Call of the K9

10/07/2024

10/06/2024

This was written to make the point about suppressing neurodivergent people’s stims. But it is also very analogous to what happens when you attempt to train out a dog behavior without understanding why they’re doing it. AND why it is so critical to rule out health issues before attempting behavior, modification. AND Why positive reinforcement does not automatically mean it is kind or humane 

31/05/2024

If any Call of the K9 alum or friends is looking for a therapy dog opportunity!!

https://ynausa.org/start-a-team/?

You’re Not Alone; (YNA;) partners with school districts within Minnesota and beyond, bringing volunteer therapy dog teams into schools to support students and staff in a variety of ways.

29/05/2024

Social Emotional Therapy Dog opportunity. I don’t know much about it. Just saw it posted in the school therapy dogs group and thought some of our families may be interested.
 https://ynausa.org/start-a-team/?

You’re Not Alone; (YNA;) partners with school districts within Minnesota and beyond, bringing volunteer therapy dog teams into schools to support students and staff in a variety of ways.

27/05/2024

I think breeders & rescue could come together if we looked at the facts.

Do breeders make money? And should they? Should breeding happen while there are dogs in need?These questions constantly float around the dog and general communities and I see a lot more judgment, martyrdom, opinions, and misinformation than I do facts. So let’s break it down.Here’s the deal. Pup...

20/04/2024

Check out my blog post https://wix.to/1QsCbBE

How puppy buyers can use health tests to make decisions and be prepared.

02/04/2024

Start planning now.

10/03/2024

23/02/2024

Sitting often takes away your dog's choice to move away from a trigger or a threat. I see this when dogs meet children. People put their dog into a sit, presumably so the dog won't jump, but then the dog can't move away if the children scare the dog. Now we've potentially created a situation where we have a dog unable to move away and if that dog is scared then their only option might be to growl or snap. This isn't ideal. I'd much rather have a dog standing, where if a child reaches and the dog is unsure, the dog can take a step backwards or decide they're free to move away. And then the person has a clear read on that dog's body language.

Quit the sit...my topic on this week's post. Let's think about when and why we ask dogs to sit. And reconsider, does it really have to be a sit? Could be a stand instead? Read my post here:
https://rescuedbytraining.com/2024/02/19/quit-the-sit/

17/02/2024

This doesn’t count as socializing to horses. But social exposure to large unfamiliar shapes and objects is actually probably more valuable anyway. 😂🐴

05/02/2024

Zaley was back at Orchard Dental for more socializing and Gabe and my appointments. She took to the love and attention, like a duck to water! She settled right in behind the desk!!

01/02/2024

Zaley, Neville & Jonah all had a great experience as usual at Orchard Dental. Neville was there to work and Zaley came to socialize.

22/01/2024

Zaley visited St. Andrews church to drop off some donations. She got new sites smells and sounds and got to see a line of bundled up children parade by and head outside. and then we hit up St. Croix Saddlery. What a treasure! I hadn’t gone in yet because I’m not a horse person. But they have tons of fun gifts, dog treats, and cute clothes.

21/01/2024

Thanks to our friends at Amy's Puppy Tzu for welcoming us and giving Zaley an opportunity for a good socialization experience in a new place with some new people and new dogs

20/01/2024

Socializing at the hardware store today!

19/01/2024

One of my favorites!

19/01/2024

Happy Friday!

19/01/2024

Zaley Socialization Day 2: We popped in unannounced, and I thought I would just stay in the lobby and let her hear the sounds, and smell the smells. But they scooped her right up, let her wander around and explore in the back and gave her a tour of the place.

19/01/2024

Zaley Day 1 Socialization: kickboxing, elementary school, and OT clinic. She met a diverse group of children and some adults at each place. However, it is for some reason unfashionable to take pictures of strangers, children and post them on public sites. 😂. This place is also provide unusual shapes movements, new sites, smells and sounds for her. We kept all the visits short made sure she felt safe and went at low-key times.

19/01/2024

We started the introductions with the three other dogs in the house slowly. First, she and Neville learned they have a common interest in snuggling. Then we let her get comfortable in the playroom before bringing the other dogs in. I had not expected any problems and there were not any. So not a great one for examples of how to do this in a more challenging situation. But a good case for socialization because it makes things like this easy in the first place.

19/01/2024

How it’s going. The raised platform has become a napping spot. No problem. The texture is still providing sensory enrichment. She can get in and out of the bee bed, which I had not expected. She did not like the texture of the alfalfa on her feet which I also unfortunately expected. You have to start the litter box training, closer to two or three weeks of age. But I thought it was worth a shot because it’s such an easy transition to grass and they’re less likely to generalize it to other soft surfaces in the house. But we have accepted that it’s going to be potty pads.

19/01/2024

How it started. Gabe labeled everything in her pen with cones so she could learn her way around. Before bringing Zaley home here was her pen set up: crate with no door, but warm, cozy, blankets inside and right in front of the heating vent so it is a toasty cozy place. Bee bed, cozy, cute, and good sensory enrichment. vinyl tablecloth as the flooring. Soft side protects the hardwood. Vinyl side is waterproof. Alfalfa potty area. (alfalfa smells like grass.) food and water on a textured platform for added, sensory and cognitive enrichment. Wardrobe at the ready.

19/01/2024

Our family is over the moon to announce our newest addition. Meet 13 a week old Zaley (Azelia) our baby Shih Tzu. I had been posting about her on my personal page and I got requests to share her socialization journey. So I will be narrating it here through reels, posts and stories.

11/01/2024

Scatter feeding is the best bang for the buck for enrichment impact, a potential behavior solution and ease for the family! 

08/01/2024

Tips for Better Snow and Ice Management Colder weather brings slippery walkways and parking lots. While salt reduces ice and can help keep us safe, it harms pets and wildlife, pollutes groundwater, lakes and the Mississippi River, and damages buildings, cars, landscaping and roadways. Melting snow a...

04/01/2024

Seeking used hand towels!

Mission Animal Hospital is hosting a hand towel drive for our hospital! We use these behind the scenes to clean up messes and keep our patients comfortable and clean during their time here. Larger towels are also appreciated, but we have a specific need for hand towels at the moment!

For more information about donating items and drop off location information, check out our website here: https://www.missionah.org/donate-pet-supplies