Doggy Dojo: Train, Play, Rescue

12/07/2024

There's an old Dog World adage about how "After a while the dog starts looking like the human".
I personally think it's a personality/temperament reflection of their human that we see in their shared body language that makes us see it but....
Ooooopppps... there I go overthinking again.

A few dogs that happen to Dopplegang some celebrities.

Laugh and Howl, it's good for the soul.
😉😉😂😂😍😍

12/04/2024

I really, really need to get back on the ball posting my weekend Social videos, lol.

So many great Success Stories In Motion, here at The Dojo on BOTH Saturday and Sundays these days.

The doors to my Dojo will always be open to anyone or anydoggo who has ever trained with me.
Thanks to all of our Alumni for coming out and supporting us and the current Dojo Families.
Having our Alumni to pop back in gives the Success Stories that are in motion a role model and a template to help them along their journey.
It also means that I never have to actually "Say Goodbye".
I like it that way. 😉😉

12/04/2024

This is in the Dojo's old backyard.
As a matter of fact, it's in my actual backyard.

Coyotes aren't as dangerous to humans as you'd think.
A human and a dog are usually enough to scare off one or two of them...

In any event, keep yourself and your Doggo's safe!

IMPORTANT PSA:

Yesterday, a coyote that had interacted with a person tested positive for the rabies virus. This incident occured on Main Street (United Concrete area).

Here are some important facts:

-The rabies virus is a fatal disease that affects mammals.

- It is spread through the saliva of an infected animal through a bite or scratch. It can also be transmitted if infected saliva makes contact with the eyes, mouth, nostrils, or an open wound.

-In Connecticut, the most common species to contract the virus are raccoons, skunks, foxes, coyotes, and bats. While bobcats can also spread the virus, they rarely get infected, and aren't considered a primary vector species here.
It can also infect unvaccinated cats and dogs.

-Symptoms of the virus include unusual vocalizations, unusual aggression or lack of fear of humans, movements such as circling, staggering (appearing "drunk"), or even partial paralysis.
Also present can be (but not always) the classic "foaming of the mouth" caused as paralysis sets in and the animal can no longer swallow.

What can you do?

-Make sure your pets are vaccinated (as required by law).

-Keep your pets indoors.

- Avoid feeding wild animals, intentionally and unintentionally (think securing garbage cans).

-Report any wild animal that is acting sick to us.

-CT Deep has a Wildlife Division that can handle general questions (860-424-3011).

-CT DEEP has an emergency dispatch number (860-424-3333) if an animal is posing a direct threat. The Police Department can also be contacted in urgent situations.
Please call CT DEEP for coyotes and bobcats that are acting sick, we do not have the means to handle these species.

https://portal.ct.gov/deep/wildlife/nuisance-wildlife/rabies-and-wildlife #:~:text=If%20you%20are%20unable%20to,with%20transport%20for%20rabies%20testing.

11/10/2024

Wallingford is The Doggy Dojo's old backyard.
We've still got a lot of roots and Alumni out in that area.

If you know something, or saw something... Say Something.
I can't believe I'm saying that about a dog?!
My Gawds, Really?

⭐️⭐️REUNITED⭐️⭐️
Lola is home! A Good Samaritan found her. They saw our post & called the owner.,
The family is so grateful.
Welcome Home Lola 🐶🐾🩷

Missing from the recycling redemption center in Wallingford. This senior girl got out of her car while the family was at the redrmption center. When the family realized she was missing they quickly went back inside the center to see if someone had found had her. The person inside said a lady brought her in asking if anyone was missing their dog. She said she was going to bring the dog to animal control. The person who found the dog frequently goes to the redemption center. Both Meriden and Wallingford Animal Control do not have her. The family and their children are devastated and offer a reward for her safe return. Please help get this friendly girl back to her family Please share to your area towns and help get the word out

11/04/2024

Our Friends at A Stone’s Throw Dog Rescue.

11/03/2024

Two and a half minutes of my Sunday Bliss.
The weekly Puppy Party and Distraction Class out at the Perrotti's Country Barn took an impromptu pivot to The Dojo today.
It was just too dang cold for the Hoomans or the Doggos to have a positive takeaway from the experience so we put our little "Fallback to The Dojo" plan in motion and had just an awesome experience indoors today.

