especially math. I still remember how the assignments started with the easy problems. And by the end they had gotten more complex and harder to figure out. I found solving the problems quite reward...

04/28/2025

04/27/2025

Sun/shade lines: when heat meets cold, turbulence is created, which affects air flow. Watch how Buzz uses the sun/shade lines here to solve this two hide NW2 Exterior search. Then watch it again to see how that line initially prevents her from getting to the second hide until I walk her further into the shade.

04/25/2025

Food for thought...

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04/24/2025

More good stuff!

There are many nuances to canine body language.

Answering the Elemental Question, “How is this for you?” the dog continually shows us a great deal about their mental, emotional and physical state.

Are you looking for balance, geometry, stretching or leaning, splayed stance, quality of movement and fine motor control when you are reading a dog?

➡️ Find out why those are invaluable observations for anyone training a dog here in Suzanne's latest bog: https://suzanneclothier.com/dog-body-language/

04/23/2025

Good stuff!

Body Language Beyond the Lip Lick: Context, Contingencies & What Behaviour Really Tells Us Live Online Webinar: Sunday 8th ...

04/15/2025

📣 NEW BLOG POST 📣
Does your dog “talk back”? Bite the leash or the edge of your pants? Bark when seeing strangers? Refuse to move on a walk?

They’re not being stubborn—they’re communicating.

In my latest blog post, I share how reframing “pushback” can transform frustration into connection. Because when we stop correcting and start listening, we open the door to trust, safety, and real teamwork. 🐾💛

✨ Read it here: https://loyalpawrenting.pet/is-your-dog-talking-back-what-it-really-means-and-what-to-do-about-it/

04/12/2025

Volume up! No windows in the back of the van but Buzz can tell when we’ve arrived at our destination. As soon as I turn off the vehicle she starts barking, indicating a shift in her arousal. She knows we’re about to get out and she’s excited!

If I took her out of the van in that state, I’d be asking for trouble. She’d surely bark at another dog, possibly a person passing. At the very least she’d be pulling on leash, attempting to drag me whenever we were headed, void of any connection because her brain is else where.

So, instead I wait for signs that her arousal is shifting back into balance. In Buzz’s case it’s her bark. I listen for the intensity to settle. I wait until she has stopped barking. All said and done it’s usually about three minutes. And then we exit the van together and connected, and walk into class on a loose leash.

What your dog’s tell that they’ve settled before you get them out of the car? How long does it take your dog to get there?

Sure, there are other things I could do to help get Buzz there sooner, but this is just a simple way to measure how things are going for the dog, and worth exploring I think.

04/05/2025

Do you ever talk to your dog? Do they ever talk back? Humans and dogs have a truly amazing relationship, developed along an evolutionary journey that goes back nearly 10,000 years. Do they really understand what we say, think, and feel? It's Okay To Be Smart shows us that recent research suggests do...