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Ardent Dog • Online Training & Behavior

Online Dog Training and Behavior | Help your dog overcome their anxiety, build confidence, and impro
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11/06/2024

Should you crate your dog with separation anxiety?

I get this question so often because there is a lot of misinformation on the internet which claims that crate training is the best way to solve a dog’s separation anxiety.

And while crate training is a good life skill, it should be taught outside of separation anxiety training.

If you confine an anxious dog to a crate, it can actually make their anxiety worse, and they can injure themselves trying to escape. Many dogs with separation anxiety also have anxiety around confinement. Giving an anxious dog more agency and allowing them a choice where they go when home alone can help make their separation anxiety training more successful.

Crate training is often suggested to solve behavioral issues, but all it does it confine the problem behaviors, not change a dog’s emotions surrounding alone time.

The best way to change a dog’s feelings about being home alone is desensitization within a systematic separation anxiety training protocol.

If you need help with your dog’s separation anxiety training, get our FREE beginner's guide to separation anxiety training: https://ardentdog.com/freeguide

11/04/2024

Enrichment impacts behaviors!

Enrichment:
• Reduces anxiety
• Improves memory & learning ability
• Provides natural-stress relief by releasing endorphins
• Provides outlets for instinctual behaviors

When working on a behavior modification protocol, like working to improve separation anxiety or reactivity, all of the benefits above can impact behavior change!

For example, for a dog with separation anxiety, being home alone causes immense stress. To overcome separation anxiety, you’ll need to work through a separation anxiety training protocol. If we can add enrichment into the life of a dog with separation anxiety, we can reduce the overall stress and anxiety in their life and improve their learning abilities!

Think about how much more effective the separation anxiety training protocol would be when you are improving the overall wellbeing of your dog! If you do need help with your dog’s separation anxiety, check out our Separation Anxiety Solutions course! (https://ardentdog.com/separationanxietytraining)

Every dog is an individual, so you’ll need to observe your dog to understand what works best for them. The enrichment you choose will totally depend on you, your dog, and the type of behavior you are trying to change.

Do you want to learn more about canine enrichment? Check out our Canine Enrichment Essentials course! 💕 (https://ardentdog.com/canine-enrichment-essentials)

10/29/2024

We love pumpkin at our house! Does your dog love pumpkin?

08/20/2024

Ever been told that ‘spoiling’ your dog or treating them like a baby causes separation anxiety? If so, I want to start by saying I’m truly sorry that you have been made to feel this way. 🙏 I know how it feels. People can have a lot of opinions on how we care for our dogs!

But let’s set the record straight: Loving and caring for our dogs as if they were our children is not only natural but something to be celebrated! 🎉 These acts of affection do not spoil them; rather, they foster a deeper, more meaningful bond.

Our pups are more than just pets; they’re integral members of our families. Their emotional well-being is as important as our own. 🏡 And guess what? Scientific research supports this nurturing approach. A study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association reveals that ‘spoiling activities,’ like allowing your dog on your bed or feeding them treats from the table, are not linked to separation anxiety. 📖

This insight challenges the myth that excessive affection leads to behavioral issues. Instead, it highlights the importance of understanding and addressing the root causes of separation anxiety, which can be complex and varied.

Are you navigating the challenges of separation anxiety with your pup? Interested in learning more about how to help them? Check out link in bio to get our comprehensive Beginner’s Guide to Separation Anxiety Training. Let’s work together to ensure our dogs feel secure, loved, and happy. 💕
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08/07/2024

Separation anxiety training is so much more than just stopping unwanted behaviors like barking or howling. 🐾

It’s really about addressing the underlying fear and anxiety that your dog feels when alone. These emotions drive the behaviors we see, such as potty accidents, scratching doors, and destroying furniture. By treating the root cause and helping your dog feel safe, these behaviors will naturally fade away. 🩵

Join our separation anxiety self-study course to learn how to help your dog overcome their fears! Link in bio. 🐶✨
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07/30/2024

My favorite tool for separation anxiety training is a camera! It is critical that you can observe your dog while you are out of the house! Whether that be during a training session or an actual absence.

