Wisteria Farm

06/15/2024

Let's talk about this photo. It's cute, except it's not. I see a dog who cannot get up without telling the child to get off. How do you think a dog is going to do that?

The 7 Golden Toddler Dog Rules:
#1: If a dog walks away from you, you DO NOT FOLLOW.
#2: Always leave room for the dog to walk away from you.
---that right there is 90+% of dog bites eliminated---
#3: We do not climb on the dog.
#4: We do not grab or pull on the dog.
#5: We do not hit or throw anything at the dog.
#6: We do not touch the dog's food.
#7: We do not go into the dog's kennel.

I promise these are not overly difficult concepts for littles, nor will they rob a kid of their bond with the family dog. It will deepen that bond, while keeping everyone safe.

"Oh, it looks like Moose is walking away from you. She is saying she wants a break. Let's play with this instead!"

"It's Moose's dinner time! Let's give her space to enjoy her yummies."

"That is Moose's room(kennel) and only she is allowed to go in there."

"If Moose wanted a break, could she walk away from you right now? No she really couldn't. Let's move away from the play house. You can keep playing but now she can leave when she wants a break."

In conclusion, ***parent your child or your dog will do it for you, and you will not like how they do it.***

06/02/2024

Putting some clinics together!
Puppy Basics &
Obedience Training
Any interest please let us know asap!!! All Breeds Welcome

04/10/2024

Dogs are dogs. They're not fur babies. They're not children. They're dogs.

That doesn't mean I don't love my dogs. It doesn't mean you can't call them your "kids" or "fur children." But for their sake, respect that they are dogs. Treat them well, but treat them as they should be.

People humanizing dogs is actually what's getting a lot of them put down, rehomed, dumped, and loaded with behavioral issues.

The best way to honor and love your dog is to respect the fact that they are different from us. That's part of what makes them so amazing!!

Bringing home a new dog and giving it whatever it wants, whenever it wants, is not setting them up for success. It may feel good to "spoil" them. I get it, but what you're actually doing is creating a brat.

I hear this often: "My dog bit our friend on the couch because he thinks the couch is his." OK, who let them think that? The dog didn't just waltz in and claim your couch. The dog wasn't given boundaries to begin with. I let my dogs on the couch, but if I tell them to get off and go to their bed, they will without hesitation. They've earned that privilege based on respect, trust, and understanding.

If you want to "spoil" your dog, do it by setting them up for success. Exercise them, give them boundaries, give them a job, and give them what they actually need instead of the latest squeaky toy. The time you spend playing with your dog means more than the toy itself.

Love your dog. Cherish your dog. Respect your dog, but for the love of the dog, TREAT THEM LIKE A DOG.

(And before anyone wants to say something silly...My dogs are my family. They literally signed my marriage certificate, but they also have boundaries. Just like any healthy family should!)

03/30/2024