ZenPaws Animal Care and Training

30/09/2023

Now you may be wondering, "Lacey, you love dogs so much, what are you going to do with yourself?"
Well, the good news is I will still be doing dog training! I have noticed a lot of local rescues need support, but cannot really afford it. I have decided to offer my services pro-bono to the local rescues I support, so I am still able to do one of the things I love the best. You can find me supporting The Church of Pug, Bulldog Haven NW, Herding Home rescue and The Ellensburg Yakima Humane branch!

30/09/2023

To all of my dearly loved petsit families,
Thank you for entrusting the care of your furry family members to me for the last 10 years! I have been honored to join you on this journey, and as much as it saddens me to have to say goodbye, It is time for a change in career! I have lined up several wonderful professionals to take over in my place, and I wanted to create a bridge of contact between all of us! Both of these professionals have taken care of my personal pets, and I know they would provide the best of care to all of your babies!
First up is Charles Harding. He is one of the top rated sitters in Ellensburg! We became fast friends over our mutual love of animals! He specializes in dog walking, drop in visits, and hosting well behaved other animal friendly pups in his home! Contact Charles at, [email protected] or (509)731-0705. He may be looking to expand his services in the future, so make sure to check in with him!
Next up is Grace Roberts! She is one of the sweetest people I know, and worked with me at Waggin’ Tails Ranch. She is great with dogs, cats and farm animals! She specializes in overnight pet and house sitting. You can reach out to her at [email protected] or (509)607-1719.
Finally, if you have an emergency and both these lovely people are booked or unavailable, please feel free to contact me. I may be able to put you in touch with someone else or help you myself!
Thank you again for all the years of love and support!
Lacey Crichton

05/08/2023

Hi friends! First of all, I want to thank you for all of your support! I would not be where I am without you all!

I just wanted to put it out there that I will no longer be taking new petsit clients as of august of this year! I am more than happy to give out referrals if needed! I will be looking at transitioning out of providing petsitting as (except on a very limited basis) by next year! I will be available for training a little bit more, but will only be taking new clients on in a very limited basis. Lifestyle changes have helped me reach the conclusion that my time in the animal husbandry world may have reached its end, and it may be time for a career change.
That being said, my clients are friends and family to me, and I will help you get settled with new care if needed!
Love you all so much! 🧡🧡🧡🧡

03/08/2023

*adopted*
Found pup. If you recognize this dog, please contact the Ellensburg Animal Shelter at 509-925-7387. Proof of ownership will be required to claim.

02/08/2023

This is going to be a good listen!

"I like dogs more than people!"

That’s something of a brag in this business, and it’s very common. I think I may have even said that when I started 2 decades ago, before I became fascinated with the human animal and I learned more skills, like compassionate communication and cultivating an empathy practice.

A lack of empathy toward humans is actually antithetical to helping dogs. For one thing, it can lead people to use aversive experiences to get people to stop using aversives. I know we can do better. A practice of empathy is a distant antecedent that sets us up to be kinder to one another. When we trust the science of learning and also nourish compassion, we can delve more deeply and invite change instead of forcing it.

We all care so much for non-human animals and are constantly learning to view life from their perspective. I know we can develop that same compassion and care for our own species.

Don't get me wrong, I still get frustrated with human animals, including myself. But I also have resilient faith in our ability to learn.

That's why I'm bringing TED talk presenter Karen Faith to teach an on-demand session in the Academy on Empathy.

In "Human Animals: The 5 Laws of Empathy," you'll learn about:
* Empathy as a practice
* The 5 Laws of Empathy: Impartiality, Multiplicity, Immediacy, Sovereignty, and Diplomacy
* Playing Catch: receiving imperfect communications
* The 4 Twists: What I Meant, What I Said, What You Heard, and What You Understood
* Who We Are vs How We Are

The 1-hour (ish) webinar will be available mid-August and you can register now to get it when it comes out. As always, this is available at no charge to Diamond members of the Grisha Stewart Academy (and you also get a free listing in our new Empowered Animals Dog Pro Directory).