Preventing your dog from having a scary alone time experience is key to successful separation anxiety training!

Do you use a camera to watch your dog while you are out of the house?

If you would like to find out more about how to help your dog feel comfortable being home alone, comment “FREE GUIDE” and I’ll send you a link to our FREE Beginner’s Guide to Separation Anxiety Training! Let’s tackle this together! 🌟
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07/18/2024

Do you allow your dog on furniture? Do they sleep on the bed with you? If you do, that is OKAY!

As a certified dog behavior consultant, I specialize in separation anxiety. According to a scientific study in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, there is no association between separation anxiety and “spoiling” activities, such as letting your dog on furniture or sleep on the bed.

If you have ever been made to feel bad that “spoiling” your dog has caused their separation anxiety, I want you to know that is NOT the case! And you can continue living and loving your dog how you choose to!

Now, there might be other reasons that you choose not to allow your dog on furniture, and that is okay too. Do whatever works best for you, your dog, and your household.

Check out our website for our separation anxiety self-study course! www.ardentdog.com/separationanxietytraining

07/17/2024

I am here to help you live the best life with your anxious dog! 🙋🏼‍♀️🐶

Online dog training is especially effective for nervous pups and I have created affordable, self-study training courses to help you ease your dog’s anxiety. 💻

Social is great for quick tips! But if you would like to dive deep, go to our website (www.ardentdog.com) and check out our training resources!

07/15/2024

🏕️ Camping Safely with a Reactive Dog 🐾

Here are my top 5 tips to ensure a safe and enjoyable outdoor experience for both you and your dog:

1. Plan Ahead: Find a dog-friendly campsite that has ample space and distance from other campers to minimize stress. I like to use the camping app , it is like Airbnb but for camping! You can filter through their database of private camp sites, some with just a single site! Perfect for reactive dogs! Tip: Always read the reviews before booking!

2. Gradual Exposure: If your dog isn't used to the outdoors, start with short day trips before diving into a full camping adventure. This helps your dog acclimate to new sounds, smells, and environments gradually. Before you go, you can even set up the tent, bedding, and other gear at home to help desensitize your dog to the unfamiliar camping equipment.

3. Leash & Harness: A long line and a well-fitting harness are your best friends. Keep your dog on a leash at all times! You never know what your dog might see, smell, or hear while camping. I also recommend a harness with a handle for safety. makes great outdoor gear for dogs!

4. Campsite Preparation: Set up a secure and cozy space for your dog at the campsite. Bring familiar bedding, blankets, toys, towels, and treats. Create a safe and cozy area where your dog can go if feeling overwhelmed. Make sure to bring plenty of fresh water and food!

5. Safety: Ensure your dog wears a visible ID tag with up-to-date contact information and a microchip as an added layer of security. Bring a doggie first aid kit and any medication your dog may need. Look up the weather before you go to make sure you have appropriate gear and extra layers for sleeping outside. And stay up to date about the wild animals in your area. Do you need to lock up your food at night? Do you need bear spray? You can never be too prepared when camping!

Camping with your reactive dog might take a little extra work, but being prepared will create the best experience for you and your dog!

07/11/2024

Here are 5 ways to reduce your dog’s stress:

1. Predictability & routines
2. Relaxation exercises (I recommend Dr. Karen Overall’s Relaxation Protocol)
3. Enrichment
4. Agency & choice
5. Safe space (Note: This does NOT mean confining an anxious dog to a crate or other small space. Doing so could make your anxious dog more stressed. But if you create a safe space that your dog feels comfortable in, you can provide an escape from external stimuli that they find overwhelming.)

