Fetching Petential

05/08/2024

Dogs with bone, we leave alone.

Since Ellie has started walking, this has become our household mantra.

Kids and dogs will only work if we teach our kids how to respect dogs' space as well as our dogs. Kids do not need - and shouldn't have - full access to your dog. Your dog is still a good dog even if they don't like kids entering their personal space during certain times.

It's my job as their guardian to keep them both safe so my dogs get safe spaces and my kids get help managing their impulses.

What's one behavior your dog displays that still makes them a good dog?

04/08/2024

The Family and I are hard at work getting the board and train space ready for your dogs!

02/08/2024

A lot has been changing here at Fetching PETential.

With the move to Rochester, I have been hard at work determining how to best serve this new market while also settling into a new community with my two tiny humans - so it's been a little busy!

If you're new to following this page, welcome! If you've been following for a while, it's good to see you again!

We have updated our programs to better serve all our clients, whether here in Minnesota or across the country. Beginning in August, our new programs will be as follows:

🐾 BOARD AND TRAIN program where we bring your dog into our home for a short time and then provide complete support for SIX MONTHS

🐾 PRIVATE LESSON program for families who benefit from more 1 on 1 time and also includes the option to add group class time

🐾 GROUP CLASS program that includes 1 on 1 time, the freedom to make your own schedule, and so much more

🐾 ONLINE COURSE all about seeing your dog for who THEY are while also gaining tools to reach your goals

There will be more information over the next few months as we launch but for now, I wanted to share the excitement with all of you! If you are interested in getting more information, signing up for one of the programs, or just want to say hi, send me a message or give me a call!

06/05/2024

My favorite activity to do with kids and dogs is nosework. It's a no contact game, can be adjusted for both child and dog's development, and provides your dog an enriching species appropriate activity. This game also builds confidence with the environment (note bailey in the playpen with the balloon!).

Bailey has taken a few classes of nosework so she is searching for the essential oil clove in this video. You can also hide small piles of kibble or treats for your dog to find. I always start by letting the dog watch me hide the thing and make it really easy. As they get better at searching and understand the game, you can start to make it harder by hiding it out of sight and while they aren't watching.

The other nice part? The messier your house, the better the hiding places 😉

What's your dog's favorite game?

02/01/2024

Happy new year! With the turn of the new year come some big updates for Fetching PETential.

The first and biggest is we have MOVED! In person sessions will now be available for those in the Rochester, MN and surrounding areas. If there is enough interest, I may have a Twin Cities day once a week for in person sessions, but for now, virtual sessions are available to anyone outside of the Rochester area.

The next is I am revamping the dogs and babies course currently available online. This has been a long time goal of mine and put on the back burner due to having my second daughter (update number 3!) last May. My hope is it can be more thorough, easier to follow, and more supportive.

And finally, keep an eye out for blog posts again. I fell off the wagon with writing and it's a goal for the year to write two a month. If you have any post topic suggestions leave them in the comments!

I'm excited for all that 2024 will bring and looking forward to serving the Rochester area!

24/09/2022

Food trucks and rescues and trainers oh my! Come see us at Yappy Hour in Burnsville Alimagnet Park!

23/09/2022

You've already taught your dog to do something, so why aren't they doing it anymore!? "They 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 this!" "They used to be so good at this!"

The answer is this: Reinforcement drives behavior.

I ran across this issue recently with my dogs and their mat work. If you have followed me for any amount of time, you'll know how much I love mat work with children in the house. I have put in a lot of time for my dogs to be good with going and staying on their mats during meal times.

My dogs get the coveted job of "cleanup crew" after Lenora is done eating. They wait on their mats while she eats and then one at a time get to check for anything she threw. Well lately, they have been resisting going to their mats and instead wanting to go to the rug that is right by her high chair.

I kept getting so frustrated. "We've done this a thousand times! Why won't you go where you are supposed to anymore?"

But when I took a step back, it was perfectly clear. By being cleanup crew, the best reinforcement was right at her high chair. Dogs are efficient - they go where they are likely to be rewarded.

When was the last time I rewarded them for 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 their mat? The answer was so long ago I couldn't remember exactly. Of course they weren't going to go to their mat! The best stuff was happening across the room!

