07/06/2024
But it will be funny! Excited to be on my way to a Festschrift to honor my Dad, and with Dad comes humor and fun, like this cartoon of his. š
For people who love their dog. Free gift and more at: https://linktr.ee/playtobehave I use positive based methods from my years of experience and training.
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Veterinary Behavior Counseling and Therapy
I can help you enjoy your dog and cat through communication and management for behavior you love! Behaviors include aggression, separation anxiety, leash walking, barking and more. Private and Group Dog Training
Group puppy, puppy performance and puppy pre-agility classes available at Cleveland All Breed Training Club (CABTC) 216-398-1118
But it will be funny! Excited to be on my way to a Festschrift to honor my Dad, and with Dad comes humor and fun, like this cartoon of his. š
The magazine inside todayās New York Times.
One of Raeās favorites! š
I got such a nice compliment today. One of the men working on our patio remarked how nice it is to see someone do something wonderful for their dogs. This area will have artificial turf so we can practice the sport of agility and/or give them a place to play when the weather is muddy or icy.
Someday, it might also be used for grandchildren to play, if we are that lucky to have them.
Itās an investment but like my āsomedayā grandchildren, we see our dogs as members of the family so itās a pleasure to give them this gift!
*If you are wondering why the fence is being added, itās to keep the turf clean when itās muddy out. Plus itās just for play and not elimination.*
This weekend, there was no prize money or media exposure, but still, there was hollering, grand applause, and some tears of joy when two friends earned their dog Agility Championship. And rightfully so. Itās a long road and represents an effort with ups, downs and all arounds that finally results in a dog that really becomes a part of you and you, a part of them, as your skills come together. This is a closeness like no other, including the added closeness with friends that have been your support all along. Bravo to Cindy and Josie and to Sue and Denver! šš¾š
I am at an agility competition and if you briefly listen in to the handlers chatting, you can feel the friendships and the love they have for each other and for their dogs. The sport of agility attracts people that are motivated by the love of dogs and thatās a different kind of sport competitor. Athletic or not, you could fit right in.
Iām at the Zoo for continuing ed in veterinary medicine. My take-away for you? Ask your vet about using local blocks for pain, not just for on the surface issues but for invasive surgery too! It can make a huge difference in your dogās recovery. Iām a fan now.
"Thank goodness my dog grew out of that!" Did she? Or was it that you put in the time and effort to get the skills so you could teach her the behavior you want? If we bet on which one is true, I'll always wager on skills, time and effort and I'll win! š„šš¾
If your dog "used to do that", PAT YOURSELF ON THE BACK! Because if you didn't work on leash walking, barking, chewing, housetraining and more, your dog would not just "grow out of it".
And if you still have behavior you want changed, knowing you just need some skills, time and effort is a relief. You can change that behavior too. š
A friend hit a deer last night and her brand new car is a mess. She didnāt have time to grab her dog but good thingā¦ her dog was safely secured in a crate. Safe and sound, she didnāt have a scratch on her. And my friend and her husband, safely belted in, are fine too.
As the nice Spring weather is here, I am already seeing dog after dog loose in cars. We all seem to think thatās normal and okay. Plus people say their dog LOVES it. They love riding in the car and sticking their head out the window. I used to say that too.
But if you think clearly about it, we wear seat belts and our kids are in car seats or belted in because ACCIDENTS happen and we donāt want to or have loved ones get hurt.
Doesnāt your dogs deserve that protection too?
After an accident, the sirens, the police and their gear arrive, the traffic whizzes by, strangers approach and you may be in a panic. Your dogā¦ most dogs run off. Now youāll have the added despair of searching for the dog you love and may never find.
Please for your dog and for your own sake, crate or at least belt in your dog.
In this case, Iām sad about my friendās her car, but it can be fixed. Thankfully, she, her husband and her beautiful, fun, crazy border collie are shaken up but just fine.
Now, letās stop putting it off. How will you secure your dog?
