🍂🍁 Here are some must-do fall enrichment activities for your pup — because loving this season isn’t just for people! 🎃🐾
Jumping in a pile of leaves – Nothing screams fall like your dog diving headfirst into a pile of crunchy leaves. Bonus points for capturing those mid-jump pics! 🍁📸
Attend fall dog-friendly events – From pup parades to dog costume contests, there are plenty of fall events to show off your dog's autumn style (pumpkin bandana, anyone?). 🎃🐶
Visit an apple orchard or pumpkin patch – Dogs and pumpkins are a fall match made in heaven. Your pup will love exploring the scents, sights, and maybe even snagging a fresh apple snack. 🍏🐕
Host a fall photoshoot – Grab your pup, some flannel, and a pumpkin! Keep the session short so your furry model stays engaged and ready to show off that classic ‘fall vibe’. 🍂📷
Go on a coffee date – You get your pumpkin spice latte, and your dog gets a pupcup. It’s the ultimate fall coffee date—just make sure your pup knows it’s their turn to treat! ☕🐶
Looking for more enrichment ideas? Check out our Enrichment Guide. Comment "enrichment" and we'll send you a link!
#theconfidenthound #wacotx #wacotexas #wacotown #dogsofwaco #autumnvibes #fallactivities
I know your feed is probably full right now of election chatter and Black Friday ads, so here’s a little palate cleanser to brighten your day! 🐶✨
I hope these pawsitive vibes from my senior pup give you a reason to smile today! 😊🐾
#theconfidenthound #rescuedogsofinsta #wacotexas #wacotx #wacotown #dogsofwaco #dogsoftexas
🎃👻 Got a stranger danger dog who isn't a fan of Halloween visitors? Here are some tips to help them stay calm when trick-or-treaters come knocking:
🔸Create A Safe Space – Set up a cozy, quiet room where your dog can retreat, away from the doorbell and spooky sounds. 🛋️🧸
🔸Use White Noise Or Calming Music – Drown out the doorbell and chatter with soothing sounds or white noise. 🎶
🔸Give Them Something To Do – Keep them busy with a puzzle toy or chew during peak trick-or-treating hours. 🧩🍖
🔸Practice Ahead Of Time – Do some mock doorbell practice with treats so your dog can associate the sound with something positive. 🍬🐕
🔸Costume Caution – Keep costumes simple or skip them altogether if they stress your dog out—let them rock their natural look! 🐾👑
Remember, Halloween is all about fun! It shouldn't be stressful for your pup OR you.
#theconfidenthound #notricksjusttreats #reactivedog #fearfuldog #anxiousdog #nervousdog #howloween #wacotexas #wacotx #wacotown #dogsofwaco #dogsoftexas
This myth has been busted so many times, it's like a drug lord that keeps hiring undercover cops.
The idea of an Alpha, Pack leader, or dominant dog are all completely false. It was introduced to the world in the mid-20th century and has been impossible to kill since. The researcher who coined the term even wrote a second book retracting the conclusions of his flawed study. This myth is like the chlamydia of the dog training industry.
Here are the facts:
🔹Neither dogs nor wolves have an “Alpha” leader. Wolf packs are family units where the parents take responsibility for leading their offspring, as you would expect.
🔹Modern day dogs and wolves are as similar genetically as we are to chimpanzees. They share a lot of DNA, but their behavior, temperament, and environment have evolved along different paths over the past 20,000 years.
🔹Wolves may be “pack” animals, but dogs are not. Dogs are social animals, but they don't form packs when left to their own devices. Stray dogs tend to live solitarily, only occasionally working together to find food.
🔹Dogs do not have fixed relationship hierarchies with each other. They do not have dominant or submissive personalities. They choose how to interact with each other on a case by case basis and given the history between the dogs and each dog's desired outcome. Dogs are interested in avoiding and de-escalating conflict when they feel they can. All of the same goes for their relationship with you.
🤔 If this takes you by surprise and you want to dig deeper - GOOD! You should be skeptical of what you read online. You're my kind of people and I'm happy to provide links to more information. Comment MYTH on the post and I'll DM you some resources.
#theconfidenthound #wacotexas #wacotx #wacotown #dogsofwaco #dogsoftexas #dogbehavior #dogbehaviour
#dogtraining101 #puppytraining101 #dogtrainingadvice #dogtrainingtips #puppytrainingtips #puppysocialization #forcefreedogtraining #dominanceisdead #alphamyths
🚫 Avoid These Common Puppy Socialization Mistakes! 🐾
1️⃣ Waiting On Vaccines: Socialization shouldn’t be delayed until your puppy’s vaccines are complete. The AVSAB recommends socializing your pup early, even with proper safety measures to protect against diseases. There are plenty of safe ways to expose your puppy to new experiences!
2️⃣ Not Being Intentional: Socialization should be a focused activity, not just multitasking. Set aside time to introduce your puppy to new experiences and environments intentionally. Also, start teaching them to enjoy independent play and spending time alone, which helps them adapt to daily life.
3️⃣ Going To Overcrowded Spaces: While dog parks and daycares have their place, they shouldn’t be the primary way your puppy learns about interacting with other dogs. Supervised playdates with well-matched dogs offer a better opportunity for positive, controlled socialization.
