Savvy Dog Training

11/21/2024

Happy 7️⃣th Birthday, Sydney! 🥳

11/20/2024

Congratulations to Stella, Rebel, Fisher, and Hank on graduating puppy basic obedience class!!!! Hank very much enjoyed his treat that was as big as he is!
Our next round of classes won’t start until the new year! Let me know if you want to be added to the interest list!

11/18/2024

This time of year is a bit slow for dog training, but it’s great because I still get to work with sweet new puppies like Sadie! If you have been thinking about doing dog training, just know that January 1st through April is the busy season for the pet industry! Get in sooner!

11/03/2024

My dogs are quite friendly with people.

It might surprise you to know that when I had an appliance delivery this morning, all of my dogs were behind two layers of safety away from the delivery people.

First, I don't want to risk a dog slipping out through an open door.

Second, delivery drivers are trying to do a job. They may not find attention from my dogs is as delightful as I do.

Third, when people call me because their dog has bitten someone, they always say something along the lines of "I never imagined he would do that" Never assume that your dog won't bite a stranger entering your home.

Gates, crates and doors will keep your dog safe.

10/29/2024

Meet adoptable deaf 1.5 year old French Bulldog Boo Berry who is looking for a loving forever home with someone who will cherish him and always keep him safe. From his rescue advocate: My name is BOO BERRY- I'm a male FRENCH BULL DOG. I have a

10/28/2024

Good morning and happy Monday from Bu the French bulldog!!!

10/24/2024

Lakeland!! Look at this cutie patootie!!!

10/22/2024

As the great Kiwi saying goes..."Yeah...Nah".✅❌
Expecting that ALL dogs need to accept and play with ALL other dogs is a very fast track to some big issues.
Dogs are allowed their own preferences and forcing dogs to interact...just because they are dogs, can be really damaging and dangerous.
Many dogs have social preferences and that needs to be respected by us. Some dogs really struggle to read other dogs body language and struggle to decipher signals when another dogs body is vastly different to what they are used to.
Pugs are a good example of a body type some dogs struggle to read.
Unfortunately there can also be pressure from others to let their dogs play with yours.... sometimes good judgement is ignored because.... "All dogs should play with other dogs".
No... they don't and they shouldn't if your dog has clear preferences.

"They just weren't socialised enough as puppies"
"They need to be more obedient"
"They just need to play more"
"They need to be more dominant when playing"
"They need to just submit"
No, nope, ...and no again.

Social preferences are also not static.
They can change, so be open to that too.

There is a bit of a myth out there that reactive dogs only belong in the "not social" category. Some reactive dogs can be really social with others, but they could be leash reactive even to dog breeds they may enjoy interacting with off lead.
Just because a dog is reactive it does NOT automatically mean they dislike all other dogs.
Even reactive dogs have (and are allowed) to have their own unique preferences.

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10/21/2024

WE ARE HIRING PET SITTERS!!
I am looking to hire 2 more folks to start before the holiday season who would like to join the Savvy Pet Services team! This is a part time, assignment-based position with hourly pay for training and workshops, and commission for assignments worked!
Please send your resume and availabilty to [email protected] or text (904) 242-6772!

10/21/2024

I was having a little bit of dog mom guilt, which was preventing me from working out. I want to get back into a workout routine and get back in shape, but I’m always sad that that’s an hour or more that I spend away from the dogs when I feel that they already spend so much time home alone. I like to take them running with me on the bike, but sometimes I want to bike more than they can handle. This was my solution: a bike trailer!!!! This morning we took it for its inaugural ride where I was able to ride a total of 5 miles, but the girls could just ride in the back of the cart when they were tired!!
Dogs: tired and ~enriched~, CHECK! ✅
Savannah: tired and ~getting fit~, CHECK! ✅

10/17/2024

I am very late on this - but CONGRATULATIONS to Karen’s most recent Basic Obedience Group Class puppies!!!

10/12/2024

10/04/2024

Winter the Pyrenees wants to let everyone know that the next round of group classes is starting OCTOBER 14TH!
If you are interested, the basic obedience class at 5:30 pm still has spots available!

10/02/2024

Your dog knows if they’re being paid enough 😳. Think about it like this:

1. If you know you only get paid to go to work Monday thru Friday, you don't generally show up on Saturday. You're only going to show up if you're being paid. Your dog is not so different! They are likely to respond when they see you have treats - but not when they don't think treats will be available for that behavior.

Strategy: Hide treats so your dog learns that payment is always possible, even if they don't know for sure. That way they're always willing to try!

2. You're happy to help a friend move w/ the offer of pizza and drinks. But if they ask you to do their taxes, you'd want to get paid a LOT more! Your dog may work for kibble at home, but when the environment is more distracting or the behavior is harder, they might not listen.

Strategy: Adjust the value of your treats based on the degree of difficulty. Kibble for easy skills inside, treats for leash walking, and chicken for reactivity or distractions.

3. If your partner tried to give you a $20 bill for doing the dishes, it would be weird. If your boss said "thank you" for working overtime instead of paying you, that would be weird, too.

If your dog really wants to go sniff a tree and you ask them to wait, a treat may not be the right reinforcer. They really want to sniff that tree!

Strategy: Use the right reinforcer for the situation! That might be a treat, the opportunity to say hi to a dog, or getting to chase a ball.

4. If your boss initially pays you every two weeks, but then it starts being every three weeks, four, five, etc- eventually you're going to have a problem!

We get "ratio strain" when we ask for too much in between reinforcements. Stop rewarding your dog often enough for recall, and they'll stop coming when called.

Strategy: Make sure you're rewarding your dog often enough to keep the behavior strong. You can always use environmental rewards, too!

To summarize:
- Reward them even when they don't realize you have treats.
- Pay higher (and more often) for harder jobs!
- Reinforce often enough to make it worth their effort and time.
- Use the right reinforcer for the situation!

09/29/2024

Come see us tomorrow!!!

09/26/2024

Come see me this weekend at the Salty Paws Grooming Parking Lot Party!!! Learn more about dog training and pet sitting services we offer!
425 State Rd 207 #101, St. Augustine, FL 32084