Evolution Dog Training

10/24/2024

If I had to describe training dogs, I don’t think I’d describe it as something I do.

It’s never like driving or writing or swimming; it doesn’t require the same type of effort. With those things I have to take control of thoughts and use them to order my body; with them I consider in charcoal, measure with a ruler and commit in black marker and I’m never completely happy with the outcome - but there is a pride in the effort that went in to the creation anyway. But the creation is separate to me.

Dog training is more like breathing or sleeping or drinking water. It’s a part of something I am combined with a part of something the dog is. It’s the space inbetween our thoughts filled with emotion and a collective that is more than the sum of its parts. Being around animals is built in - always a part of me. And training is never something I do to an animal it’s something we are together. And then afterwards we’re both forever something a bit different.

I guess that’s how it’s saved me so many times - people talk about family grounding them; or listening to music or journaling. None of that has felt possible in the hardest times but I’ve always nested into training - explaining it and how it feels and what I’m doing comes after. That’s the effort, never the being together with the dog. That just feels like breathing air. x

08/28/2024

Great. Now they all have the zoomies 🙄

08/26/2024

🐾 Show me your dogs! 🐾

08/25/2024

Today's Dog Training Myth of the Day: "Only tell them once!"

What if you ask a dog (whatever age, breed, s*x, background, training level) to do something, but there is no response?

Set aside the myth of "only tell them once." Good rule of thumb: if it were a toddler, what would you do? Probably wait a few beats, be sure you had the kid's attention, then ask again.

Just like us, dogs may not be tuned in 100% because they are busy having their own experience of life which may or may not include you at any moment.

If you *do* have the pup's attention, and they did hear you, next step is to consider that they do not understand and/or don't see the point!

I've often asked clients to stand on a chair and sing happy birthday. I've done it while they were trying to take notes. Result: no compliance, and they say usually say, "Sorry - I was focused on taking notes. What did you say?"

If they are paying attention to me but look at me as if I'm crazy, I ask, "Did you understand what I asked? You did? So why aren't you doing it?" Inevitably the answer is, "I don't want to" or "Why would I do that?" It helped them understand how their dogs might be responding.

So give your dogs the courtesy of clear communication, engage attention first, be sure there is understanding, and make it worthwhile for the dog to work with you. Respect, courtesy and taking responsibility for what we are communicating and how we are communicating -- those are all supportive of healthy dog/human relationships.

This does not mean repeating, Sit-sit-sit-sit-sit-sit which is not good communication no matter who you're talking to! 😊

If you want and need response to just one request (and this has great value!), you first have to teach understanding, understand that connection and attention must come first always, then develop the skill, tighten the criteria and make it worthwhile. Then practice!!!

08/09/2024

Hey, Seattle! I'll be teaching a round of classes for Sound Animal Services in Interbay!
I will be filling in for trainer Julie for the Thursday night Basic and Intermediate classes starting August 22nd.
Spread the word because they're filling up fast!

https://www.soundanimals.com/Basic_Dog_Classes.htm

https://www.soundanimals.com/Inter_Dog_Obedience_Classes.htm

08/07/2024

Some of the most memorable seminars I've been to over the last 20 years were the Dr. Dunbar seminars I attended. And guess what?
HE'S COMING BACK TO SEATTLE IN OCTOBER 🙌🏼
I'll be there! Who else is going?

What is your favorite thing about attending Dr. Dunbar's seminars?

He's going to give two seminars in Seattle this October and more locations will be announced soon.

If you're interested in attending in Seattle you can register here: https://www.dunbaracademy.com/courses/seattle_dog_training_seminars

07/24/2024

I am currently not running puppy classes so I'm sending all puppy parents to Michelle at Ready, Pup, Go. She sees clients virtually so she's available no matter what region you're in!
Michelle helps you prepare your home before puppy arrives and gives continued support for the first few months puppy is home!
If you or someone you know is getting a puppy soon, I highly recommend Ready, Pup, Go!

07/23/2024

Morning snack in the shed in a bin of empty paint
cans = mental enrichment without spending money on fancy food puzzles.
Get creative and use what you have at home! This works on her problem solving skills while building/maintaining her confidence with novel noises. It took her about 10 minutes to finally dump the bin and get the food and now she's having a nap!

