Hope For Canines

04/13/2025

Checking in with my friend after a long training break- and found him to be even more handsome and perfect than last time. Success and happiness!

04/13/2025

Happiness is a warm puppy or 7 of them 🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡

04/11/2025

From interrupting their sleep to talking to them like people, a lot of us accidentally frustrate our dogs on a daily basis. Here’s how to stop.

04/08/2025

“Which is more important”, asked the large human, “the journey or the destination?”

“The company”, said the little dog”


-ukn

03/17/2025

Oh my dog! This year is flying by. Doggie photo dump from some of the hard working dog teams.
1. Adolescent Great Pyrenees/Lab X can’t help that he feels anxious and scared in his new world, but he is a brave boy and oh so sweet when he feels safe and happy.
2. Handsome boy practicing “leave that other dog alone”, and his human is practicing timing and how and when to positively redirect around triggers.
3. Newly adopted doodle girl shows off her kind eyes, and her love for chasing balls, if only she could chase after the irritating squirrels as well.
4. Goofy puppy learning to accept a friendly dog and stay connected to his people no matter what distraction comes his way.
5. Give me “high five” with you paw if you like yummy treats
6. One happy and diiiirrrttty dog!
7. Another happy dirty dog! Anyone else feeling tired of wet and muddy days?
8. Puppy proving that you can learn manners, boundaries, work on “stay/wait” in puppy school-even-if you are in a splint on crate rest.
9. Recently rescued mama dog learns to build her trust and confidence with the people around her.
10. Golden girl puppy practice recall in the open with a trusted mentor.
11…and graduates from AKC Star Puppy class, Yay!

01/02/2025

Happy New Year!
I am so thankful for the special dogs and kind people I connected with last year. Sharing your journey also helped me grow, learn and find joy in life’s waves of ups and downs…supporting you through the challenges and setbacks and cheering you on proudly in your successes. I am especially proud of how you advocated for your dog, didn’t give up, kept an open mind and a curiosity to learn, AND prioritized the human animal bond.

I am wishing you all a healthy, safe and adventuresome 2025.
#2025

12/24/2024

Wishing you all a warm, safe and joyful time in good company.

12/21/2024

The Aussies love waking up to Live Goat TV Marathons. It was the best holiday gift that they did not ask for. Wishing you and your dogs a peaceful, warm, joyful solstice together!

11/29/2024

“Lady of the night, bless my soul with your light. queen of the moon, let your magic fill my room. Silver dust of the bright stars, heal my wounds, erase my scars. let me wander in your realm free, nurture my body like a healthy tree”.

11/24/2024

Loved this “very real life training session”. It was puppy social-leash walking-dog to dog interactions-navigating passerby’s-children and strollers-managing distractions with the whole family. In between laughters, silly puppies and twirling autumn leaves we practiced some stay, by my side walking and focus/check ins. Education for all-such good company.

11/24/2024

Towards the end of many sessions- dogs end up taking a snooze next to, or on me. Perhaps they are relaxed, had a good work out, fun enrichment, or maybe they just know I need it, anyhow, I love it when my doggies friends falls asleep on me, it’s a sign of trust, love and that they enjoy our company.

11/06/2024

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TkJGhQANjZo

The grief of losing a pet is crushing; and yet it is too often minimized. This talk explains why the pain of pet loss is different and why it is valid. Dr. H...

10/31/2024

Happy Howloween 🎃

10/16/2024

“Control is necessary for the well-being of all animals (including humans). Too little control can make an animal feel helpless,” explains Irith Bloom, owner of The Sophisticated Dog, has been training animals since the 1980s and is on the board of the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT). “Decades of research teaches us that helplessness is stressful, while control is empowering and beneficial,” she continues. “In fact, an animal who has more choice and control in general can handle even extremely stressful situations better!”

There are many simple opportunities for us as dog owners to offer our dogs more freedom and control over their choices to help them be happier.

10/11/2024

Time for CE- looking forward to the next 3 days of learning, thinking, pondering, laughing, growing from the 5th year with Aggression in Dogs Conference.

10/07/2024

Puppies make the day better.. Always

09/15/2024

This handsome good boy is not yet convinced that guests on his home turf is a good thing, but we are heading in the right direction. Although keeping a watchful eye on the stranger in his home we are excited about the progress of him settling down on his own and able to watch without reacting.

🐕 Reminders if you have dogs that are fearful, anxious, territorial around strangers, visitors, particularly in your home:
-Follow a predictable routine for each visit, dog in general thrive on consistency, worried dogs need it even more.
-Management. Gates/barriers can provide safety, safe distance and boundaries while working on desensitization and counter conditioning. It also helps your guest follow protocol of not interacting with your dog accidentally.
-Positive reinforcement- awesome, safe and fun stuff happens when visitors are present.
-It’s better if the dog has the choice and freedom to move away/come closer, and a sanctuary where the visitors can’t go, verses attached to a leash or in a crate- as this can make them feel trapped and more defensive.
-Stay hopeful and keep working with your home protocol and your dog with professional help. Social connections are important to us humans, and I know many that have stopped socializing, afraid to invite friends over and feeling more lonely and isolated because of the dog situation. Know that there are safe solutions, affective management and training to improve things for both the human and the dog.

08/29/2024

Capturing behaviors, dogs and puppies offer MANY good behaviors throughout the day. Are you there to capture/reward them? When you catch your dogs offering or volunteering any behaviors, ask yourself: do I want to see more of this? Or less? Our timing is crucial, and using fear free and positive reinforcement helps the dogs to feel optimistic and safe about offering behaviors and trying again. From tricks to this useful skill (tucking in under human), can be shaped, learned and reinforced by simply observing, engaging with your dog, playing and rewarding a moment in time. So easy and fun- what are some of your favorite behaviors you shaped?