If you are struggling with a behavior you have already taught your dog, take a look at where your recent reinforcement has come from - chances are your dog has found a better deal somewhere else. Our dogs deserve to be paid for the behaviors they do well, no matter how long ago you taught them something.

17/08/2022

Fun safe activities between your dog and your toddler can be hard to find but one of my favorites is fetch.

My favorite way to play fetch with toddlers is with a bucket of balls and a chair. The child sits in the chair and the parent hands the child one ball at a time for them to throw. The dog can move and chase the ball while the toddler sits. Then the dog gets put on their bed or tethered to a spot and the child gets to run and pick up all the balls.

This game teaches turn taking and provides a safe interaction between dog and child.

Throwing was one of the first things I encouraged Lenora to learn (I know, you can tell I'm a first time mom 😅) purely for this game.

After throwing the ball for bailey for about 10 minutes, knowing she was tired and almost ready to go inside, I handed the ball to Lenora on a whim to see how they would do.

The below video is their second fetch interaction. I am ready to step in between them should bailey decide to go for the ball. I think next time I need to set it up properly for a longer game!

What activities do your dogs and toddlers enjoy doing?

08/08/2022

The hardest part about owning dogs is watching them age.

Adam is now 10 or 11 years old and has recently been confirmed to have moderate arthritis in both hips along with lumbosacchral disease that extends into his tail. We have added a few different pain medications to his daily regimen to help manage the day to day for him.

Lenora has also started to want to interact more with the dogs lately. She is learning how to pet appropriately and overall is doing wonderfully.

Adam is her favorite (Sorry bailey). She loves to try to poke his tongue when he is sleeping (she never wins that race), she rubs his head, and tries to climb onto the couch to get closer to him.

However because of his pain, we have to be more cognizant of where she is in relation to his hips and tail.

She is no longer allowed to try to pet his hips or approach him from behind. When she is sitting next to him, we are always watching her hands very closely to make sure she doesn't accidentally hit his hips.

Dogs react when they are in pain. I know I'm grumpier when I hurt. I don't want Lenora to be a source of that pain or Adam to feel as though she causes him pain.

Even if your dog isn't a senior, be on the lookout for acute or chronic pain - children can very easily and accidentally exacerbate an injury. If you know your dog has some pain, increase management levels around that particular area of their body to make sure your dog continues to feel safe.

04/08/2022

Come visit us at Thresher Park in Eagan! Candy games treats and toys!

01/08/2022

This Thursday from 6 to 8pm Fetching PETential will be at Eagan's Bow Wow A Rama! If you want some free dog treats, a chance to win a toy, and a chance to meet all of the other wonderful businesses in our area, we would love to see you there!

City of Eagan

30/07/2022

Body language quiz! How did I know that Bailey was asking Adam to play? What do you notice about her approach?

Note: you see my arm toward the end because Lenora is standing next to me so I was acting as a barrier between her and the dogs

17/06/2022

Remember that post about giving Bailey a dig spot so that she doesn't dig elsewhere in the yard?

It doesn't always work when she's having a blast! This picture is after she had the time of her life digging and rolling around in the flowers this morning. Attempts at redirection were met with darting away and more excited digging and rolling.

And of course I had just watered the flowers so it wasn't dirt, it was mud!

But how could I be mad at this face? She was having so much fun so we will try again tomorrow 😂🤷‍♀️

What's something "naughty" your dog has done recently but gotten away with because they are cute?

11/06/2022

One thing I've noticed as my daughter continues to grow and learn is just how easy "don't" sentences are.

Don't lick the shoe.

Don't eat that piece of mulch.

Don't put the book down the laundry chute.

How many times have I coached dog owners on telling their dogs what TO do rather than what NOT to do and still fall into the same trap with my own daughter?

After reading yet another book about children's developing brains and having the author spell out what I know so well, I have started to reframe my statements.

Thank you for pointing out my shoes need to be put away! let's lick this toy instead.

Can you throw the mulch back to the garden bed?

Books go on the bookshelf, can you put it on the shelf?

Giving her something to do instead of always telling her not to do something is so reminiscent of what we should be doing with our dogs.

Dogs don't come to us knowing the rules of living with us. They need to be guided to acceptable behavior and that means actually explaining what acceptable behavior is.

Now if only I can be patient and not immediately fix all the books on the shelf - she's just learning!

