Diamond Dogs in the Ruff

08/02/2024

Hey Youz Guys…. “Come!”

These Diamond Dogs ain’t so RUFF

08/02/2024

Another post this evening, in light of the previous post… just to say, The Dog Park is a happy place for me & my pals. 🤠

08/01/2024

Hey Rescue Friends! I just surrendered these 2 beautiful dogs to OCAS. Abandoned at Lake Baldwin Dog Park this morning. Left in small dog park section for nearly 5 hours.
Met the owner & dogs before he abandoned them. From all details of the tale, I am guessing the young man was in dire straits and was struggling with the decision…. They are very sweet, well behaved, well socialized dogs. Posting in the hopes that a rescue friend will see this and pull them as a duo from OCAS. They may have more info on the dogs as they shared that the owner contacted them recently regarding surrendering the dogs.
GSD/Malinois mix, 2 yo male & lab/pittie female, age unknown.

11/14/2023

Of course you’re not here to see my face but every so often, I gotta scroll through selfies to remind myself of how lucky I am to be so smothered in dog every single day of my life.

11/14/2023

Good article about socialization. It’s what Diamond Dogs does best.

We spend a lot of time in Dog Parks, but never in the beginning stages of socialization.

That’s the reason for sharing. A big “Heck, No! No way! Do not socialize your puppy or new dog in a dog park!!!”

Set your dog up for success. Socialize thoughtfully.

To introduce a puppy to our human world, take every experience at her pace and keep it safe and positive. Learn more about puppy socialization.

09/05/2023

Pre-adventure pic inspired by doggie Oreo’s compliments of Jordan & Koby’s mom 🍪 Cookies, Adventures & Doggie Pals!! It’s gonna be an awesome day! “WOOF!” (Thanks) 😋

09/01/2023

A little rain can’t stop us.

09/01/2023

Friday eve reflection on the week, hangin’ with a bunch of Diamond Dogs in the Ruff 🐾

08/30/2023

Today’s forecast in Orlando, Fl… light bands of rain & wind due to a distant hurricane. Watch for a scattering of really good dogs. Diamond Dogs are relieved to say it wasn’t so RUFF in these parts.

07/25/2023

Doggie Adventures in the summertime. Their energy is contagious. Their endurance is admirable. Of course, always remember, dogs having fun do not regulate themselves. Short bursts, shady hangouts, plenty of water, treats (electrolytes!), stay off pavement, cool paws first (don’t pour water on their backs), all so important when heading out in the summer heat.

07/04/2023

Cuteness Overload, Comin’ Atchya!

07/04/2023

Life ain’t so RUFF when your best friends are Diamond Dogs.

07/03/2023

Max declares “it’s never too hot to play ball!” 🎾 Remember dog lovin’ pals, dogs are far too happy in the moment to regulate their own enthusiasm for life! Advocate for your dog. Keep activity short, hang in the shade, have water & treats on hand, and before heading out, check out online tips for how to care for an overheated dog. Do you have an emergency vet number in your phone? Find the closest one to your home & wherever you roam and save their info before heading out on an adventure.

06/27/2023

SOLUTIONS. Even when they aren’t aesthetically pleasing. I talk with dog guardians every day about behavioral challenges they face with their dogs. I ask questions, a lot of questions; I evaluate their environment; look around for solutions based on what resources might already be present. It’s not always pretty, but it’s almost always temporary. This little fella is spending the next week with me, through the 4th of July holiday. He proved upon arrival that he is capable of escaping 4 foot fencing. First things first; I confirmed he is microchipped and wearing a tag, then, I scanned my property and found an old plastic dog pen I haven’t used in a while and put this eyesore together with a few zip-ties. There is almost always a solution. Part of that is CLOSE SUPERVISION. Gotta remind myself at every moment not to take anything for granted. These little young spaniels are clever, mischievous and oh, so cute. Fireworks & Thunderstorms are upon us. Do everything possible to keep your doggos safe & secure. Even if it ain’t so pretty.