When you leave your dog with a sitter to travel - and we are into travel season - hereās a reminder. Donāt forget to leave ALL the info on your dog that someone might need, including:
+ the microchip number
+ breed
+ age
+ any medications
+ veterinarianās number
+ family back up for care
+ your own address (even if your dog is home)
+ how to be reached
What am I forgetting?
Photo of my beautiful sister and her late dog, Cooper
The reason people think ādominanceā or being the boss of your dog is needed is because they *think* they see it work. But what is really working isā¦ structure, clarity and consistency. And you donāt need to be āalphaā to provide structure, clarity and consistency. Please share.
Is it disobedience or is it anxiety? Years ago, my Aussie, Pepper used to jump and bark at me when we were training on course. I was told she didnāt respect me but everywhere we went, other than the agility course, she listened well - even off-leash. Didnāt make sense.
Dogs have different ways to show anxiety. A Great Pyrenees probably wonāt move, a beagle may sniff, an Aussie like Pepper may bark, spin and even bite, another may scratch and so on. If you donāt realize this, you might think your dog is not listening to you when actually, your dog is taking in every bit of information possible and in information overload.
Your best move is to help your dog relax. In Pepperās case, I wasnāt good at agility yet so I was confusing her, causing anxiety, hence the barking and jumping on me. Once I understood and became more skilled, this behavior stopped.
What does your dog do when stressed or in āinformation overloadā?
Why do most books and trainers think all our dogs should be raised and turn out the same? Raising my ālitterāā¦ One is sensitive and a bit dramatic, one laid back and humorous, one wicked smart and serious and one could rule the world with her smile and her stubbornness. I have a baker/woodworker, a scientist who looks to the stars, a teacher/artist and an engineer/lawyer. Same parents. Same household. Dogs are different too so adjust your training, patience and expectations. Training principles are the same but the training IS individual. Speed and tactics change. Donāt you think each dog is a wonderful new journey?
Feeding your dog a raw diet? Please see this post by a Board Certified Veterinary Neurologist. If your dog is lucky enough that you are willing to provide a fresh diet, please cook the meat. I used to support raw diets but it isn't worth the risk.
Raw meat-based diets, both commercial and home-made are increasing in popularity. You likely know a friend or colleague who is feeding this type of diet to their pets and you may have heard lots of wonderful things about what these diets can do. But how much of the glowing testimonials that youāve...
On Tuesdays, I have a private agility lesson so I can be told, yet again, many of the same things Iāve heard upteen times before becauseā¦ yeahā¦ it takes that many times.
Not to mention that I have picked up a few bad habits from when I first learned my skills and those, my friend can take a long time to fix!
So thereās a good chance that you have some habits in need of change when it comes to your dog, your golf game, cooking or skills you seek to improve.
Let me know in the comments if this strikes a chord with you!
And Iāll say that it takes an excellent instructor, Angela Dotson, to design and teach in a way that turns those skills around and in a way that makes the little but very important skills - the foundation - to become rock solid.
Angie with Mickey
What chews do you give your dog? Chewing does more than keep your dog busy. Chews can keep their teeth clean and be soothing.
On the next call in the Play To Behave program, Iāll be summarizing the current data on chew choices including safety, calories and if they really do help clean teeth so Iād love to include your responses.
And if you want to join, go to playtobehave.com/JOIN
How are your walks going? Rae is looking at a squirrel here. We are watching together and sheās calm. Best thing I ever taught her. š
Table scraps... who made it shameful for us to feed our dogs "human food"? Because it's not. Perhaps a dog food company came up with this idea?
Of course, your dog needs a balanced diet and it's also best to feed healthy food - meaning whole foods or foods without a bunch of processing and preservatives. But just because a packaged food is made for dogs, doesn't make food or treats healthy. Take a look at the ingredients and if you don't know what they are, chances are the compound is a form of sugar or a preservative.
Plus many dog treats add garlic which in high amounts or when garlic accumulates, it is toxic to dogs. Why is that in there?
So go ahead and supplement or treat your dog to cheese, bits of healthy deli meat or roasted chicken, for example. Just don't overdo it but I'm here to say, "table food" is fine.
At my favorite coffee shop excited to plan my next project for you and your dog to give you my best tips. What would you ask me if you were here having coffee with me?
