Ashley’s Animal Care

08/14/2024

Today’s brightest sunflowers 🌻

08/12/2024

It was a cat centric weekend here at AAC 🐱

Starring Belle, Mambo, Tango, Charlie, Loki, and Thor!

08/10/2024

We are a little late to the party, but we finally made a tiktok! Go follow us for some cute animal content 💜

7 Followers, 17 Following, 6 Likes - Watch awesome short videos created by Ashley’s Animal Care

08/09/2024

If you have seen me walking a dog, you have likely seen me wearing this hat ✨ Truthfully, I wear it so often that I forget it is on my head. That is until I begin getting judgmental looks. You would think I have a controversial political statement written on my forehead, but, nope, I am just asking people to be a courteous neighbor and leash their dog!

Spoiler alert for those judging my hat - the world does not revolve around you, and you, most certainly, are not above the law. I don’t doubt that you have a wonderful dog, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe to let your dog off leash anywhere you go. My dogs are wonderful too. They also value their space. There are no laws against fearful and reactive dogs enjoying a walk around the neighborhood, but there are leash laws!! Don’t be the reason other dog parents (and people who just don’t love dogs) dread or worry about going on a walk in their own neighborhood. Not everyone likes your dog running up to them as much as you do.

Just one negative off-leash dog encounter can have a huge impact on a dog’s journey. If you aren’t in a designated off-leash dog area, then please keep your dog on a leash or, at the very least, show off that “perfect recall” of yours and leash your dog when someone is nearby. Don’t get me wrong, I love off-leash dog adventures and think it’s important to let our dogs be dogs, but we need to do this in the appropriate setting.

Someone could hand me a $100 bill and it wouldn’t be nearly as meaningful as someone leashing up their dog when they see a person/dog approaching. I think I speak for many fearful and reactive dog owners, when I say you make our day infinitely better. Hopefully, this will become the normal human response in the future. And so, I kindly ask that you please leash your dog and help make the world a safer place for all dogs and their humans.

Be kind to your neighbors and leash your dog, friends 🫶

———

Also, big shout out to Woof Cultr for creating THE HAT of all time. Check out their website for all sorts of amazing human/dog gear. Starting to think I need this particular hat in all the colors of the rainbow 🌈

08/07/2024

Whether it’s a walk and train or a regular dog walk, there is always something to work on!

Here’s what my dogs (and cat) worked on today:
- Murphy practiced walking calmly by fences with dogs and people behind them. Those shadows can be unpredictable!
- River practiced polite behavior around the neighborhood cat. He also practiced being perfect, like always.
- Frank worked on leaving all the bunny p**p (instead of inhaling it).
- Max practiced his loose leash walking skills around dogs and distractions.
- Bailey worked on building her confidence around cars (especially amazon trucks) and other dogs. She was so brave today.
- Bailey also practiced her treat catching skills. Ha ha. Training can be fun!!
- Roux practiced calm behavior around people, dogs, and cars. She gets a gold star for her progress ⭐️
- Romeo worked on some confidence building away from mom. Stepping out the front door can be hard, but walking is so fun!
- Ruby worked on her loose leash walking and practiced walking calmly past bushes (she found a baby bunny in one of them on her walk with mom last night).
- Belle worked on being cute. Simple as that.
- Twyla’s only goals today were to have an enjoyable walk and to regain some of her love for life. She has had a really hard few days. That big (beautiful) anxious brain of hers has been a little too loud, and she doesn’t love loud noises. Thankfully, she smiled and had some fun on our adventure. Little successes can feel so big!

Interested in walk and trains for your pup? Email [email protected] or contact Katie's Clever Canines ✨

08/06/2024

Happy Monday from Ashley’s Animal Care ☀️

Exciting life update - the Slemmons farm got its first chicken egg today!! The egg is teeny tiny, but oh so perfect. It’s a good day.