These are just a few ways that I help to reduce stress for my dogs each day. If you have an anxious dog, it is important to work on reducing stress while separately training to help change their feelings towards specific fears through behavior modification like desensitization and counter conditioning. Each dog is an individual so their training plan will vary. And as always, consult your veterinarian.

If you need help with your dog’s separation anxiety, check out our website (www.ardentdog.com) for our online training courses! Separation Anxiety Solutions has an entire lesson on stress reduction! Canine Enrichment Essentials dives deep into enrichment and how to use it in your dog’s daily life!

07/10/2024

Wally and Raisin have taught me so much as a pet parent and as a dog trainer & behavior consultant. They have shaped my views and have encouraged me to always keep learning!

I am so proud of how far my pups have come and am so happy with the progress we continue to make! I feel incredibly lucky that they get along so well. They wrestle and play every single night!

I absolutely love helping dog parents navigate the world with their nervous pups! It is not always easy but it is so worth it!

07/08/2024

It is totally normal for your dog to feel uncomfortable being alone!

Dr. Kristina Spaulding has a PhD in biopsychology and is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist.

In the beginning of her Science of Fear course, Dr. Spaulding introduced emotion. “The function of emotion is to motivate behavior. When we are talking about fear, we are typically talking about safety. The animal is responding to some perceived threat and that will motivate fear related behaviors.”

Then she says, “A potential threat for social animals is social isolation. From an evolutionary standpoint, surviving is also involved in being a part of a social group.”

It makes so much sense that a potential threat to safety is social isolation in a social species. It is totally normal that your dog would not feel safe being alone!

Comment “FREE GUIDE” and I’ll send you a link to our FREE Beginner’s Guide to Separation Anxiety Training! Let's tackle this together! 🌟
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06/26/2024

When I got my first puppy Wally, I never could have predicted the kind of vet care he would need, but I am so thankful I got him signed up for pet insurance right away. 10 years later, we have gone through a root canal, two knee surgeries, lots of rehab therapies, and many other lumps and bumps that have come up so far in his life.

In my opinion, pet insurance is definitely worth purchasing if you get a puppy or young dog. With the rising cost of health care and the advancement of medical procedures, choosing the right insurance can literally save your pet’s life. If you adopt an older dog with many pre-existing conditions, I personally still see a value with insurance, but it will be something to calculate and consider.

For me, pet insurance has been so worth it! It has been easy to budget my monthly premiums and has saved me from maxing out my credit cards on Wally’s care (his first knee surgery and his root canal were in the same month 😅).

With pet insurance, I was able to take Wally to orthopedic surgeons to fix his knees and provide him with the best rehab therapies! He can walk, run, play, and live his best life!

Since he was signed up as a puppy and has no pre-existing conditions, I know everything he will need will be covered and I don’t have to worry! I am sure he will need lots more care as he ages and having the peace of mind that I can choose the best care for him is invaluable!

The pet insurance world is SO confusing! I feel like I have a unique perspective since I am a dog parent, dog trainer, and I used to work for a pet insurance company! That was over 5 years ago, and a lot has changed so I am brushing up on all the new information.

Disclaimer: I have Trupanion insurance for my dogs, enrolling them both as puppies. I am not affiliated with them in any way (except that I have my dogs on their policy) and will do my best to give my unbiased opinion!
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05/10/2024

A lot of people associate enrichment with food, but it doesn’t have to be! There are lots of great ways to provide inexpensive enrichment without using food! Here are some non-food enrichment ideas!

When you meet your dog’s needs and give them appropriate outlets to perform instinctual behaviors, you are providing a fulfilling life for your dog!

Canine enrichment also plays a huge role in a behavior modification protocol! When working through challenging behaviors like separation anxiety, it is super important to add enrichment to your dog’s life!

Do you want to learn more about canine enrichment? Comment ‘ENRICHMENT’ below, and I’ll DM you with a link to our Canine Enrichment Essentials course! 💕
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04/03/2024

Ever been told that ‘spoiling’ your dog or treating them like a baby causes separation anxiety? If so, I want to start by saying I’m truly sorry that you have been made to feel this way. 🙏 I know how it feels. People can have a lot of opinions on how we care for our dogs!

