The Real Life Dog

12/29/2024

Here’s your friendly reminder that food deprivation in order to achieve behavior change is animal cruelty.

Using food as a lure to help get a pup started with learning a new skill is not deprivation. Using food as a reward for something well done is not deprivation. Using food to reinforce behaviors we love is not deprivation.

Withholding food until a dog is so hungry they’ll do anything for food is deprivation. Giving only a small portion of food to keep the dog hungry so they appear eager to train is deprivation. A dog visibly losing weight during a board n train because the “trainer” only offers food during “training” sessions is deprivation. Making a dog stay in one place, not allowing them to move, tethered to the wall, setting them up to fail by calling them over for food that they are desperate for, and shocking them when they try hopelessly to get to the food is deprivation. And all of that is cruel. All of it.

If your trainer or board n train is telling you to feed only a very small portion of your dog’s regular meal so they’re extra hungry for sessions, ask them why that’s necessary. If they are only luring with food but not rewarding with food, ask them why. If your dog is at a board n train who uses food to coerce behavior change, ask for photos every day. A full body side view and from the top so you can see any visible changes. If you’re not sure about methods of behavior modification prior to dropping your dog off, ask a lot of questions and if you don’t get answers that make science sense, do more research prior to dropping your precious pup off. You’re paying big money for this service, your dog deserves to be treated with understanding, compassion, knowledge, and kindness…not cruelty.

Once I receive the okay to share my top two board n trains, I’ll edit this post. In the meantime, a couple green flags:
•clear and regular communication including photos/videos
•clear understanding of methods and tools used with your dog (positive reinforcement, fear free, force free, welfare focused, punishment, e-collar/shock collar, martingale, harness, flat collar, slip lead, prong collar, etc)

Discuss in the comments.

12/20/2024

Is your dog getting enough of this?

The amount of sleep our pups need depends on their age, activity level, size/breed, health, and other factors.

Puppies use more energy and their bodies are still growing, so it’s not unusual for a puppy to sleep up to 18 hours a day. It’s pretty normal, during a one hour puppy training session, for a puppy to need multiple rest breaks or naps. I don’t often work with a puppy for more than 10 minutes at a time so they don’t get overly tired 🥱

Adult dogs might sleep 12–14 hours a day. Some sleep even more than that, like who sleeps 16+ hours after a big day. Whippets are notoriously pretty lazy dogs as they have race car engines and need to conserve their energy for the sprints they’re known for.

Senior dogs may require more sleep to help their bodies recover from daily activities and body changes. Some senior pups might like to sleep in and be in bed by a certain time.

Larger breeds of dogs might sleep like a puppy, up to 18 hours a day.

Dogs are polyphasic sleepers, meaning they snooze throughout the day in between activities. Sleep is important for all sentient beings so we can process information, rest our brains, and recharge.

If you notice a sudden or big change in your pup’s sleep, please consider talking with your vet. Changes in sleep can sometimes indicate an underlying health concern.

By the way, if a dog is resting or asleep, please let them be. Touching or petting a dog while they are sleeping could startle or surprise them into a reaction that involves their teeth. Just like us, when we are startled awake, our bodies may have reactions we can’t control like a fast beating heart. Let sleeping dogs lie 🥰 and avoid that surprising and potentially dangerous situation.

How much do you think your pups sleep every day? Vinney snoozes about 16-18 hours a day, depending on if he’s out with me or if he stays home, if he had an opportunity to take a good run, or if he just has yard time without running.

Let me know your thoughts on your pup’s sleep in the comments 👇

08/31/2024

TODAY, Vinney The Whippet and I will be fundraising at the Mutt Strut at Taos Ski Valley for Taos Feral Feline Friends FREE spay/neuter clinic by sharing his secret to becoming an amazing walking partner!

His secret is hinted at in photos 2 & 3 😉 except his favorite piece of equipment is $8-$10, nothing fancy needed!

Want to teach your pup how to walk differently? Come see us for a demo and if you like what we’re putting down, donate a $ tip to TFFF, nice trade, right?!

We can’t wait to meet you and your pup and happy to offer training tips for any challenges you’re having. Let’s toss that frustration you and your dog might be feeling and replace it with information that can help bring more joy to the time you and your best dog pal spend together 🥰

See you soon!

08/18/2024

So very grateful for everyone who stopped by yesterday to ask me questions about their dog’s behaviors. It’s wonderful when we can set our expectations aside and allow ourselves to try to gain further understanding about WHY a behavior is happening.

The most asked question was:
“How do I get my dog(s) to stop pulling on walks?”