07/22/2024

Space is limited so reach out soon!
The first session is two hours, in your home, $150. From there we will formulate a plan for what is needed beyond the first session.
Shout out to for my graphics, logos, and helping me dial in my color palette. If anyone is looking for social media graphics, Dawn's your person!

07/21/2024

In 2003 a spunky little Border Collie mix named Roxy waltzed into my life. It was with her I found my love for dog training and signed up for dog training school. After spending a decade as a licensed massage therapist, I graduated Animal Behavior College in 2004 then did a year-long apprenticeship program with a local trainer.
Since becoming a trainer I have spent hundreds of hours at seminars, workshops, and other continuing education. I do my best to keep up with the latest canine behavior science and pass that knowledge on to my clients.
Through positive reinforcement training, I help people build a solid foundation of mutual respect. Training should be fun for both ends of the leash!

07/19/2024

❤️

07/18/2024

"The most important environmental issue is to keep puppies thin and not let them get overweight."

This is a great read!

Over the years, many breeders, trainers, and owners have said that puppies should not be exercised until the growth plates are closed. I have been asked to radiograph 12-month-old dogs to make sure their growth plates are closed. Recently, a well-regarded colleague told me that he had an owner that....

07/04/2024

I am fortunate to now have three dogs that are ok with fireworks but for 15 years before this crew, my dogs were not. I still choose to give them all CBD just in case. CBD is *not* a sedative but it can help with anxiety and bounce-back if the dogs do get spooked. We use Austin and Kat peanut butter biscuits and all my dogs love them!

Get your dogs exercised early and keep them inside tonight during the peak fireworks times.

Good luck today. Fireworks started at 10am in my neighborhood in a city where fireworks are not legal...

07/04/2024

Good luck to all over the holiday weekend.

07/03/2024

This is a fantastic interview about all things puppy!
If you are thinking about getting a puppy or have one coming home soon, go follow Ready, Pup, Go. This is a service I wish more puppy owners took advantage of. Those first few weeks at home can be exhausting and having a puppy coach on your side can make all the difference.

In today's episode, we speak with Michelle, a puppy coach on all things puppies. We discuss the different stages of a puppy's life, what to expect at each st...

06/30/2024

The highest compliment is referrals from friends and clients.
Thank you all for trusting me with your dogs ❤️

06/29/2024

🐾 Myth Buster Series: My puppy can't go out until fully vaccinated!🚫⁣

🐾 Early socialization is critical to the development of healthy canine social skills.
The critical time period for this is between 3 to 14 weeks of age.

🐾 There are many ways to safely expose your puppy to novel sights, sounds, people, dogs, and more that don’t risk exposure to illness.

🐾 Lack of early socialization can risk behavior challenges such as fear, anxiety, or aggression later in life.

Puppies need to be exposed to new people, new dogs (that you know are vaccinated), new environments, and so much more! 🌟

👀 See the statement from ASVAB here:https://avsab.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Puppy_Socialization_Position_Statement_Download_-_10-3-14.pdf

Duxbury Study here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12839065/

👉 Need guidance? Visit me at readypupgo.biz for expert tips and support. 🏁Z

🏷️ First time clients get 25% off using promocode NEWPUPGO 🏷️

💬 Do you have questions about how to safely socialize your puppy? Drop them in the comments below!⁣ 🐾⁣

🏁

06/28/2024

THIS.

Normal, healthy dog play is not 25-30 dogs playing for 8 hours straight. Normal, healthy dog play is a small group of dogs periodically playing with one another and taking breaks when they get tired. The bigger the group, and the longer they play, the more overstimulated they get which can lead to fights and increased behavior issues. Make sure when you're picking out a daycare or play center for your dogs, the groups are small and they get adequate breaks to decompress!

