A Dog's Life Behavior

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A Dog's Life Behavior

Hybrid in-person and online training programs, inspired by nature, for young growing pups! - COMING SOON!

08/07/2024

ADL Behavior Tip: Adolescent dogs may need about 15 hours of sleep a day!

It's hard being a hormonal teenager. All that growing, learning, and harassing their friends and family means a lot of energy gets burned up by those young dogs. And similar to how we can get a little cranky or not ourselves when we're tired, so can our dogs!

Zoomies, hyper play, being "naughty," and just generally being a menace may not always mean your teen pup needs their energy burned off, but rather may need some forced naptime - since these behaviors are also associated with being OVERtired, not just understimulated.

08/06/2024

Have you been exploring this week? Wouldn't want to miss out on something magical, would you? Your dog will thank you (and probably nap more so you can get some peace and quiet...👀 )

07/18/2024

Adventures are better with friends! A Dog's Life is busying planning fun events and happenings to accompany our training program! What are some fun ways you like to spend time with other dog people? We're bias, but we love a good hike of course. But breweries, camping, SUP with pups, and more all are a good time too!

07/17/2024

Muzzled dogs have more fun!

If your pup experiences:
🐾 P**p eating
🐾 Rock obsession or Pica
🐾 Fear and aggression towards others
🐾 Unknown background or history
🐾 Resource Guarding

Then muzzle training them could allow them more freedom to enjoy the world around them in a safe and protected way!

07/15/2024

Staff pup Emori turned ONE YEAR OLD recently! This is peak teenagehood, and we all thought the adolescent crazies struck again when she came up limping back in April. Crazy pups can certainly get themselves into trouble when they roughhouse and run around, so we thought she had a soft tissue injury.

Well, here's a reminder that a thorough vet check is always a good idea when you suspect something is wrong or off with your pup, because almost three months later, and Emori was diagnosed with Lyme disease for her birthday.

With meds on board, she is doing much better and no longer limping, but to help satisfy her mental needs while on crate rest, she got to attend a July 4th celebration in a cart! This way, she can access all the sights and smells without needing to walk around. If your teenager gets injured or needs to be on rest for surgery, acclimating them to a stroller/buggy/cart can be a great way to still allow them to get outside and be "active" without harming their recovery!

07/12/2024

A Dog's Life Training Tip! Got a bitey little adolescent?

Try this super easy, low spoons enrichment hack to save yourself some sanity! Simply use a wet rag and their food and some treats to create a frozen "puzzle" toy for them to gnaw at, knock around, and play with! The cold soothes their gums and teeth, and as they work at it they'll be rewarded with occasional found goodies in the rag.

It helps to use non-absorbent treats and kibble, such as bits of deli meat or hot dog, sprinkle cheese, and even lightly cooked carrots or green beans!

07/10/2024

Would you follow them into the deep, dark, woods?

We would, every time! 🥰

07/08/2024

Seeing the world through our dog's eyes can help us BOTH to live life more joyously!

For example... sometimes we can choose to go into nature and spend a day exploring rarely trodden paths with our pups instead of making them sit for hours at a busy cafe beside a heavily trafficked street.

The human world is so congested with noise, smell, and chaos that it can be difficult for a pup to regulate and hold it together! They are both humankind's creation AND STILL an animal descended from the wilds. We have to learn how to best honor all parts of their existence if we want to truly life the fullest, most understanding, and enriching life with them.

We strongly believe that wild part of them needs to be honored, and we're so happy to get to share more of this ethos with owners and guardians of young pups. Please like and follow to stay tuned on updates to our new training program, and spread the word to anyone thinking of getting a puppy or who already has a teenager they may be struggling to connect with!

06/26/2024

All work and no play isn't fun for ANYONE. Don't forget to simply make memories with your pup, too... Throw them a stick, rub their belly, and explore together. A reminder from the late furry co-founder of A Dog's Life, Penzi.

