The K9 Coach Carolinas

01/03/2025

A quick update on the Bird Flu -- what you need to know.

12/17/2024

We talk about gut health and immunity, gut health and the brain, etc

But people often glaze over when I say gut health and behavior in my training programs. Yes, anxiety, fear, aggression

It is all intertwined and why I push clients to really focus on diet, detox, and other wellness issues.

11/27/2024

Ever wonder what your dog’s breed really is and why he may exhibit the behaviors or health issues a that may be a consider based on breed?

https://wisdompanel.pxf.io/gO1kQ5

11/04/2024

The Well Oiled K9 is talking about herbs this month. Make sure you like/follow the page to get some great tips about using herbs for your dog.

Milk Thistle is a must have for everyone's first aid kit. You'll want to use following any "insult to liver" -- this means any chemicals you use on or in your dog, and your yard, elevated enzymes, and for emergency toxin exposures.

Don't be without this one!

HERB OF THE DAY!!!

Get to know some of the benefits of herbs.

Milk Thistle

Supports liver health by aiding in detoxification. It is particularly useful for dogs with liver health issues or toxin exposure.

10/30/2024

When is the last time you sat silently with your dog for 5-10 minutes?

Not him with you on the couch or while you scrolled through Facebook or Watched TV or while you did some physical activity?

But rather, a time when you sat down, outside, on the ground or on the floor, beside your dog and were just still. You were present. Maybe you ook a deep breath and cleared your head. Maybe you even talked to the dog about life and dreams. Maybe you meditated or prayed while touching or holding your dog.

A time that you weren’t distracted. You weren’t inspecting his ears or feet. You weren’t trying to give him kisses. But you were just present, still, and silent.

Try it. Daily if you can.

Take a few minutes after training or during a walk for this emotional bonding time... don’t just rush off to the next thing on your to-do list. Try it this weekend just because you can.

Be Present. Be Intentional.

This may confuse your dog at first if you have never done this. Stick with some stillness and practice. Watch the results.

This may also be a time for some calming essential oils or spiritual oils for meditation. For you both! Ask me.

10/29/2024

Angela Keith

Two K9 Coaches have relaunched our podcast talking about canine behavior, nutrition and natural wellness.

Last week, we talked about Separation Anxiety.

You can find our podcast The Well Oiled K9 anywhere you listen to podcasts or my other youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/)

10/29/2024

Little Dogs Bite Too

And while “damage” may be minor in comparison, the stress and risk of getting reported to AC by your neighbor or handyman is the same. The frustration and embarrassment with your neighbors and visitors is real. The risk of biting a kid or elderly is real.

Of course the risks of instigating drama with a big dog is also real, and it needs to be resolved.

A little dog, 12 pounds ringing wet bit a visiting contractor. We often measure it by... did it break skin? Did it draw blood? Did you get reported?

But that’s not the only measure nor the best one. Yes, there are degrees of bites, but even a snapping, lunging dog needs to be addressed -- because they will escalate if we keep setting them up to fail.

In the case of my client the contractor was wearing shorts and was bitten on the leg and on the hands. But that wasn’t the dog's first effort, just the one that led to a change.

When I went in, technically the dog “bit” me, but I was wearing jeans and had my hands in my pocket, and heavy leather boots ... knowing what would happen. I wanted to see his reality ... once.

Exact same scenario and bite issue between me and the handyman ... one broke skin, one didn’t. But the fundamental issue is the same.

The little guy is insecure but not fearful He’s willing to stand his ground and go back in with attitude. He charges his fence when people walk along the greenway. He blows up on his leash when he sees people on walks. He's a hot mess. He runs the house and his people.

When challenged by me not reacting to him or leaving he had to rethink his approach. I took away his power... all 12 pounds of it.

We got right to work and started training his owners and new skills to relieve him of duty claiming the house, the yard, and his people. When I left, they had much better skills and expectations for the dog. They had homework and a plan. Work to do yes, but a different dog was present when I left vs the one that wanted to bite me when I entered.

Can I do this with a big dog? Yep, Great Dane size .... just better safety measures in place

(Not actual image of dog... no need for the neighbors to be involved)

10/27/2024

Your dog is learning something from you every day—habits, patterns, schedules, things you tolerate, and things that create frustration. They may not understand what to do when you raise your voice or shove them in their crate because you're mad at their behavior.

These actions of frustration will not teach your dog what you expect of them, or how to do things right -- but it can certainly damage your relationship -- even if they are excited for a treat next time the pantry opens.

Reset your approach to clear, consistent, and fair communication with your dog.

Need help with your dog's behavior? The K9 Coach can help.
Zoom calls are available!

10/27/2024

Great tips!

Happy National Pumpkin Day!!!

We posted some amazing benefits of pumpkins and pumpkin seeds this week for your dog.
Here is how you can freeze pumpkin to have it year round for your dogs.