Empathy is a universal human practice, we can all benefit. This webinar will apply to everybody, but it is also aimed at dog trainers and other dog professionals. Thanks in advance for sharing.

https://school.grishastewart.com/courses/empathy

02/08/2023

We recommend starting your puppy off on the right paw with puppy social classes at Waggin' Tails Ranch! What a great foundation for your puppy 🧡

21/07/2023

https://www.akc.org/sports/akc-family-dog-program/akc-fit-dog/

Do you walk with your dog pretty regularly? Look at these cool titles you can earn with your dog all while working on your fitness goals!

Now more than ever, fitness is important for both dogs and people. The most commonly recommended exercise to improve fitness is walking. Walking is considered a safe activity that improves muscular strength, circulation, memory, weight loss, increases energy, helps with sleep, and reduces stress. Th...

21/07/2023

*adopted*
Found kitten, please contact the Ellensburg Animal Shelter at 509-925-7387. Proof of ownership will be required to claim.

20/07/2023

20/07/2023

We are so so happy for Niko!!! 💓💓💓

Niko has officially been adopted! This sweet, silly boy came to us back in March as a stray and has been filling our days with laughter ever since. Needless to say, the smile on his face matched the staff's reaction! Wishing this guy and his new family many adventures ahead! 🥰

14/07/2023

It’s “Dangerous Dave’s birthday today, so naturally that means a pup cup and a river walk! 💓

14/07/2023

Hi lovely followers! I am beginning the hunt to look for rental space to host classes, indoor enrichment and private training! I have been checking Zillow and other places where something like that might be found, but no such luck! Do any of y’all have any suggestions? 💓

09/07/2023

*Returned to Owner*
Found dog. If you recognize this dog, please contact the Ellensburg Animal Shelter at 509-925-7387. Proof of ownership will be required to claim.

09/07/2023

Positive reinforcement training using food works. It's fun and helps build a great bond with your dog. Here's what's wrong with articles that say otherwise.

09/07/2023

💡Understanding your dog's threshold is crucial in managing their reactivity and anxiety levels. It helps you determine the optimal distance or intensity at which to expose your dog to triggers that cause their reactivity during behaviour modification exercises. By keeping your dog emotionally below ‘threshold’, you can create a more controlled and comfortable environment for your dog, allowing them to remain calm and responsive.

When the concept of “going over threshold” is brought up, people often envision a dog barking, snarling, or displaying aggressive behaviour. However, it is important to recognise that “going over threshold” means crossing over into an emotionally distressed state, which may manifest as shutting down, freezing, exhibiting overly excitable behaviour, or becoming so distracted that there is a loss of connection.

⚖️Pushing a dog beyond their comfort zone (threshold) can lead to heightened anxiety, fear, and potentially aggressive behaviour. It is essential to respect and work within their threshold levels to ensure their emotional well-being which in turn will help facilitate effective training and behaviour modification.

When a dog is over threshold, they are primarily reacting rather than thinking – they are in a fight-flight, freeze, fidget, or fawn state. Their emotional and physiological responses are heightened, making it difficult for them to ‘listen’ or respond to cue’s. They may be too overwhelmed or focused on the perceived threat to process information effectively.

Through systematic desensitization (gradual exposure therapy), and counter-conditioning (changing an emotional response) techniques, you can help raise your dog's tolerance levels towards a stimulus that causes emotional distress over time. By carefully managing their exposure to triggers and pairing it with positive experiences and rewards, you can help them develop more resilience and confidence, allowing them to handle challenging situations with greater ease.

Mardi Richmond MA, CPDT-KA describes it as: -
“Consider the threshold of a front door. When you cross a threshold, you move from one space to another. A behaviour threshold is a similar concept; it is when your dog crosses from one emotional state to another. If you spend time with a dog that is concerned about other dogs, you have probably witnessed the moment when he or she moves from seemingly okay into out-of-control behaviour. That is going over threshold.”

