Dog Trainer Bonnie

28/10/2024

We love frozen enrichment!

08/05/2024

22/03/2024

This 100%!

08/03/2024

We love our pals down at thank you keeping us clean and showing us with love! 🚿 🖤🐾🐾

01/03/2024

01/02/2024

Let’s set the scene. This may become a bit sensitive for some, and I apologise in advance.

You’re out somewhere. You might be at a restaurant, a bar, a public park on a sunny day enjoying the sunshine with your family. It may be that you’re on your way home from work or trying to catch the bus. You’re just minding your own business.

Suddenly, a person comes straight up to you. They give you anxiety. What is this person going to do? I don’t know! The person is walking with a friend and the friend sees you’re a bit anxious and calls out to you saying “Don’t stress, she/he’s all good!’’ But they keep approaching you. And when they finally reach you they randomly hug you. Touch you. Walk circles around you. Start talking to you. Don’t let you leave.

What would you call that? Harassment? Assault in severe cases?
How would this make you feel?

Now, after the initial shock you find your courage and you ask the person to go away. Leave you alone. But the person doesn’t stop and instead touches your arm or your hair. “Oh come on, we’re alright. I’m not doing anything bad I’m friendly! Just let me be around you.’’You get upset and might push the person. Shout at them. If you’re a bit more of an assertive person you might punch them. Who knows.
Then the person and the friend get upset. Well? WHY are you here then? What are you doing in this public space if you don’t like being around other people? You have no business to be here, minding your own business in this park with your family without allowing me to sit with you, play with you, touch you, talk to you. Actually, you know what you should do? You should be more social! You should go more often to random groups of people.

_______
Do you see what I did there?
If you thought any of the above situation is not okay (and I sure as heck hope you do), then why do we think it’s okay to let dogs run up to strange dogs and say ‘It’s okay he’s friendly’?

What we do in the dog world is the exact opposite what we should be doing. We label the harassed dog as aggressive and the harassing dog as the victim.

Dogs have emotions. They have feelings. They have their own characters and personalities. There are many, many dogs that are not interested in making new friends or being with dogs they don’t know they can trust.

And sure, some dogs love playing with other dogs. Those are the extraverted dogs. Just like we have people that LOVE hugging or love making new friends even as adults, but to be honest.. how many of those people do you know? I think if you put it into a % its lower than the people that rather just are with their select group of people and be left alone by random strangers in public spaces.

So don’t assume the dog your dog is running towards on the beach, is willing to play with your dog. Being in a public space means you need to have your dog under effective control. And if you can’t call your dog back, it should be on a long line until you can.

——-

In case you’re interested.. after quite a few requests I made a video version of this blog as well.

Your dog is NOT friendly, he's harassing others
https://youtu.be/YlWf02MHKCo

10/11/2023

Due to unfortunate messaging over the years, coupled with a lack of knowledge, and compounded by the human tendency for denial/delusion, what should be obvious and commonly accepted is anything but.

A few of the messages:
-There are no bad dogs, only bad owners. Wrong.
-Any dog can be “fixed” if you’ll get your energy right. Wrong.
-Every dog should be saved. Wrong.

The knowledge gap:
-We have a chaotic house, with lots of kids running all over, and we adopted a highly nervous but “sweet” herding breed. Bad.
-My dog challenges everyone in our family, and has bitten us all, but is great with my trainer. Bad.
-We got a guarding/working breed so it can protect the family, even though we’ve never had a dog before. Bad.

A bit of denial:
-He only bites us when we kiss/dance/move too fast/leave the house/vacuum because he had a traumatic early life. Delusion.
-She’s guards her spot on the couch, her toys, and her food, and will bite us if we get too close, but it’s only because she never had things of her own before. Delusion.
-He always growls at or bites my husband, but I’m sure he was abused by a man before I adopted him. Delusion.

Can people improve? Absolutely. Can dogs improve? Almost always. Does that mean that all fits can be made healthy and happy, or are wise? Nope. People and dogs come in many flavors, and many of these flavors work wonderfully well together, some work with certain other flavors, and some (human and dog) don’t work well at all. It’s a sad reality, but a reality nonetheless. We should be choosing the dogs we share our lives with based on an honest and informed assessment of who we are, what our lives look like, and what dog—both breed and individual personality—fits that reality best.