08/03/2024

Just in case nobody has told you this recently, you are so loved, and we are so glad you exist 🫶

Here are some reasons I am glad to exist today:
- Max was able to walk calmly past a dog who was barking and pacing a nearby fence. That was a big moment for us!!
- I got to see Frank’s smile. His happy face always makes me grateful to be alive.
- Mara and I went to the park and watched the world together.
- Duke and I went on a warm and wonderful walk around the neighborhood.
- I got to say hello to Lucifer the chameleon. He is a rescue reptile (which is why he is missing his tail) and so cool to watch!
- Chip left the comfort of his bed to come spend time with me. That made me feel super special. Lol.
- I got to play with Rusty and Pepper! They are quite the toller duo.
- Twyla and I went to flower world and worked on her recall and car reactivity. We also practiced calm behavior around all the birds. Being her mom gives me the courage to exist each and every day.
- I got some one-on-one time with sweet Belle. She is so playful and pretty.
- Molly played frisbee with me for the first time in months. I actually had tears in my eyes 🥹❤️ Watching dogs age is simultaneously the most beautiful and heartbreaking part of the job. I am just so glad she had a good day today.

Happy Friday, friends!

08/01/2024

If you take anything away from my page, please let it be this - kindness is a strength, not a weakness.

A former manager of mine told me she didn’t trust me to watch the big dogs because I was “too nice.” I was not only shocked, but I felt a terrible sense of shame wash over me. I have a fear of disappointing those around me (I need to work on this…), so I felt like I had failed her, my job, and my dogs. I don’t remember her exact words after that, but she told me that I wasn’t showing enough authority over the dogs or using the aversive tools in the play yard enough. I replayed this conversation in my head, over and over again, desperately trying to understand why being too nice to the dogs was a problem. Thankfully, I never found an answer and I never stopped being nice.

Am I proud of working at that facility? Absolutely not. Do I regret it? Often times, yes. Did it make me a better and kinder dog advocate? 100%. I was an inexperienced young girl trying to find herself amidst a global pandemic, and unfortunately, I ended up taking my first animal care job for a place that did not value the mental well-being of their dogs or employees. I will always feel a little guilty about working there. Nevertheless, that job and those words shaped me into the STRONG, gentle, and compassionate business owner and dog advocate that I am today. Nobody is perfect, I am certainly not, but I believe kindness is the best of humanity.

Even before fully immersing myself into this dog community, I knew that using fear and punishment was not the most effective tool when trying to modify a dog’s behavior. I just wasn’t quite as passionate about it as I am now. Maybe that young girl is finally starting to find herself! Anyway, I just want to remind everyone that being too nice is not to be misconstrued as an insult. It’s a compliment in the highest form. That being said, I encourage you to question the world around you, challenge your mind and the minds of others, and not make those easy everyday assumptions. You don’t know how difficult of a day a dog/human may have had, and it’s not fair to punish them for having big feelings. Big feelings are human and they deserve to be acknowledged. Reacting with anger and punishment is an easy human response. Reacting with patience and understanding takes an unparalleled kind of strength.

I will NEVER apologize for being too nice. I truly believe that positive reinforcement trainers/users have found the most powerful tool of all… kindness. If people’s #1 complaint about this type of training is that we are “too nice,” then I’m right where I am supposed to be. Don’t let our kindness, joy, and big smiles fool you, we are stronger than ever.

Be kind 💜

07/31/2024

The sky was blanketed in clouds today and it felt like the universe was giving us a warm hug ☁️

Today’s Tuesday faces: River, Roux, Romeo, Ruby, Murphy, Frank, Max, Bailey, Twyla, and Athena (KCC’s darling little puppy in training)

07/28/2024

Yellowstone National Park → Grand Teton National Park → Jackson Hole → MY BEST FRIEND’S WEDDING in Utah → Idaho Falls → home sweet home 🚗

Thank you to Mikayla, for being my best friend, my high school sweetheart, and my reason to believe in human love. I am so blessed to have been your bridesmaid on your BEAUTIFUL wedding day. You have been so good to me and so supportive of my small business. You are a real life princess. I love you!!

Thank you to Yellowstone, for being so wild, so human, and so all-encompassing. You remind us what we have to live/fight for.

Thank you to for going on this adventure with me and being the heart and soul of Ashley’s Animal Care.

