How to Train Your Canine

01/18/2025

We hear a lot about the need for socialization, but what it is and how to do it can feel overwhelming to figure out (especially if you’re already wrangling a new puppy!). This excellent graphic from Doggie Drawings by Lili Chin may be helpful for you!

If you want help socializing your pup, or figuring out how to do it, I’d love to help you too

01/11/2025

I had a request for loose leash walking advice, and I happen to have a video from this lovely boy I did my VSA assessment with!

I am small, and he was not, so it was extra important to break this skill down in baby steps so he could be successful on walks and I could be safe.

First, we practiced teaching the behavior I wanted inside. I marked and rewarded him when his head was at my left hip. Once he was doing this reliably inside, we practiced in the backyard, then I added the verbal cue “let’s go!” to the behavior in the backyard, and then we practiced in front of the house with no distractions, and finally in front of the house while some construction was happening a block away.

To build on this, I would have slowly added challenges to our practice like a person walking by, then more exciting things like kids on bikes, at small levels he could handle a bit at a time. Slow and steady wins the race!

I’ll make a newer video with my boys if anyone would find that helpful

11/17/2024

This is a FANTASTIC post about raising puppies!

10/26/2024

10/14/2024

How’s everyone doing after hurricane Milton?

While my household was very fortunate, and we didn’t experience much damage, our power was out for several days.

Of course, this was stressful for the humans at home, but more so for the dogs!

My boys take a lot of their cues from our normal routines, and usually rest when we’re working on computers, or relaxing playing games or watching tv. Those cues were gone, and it had a big impact on them and the amount they slept. Dogs need a lot more sleep than we do, and with my boys not getting as much as they needed, I noticed them getting much grumpier with each other! They needed more breaks from each other, started guarding resources they’re normally not invested in, and their play got more intense than I love to see- oof!

Since power has come back, they’ve been catching up on their rest, and I’ve seen a big difference in their behavior and mood. Our schedules are predictable again, and they’re able to watch their favorite dog tv (am I raising iPad kids? Oops.)!

How are you and your dogs doing?

10/07/2024

With Hurricane Milton on the way, we need to get things prepared for our dogs, along with ourselves! This is a great set up for indoor potty needs

09/18/2024

Do you and your dog ever do “nothing” together? Levi is a 10 month old, very busy, adolescent. Physical exercise is an important part of his day to meet his needs, but just as important is him getting the opportunity to sit in a sunbeam and take in the scents the breeze carries. It can seem boring to us, but dogs need to get the opportunity to use that amazing nose of theirs, and it can be an excellent way to help them relax!

09/08/2024

An active baby on the move means parents have lots to pay attention to when living with family dogs. this is a time when you are on your feet the most.

❗️Making sure that your baby DOES NOT APPROACH your family dog is key. We always say a dog and baby on the scene a parent in between. This is to prevent startling or uncomfortable interaction with the family dog.

🐾 Dogs often display subtle signals the closer a crawling baby gets. Things like licking lips, turning away, scratching, yawning are often seen. Sometimes a dog will get up and move while other times they may not.

❗️Pay attention to your dog and prevent these situations from happening as much as possible. In our experience it is when a baby approaches a dog that the dog growls or snaps.

✅ Using success stations such as crates, gates, play yards and your body can help prevent this.

🥱We know this is an exhausting time. Management is key for this period. It won’t be forever we promise but if you do this now, your dog will thank you!!!! ❤

09/06/2024

Adolescence can be a very challenging time! The puppy we knew is changing so much, and it can seem like all of your hard work together is regressing, but it is normal and not forever. If you’re struggling with adolescence, we can help you work through it!

I’m in the thick of it with Levi at 10 months now. Some days (maybe many days, if we’re honest), I feel like screaming into the void from adolescent antics, but the more we keep working together and just spend time together, I see the amazing adult dog he’s on his way to being. You’ve got this!

Adolescence occurs between six months and 18 months of age—a time when guardians typically struggle the most with their dogs. Some guardians are so overwhelmed and underprepared for this developmental stage of their dog’s life, they choose to surrender the dog to a local shelter or rescue group. In a recent study published in the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science found that the majority of the surrendered dogs (47.7 percent) ) were between 5 months and 3 years of age (M.D. Salman,John G. New, Jr.,Janet M. Scarlett,Philip H. Kass,Rebecca Ruch-Gallie &Suzanne Hetts, 2010)

The neurobiology of adolescence is fascinating, with some key events that alter both the structure and function of the brain.

During canine adolescence, changing s*x hormones effect the animals stress responses. Adolescent dogs have a decreased ability to process information they are receiving from the environment including the presence of dogs, vehicles, people, or really anything around them. They behave in ways that might feel frustrating or upsetting for the dog’s person.

