Rochester Canine Academy

10/29/2025

10/28/2025

Worried about getting dragged down the driveway this winter?
You’re not alone. I’ve got programs designed to make walks safer, calmer, and way less chaotic.
Evaluations for Fall and Winter Programs are open now. Call/Text 585-271-8458 to grab a spot.

10/28/2025

SECONDS COUNT
This post is not advocating that dogs meet every other dog, but rather about how to go about it in a safer way, if and when it does happen.

The 3 second rule for dogs meeting each other is used as a guideline to help foster positive introductions, prevent either dog from feeling overwhelmed or trapped and prevent any potential reactivity and stress.

A short 3 second introduction is enough time to provide important information to both dogs.

Enough time and information for dogs to decide – “are you a threat?”, “do I like you?”, “do I want to learn more about you?”, “do I really dislike you?”, “do I want you to go away?” etc. Both dogs may not feel the same way – one may not be happy to engage while the other may want to.

All interactions should ideally happen like this, not just initially. Just like us, dogs can have off days – things like pain, trigger stacking, lack of sleep or a host of other reasons can influence a dog’s emotional state and whether a dog wants to interact or not.

There are countless times I have witnessed meetings or introductions between dogs that have gone on just a few seconds too long and have not ended well.

This can have long lasting effects on future behaviour when meeting other dogs.

Understanding body language is critically important. If we are going to share our lives with another species, protect them, advocate for them and help them feel safe, then we need to understand and respect their language.

The examples in this post of red and green flags are just a few general ones to look out for – there are many more and these will differ depending on the individual dog, context and circumstances.

Here are some resources that provide more detailed information about body language –

The Veterinary Behaviour Centre
https://bit.ly/4hwC8k1

On Talking Terms With Dogs - Calming Signals, 2nd Edition by Turid Rugaas
https://bit.ly/4oftWqW

Make sure those first 3 seconds count – they can make all the difference.

10/16/2025

Hi everyone!! Big things are happening at the Rochester Canine Academy! I thought I had posted this last week, but apparently not SO, You get it now. A few updates to this video, the door in the back has been installed and the painting has begun! We’re still on track to start seeing you guys in person on October 31st! -Alisson

10/15/2025

There is no such thing as a truly Hypoallergenic Dog.

10/07/2025

In the USA, it would be the AKC. But, vaccination records are not “papers”, nor are they proof of health testing.

🚨 Friendly reminder for the dog world - A vaccination card is not “papers.”

“Papers” refer to ANKC pedigree documentation, stating a dog’s lineage, parentage, and breed registration.

And before anyone asks, oodles can’t have papers. They’re not a recognised 'breed' under the ANKC.

So if someone tells you their mix has papers… they probably mean a vaccine card.

Stay informed. 💅

10/01/2025

Keep in mind that AKC is only a registration. It is NOT an indicator of an ethical breeder or well bred dog.

-Getting a purebred dog is not the same as a well-bred dog. There are so many backyard breeders breeding purebred registered dogs with huge structural, temperment, and health problems.
-good structure on a dog is important. Poorly structured animals will have adverse health effects from them having to improperly carry their body overtime time compared to a well structured animal.
-A well bred dog will come from dogs who have been proven in the conformation ring or working lines, to have good body structure according to their breed standard, they have good correct temperaments, and are fully health tested to the breed recommended standards (in the US this is done my OFA to Chic requirements).
-By supporting a byb just because they are breeding purebred dogs for cheap, that is just adding to the overpopulation and unhealthy dog problem we have today.
-please shop or adopt responsibly and don’t support a byb or puppy mill

09/29/2025

Please don’t do this.

09/28/2025

09/28/2025

09/23/2025

🚨 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗣𝗦𝗔: 𝗟𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗼𝗴𝘀 (𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲!) 🦠🐾

Leptospirosis (“lepto”) is a 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 caused by bacteria spread through the urine of infected animals—most often wild rodents. Both dogs 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 can get lepto.

❗ If not caught early, lepto can lead to 𝗸𝗶𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱/𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗲 and can be fatal. What makes it tricky is that its early signs can look like many other illnesses, which is why 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹.

We used to see lepto mainly in rural areas or big cities—but now it can show up anywhere, even in the suburbs. At OPVMC, we are unfortunately treating more and more lepto-positive patients in our ICU every year.

💉 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:
• Vaccinate your dog against leptospirosis 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿
• Avoid letting your pet swim in or drink from stagnant water

Here at OPVMC, we now recommend the lepto vaccine as a 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘃𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲 because of how often we see this disease.

👉 A note we want to emphasize: we often hear that breeders advise against the lepto vaccine. While 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘃𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, serious reactions are rare. On the other hand, we have treated far too many dogs for this preventable, life-threatening disease—and sadly, some don’t survive.

❤️ Please trust your veterinarian’s guidance when it comes to vaccines. Prevention truly saves lives.

📚 Learn more about leptospirosis here:
🔗 https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/leptospirosis
🔗 https://www.aaha.org/newstat/publications/leptospirosis-vaccination-recommended-to-be-core-for-most-dogs/