Thank you to , , , and Max for taking such good and gentle care of Twyla while I was away. There is nobody she would rather have her first week-long sleepover with.

And most of all, thank you to my clients, for letting me take a few days off work and go on a super last minute road trip. You allowed me to be there for my best friend’s big day (which meant the world to us both) and go on my first real vacation since before the pandemic.

If you haven’t noticed by now, I am not very good at prioritizing myself and my personal life over my work, so this was a big step for me. I am trying to take better care of myself, so I can take the best care of your animals!

Anyway, take care of yourselves and take care of the planet, friends. It’s been so good to us 🫶🫶🫶

07/27/2024

I had the privilege of farm sitting for last week! Thank you to Beau 🐑, Penny 🐑, Bailey 🐕, Winnie 🐈, Chai 🐈, Millie 🐈‍⬛, Moose 🐈‍⬛, all 5 ducks 🦆, and all 11 chickens 🐓 for making me feel right at home. What a beautiful little & local farm!

07/16/2024

Meet Baja and Rocky! I adore these two 🩶🤍

I got to look after Baja and Rocky when their lovely parents were visiting Washington two summers ago. This year, their mom and dad reached out to me again, and we were finally reunited! Whether I see a dog one day of the year or 365 days of the year, they mean just as much to me. Hope to see these two again next summer!!

07/12/2024

Happy 2nd Birthday to my “firstborn,” best friend, business partner, companion through life, and favorite slurpee day dog! Twyla, you might actually be the only living thing I know that is more anxious than I am (and that’s no small feat), but learning how to better understand you and your beautiful brain has truly changed my life for the better. Thank you for braving the world with me and teaching me how to be your advocate when the universe around us gets a little too overwhelming. Meeting you encouraged me to meet so many other amazing, fearful and reactive dogs, some of which are our very best friends. After joining this dog community, I’ve heard lots of people talk about how their dog was not what they originally wanted, expected, or planned for. And honestly, in this moment, I agree with them wholeheartedly. You are not the dog I was hoping for, you are infinitely better and brighter. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve probably lost 10 years off my life because of some of your “life choices,” but I am also pretty sure my soul shines a little stronger now that you are a part of my story. Even if I don’t decide to be a human mom one day, I will always be a mom because of you. Thanks for making me feel all of these feelings, Twyla. You are an earth-shatteringly beautiful little border collie, inside and out, and my most expensive, but worthy, life choice. You are and always will be my world’s very best dog. I love you endlessly, Twy. Here’s to 2 years!!

Please enjoy these photos from day one of 2 💜

07/10/2024

Tried to think of a really wholesome caption for today’s Tuesday post, but all that came to mind was “I am still sweating” 🌼

07/09/2024

Today was super sunny and forever funny ☀️

I am so grateful for goofy faces, ice cream (even if it’s cheddar and bacon flavor), the sunshine, THE SHADE, these dogs, and all the other animals that make my world brighter.

07/02/2024

We have wrapped up and graduated lots of dogs last month! Which means, we have summer availability for private training and behavior consulting! Summer is a great time to start working on easing your dogs reactivity, building confidence around triggers or teaching skills like recall and loose leash walking! Contact us, Training@KatiesCleverCanines for more info!

07/02/2024

July so far ☀️🐕🐾🌻👟🌧️💛

06/26/2024

We have walk and train availability!

We have walk and train availability! Get your dog out to enjoy the sun and learn new skills while you’re at work this summer! New clients, ask us about our new client promotion. Reach out to learn more [email protected]

06/25/2024

I am so lucky to be one of the many people who loved you, Maggie ♥️ Thank you for welcoming me into the KCC family so gently and kindly. I will miss seeing your happy prance on sunny days and your sweet smile on rainy ones. Being even the smallest part of your life made me feel so special. You took all of Katie's Clever Canines and your mom’s love for you, stored it in your heart, and gave a piece of it to everyone you met. I will continue to carry that love you shared with me wherever I go. The sun is shining for you, sweet Mags. We will love and miss you always.