But let’s set the record straight: Loving and caring for our dogs as if they were our children is not only natural but something to be celebrated! 🎉 These acts of affection do not spoil them; rather, they foster a deeper, more meaningful bond.

Our pups are more than just pets; they’re integral members of our families. Their emotional well-being is as important as our own. 🏡 And guess what? Scientific research supports this nurturing approach. A study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association reveals that ‘spoiling activities,’ like allowing your dog on your bed or feeding them treats from the table, are not linked to separation anxiety. 📖

This insight challenges the myth that excessive affection leads to behavioral issues. Instead, it highlights the importance of understanding and addressing the root causes of separation anxiety, which can be complex and varied.

Are you navigating the challenges of separation anxiety with your pup? Interested in learning more about how to help them? Comment ‘FREE GUIDE’ below, and I’ll DM you with a link to our comprehensive Beginner’s Guide to Separation Anxiety Training. Let’s work together to ensure our dogs feel secure, loved, and happy. 💕
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03/25/2024

Do you have a shy pup? Use pattern games to boost your dog’s confidence!

Pattern games are an effective tool to build confidence because they create a predictable and structured environment for your dog to learn and interact. Here are 5 ways that pattern games help to boost your dog’s confidence!

1) Predictability and Security: Pattern games involve repeating a series of behaviors in a predictable and fun way. When your dog can anticipate, or predict, the sequence of events, it provides a sense of security. Security in an anticipated outcome helps to boost confidence!

2) Attention and Engagement: Pattern games help your dog to concentrate on a specific task, which helps redirect their focus away from stressors or distractions in their environment. For dogs who are easily overwhelmed, focusing on a pattern game can redirect their attention and focus their engagement on you.

3) Reduce Anxiety in New Situations: Dogs that regularly engage in pattern games learn to apply their skills of prediction and focus to new situations. This ability can help them cope better in unfamiliar or stressful environments.

4) Strengthens Bond: Engaging in pattern games helps your dog build trust and strengthens their bond with you. Learning to communicate in a conversational training style boosts the confidence you have as a team.

5) Adaptability and Learning: Regular engagement in pattern games can enhance your dog’s overall learning ability. As they become more skilled at recognizing and responding to patterns, they also become better at adapting to new training exercises and environments.

To learn more about ways to boost your dog’s confidence, check out the link in bio for our Training Games for Confidence Building course! Featuring pattern games, and other Control Unleashed concepts created by Leslie McDevitt, as a Certified Control Unleashed Instructor.
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03/19/2024

Enrichment impacts behaviors!

Enrichment:
• Reduces anxiety
• Improves memory & learning ability
• Provides natural-stress relief by releasing endorphins
• Provides outlets for instinctual behaviors

When working on a behavior modification protocol, like working to improve separation anxiety or reactivity, all of the benefits above can impact behavior change!

For example, for a dog with separation anxiety, being home alone causes immense stress. To overcome separation anxiety, you’ll need to work through a separation anxiety training protocol. If we can add enrichment into the life of a dog with separation anxiety, we can reduce the overall stress and anxiety in their life and improve their learning abilities!

Think about how much more effective the separation anxiety training protocol would be when you are improving the overall wellbeing of your dog! If you do need help with your dog’s separation anxiety, check out our separation anxiety course, link in bio!