When a dog is over threshold, teaching them new behaviours or trying to modify their behaviour becomes challenging and would be inappropriate to do at that moment in time as they are not in the right frame of mind for learning to take place. Their heightened state makes it difficult for them to learn and retain new information. It is important to bring the dog back to a ‘sub-threshold’ state before attempting any training or behaviour modification.

✏️Furthermore, thresholds are not fixed and can fluctuate. Unlike physical thresholds like a front door, emotional and behavioural thresholds can fluctuate depending on various factors. These factors include the dog's current state of arousal, the environment, previous experiences, and the specific trigger or stimulus.
Having awareness of the dog's threshold levels and being vigilant in their behaviour and responses is crucial for effective management and training.

Adjusting the distance, intensity, or duration of exposure to triggers based on the dog's threshold can help create a more conducive learning environment and prevent the dog from becoming over threshold.

09/07/2023

Find out why force-free dog training is better for your dog and why you should avoid balanced training techniques or tools like shock or prong collars.

09/07/2023

I am currently exploring the option of creating a "Kids 'N' Dogs" type class. Would any of y'all be interested or have friends/family who would be interested?

09/07/2023

Hey friends! I have updated rates and services available now! Take a peek, and feel free to message for booking! I only book about a month in advance, unless you are an established petsit client putting dates on the books! If you are wanting something for August, let me know ASAP!

Petsit rates 2023-2024

(in town is defined as 10 minutes from 14th ave any direction)

In town single drop in visit (Dogs)- $17-20 per hour

In town daily rate, includes 3 drop in visits (non overnight) - $45-$50 per day

In town overnight, includes drop in visits during the day as well as staying overnight- $55-$60

In town Drop in rate for cats is $15-17 depending on tasks needed

Out of town drop in visit- $25
Out of town daily - $50-60 per day
Out of town overnight - $60-70 per day

Dog walking (includes an hour walk) - $25
Dog training session (trainer with dog) $30-45 per hour
Dog trainer session (Dog, trainer and dog parents) $50-$60 per hour

These rates are subject to change depending on agreement between clients and myself!

09/07/2023

07/07/2023

Improve your dog walks with these 4 tips! 🦮

Remember, dogs walk faster than us and do not come preprogrammed to know how to walk nicely on leash (wouldn’t that be nice?!).

Stay patient and focus on all the variables that you *do* have control over, like bringing treats with you on walks, having a properly fitting harness, and thinking about how to tactically avoid potential triggers.

🌟 Bonus Trainer Tip: if you are struggling with where to begin this type of training, start inside! Walk your dog in the living room or down the hallway. This will help you practice your leash handling skills, timing of treat delivery, and help your dog focus more since there will be less distractions than outside.

What are some things you do to help your dog walks go more smoothly? Let me know in the comments. ⬇️

23/05/2023

Dogs do not have the concept of morality. Dogs do not do things because it is morally right- but because it is safe, feels good, and fulfills a need.

Believing a dog has morals leads to a pitfall with punishment.

If a dog is punished for p**ping in the house, he doesn't learn that it is "wrong" to p**p in the house, only that is is unsafe to p**p when you are around. So instead he learn to hold it until you are out of sight, or he may leave to do it in a back room or under the bed.

A dog does not "know better" than to chew your shoe, root through the trash, or steal your sandwich. He does it because he likes to chew, or wants the tasty food. It is as simple as that.

It is our job to teach our dogs how to coexist in our human world, without assuming he knows what the "right" thing to do it. Help him make good choices, be your dog's safe space and his teacher.

Need help bridging the gap in communication with your dog? Reach out for a free training discussion!

23/05/2023

The chemical signals your cat leaves behind—and how they play an important role in your cat’s relationship with their environment and you.

23/05/2023

We love our friend Jess in Yakima! Congratulations SmartyPaws PNW!!!