Ladybugs are my little reminder of you and our time together 🐞

06/21/2024

Happy first day of summer ☀️ I am covered in dirt, dog slobber, and sweat, which means today was a good day!

Today’s sunny smiles = Odin, Ruby, Pearl, Piper, Lila, Autumn, Murray, Belle, Louis, Lily, Tango, and Mambo

06/20/2024

Katie's Clever Canines and I had our last session with Nova this evening. We are so proud of the progress Nova and her guardians have made this past year. Nova is very sensitive to loud noises (planes, cars, garbage cans, fireworks, etc), but today she was able to sit out on the porch with us during our session, despite all the noise, and just enjoy life ☀️ Way to go Nova!! You are the most courageous corgi I know.

Special shout out to the neighborhood cat who followed us our whole walk and watched our session through the window like a creeper! You sure did make us laugh 🤭

06/19/2024

Happy first day with AAC, Louis 💛 I can only hope to be half as hilarious and charismatic as you are one day. You are effortlessly charming.

Thanks for all the magical and memorable moments, Tuesday crew ✨

06/15/2024

Hi friends! I haven’t been very active on social media recently (life has been crazy), so here is a little something to make up for it. Thank you for making my life so colorful.

With love, Ashley.

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

06/01/2024

Let me be perfectly clear (or should I say q***r), here at Ashley’s Animal Care, we love and support the LGBTQ+ community 🏳️‍🌈 Our AAC family includes dogs with two dads, cats with two moms, and so many other pet parents who are their beautiful, wonderful, and authentic selves. We love them endlessly. The world can be a scary place, but I truly believe one of the bravest things you can do is be yourself. Remember, you are not alone. I love you and the world loves you!! Embrace diversity, support equality, find comfort in inclusivity, and celebrate love in all of its colors.

With that being said, please support your local q***r-owned businesses and consider donating to LGBTQ+ organizations, such as the Trevor Project (thetrevorproject.org)

Happy Pride Month 🌈

Crisis intervention and su***de prevention hotlines:
- The Trevor Project: (866) 488-7386
- National su***de prevention hotline: (800) 273-8255 (online chat available)
- Crisis text line: Text START to 741-741
- The Gay, Le***an, Bisexual and Transgender National Hotline: (888) 843-4564

***rownedbusinesses

05/16/2024

And just like that, my little farm is complete 💛

05/11/2024

What a spectacular way to end our 8-day sleepover! Sky, Jersey, Twyla, and I were absolutely blown away by the aurora borealis last night. I never thought I would get to see the northern lights in my lifetime, especially not alongside my best friends. The universe keeps on amazing me 🫶

05/09/2024

I can’t stop thinking about the flower I saw growing through the pavement today. I could honestly bring myself to tears just thinking about how strong and beautiful that little flower was, growing in such an unconventional place.

I have spent so much of my life trying to look like the other flowers and grow alongside them, but, the truth is, I want to be like the flowers growing through the cracks in the pavement. It’s safe to say I do not fit into our society’s ideal garden. If I did, I probably wouldn’t have taken the risk of starting my own animal care business, I wouldn’t be a growing fear free dog trainer, and I certainly wouldn’t be the friendly neighborhood dog walker. Thankfully, I made my own garden, and just look at all the beautiful flowers (YOU) I have surrounded myself with!

I truly hope you, our animals, and I blossom like this precious little flower. I want us to find the strength to overcome our obstacles and I want us to bloom in places we never thought we could. Maybe it’s just a flower to some, but, to me, it’s so much more than that. Be kind. Be strong. Be yourself. And most importantly, be a flower growing through the pavement.

Anyway, I hope you had a warm and wonderful Wednesday. Scroll to the end to see the photo I took when trying to capture Mara’s smile today (nobody ever said I was a smart flower).

05/08/2024

Tuesday faces = Max • Frank • Bailey • Murphy • River • Romeo • Ruby • Sky • Jersey • Roux • Tabitha • Tommy (not pictured) • Twyla • The neighborhood goslings

05/07/2024

Murphy 🤝 Ashley

Hoping you had a happy Monday!