06/27/2024

Finding an ethical breeder can take a lot of time and patience. Depending on the breed you are looking for the wait time can be up to 2-3 years. More popular breeds have more breeders so wait times can be much shorter but the more rare breeds can have longer wait lists. I felt very fortunate to only have had to wait a year and a half for my Toller puppy once I settled on a breeder.
Even inside the same breed there are many varying qualities and patience is the key to finding a puppy that fits seamlessly into your family.
If you're looking for assistance finding a breeder that's right for you send me an email and we can get started! This service is available for anyone in the US and Canada. I can help research breeders for you and give you a list of ethical breeders that suit your needs.
[email protected]

06/26/2024

Prep ahead and be ready!

🔆 Prepare your pup for an stress-free 4th of July by taking them out for playtime or a walk before the fireworks start! 💥

💥 The loud booms and bright flashes can be scary for many dogs. Even if your furry friend isn't typically afraid of fireworks, it's still a good idea to go out for a potty break and a fun play session or walk before the festivities begin. This helps them avoid being startled and ensures they have a positive experience.

👉🏻 It's especially important for puppies during their critical socialization period and adolescent dogs during their sensitive growing phase. But even a confident dog can be taken by surprise and become fearful with just one setting event.

🐶 Our dogs aren't afraid of fireworks, but we always make sure to go out and play before 7:30
PM. We then take them for a potty break around 8:20 PM. Fireworks typically start around 9 PM, but we prefer to be indoors by 8:30 PM, just in case someone in the area starts shooting them off early.

🚶‍♀️ Let's prioritize our dogs' well-being and make sure they have a positive experience during the 4th of July celebrations. Start the evening with fun and exercise to set them up for a calm and anxiety-free night.

06/22/2024

THIS.
Please read this and think twice about "saving" a dog in a car that is likely not in distress.

For those of you who don’t know, I’ve spent the last year of my life (April 2018-March 2019) driving from Denver to Memphis to Wisconsin to Vancouver to Los Angeles to…. Panama. My dog Barley has joined us for that whole trip – 7 countries, an estimated 13,000 miles, and over 200 hours in th...

06/13/2024

It's summer which means more people are going to be taking their dogs places and many people will be lying about their dogs being service dogs.
Here are the actual laws for those who want to help put an end to all the fakes. Too many real, working service dogs are being attacked by fakes which can ruin their career and leave the disabled handler without their support to be able to be out in the world. The amount of fakes is also making it more difficult for folks with service dogs to get the access they need because restaurants, stores, Ubers, etc are trying to deny access because they've had too many bad experiences with fakes.
Everyone can help call out these people with unruly, untrained dogs when you see them.

You are legally allowed to ask two questions:
1. Is that a service dog?
2. What task are they trained to perform?

If a service dog, real or fake, is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to control it, staff may request that the animal be removed from the premises. We all need to work together on this and help protect people that rely on these animals to live a full life.

https://www.ada.gov/resources/service-animals-faqs/

04/13/2023

THIS 🙌🏼

🎉 Thank your dog for growling! That’s right, you heard me!

👉🏻 Growling doesn’t make for a bad dog.

🐕 The misconception is that bad dogs growl.

💟 We should thank our dogs for growling.

‼️ Growls are an important communication behavior for dogs.

✔️ Dogs who growl aren’t bad. Dogs who growl are desperately trying to tell us that they are stressed in that moment.

✅ Dogs who growl are doing their best to not escalate to a bite. The growl is a warning signal that they need more space from what’s stressing them.

✅ If growls are ignored a snap or even a bite is the next step for a dog to try to get out of a stressful situation.

‼️ Never punish your dog for trying to communicate what’s causing them to be anxious.

⚠️ Punishing a dog for growling may stop the growl, but all you’ve done is take away their warning signal. Now you won’t know when they are stressed. Instead of warning you they are stressed, they will go right to biting.

⛔️ A dog who no longer growls is like having a fire alarm in your house without batteries.

02/23/2023

With a new puppy at home plus two kids plus life in general I am referring all clients to Cascade Canine and Notre Dog Academy for the next couple of months. Thank you for understanding ❤️
Established clients may reach out via text if there's anything you'd like to chat about in the meantime.

02/20/2023

Sprite started puppy Sunday School with Stephanie at Notre Dog Academy today! Stephanie also offers a variety of workshops, day training, and private training.
https://notredog.com/home