Shout out to Heartwood Coffee Roasters in Chagrin Falls who serve a smile with every amazing cup of coffee.
Itās Pepperās Birthday today and 5 years since I lost her. I still find myself talking to her where she is perched on our tall dresser, in a beautiful box. The tears can come quickly. Thank you Gemi Sasson-Brickson for one of my lifeās best friendships, what I learned from her and all the experiences. So much more than the word āpetā conveys.
Highly recommend the true story āMegan Leavyā on Netflix. Excellent. And, of course, there is a dog. š Let me know if you see it!
Do you realize your dog needs to put what they learn into action? Thatās two steps. They might learn and do āitā ar the same time OR your dog might not implement until the next go around or later. Now that you know this, it might take YOU a bit to remember to have more patience because the same two steps applies to people.
Anyone else not know this existed? A Rainbow Bridge you can visit. So touching.
178K likes, 4008 comments. āVisited the rainbow bridge this morning & felt all the emotions. What an amazing tribute to all the loved pets that have passed. Designs I found Roscoeās collar and gave him a tap!ā
CLICK! And there it was. A sweet message from a student today that made my heart sing. I canāt tell you how much it makes my day to get a word from someone you coach. Dog agility is my passion and itās even more fun when you not only love WHAT you teach but also love THOSE you teach.
Every week, Iām grateful I have those students. Not only are they amazing humans and handlers, but also, when they struggle, I get to watch them discover new perspectives and grow. And then I grow too.
Itās taken years to feel solid as an instructor and coach, and I do shudder a little, remembering my mistakes along the way. But itās been worth it.
In other parts of the world, teaching is considered one of, if not THE top profession and I agree for both the student and the teacher.
Mickey here, enjoys the time we get to play after class.
Atta Boy! Itās always nice when Mickey gets mail.
Today, in one of my cases, I was reminded that your dog can bring you more than friendship or the chance to be a team in a sport. The woman's dog is helping her heal from some very deep emotional wounds. I've seen dogs empower those that love them and seemingly speed healing, time and again, in my teaching and in my work. So when those times of weariness or frustration come and you may not want to put in the "work" a dog can require, remember...
..what you put in with your dog will come back to you, in multiples. You will get what you give and more with a dog that is bonded to you. It's worth it.
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A friend hit a deer last night and her brand new car is a mess. She didnāt have time to grab her dog but good thingā¦ her dog was safely secured in a crate. Safe and sound, she didnāt have a scratch on her. And my friend and her husband, safely belted in, are fine too. As the nice Spring weather is here, I am already seeing dog after dog loose in cars. We all seem to think thatās normal and okay. Plus people say their dog LOVES it. They love riding in the car and sticking their head out the window. I used to say that too. But if you think clearly about it, we wear seat belts and our kids are in car seats or belted in because ACCIDENTS happen and we donāt want to or have loved ones get hurt. Doesnāt your dogs deserve that protection too? After an accident, the sirens, the police and their gear arrive, the traffic whizzes by, strangers approach and you may be in a panic. Your dogā¦ most dogs run off. Now youāll have the added despair of searching for the dog you love and may never find. Please for your dog and for your own sake, crate or at least belt in your dog. In this case, Iām sad about my friendās her car, but it can be fixed. Thankfully, she, her husband and her beautiful, fun, crazy border collie are shaken up but just fine. Now, letās stop putting it off. How will you secure your dog?
Is a potty training issue OR is itā¦ #housetraining #housetrainingproblems #pottytraining #pottytrainingtips #pottytraininngtip #separationanxiety #dogseparationanxiety
All the steps to getting a great dog on leash is worth it! Doesnāt happen without effort, though it might look like an easy dog later. Still some work on jumping but hard to manage and film at the same time. š And āheā not āsheā haha. āBig noseāā¦ great kids
Your dog seems okay until someone stands up from the couch... š¬ Need help with that before friends and family come for the holidays? Training to keep your dog calm when you have visitors is available. Get it by tonight, 11/12/23 to join a group call on Monday and an extra training to get your dog to relax. Go to https://courses.playtobehave.com/offers/hHHwDSAJ
FIREWORKS can cause your dog to tremble or worse, run off from fear. Best to stay home. Also, keep your dog leashed at all times this holiday and watch this video to see one way you can help your dog.
