Two Paws Up

15/04/2023

Whew, an amazing tribute and an inspiring story.

I read this as I slowly walked along the neighborhood streets with Layla, my companion and supporter. She is a bulldog mix who will be 12, and still loves her slow “sniffaries”…especially on the weekends when I have time to let her choose the route.
Get out and do something fun with your dog and remember to appreciate this moment.🙏❤️🐾💕

The shelter pup got one member on her feet physically and emotionally. As he aged over 15 years of exploration together, she found herself returning the favor.

12/04/2023

Hi Everybody,
It’s Dogbite Prevention Week.
This is some clear guidance that comes from a trustworthy source: The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists.
Read on! 🐾

25/03/2023

Thank you Monterey and Santa Cruz Animal Care Services.
I want to give a shout-out to all the local rescues and animal care services for the help they have provided our animals during the floods, and during the preceding fires.
Heartfelt thanks to all the employees and volunteers.

At first light on Saturday, March 11, members of the SPCA Monterey County’s disaster response team were on the ground in Pajaro, wading into flooded chicken coops to retrieve backyard

17/03/2023

Saw this in my feed this morning and it reminded me of my journey with my Molly who was a very good dog and we learned a lot together.

Dogs who wear muzzles are good dogs. Dogs who aren’t dog friendly are good dogs. Dogs who are leash reactive are good dogs. Dogs who need space are good dogs. Dogs who are scared of strangers are good dogs.

If you see someone clearly making steps to avoid you or your dog while you are out walking, please respect them.

If someone lets you know that their dog needs space or isn’t dog friendly, please respect them.

If you see someone clip their dog on lead when you approach, clip yours on too and give them space.

Some dogs don't want to interact with other dogs or people and that's fine. I'm sure you don't want to interact with everyone you see either! They still deserve to have a great quality of life and go everywhere yours gets to go as long as they are taking the right precautions.

Having a dog that needs space is a challenge all of its own, but we are doing our best to advocate for them to insure they live the best lives we can give them. Training can't happen at all unless we take these dogs into public places. To everyone with friendly dogs, please don’t be offended and please don't judge. A nervous dog can happen to anyone at anytime. Instead of playing the blame game, let's all try make that dog's life more comfortable and its owners life much easier by being understanding 🖤
Picture credit : whole dog journal.
- hope, the rescued street dog ❤️🐾

🌟For help with barking/ lunging or aggression towards other people or dogs on walks our online reactivity course is available via this link:

Want to take part in a dog sport with your reactive dog?

Look up mantrailing Global.

🖥️https://unleashingpossibilities.thinkific.com/

23/12/2021

Hey Santa Cruz County!
‘Tis the season!
Author and editor Nancy Kerns relates a learning experience she had in college that influenced her approach to donating.

Whole Dog Journal‘s mission is to provide dog guardians with in-depth information on dog food, training, behavior, health, and more.

15/12/2021

Hey Santa Cruz County! Check out this great post by Merissa from Paws and Reward!
I love this example because it helps to explain and demonstrate what your dog may look like as they get more stimulated by things in their environment.

14/12/2021

Another great idea about adding in bits of cooperative care into your normal day.

30/11/2021

I love the creativity and “gamifying” that was used to make giving oral meds to her dog fun! Thank you Animal Behavior Clinic! (Another source for excellent information.)

14/11/2021

Hey Santa Cruz County!
Last weekend I was inspired by Linlin Cao’s cooperative care presentation at the Control Unleashed conference to stop procrastinating and get working on Cooperative Care with Layla!
Here’s a quick off the cuff video of what we did yesterday to help Layla get used to the new (much quieter) Dremel that was recommended by Wirecutter.

04/11/2021

Are you looking for a family companion? Consider adopting an older one one from a shelter. There are significant benefits from choosing older pets that you may not have thought about! Read on…

Whole Dog Journal‘s mission is to provide dog guardians with in-depth information on dog food, training, behavior, health, and more.

22/10/2021

22/10/2021

22/10/2021

25/09/2021

I love this short YouTube video from Susan Garrett about dog body language!
This is good information or anyone to have, even if you’re not a dog owner.

https://youtu.be/rZLXI9H3Aro

Leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

​This episode could save your dog's life. It could save a child. It could prevent ​someone from getting a serious injury from a dog. A dog has many ways to c...

27/12/2020

Hey Santa Cruz County!
Take a look at this simple and clear method to teach animals and people new skills. As a registered nurse and a dog trainer, I absolutely love how this teaching method rippled out from the animal training world and now is being used for all kinds of applications in the human world, including training nurses and doctors!!

TAGteach Member and Online Learner LoginLogin HereYou need to login to see your content.If you're new, it may take 5 minutes to receive the login welcome email for your online course, webinar or other content. Please wait 5 minutes then check your email (including spam). If you forgot your password...

20/12/2020

Hey Santa Cruz County!
This is an excellent article from the Whole Dog Journal written by Pat Miller who used to be a local! It guides us on how to provide safe and healthy introductions for your dogs.
Although we are in lockdown again, it won't last forever and we will all be able to be out and about with our pups! The pandemic has really affected our dogs socialization (and ours too!). When we can gather again, remember to take it slow, set your dog up for success by doing single dog introductions in a neutral place - not your yard or the other dog's yard. Pay attention to your dog's body language and keep it a positive experience for them.
Now I'm off to enjoy a morning walk with my girl!

