First Friends

09/12/2023

NEWS FLASH...

While I continue to support established clients and their dogs, First Friends will not be taking on new clients at this time.

If you are seeking referrals or resources, please message me here on Facebook rather than attempting to reach me at my First Friends email address.

07/04/2023

From the brilliant and compassionate Grisha Stewart Academy and Empowered Animals, LLC,

"Survival tips for the night of the fireworks:

Stay home. Don’t go out to fireworks or dancing and leave your pup to suffer.

Play calming music or watch television
Have a container of fabulous treats in reach (so you don’t have to jump up to get them). Toys are also a good choice for dogs who love toys more than steak.

Whenever a firework goes off that your dog might consider “loud,” close your eyes, breathe out calmly, grab a treat and calmly give it to your dog (you may have to open your eyes for this). Feel free to toss a handful of treats on the floor. If it’s a toy, you can throw it. Do this every time there’s a boom and if the noise is long, just keep calmly tossing out treats.

Dogs tune into our stress level, so it’s important to stay calm, even if you’re worried about your dog. This has been demonstrated by science. During and after the treat tossing, visualize your most pleasant memory/fantasy in great detail. It can be rated G, like imagining world peace or the taste of chocolate on your tongue, but it doesn’t have to be. If you have trouble relaxing, consider taking my How to Human course. It’s a 6-week online class full of wellness tips for wholehearted living.

If your dog comes up to you for affection, use the 5-second rule (video below).

Regular petting/patting hasn’t been shown to help, but I have seen it be very useful to give dogs a way to ask for affection and reassurance.

Make sure your dog’s collar tag and microchip are up to date. Dogs are way more likely to panic and run away on fireworks nights.

And did i mention staying home?

I have more survival and training ideas in my fireworks blog article (https://grishastewart.com/sound-desensitization-fireworks-thunder/)

By following these tips, you can help your dog stay calmer and more comfortable during fireworks and thunderstorms. Share with any dog friends whose dogs might be worried."

Enjoy the holiday, everyone! Keep those pets safe and secure. 🇺🇸🐾

(Image by The Oatmeal)

07/03/2023

Do you have a canine friend and are making plans for the Fourth? Here are some tips from our trainers about how to keep your dog calm and safe during fireworks.

1. Try to get some extra exercise in earlier in the day to help tire your pup out.

2. Try to keep your dog inside during the fireworks as much as possible. If they will be outside at all, try and keep them on a secured leash and attach a tracker to their collar in case they get out.

3. Use box fans, AC, TVs, or speakers to create white noise and break up the loud noises.

4. Make sure your dog has some of their favorite toys with them. Chewing and licking help soothe dogs, so give them a kong with frozen peanut butter or a toy they can gnaw on.

5. Keep your routine as regular as possible. Don't introduce your dog to too many new people or scenarios so they don't get overwhelmed. If they will be home alone, have them in their crate or a small quiet room.

We hope you all have a fun and safe day!

07/01/2023

This is why we do what we do.

I had my third lesson today with Jen for my dog Gabby Rose. I wanted to let you know that the lessons with Jen have made a dramatic difference for us. We adopted Gabby Rose in December. After seeing nothing but sweet behavior for the first three days, she shocked us by becoming aggressive with a delivery driver who was on our porch. Gabby is approximately 5 years old and was abandoned in Yakima, so we don't know her history. Those were early days, and she settled down, but continued to be very reactive while on the leash, especially towards other dogs. Things were to the point that people started changing direction when they saw us coming, if they had seen us before. It was humiliating and so discouraging. The final straw was just before I called to set up lessons, when Gabby suddenly lunged at, and tried to bite a man in our neighborhood who was simply walking by (while I was walking her.)

It's hard to believe that after only three lessons, things have so vastly improved. Granted, Gabby is smart, eager to please, and very treat motivated, so she has been an easy pupil. But prior to meeting with Jen, I had done a lot of online research and done my very best to do everything right with regard to training Gabby. Initially I had confidence that I could fix this myself. However, as the saying goes, "You don't know what you don't know." When Gabby lunged at that poor man - and very nearly bit him - I knew I needed the help of a professional.

Jen gave me new strategies that started working immediately. Now that we have been practicing for a couple of months, the change is amazing.