Every dog is an individual, so you’ll need to observe your dog to understand what works best for them. The enrichment you choose will totally depend on you, your dog, and the type of behavior you are trying to change. To learn more about enrichment, enroll in Canine Enrichment Essentials, link in bio!
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Videos

Moving with a separation anxiety dog can be difficult and daunting. Moves can exacerbate separation anxiety. So, we will be working through our separation anxiety training protocol in the new home! This isn’t starting from scratch, but reassessing where she is currently comfortable with. I know she will rock it! If you are ready to start your separation anxiety training journey, join our separation anxiety self-study course or get our free beginner’s guide, link in bio! 🐾 🐾 🐾 🐾 #ardentdog #seattledogtraining #dogtraining #dogtrainingtip #dogbehavior #positivedogtraining #positivereinforcement #separationanxiety #dogseparationanxiety #feelsafebeinghomealone

Does your dog get overexcited to go outside? Try using training games for door manners! This game is called the Up/Down Pattern Game! It is great to use in small spaces. Just place a treat on the ground between your dog’s feet and wait for them to look up at you! And repeat. This game is a great way to refocus your dog’s attention and calm them down within a predictable and safe framework. I like to use this game before I go outside and then again once I get outside with my dog! To learn more about training games, check out the link in my bio for our Training Games for Confidence Building course! 🐾 🐾 🐾 #ardentdog #dogtraining #positivedogtraining #seattledogtraining #controlunleashed #reactivetorelaxed #reactivedogtraining #reactivedog #confidencetraining #buildconnection #confidence #shydog #shypup #excitement #doormanners

Remember to bring water for you and your dog when hiking in the desert! #hiking #desert #deserthikes #hikingtrails #hikingadventures #hikingwithdogs #dogtraining #positivedogtraining #dogwalking #offleashdogs

Easy and healthy fluffy filling! @lickimat #lickimat #enrichment #canineenrichment #dogtraining #positivedogtraining #positivereinforcement

These are the tools I use as a positive reinforcement trainer and certified behavior consultant for reactivity training! Spike can be quite dog reactive but no force is needed to modify his behavior! For more engagement games, check out the link in my bio for our Connection & Confidence self-study course! #dogtraining #reactivedog #reactivedogtraining #positivedogtraining #positivereinforcement #positivereinforcementdogtraining

Staying engaged and connected on our walks make it more enjoyable for both of us! #ardentdog #seattle #seattledogs #seattledogwalker #pnw #pnwonderdogs #dogtraining #positivedogtraining

My little baby girl is 3 years old! 🥹💕🐾 #sesttledogs #postivevibes #chihuahua #rescuedog #birthdaygal

My favorite management skill to teach reactive dog guardians! This skill is the first line of defense when encountering an unexpected trigger on your walk. It is a super quick turn in the opposite direction to steer clear of a trigger, avoid a reaction, and navigate an unexpected situation! We use the cue “let’s go!” What is your emergency U-turn cue? 🐾 #ardentdog #dogtraining #positivedogtraining #seattledogtraining #reactivedog #reactivedogtraining #controlunleashed

She is so happy when she can find the sun ☀️ We are ready for spring and warmer weather! 🐾 🐾 🐾 🐾 #ardentdog #seattledogtraining #dogtraining #dogtrainingtip #dogbehavior #positivedogtraining #positivereinforcement #chihuahua #chihuahuasofinstagram #recharging #sun #readyforspring

The next trick we are working on is roll over! We haven’t worked on this skill much in the past but she is getting the hang of it pretty quick! Even as we filmed this video she improved:) Trick training is a fun activity to bond with your dog and a great form of mental exercise! Since Raisin is quite anxious, we focus a lot on behavioral mod, like separation anxiety training or reactivity training. These issues can be quite heavy so it’s nice to work on things together that are light and fun, like trick training! Do you work on truck training with your dog? Let me know in the comments! 🐾 🐾 🐾 🐾 #ardentdog #seattledogtraining #dogtraining #dogtrainingtip #dogbehavior #positivedogtraining #positivereinforcement #controlunleashed #reactivetorelaxed #tricktraining #rollover

When the fire isn’t warm enough, she curls up under the blanket for extra warmth 🤣 #ardentdog #dogtraining #positivedogtraining #chihuahuasofinstagram #chihuahua #chihuahuamix