Ignore the silly messages, do your homework, and lose the denial.

Fairytales in dog land often end up as nightmares.

24/10/2023

There is nothing natural about large numbers of unfamiliar dogs partaking in high-intensity activity in a dog park, and this shouldn’t be the benchmark for a social dog. If your dog is not their best in such an environment, you are not doing anything wrong. 👏👏 There is nothing wrong with your dog. 👏👏 Your dog is normal. 👏👏

08/10/2023

Jumpin’ for joy!

06/10/2023

If anyone had heard of this sad story, there’s a happy ending!

05/10/2023

Look at these shots taken by one of our Complete Canine friends Alyvia! She truly captured these guys beautifully! 🖤🐾

03/10/2023

Count the pups! How many do you see?

03/10/2023

01/10/2023

Big announcement for my lovely clients who have become like friends and family over the years!

17/09/2023

Aw sweet pibble 🖤🐾

842 Days Without A Forever Home 💔

Bug has waited over TWO YEARS for her forever family. We desperately need our community's help to SHARE her face far and wide. You never know who this post will reach, and YOU might be the one to connect her with the loving home that she deserves.

Bug is looking for a home:
🏡 With adults or older, dog savvy teenagers.
🐾 That is low traffic, she would much rather watch Netflix and relax!
🐶 With no other pets, OR another dog that is calm and tolerant.

Bug, like many other dogs, does not enjoy hugs or face-to-face interaction during first introductions. But our amazing Behavior Team will take you on a leisurely stroll to get you acquainted, and you'll be best friends in no time. Once you are in her friend circle, Bug would love nothing more than to snuggle up with you on the couch.

Fun Facts About Bug:
🏡 Housetrained.
🧸 Huge couch potato.
🐾 Walks perfectly on leash, even at public parks.
🚘 Rides well in the car.
🧼 Hops right in the tub for bath time.
👗 Loves to get dressed up in silly costumes.

📞 Contact [email protected] to meet Bug!

12/09/2023

We are excited to announce the beginning of a bunch of fun services for your Canine Companion! Once a week Dog School will be held 9-5, during the day we do group play, crate training games and exercises, private training sessions and outings like hikes and trips to the pet store! Call now to schedule your dogs training consultation today!
Look at the cuties from our past 2 weeks! Thanks Macy, Yubby and Hazel for coming out!🖤🐾

25/08/2023

I’ll be there with my pack!🖤🐾

We are ready to PAWTY tomorrow! 🐶 Celebrate National Dog Day with us at our first annual Dog Pawty from 10AM to 3PM in our parking lot hosted by Mayor Parker the Snow Dog! Here are the details:

➡️ The first 100 dogs will receive a FREE SCHEELS bandana and dog bowl
➡️ FREE Pup Cups
➡️ Chance to win one of our six prize packages! Each package will have a swag bag provided by N-Gage and a $100 SCHEELS Gift Card
➡️ Meet with some of our favorite local dog vendors
➡️ Play fun games for a chance to win toys, leashes, and more!
➡️ 20% off all leashes, dog beds, treats and toys tomorrow only

We hope to see you there! 🐾

16/08/2023

Who's ready to PAWTY? 🐶 We are excited for our Dog Pawty on August 26th hosted by Mayor Parker the Snow Dog to celebrate National Dog Day! Here are the details 👇

➡️ The first 100 dogs will receive a FREE SCHEELS dog bowl and bandana
➡️ FREE Pup Cups
➡️ Event exclusive discounts
➡️ Register to win one of six prize packages! Each package will have a swag bag from N-GAGE and a $100 SCHEELS Gift Card!
➡️ Submit your costume contest photo for a chance to win a KONG prize package and an SCHEELS gift card HERE: https://bit.ly/3pvOCBF
➡️ Receive tips and tricks from local vendors

We can't wait to see all of our furry friends there! 🐶