Gabby continues to get stressed around certain stimuli, but now she knows to look at me when she sees something that peaks her interest, and she knows that she will be rewarded for focusing her attention on me, rather than the dog, bicyclist or skateboarder that is ramping her up. By using what Jen taught me, I can walk Gabby with confidence, because I know I have strategies to redirect her attention. She hasn't miraculously turned into a perfect dog, but her behavior is greatly improved. I no longer feel embarrassed to take her out in the neighborhood. And people have stopped running away when they see us coming haha.

The training has also taught me how to read Gabby's signals better and to anticipate when she needs to be redirected, in addition to teaching Gabby to look at me, rather than maintain focus on the perceived threat. It's an ongoing process, but things are so much better. Before the lessons with Jen, I was coming home from my dog walks on the verge of tears. We don't have a fenced yard, so I had to walk her several times a day. I was incredibly frustrated. Now our walks are pleasant and I have a better attitude. When I see someone approaching, I feel equipped to handle it, and it feels like a training opportunity, rather than a potential disaster. I know that Gabby feels less stressed because I'm less stressed, as well.

I really want to applaud Jen for being such a great teacher. She has such a confident and positive attitude. She made me feel at ease and was never patronizing or condescending. When I needed a correction with regard to what I was doing, I always felt respected and encouraged. Lots of people who have impressive skill sets are great at "doing" but not necessarily great at teaching. I'm guessing that training dogs is easier than training people, but Jen is great at both.

I'm not being dramatic when I tell you that what I have learned in these classes has improved the quality of my life on a daily basis.

Thanks to Jen and to you for doing the very important work that you do.
D

06/02/2023

Illustrated for PetHarmonyTraining.com
What is Pet Enrichment?

05/31/2023

🌩️ 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.

📅 Remember, if you want to speak with a veterinarian, many have long wait lists, and you will want to make an appointment as soon as possible.

🏠 Giving your dog a special place to call their own will help them feel as comfortable as possible.

🔍 Check local listings for displays and events that may impact your pet.

🐾 Ensure all microchips and tags are up to date and consider investing in GPS collars or geolocation tags.

🎆 On July 4, many animals become startled or frightened by the noise of fireworks. This may cause them to flee from familiar environments and people, and sadly become lost.

05/31/2023

"The investigators conclude that their results suggest that adverse rearing conditions early in life have a lasting effect on dogs. As adults these dogs are generally more fearful and stressed. They also seem to need, and to benefit from, the presence of their caretaker to a greater degree than more favorably reared dogs, when they are confronted with a potentially threatening situation.

So perhaps we can now modify Wordsworth's nearly classic expression to read, "The puppy is the father to the dog", at least emotionally and behaviorally."

Dogs that suffer from early adversity often remain fearful and dependent through life.

05/28/2023

"So if your dog is afraid of fireworks, ad-hoc counter-conditioning should be part of your plans. You may also wish to try relaxation training, although based on this study it is not possible to give guidelines on the best way to do this. You should also consult with your vet, who may prescribe medication (and will also check for pain), and of course consult with a good dog trainer if needed.'

Ad-hoc counter-conditioning and relaxation training work, say owners, but many other treatments don’t.

05/10/2023

"But I did not withhold normal food, access to independent play or playmates, or my attention. That is not a relationship, or a friendship. It may be an appropriate interaction between organism and source of stimuli, but I need more from dogs than simple, conditioned responses. I have dogs first and foremost as my friends, and I do my damnedest to treat them as such. I often fail to be as generous and unflagging a friend to my dogs as they are to me. But I’m learning."

It is possible to have a relationship based on mutual respect, free from anything that remotely resembles sensory deprivation, and still have a dog who will work his heart out for you and even more importantly, with you.

05/10/2023

"Trying “just one more time” is often counterproductive and hinders rather than helps learning. Provide your dog with some quiet, relaxed free time after a training session and come back to the skill later. You should find that your dog has more success with each subsequent session. If you ever find yourself getting frustrated, end the session and tackle it again next time."

Latent learning - As a professional educator and dog trainer, and someone who has studied physiological psychology, I totally agree. https://grandavevet.com/latent-learning-in-dogs-give-em-a-break/

05/05/2023

"All of this biting is a very natural thing, developmentally speaking, on Planet Dog. Of course, it’s just as natural for us delicate-skinned folks on Planet Human to want it to stop, immediately! It’s awful when your puppy’s “attacking” everyone in the family. Then again, it’s also hard to be a misunderstood puppy transplanted out of your own culture."