The general answer:
Let’s look at comfort and safety of gear, the environmental factors, then work on building reinforcement history around engagement with the person on the other end of the leash with fewer distractions.

Some great discussions were had and take aways were:
-Working on engagement inside off leash first can remove distractions and frustration with lack of focus.
-Forging forward or pulling isn’t necessarily too much confidence but maybe a lack of confidence or even fear.
-Understanding our dog’s body language, recognizing what our dogs are telling us, and acting accordingly while on walks is huge.
-Making sure what our dogs are wearing isn’t uncomfortable or causing pain.
-When discomfort or pain are present when our dogs see another dog (or something they may react harshly to), it’s important to remove those icky feelings so our dogs aren’t associating other dogs with feeling icky.
-Avoiding distractions or real world practice isn’t always practical or recommended, but allowing our dogs to encounter multiple triggers and expect them to stay under threshold or learn while over threshold isn’t fair.
-Controlling our dogs is uncool, but controlling their environment or their bubble is super cool.

If you have any questions specific to your dog(s), reach out via DM and let’s see if we can work on lowering frustrations (yours + your dogs) and expectations. Gaining understanding about what our dogs could be experiencing & why can be very helpful when undesirable behaviors are showing up.

If you got something from this post, please consider donating even a few dollars to my fundraiser under this post or checking out their website and donating there♥️🐕♥️
https://taoshoundunderground.org

08/17/2024

Want to know why your pup is doing what they’re doing?

Come grab a cuppa your favorite Taos Java beverage and let’s figure it out!

I’d love to help you end frustration and gain understanding about WHY your pup does what they do and offer practical solutions to support your journey with your dog family.

Come on by TODAY 9:30am-12:00pm for a FREE DOG TRAINER Q+A. Of course tips and donations greatly appreciated and all 💰will benefit homeless dogs of Taos County through 🥰

Hope to see you soon!

Oh! I also have some pretty awesome martingale collars and double handled leashes. You can ask me for gear recommendations to help your pup feel more comfy and you feel safe while out with your pup.

08/13/2024

How are your walks with your dog going?

Is your pup enjoying the explore? Are they given opportunities to stop and sniff or put their paws on things?

Or is your pup more of a “Let’s move it! I gotta go! Places to be!” kind of walker?

Lately, has been a bit of both and it’s interesting to me (his slow walking leash holder) how he can be both on the same walk. Dogs are such great multitaskers!

Vin likes to walk ahead of me, sniffing the whole time, get about 5 feet shy of the end of the long line, and run back to play with me or lean on me (a way he checks in if I’m walking super slow).

I love the way he walks because he gets to go his pace + do his dog things (which includes being very nosey, nicknamed Mrs. Kravitz for a reason), and I’m able to hold my own pace + take in the entire environment/view.

We worked really hard for two years dialing in how we walk together and it’s paid off in very big ways. Some of you might remember Vinney had 2 broken knees as a puppy and was limited. No dog interactions, so when he started seeing dogs on walks, it was overstimulating. His first 2 years was all about healing him and engagement with me so that by the time he was able to be around other dogs, run free and do all the things, we were already working as a team.

It started inside, off leash. Everything I’ve ever taught this boy started inside with a 30 second session, and reaped big rewards (mostly play). 👉Building a reinforcement history with really fun engagement has been the key🗝️

Vinney is a wonderful walker + easy to live with dog. We continue to engage multiple times a day to keep us a solid team and I freaking love this dog and love doing stuff with him, and I’m kind of his whole world so we make it a great day everyday we have together ♥️

If your pup is having a hard time hearing you, you’ve got a puller, or you just want to refresh your relationship with your dog, I’m here for you and have some practical solutions that don’t involve discomfort or pain for you or your dog.

DM, text 626-673-7978, email [email protected]
https://taosdogtrainer.com

08/12/2024

This is Vinney The Whippet wearing his Balance Harness by Blue-9 Pet Products

It’s possible to use a harness that offers complete range of motion, comfort, + safety versus offering restricted movement of shoulders & front limbs, discomfort, and wellness concerns (hitting armpits, chaffing, cutting across shoulders, too tight, too loose, puts pressure on abdomen or throat).