02/06/2022

As my daughter has been developing into a toddler (how is it possible!?), she has been continuing to show me that she is her own person.

As her independence continues to emerge, I have begun to give her two choices when possible. Which pajamas does she want to wear? What book to read, which snack, and most recently which clothes.

We went to Target this morning for dinner supplies and I somehow ended up in the toddler clothes section (it's a mystery how that happened 🤷‍♀️) and I saw two shirts - one of which I loved, the other I thought was just cute.

But as per usual, I offered her a choice - watermelon or hearts? Of course, she chose the one I wasn't in love with so I offered her the choice again after switching which hand was holding each shirt, thinking I was outsmarting my 13-month-old (ha!).

Nope! Hearts it was.

As much as I wanted the watermelon shirt for her, I had given her a choice. She chose and had I ignored her choice, she would have learned that she doesn't actually have a choice in things - I would do what I wanted no matter what.

And then I started thinking about our dogs. How often do we give them a choice? And if we do say they have a choice in something, how often do we say something like, "Ehhh, you may say you don't want to be pet right now, but I want to pet you so a little affection won't hurt you"?

Choice and autonomy give our dogs - and our toddlers - a sense of security and a feeling of control over their lives. It makes them more cooperative. They learn to trust us because we honor their desires.

Next time you have a chance, try giving your dog a choice. Which bone do they feel like chewing right now? Which direction on the walk do they want to go? Do they want to sleep on the round bed or the bolstered bed?

And then honor that choice. Give them the bone they choose, follow their lead on the walk.

Does your dog have preferences for things? What choices do you give your dogs daily?

28/05/2022

I have a confession to make.

I'm lazy and don't always like to train my dog.

I have a lot of things going on and not always a lot of time to get them done so often times I choose very carefully what I make a priority - and many times, training my dogs isn't one of those things.

Don't get me wrong! I still love training them to do things...when I have time. It's fun teaching tricks that can enhance our bond and work their minds.

But for those less than ideal behaviors that are completely natural for my dogs to do (digging, barking, chewing), I'd rather find a safe way for them to engage in doing that than spend all my time and energy trying to change who they are.

As an example, Bailey loves to dig. She digs when she is extra excited and pumped up about something. If I tried to train that behavior away, not only would I be frustrated, but Bailey would be prevented from expressing herself - and that doesn't seem fair.

So instead, I embraced her need to dig and gave her a special spot. If I see her digging in any other spot than hers, I redirect back to the legal area. And since I just put in a garden taking up half of her original spot, I put up a fence.

I'm lazy and don't have the time to train my dog not to be a dog - though I wouldn't want to even if I did have the time.

What behaviors have you found workarounds for?

Note: Bailey will always lay in the hole she creates and it makes my heart happy

26/05/2022

Clients will often ask me why their adolescent is suddenly acting like a different dog. This is a great explanation of what is going on physically in their brains!

Ever wondered why a puppy's behavior seems erratic during adolescence, which occurs between six months and 18 months of age?

The neurobiology of adolescence is fascinating, with some key events that alter both the structure and function of the brain.

During canine adolescence, s*x hormones are changing which effects the animals stress responses. Adolescent dogs have a decreased ability to modulate sensory processing and subsequent behavior.

The connectivity between the frontal cortex (responsible for decision making) and amygdala (responsible for emotional processing) decreases, resulting in less behavioral control.

So what does this mean? This could mean that your dog, who used to come when called, suddenly cannot. This could mean that your dog, who didn't jump up on guests, suddenly does. Your dog that walked nicely on leash is now pulling. Or perhaps it seems like some days your dog responds to behaviors you ask of them, and some days they don't, without any rhyme or reason.

We also see increased risk taking and more sensitivity to fear.

As your puppy undergoes this transition into adulthood their inner world is intense, even chaotic. Many pet owners experience an increase in undesirable behavior and find themselves becoming increasingly frustrated. In turn, frustration and impatience sometimes cause us to act unpredictably.

This adds to your puppy’s inner turmoil. When the inside and the outside are both unpredictable it can be difficult for puppies to adjust.

By understanding this we can gain greater compassion and understanding. When we approach adolescence with patience we can help create a world that is predictable and gentle so our puppies grow up to be their best selves.

