Katy's K-9 Training and Behavioral Services

08/27/2024

🩵🐶Happy National Dog Day to my doggies and all the dogs I am training and have trained! It was the first day back to school for Loki and Trixie as therapy dogs and they were so happy to see all the kiddos again.

08/21/2024

Loki and I are having a great day presenting to educators about therapy dogs in school at the annual VBISD Mix and Mingle today. We love getting the chance to educate people about how therapy dogs can be properly trained, certified, and used in educational settings to engage student and staff.
He even has his little friend Mako here with him.

08/17/2024

🐕‍🦺🛁 Doggies are Ready for School✏️📚
Big thanks to Jessica and Ryan of Get Fluffed Dog Grooming! They did an awesome job grooming my Loki and Trixie so they are ready to head back to the schools this coming week. They can’t wait to greet the students and staff as they all return for the new school year and now they will have nice soft hair for everyone to pet.
😉Get Fluffed is offering and incredible deal of 50% off to therapy dogs right now so definitely don’t miss out if you need your therapy dogs groomed as well.

08/09/2024

🐾💙Newest High School Therapy Dog💙🐾

Big Shout out to Alaina and Quincy!! Quincy will be joining his handler Alaina in her classroom this coming school year to officially become a Lancer. I know he will bring lots of joy and smiles to the students and staff of Lakeshore High School. It was an honor getting to be a part of their journey to becoming a certified therapy dog team and helping them set up policies and procedures for their school district so they could start a therapy dog program at Lakeshore. It’s such a special thing to be the 1st dog team that officially starts a program and Alaina and Q are doing just that. Way to go you two!👏

07/21/2024

Happy to welcome these dogs and their handlers into Katy’s K9 Training!

Some I am working with to help diminish leash reactivity and the others are training to become certified therapy dogs. I love getting to work with all different kinds of breeds and temperaments. They are all amazing dogs with awesome owners who understand that putting in the work is how we get results to make a great life for their dogs and them.

07/18/2024

This is a thermal image of a dog with a portion of its body shaved and the other portion not shaved. The non-shaved portion is at 24°C and the shaved portion at 30°C. The hair is present for several reasons, mainly for thermal regulation ☀🌡

Stop shaving dogs you're not helping them.

07/05/2024

🙌 YES 👍
When you are ready I can help you and your dog overcome these things.👇

"My dog doesn't like car rides."

"My dog hates the vet."

"I can't cut my dog's nails."

"S(he) won't eat her food unless I add a little [human food] to it."

"My dog hates other dogs."

"S(he) will *be fine* once s(he) gets used to you."

"My dog is afraid of [thing/place/person/etc]."

"My dog hates the crate."

"My dog can't be left alone."

With precious few exceptions, all of these things are completely avoidable, so they never happen or can be fixed with appropriate effort.

The reason these behaviors appear is because owners never thought they needed to condition the dog to accept these things. At the very first sign of protest by the dog, the owner stops whatever they are doing and the dog registers that protest makes what the dog doesn't like, stop.

The next time the owner reenacts the same scenario, the dog doubles its effort, perhaps even quicker, and the owner stops again.

It doesn't matter what it is, what the dog's takeaway from each encounter, is when I fight, I win.

It could be as simple as holding a puppy, or putting equipment on the dog.

Owners make these things a struggle and heavily reinforce the dog every time they allow the dog to escape or avoid consequence for refusal or failure.

By the time the dog is a practiced adult, there will come a time where these things will need to be done, and either the owner, a veterinarian, some other caregiver, will be the recipient of a fair bit of fury when the dog exercises his memory of fast refusals at the first whiff of conflict, weighing in at adult weights, and having formed adult opinions.

It doesn't take much to prevent these things, but folks have their work cut out for them when they try to remediate these issues after they have been hardened by lack of conditioning.

Your dog is more than capable of learning how to be confined, restrained, groomed, approached safely by strangers, travel, etcetera.

What stands in the way of where you are now, and success, is knowing what to do, how to do it, and the effort necessary to get it all done.

I’m here when you're ready.



~Shared From Lionheart K9 Dog Training in Maryland

06/17/2024

Help me welcome all these dogs and their fabulous owner/handlers into the Katy’s K9 Training family! It is such a pleasure to help them all reach their goals on their training journey.

06/15/2024

🐕❓New Dog❓🐕

There's a useful bit of advice describing adjustment of a dog to a new home : 3 days, 3 weeks, 3 months to adapt.

It's useful for understanding most adopted dogs and also new puppies.