Are we leaning on our dog’s gear as a way to control our dog like a steering wheel controls the direction of a car? Or are we out for safety like a seatbelt keeps us secure?
If it’s the latter, then I look at what harness will offer that specific dog the most comfort while keeping them safe.
If we are looking for control, ie: stop pulling, keep the dog closer, etc., there are steps to build leash skills and desirable behaviors. Some say harnesses CAUSE pulling. The harness itself isn’t likely the cause, there can be many causes and working with a professional trainer can really help.
👉A trainer who understands how a dog’s body works and won’t recommend restricting movement/suppressing behavior with gear*. A trainer who can help you figure out why your dog is pulling. A trainer who understands how and why specific harnesses work and can clearly explain.

*some harnesses are designed to restrict natural movement, causing discomfort or pain, which can = behavior suppression, frustration, and more👎

Harness manufacturers claim their harness “stops pulling”, well, if a harness doesn’t cause it, a harness isn’t going to stop it, either. 🤷‍♀️ Another reason to work with a professional trainer.

If a dog’s harness is doing any of those things mentioned at the top👆, or if you are recommending/selling a harness that is doing those things, please please consider HOW and WHY they work and consider taking a look at The Dog Wellness Centre 🥰

Have ?s please DM or drop a comment👇



As a side note: the lower abdomen or groin should NEVER be used to control a dog! Please 🚨DO NOT🚨 wrap a leash around a dog’s belly or groin area🚫

07/04/2024

The music of Lisa of My Zen Pet has worked really nicely for my pup, Vinney, who used to be terrified of fireworks and thunder. After years of helping him through big booms, he’s much much better but they’re still big booms and scary so I’ll be turning on Dog Gone Calm for him tonight.
Hope this helps you and your pups 🥰

06/26/2024

Big Joe and I will be hanging out at Kit Carson Park today, come say hi and enjoy this free event + movie night!
Tap on the post for details👇👇👇

06/07/2024

I’m not feeling real 🌈♥️🦋 right now, so I’m just gonna say it…

Two weeks ago I held Beans and heard her final heartbeat. 10 days later, I held Ryder for the last time and I am completely shattered.

To lose Ryder at 9 years young and just 10 days after losing Beans is nothing I ever expected. There’s no way to prepare for two dogs back to back, tears nowhere near dry after the first.

I’m mostly crushed, devastated, flattened, heartbroken, but also angry. Angry that Ryder had to go through so much fear, anxiety, couldn’t run his last few years, and couldn’t have one day without a bunch of meds to keep him alive. I’m angry that there will be more after him who will go through this exact same fate because nobody ever says anything and keeps buying his young relatives.

‼️👉Whippets should not be dead before 10 years old!!!👈‼️

Before you support a breeder by buying one of their pups, please do your homework. I did not. I thought I was getting a healthy dog, a dog I’d have into old age. I have zero regrets and wouldn’t change one thing about Ryder and our time together, but I certainly do not want to ever have to deal with messy genetics again, and if I get messy genetics, it should be by choice because I have all the information.

I want to know if a sire has fears of flies, if heart testing was done at 3 yrs or 6 yrs, if there’s history of half siblings dying at 8 yrs. Not big selling points for those puppies, I get it. But how about stop breeding those things into your line, knowingly, so you have to then hold info secret to sell your pups. It’s an idea 💡

I’ll let the anger go soon, but will never stop advocating for full transparency by whippet breeders in the way of adding to WHF and whippet archives (age of health screenings and reason for death, esp) and dammit be a decent freaking human being. Stop causing additional heartache, it’s hard enough losing a dog as it is.

My Ryder deserved better. He deserved to feel good and run forever and now he can. He is so so missed ♥️🥺♥️

❤️

*Not about breeders vs rescue. Don’t make it.

05/31/2024

It would be super if I and my dogs can catch even a tiny bit of a break. Ryder isn’t feeling well and has been vomiting since 6am, on our way to Alpine Vet in Alamosa. So grateful they can see us ♥️

Please send my sweet boy some love and good wishes that this is nothing 🤞🫶

🐶

05/15/2024

Let’s talk harnesses! 🤩🦮🤗

I’ve tried many on many dogs and I like the ones that offer a dog complete range of motion, comfort, + safety. The ones I don’t like restrict movement of shoulders & front limbs, appear to cause discomfort, and could be a safety concern (hitting armpits, chaffing, cutting across shoulders, too tight, too loose, puts pressure on abdomen or throat potentially causing short term or long term harm).

Lets look at the whys:
Are we leaning on our dog’s gear as a way to control our dog like a steering wheel controls the direction of a car? Or are we out for safety like a seatbelt keeps us secure?
If it’s the latter, then I look at what harness will offer that specific dog the most comfort while keeping them safe.
If we are looking for control, ie: stop pulling, keep the dog closer, etc., there are steps to build leash skills and desirable behaviors and working with a professional trainer can really help. A trainer who understands how a dog’s body works and won’t recommend restricting movement*.

