Wise Dogs

16/10/2023

I'm excited to announce that I have joined the team at Dogsmartz Unleashed! Pittsburgh clients can still book me in Allegheny, Beaver, and Butler counties through Wise Dogs. Clients in Lawrence and Mercer counties and in eastern Ohio can book with me through Dogsmartz!

I am a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant with almost 20 years of experience. I specialize in working with dogs who are experiencing fear and anxiety, including dogs who are displaying aggressive behaviors. You can learn more about me at www.wisedogs.org

I can't wait to help you and your dog! -Daisy Wise

10/10/2023

Pupperoni ≠ Tyson Chicken and Colby Jack. I promise your dog doesn’t love me more, I just pay better wages.
🐶😍🍗🤷🏻‍♀️🩷🐾🐾

06/10/2023

Free Resource for anyone who needs to Muzzle train their dog. This video breaks it all down into manageable bites. 💚🐾🐾

Muzzle Week is part of Hello Bully’s RAD DOGS course for reactive or aggressive dogs. This short course will help you teach your dog to love their muzzle! We...

02/10/2023

An oldie but a goodie! Just remember these cups are refillable!

25/03/2023

Marketers and those looking to make a sale aren't going to tell you something you don't want to hear. So they sugarcoat and use euphemisms to make scary, painful things sound innocuous. Let's be clear. There's no magic at play here.

These devices use electric current, with the intention of hurting or scaring your dog in an attempt to curb behavior. They are SUPPOSED to hurt. That's how they work.

And, there's a lot of research on this topic. A study published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior, concluded “there is no credible scientific evidence to justify electronic collar use and the use of spray collars or electronic fences for dogs.” Learning shouldn't hurt.

Let's work to educate and dispel some myths about shock collars. Read my post here: https://rescuedbytraining.com/2023/02/27/5-shock-collar-myths/

18/03/2023

Let’s chat about French Bulldogs! The response in the animal welfare circles has been very clearly cautionary, and there are many reasons why.

Yes, Frenchies are freaking adorable. As humans, we are attracted to neotenized dogs, bred for their baby-like features. That look has a cost in breeding, birthing, and the overall health of the dogs.

Being the most beloved dog breed always comes at a cost to the dogs. What’s happening to French Bulldogs doesn’t seem like love.

We love all dogs, and we know these are complicated conversations. We are supporting and echoing the voices of the people who are experiencing the Frenchie Fallout. 🖤🐾🐾

17/03/2023

Big facts Friday. The struggle is real, and dogs struggle too.

Dog ownership is a lot of furry companionship, tail wags and chasing balls, and ample unconditional love.

28/02/2023

Here’s another way to look at it. “Pepsi and Coke can’t even be in the same restaurant together, yet and still, you want us to get along.”

Stop telling us we’re rude or unprofessional for not wanting to reach across the aisle to folks who are routinely using methods we classify as abuse. It’s insulting.

You’re never, ever, ever going to convince me that shock collars are an appropriate tool for teaching dogs. Ever. It is not unprofessional or rude for us to say that shock collars are abusive especially when other civilized nations have outright banned them. The data says they carry a risk of making dogs worse. Never, ever.

I do have opinions and snark about shock collars. I will continue to speak on the topic. I encourage others to do the same. It doesn’t have to be directed at a particular person. There is empirical evidence to discredit tools that cause pain and harm to dogs. Haha, read that one however you’d like. 😘

Kudos to all the women in this field who are standing up for the dogs first and foremost. It’s more important to me that you spend your patience, kindness, and brilliance on those dogs. I don’t think it’s okay or good for the soul to be intentionally hurtful other humans. It’s also not okay to try and mute the voices of animal advocates under the guise of impropriety. Cheers to all of you who continue to speak on behalf of the welfare of dogs.

20/02/2023

If you’re “leaving R+” because of debates on ethics, were you ever in it for the dogs? Or is this just attention seeking? Enough already.

18/02/2023

Hey guys! Hugo wants everyone to know that he was the BEST BOY EVER for his vet trip today! Fear Free is where it’s at! We got it done without sedation and Hugo literally stayed under threshold for the whole appointment.

To top it off, Hugo and I practiced a new consent protocol we’ve been working on, and he subsequently made friends and got pets from his veterinarian! 🥲 We are excited to share more about our work with Hugo, but right now it’s time for some frozen treats and sleepy sleeps. 💙

17/02/2023

Your dog doesn't care about infighting in the field of animal behavior. Quite frankly, neither do we. We have been committed to using the kindest, most effective, scientifically backed methods for decades. We don't really give a fluff about the podcasts and the poop-slinging. It all looks like more ego-driven human stuff that doesn't really serve dogs at all.

We have a client with a vet visit this weekend. His vet visits are always a challenge, and we're here for it. We care for dogs with patience, preparation, dedication, and the ever-popular Barkcuterie Board. We teach dogs to position themselves for treatment, and to give cues to let us know when it's getting to be too much. We use muzzles for safety and those muzzles have been used outside of vet visits hundreds of times for a lick of ice cream, a schmear of cream cheese, or a little frozen liverwurst. Believe us when we say our dogs are STOKED when the muzzles come out. Mmmm mmmm...those matchstick cheese and meats!