Fact: Puppies have a developmental need to bite. Here’s a plan for directing and fulfilling that need – with your skin intact!

12/23/2022

It is that time of year again; not just for fun in the snow but also for those of you who have learned with First Friends to help me do a better job helping pets and their families!

If you have trained with me, please consider taking a few moments to complete a short survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/G2RSGRX

08/01/2022

Three days a week I have the honor of being a trainer Tails-a-Wagging and getting to help friends like Bowie and his person.

07/20/2022

While much of the rest of the country is baking through heatwaves bringing temperatures far higher than the ones we are facing here in Western Washington, we do still need to consider how to help our pets cope with the summer heat.

My dogs love their treat-stuffed, frozen Kongs; morning and evening walks; and resting in the shade. Squiggy on the other paw, takes it one step farther and loves to curl up in the cool of the sink!

What steps do you take to help?

https://www.seattletimes.com/life/pets/easy-ways-to-help-your-pets-stay-cool/

https://www.npr.org/2022/07/20/1112579658/how-to-keep-your-pets-cool-and-safe-during-a-heat-wave

07/07/2022

Are you and your dogs ready to get on the trails? We thought we were!

Leashes and harnesses in good shape - check
Current ID on tags - check
Vaccines up to date - check
Dog 1st Aid kit refilled - check
Well rehearsed Sticky Mat skills - check
Long-lasting chews packed to help dogs settle at camp - check
Rocket Recall - check

We forgot that dogs age and get out of shape like people do. Puzzle and I were quite lame the day after our hike that had far more snow that we were advised that it might - quote the local ranger, "there might be a bit of snow left up there"...

While doing a post hike groom I found sharp seed pods* deeply hidden in Puzzle's fur behind her shoulder blades. Had I not found and removed them, they likely would have worked their way under her skin and caused injury.

I'll be hosting a Dog 1st Aid and Emergency Planning workshop soon. Part of the time we spend together is going over these sorts of check lists to help keep our outings safe as well as fund.

How are you and your dogs enjoying you summer so far? Drop us a reply below and let us know!

07/01/2022

As a Fear Free professional dog trainer, I do my best to help all the dogs I work and learn with to live more comfortable, safer, and enriched lives.

The 4th of July can be a terrible challenge for many of these dogs but I urge their people to consider it a challenge they are ready and able to take on. It does take a concerted effort, often with the help of both a trainer and a veterinarian.

Plan ahead by providing a snug and secure place for your pets, make sure they are wearing current ID, and please be there to comfort them; their fear is real!

www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/fourth-july-safety-tips

www.fearfreehappyhomes.com/kit/fear-of-thunder-fireworks/

Would you like help getting your dog ready to cope with our sometimes scary world? Those sensitive/shy dogs are some of my favorites to learn with! www.firstfriends.biz

06/24/2022

It is that time of year again...
Unfortunately, the seasonal BOOMS seem to have begun very early this year. At least I have a lap to offer poor Puzzle...In our household, we use a combination of sequestering (small snug spaces), closed windows, fans, white noise, and Trazadone to make it through the "celebration".
Here are a couple of articles to be of help:
https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/blog/the-fourth-of-july-is-not-always-happy-for-our-dogs/
https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/trazodone

06/23/2022

I have lived with a couple of dogs who were truly dog-social (actively engaged in a friendly manner with other dog-social dogs who they did not know) and currently live with a dog who does not tolerate interactions with stranger dogs but very much enjoys the company of her canine friend who she lives with.

While all dogs are individuals, understanding the normal range of canine sociability, and where your dog is on that range that, goes a long way toward happiness for you both.

That doesn't mean that we can't learn new skills with our dogs to help them to more comfortably navigate there world!

If you'd like to explore training games to help your dog, contact me at www.firstfriends.biz. I'd be glad to help!

On the note of things that make me squirm/twitch/reach for the gin and grab my loudspeaker ...

I also often hear people saying that they are planning to 'socialise' their reactive, fearful or aggressive dog.

You cannot socialise an adult dog. Socialisation refers to the period of time during early puppyhood, where if the pup does not experience something within their first 16 weeks of age (it does vary between individual dogs, breeds and size of dog but it's a fair estimate) then they will fear it for the rest of their lives unless they are taught otherwise via counter conditioning.

You might be thinking, do semantics really matter here?
Yes they absolutely do.

