Perked Ears Behavior Consulting

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Perked Ears Behavior Consulting Kristen is a certified dog behavior consultant who specializes in senior dogs, dogs & kids, and fear & aggression.
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Services clients in Indianapolis and online anywhere!

Does this time of year have you a little on edge? 👀Holiday stress is familiar for many of us!I'd like to remind everyone...
09/12/2024

Does this time of year have you a little on edge? 👀

Holiday stress is familiar for many of us!

I'd like to remind everyone that it can be true for our dogs too!

Check out my latest blog post that dives into this topic: both the reasons why as well as what to do about it!

https://www.perkedears.com/post/holiday-stress-and-our-dogs

08/12/2024

You've been doing dog training wrong if:

🟥 It stresses you out or makes you feel unsafe

🟥It makes you feel guilty or pushes you to do things to your dog that you don't want to do

🟥 It is making your dog's behavior worse or causing your behavior issues to service

🟥 It is rooted in nonsense about you needing to be the alpha leader

I apologize on behalf of the dog training industry if you have experienced any of the above results.

Training SHOULD:

✅ Be fun for you and your dog

✅ Feel safe and do-able to implement

✅ Help you understand your dog's behavior better

✅ Improve your bond

Follow for more dog behavior tips and training information rooted in science and compassion!

I don't know about you... but  I personally do not jive well with every personality of every person I meet. And the cool...
05/12/2024

I don't know about you... but I personally do not jive well with every personality of every person I meet. And the cool thing is that nobody expects me to!

It is normal for people to have social preferences.

And guess what? It's normal for dogs too!

For some reason, we expect dogs to love ALL other dogs and people... All the time.

This is so unrealistic.

Dogs should be allowed to have preferences about who they hang out with and how.

Do you want help understanding your dog's social nature or coming up with a plan to make certain interactions with other dogs and people more successful? Work with me 1:1!

If you follow my page or have worked with me and my business, then THIS MEANS YOU! 💜I got into dog training because I lo...
28/11/2024

If you follow my page or have worked with me and my business, then THIS MEANS YOU! 💜

I got into dog training because I love dogs. I think that's the truth for most of us dog pros.

But the longer I am in this industry, the more I realize how much I love working with the people.

Every client of mine cares about their dog tremendously.

You know who you are.

You go above and beyond. You don't just care enough to meet your dog's basic biological needs.

You want to ensure that your dog lives a happy and enriched life. And if there are behaviors that you want to work on modifying, you are committed to doing so humanely and ethically.

I'm thankful for you all. You make my job so fulfilling.

24/11/2024

❗Something everyone needs to hear going into this week!

🎄🐾 Not all dogs are party animals, and that’s okay! While some pups enjoy being in the middle of the chaos at holiday gatherings, many others find it overwhelming or
scary.

If your dog is fearful or anxious around new people or in new situations, keep them away from these situations this holiday season. Focus on their comfort and safety instead.

✨ Need help setting your dog up for success with guests? Book a consultation today, and we’ll create a plan tailored to their needs. A stress-free dog means a stress-free holiday for everyone! 🐶🎁

Just popping in to advocate for your older dog. Do you ever feel like using the excuse "he's just old so that's way thin...
22/11/2024

Just popping in to advocate for your older dog.

Do you ever feel like using the excuse "he's just old so that's way things are going to be" when talking about your dog's behavior?

I challenge you to change this.

Just because a dog is older doesn't mean they don't deserve the same amount of effort and attention from us to ensure that they are living a good life.

Check out my free resources for senior dog behavior here: https://www.perkedears.com/free-downloads

11/11/2024

I wish more people knew that this commonly held belief is causing suffering for our dogs.

Dogs don't need less exercise and training when they get older.

They just need DIFFERENT versions of these things that fit their needs.

Research is showing that making sure to provide our dogs with appropriate physical exercise and mental stimulation not only improves their quality of life, but can't even prolong their life.

And I don't know about you all, but I want my dogs to live happy lives for as long as possible.