The connectivity between the frontal cortex (responsible for decision making) and amygdala (responsible for emotional processing) decreases, resulting in less behavioral control. We see increased risk taking and more sensitivity to fear.

So what does this mean? This could mean that what was once no big deal to the dog now feels scary; what was once easy to do is now stressful; what once made sense is now confusing. At times, the world can feel like ‘too much’ for the adolescent dog.

As your puppy undergoes this transition into adulthood their inner world is intense, even chaotic. Many pet owners experience an increase in undesirable behavior and find themselves becoming increasingly frustrated. In turn, our own frustration and impatience can cause us to act unpredictably. This adds to our puppy’s inner turmoil. When the inside and the outside are both unpredictable it can be difficult for our dogs to adjust.

If you have an adolescent dog, what can you do? You can give your dog the time and space to observe what is going on around them when on leash at a distance away from the activity when possible. You can give your dog long walks to sniff and explore in nature, giving their brain time to decompress. You can offer your dog a quiet space to sleep so that they can consolidate memories effectively. You can continue training various skills, breaking them down into easier steps that can be generously reinforced.

By understanding what our adolescent dog is experiencing we gain greater compassion and understanding. When we approach adolescence with patience we create a world that is predictable and gentle so our puppies grow up to be their best adult selves.

09/02/2024

What a fantastic set up!! It is so important for both dog and child safety that a dog has a safe “no bothering” zone they can choose to go to when they need it, and I love how clearly they’ve marked it with tape and floor stickers so the kids can easily tell where their feet should stop!

08/31/2024

Sweet Buddy’s family is doing an amazing job at getting him the best start in life he can have (just look at that face 🥰)

This clever boy is learning how to walk nicely with his people, how to trade unsafe-for-puppy objects for safe-for-puppy objects, and that settling is a good thing! Good boy, Buddy!

06/20/2024

I got to attend a wonderful workshop from ZooTampa at Lowry Park and Precision Behavior last week, and a fellow attendee (and a Largo area dog trainer Progress 4 Paws) put together a great summary video. Continuing education is so important, and it was great learning from other dog trainers and zoo professionals!

06/19/2024

Chip and his family absolutely rocked our training session last night! He has big feeling about dogs walking by, and the always enticing neighborhood squirrels that foolishly cross his path. We worked on helping him feel safe and optimistic around dogs, helping him get the space he needs, and practiced how we want him to wait near the door instead of rushing to look for squirrels! Such a good boy!

06/10/2024

Oh my this is SO important. We are lucky to know ahead of time what to expect with our baby’s new milestones and development, or at least have the resources to research and learn more. Our dogs, however do not have a book or app to guide them as our baby grows.

They count on US! Knowing what changes are ahead can help you prepare WITH your dog. Changes in management, parent-guided activities, and enrichment.

Great example: Sitting up on the floor is an exciting milestone but might be confusing or conflicting for your family dog! Prepare and practice with your dog ahead of this new stage. Here are a several of things to think about when approaching this milestone.

❓Does sitting on your floor = excitement or playfulness from your dog?
❓Do you currently play with your dog by getting on the floor?
❓Will your dog respond to your cues while you are sitting on the floor?
❓What would you like your dog to do while you engage with your baby on the floor?

Parents often complain that their dog is “jealous” and tries to “get in between” when they try to engage with their baby on the floor. This leads to frustration and concern by parents and confusion for your family dog. If you used to play on the floor with your dog, this may be very confusing for them as to why you don’t want to play with them now. If playtime with your dog, before the baby, involved sitting on the floor then you can help your dog by teaching them the new rules. Prepare and practice ahead of time where you want your dog to be when you engage with your baby on the floor. Set up a gate or play yard as a boundary.

06/05/2024

⭐️ Thunderstorm season is upon us, and firework season is fast approaching. Keep an eye on this page to learn how to help your pets stay safe and comfortable during this noisy time of year. ⭐️

🐾 All animals need a place where they feel safe and can decompress. A safe zone is a special new area we'll create together for your dog. 🏠

🔇 The important aspects of the safe zone are that it provides a place that:

Avoids sensory overload 🚫🔊
Relatively quiet 🤫
Minimizes smells/odors – if you can smell it (e.g., household cleaners), then it is likely overwhelming for the dog. 🌬️
Not too bright, no flashing lights, no shiny or reflective surfaces 🚫💡
Creates predictability 🔄
This is your dog's space to get away from stressful stimuli 🐶
A place your dog can choose to go to if he or she wants a break from activity 🐾
Gives them quiet time to recover from stress (a key for developing resilience) 💤
Minimizes talking, petting, or training 🙅‍♂️🐕

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