In the hope of 'socialising' their dog to be more sociable, people deliberately place their dogs in doggy daycare. They deliberately choose dog sitters who have dogs. They deliberately take their dog on group walks with multiple dogs. More often than not, the well-meaning dog guardian will do this on a daily or regular basis to teach their dog that it's ok/nothing bad happens/dogs won't harm them. Makes sense to us, right?

If you want to make your reactive/aggressive/fearful dog worse, by all means do all of the above and otherwise force them into situations with as many dogs as you can in as restricted a space as possible.

Many dog reactive/nervous dogs are quiet when put in these situations. *Occasionally* a dog feels more comfortable in these scenarios - almost like 'safety in numbers' - but 99% of the time, the dog feels so frightened and overwhelmed that it shuts down, goes quiet, offers passive/inobtrusive behaviour and otherwise looks cured! Don't be fooled by their quietness.

Best case scenario, you make your dog's fear stronger. Worse case scenario, you're putting them on a runway towards chronic anxiety, depression and/or aggressive behaviour.

Most dogs are dog-selective. All dogs will be reactive/aggressive when put in the wrong situation. It is completely acceptable to avoid situations your dog can't cope with, to never meet unknown dogs on walks, and to stick to your dog's few actual doggy friends.

06/21/2022

When a dog was reactive (barking/lunging) toward other dogs or people, trainers used to teach the dog's guardians to use a Watch Me cue (asking the dog for eye contact with their person to keep them from looking at whatever was bothering them). This seemed to help many dogs but some dogs never progressed and continued to be upset by these interactions.

By instead learning and using the Control Unleashed LAT game (where the dog looks at whatever is triggering them and then looks away, back to their person) we are able to interrupt the stressful pattern of behavior, break off direct staring at other dogs, begin to change how the dog feels about their trigger from a negative emotional response to a positive one!

In this video, Puzzle and I play the Look at That or Engage/Disengage game. For us, the verbal cue to play the game is "Who's that?"

To see how this is taught, click on through to a video we did a few years ago for KARE: https://youtu.be/F-he2vbR1Yc

More details can be found at www.clickertraining.com/look-at-that-making-the-trigger-the-target and www.controlunleashed.net

Are you interested in learning how to help your dog through reactivity? First Friends can help! www.firstfriends.biz

While we teach Look at That (Engage/Disengage) is a fairly formal manner (as shown in the KARE video) once the team understands the game it can be played in ...

06/18/2022

Come on out to Bark in the Park in Anacortes to celebrate DOGS!

06/12/2022

When you need help with you dog, finding the right match can be challenging! If you’ve worked with me, please consider leaving a review over the First Friends Google Business page: https://g.page/r/CYOhQVC6zJKFEAE. I’m told that reviews will help other people find me so I can help them and their dogs.

If you are looking for a trainer to work with, below are a couple of articles from the Whole Dog Journal that might be useful.

https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/training/professional-training/how-to-find-the-best-dog-trainer-for-your-dog/

https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/lifestyle/human-focus/professional-dog-training-titles/

The fun cartoon in this post is by the fabulous Isabella Bannerman. You can see more of her art over at https://www.isabellabannerman.com/.

06/10/2022

Clients often come to me looking to stop what they see as their dog’s “problem behaviors”.

These behaviors might be jumping up during excited greetings, growling when people try to take things from them, or barking and lunging when strangers pass by. The owners want the behaviors to stop but it isn’t that simple. We need to actively manage their dog’s world so the dog stops practicing the behavior, seek to enrich their lives to relieve stress to allow them to relax and learn, and generally train an alternative behavior.

I also explore WTF – What's the Function. Why is the dog doing the behavior? Dogs do things for genuine reasons, to fill their needs.

When we stop a “problem behavior” we must also make sure we are solving the problem the behavior is looking to solve.

Many dogs jump up because they want to greet their people. When they were puppies, often this was encouraged.

Some dogs feel unsecure that people might take away their food or toys. If they growl, the people don’t take their stuff.

Meeting strangers can be stressful to most dogs. If they are unable to avoid these interactions with body language requests such as tucking their tails, looking away, or hunching their bodies, they might escalate to barking and other “scary” behaviors.

What do you think we might do to help these three dogs feel differently and learn alternative and acceptable, to both people and the dog themselves, behaviors?

Thank you Dale's Dog Training Academy* for posting this image and for Ashleigh Warner** for the insight!