Today we celebrate Jess Capen! YWCA Yakima is on a mission to empower women. was created to celebrate and highlight the amazing women & in the . We are proud to share more about Jess.

What is one word that describes you perfectly?
Resilient.

What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
Try to be a compassionate leader who is honest and humble, who practices empathy, and models charity. Honesty is severely needed in todays leadership. An honest leader will always tell the truth. A humble leader sees themselves as part of the solution and gives credit where credit is due. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. An empathetic leader can understand where others are coming from. And a charitable leader is always willing to help those in need. Imagine all those traits combined in one leader. It can be done. It can be you.

If you could have one super power what would it be?
If I could have any superpower it would be the ability to talk to animals. Not only would it make my job easier, it would also be really cool.

How do you measure success?
I measure success by setting goals for myself. Some of those goals are super small like getting up in the morning. Some of those goals are larger like obtaining a grant for my work. I set a LOT of smaller goals so that each day is successful for me.

I am empowered by ­­­­___________________?
I am empowered by seeing the “aha” moments from those I teach. As a dog trainer, I like seeing that moment when someone understands the science behind what I do. Every time I see that, it keeps me pushing forward to help more people understand their dogs better.

Optional: What is your occupation?
Dog Trainer

16/05/2023

OTHELLO - The Adams County Pet Rescue (ACPR) could be forced to close soon due to multiple parvo outbreaks and lack of funding.They say their closure could mea

13/05/2023

Aversive training methods can harm our pets and our relationship with them. Choose trainers who use reward-based methods. BC SPCA's AnimalKind accredited trainers are the best in the field, and they will help you build a relationship of trust with your dog.

13/05/2023

13/05/2023

It is gaslighting to be told that, by taking a clear ethical stance against the use of aversives, we somehow injure trainers who do use aversives. A new blog post by Academy founder Jean Donaldson.

https://www.academyfordogtrainers.com/uncategorized/reality-testing/

13/05/2023

How could you not give that nose a BOOP 👆🏼

07/04/2023

This hits the nail on the head!

I know this post will trigger some 😂

Dog training SHOULDN’T look dramatic.

If it looks like the dog and handler are in a massive battle for “dominance”, the method sucks.

It’s easy to get caught up with what we see on TV or social.

These dramatic videos where a dog is throwing itself at the end of the leash, barking, or even trying to bite. “Miraculously” in a few minutes (through extreme corrections typically) the dog appears “cured”.

Cue a massive round of applause in the comment section….

The sad part? We’ve normalized and glorified inappropriate training. Suppression isn’t good training, yet many feel that’s how it’s SUPPOSED to look 😣

Proper dog training looks boring.

I predominantly work with aggressive or reactive dogs. You’d never know it watching a session though.

Why?? We go out of our way to manage threshold so that proper counter conditioning can work it’s magic.

It’s ok (wonderful, actually) if your sessions with your dog would make sh*tty tv.

You’re doing it right ❤️

06/04/2023

06/04/2023

Upcoming PPG Webinar:
'The Importance of Transparency in Sheltering and Rescue'
Presented by: Kate LaSala of Rescued By Training
WHEN: Wednesday, April 05, 2023 1:00 PM ET
Register today: https://petprofessionalguild.com/event-5154870

This webinar will review key questions adopters, donors and those looking to support organizations should look for, red flags to be aware of and how organizations can improve their transparency with the public.

06/04/2023

Kuzco says “crate training is important … I guess” 😂

06/04/2023

Keep your eyes peeled for our next announcements! Big things are coming! 🤩

02/04/2023

That moment when you want to use a clicker in a training session but you can't find your *good* clicker!🤣

31/03/2023

“Do not mistake good marketing for expertise”
Is something we should all be aware of. It doesn’t matter how many “ rescue boards” they sit on, or how many rescues they “help”.

Beware the self-proclaimed expert – especially those offering to board and train!