06/10/2024

Does your pup have self control? Teaching fun "leave it" games with treats is certainly impressive and one way to build this skill... but there are opportunities all around us to teach our pups this valuable concept!

And of course we are going over them in our upcoming training program, since this is one of the biggest headaches in living with most teenage puppies. Stay tuned 🎶

05/23/2024

Don't waste precious opportunity! You can start helping your pup become comfortable with grooming, handling, and restraint from day one.

By simply rewarding your puppy for light handling, touch, brushing, and more, you can slowly build their tolerance to these necessary procedures of life as a 21st century pet.

Here are a few simple ways to help your pup out throughout the day:
🐾 Give them a lickingmat and lightly brush them while watching a movie.
🐾 Feed a special meal in the bathtub now and then to build a positive association.
🐾 While cooking in the kitchen, share small special bits of dog-safe foods while you hold them or grab their collar.
🐾 Trim one single nail then immediately let them into the yard and throw them a kibble scatter.
🐾 Practice reaching for or touching their mouth/ears right before you give them their dinner OR play with them as a reward.

Whatever you do, only do it at a level your puppy can handle with at most mild discomfort, then end it with something lovely that they enjoy! Don't push them too far and seek out the help of a professional if your puppy is scared, uncomfortable, or avoids this kind of contact (We'll be going over this in our courses as well)!

05/21/2024

Active, young dogs can be a handful if their needs aren't met! And if you don't love a walk around the block, the good news is that you can do other things! We like going to the woods, but you can enter sport classes, try out enrichment puzzles, trick train, or even play rousing games of tug and flirt pole chase to burn that adolescent energy!

Try one new activity this week and see how you and your dog like it. Comment below what you might try, or ask if you can't figure out what to do and we'll help you brainstorm!

05/03/2024

Staff pup Aurora here with a bit of a gear review... we love this flagline harness for our adventures! It has a front clip attachment point (awesome for our pullers and reactive girlies and guys out there), a sturdy handle, two back attachment points, and three adjustable straps (perfect for those escape artist types who wiggle out of harnesses)!

The lightweight material comes in fun nature inspired colors, including this one that was inspired by A Dog's Life 💁‍♀️

Just kidding, but it does match well, doesn't it?

05/01/2024

We ❤️ muzzles here at A Dog's Life! Muzzles have a few benefits we enjoy:

✨ They allow dogs to enjoy the world who otherwise couldn't!
✨ They keep most people from touching our dogs without consent (which helps sensitive or nervous dogs feel more comfortable).
✨ They prevent dogs from eating things they shouldn't.
✨ They give dogs a chance to have happier and safer dog-dog interactions, and maybe even make friends!
✨ They now come in fun colors to complement your pup's wardrobe 💅
✨ And obviously... bite prevention! Safety first!

Cooper rocks his muzzle on hikes so he doesn't hurt anyone when he feels spicy about resources... which allows him the ability to enjoy these hikes and get outside safely and with friends! Even dogs who have never bitten benefit from muzzle training so your pup is prepared for vet visits or injury when they might NEED to wear a muzzle!

04/29/2024

We are passionate about helping our young'ins so that they can not only enjoy a hike in the woods with us... but also enjoy and behave at the mechanic when we almost blow a tire and need an emergency stop... Gotta think big picture. 😅

Pictured: Staff pup Emori at 8 months old chilling patiently at the tire shop!

04/23/2024

Don't use no? "But guys, how will my dog know it did the wrong thing?" Trust us, you don't need "no" to convey that. There are a ton of ways we cn still communicate to our dogs in order to get behavior we like - and we favor the methods that focus on telling them WHAT TO DO, not what NOT to do. This strengthens your relationship through trust and clarity, and you get behavior you like without the conflict!