Want to know more? ✨Take my free quiz to learn steps to take to meet your specific dog's needs. Link here:
https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/669e98003555e90015a0b851






Excited to be offering two mini holiday group classes again this year with Sky's the Limit Animal Training and Behavior ...
10/11/2024

Excited to be offering two mini holiday group classes again this year with Sky's the Limit Animal Training and Behavior

We are offering Tinsel Tricks (a fun tricks class) and Holiday Survival (a class designed for excitable dogs to make holiday gatherings more successful and less stressful)

Both classes are 3 weeks long and start on Wednesday December 4th! Consider signing up for a fun thing to do with your dog as winter approaches or buy for a loved one as a gift!

See link below for details and registration link!
https://www.perkedears.com/group-classes-workshops

There's a reason that I love working with senior dogs so much. Well actually, there's a lot of reasons. But one of those...
02/11/2024

There's a reason that I love working with senior dogs so much.

Well actually, there's a lot of reasons.

But one of those reasons is because there are so many false beliefs in our culture about dogs and their behavior as they age.

The reason that senior dogs might struggle and seem stubborn is because they are more prone to stress and anxiety when they experience new things.

Because of this, we tend to just label their behavior and therefore allow them to suffer.

This is not what we want for our best friends in their golden years. They deserve better.

Share this post to spread awareness about seeing your dog behavior and well-being 💜

PSA: Dogs don't understand Halloween.The secret to having a happy and safe Halloween with your dog is knowing that the h...
29/10/2024

PSA: Dogs don't understand Halloween.

The secret to having a happy and safe Halloween with your dog is knowing that the holiday is very stressful for many of them!🧟‍♂️

As a dog behavior consultant, unfortunately, I receive a lot of inquiries and emails about bite incidents on Halloween.

This is because of the nature of what happens on the holiday.👻

So if your dog:
- is afraid of unfamiliar people
- gets spooked by strangers outside your home, especially children!
- startles easily by things such as new or weird objects, or people wearing certain articles of clothing (hats, large coats etc)

Then protect your dog and your community by keeping your dog safely confined on Halloween!

Tip: Prep an enrichment item, put on some music or white noise, and keep your dog in a safe space zone away from your front door!

Share this post to help increase safety for dogs and humans on Halloween!

23/10/2024

Fall enrichment hack for busy dog moms!!🍂🍂

Use nature to your advantage to create a unique scatter feeding experience!👃

Some reasons why I love scatter feeding and sniff games:

- Dogs LOVE to use their nose. It is a healthy mental exercise and also provides stress relief. (Remember that if your dog is new to sniffing games, they may take a little bit more encouragement and easy wins to get the hang of it!)

- Doing scatter feeding outdoors and utilizing leaves adds more novel smells to your dogs experience,
makes it more enriching

- This is an excellent activity to do when you have little time or cannot take your dog for a walk or outing

Take your dog outside with some snacks and get this activity a try!

Follow for more enrichment and behavior tips!

I've been on a break 👩‍🍼👩‍🍼...My calendar is now open again for private in-person sessions in Indianapolis and surroundi...
19/10/2024

I've been on a break 👩‍🍼👩‍🍼...

My calendar is now open again for private in-person sessions in Indianapolis and surrounding counties starting next month.

For those who don't know me well yet, I have a special interest and specific experience with:
- fear and aggression
- dogs and children
- senior dogs

If you have been looking to get professional help with your dog, consider a private training consultation! I can help you to understand your dog's behavior and to create a specific plan for you and your dog's needs!

And for all my returning clients, I look forward to working with you and your pups again!

See link below to schedule an initial consultation.

New clients in Indy and surrounding areas: https://www.perkedears.com/in-person-private-training

For all returning clients, feel free to message me directly or go through my website to schedule a follow-up session or package!

The biggest mistake people make when they think about dogs and babies is having the mindset that they need to be immedia...
14/10/2024

The biggest mistake people make when they think about dogs and babies is having the mindset that they need to be immediate best friends.

While this is a nice sentiment, it can often lead us to putting too much pressure on forcing interactions between our dogs and young children.