We're going to be implementing "flight times" for groupings and pairings of dogs and their humans to get their Social and Distraction sessions in on either Saturday, Sunday... or BOTH!

Just like "One on One", or instructional sessions, Dojo Community Members can book group Social and Distraction classes through our scheduler app, here:

https://calendly.com/trainplayrescue

Let's have some new together.

10/03/2024

I am on a REAL tangent about retractable leashes these days.
I'm sure I'll explain why after another post or two of stomping my feet about how much I heckin' hate 'em.

Be Careful Friends:
Retractable leashes can cause physical injury to either you or your dog.
You and your dog have too much love to share with this world to have your cut short.

Behaviorally:
Retractable leashes are bad for your dogs emotional health... every time you click that button... it's like an "Emotional Sucker Punch" to your dog's psyche.

Ask me more at one of our One-on-One Sessions.
I will be HAPPY to explain.

Daniella Abreu, 24, opens up to PEOPLE about walking her husky with a retractable leash and suffering a life-altering accident. She lost her right eye and was forced "put my entire life on pause."

09/19/2024

"A Two Minute Glimpse into My World on a Sunday".

I wish you can see these Dojo Dawgs and their humans through my lens.
I'm the only person that knows each of these backstories, where they started and where they're going.
To someone casually watching on their phone, it's just a a bunch of dogs hanging out. Those folks don't realize a lot of those dogs, and maybe even their humans, might not have been capable of that a few weeks ago.

Getting to be the only one that knows every forward step these kids have taken in between "Then and Now and Zen".
Priceless.

So, Two Minutes of My Sunday Funday".


"Works in Progress"
"Continous Movement towards Harmony"

I been promising to get more active again on social media.
We just been too busy having too many,

09/18/2024

Doggy Dojo families!
Get ready to meet Callie! She graduated to Distraction and Social this week!
Callie is "in progress" on a Puppy Confidence program we designed for her and we couldn't be prouder.
She showed poise, she showed grace, and she showed courage worthy of one of King Charles' Nights in shining armor while she slayed "The Scaling Wall".
I can't wait for her to start attending social. She's gonna be an All-Star at melting hearts.

We simply have not been posting enough training videos lately.
While that's a dang shame, we're happy that it's because we been too dang busy training dogs to worry all that much about social media.

But we miss ya, and want to keep ya in the loop, so maybe watch for several in the next few days.

09/13/2024

"Because you and your dog aren't the only ones that can get hurt by your lack of common sense and attention!"

The new marketing slogan for Retractable Leashes...

09/01/2024

Michael Scott and Dwight Schrute, Assistant to The Regional Manager, have an important announcement.

The Office is CLOSED tomorrow.
😉😉🤪🤪😉😉

In other words, No Social or Distraction tmrw out at The Perrotti's Country Barn.
Some holidays the members of our little Dojo Community want to integrate "Adventures in Do***ng" into their families holiday.
This one seemed everyone wanted to focus on family.
I can't say I blame them.
Hug your humans, belly rub those canine kiddos and go make some Good Karma, if ya can.

Regional Manager Michael Scott and Assistant to The Regional Manager Dwight Schrute, will see ya next weekend.

08/04/2024

10AM Tmrw!
*Weather Permitting.

Unfortunately, it kinda looks like that "Weather Permitting" portion of things might derail our 10AM debut tmrw!

We will keep you posted via FB.
If you already registered through the scheduling app, you will get a text/email heads up when/if we do have to cancel.

We are growing again!
The next projects we are rolling out is our Saturday offerings for our Community Events aaaaaand a "Fallback to The Dojo" plan for when inclement weather does effect our outdoor events.

Until then, check out these pics of our fabulous weather and our new friend Whiskey, Judahs new "cousin" from last week.
Whiskeys Dad happens to be "Sensei" Chris's nephew, I don't know if that makes Judah an Uncle or a Cousin to Whiskey...
But it does mean they're gonna be good buddies.
For now the size difference is just spectacular and hilarious.

Stay Tuned.

08/02/2024

10am?!?!
What happened to Noon?

