Happy Hound Pet Services

28/04/2024

This is Scout, he is a lab that needs a new home. He is shy at first but he loves attention and is very friendly. He is up to date on his shots. If your are interested in him just let us know and together we can find him his furever home.

12/03/2024

More than once, this has come out of a client’s mouth in response to the ease at which I can get behaviors. It can be an ego boost to hear the surprise when I get a behavior quikly. But there are a few things to keep in mind as you begin your training journey with […]

21/09/2023

Needs rescue or a good home.

He's sweet, he's playful, and he's very loving. Unfortunately, he’s not getting along with our old grumpy dogs, although he has played with our 2 year old dog several times and they seem to like each other. He is a resource guarder with the other dogs. I haven’t tried to steal anything from him so I don't know if he'll do it to people. Resource guarding is common (most dogs would do it if not taught otherwise). It's fixable, and I'm happy to help out with training if he finds a place . We honestly would probably just keep him if it weren't for a few conflicts that weren't entirely his fault. But the rule around our house is the dogs that were there first get preferential treatment when it comes to these decisions. He'd probably be just fine with a younger, smaller crowd where the situation was easier to manage. We have 8 dogs, and sometimes a bone ends up hidden under the edge of the bed. We're used to our dogs not having an issue with it, and we're old and set in our ways.

We did get him UTD on shots and he has a clean bill of health.

Seems to be a beagle mix. Around 20 pounds, and vet guessed just over a year.

If I don’t know you well I will require references from your vet and a home check, along with $180 to cover the vet bill.

13/09/2023

13/09/2023

11/07/2023

Smile of the day...

26/06/2023

Soundproofing a dog crate. Sounds easy, right? It's not. Even the most skilled DIY-er can't overcome physics. Don't waste your time or money.

15/06/2023

Lost in Springdale Arkansas! Please be on the lookout and share this post! Let’s get her home!

02/06/2023

Once a dog bites, will it bite again? You essentially have 4 options regarding what to do if your dog bites someone.

01/02/2023

REACTIVITY REDEFINED
Although reactivity has other causes, many types of reactivity are triggered by the core emotion of fear.
The fear of whatever is making a dog feel unsafe, the fear of a valuable possession being taken away or the fear of a strange person or animal coming into their territory. Anxiety, stress, over excitement, over stimulation, feeling overwhelmed, trigger stacking, or a dog that is tired, in pain or even has chronic itching will often feel irritable and may be reactive in certain situations. When being reactive is successful in making the scary thing go away, it becomes a rewarding behaviour because it’s something that works and makes them feel better.
Reactive dogs are often misunderstood. A dog that is reacting is not trying to be difficult, they are having a difficult time coping with that particular situation and are trying their best to make the thing go away in the only way they know how.
It’s not easy to be the owner of a reactive dog. One of my dogs is reactive and I know how dogs like this can leave you feeling embarrassed, ashamed, angry or frustrated. Why do they have to be so difficult, why can’t they just behave normally? Everyone is looking at me, judging me, thinking that I’m a bad owner, have no training skills, can’t control my dog or have a unsocialised, vicious dog that shouldn’t be taken out in public.
As hard as it may be, we need to take the focus off how we as owners feel about their reactivity and focus on how our dogs are feeling and what is causing their reaction. Whatever it is, it’s not something our dogs can overcome on their own and we need to take steps to help them cope. Reactive dogs need compassion, understanding, management, force free, positive reinforcement interventions and decompression – a return to a normal, more relaxed state after a period of intense stress, psychological pressure, or urgent activity. These interventions take time and patience but are so important in helping our dogs feel safe and learn more acceptable ways of coping.
I have learnt through many mistakes, to recognise what triggers my reactive dog and take steps to either avoid those situations, provide enough distance, or provide her with an alternative choice where she feels safe and more in control. There will always be unexpected triggers around the next corner that are not within our control, but doing all we can to manage reactive triggers has so many benefits.

13/12/2022

Pets aren't little people, so if you're going to apply labels like that, ask yourself these questions first to help resolve their behaviour issues.

10/12/2022

25/10/2022

21/10/2022

It’s always so strange to think about them as old dogs. Foxy’s dad hired me to help him with her fear issues when she was a young girl. I adored her. Now she has passed. RIP dear little one. You were so very loved.

It is so hard to say goodbye. Rest easy Miss Foxy. We love you

14/06/2022

🐕 🔥

30/05/2022

Chewy found out Buster wasn’t feeling well and they sent us some swag to cheer us up!

I am absolutely a loyal customer. Not only do they have what I need at reasonable prices, they have fantastic customer service.

28/05/2022

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.

17/04/2022

Happy Easter!