04/20/2024

Staff pup Molly has had quite a glow-up from street dog to queen of the New England forests! We use a lot of perching and place work to help build confidence in our pups - and Molly is a little pro. 💪

04/17/2024

"In order to really enjoy a dog, one doesn't merely try to train him to be semi-human. The point of it is to open oneself to the possibility of becoming partly a dog." - Edward Hoagland

04/15/2024

A leash, some toys or chews, and a little supervision goes a long way for teaching puppies to settle. Boston trainer, Sydney, just got a new puppy and you better bet she's starting that settle training right away. (Especially important for these higher energy breeds like German Shepherds!) 🐶

Trust us, when those cute little babies grow teeth and start cranking out the hormones, you'll want them to know this skill.

04/12/2024

*Gasp* a professional telling you that you don't have to walk your dog?

Well, it's true! But we aren't saying don't EXERCISE your dog. It's still importnt to meet those needs for movement and exercise so what the heck else can you do if not go for walks? (Nothing against walks, especially long sniffy ones!)

💦 You can take your dog swimming to a local dog-friendly river or lake, OR find a local dog pool and take swimming or dock diving lessons! (yes those exist!)
🥎 Sign up for sport dog classes like agility, flyball, barnhunt or nosework!
🐑 Try a breed-specific activity like herding lessons for aussies and border collies, or earthdog for dachshunds and jack russels!
♟ Play games with your dog like hide n' seek, chase, or tug!
🐟 Buy or make a "flirt pole" - essentially those fishing pole toys for cats but biggie size! Dogs love to chase the "critter" at the end of the pole and it can tire them out fast!

If you want more info on any of these or ideas for more, just shoot us a message or drop a comment below! We love matching pups to their favorite extracurriculars!

04/10/2024

🐾 Meet A Dog's Life's dynamic duo, Delilah and Emori, the cutest aussie siblings you'll ever see - owned by our very own staff members, Maddie and Morgan. They are always keeping us entertained with their antics and LOVE to spend time chasing each other through the woods. You might see them in upcoming training modules, staring in videos about impulse control, recall, and more!

We'd love to hear about the sibling duos, (related or through adoption 😜), that you share your life with this ! Bonus points for your favorite funny or endearing story of them. 🐶🐾🐶

04/08/2024

Delilah here, ‘researching’ for our adolescent puppy training program. 🍷🐾 Don't worry, it's just a toy! Our team is hard at work crafting the paw-fect curriculum to turn your rowdy pup into a well-behaved citizen and co-pilot. Stay tuned for updates!

04/03/2024

Young dogs can be pushy, which can irritate older or more sensitive pups...

It's tempting to "let them work it out" but this doesn't guarantee that they'll work it out peacefully... Make sure you're advocating for other dogs around your adolescent and rewarding your pup for good choices. Redirect and prevent the bad choices, and your pup will be well on their way to becoming a good citizen of their world.

04/01/2024

Young dogs are playful, messy, rambunctious, and full of life! Sometimes it's overwhelming! But remember to have fun with them while they're little, too. One day we look back and miss those puppy days!

03/30/2024

Enrichment doesn't have to break the bank!

Save $$ by using things you probably already have around the house... like boxes, junk mail, toilet paper towel tubes, or paper bags! Craft DIY puzzles that you can fill with your dog's kibble by layering their food within crumpled papers, folded into tubes, or closed within single or multiple boxes.

Just remember to start easy if your dog isn't used to working through puzzles! Simply putting food in a box may be the first step!

03/28/2024

Remember... your rambunctious, reactive, or anxious teenager isn't trying to give you a hard time. They're HAVING a hard time. It's on us as their guardians to help guide and teach them, especially through tough periods like adolescence!

03/25/2024

Why do we use a lot of treats on hikes with our dogs?

🐾 It's easy to dispense! Unlike many rewards, we can control value, quantity, and delivery much easier with treats.
🐾 Most dogs will happily "work" for food - even their own kibble if you build up to that
🐾 It can soothe arousal. When dogs are getting too hype and out of control, the act of eating food, especially if they need to sniff it out of grass first, helps to calm them down.
🐾 Positive reinforcement of good behavior WORKS! We can shape better manners and behavior out of our dogs using reward-based learning, and the learning sticks!

