Nicole's Mobile Pet Grooming and Sitting LLC

02/05/2025

I NOSE HOW YOU FEEL
One of the most incredible things about dogs is their ability to recognize and respond to our emotions, but just how do they know how we’re feeling?

They may not understand the emotion we are feeling, but their brains are wired to understand whether that emotion makes them feel safe or not.

From an evolutionary perspective; for their survival, it was and still is, important for dogs to know which humans were safe to be around and which were not.

Dogs recognize the different chemical scents we produce through our skin or breath, our facial expressions or body language and our tone of voice.

Although we’re not aware of it, we emit different scents when experiencing positive emotions compared to when we experience negative emotions. Dogs have an amazing ability to recognize these different scents.

A dog's sense of smell is incredibly powerful and far superior to ours. Dogs have +/- 300 million olfactory receptors in their nose, sometimes more depending on the breed, compared to +/- 5 to 6 million in humans. In addition to this, the part of their brain that processes scent is around 40 times bigger than ours.

Dogs also recognize our facial expressions and body language. Just like we might stay well away from or not want to interact with someone who looks really angry and be more drawn and responsive to a happy, relaxed looking person.

Tone of voice – more info on this in my previous post.

Dogs can be such a comfort to us when we need emotional support or aren’t feeling well, but some of our emotions many have a negative effect on them.

Working with or interacting with a dog when we’re feeling angry, stressed, frustrated or having a bad day is not a good idea. It’s far better to wait until we feel more relaxed and calmer.

Dogs have rich emotional lives – just as we should try to be aware of their emotions, also be aware of how our emotions may affect them.

12/08/2024

12/05/2024

Must-Know Hacks for Dog and Cat Owners

09/29/2024

Off lead dog approaching ‼️⚠️ Think Zombie 🧟‍♂️
Lots of ways to handle this but the quickest and easiest way I have found is to head them off when you first notice they are approaching.
A lot of people leave it wayyyy too late and the off lead dog is already in your immediate area.
Sweeping statement here.... but many off lead dogs are simply attempting to engage or are curious.
However....some are NOT and I have a bit of a rule that I will not allow off lead dogs to approach when I have a dog on a lead or if I am working with a client.

Is it embarrassing to do this ? No, not for me... but I appreciate I have had ample practice with this technique.

There is no time for chit chat.
No pleasantries required either.
Head that off lead dog off NOW to avoid issues.....ESPECIALLY if you have a reactive dog.

This method works.

Does lifting up a dog work ? Well...for me, I dislike it when people lift up their small dogs or puppies in situations like these as it can cause a dog to become even more interested in both the dog and the person holding the dog up. They will often not give up as easy as they would have if they are headed off much earlier. However I really do understand why people do this as it can make people more secure and can also give their dog extra security too.

Throwing food ?
Big nope from me, some dogs will just follow and pester for more.

Last thoughts on the subject...if you have a dog (off lead) around dogs that are on a lead/leash...it is your responsibility to have CONTROL.
That may be verbal control but that is a responsibility YOU have taken on when you let your dog off leash.

If you have no control or none in distracting environments your dog should NOT be off lead around others.

🙂Unmarked graphics are available for $ 1.20 USD or $ 2 NZD each (approx), these are then able to be used off Facebook for client handouts, posters etc. Please visit ABC Dogs Patreon Shop for our collection of graphics.
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08/30/2024

This really does have the ability to help reactive dogs 💥✅
I know it may look a little confusing which is why we made a video that shows EXACTLY what to do and when.
Those that know about movement words and u turns...know just how powerful these two small steps can really be when helping a reactive dog.
The link to the video is in the comments. 🙂

Please respect that these graphics take time and effort to make. Everyone is free to share on social media, however off social media use of these marked graphics is prohibited. Unmarked graphics are available for $ 1.20 USD or $ 2 NZD each (approx), these are then able to be used off Facebook for client handouts, posters or for personal use. Screen shots are a violation of the copyright.
Please visit ABC Dogs Patreon Shop for unmarked graphics. All graphics belong to ABC Dogs NZ and are under copyright.

08/12/2024

💪⚡This is a piece of information that will keep you from banging your head against a wall over and over again and this knowledge can really help ALL dogs.
Reactive dogs.✅
Anxious dogs✅
Over excited dogs✅
I know the terminology used by some in the industry is complicated (esp if you are just beginning to help your dog through this difficult time) and this page will always try to break down often difficult/complex issues so they can be more easily understood.
Understanding this concept will change how you work with your reactive dog.

Many clients attempt desensitisation work or begin counter conditioning when their dog is already over their threshold and the trigger is way too close.
We cannot dictate where to start this work....your dogs body language will let you know.
If your dog needs 20 metres from another dog to be at a 2 - 3 great !
If they need 50 metres from a trigger to be at a low level, then insisting on a closer interaction will not help them, they decide what is too close to a trigger, not us.

Distraction is NOT a long term solution for reactivity.....it sometimes has its place, but hiding and distraction are very temporary "solutions”.
If you have a reactive dog, there is hope, you can do this!

🙂Unmarked graphics are available for $ 1.20 USD or $ 2 NZD each (approx), these are then able to be used off Facebook for client handouts, posters etc. Please visit ABC Dogs Patreon Shop for our collection of graphics.
Everyone is free to share these posts on social media, however off social media use is protected.
Screen shots are a violation of copyright.
Please respect that these graphics take time and effort to make . All graphics belong to ABC Dogs NZ and are under copyright.

08/04/2024

Such a common issue ❗
I know many people really struggle with this and the most important step to stop or limit this is sometimes not taken.
For aesthetic reasons or for financial reasons or both (which I absolutely understand) the crucial step of stopping this behaviour being repeated and rehearsed over and over is not taken.
For aesthetic reasons...
I get it, you have worked hard and have a beautiful home and fence but now your dog is launching themselves at that beautiful fence and at every dog, person or car that passes.
It may now be a "game" that they wait for hours and hours to play.

