the pawsitive canine

02/17/2024

Who’s looking for a new (and only) friend?? Curly’s owner went to Ireland and left him behind. He is currently in a kennel situation and not doing well there. He is in need of a foster or an adopter.

Curly is an adoptable Dog - Border Collie Mix searching for a forever family near Canton, MA. Use Petfinder to find adoptable pets in your area.

12/03/2023

Fear isn’t “trained”

Why punishment “works” Thanks https://www.facebook.com/rplusdogsbehaviour/

04/30/2023

Help us reach our goal of $5,000 for our May Calendar Raffle. We're only half way there. Please share with everyone you know. Kitten season is around the corner, and one mom & litter (with no health issues) costs approximately $1,000 for food, supplies, vaccines and spay/neuter.. Last year we helped more than a dozen litters as well as individual kittens. Some did have urgent health issues, which of course increased our medical expenses tremendously. neponsethumane.org/may-2023-daily-raffle-drawing/
And don't forget, whenever we receive your calendar raffle purchase, you are eligible to win from then on! You can win multiple times. Even if you win, your name is re-entered for the chance to keep on winning! neponsethumane.org/may-2023-daily-raffle-drawing/

04/22/2023

One of the things to do when training a new puppy or a new dog is to attach the leash to the harness/collar while they’re in the house or an enclosed yard and let them drag it around. Don’t let them chew it, let them drag it. Why? Because if you’re ever on a walk and accidentally drop the leash, being “chased” by it will send them into a full on run. Dropped leashes result in MANY missing dogs.

03/16/2023

Looking for the perfect harness?

The best no-pull dog harness teaches your pup better leash manners when you combine it with positive reinforcement training.

11/20/2022

Winter is a tough time for our feline friends. Please help us by donating inexpensive cans of wet and bags of dry food, such as Purina and Friskies. You can also order food directly from Amazon using our Amazon Charity wish list, tinyurl.com/NVHSAmazon, or donate at one of our collection sites below by December 15th. We have six drop off locations:
All Season Tree Service, 73 Kinsley Street, Stoughton, MA
Solara Salon & Day Spa, 320 West Center St., West Bridgewater, MA
7 Hampden Drive, Norwood, MA
150 Roosevelt Ave., Norwood, MA
69 Pinetree Road, Stoughton, MA
2340 Central Street, Stoughton

Thank you!

09/25/2022

Why those marrow bones in the supermarket are bad......

06/11/2022

01/22/2022

Growling IS acceptable behaviour.

Not only is it acceptable, but it’s a behaviour we can be thankful for and appreciate our dogs for.

A growl is a way for our dogs to tell us that they aren’t comfortable with something. It’s a way for them, as non-verbal animals, to communicate with us in hopes we will listen and help them by giving them space, moving away, or removing something in the environment that is worrying them. Sometimes it may also be a sign of pain or discomfort and we can help them by getting them veterinary care.

A growl is a form of communication that doesn’t do harm or damage. It’s a vocalisation, at the end of the day. And if we listen to their growls, they don’t have to escalate to a snap or a bite.

But if we don’t listen to their growls, they may learn that in the future, growls don’t work and the only way to have people listen when they are uncomfortable, is to bite. When people talk about dogs who “bite out of nowhere”, sometimes it’s the result of a growl having been punished or ignored so much that the dog’s only option left is to snap or bite.

That’s definitely something we want to avoid.

Every dog is also capable of growling, and a dog that may currently growl more than another isn’t a “worse” dog or a more “misbehaving” dog.

If we change our perspective of a growl and see it for what it is, just a form of communication from our dogs to let us know they are uncomfortable, then we will no longer see it as something unacceptable or something to be punished away or corrected.

Instead, we can have compassion for our dogs when they are growling and the discomfort they are in, listen to them, and appreciate the fact that they are trying their best to let us know how they feel. From there, we can help them with their worries and discomfort, and help them feel safe, so they no longer feel the need to growl in certain situations.

ID: A brindle and white dog growling on a blurred green, grassy background. There are 3 lines near the dog’s face to indicate noise. On the left is a translucent text box and the text says “Growling is acceptable behaviour”. The word “is” is underlined.

10/15/2021

Dog training is an unregulated field with no educational requirements and no required credentialing. Outdated, force-based methodology can cause more problems than it claims to help.

This free handout has Fear Free tips on finding a qualified dog trainer or behavior consultant: https://www.fearfreehappyhomes.com/kit/behavior-problem-solving/download/19169/

08/25/2021

Yes, your dog can eat before you, and yes, your dog can go through the door before you. She can also share your couch!