Before we get "balanced" trainers commenting "bUt WHaT haPPeNs wHen U cAnt use fOod?!?!?", let us answer that one for you. When we can't, we don't. It's not a problem. Food is not only a reward in the moment the dog is enjoying it, but a history of good rewards for good work can create a little piggy bank of trust that you can cash out when you need to, and then you just fill it back up. Isn't this easy? 🤷‍♀️Your dog doesn't need a pack leader. Your dog needs a Sugar Mama. 😘❤️🦴

01/02/2023

Hm. Imagine that! 😃

When we focus on making dogs happy, it’s better for them and us.

13/01/2023

Recommended reading for parents and professionals sharing their lives with fearful or anxious dogs. If your dog is hella reactive, also for you. Fear and anxiety are often the driving force behind reactivity. Read that again.

If you need help, contact us for a behavior consultation. We cover Western Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio and beyond. Remote consults available for those beyond the beyond! 🐕💙🐾🐾

12/01/2023

Let’s end the 3/3/3 myth. Every dog is different, and dogs today are living in a rapidly changing era. Great tips below for helping a new dog settle in. 💙🐾🐾

Why the so-called “3-3-3 decompression rule” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be – and how to best help your shelter or rescue dog adjust to her new home.

10/01/2023

Behold the power of cheese… and the pink stuff. 😂 Vet visits may not be easy, but we can do our best to alleviate their stress. 💙🐶👩🏻‍⚕️

08/01/2023

Please watch this very cute video of a rescued beaver building a dam for no damn reason. He doesn’t need a reason, he’s a beaver.

Think of this the next time your dog does normal dog stuff. Is it a problem for the dog or a problem for you? Perhaps we could be more gracious with our dogs, especially when it comes to normal dog wants and needs. 💙🐾🐾

This beaver is being raised by wildlife rehabbers after being orphaned as a newborn. Her parents were killed and their dam and lodge destroyed. Beavers are c...

07/01/2023

29/12/2022

If you’re interested in why we work the way we do, grab a cuppa and check out this sampling of recent scientific findings on dog training methodologies.

We serve the greater Pittsburgh area and Butler and Beaver counties. Travel fees for clients more than 20 miles from Cranberry Township may incur a travel fee. Questions? Please email us at [email protected]

06/12/2022

Embrace love. Say it, show it, mean it and celebrate the people (and animals) who’ve shown you that you too are loved.

In a small but telling piece of research, researchers in the United Kingdom equipped dogs with special collars that tracked their heart rates for 7 days and found the following:

When a dog’s human companion said, “I love you,” their pet’s heart rate shot up by 46 percent, from an average of 67 beats per minute to 98. The dogs were clearly excited by what they correctly perceived as expressions of affection.

When someone cuddled with their dog, the pet’s heart rate dropped by an average of 23 percent, going down to 52 beats per minute. The cuddling definitely relaxed the canine companions.

What held true for the dogs also held true for the people. When they first saw their pets after having been separated for a long time, their hearts literally went pitter patter, increasing in beats by an average of 10 percent per minute.

Source: tuftsyourdog.com (link in bio)

16/10/2022

Further confirmation that dogs are magical. 🖤

In real-life settings, dogs probably use a variety of contextual signals, and the study results show odor is also a component that dogs can pick up on.

29/04/2022

All dogs are potentially lots of things depending on what environment they land in, and the people they land with, and of course there is some genetic influence. Breed is not the major and magical influencer we think it is. So yes, we look at breed, but it’s not even in the top five.

We just love dogs. All of ‘em!

Breed type explains just 9 percent of variation in behavior of dogs, according to a new study that looked at the DNA of more than 2,000 dogs.

27/03/2022

Did you know that dogs have many play styles? Some dogs also have strong preferences! What’s your dogs’ favorite way to play?

UPDATE: Whole Dog Journal article on The Play Way In January this year, I attended Dr. Amy Cook’s PLAY WAY seminar at Pasadena Humane Society. The seminar was about “social play” as a tool for rehabilitating reactive/stressed/fearful dogs. “Social Play” has been defined as something differ...

22/03/2022

Food guarding is a natural, normal dog behavior. To dissuade dogs from guarding, we establish an agreement: If I approach you while you’re eating, it’s because I’m delivering something even better.

Shaun has been given liver treats hundreds of times while enjoying his bully stick. He has been conditioned to expect good things if approached when eating. He never had an issue with guarding, and now, it’s likely he never will. Fear free is how we do it. No punishment, no force. We just outsmart the dog! 💙🐶😉

Shaun is dogfighting survivor and is available for adoption through www.hellobully.org

18/03/2022

Sometimes, you just need a friend. Bonnie finally made it out on a walk with a little help from Justin Bieber! Her parents put in the work and helped build her up for it and are so proud of her! We’re proud of you, too, Bonnie!
💙🐾🐾🐾🐾💙

If your dog is fearful or anxious on walks, try bringing a friend! Justin is available for buddy walks in the Pittsburgh area. He loves coming to work with Mom! 💜

www.wisedogsbehavior.com

16/03/2022

Consent is for everyone. 💙

Watch it now and discover more trending videos on TikTok!