Nose work on a rainy, windy day! Mental stimulation is just as important as physical exercise, esp. when you have an active breed!
#melsmuttsva #nosework #rainyday #chaseyboythemalmix #thankgodmy14yearoldknoshowtodothis
The fence is complete!!! @hurricanefencecompany did a great job! We've been working on his recall command but we're definitely more comfortable with him being enclosed! Don't worry, I'll still walk him daily! 😉
#melsmuttsva #furmissile #hurricanefencecompany #freedom #recall #powhatan #welovehavingspace #peaceandquiet
Let your dog SNIFF!!!!!
Y'all know I'm a huge fan of walking your dog daily! But there's another important aspect to walking your dog other than a robotic heel. In the middle of the walk, just give your dog time to sniff! On their terms. No rules (well, don't let them totally drag you around).
Dogs navigate their world through their noses. You'd be amazed how much mental stimulation they get from just sniffing!
So don't focus on "I walked my dog 3 miles today", but rather a good quality walk with plenty of sniffing opportunities!
#melsmuttsva #dogtraining #dogwalking #sniff #sniffari #mentalstimulation
Belle was #determined to get that root out of the ground!!!
#melsmuttsva #dumfriesdogwalker
#dumfriesdogtrainer #dogtrainingva #dogwalkingva #potomacshores #determined #goldenretriever #sticksarelife
National Puppy Day!
#melsmuttsva
National Puppy Day!
#melsmuttsva #dumfriesdogwalker #dumfriesdogtrainer #nationalpuppyday #chaseyboythemalmix
I'm so proud of this boy! We have been working very hard on his reactivity. He barks at these (squealing) kids every morning when they run to the bus stop. To watch him acknowledge the kids and then get back to sniffing for treats on the ground made my momma heart (and my trainer heart) happy!!! Good job Chasey boy!
#melsmuttsva #dumfriesdogwalker #dumfriesdogtrainer #reactivedog #consistencypaysoff #dogtraining #chaseyboythemalmix #workwithyourdog #sniff #southbridgeva
The nose knows!!! Welcome to another SNIFF-ari, where we do things "Outback" style - no rules, just right! Just let your dog sniff and be stimulated by the environment. Let him/her lead the way. Dogs navigate the world through their noses and sometimes we just need to let them SNIFF! #melsmuttsva
Our morning "sniffari" was great! It's good to let your dog use his nose and enjoy no rules (ok, maybe a few, I'm scared of snakes in the drain tube!). Grab a long leash and let your dog do his thing! For my Southbridge/Potomac Shores people, this is the path around the playground near the roller hockey rink, and it's nicely shaded in the morning! #melsmuttsva #dumfriesdogwalker #dumfriesdogtrainer #chaseyboythemalmix #nosework #potomacshores #canineenrichment
#chaseyboythemalmix is showing you guys morning routine @theholdernessfamily style!!!
The wobble board builds confidence. I will be doing agility with Chase when he gets a little older, this is good practice. #melsmuttsva
This is the first Mel's Mutts review! Today we are reviewing the Super Chewer Bark Box! This is a great product for dogs who love to chew! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Recommend!
#melsmuttsva #dumfriesdogwalker #dumfriesdogtrainer #chaseyboythemalmix #barkbox #superchewerbarkbox
Transformation Tuesday!!! Look at the improvements this team made in just a few short weeks! The appropriate harness/collar, walking consistently, and focusing on a good quality walk, not distance, was the key to their success! Keep up the good work Team Argos!!! #melsmuttsva #dumfriesdogwalker #dumfriesdogtrainer #walkyourdogdaily #pitbull #transformationtuesday
I can't stress the importance and benefits of walking your dog daily! If you're not currently in the habit, I challenge you to walk daily for the next month. It doesn't have to be a long distance or take half of your day, just aim for a good quality walk, consistently! #melsmuttsva
Scatter feed Saturday!!! Eating from a bowl can be boring, make mealtime more exciting and interactive! So maybe you have to sweep up crumbs, but if your house is anything like mine, it can afford a little sweeping!!! #melsmuttsva #dumfriesdogwalker #dumfriesdogtrainer #scatterfeeding #ditchthebowl #chaseyboythemalmix #malinoismix #dogenrichment
It's Thirsty Thursday and here's a way to let your dog play with their food. This is an easy DIY brain game with a Gatorade bottle and your pup's kibble. #melsmuttsva
Cold weather tips for waking your dog! Get elastic strings to attach your gloves/mittens so you won't lose one when you take them on and off. Secondly, use hand warmers inside your gloves so when you put your hand back inside, they're toasty! Cold weather is not an excuse to not walk your dog!
#melsmuttsva #dumfriesdogwalker #dumfriesdogtrainer #coldweathertips #hothands #noexcuses
The snow has provided serious fun for some of my pup clients! For a dog @my.sweet.vizsla who loves balls, snowballs are great entertainment! And to watch in slow motion cracks me up!
#melsmuttsva #dumfriesdogwalker #dumfriesdogtrainer #snowfun #snowball #slowmotion #gsp