This run shows what Mickey can do BUTā¦ itās not his biggest achievement this weekend! His biggest achievements were coming to me at the end of the run and sitting QUIETLY beside me with other dogs milling about around us. Previously, these two issues were a big problem. Leash walking issues can be addressed the same way I changed Mickeyās behavior in the ring. How do you get better behavior on leash? Itās all about breaking behaviors down into small steps and addressing them with creativity and fun. Itās about intentionā¦ persistenceā¦ patienceā¦and mutual respect. If leash walking is a pain for you right now, literally or figuratively, you are invited to join me for a free live training this week. Youāll discover more about how to use a proven approach so that you can step out of your house with your dog with confidence and enjoy your time together. Iāll be putting the registration link in the comments soon and if you ālikeā this post, youāll get a notification when the link is there. So click a reaction below.
Five of the ways you can help your car-chasing or car sensitive dog: 1. Vary where you walk so the level of traffic doesnāt keep your dog in a high state of tension. That anxiety puts your dog closer to threshold or keeps them there, which can make your dog more reactive. 2. Give them good visibility. My dog can hear a car before it comes so they know but if your dog canāt see the car, they can be more nervous. A dog like Mickey, that goes into working mode is always scanning so making that easier in them, lowers the tension (anxiety). 3. Watch your dogās body language for anxiety so you can help them by taking them farther from the edge of the road, for example. 4. Lower your criteria for other skills. They probably canāt handle looking at you or walking in a heel position. You can work on those skills other times. 5. Make sure you are ready to prevent lunging or any other safety issue. Also, accept that you may not enjoy your walk as much as youād like - for now - because you are training and modifying behavior. Be patient. Give this time. Prevention and setting your dog up for success are key with any problem behaviors. #dogchasingcar #carchasingdog #dogtrainingtip #dogtrainingtips #herdingdogs #bordercollies#bordercollieschasingcars
Five of the ways you can help your car-chasing or car sensitive dog: 1. Vary where you walk so the level of traffic doesnāt keep your dog in a high state of tension. That anxiety puts your dog closer to threshold or keeps them there, which can make your dog more reactive. 2. Give them good visibility. My dog can hear a car before it comes so they know but if your dog canāt see the car, they can be more nervous. A dog like Mickey, that goes into working mode is always scanning so making that easier in them, lowers the tension (anxiety). 3. Watch your dogās body language for anxiety so you can help them by taking them farther from the edge of the road, for example. 4. Lower your criteria for other skills. They probably canāt handle looking at you or walking in a heel position. You can work on those skills other times. 5. Make sure you are ready to prevent lunging or any other safety issue. Also, accept that you may not enjoy your walk as much as youād like - for now - because you are training and modifying behavior. Be patient. Give this time. Prevention and setting your dog up for success are key with any problem behaviors.
This is not the "same dog" you've seen me with lately. In competition today, Mick was in a heightened emotional state as a "green" dog in competition. So when I stepped up to the line, I wasn't sure how fast Mick would go or whether I could depend on what he had previously learned and practiced in training. You can expect surprises with any dog in new circumstances and environments that add stress, and also as they mature and gain confidence. So we had some humbling and yes, frustrating moments today that demanded I make tough choices in the moment, during the agility runs. This video was our best run and while we got a 3rd place, I wasn't proud. For example, I asked Mick to lie down on the table - he didn't and I let it go considering he was in that heightened state. My intuition told me to trade important criteria to increase Mick's comfort in the ring. Was it the right choice? We shall see. He's a smart dog so I'm banking on comfort before criteria. Still, we had such fun. I'm so glad to be back in the ring and I am in love with this dog! (Thank you, Cheryl, for filming!)
Got a question this morning. āHow can I help my rescue to get acclimated and get along with another dog?ā Listen now. If you need more help go to https://playtobehave.com/join Iād love to have you in my program.
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