While I prefer to focus on the positives in my posts, occasionally something is brought to my attention which is too concerning to ignore. While dog training and behaviour modification remains an unregulated industry, sadly there will always be those who take advantage of the unsuspecting public and do untold harm to dogs and their people. Frighteningly, most of these experts are not deliberately deceiving the public – in fact they tend to have enormous faith in their abilities, and I honestly believe that many genuinely suffer from severe delusions of grandeur.

In the long run many of these “dog gurus” crash and burn as horror stories from their former clients spread throughout the dog community, but new ones unfortunately always pop up and by the time their popularity wanes, too many dogs have suffered irreparable harm. So, after hearing again this week of one of the most troublesome local “experts” partnering with an equally delusional individual to open a “board and train”, I felt I could no longer remain silent and needed to write a brief “warning” post which will hopefully give dog guardians some danger signs to look out for when seeking help:

1. Credible, qualified trainers do not need to boast about their popularity or status. If you come across an advertisement claiming NUMBER ONE BEHAVIOURIST IN SA, SA’s TOP DOG SPECIALIST or TOP AGGRESSION EXPERT, I can absolutely guarantee you that nothing could be further from the truth. Qualified, reputable trainers allow their credentials and their client history to speak for itself. They have no need to make grandiose claims and are not trying to impress anyone.

2. Reputable trainers and behaviour practitioners will have some form of qualification or certification and they will belong to some professional body, which requires them to hold to a code of conduct. INDIVIDUALS WITH NO EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND, THOSE WHO DALLIED BRIEFLY WITH STUDIES AND THEN DECIDED THEY KNEW BETTER AND THOSE WITH NO TIES TO ANY PROFESSIONAL BODY OR SOCIETY WHICH REQUIRES PROFESSIONALISM AND CERTAIN STANDARDS of practice are usually operating in isolation for a reason.

3. Credible, professional trainers and behaviour counsellors will be able to explain their approach to helping dogs and their people in terms of learning theory, emotionality, physiology and ethology. ANYONE WHO RELIES ON VAGUE NOTIONS OF LEADERSHIP, DOMINANCE, PACK THEORY OR “ENERGY” IS MAKING IT UP AS THEY GO ALONG and likely using punishment without even understanding what they are doing.

4. CREDIBLE DOG PROFESSIONALS NEVER GUARANTEE RESULTS – in fact you will often hear us say “it depends” …. Behaviour is complex and there are no quick fixes. Dogs are individuals and we have to move at their pace an accommodate their needs. We cannot simply “whip them into shape” with our brilliance or charisma.

5. DON’T MISTAKE GOOD MARKETING FOR EXPERTISE – many self-proclaimed experts are supremely confident (arrogant) and are happy to sell themselves shamelessly to the public. They may be very good at this side of things and easily convince people that they know what they are doing, simply due to presentation of advertisements etc. Just remember that you are hiring someone to help your dog, not market a product of yours!

Finally, to address the “Board and Train” issue – please remember that your dog is a family member and whatever is happening with them is in the context of your family, your home and your relationship with them. Removing the dog to a new environment away from everything they know is immediately going to change how they feel and how they behave. Behaviour and training issues need to be worked through holistically in the context of your dog’s life with you – a dog is not a computer who’s hard drive needs cleaning or an appliance with a button that needs fixing and which can be sent away for repairs. It really doesn’t work like that. Your relationship with your dog and how you fulfil their needs must be central to working through any behaviour issue and this won’t happen if you are not there.

Even more concerning is that in handing your dog over to someone else to “fix” you have absolutely no idea what may be done to your dog and what lasting consequences this could have on their emotional and behavioural health. If you are told your dog will go away for a night or two and come back transformed, what do you imagine might be happening during that time? I guarantee it is nothing good. You would surely not hand your toddler over to some “expert” for a couple of days to be “sorted out”, so PLEASE don’t do this to your dog!

29/03/2023

Raise money for Hope 4 huskies

29/03/2023

In psychology, and in the concept of operant conditioning in particular, the term “positive” has a specific meaning.