Up To Snuff

Ali Sutch, KPA-CTP CCUI
Humane evidence-based training methods to help you and your dog reach your goals, with an emphasis on trust and empathy.

01/11/2024

Y'know how the magic of writing newspaper horoscopes is to make it general enough that it could apply to anyone? That's this fortune cookie 😆 Every single one of us (professionals and guardians alike) can and should improve our ability to read dog body language.

We need to be able to read body language if we want to advocate for our dogs. Good training only happens when the dog is comfortably under threshold. The signs that a dog is nearing or over that threshold can be subtle. Especially in dog-dog interactions, there is a lot being communicated in a short amount of time.

For how important this is, I don't feel like there are any clear pathways to fluency especially for professionals. There were one or two sections in the professional program I graduated from, but not enough. (Hint: it's never enough!)

So here's what I *still* do:

• Reference books from Handleman and Aloff (keep their publishing dates in mind)
• Take tons of videos of my own
• Watch random YouTube videos (search terms of your choice. Popular training videos are often tough to stomach)
• WATCH THEM IN SLOW MOTION. On YouTube you can select play speed down to 0.25x.
• Jot down tangible observations (not just "looks happy/stressed")
• Watch again, more notes, faster speeds
• Compare notes with a friend or colleague
• Repeat

I'm finishing up a little ebook on body language that I'm excited to share with you soon. I have guides on which parts of the body to focus on, and language to describe what you're seeing. Stay tuned!

[Image description: two panels from the Simpsons. Homer is opening a fortune cookie while Selma/Patty stands behind with her hands covering her eyes. It says "wow, fortune cookies really are more accurate here". The bottom panel is a zoom in on the paper inside the fortune cookie which reads "You need to get better at reading body language ".]

01/07/2024

I'm in love with these photos and need to immortalize them on the grid ❤️❤️❤️

These two are both bigggg cuddlers separately, but we haven't seen them cuddle each other until the other night. I hope it's the beginning of a new chapter for them. Cats and dogs are pretty neutral about each other in this house so it's always nice to see sweet interactions.

[Image description: fuzzy flash photos of a cat and a dog cuddling each other in bed. Gilbert is a black shorthair cat who is lying on his tummy with one arm extended out. Juice Box the grey American bully has his big head pressed up against Gilbert's side. The bed comforter has images of dish bones on it and there is a fuzzy green checker blanket on top.]

01/03/2024

I can dream, can't I? 🫠

Dogs aren't public property. I wish it was common practice to *ask* a dog if they *want* to be touched before we just reach our mitts out. Oh and can we also cut out the "stick my hand out for them to smell" thing? Strange hands don't belong in personal space uninvited! They can smell you just fine from over there!

I love gesturing for a dog to come over to me (patting my legs, silly little lobster grabby hands, etc) so they can come over on their own terms and plop their desired scratching spot right on the targets. Maybe they like a chest scritch, maybe a b***y rub! And if they don't want to — that's great too! I don't take it personally!

There are so many other ways to show love to a dog that don't involve touching them. I'm obviously a big fan of tossing treats. But sometimes the most loving thing we can do is give them space and choice!

[Image description: a faraway shot of two dogs running on a beach. The tide is right behind them. The sky is cloudy and overcast. The text reads-- "2024: the year we stop petting dogs on the top of their head."]

12/29/2023

I'm not big on resolutions, but here are some quick thoughts on the things I'd love to leave in the rear view mirror of dog guardianship/training as we welcome 2024.

I want to see happy dogs, being dogs as they were meant to. Our relationships should be based on love — not arbitrary rules or ideas about status. Life is way too short for that s**t.

image descriptions in comments

12/23/2023

Taking some time off to spend time with family over the Christmas holiday. Email and WhatsApp will be checked sparingly during this time. Thanks for your patience and I'll see ya soon!

[Image description: a cream colored Chihuahua and a baby brindle boxer mutt sit on a wooden bench in front of a brick wall. The Chihuahua is wearing a Santa outfit and the baby dog is wearing a red velvet sweater. besides them on the outside are two angel figurines. The text reads "out of office 12/23-12/28.]

12/11/2023

Free Palestine 🍉🇵🇸
If you're not on the right side of history, I am not interested in your business or opinions.

Image description: a black dog with big pointy ears and a white blaze down her face, wearing a blue harness, black collar, pink safety strap and leash. She is standing in front of a small body of water that has big chunks of cement and rocks lining the bank. There is a big chunk of cement in the shape of a half circle that is painted to look like a watermelon slice.

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