I increasingly read people's posts asking for help with a really difficult dog, and being told to be patient and tolerate dangerous or difficult behavior for 3 months.

Here's a scenario that also happens:

3 Days: to be inhibited and appeasing, still in a little shock from the change to the adoptive home.

3 Weeks: to gain confidence from a predictable safe environment, start to bond with owners and other dogs in the home.

3 Months: to feel confident about owning a new territory, and realizing the difference between familiar people and strangers.

Guarding of territory, food, and owners increases.

Resource guarding owners from approach by the other dogs.

Resource guarding favorite owner from other family members.

Starts to show behavior to drive strangers away, using aggression in addition to threat displays.

Ditto to using aggression to drive away other dog housemates.

Fighting starts with other dog housemates.

Starts using aggression when with owner off the home territory, towards strangers and strange dogs.

If the new owner didn't start training in the 3-week "honeymoon" period, it's often too late after all the unwanted new behaviors show up later. The dog already has formed solid behavior patterns that are effective in getting what it wants.

There are many great methods to reduce the value of resources, divert to other behaviors, trade for better resources, and lessen the intensity of resource guarding.

⚠️But they don't address the bottom line: if a dog believes it owns nothing, it will guard nothing. Resources can then temporarily be given to the dog, if it understands that the resources must be given back on a cue. It is the reason I tell everyone with a new dog to start Nothing In Life Is Free right away. Do NOT wait for a problem to arrise bc you didn’t do the training you should have when you first got the dog. If you need help contact a trainer ASAP.

06/14/2024

Let's talk about this photo. It's cute, except it's not. I see a dog who cannot get up without telling the child to get off. How do you think a dog is going to do that?

The 7 Golden Toddler Dog Rules:
#1: If a dog walks away from you, you DO NOT FOLLOW.
#2: Always leave room for the dog to walk away from you.
---that right there is 90+% of dog bites eliminated---
#3: We do not climb on the dog.
#4: We do not grab or pull on the dog.
#5: We do not hit or throw anything at the dog.
#6: We do not touch the dog's food.
#7: We do not go into the dog's kennel.

I promise these are not overly difficult concepts for littles, nor will they rob a kid of their bond with the family dog. It will deepen that bond, while keeping everyone safe.

"Oh, it looks like Moose is walking away from you. She is saying she wants a break. Let's play with this instead!"

"It's Moose's dinner time! Let's give her space to enjoy her yummies."

"That is Moose's room(kennel) and only she is allowed to go in there."

"If Moose wanted a break, could she walk away from you right now? No she really couldn't. Let's move away from the play house. You can keep playing but now she can leave when she wants a break."

In conclusion, ***parent your child or your dog will do it for you, and you will not like how they do it.***

06/04/2024

What is a therapy dog? 🐕

A therapy dog is a dog that is trained to provide affection, comfort, and support to people, often in settings such as hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, libraries, hospices, and more.

What to look for in a therapy dog? 🐕

A dog who would make a good therapy dog is:
- Obedience trained. They can walk nicely on leash next to their handler. They wait for their handler before going around corners and through doorways. They can greet a person standing, sitting, or lying down without jumping on them.
- They enjoy affection from people they do not know. Not every dog wants to interact with strangers, and that is okay. But they would not be a good candidate for a therapy dog.
- They have a handler who knows canine body language. Since dogs cannot speak, it is up to their handler to know when they are happy and comfortable, and when they need to get out of a situation. A handler who advocates for their dog's safety and happiness is key to being a good therapy dog.

Think you have what it takes or want to train your dog to have what it takes? Send me a message now to start the process!

06/04/2024

When should you Spay/Neuter your dog?

Here is what the latest research suggests 👇
"Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have updated their guidelines on when to neuter 40 popular dog varieties by breed and s*x. Their recent paper in Frontiers in Veterinary Science adds five breeds to a line of research that began in 2013 with a study that suggested that early neutering of golden retrievers puts them at increased risk of joint diseases and certain cancers."
And there are 2 breeds (one s*x) they recommend not sterilizing. Fascinating!

https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/when-should-you-neuter-or-spay-your-dog

https://www.frontiersin.org/files/Articles/1322276/fvets-11-1322276-HTML-r2/image_m/fvets-11-1322276-t001.jpg

05/26/2024

The best part of my job is helping owners help their dogs reach their full potential💪

05/18/2024

🚒🐾Trixie and I made the news at our crisis response training in the UP today! Check her out on the fire truck in the link below 👇

https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/2024/05/17/dogs-train-crisis-response-marquette-township-fire-department/

05/06/2024

Intestinal blockages are common in dogs, and most often occur from eating foreign objects. What are the causes, treatment and timeline of blockages?

