FurEver Family, LLC

08/22/2024

Here at FurEver Family we are all about getting outside! We hope you and your family are taking time to enjoy this beautiful weather. Penelope is taking a wonderful nap on the patio.

Throw back Thursday to just a few years ago she would bark at all the cars and people going by outside the fence. With lots of hard work and continous training she can now relax long enough to take a brief nap. She still barks at dogs walking by and occasionally people but this is a far cry from where she started 7 years ago. Reactive dogs will always need training. With time, patience, and even some medication they can also have some time of relaxation with less reactivity.

07/01/2024

Need a muzzle? Here's a great way to measure the appropriate size. A dog should be able to open their mouth, pant, and drink with a muzzle on.

06/28/2024

Interesting new product to help rescue your pet in an emergency:

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/48P8LyHA5nnYvZ86/?mibextid=oFDknk

06/24/2024

Who knew fish could drive!

Fun!

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/JMj4YZktpqzhYKZY/?mibextid=oFDknk

06/21/2024

This is fabulous! Please consider seatbelting you pup in for travel. Please use a crash tested seatbelt. Not just a "dog seatbelt". An actual crash tested seatbelt. Your furry family member will thank you.

Crash test pets demonstrate Sleepypod car travel safety, seeking to further enhance travel safety for pets

06/19/2024

A step in the right direction.
Pets are family. No one should have to choose between safety of themselves or their pets.
Learn more about the Purple Leash Project and Red Rover to see how you can help.

Thank you Mariska Hargitay for all you do to help those experiencing DV and DA.

Mariska Hargitay has teamed up with the Purple Leash Project, Purina and RedRover's iniative to make more domestic violence shelters pet-frienldy

06/11/2024

Pant space in a muzzle is paramount to the health and comfort of your dog.

06/11/2024

Great reminder from Doggone Safe!

Be a Dog Detective – Play Bow versus Alert
https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/resource/be-a-dog-detective-play-bow-versus-alert/

05/27/2024

We are closed today in observance of Memorial Day.
Monday, May 27, 2024

We honor and remember those who served both human and canine.

Thank you for your service.

05/17/2024

Do you have toys that have been:
- Desqueakered?
- Destuffed?
- Ripped apart?

Have no fear! You can use them again and again for good enrichment games. Toys aren't one and done. Stuff that stuffing back in, better yet, add some treats. How do you do that? Check out the video below:

Do you have toys that have been: - Desqueakered? - Destuffed? - Ripped apart?Have no fear! You can use them again and again for good enrichment games. Toy...

05/17/2024

Great article that is straight and to the point:

https://spca.bc.ca/ways-to-help/take-action/animals-in-the-home/the-shocking-truth-about-electronic-collars/5-reasons-not-to-use-a-shock-collar/?

Here at FurEver Family, LLC, we do not use any shock collars, prong collars, choke chains, bark collars, or any other adversives for training. We do use dog friendly, scientifically proven methods to help change behavior and provide a better understanding of your pet.

Feel free to send us an email with your questions: [email protected]

Shock collars do not help your dog understand what positive behaviours you are seeking. Learn why a shock collars are inhumane.

04/19/2024

Website restored!

Visit us at improvingpets.com

04/18/2024

Our Website Broke! Need to contact us? Please feel free to message us or send an email to [email protected]. Hopefully, we'll get the website issue addressed quickly!!

02/03/2024

A little smile for your day today.

Not only is this a cute video, it shows the importance of cooperative care. The penguins come hop on the scale for weight checks and get a treat (yummy fish). This helps the keepers do a quick check on each penguin. The penguins get a fishy for hanging out in the right spot. A win for both sides.

Think about how you cooperatively work with your pets. Is there something you can do better? Let's us know. We can help.

https://fb.watch/p_4nueWOKN/?mibextid=Nif5oz

01/27/2024

Just peeking in to see what you are up to today. What fun things have you and your pets done to start off the new year?

11/23/2023

From The Weather Channel Android App:

Thanksgiving leftovers are delicious, but know which foods are safe for your pets and what dishes could make them sick. - Videos from The Weather Channel | weather.com

10/03/2023

We are grateful that out head trainer was interviewed by the Washingtonian about Commander and her thoughts on the matter.