06/27/2023

STUBBORN DOGS? NO SUCH THING. Just about every single dog guardian I have ever met has referred to their dogs as STUBBORN. I’m not shy about correcting their choice of words. I typically reply, “your dog is not any more stubborn than you are.” Maybe that’s not the best approach, but it’s true.
This series of 10 pics amounted to not one worthy of posting & sharing. My usual, “come together” ritual wasn’t working so well. One dog in the pic is not a Diamond Dog, tho a friend who doesn’t live such a structured life. The DD’s in this pic, my Friday crew, well, easy to accuse them all of having stubborn qualities. TRUTH IS, one dog or seven, the failure of successfully achieving the desired behavior/outcome (good pic) is ALL ON ME, the Dog Coach. I have FAILED, in this moment, to communicate effectively & motivate and guide each dog to fulfill my request of come together, sit, stay, look in order to get a decent pic. One dog or more, there are NO STUBBORN DOGS. They are all an entirely different species, with unique drives & personalities that we FAIL TO UNDERSTAND & as a result, our efforts to communicate our wishes & demands get lost in the process. When dogs do not get it right, it is up to us, the elevated species, to take all the blame for not knowing how to inspire the dog to learn the lesson. Dogs aren’t stubborn. They are animals living in a human world. Every single one of us are far more stubborn than any dog I’ve ever known. So, patience, compassion, guidance (leashes are far under-utilized), and motivation + super valued reinforcement. Put all that into play and you’ll be one of the least stubborn humans I’ve ever known.

06/22/2023

These guys don’t care that it’s one more day til Friyay! Everyday is an adventure to a Diamond Dog!

06/21/2023

Daffy Dog & Pals

06/21/2023

Stormy skies & really good pals inspire a bit of iPhone artistry. The dogs enjoyed romping in the sloppy elements yesterday. Days like this are the best part of Florida summers.
Training Tip: Take your dogs out in the rain. Celebrate thunder (& fireworks) every time. ASSOCIATION - good stuff comes in potentially scary moments. Your dog feeds off of your energy. When “BOOM!” happens, have a party; play, get goofy, toss treats. Ok, know your limits. Start at home. But the point, take your dog out in the rain and BE SAFE.

06/18/2023

Dinosaurs were cool. Dogs have always been & will forever be THE COOLEST! Head to to check out the dinos. The Diamond Dog Ranch around the corner is where the real fun is. Might find a few gnawed dinosaur bones scattered around the yard 😆

06/18/2023

Most Dog Park Rules begin with “AT YOUR OWN RISK.”

Here’s a few to add to this well written article:

🐾 No food. Drink ok.
🐾Don’t give treats to dogs who are not in your care; at least ask for permission from dog guardian.
🐾Don’t feed wildlife. What you are tossing may not be suitable for dogs.
🐾If a dog acts leery of your approach, stop trying. I know dogs always love you. Some of them just need a bit extra time.
🐾If you see a pile of p**p and you or someone else could easily step in, pick it up with one of the bags that you remembered to load in your pocket & discard of it, even if if wasn’t your dog’s p**p.
🐾Don’t handle & correct dogs not your own. You could get bit, or worse, the dog’s guardian might whoop your butt.

🐾And finally, watch out for the crazy guy with 7 dogs. The dogs are sweet. He’s… well, at your own risk. 🤪

More to come… no doubt.

There are some simple things you can do that will dramatically reduce the chances of your dog getting into an altercation at the dog park.

06/18/2023

Just scrolled upon an article about in a popular dog magazine. 5 tips… all really good. Wish I had written it myself. My dog park pals will tell ya, I’m all about dog park etiquette 🤪 (says the guy with 7…8…9 dogs). After agreeing with the articles points, I read the comments. Just about every one, dissing dog parks. Stay away. Unsafe. Bad owners. Etc. I’m going to guess many of these dog park downers send their dogs to daycare or boarding, too. Diamond Dogs has successfully navigated through nearly 8 years of dog park adventures, and while we’ve seen some wacky stuff go down, dog parks have been good to us… so much fun & so many friends made Along the way. I’ll share the article. Check out the tips and know that with preparation & awareness, dog parks can be an excellent place to bond with your dog.

06/16/2023

Yeah, I have the greatest job in the world but truth is, I’d rather be at a Springsteen concert 🤘🐾

06/16/2023

One “Stay” and we call it a Training Adventure. Friday Fun from NOW… On.

06/15/2023

If only we could reach, we’d hop from cloud to cloud and when we tucker out, we’ll snuggle up in the fluff for a nap, when in our dreams, we’ll bound about cloud to cloud once again until our joyful woofs wake us to the reality that we can not reach. Oh well, let’s leave these cool clouds & go home to eat dinner.

06/15/2023

Dogs & Clouds. Two reasons to look up & savor the moment.