That "game" is causing huge stress in your dog.

Asking someone to block that view through that fence or to create a temporary fence further back is often met with resistance.
Some people may struggle financially with a cheap option to block that view.
Try w**d mat or thick opaque shade cloth to temporary staple to the fence, its a very reasonable price and comes in long lengths. Or look around the home for an old tarpaulin, there are very cheap or free options.

If you have a dog that sits on the deck and then launches into this "game" from there, change the area.
That "launch pad" WILL be used over and over if left.

This won't just stop.

Another reason people are hesitant to stop this is they see their dog enjoys this "game". They see the pacing while waiting, the anticipation and that is part of the issue. Reactivity can be highly stressful for dogs.
They are stuck in a loop and need help to stop.

Limiting opportunity is always a first step and from there you can put in other ways to help....but for some dogs, limiting the vision (and/or access to the fence line) will stop the behaviour immediately.

(Please respect that these graphics take time and effort to make . All graphics belong to ABC Dogs NZ and are under copyright. Unmarked graphics are available for $ 1.20 or $ 2 NZD each (approx), these are then able to be used off Facebook for client handouts, posters etc. Please visit ABC Dogs Patreon Shop for Graphics

07/10/2024

06/26/2024

THE SNOOZE TIME DANCE

Most of us are familiar with the sometimes amusing or maybe even irritating ritual that some dogs perform before settling down to rest.

Why do they insist on circling, digging, scratching, making mounds of cushions, blankets or mats, often with great delight and satisfaction, when they have a perfectly comfortable, neat place to sleep?

It may simply be the same urge that leads us to twist, turn and scrunch up our pillows before finding a position that feels most comfortable, but the most likely reason is that this behaviour is genetically inherited from their wild ancestors.

These pre snooze dance moves each served a specific purpose that enabled their wild ancestors to feel protected, safe and comfortable in their environment.

Even though our modern, domesticated dogs shouldn’t need to be concerned about the same things their ancestors did, many dogs simply can’t resist performing these rituals.

Sometimes excessive circling, the inability to get comfortable or crouching down and then getting up again may indicate a health issue like arthritis, back problems or other painful conditions so it’s a good idea to have a vet check if you are noticing this happening frequently.

Generally, snooze time dance moves are a completely normal, natural behaviour and allowing your dog to perform these moves to their hearts content is important in contributing to their wellbeing by allowing them to feel more in control of their environment.

06/26/2024

Confidence builder✅
Focus✅
Engagement and Disengagement✅
Don't dismiss this really simple game.
SO many ways you can add this simple and fun game into your lives.
Give it a go !

🙂Unmarked graphics are available for $ 1.20 USD or $ 2 NZD each (approx), these are then able to be used off Facebook for client handouts, posters etc. Please visit ABC Dogs Patreon Shop for our collection of graphics.
Everyone is free to share these posts on social media, however off social media use is protected.
Screen shots are a violation of copyright.
Please respect that these graphics take time and effort to make . All graphics belong to ABC Dogs NZ and are under copyright.

06/26/2024

LETTING GO OF THE LABEL
People love to label things - from containers to personality types, physical or mental differences and everything in between.

Why do we like labels so much? Labels are comforting, they help us to feel more secure.

Labels allow us to close that particular “box”, because it now has a label and we no longer have to think about it or be concerned about it.

It’s been judged, identified, labelled and we can now move on, confident in the belief that there’s nothing more to be done.

We may also be very good at labelling dogs. My dog is stubborn, aggressive, lazy, shy, timid, greedy, jealous, untrainable…. It’s comforting for us to assign a label because it takes the pressure off trying to find out why they behave that way because we might believe that it’s just the way they are.

If we remove the label and take note of the behaviour in context and the circumstances or environment it’s happening in, we may realise that our dogs need our help to cope, not our labels.

Look into what can be done to improve or change that behaviour if it's something you’d like to change.

Sometimes a label does fits, it’s just the way it is and we need to accept that, but sometimes labels hide the need to look beneath the surface and discover what the real cause of that behaviour is.

06/12/2024

This is our very Last Micro chip clinic ..The 4th of July is coming up so get your pets microchip well you can for FREE !

06/11/2024

The Zoomies ❗
They can be a shock😲 for some people with new puppies , rest assured they are completely normal for dogs and puppies....BUT they may need to be investigated a little more too.
FRAP's (Frenetic Random Activity Periods), all puppies and dogs can show them and some more than others.
What needs to be looked at is why they are occurring.
✅ Have all needs been met, physically and mentally.
❓ Is there enough physical exercise during the day.....or too much. Over arousal needs to be looked at as a cause and over tired pups and dogs can show this behaviour.
❌ Are you a target ? Some puppies and dogs will aim their bursts of energy at you....that can be an issue.

The good news is most times they are actually quite predictable...and you can help your puppy burn off some energy by engaging their brain or nose. Enrichment before the Zoomies (and VARY the enrichment...the same puzzle which is now boring won't help).
Zoomies can sometimes be a reminder we may not be meeting all their needs..... or they can just be the Zoomies....put your feet up and enjoy the show !

🙂Unmarked graphics are available for $ 1.20 USD or $ 2 NZD each (approx), these are then able to be used off Facebook for client handouts, posters etc. Please visit ABC Dogs Patreon Shop for our collection of graphics.
Everyone is free to share these posts on social media, however off social media use is protected.
Screen shots are a violation of copyright.
Please respect that these graphics take time and effort to make . All graphics belong to ABC Dogs NZ and are under copyright.