Congratulations, Carla!

President Biden’s two-year-old German Shepherd has now bitten 11 Secret Service officers. But, says one Virginia dog trainer, Commander can still adapt and thrive.

09/15/2023

To those who follow the "Dog Daddy" on TicTok and/ or YouTube. Please don't. He is abusive. There are far better ways to train any animal using science-based methods that promote better relationships and are safe for all involved.

09/06/2023

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=844472503706867&id=100044323751824&sfnsn=mo&mibextid=6aamW6

Press Release - For Immediate Release. PLEASE SHARE and help us distribute this to every media outlet that we can! https://bit.ly/londonpressrelease

Londoners Take a Stand Against "Dog Daddy's" Controversial Training Methods—September 9th & 10th.

London, UK – [September 9-10, 2023]

The streets of London will be a platform for change this weekend as animal welfare advocates, canine behaviorists, and concerned citizens come together. Their collective goal: to challenge the hazardous dog training methods propagated by Augusto Deoliveira, otherwise known as "Dog Daddy."

The glaring absence of regulation in dog training casts a troubling spotlight on practitioners like Augusto Deoliveira, who lack credible expertise in psychology and canine behavior. While the public generally assumes a self-proclaimed 'dog trainer' should be knowledgeable in these areas, this expectation is often left unfulfilled, leaving the public unaware and at risk.

Augusto Deoliveira's training approaches have raised serious concern among professionals and pet guardians alike. Deoliveira uses compulsive practices that he claims are necessary for high-risk dogs, but every leading organization in the fields of animal behavior, veterinary medicine, and psychology all concur that his methods are not just inappropriate and outdated, but also pose a real public health and safety concern.

This is because of the emotional and psychological risks they pose to dogs, members of the public, and other animals.

Scientific evidence indicates that punitive methods can intensify dogs' behavioral issues while stifling their warning signs, leading to unpredictable and potentially dangerous actions affecting humans and other animals.

Moreover, these outdated techniques can inadvertently condition dogs to associate other humans and animals with negative experiences, raising the risk of aggressive behaviors and making public and residential spaces less safe for everyone.

Credentialed experts refute Deoliveira's claim that such practices are necessary for high-risk dogs. Instead, they argue these techniques suppress symptoms while failing to address the root causes of behavioral problems. This leaves pet guardians perplexed and unprepared when issues resurface or escalate.

To compound the problem, the dog training landscape is riddled with conflicting and outdated advice which perpetuates a cycle of misinformation and unaccountable practices. This cycle of misinformation has persisted for far too long, especially considering the extensive body of behavioral science available today — it's imperative that we put an end to it now.

The absence of licensure and regulation among dog training professionals leaves pet guardians to navigate a confusing maze in order to sort out credible advice that’s based in our current understanding of how all animals, including dogs, learn most effectively.

"Londoners are sending a loud, clear message," says Zak George, YouTube’s most-subscribed dog trainer. "This protest is part of a broader, globally-backed campaign for humane, evidence-based dog training. Trainers taking advantage of public confusion by endorsing harmful methods will no longer go unchallenged."

Following the footsteps of San Diego, New York City, Los Angeles, and Toronto, it's now London's turn to take a stand. Local advocates are setting up peaceful, legal protests to say that these abusive dog training practices will not go unchallenged.

Dog trainers will be on hand to educate the public about ethical, effective, modern training methods that take dogs’ emotional well-being into account and do not put dogs and their handlers at risk.

Key Details:
Event Date: September 9th and 10th, 2023
Location: TBD - “Dog Daddy” keeps his location secret until hours before the event to evade scrutiny.

Media Contact:
Zak George
Email: [email protected]

PLEASE SHARE to help us distribute this to as many media outlets as possible https://bit.ly/londonpressrelease

08/27/2023

Before the day is over Happy Dog Day to your fabulous furry friends.