There are a lot of Do's and Don'ts of food usage in training, especially out and about, so stay tuned for more tips and tricks, and follow us to get first notice on updates for our training program!

🐾🐶

03/24/2024

Play is key to a happy pup, but it looks different for every dog!

Some dogs like toys and fetching, others like wrestling and chasing... they can like bitey face (or bitey hand!) or even hide and seek!

There are SO many ways to meet the play needs of your puppy - and what works for one dog may not work for another. Finding your dog's unique "style" will help you bond, communicate, and learn together. 🐾🎓😁

Address

353 Beacon Street
Somerville, MA
02143

Website

https://www.adogslifeboston.com/training

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Videos

Enjoy a moment of peace (sound on!) with staff pups Reilly and Emori. 😌 Through some predation substitute and click to calm style training, these guys are able to calmly watch wildlife so we can all enjoy the elk herds and listen to the spring peepers. #Enrichment! And yes, we'll be going over skills like this in our courses, so hit that follow button and like for more! #dogtraining #puppytraining #dogsofig #aussiesofig #coloradodogs #predationsubstitutetraining #clicktocalm #dogtrainer #trainingtips

We love a little "do nothing" work! Especially when we can multitask, like staff trainer Sydney getting to do some gardening during some passive settle training. #dogsofmassachusetts #bostondogtrainer #bostondogs #dogsofig #dogtrainingtips #dogtraininglife #dogtraining

Have a moment of zen with Delilah today while she eats a kibble scatter (sound up for ASMR crunching)... Who needs that boring old bowl! Just toss the food in the yard! So much more fun, functional, and wow - look at this peaceful time you otherwise wouldn't have! 😌✨ Follow for more life hacks ✌️ #doggyzen #decompression #dogtrainingadvice #dogtrainingtips #dogtraininglife #dogtraining

There is more to mannerly dogs than obedience training... >>> If you want your puppy to grow up into a dog you *enjoy* taking with you to experience the world... then yes, you have to put in the effort of training as they grow. But you also need to make sure you're honoring their needs as a thinking, feeling, instinctual animal! It simply isn't fair to expect a dog to be calm, gentle, and mannerly if we aren't meeting their needs in the first place. And figuring out how to let dogs be dogs in a safe but fun and effective way is kind've our thing! So follow along as we build the perfect training program to help you and your puppy life the most fulfilling and rich life possible. Lots of updates to come, so join us on the journey! Featuring staff pup Reilly. ✨#dogsofig #hikingwithdogs #adventurepuppy #dogtraininglife #dogtrainingtips #dogtrainingadvice #positivedogtraining #adventurepup #adventurepups #dogtraining

Fancy training equiptment is nice, but you aren't taking all that gear on your walks! Nature offers plenty of opportunities for training, confidence boosting, and relationship building. A rock will do just fine sometimes. 🐾 #dogsofcolorado #dogsofmassachusetts #coloradodogfriendly #coloradodogtraining #coloradodogs #bostondogtrainer #bostondogs #adventurepups #adventurepuppy #adventurepup #positivedogtraining

Staff pup Emori is 8 months old and a joy to take around town! And when she finds gross things on the sidewalk... It ISN'T a fight to deal with it! Not something you usually hear about a teenage pup... Watch trainer Morgan interact with her pup to get this dusty old rawhide Emori found beside a vets office out of her mouth and move on with their walk! We're working on a program to help YOU get this kind of relationship, trust, and mannerly attitude out of your terrible teens too! Like this video and follow for more content and updates! #dogtraining #dogsofcolorado #dogsofmassachusetts #bostondog #denverdog #dogtrainingtips #adolescentdog #puppyprobs #trainingtips #puppytraining #positivereinforcement