Freeze your Pumpkin

How to Freeze Pumpkin:

Scoop out the flesh of a fresh pumpkin or use plain, unsweetened canned pumpkin.

Divide the pumpkin into portioned amounts based on your dog's size ( 1 tsp per 10 lbs of body weight).

Place the portions into ice cube trays or silicone molds and freeze.

Once frozen, pop them out and store in a freezer bag for easy use.

How to Freeze Pumpkin Seeds:

Wash and dry the seeds from a fresh pumpkin.

Spread the seeds on a baking sheet and dry them in a low-heat oven (170°F) for about an hour.

Once cooled, portion the seeds into small bags and freeze for later use.

10/26/2024

The so-called "high energy dog" is a term used wrong every day.

It's a label used out of frustration and annoyance because the dog is often not listening, bouncing off the walls, and over adrenalized.

Even the most high-performance athlete needs downtime for rest and recovery.

What I see happening in these "high energy dogs" that needs to be addressed and will typically solve the problem quickly include the following.

Feed the Right Food. Yes, Food affects behavior. If you have too many starchy carbohydrates in your dog's food, it can be like a kid with too much candy. Many kibbles these days have in excess of 30-40% carbs, and I've seen them as high as 60%. Missing nutrients can be a problem too. Feed Fresh!

Fulfill the dog's natural breed instincts. Gameplay that simulates their instincts. In as few as 30 minutes a day this can be achieved and satisfy your dog and improve your relationship with the dog. Games with rules. Flirt Poles, Agility, Tug, Hide and Seek. Be careful with only using repetitive games like fetch that simply adrenalize them further and don't require much thinking.

Food Puzzles, Foraging For Food, Problem-Solving Activities.

Exercise is not just a leisurely walk while you chat on the phone. It is certainly not just a potty break. Engage with and work with your dog during your walk. Use it as a full outlet for physical exertion and mental stimulation. Be sure they get time to read pee-mail along the way, but not the whole way. (80% structured walk, 20% sniff time)

Find a place they can run if you have no fence. Get a fence if you can. Train for Off-Leash.

And then TEACH them to be calm in your house. Use the Place Command. Use Down Stay. Use the Long Down Exercise. You may actually have to teach a dog that has been highly adrenalized for a long while to learn to relax. But you can.

Teach them to live your lifestyle but don't forget their needs.
A couple of weeks of the right activities changes everything.

10/22/2024

Keep yourself in check and focused on teaching new skills incrementally. It takes time and patience to unravel the things you have allowed, accepted, tolerated, and taught up until this point that got you both in this situation.

It’s not the dog’s fault. It’s most likely yours.

10/21/2024

This is always worth sharing!

Take added precautions if you have a "new to you" dog. They, nor you, know what to expect with costumes, the doorbell ringing, excited (or crying) kids, etc.

Similar to the 4th of July, this is a common holiday that pets get "spooked" and may even bolt from home or their handler.

No matter how cute your pup looks in a costume -- it may be wise to keep them safely secured at home or behind a barrier from the the door!

09/24/2024

The Liver Cleanse protocol has become a huge part of my behavior cases -- especially those with aggression and anxiety. But it's also a big part of allergy cases, and dogs who are on traditional flea and tick meds, exposure to harsh cleaning products, yard chemicals, etc.

It's a good maintenance protocol for all dogs to help support their longevity.

Join me for a FB Live to hear more about this protocol and why all dogs need it!
https://fb.me/e/3Reo0Tg04

As we exit summer, it's time to detox the liver from all the chemical exposure around us!

There will be a comprehensive guide for those who have never done a cleanse like this, those who may have been using flea, tick, yard chemicals (even from your neighbors), etc. We'll discuss maintenance for those who do this seasonally, and a budget-friendly option as needed.

You'll get the complete Liver Cleanse Guide, an option for Q&A and follow-up with me during the detox cleanse protocol, and some other incentives including discounts for the supplements you'll need!

Join Me for the kick-off and protocol options.

FB Live Event October 1 at 1pm ET
https://fb.me/e/24IZcSzsW

09/19/2024

Are you a volhard feeder? Wanted to try it? Summer sale happening now on select products

But don’t forget you can get in on bulk order discounts too.

When you shop using my affiliate link there are incentives for coaching, resources and edu on many other wellness topics for dogs!

Need help, just reach out. I’m here to help!!

https://bit.ly/3KHLcSa

09/16/2024

09/16/2024

Yay!!

Yay!!

Join my group and keep learning
Holistic Dogs: Well-fed, Well-Oiled, and Thriving

I’m so excited to tell you I am officially a direct affiliate for Adored Beast! This opens up more products and sales incentives, and even products for cats.

If you’re an Adored Beast user or have these products recommended in your consults with me, please consider shopping with my link!

https://adoredbeast.com?aff=132

Don’t forget all my programs are in my Linktree https://lintr.ee/welloiledk9