05/03/2024

I am so blessed!🐾🩷

04/30/2024

Happy National Therapy Animal Day to my 2 favorite therapy dogs Loki and Trixie!💕
I am so blessed to be their handler.

04/10/2024

🎉If you are on my waiting list I have GOOD news! It’s almost summer so I can for sure get you starting by June!
💁‍♀️I will also be teaching some therapy dog skills/training workshops so watch my page as spots will be very limited

04/05/2024

🎾Great Amazon Deal on Chuck-it Balls!

Chuckit! fetch medley includes three unique balls, each adding its own Spin to fetch for versatile and engaging play. For dogs that love to chase, the Chuckit! Whistler is equipped with four holes that emit a Whistling sound as the ball soars through the air. The Chuckit! Rebounce ball is made fr...

04/05/2024

🌞Keeping your pet safe during the upcoming eclipse is important due to potential confusion and anxiety that can be caused by the unusual dimming of light. Here are some key points to keep your pets safe during the eclipse:

🏠Keep them indoors: Keep your pets indoors during the eclipse to prevent confusion or anxiety caused by the sudden changes in light. Ensure they are in a comfortable, familiar environment with curtains drawn or blinds closed to minimize exposure to the unusual lighting conditions.

🦴Provide distractions: To help alleviate any anxiety your pet may experience during the eclipse, provide distractions such as toys, treats, or engaging activities. Keeping them occupied can divert their attention away from the unusual event outside.

🎾Monitor outdoor activities: If you need to take your pet outside during the eclipse, keep them on a leash and closely supervise them at all times. Pets may become disoriented or frightened by the changing light conditions, so it's essential to keep them under control to prevent them from running off or getting injured
🛏️Create a calm environment: Keep noise levels low and maintain a calm atmosphere inside your home during the eclipse. Loud noises or sudden movements could exacerbate your pet's anxiety, so try to create a peaceful environment to help them feel secure.

😎Watch for signs of distress: Monitor your pet closely for any signs of distress or discomfort during and after the eclipse. Signs may include pacing, panting, trembling, or attempts to hide. If you notice any signs of anxiety, comfort your pet and provide reassurance until the eclipse has passed and normal daylight returns.

By following these key points, you can help ensure your pet stays safe and comfortable during the unusual event of an eclipse.

04/04/2024

Great advice for getting into therapy dog services!
https://juliebondanimalbehaviorist.blogspot.com/2024/04/pats-strokes-cuddles-nudges.html?fbclid=IwAR398tHpiranURdjil2GnPVhMlEvVik85K6LNaZ2zAQl-3A3XvLrkrAK76w_aem_ATasCMKuoxHMd5sgSGkReRKj6-iPCEOLIEVPQoDE-MmQf0JCsyPvMQkLK9gUCuUxwfY&m=1

I received a call last weekend from a client who was interested in pet assisted therapy for her puppy. I let her know that while most pet a...

04/02/2024

Message me to get your spot today

03/27/2024

❤️‍🩹🐾Please keep sharing and donating (even $5 adds up so fast) to help the dogs get better and keep sharing love and snuggles!!

Many know Loki and Trixie as the famous Paw Paw Public Schools therapy dog… Kathryn Cole needs your support for Help Loki and Trixie's Paws Keep Spreading Joy

03/22/2024

🌟🐾 Fully Certified 🐾🌟

Stacy and Remy, you're amazing! Your perseverance has paid off, becoming a fully certified therapy dog team. Now it's time to share your skills and bring joy to Stacy’s students through engaging games like the one I taught you. Let's make learning fun again!

🎾Math and Reading games really are the best with a dog. I love how all the students fight over who gets to play and they don’t even realize they are learning in the process.

03/21/2024

🤣 Bahahaha
Clifford has always been one of my favorite children’s books!

03/20/2024

👨‍🦽I will be presenting at the 40th annual WMed conference on using therapy dogs to assist individuals with disabilities and developmental delays, focusing on school-aged children. Please attend if interested.

-I will also be hosting some smaller seminars this spring and summer to give more information about therapy dog work and how you can get started if you are interested. Message me for details and to get put on the guest list. 😉Spots will fill fast.

The 40th Annual Developmental Disabilities Conference will be held April16-17 at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center in East Lansing, Michigan. Overview Attendees and exhibitors are invited to join us for our 40th Annual Developmental Disabilities Conference happening in April 2024! The Annual D...