Mossy Paws Dog Training

11/14/2024

Consent is fluid. We know this and experience it in our daily lives. you may appreciate a brief hug from a coworker or relative, but don’t wish to remain in their embrace indefinitely. You may deeply love your partner and family members and still not want them to touch you sometimes. You may change your mind quickly about when you do and don’t want to touch or affection. In these three videos, we watch Adonis happily accepting pets, then being unsure and giving a weak indicator that he does want pets, and then being very clear about being done with pets. When we set up a consent -based practice with our dogs, it’s our job to make sure that we are not letting it slip when WE are enjoying the contact. I push Adonis in this video and ask many more times than I regularly would if he does want pets after he says “no” only because I know he can tolerate it and it is a good way to, have a visual on what “maybes” and “nos” also look like. What body language cues do you see that indicate appreciating the affection,being unsure about the affection, and then being clearly uninterested? Hot tip: sometimes sudden grooming is a displacement behavior.

11/10/2024

Sometimes walks look like this 😊

11/03/2024

As class was ending today, I overheard a student saying, “I’ve done a lot of dog training in the past, and none of it was remotely like this. This is so much better.”

Full disclosure: classes are sometimes frustrating for me, because I will never be able to give each student the attention and depth of care that I do in my private training practice. I teach classes because dog training and behavioral work is expensive. Sometimes, it is out of reach for even the most caring and thoughtful dog owners. I offer classes because I hope that folks who can’t afford private sessions can get enough out of them to make a difference, and I feel like my hope often falls short of my expectations (which are to revolutionize the way guardians and their dogs communicate and learn from one another - kind of a high bar.🙃) Overhearing this made my day. It’s good to remember that even imperfect efforts can make an impact.

09/17/2024

Training classes and socialization! Trainer Kendra Rose and I will teach another cohort of our 7-week training intensive starting October 5th. We also have puppy socialization classes every Sunday! The 7-week intensive is billed as a puppy class but will be great for recently adopted adult dogs and any dog/owner combo.
This intensive aims to give you the skills to communicate with your dog so that training becomes easy. The skills we are teaching can help to prevent puppies and dogs from becoming reactive or fearful and can help you guide them to navigate the world so that they can relax instead of react. We want to share the knowledge of what it takes to create a cross-species relationship that feels joyful, safe, and engaging. And we will play lots of fun games while we learn new skills!
If you or someone you know is looking to gain an in-depth understanding of how to strengthen your relationship with your dog, the hows and whys of effective training strategies, what your dog might be experiencing when you see signs of stubbornness or disinterest, and why your own body language is one of the most powerful tools you have to train your dog, please sign up at Growlerz or pass this info along!
Our Puppy Socialization groups on Sundays are a great place to learn more about play behaviors, body language, appropriate greetings, and more as your puppy romps and plays with others. Both the Intensive and the Socialization classes require registration through Growlerz Seattle. You can learn more on my website:

Classes Find current class info here Work With Jen Raise Your Puppy RightTraining your puppy is important, but building a strong relationship with them is even more crucial. Your pup might not follow cues and requests due to confusion or lack of motivation. Dogs communicate through body language, n...

08/09/2024

Avoid shoulder injury and arthritis by choosing a harness that allows your dog free range of motion. I like this one for broad-chested breeds who do not mind putting their head through the neck hole:
https://a.co/d/6ftlyzP
and the Balance Harness for medium to small-chested breeds, it has a handy neck clip for easy on/off:
https://a.co/d/8iUUKA0
Perfect Fit harnesses are good for any measurements and have a neck clip for dogs who avoid having things pulled over their heads:
https://perfect-fit-dog-harness.com/20mm-m-s-l-perfect-fit-harness.html

08/09/2024

Reactivity is tough! Here are some tips that may help.

07/26/2024

The gut/brain connection is real!

Sixty percent of people in the United States have at least one pet, with cats and dogs being the most widely owned (Applebaum et al., 2023). Historically,

07/20/2024

Trainer Kendra Rose and I will teach a 7-week intensive starting August 3rd. It is billed as a puppy class but will be great for recently adopted adult dogs and any dog/owner combo.

This class aims to give you the skills to communicate with your dog so that training becomes easy. The skills we are teaching can help to prevent puppies and dogs from becoming reactive or fearful and can help you guide them to navigate the world so that they can relax instead of react. We want to share the knowledge of what it takes to create a cross-species relationship that feels joyful, safe, and engaging. And we will play lots of fun games while we learn new skills!

If you or someone you know is looking to gain an in-depth understanding of how to strengthen your relationship with your dog, the hows and whys of effective training strategies, what your dog might be experiencing when you see signs of stubbornness or disinterest, and why your own body language is one of the most powerful tools you have to train your dog, please sign up at Growlerz or pass this info along!

05/21/2024

We are still learning about the complex, dynamic nature of dogs as individuals.

"The more you know, the more you realize you don't know"

Each new piece of information (or piece of the puzzle) uncovers new fresh paths to explore.🤓

After years of studying and years of practical experience and spending a fortune on gaining knowledge, I am still learning and evolving which I hope will never stop. This made me update this cartoon of mine. It's an ongoing process☺️

Understanding and influencing behaviour can be complex. So many influences on behaviour can be at play. Never stop learning.

Dogs are complex mammals (just like humans; you'll be amazed how many similarities there are, but of course there are many differences too).

Each dog is a unique individual and there can be many factors influencing behaviour.

© LotsDogs| www.LotsDogs.com

Copyright notice | Support my page and show some love❤️
Help me reach more people! Please share my image using the 'share' button (you can share in groups, on your business page, on your timeline, etc..all possible through the 'share' options). This is highly appreciated!🥰💞
Please do not download/save my content on your device and upload my work elsewhere. This diminishes my ability to reach people.📵 Many thanks for understanding.

05/15/2024

Do you have a puppy who needs socialization? Our puppy play group has recently seen many pups graduate and we have room in both our Under 40 lbs and Over 40 lbs classes.
We teach you about canine body language, relaxation techniques, handling skills, equipment fitting, and much more at each class while your puppy romps and plays.
Feel free to email me at [email protected] with questions.
https://www.mossypawsdogtraining.com/classes

05/14/2024

05/11/2024

We have 3 spots open in the Real Life Skills class next week! (Congrats, Graduates!) This class provides you and your dog with tools to navigate real-life scenarios, rather than just teaching cues and obedience. Unlike many other basics classes, I am available for student questions and review student videos throughout the length of the class. Knowing that private training is too expensive for many, I offer comprehensive class support because everyone deserves a happy, healthy relationship with their dog. Bonus: I often have 1-2 other trainers assisting these classes, which means more individual attention!

04/23/2024

This is a beautiful example of why we choose harnesses that allow free movement of the shoulder. Feel free to DM me if you would like to know the non-affiliated brands that I like!

04/05/2024

Private dogs, they're watching you...

New research suggests that pooches may be as in tune with our emotions as owners hope.

04/01/2024

Real-Life Basics starts next week, but you can sign up any week with an open spot! (Open Enrollment.)

We will teach dogs of all ages the basics + by emulating real-life scenarios in the class, including not jumping on strangers and guests, loose leash walking, keeping calm at home during dinner and while you are working, following house and public rules, skills to make vet visits a breeze, and more. Questions? Feel free to email me at [email protected]
See more info here: mossypawsdogtraining.com