The Bryi's Dog Training

06/05/2025

When you’ve an appointment at the vets in an hour but there’s a fawn under your car

05/20/2025

Thinking about adopting a rescue dog? Discover the high points and potential challenges of adopting from a shelter or rescue to help decide if it's the right path for you.

Today is National Dog Rescue Day: a chance to honor second chances, wagging tails, and the big-hearted humans who open their homes to dogs in need.
I have fostered for, volunteered at and adopted dogs from shelters and rescues and also spent months finding a responsible breeder for my beloved spaniel Ziva—I understand the complexity of the question: "Is adopting a rescue dog right for me?"

This post isn't here to judge your path. It's here to help you make an informed, compassionate decision.

🐾 The Highs Points of Adopting a Rescue Dog

1. You're saving a life.
Perhaps the most compelling reason: by adopting a rescue dog, you're giving a home to a dog who may have been abandoned, surrendered, or overlooked. Many have endured hardship and your kindness rewrites their story.

2. Rescues often have adult dogs.
If puppy training isn’t your dream, adult dogs from shelters are often house-trained, socialized, and ready to settle into a home.

3. Adoption fees are usually lower.
Rescue fees often include vaccinations, microchipping, and spaying/neutering, making them more affordable than the cost of buying a puppy from a breeder.

4. You're supporting a cycle of compassion.
By adopting from a shelter or rescue, you're making space for the next dog in need and there are so very many in need. Spaces are limited in shelters and rescue and many never get a second chance.

🐾 The Challenges of Adopting a Rescue Dog

1. Unknown history can mean surprises.
Some rescue dogs come with emotional or behavorial baggage. It's not their fault—but it does mean adopters need patience, experience, or professional support.

2. Compatibility isn't guaranteed.
You may not find your ideal breed or temperament in a local shelter, or the right match might take time. Some rescue dogs may not be suitable for homes with children, other pets, or certain lifestyles.

3. Limited early life insights.
With many rescue dogs, especially strays, you may not know much about their early development—which can impact training, health, or temperament.

That being said even puppies from the most reputable of breeders can have challenges. When it comes top dogs and puppies nothing is ever guaranteed and many pure bred dogs find themselves in rescues and shelters.

When Is a Reputable Breeder a Better Fit?

In some cases, especially for people with specific needs or working dog requirements, a reputable, ethical breeder may be a more suitable option. This was the case when I welcomed Ziva, my spaniel, into my life. I carefully researched and waited months to find a breeder who prioritized health, temperament, and ethical practices. Then once I was accepted onto the waiting list I waited months for Ziva to be born.

Choosing a reputable breeder is never a shortcut—it's a long-term investment in responsibility, research, and lifelong care.

Whether you're adopting a rescue dog or working with a breeder, the most important question is: Can I meet this dog’s needs for the next 10–15 years, emotionally and physically?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. What matters most is intention, preparation, and compassion.

On this National Dog Rescue Day, let’s celebrate the dogs who’ve found their second (or third) chance and honor every human who chooses to love, train, and protect them, no matter where they came from.

04/30/2025

Today is International Guide dog Day!

Let's take this opportunity to give a huge shout out to all the service dogs around the world that make make a hugely positive impact on their humans lives!

04/21/2025

This is great information from the AVMA. As with so many things in life prevention is key for building great choices in dogs and humans.

By stopping and thinking before you interact with a dog you can prevent situations from arising that put dogs into situations that may cause them to feel pressurized, uncomfortable or fear losing something valuable to them.

This means that you don't have to worry about missing the subtle signs that the dog is giving you that they aren't comfortable, that if missed can lead to escalation and a bite.

It also means that the dog is less likely to build up negative associations to humans.

So no matter how well you think you know dogs please, please, please just take a moment to think about your actions. No two dogs are the same and just like humans some are likely to react quicker in a situation than others.

It's National Dog Bite Prevention Week! What is most important to note is any dog can bite: big or small, male or female, young or old. Even the cuddliest, fuzziest, sweetest pet can bite if provoked, so it's important to know how to avoid escalating risky situations and to understand when you should and should not interact with dogs.

Here are a few scenarios when you should avoid petting a dog. You can find more helpful tips at avma.org/DogBite.

04/15/2025

A year ago today Ziva left us unexpectedly. It felt like my world was turned upside down and inside out. My compass that helped me navigate this world was gone, I was lost and needed to find a new way. I felt empty and dull, as If I was jar going through the motions and in the year that’s passed I’ve come to realize I was reverting to the Tracy before Ziva.

You see Ziva was so much more than words can ever express and we had a connection that was special. We do literally all come from the stars and we’ve all definitely been a rock at some point in the span of the universe so I think that sometimes some bonds are simply stronger than others because of the incredible shared history.

In the last year I’vee missed my feral ltrke monkey: none of the other dogs are anywhere near earning the feral title (personally I think that’s something only spaniels deserve). And as the human of a crazy cocker I said it with pride. I never knew what she’d do next and her antics had you on the edge of your seat. She humbled me on a daily basis but would soften the blow with her cute and impish side ways glance. Of course I always giggled when she gave me her ‘hold my pint’ look and I knew someone else was going to fall victim to her antics.

She may have left me physically a year ago but after the gut wrenching pain I realized she really hasn’t left.

Now the fact that her toys are still here, the matress beside the bed so she could get up easier is still in place (now used as a sprawling location by the other dogs, her photos are everywhere, a wear a necklace with some of her ashes and have some of her hair in a little bag on my desk might help me feel better that’s for sure. Yes, this may make me sound crazy but I think there’s more than me that honors and cherishes our dogs memories in ways that only someone else that’s had their own special dog will understand. It took me months to let one of other dogs use her food bowl. The special treats for her eye meds sat in the shelf for so long. Her coats that she wore when it was chillier didn’t get washed for a very long time.