Some say harnesses cause pulling. The harness itself isn’t likely the cause, there can be many causes. Others, like harness makers, say their harness “stops pulling”, well, if a harness doesn’t cause it, a harness isn’t going to stop it, either. 🤷‍♀️ Another reason to work with a professional trainer. A trainer who understands how and why specific harnesses work and can clearly explain.

If a dog’s harness is squeezing, chaffing, pinching, too tight, too loose and moving, cutting across or hitting shoulders, or if you are recommending a harness that is doing those things, please please consider HOW and WHY they work and consider taking a look at The Dog Wellness Centre 🥰

Have ?s please DM or drop a comment👇

*some harnesses are designed to restrict natural movement, causing discomfort or pain, which can = behavior suppression and frustration…opposite of how id like a dog to experience a walk 🥺 + opposite of how I choose to work with dogs. As a side note: the lower abdomen should NEVER be used to control a dog! Please 🚨DO NOT🚨 wrap a leash around a dog’s belly🚫

Blue-9 Pet Products

04/28/2024

🚨ADOPTABLE DOG ALERT🚨
Polkadot is such an amazing pup!
She’s very sweet, affectionate, energetic with a nice off switch, has hops & jumps (athletic), she laughs at all the jokes and tells good ones, but also makes a good deadpan face, she’s a very easy keeper - eats well, can sleep anywhere, loves being brushed, has been great with other dogs, and so much more. Her favorite thing is to be with her humans and go on car rides. She’s the perfect sidekick 👍
Polkadot has been spayed, is fully vaccinated, microchipped, disease + parasite free. Every dog adopted through THU comes with a contract/adoption agreement, two free training sessions, and lifetime behavior support. We use Fear Free, Force Free, Positive Reinforcement methods of care and training. Adoption fee is $150.
If you or someone you know in NM, AZ, TX, OK, CO is interested in learning more or adopting her, contact Taos Hound Underground via messenger, call/text 575-613-3066, email [email protected]
To submit an application to adopt her or any of the other awesome THU pups or make a tax deductible donation, go here:
https://taoshoundunderground.org
Please share!

04/24/2024

Bear was born under a mobile home and didn’t encounter his first human until he was six weeks old. Both of his parents are very social, have kind temperaments, but had been out on their own for a couple years. He’s now 5 months old and is still a little cautious when meeting new people and when people try to engage with him in a forward manner (grabbing at him, bending over him, reaching for him), but he’s very comfy approaching people and accepting pets, play, and food.

Sometimes, we don’t know our dogs are feeling fearful and reacting to whatever triggered them. It could be a new sound, new person, slight change in the environment or routine or many other things like reaching for them trying to encourage them to smell us (that’s not a thing to do, btw😉).

Not all dogs who come from rescue or shelter are fearful. Not all “rescue dogs” come from hard situations. But if we give ALL DOGS time and try to understand them further, as if they are afraid of or cautious of people, other dogs etc, what’s the harm? None.

Dogs are not in a hurry to mix in or fit into human expectations, but humans can rush dogs and that *could* result in a dog retreating, anti-social behavior, increase in barking, growling, guarding, etc.

If you have adopted a dog, are a foster, work with a rescue or in a shelter, are considering bringing a new dog into the home…this 3 week online series might be for you. An hour a week online (you don’t even have to wear pants🤷‍♀️) and plenty of info and Q&A for all dog guardians who are curious about their pups’s behaviors or pups they work with.

Super affordable, exclusive class with limited space.
Go here to learn more and to sign up:
https://stan.store/thereallifedog/p/rescue-dog-sessions-n3zop

Can’t wait see you in class and help you understand your pup more so you can deepen your trusting relationship ♥️

04/23/2024

This 👇
Thanks, Pooch Parenting 🥰

It can be scary and confusing when your beloved dog growls.

When they growl around food or other special items, they are usually telling us that they are worried we will take them away.

Let them eat in peace. Don't put your hand in their food "to get them used to it". That's just rude. There's no way around it. Instead, put them somewhere safe to enjoy their item, such as behind a barrier like a baby gate.

Be sure your kids never take items away from the dog, even if they think it's urgent. Instead, teach them to call for you, the parent, instead. Then you can assess the level of urgency and decide to act accordingly. If you must take an item from a dog, offer something better in exchange.

Let's build trust, not break it.

I'm here if you need support managing kids and dogs or if you are a dog pro, I can help build your confidence so you can say yes to more clients.