12/05/2022

Social media makes it so easy to see into other people's lives, but it's also so easy to forget that we are also only sharing the good parts. Who wants to post about how their dog growled at their baby?

I met with a client recently and she told me about how she made the choice to unfollow some people due to her tendency to compare her dog and child's relationship to her friend's dog and child's relationship. I was so proud of her for making that choice to protect herself and her family.

Everyone's journey looks different.

We are all on our own path, but we also all share the same goal of keeping both our dogs and children safe and fulfilled. For some families, the baby and dog happily coexist without a second thought. For other families, management, gates, and separation are the best path for everyone in the household.

Neither one is better than the other. Both families are doing what is best for their dog and baby at that time. If your dog's needs are being met (sustenance, shelter, appropriate energy outlets, and social time), you are doing a wonderful job - even with separation in place.

We all have room for improvement in different areas of our lives but don't forget to look at all that you have accomplished to improve your dog and child's life thus far.

And if you are struggling to meet your dog's needs while balancing the needs of a baby, send me a message, and let's come up with a plan together.

Comparison may steal your joy, but support and understanding can bring it back.

06/05/2022

This is why I love loose leash walking so much! Had I not put in the effort with Bailey (aka blood sweat and tears), walking with her next to the stroller wouldn't have been possible.

She would have missed out and I would have felt guilty leaving her home while I took Lenora to the park.

Instead, she gets a walk and I get to keep my arm in its socket! Win-win!

What are you doing with your dogs today?

05/05/2022

Often a client will come to me and say "My 6-month-old puppy just won't listen! He knows he's not allowed to chew up my shoes but he still does! How do I get him to stop?"

There are a couple things that stick out to me in these kinds of statements.

1) "6-month-old puppy" - your dog has only been on this earth for 6 months. I understand it's a little different but imagine a 6-month-old child. They are just babies still!

2) "knows he's not allowed" - does he really? Have you actually trained the behavior or is it something that you just get mad about? The second option is totally valid! But we can't expect our babies to just know something because it makes us mad.

Sometimes, dogs will steal things to get a rise out of us for attention - "Yes! We are playing the fun game where mom chases me around the house again!" says your dog with a sock in his mouth.

3) "how do I get him to stop" - I want to switch this and have you ask yourself "How can I set up the environment to prevent this behavior?"

Stealing shoes, jumping on counters, chewing up things that aren't theirs - all of these things are behaviors we don't want so why don't we manage the environment so that our baby puppy doesn't even have the opportunity to do these things?

We will baby-proof our whole house to protect our children, but we expect our dogs to "just know" not to do things Let's be a little kinder to our dogs and help them make the right decisions. Use baby gates, put your shoes away, and pick up things that you don't want to be chewed.

Set up the environment so they can succeed.

29/04/2022

When I start off every lesson, I like to find out the dog's favorite things. What are their favorite treats, activities, toys, or places - even if it's naughty?

Dogs do things because they get something out of it. They steal food off the counter because they get a tasty treat. They jump on people because they get attention. They chase squirrels because chasing things is fun.

Rewarding with food is easy and simple to do when you are teaching a new behavior, but powerful learning happens when you can use what the dog wants in order to get what you want.

If the dog likes to chase squirrels in the backyard, can they stay on their bed until released so they don't break the door going outside?

If the dog likes to jump on people to get attention, can they jump on the couch or a chair instead?

I love using food for rewards but I have also come to appreciate using what the dog intrinsically finds rewarding.

What are some of your dog's favorite things? How do you use those as rewards?

26/04/2022

Have you ever been talking to someone and they stand just a *little* too close to you?

Maybe you take a step back to feel more comfortable, but they follow suit and take a step forward - once again impeding your personal bubble.

Then you try just ever so slightly to lean back to give yourself some relief. Subconsciously (or consciously) the other person notices your discomfort by seeing your weight shift back and mirrors you by leaning back themselves or taking a step back restoring your personal space. You sigh in relief.

These social signals are partially learned and partially innate. Everyone has a different sized bubble so the distance you stand from someone during conversations is always changing depending on who you are talking to, but you are always adjusting based on the body language of the other person.

Did you know our dogs have a similar personal bubble? Not all dogs enjoy close personal contact. Some dogs are particular about who can enter their personal space while other dogs have no personal space and love everyone's attention.