You see grief is strange and it’s personal: it’s never the same and no one else really knows what you’re going through.

Even know when the dogs doing something we’ll comment tell them whether Ziva would be proud or deny ever knowing them. We’ll laugh and say ‘you wouldn’t do that if Ziva was here if they’re being bold’. If they move from our left to right side when treats are being handed out we ask if they’re doing a Ziva as that was a very traditional move of hers!!

So if you’re read my ramblings, Thankyou!! I know they’ve been long and not necessarily coherent but that’s kinda been my year. I’ve found a path, I’m happy and the memories of Ziva still make me laugh and smile more than cry so I’m taking that as a win.

Hug your pups tight, tell them you love them and cherish every minute you have: because we never have enough ###

04/11/2025

National Pet Day was created to encourage us to appreciate the positive role that pets play in out lives and also highlight the millions of amazing animals that are currently in shelters and rescues throughout the country.

Although I think every day is pet day in our house, let's take a some time today to truly appreciate the powerful force for good our pets have on our daily lives.

I'd love to hear how your pets positively impact your life!!

04/11/2025

Enjoying the sun on our evening walk.

Do you and your dog have a favorite time of day for walks?

Let me know in the comments.

04/07/2025

Good information to have on the timing a spay for your female dogs.

Monday Medical Corner:

Ovariohysterectomy, popularly known as ‘spaying’, is commonly performed on female dogs as a means of sterilization and to reduce risk of certain diseases including mammary tumors and pyometra (uterine infection). Recent evidence suggests that delaying this procedure until the dog is more mature (at ~18-24 months of age) offers behavioral, orthopedic, and other health benefits.

Dogs’ reproductive cycle is different than that of humans’. A dog’s estrous cycle includes multiple stages. The best known phase is proestrus/estrus or when the dog is in “heat.” This is the phase where the dog ovulates and can become pregnant if she is bred. This phase lasts about 3 weeks on average. The dog then enters diestrus – the phase of pregnancy. What is interesting about dogs is that the hormonal profile in diestrus is the same whether the dog is actually pregnant or not. During this phase, estrogen declines and progesterone rises (secreted from a structure called the corpus luteum [CL]). Progesterone is the hormone that maintains pregnancy. Diestrus in dogs lasts about 2 months – the average duration of gestation when the dog is pregnant. At the end of diestrus, the CL essentially dissolves or becomes inactive and progesterone levels drop. If the dog is pregnant, this change is part of the process that triggers the birth of the puppies and onset of lactation and maternal behavior.

After diestrus, the dog enters anestrus which is a period of hormonal quiescence. In the dog this lasts on average about 6 months as the typical complete estrous cycle in dogs is about 7-9 months long.

If a dog is spayed during diestrus, the precipitous drop in progesterone can mimic whelping and trigger the onset of maternal behavior – including maternal aggression. Since the dog does not have puppies, dogs may begin to guard other objects and show aggression toward humans or other animals. In rare cases, this aggression has persisted long term.

Since there is no benefit to spaying a dog during diestrus, we recommend that dogs be spayed during anestrus to prevent this possible complication.

04/03/2025

I created this quite a few years ago but it's as true today as it was then.

Dog reactivity has come to be viewed by many as meaning a dog that is struggling in particular situations or even day to day life and exhibiting behaviors that doesn't match with their humans view of acceptable behaviors.

My Forest is a 'reactive dog' so I understand how stressful this can be for dog guardians. It can be isolating, you may need to grief for the experiences you thought you were going to get to share with your dog and come to terms with what you can do together.

It's stressful for you but its also stressful for your dog. They don't want to be scared of their own shadow, be over stimulated by the slightest movement or terrified at any sudden noise. Life throws our dogs just as many curve balls as it throws us, so it's important to give both yourself and your dog grace as you navigate your way together in this crazy world.

04/02/2025

It's National Walking Day so its the perfect opportunity to grab your best buddy and head out on the trails today!

Tell me about your favorite walk with your dog.

04/01/2025

Lara is a very loyal dog when on a walk in her own unique way. What I mean by this is she is loyal to the person in front. She loves being at the front and isn’t always very gracious about how she gets there🤣

When she’s out front she can be ever so attentive but should you stop and someone else move into the lead you will be forgotten about in an instant.

Some people might find this annoying but to me it’s just part of her personality. I know if I was doing training when out with other people being at the front of the walk will make it easier for her. If we then moved behind others, in the simplest explanation it would be like adding in distractions. She would want to surge ahead and we would need to work through that. In fact I would probably lower my criteria slightly as I was increasing the difficulty.

I think It’s a great example of how simple day to day changes that we minit not even consider can cause strugglees for our dogs.

Thats why I love this photo: Lara was so attentive and engaged with Simon and it was great to get a photo that captured it so well: and once I moved passed him I was the only person in her world!!!

Does your dog have some unique characteristics? I’d love to hear about them in the comments!!

03/28/2025

There's so much conflicting information on puppy socialization available that it can be hard to know what to do! In truth socialization is going to look different for every pup because they are all individuals with different personalities.

I like to think of socialization as setting your puppy up for success. They need to experience different environments at a pace that's right for them. A great way to start this process at home before they are fully vaccinated is introducing them to new experiences using ball pits and balance paths. These introduce them to new sounds and textures. It builds in body contact and little surprises as things move about. the most important thing is that your puppy has control so if it's too much they can take a break.

There's things we may also need to do such as reducing the number of balls in the ball pit or shorten the length of the balance path.

Socialization is a wonderful opportunity to build and strengthen the bond with your puppy whilst learning more about there personality which will ultimately help you in tailoring the training best suited for them in the future.