Well, it happens to be about 6 to 8 degrees cooler only two hours earlier, at 10AM, and from some of the constructive feedback I was getting from families was that 10AM sounded better for the human pups activity schedules.

Sooooo...
We'll see you, AT 10AM, this week out at our Friends, the Perrotti's Country Barn.

For fun, one of my personal highlights from this summer so far...
"That time where Sharon Harmony got the whole Puppy Party Crew to wish me a Happy Birthday".
Thanks, Babes.

We'll see ya' all, Pup's and Hoomans alike, at 10AM this weekend.

Did we mention, 10AM?!

😉😉🤪🤪😂😂

07/19/2024

My friend Thom is a tireless Animal Rights Advocate. The legal arena is his wheelhouse.

In my humble opinion, he might be the de facto "Head of the Legal Department for The Cause".
Then again, I'm not really a humble guy so I'll say it out loud, Thom is one of the foremost legal minds in the Animal Rights world.
I'm honored to get to call this guy my friend.

Get out and there and here his ideas if you can make it.

I am speaking this Saturday at a bucolic, community-focused brew pub in Deerfield, MA (49 miles from Hartford) on the legal landscape and formidable challenges in advancing the fundamental rights of companion animals and their guardians through our animal rights litigation work.

I will illustrate how we advance, in every case we bring, the rights of these incredible creatures involving the following matters:

1.The corrupt and misleading tactics used by a nationally-based pet store selling dogs suffering from non-disclosed and often fatal medical conditions;

2. Bringing the science of animal behavior and other strategies into the defense of dogs facing death following a bite incident when local governments typically misunderstand or misjudge a dog’s behavior and true temperament;

3. Veterinarian malpractice claims and other harm to animal cases involving groomers, boarders, trainers and others;

4. Pet custody disputes involving former domestic partners, rescues and others.

5. Issues surrounding emotional support and service animals;

I also welcome topics from attendees and hope to spend time engaging with everyone and learning. It’s the best way I know to increase humanity’s respect and understanding of the rights these animals deserve.

I hope you can join us.

07/14/2024

I have been struggling with Prince.

No, not behaviorally. He's already a near perfect housemate.
To get the perfect picture of him, and to NOT fall in Love with Dat' Face, of course.
For one reason, we're looking for his Furever home, and the other?
It's impossible to get good lighting on this handsome face with his amazing brindle coat.
😜😜🙃🙃

His tiger stripping makes for the perfect camouflage from photo's that portray just how noble this "Little Prince" is.
I also can't manage a shot that conveys just how big his head is, even with my size 13 Chuck Taylor's in the frame for reference

Weighing in at 118 lbs this, likely, Cane Corso is one of the most athletic and well rounded Mastiff dogs I've met.
While most Mastiffs are noted for their low drive, this medium drive fella is just the right mix of Brawn and Grace and Enthusiasm.

His off leash gallop in our little fenced in backyard is just a spectacle to behold.
If I had a metaphor... it's like what I'd imagine watching The Rock doing ballet would look like.
Slightly awkward, graceful yet Clydesdalian, heartwarming and charming beyond belief... all at the same time.
The sight would melt even The Grinch's heart to a puddle.

Prince is available for adoption and a lifetime of melting hearts and making smiles through our wonderful friends and partners and Rescue Allies at A Stone’s Throw Dog Rescue

06/30/2024

We got the Sundae Puppy Social in before The Raaaaain!

Tony and our Lil' Love Bug, Olive, have blossomed a little bit of a puppy buddy system the last couple of weeks.

Here you can see Tony instructing Olives Dad on just where to scratch behind the ears.
Meanwhile, Olive is coaching Tony's Big Sister on where that special spot between her shoulder blades is.

I'm telling ya'... these Dawgs are getting some really great training in on their Hoomans, day by day.
I'm so proud of them.
😉😉🙃🙃😂😂

Thanks so much to Tony's Mom, Jess, for snagging these pics for us.
Sharon Harmony was home with our buddy Prince, the 118 lbs of foster mastiff that literally landed in our laps the other day.
I, managed to leave my phone on the kitchen table...
Without Jess, this could have quite possibly been the first Social in 5 years without pictures.... and you know, if it doesn't happen on FB, did it really happen?
Anyways, thanks to Tony and his family for saving the day!