@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
I love my new hat from our amazing local outdoor gear shop @foster_outdoor!
This hat is a child’s m/l original artist series by Sundry. Yes, my head is small but my goal to make the world a better place for dogs is HUGE!
It’s because of YOU that we have a platform to spread our message!
THANK YOU!!!
Do you know how to effectively hold and gather your long line?
Here is an instructional video with a few great tips!
We love to educate! Tell us, did you learn something?
Sometimes dog training feels like this, but you got it!
The Unparalleled Tug
Introducing The Unparalleled Tug AKA The Tippy!
It’s true! This tug is unparalleled! We spent hours, days, and months developing a tug toy fit for even the most aggressive chewers!
We wanted this tug toy to be extremely strong and easy to love for the dog and their person, so we built it in 3 rugged pieces — the ball (Chuckit Rebounce Ball), the handle, and the attachment piece.
waterproof | odor-proof | durable | EXTREMELY STRONG
This amazing video was filmed and edited by the incredibly talented Erika from @dogwise.books!
Carnival and his scratch board
Carnival is a rockstar! We’ve been working on his scratch board and he’s digging it!
🐾Trailblazing Tails – Gear up. Wag on. 🐾
🎉 Whether your dog is chasing a frisbee, hiking the trails, or just showing off at the park, our gear is designed to make every adventure a tail-wagging success. Handcrafted with love and built to last, our custom gear is the paw-fect blend of style, comfort, and durability. Ready to see those tails wag even harder? Shop now and join the pack of happy pups and their humans! 🐶✨
Maker with the Magic Wand, Shelly @skojack71, explains why we use a toothpick to seal our solid brass Chicago screws in our leashes.
Hands and fancy-free! Carnival walking on The Not-a-Knot with a chew-proof base add-on aka The Carnival!
This piece of equipment saved our walks and sanity!
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