The truth is that babies can be very unpredictable for dogs because they look, smell, sound, and act way different than adult humans.

One of the best ways to help our dogs get comfortable around a new baby is to allow them to observe the baby from a safe distance and through very controlled interactions and to avoid direct interactions, especially in tight spaces!

Follow for more tips on dog and baby safety!

21/09/2024

Something people don't consider enough...
..Are all the benefits of adopting or fostering an older dog.

If you don't know me, I really love older dogs. And they just get looked over and passed by every day in shelters.

If you're thinking about adopting or fostering a dog, consider a senior! There are so many in need and they can make wonderful additions to many homes!

Another tidbit I want to share as part of  !As a dog behavior professional, I look at much more than just your dog's app...
19/09/2024

Another tidbit I want to share as part of !

As a dog behavior professional, I look at much more than just your dog's apparent behaviors to get a full and complete picture of what your dog might benefit from.

Why?

Because training is just one piece of the puzzle.

Remember that we also have to look at a dog's overall demeanor, mood, stress-level, and well-being in order to change their behavior.

Pain goes undiagnosed and untreated in dogs more than it should. Because dogs don't always show signs of pain in ways that are obvious to us.

One common sign of pain I see as a behavior consultant is increased aggression or defensive behavior.

I mean think about it:

If you even have a slight headache or soreness, but are otherwise able to function, how might this affect your mood or behavior that day?

Dogs are no different. Even "minor" pain can affect behavior in a big way.

If you think it's possible that pain is causing your dog's behavior change, reach out to your veterinarian asap.

Follow for more tips and information about dog behavior and pain!

These things about me might surprise you.And it's totally okay if you don't want to allow your dog(s) to do these things...
16/09/2024

These things about me might surprise you.

And it's totally okay if you don't want to allow your dog(s) to do these things.

But I want dog parents to know that it's OKAY if you want to let your dogs onto the furniture, if you want to feed them your (dog-safe) snacks, and if you want to let them walk in front of you.

It doesn't create bad dogs. It doesn't create dogs who think they're the boss. ❌

It simply is allowing dogs to have more agency, freedom, and choice in their daily lives. ✅

I see many benefits in happily allowing my dogs to have these freedoms.

And I admit that there are certain situations where it is safest and most appropriate to have other rules/training in place. I implement these things with clients every day.

⚠️But all in all, I see too much shame and embarrassment when clients tell me that they let their dogs on the bed or couch, or that their dogs walk in front of them. And that needs to change!⚠️

What do you think?

14/09/2024

I wish everyone could remember...

❌Having a "calm" dog should not be our goal in life.

✅ Our goal should be to have a happy, satisfied, enriched dog who therefore fits well into our daily lives and schedules.

Honestly I get so tired of people asking me how to help their dog be more calm. Our culture seems to have this mindset that you can just instruct dogs to "be calm." Which is stupid. Calmness is a mood and state of mind, not a cue, command, or something we can just tell dogs to do.

The best way to get a "calm dog" is to satisfy their needs on a daily basis AND then teach coping skills for things that might worry them.

Don't get me wrong- I'm NOT saying we need to just run dogs into the ground until they're exhausted. I am saying that all dogs could use more opportunities for physical and mental exercise.

So here's here your reminder:

If you wish your dog was calmer right now, take a moment to think about what "dog" activities and outlets they have been given in the last few days.

Any?

What do they enjoy doing? What seems to satisfy them in a healthy way? Start there.












I see this situation a lot.Families add brand new puppies to their household with a senior dog with the hopes that it wi...
11/09/2024

I see this situation a lot.

Families add brand new puppies to their household with a senior dog with the hopes that it will be fun and beneficial for their senior!

And while sometimes it is, I think there are many things to consider before adding a puppy to a home with a senior dog.

Read my new blog post to find out specific questions to ask yourself to determine if this is likely a good move for you and your family!

https://www.perkedears.com/post/should-i-get-a-new-puppy-for-my-senior-dog

Let me know what you think in the comments!

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