We love our Penelope and our Clients too! Check them out on our FurEver Friends Page:
https://www.improvingpets.com/furever-friends/

08/24/2023

Very interesting.

https://phys.org/news/2023-08-dog-brains-tuned-dog-directed-speech.html?fbclid=IwAR1STq5SAlqd6vs3z_3OcsPo1xhTxdB02dnMD6fNyaV45cMMNfMGVAlCk7A

Dogs show greater brain sensitivity to the speech directed at them than to adult-directed speech, especially if spoken by women, according to a new study in Communications Biology.

08/17/2023

Dogs are funny. Sometimes trying to find the absolute best place to sleep. Ms. Penelope cracks me up often. She has 2 beds and a futon to curl up on.

Does she choose bed #1 near me and my desk? Nope

Does she choose her fluffy bed and blanket in her crate? - where she usually spends her time while I'm in the office. Nope

Does she sprawl herself on the futon? a whole entire bed/ couch to herself! Nope.

She's curled herself up on the tiniest pillow available in the corner of the futon. It took her several minutes to get herself on the pillow. Silly puppy.

But she's comfy now.

What did your pet do today to make you laugh?

07/18/2023

Another smokey day in the area. Please keep your pups safe with short walks until the air quality improves.

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/news/wildfires-smoke-dogs/?fbclid=IwAR0v3BlylpI8skNdgbAro3b7B1SgxgcUyxoAqfB-nsZklIUepXhk3vn28Pw

With wildfires ravaging regions of the U.S., the AKC wants to make sure that both humans and pets are given the resources necessary to stay safe.

07/18/2023

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=680974764059819&id=100064419050680&post_id=100064419050680_680974764059819&mibextid=Nif5oz

Cracked Window Myth

K-9 Rico is sad when he hears our Community Service Officers or Patrol Officers responding to a call with a dog in a hot parked vehicle. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, cracking the window isn't enough to keep the temperature of your car at a safe level. If your dog is distressed and at risk of severe injury or death, that cracked window will be shattered if that's what we need to do to save your pet's life.

It's going to be in the 90s this week. Don't leave your pet in your vehicle, window cracked or not. Leaving your buddy at home is safer, and we all love coming home to a wagging tail! If you must take your pet with you, use grocery pick-up or do it during the evening hours when it's dark.

You also need to think about your buddy's paws when taking them for a walk when the sun is blazing. Asphalt temperatures can be more than 50 degrees warmer than the air temperature. Four Paws International has a simple test you can do to make sure the ground is safe for your four-legged friend. Touch the back of your hand to the ground for seven seconds. If you can't hold it there for seven seconds, it's too hot for your dog's paws.

K-9 Rico approves this message.

05/19/2023

We have a visitor this weekend. Our buddy, Neil. He's a sweet sheepadoodle.

Penelope is not fond of most dogs. It takes lots of training time supervision and patience for everyone to enjoy each other's company. They both are doing really well.

2 things you should always have when you have another dog visiting:

🐾 a crate for each pup or separate room. Everyone needs their own space to sleep or just get away from each other if need be.

🐾 own food bowls and area to feed separately. This prevents any stealing, food discussion and cross contamination if one is allergic to the others food.

Having extra beds is a plus along with plenty of toys and puzzle/treat balls to definitely help.

Have a great weekend everyone.

02/14/2023

02/06/2023

Help us stay on the list of top Positive reinforcement trainers for another year in a row.

Last year Carla Blackmon, CPDT-KA was voted one of the top trainers in VA and one of the top trainers in Northern Virginia.

Participate in the best dog trainers contest from Sniffspot and win new customer and industry recognition and an inclusion on the exclusive lists!

02/06/2023

Winter weather isn't over yet. Here are some tips for your 4 legged friends.

From The Weather Channel Android App:

Here are a few tips to keep your pets warm and safe during the winter months. - Videos from The Weather Channel | weather.com

02/06/2023

We focus on what's best for your dog and your family.

When we focus on making dogs happy, it’s better for them and us.

02/06/2023

https://wjla.com/news/local/rescued-beagles-virginia-envigo-breeding-medical-research-facility-puppy-bowl-2023-meghan-markle-prince-harry-mama-mia-spca-national-humane-society-cumberland-va-puppies-super-bowl-sunday-february-12-animal-planet-adopt-dont-shop #

A Virginia puppy rescued from the Envigo breeding facility is ready for her close-up on this year's