The Virtuous Dog

11/27/2024

So this was a pretty cool surprise!!! Thank you to all of my wonderful Berks county clients! Your reviews made this possible. I’m honored to be recognized as The Best of 2024, offering force-free, positive training for your four-legged friends! And if you haven’t left a review, I invite you to please do so. I appreciate your support. Thank you again! 😊

10/23/2024

October is National Pitbull Awareness and Education Month. I’d like to point out that my Pitties are only aggressive about kisses when taking selfies. Pitties are my jam. ❤️ The Virtuous Dog

07/04/2024

Happy 4th from The Virtuous Dog! Keep your pets safe and indoors.

06/12/2024

Being specialized in fear and aggression is not always easy. Heartbreak is just part of the job some days. But…. then there are sweet, gentle souls like Loki who just need a little guidance and a new opportunity after shelter life. It’s in these moments I remember exactly why I do what I do. ❤️

05/23/2024

04/30/2024

Until the public stops funding these breeders, the wheel of cruelty will continue to turn. A very high percentage of the behavior dogs I work with are coming from these very same farms. It is not just how you raise them. 😔

When police asked John Stoltzfus Jr., of Lancaster County, why he put the Sheepadoodle puppies to sleep, he said “We have a good way of doing it. We took good care of them.”

04/10/2024

⚠️PSA‼️ DO NOT greet (or kiss) an unfamiliar dog by putting your face in the dog’s face. Parents, teach your children this rule as well.

I’m sad that I’m even having to write this post but it seems necessary as I have had not one, but two calls this week alone about a young person being bitten in the face while greeting an unfamiliar dog inappropriately.

While some dogs enjoy kisses and snuggles from family and friends, there are many dogs that are extremely uncomfortable with that level of contact and invasiveness into their personal space, and especially by a stranger. The best way to greet a dog is to remain still and allow the dog to say hello to you if and when the dog is ready. And don’t bother putting your hand out for a sniff either. The dog can smell you from 20 feet away. The dog who is social and friendly will actively approach you to say hello. The dog who is shy and remains at a distance has already communicated discomfort. RESPECT IT! Even after you have interacted with a new dog and the dog seems friendly enough, do not assume you are now best friends. You don’t know the dog well enough to understand what they are and are not comfortable with.

Also, body language can be a tricky thing to read especially in an unfamiliar dog. A wagging tail gets people into trouble more often than you might think. A wagging tail just means that the dog is stimulated, not necessarily happy. It is more important to look at the dog’s complete body language. I’m attaching an excellent body language reference below.

And while we’re on the subject, it is also dangerous to kiss a sleeping dog, even your own. “Let sleeping dogs lie” is not an old adage because one dog had a bad day one time. Animals come prepared with survival instincts including a natural defensive response to being awakened abruptly by touch, even if it is well-meaning. The bottom line here is keep your face out of a dog’s face unless you know the dog well and the dog is specifically soliciting that kind of contact from you.

Please share this message with friends and family. If this post prevents even one person from a facial injury, I’ve done my job.

iSpeakDog aims to strengthen the bond between dogs and their people by teaching how to read dogs' body language to understand their emotional states and why dogs do what they do.

01/17/2024

At only 2 years old, it’s hard to believe that this misunderstood little love has been bounced through countless homes already. No worries, buddy! I see you. Your amazing new guardians aren’t giving up and we have a plan.

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01/08/2024

⚠️Warning ⚠️ Cuteness overload alert with this weekend’s training clients! 😍Boxer, Newfie, Sheppy, Rotti, Poodle oh my! All positive, all the time.

12/24/2023

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from The Virtuous Dog! May your days be blessed and filled with the love of family, friends, extra wags and lots of snackos. ❤️🐶