You control every aspect of your dog's life. You decide where she sleeps, when she eats, when she can go out, when she can play, even when she can go to the toilet! If this is not enough control, I don't know what is.
Our aim should be to provide more choices for our dogs. For example, different sleeping places, access to the outside, engage when they ask for interaction or let them choose where to go on a walk or what to eat.
Choice is a fundamental prerequisite for wellbeing for our dogs and us.
My dogs eat before me because then I can enjoy my dinner in peace, and they go through the door before me so I can close the door after us.
Dogs are sentient social animals, and they deserve to be treated with respect, compassion and love!

08/17/2021

Agility tonight!!

Do you want a relaxed pup after an evening of agility??? Then join us tonight, 8/17 at 6pm. 1300 West Elm St. Ext., Brockton. We have partnered with for another session of fun for all! Agility is a great way for your dog to build confidence. You can sign up by calling us between 1 - 4p at 508-586-2053 or email us at [email protected]. You can also click on the link in our Instagram bio or https://www.apcsm.org/dog-training. Hope to see you there!

05/28/2021

A recent peer-reviewed paper found owners reported flea & tick products🦟 containing the potent pesticide, Isoxazoline💦, cause a reaction in 2 OUT OF 3 DOGS!

Reactions include seizures, behavioural issues, muscular/balance issues, and even death.

The pesticide can be found in products like: NEXGARD, NEXGARD SPECTRA, BRAVECTO, SIMPARICA, CREDELIO, REVOLUTION PLUS, and others.

This pesticide is so powerfully potent🔥 that it starts killing within two hours after administration! In fact, it kills 98.7% of newly arriving fleas within 24 hours! Because of this, Isoxazoline drugs now carry a warning⚠️ on their labels in both the U.S. and Canada. Even the FDA-U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning statement for veterinarians and pet parents.

Facebook Live discussion on the new study with Judy Morgan D.V.M, a veterinarian involved in the new peer-reviewed paper. here: https://www.facebook.com/ForeverDogBook/videos/379588586815629

Download the pdf for full details: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/vms3.285?fbclid=IwAR0i_DUJNAV5Vhb1dVEzLAKDWI6YFRQC_mTZdblDY4I9mBglqoeOKaUjhPg

05/23/2021

05/20/2021

Perfect!!!

Guys, I promise this isn’t another usual my-dog-on-leash-other-dog-off-leash type of post. It gets good! (Or I think it does 🤣)

The other day I was on the local public park (not a dog park, but dogs are allowed) walking Menta. We were on a high movement area, so I had her on a leash. Another dog, off leash, sees us and starts approaching. Menta wasn’t interested and started moving away, but the dog got to us before we could leave. So she politely greeted him back, they sniffed for a few seconds, all perfectly good and fine. Dog was young and wants to play, so he offers a couple of very polite play bows, but Menta declines and moves away. Dog gets the message and moves on.
Quite good, right? Here comes the juicy part:
As I’m leaving owner comes to me with a speech more or less like this:
- Hey, if your dog is autistic and doesn’t even play with other dogs, go somewhere else! Don’t come to the park and ruin the other dogs’ days!!!!!

I heard this, a wave of fury started taking over, but suddenly I think I had a lightbulb moment and switched gears completely.

With the biggest, friendliest smile, I opened my arms as wide as I could and go:

- Ohhhhh! Come here! I want to give you a BIG hug!

*panic in her eyes as she backs up, speechless*

- Hey, don’t run, I’m so friendly, come on, I just want to give you a hug! I’m friendly, I just want to hug!!!

*still speechless and backing away with terror now*

- Wait? You don’t want my friendly hug?

-....no...

- neither does my dog. Have a nice day.

As I walked away, I saw her just standing there, speechless, and she was leashing her dog! 😅
I think I’ll try this approach more often 🤣

05/16/2021

A review of the research finds pet store puppies are more likely to be aggressive as adults, and considers the reasons why.

05/05/2021

Complete details of the Zuke's Mini Naturals dog treats product withdrawal as reported by the editors of the Dog Food Advisor.

04/28/2021

It’s mosquito season. Is your dog on heartworm prevention?
Pictured is a coyote heart with a severe case of heartworm disease. This disease is completely preventable in our domestic dogs by simply using heartworm prevention.
https://www.heartwormsociety.org/pet-owner-resources/heartworm-basics