4️⃣ Allowing Interactions TOO Soon: Avoid letting kids or others hold your puppy too soon. Kids might not always hold your pup gently, which can create fear. Instead, let your puppy approach and interact with children on their own terms to build positive associations.
5️⃣ Overexposure: Limit how often your puppy interacts with strangers. Overexposure can lead to reactivity in the future. Teach your pup that most people are just background characters and should be calmly ignored, helping them stay well-adjusted.
🐶 Need guidance on effective puppy socialization?
👇 Comment “socialization” to learn more about our effective puppy training services that focus on socialization and training on all of the common puppy antics right here in Waco!
#theconfidenthound #wacotexas #wacotx #wacotown #dogsofwaco #dogsoftexas #puppytrainingtips #puppysocialization #puppytraining101
POV: Having a puppy is hard! It's normal to feel overwhelmed, but you don't have to do this alone. 🐶 Take the guesswork out of raising a confident puppy with our Puppy Primer.
Comment "puppy primer" to purchase this digital guide to raising your new puppy and find the support you deserve.
#theconfidenthound #wacotexas #wacotx #wacotown #dogsofwaco #dogsoftexas #puppytrainingtips #puppysocialization
Ace is our CFO (Chief Floof Officer) for a reason 🐕😂🐾
#theconfidenthound #mememonday #dogmemesdaily #dogmemeofinsta #dogmoms #dogmomproblems #dogparent #dogdadsofinstagram #dogdadlife #wacotexas #wacotx #wacotown #dogsofwaco #dogsoftexas
Thought you adopted a puppy but ended up with a baby shark? Turn your pup's playful biting into proper chewing habits and solve your other puppy challenges with our Puppy Primer Guide.
Comment "puppy primer" to purchase today! 🦈🐾
Are you a new puppy parent in Waco? DM me to learn more about our personalized, in-person training services tailored just for you and your pup! #theconfidenthound #wacotexas #wacotx #wacotown #dogsofwaco #dogsoftexas #puppytrainingtips #puppysocialization
Looking for a tasty way to keep your pup cool this summer? Try our Protein Pupsicle recipe! My toddler had a blast making 'doggy ice cream' with me, and it was a hit with our dog too. It turned out to be a fun and enriching activity for all of us! Looking for more ways to provide enrichment for your pup?
Comment "enrichment" to purchase our Canine Enrichment Guide and channel your dog’s frustrating behaviors into fulfilling activities.
Why "No" Isn't In My Dog Training Vocabulary 🚫
Of all the training cues that I teach to dogs, "No" has never been one of them. Dogs can only learn the meaning of words that are tied to a specific experience. If you teach your dog to "sit", they learn that this word is a request for the seated position. That behavior is something they can actually DO. Whereas the word "No" simply indicates the absence of something they're doing. It gives no information about what is the correct choice to make in that moment. We might understand what we mean by "No" in any given moment (e.g., Stop jumping on me, Don't steal that shoe, I don't want to play right now), but dogs can't understand such a generalized request. Even if they could, the dog would still have to guess which behavior in that moment you want stopped. Moreover, that answer seems to change everytime the word "No" is used!
However, an affirmative cue can shift the dog from having to answer a multiple choice question to knowing exactly what you want. Here's the replacement for the examples used above:
*** When NO means "Stop jumping on me" --> Teach the OFF cue to mean "move your paws down from the surface you are currently on".
*** When NO means "Don't take that shoe" --> Teach the DROP cue to mean "release that object from your mouth".
*** When NO means "I don't want to play right now" --> Teach the ALL DONE phrase to signal "this activity is ending now". 🚫 "No" simply doesn't reliably work to accomplish your training goals. Both dogs and humans are the most successful when given specific information that guides us to the correct answer, then rewarded for making that choice.
Ready to ditch "No" and see real results? Waco Dog Parents can comment "dog training" to get started on their training journey! 🐶💡
#theconfidenthound #wacotexas #wacotx #wacotown #dogsofwaco #dogsoftexas #dogbehavior #dogbehaviour
#dogtraining101 #puppytraining101 #dogtrainingadvice #dogtrainingtips #puppytrainingtips #puppysocia
Tired of your puppy's antics—like chewing your favorite shoes or having accidents indoors?
Ready to make puppy parenting a breeze?
Comment “puppy primer” and we’ll DM you a link to purchase our Puppy Primer Training Guide to help find solutions to manage those puppy antics that I know are just stressing you out.
Are you a new puppy parent in Waco? Send me a DM to learn more about our personalized, in-person training services tailored just for you and your pup!
#theconfidenthound #wacotexas #wacotx #wacotown #dogsofwaco #dogsoftexas #puppytrainingtips #puppysocialization #puppytraining101 #forcefreedogtraining
Did you know that we offer a variety of FREE resources to help you find solutions to your dog’s undesirable behaviors or reach your training goals? Comment "free resources" to help you get started off on the right paw.
#theconfidenthound #wacotexas #wacotx #wacotown #dogsofwaco #dogsoftexas #dogbehavior #dogbehaviour
#dogtraining101 #puppytraining101 #dogtrainingadvice #dogtrainingtips #puppytrainingtips #puppysocialization #forcefreedogtraining