Often times though, we expect every dog to let us do whatever we want to them - even if it's a dog we just met on the street. We may be polite and ask the owner if we can pet their dog, but have you ever asked the dog if you can touch them?

A dog's social signals are much different from a human's social signals so many times their discomfort is missed or overlooked. As a society, we need to begin to learn (and teach our children) to ask not only the human but also the dog if physical interaction is welcome - and then respect it if they say no.

25/04/2022

Since we don't have guests over that often (pandemic and introverts!) my dogs aren't very good at polite greetings - even though I'm a dog trainer. My dogs jump and bark and are A LOT with new people. I could put more time and effort into this particular behavior, but for our lifestyle, it doesn't matter very much.

The other problem is my dogs LOVE food. Like. They *love* food. And so guests with kids and food out everywhere is a recipe for disaster when it comes to my dogs.

So for Lenora's birthday party on Saturday, what could I do? I had two options:

1) I could spend the whole party managing and worrying about where my dogs were, what they were getting into, if they were jumping or getting in the way of things, and overall have a heightened level of stress.

Or...

2) I could put them in their kennel runs in the basement with a kong, bone, music, and a fan going, and instead of worrying about my dogs, enjoy my daughter's birthday party.

I chose door number 2 on Saturday and we had a great time. Yes, Bailey barked and wasn't super pleased because, well, FOMO. But I was able to be fully present during an important milestone, my dogs were safe, and people (and food) were safe.

Oftentimes we get so tunnel-visioned on our dogs being involved in every part of our lives that we forget to check if it is in everyone's best interest to have them involved.

It is okay to have them separated for a few hours. You are still a wonderful dog parent if you leave them home while you take your children to the park.

Yes, we want to make sure that their needs are met and we are supporting them in the ways they need, but as long as that's the case, separate when you need a break. It's okay.

22/04/2022

Today my daughter is 1.

This past year has been one of the most challenging yet rewarding years of my life so far. It has looked so different from what I imagined in the best way possible.

It has been full of surprises not the least of these being how proud I am of my dogs.

We put in a lot of work - before and during - this year. From stroller desensitization to reminding them that if they are uncomfortable, they can leave the area.

I have built a history with them of protection. They know I will intervene before little hands get to them.

They have learned to relax and look to me for help.

But they have also learned the fun to be had when she throws food on the floor (a daily occurrence). She has begun to learn to properly pet them using tickle fingers instead of slaps.

They continue to surprise me but I know the work is just beginning. Lenora is beginning to walk which is another transition Adam and Bailey will have to get used to. I will continue to show them they can count on me and we will keep building their relationship with lenora one positive experience
at a time.

If you are getting ready to embark on this same journey, I would love to talk with you and see if I can help! It's never too early to start preparing your dog for your child.

20/04/2022

When my husband and I bought our house 2 years ago, we were given a handful of keys that the owner left. We went around the house trying different keys in different locks seeing which ones belonged together.

The funny part was, that only two of the 7 keys actually had matching locks in our home. We wasted quite a bit of time at each lock trying to make the keys fit only to be frustrated.

Dogs are the same way.

When we bring dogs into our home, it shouldn't be a spur of the moment type of decision. Living with dogs is a lot like finding the right key for the right lock.

If your family loves having guests over, a livestock guardian breed (Great Pyrenees, Anatolian Shepherd, Akbash, etc) may not be the right choice for you, but a gun dog (pointers, setters, etc) could be a great fit!

If you would rather take a lazy stroll around the neighborhood than run a marathon, maybe consider a Great Dane over a Viszla.

Being truly honest about your lifestyle and your expectations will help you avoid the frustration of trying to make the key fit into the wrong lock.

14/04/2022

Dog body language is subtle...until it's not.

One thing that I always make sure to cover with clients is the early signs of stress. When we acknowledge early that our dogs are experiencing some sort of stress - good or bad - we can intervene all the sooner.

Often times our dogs escalate to things like growls, snaps, or bites because their more subtle signs were ignored - likely because we as owners weren't taught to look for those signs.

If we pay attention and listen to our dog's small signs of discomfort with situations, they feel secure enough in our ability to help them and they don't continue to climb the ladder.

What body language sign in the image below is new to you?