*https://www.facebook.com/DaleTrainsDogs
**https://holisticfamilypsychologist.com/

06/07/2022

Who is coming out to Bark in the Park on Anacortes June 18th? I'll be there with tips and tricks for pet owners, talking about the importance of emergency preparedness and knowing basic pet 1st aid, and just enjoying the day with the dogs and their people!

https://skagit.kidinsider.com/37059/bark-in-the-park-anacortes-free

06/05/2022

The Dog Abides is my favorite class to teach. Training your dog is more than having them sit when asked or not to jump on strangers when they are greeting (though those can be helpful skills).

This class helps dogs learn to relax and settle. They to learn to think things through and how rewarding making the right choices can be!

A new round of The Dog Abides starts this week at Tails-a-Wagging: https://tails-a-wagging.com/training/classes-and-workshops/the-dog-abides-learn-how-to-settle/.

https://youtu.be/F-Btt2TG_JM

06/03/2022

An extension of one of my mantras, "Your dog is not giving you a hard time; your dog is having a hard time". The way we frame our dog's behaviors does matter in our own behavior toward them.

The best resource for your expert trainer and expert behaviour consultant. Leading certified dog trainer and behaviour consultant in the area and Canada wide. We provide easy fear free methods. We use our brain to train teach you how to raise and work with your dog to be your best friend. Personaliz...

05/31/2022

When I go out walking with my dogs in our neighborhood, we walk together. They have their sniff stops and I gaze at things I find beautiful. The final destination is back home again but the route varies by what catches our noses and eyes.

To do this in harmony, we needed to learn Loose Leash Walking skills.

If you and your dog would like to fine-tune your dog walks, consider signing up for the Walk this Way class with me at Tails-a-Wagging (www.tails-a-wagging.com).

Private Lessons are also available, at your home, in your neighborhood, or out on the town (www.firstfriends.biz).

05/31/2022

Hello all you pet-lovers out there in Facebook Land! First Friends is offering support through training and education again now that I've settled in beautiful Skagit County.

If you have a new dog or cat in your household and have questions, concerns, want to commiserate and/or celebrate, please consider dropping a reply below and I'd be glad to send you a link to this month's FREE "Welcome Home" Zoom seminar.

I come from a background of twenty years in animal welfare and am a certified trainer (KPA CTP). I have group classes up in Bellingham at Tails-a-Wagging (www.tails-a-wagging.com) and offer Private Lessons both in-home and out-and-about in Mount Vernon and Burlington.

Please visit my website www.firstfriends.biz to learn more!

01/04/2022

“Remember, this is hard. Give yourself grace and take care of both you and your dog.” *

I’m stepping back into the role of supporting reactive dogs and their people by leading Managing the Growlies classes at Tails-a-Wagging (www.tails-a-wagging.com).

Living with and loving a reactive dog is a life filled with challenges, but it can also be very rewarding if the person who doing so makes their role as caregiver a holistic and humane mission.

Being Puzzle’s person has taught me so much; she has taught me so much. We’ve learned strategies, games, skills, and trust. We’ve fumbled along the way but each time we’ve fallen, we’ve gotten back up better together. That is the solid foundation of my ability to help other dogs and their people all this path. I learned a great deal while being a part of the KARE team teaching their unique Reactive Rover program and I am also forever grateful to the hundreds of shelter dogs I have know over the years.

Of course, I have more formal professional development that gives structure depth to my knowledge in this aspect of training. It started way back when I was a volunteer with Trish King’s Behavior & Training Department, continued through my time as an apprentice both with Sirius Dog Training and Good Dog Santa Cruz, I also graduated from Jean Donaldson’s Academy for Dog Trainers and Karen Pryor’s KPA-CTP program, and just recently earned my Fear Free Animal Trainer certificate. While I am taking a break from these in-depth continuing education courses, I still avidly read articles and listen to podcasts to keep new ideas flowing into my mind so that I can better help both Puzzle and the clients I work with.

How do you learn best? Hands-on with your dog, reading about dog training, watching videos instead? I’m guessing it is a combination of those and perhaps others. Please do feel welcome to share your favorite resources with us so we can learn with you!

*The quote above is from the podcast Paws and Reward. In this episode (https://pawsandreward.com/episode32/) Marissa Martino interviews one of my all-time heroes Patricia McConnell about resilience, in dogs and in people.