This is regular Shelly speed in case anyone was wondering. @skojack71
She’s Trailblazing Tails BONES!!! She’s as badass as any human can possibly be!
Let’s talk about choice! How can we safely give our dogs choice?
Here are 3 suggestions:
1. Let them choose the direction of their walk when it’s safe.
2. Offer multiple resting locations and allow them to remove themselves when they’re feeling stressed or need space.
3. Offer a variety of toys and rotate them frequently.
Our dogs get little choice in life. We feed, walk, shelter, and often offer affection of our terms. How about we step back, take a deep breath, and give our dogs an opportunity to choose for themselves?
When you’re a maker as magical as @skojack71 Shelly, you take your daughter to get her nose pierced on her 18th birthday, then decide it’s time to add a tool to your very own personal toolbox.
Leash it to Tricia to teach us how to handle a long line like a pro!
Mastering long leash skills isn’t just about looking cool (though, let’s be real, you will) – it’s about keeping your pup and yourself safe while giving them the freedom to explore!
Tricia Case from Trailblazing Tails shows us how to handle a long line without turning it into a knotty mess. Whether you’re working on recall, sniffari walks, or just vibing in open spaces, these skills are a tangling-free ticket to success!
Ready to hit the trail? Drop a 🐾 in the comments if you’re practicing long-line adventures with your pup!
#LongLine #LeashHandlingSkills #LeashSkills #DogWalking #SniffWalks
Carnival has his favorite vantage point and we’re 100% okay with it!
We find him here when we return home pretty frequently. I imagine he loves the view and this makes him content while we’re away.
Oh my Dog, we love him so!
@skojack71 Shelly and I LOVE what we do!
We love that we get to make the world is better place for dogs!
32 seconds of the clearest and cutest Carny consent video!!! His tail says it all!!!
I can’t not giggle watching! You?!
Pain Impacts Behavior
Carnival has degenerative joint disease and because of his pain, handling has proved to be a challenge. Thankfully he has amazing support and pain management but that doesn’t mean he’s comfortable with us touching his paws.
He offered me his paw while we were rolling the ball today, so I seized that beautiful opportunity to help him feel more comfortable and confident while giving him the choice to interact.
We only did about 2 minutes of work before I used our “find it” cue and tossed treats to end our impromptu training session.
A reminder to us all that pain impacts behavior in many ways. Our dogs cannot communicate this to us and some may remain stoic, never showing the signs. It is vital we understand what “normal” is for our dog’s physical health to understand when something is not normal and must be addressed with a medical team.
Sending all those who feel pain healing and warmth. I know my arthritic bones are starting to feel the cooler weather!
We went on a short little vacation this weekend and Carny came along! We brought his unwashed mat & toys (& the comfy smells of home), bully sticks, food & food puzzles.
He was the bestest boy and we’re all so happy we got to share the weekend away with him!
Why did I invent The Carnival, AKA, The Not-a-Knot????
Our Story: When we rescued Carnival, our enduring Supermutt, he stealthily chewed through his tether on day two while laying on his bed, which he also later destroyed. On day three, he chewed through three leashes, one while on a short walk with my husband. Thank Dog Carnival was able to recall quickly and my husband was able to MacGyver the leash with a knot.
I made my husband go out with an extra leash and safety strap every day until I could create a management solution (The Not-a-Knot), and as we work through Carnival’s frustrations, fears, and triggers.
Because Carnival’s frustrations can include the zoomies, we need to be able to safely and securely hold onto the leash while we walk up to him (aka “walking up the leash”) and gain control by reaching into our treat pouch, grabbing a handful of “trail mix” (high-quality kibble and other bite-sized treats), holding it front of his nose, then asking him to “sit”. I like to do this because it’s often the behavior he chooses to give when he’s asking us for something and it requires his body to physically slow down. If the zoomies happen and there are triggers near, or it’s an unsafe location, we lure him away with a handful of treats and create distance from whatever the stressor may be, then ask. When we acquire safe and calm behavior, we begin walking again slowly, gradually working up a pace unless Carnival chooses to safely sniff. We always let him sniff! Hint-hint. Wink-wink