Given that our canine companions are a social species, you might think introducing two dogs would be a simple matter of turning them loose together and letting them take care of the rest. If only it were so?! If you have ever been present when a canine meet-and-greet suddenly exploded into a whirlwi...

17/11/2020

Check out Dr Jen’s Dog Blog for a good post with spot-on tips for helping your anxious dog get more comfortable with visitors:
www.drjensdogblog.com

Adventures and musings of a behavior vet and dog trainer

23/03/2020

I just completed my first “virtual/remote” consultation (via FaceTime) with a couple who rescued a dog from our local shelter. It went very well. At the end both my clients and I were happy with the results!

If you and your dog need a little training help during this stressful time, please give me a call!

22/03/2020

Hi Santa Cruz County!
awesome FB Live going on now on Puppy Culture’s page! Good information being covered - applicable to *all dogs* not just puppies!
Come watch with me!

20/03/2020

Hi Friends!
This came across my feed just as my foster dog was grumbling and whining at me for some engagement!! Serendipity!

Looking for simple and fun indoor games for your dog? Check out this list of 10 easy games you can play inside to keep your dog entertained, exercised and busy.

14/03/2020

Hi Santa Cruz County!
I wanted to share this link to a “feel good edition” of the Audubon’s Society newsletter with you because it triggered some smiles and a lighter heart at the start of my Saturday - even if it isn’t related to dog training!

Share one thing that makes you smile today!

< For me it was the sweet picture of a Sandhill Crane with her two chicks hurrying along behind her. (Audubon Photography Awards
15 Awww-Inspiring Photos of Baby Birds)>

https://click.everyaction.com/k/16074275/170352298/-1307660068?ms=digital-eng-email-ea-x-engagement_20200316_eng-email_%5Baudience%5D&utm_source=ea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=engagement_20200316_eng-email&utm_content=%5Baudience%5D&nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9UU00vVFNNQVUvMS81NjQ5MCIsDQogICJEaXN0cmlidXRpb25VbmlxdWVJZCI6ICIzZGVkMGUzMC1mNDY1LWVhMTEtYTk0Yy0wMDE1NWQwM2I1ZGQiLA0KICAiRW1haWxBZGRyZXNzIjogIm1vcnJvd2xlZUBhdHQubmV0Ig0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=OFmQw-6CstMtSbDgblO2X5u97BDcphT-oIyZwknWERM=&emci=99e1dfad-4f65-ea11-a94c-00155d03b5dd&emdi=3ded0e30-f465-ea11-a94c-00155d03b5dd&ceid=259083

Mounting scientific evidence supporting the health benefits of the outdoors is helping shape innovations in medicine, education, and more.

08/03/2020

Hi Everybody!
Who doesn’t love videos of puppies playing?! This one has a bonus, it helps you recognize the body language the puppies are using to communicate with each other as they are learning to socialize.

https://youtu.be/3PgIwghSiCU

In this episode of Beacon’s Body Language Breakdowns, we look at some healthy, mutually fun play between two golden retriever puppies. Learn the communicatio...

23/02/2020

School is in! Teaching a hand target. This is a building block behavior that is so useful in many different contexts

06/02/2020

Hey Folks!
Grab a class, help you and your dog communicate better while helping to support a wonderful instructor at the same time! Everybody wins!

From Denise Fenzi:
Julie is back in the ring with cancer - she won once and we expect her to win again.

To help raise funds -and allow you to have something super cool at the same time - you can purchase most of Julie's classes right now in a special self study section. The cost is $65 and 100% of that will go to Julie to address her significant, and rising, medical bills.

Let's help her beat this one more time.

https://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/index.php/26446

Online dog training classes for obedience, rally, agility, tracking, nosework, dog behavior, freestyle, and foundation skills.

30/01/2020

Sometimes we make snap decisions without fully considering all of the possible consequences. The following blog is full of almost unbearable questions- but thinking about them may help us become better people for our dogs.

Readers, dog owners, can I ask you a question? Or, actually, a few related questions: If you had to put a dollar figure on it, what would your dog’s life be worth to you? How would you justify that figure? And, for those of you who have actually HAD TO put a dollar figure on …

23/01/2020

Welfare-based dog training: this concept makes sense to me. Always training from the perspective of enhancing the dog’s overall quality of life.
Supporting their biological, behavioral and emotional needs!
🐶🐾

20/01/2020

Want to teach your dog something new?

Does your dog have a “witching hour” when they make you crazy?!

Try doing some short 2-5 minute trick training sessions! It’s fun! 🐾

20 of Kikopup’s all time favorite dog trick tutorials she has created over the last decade to help you train your dog like a professional! The dog trick tuto...

08/01/2020

Hey Santa Cruz County!
Did you know that this is One Health Awareness month?

Senator Dianne Feinstein passed a resolution that designates January 2020 as ‘‘National One Health Awareness Month’’ in order to promote awareness of organizations focused on public health, animal health, and environmental health collaboration!

🌟One Health is a collaborative, cross-disciplinary approach working at local, regional, national, and global levels to achieve optimal health and well-being outcomes while recognizing and supporting the interconnections between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment. 🌟

Join me in acknowledging and being thankful our interconnections!