Pack Perfection

13/07/2023

With this heat, you gotta keep them busy inside!

17/05/2023

Yes yes yee! Can’t say this enough.

How to greet a dog you don't know. 👋

Always ask for permission: Not all dogs are comfortable with strangers, and the owner knows their dog's behavior best.

Approach calmly: Avoid sudden movements or loud noises that may startle or intimidate the dog. This includes "OHMYGODITSSOCUTE".

Avoid direct eye contact: Direct eye contact can be intimidating or threatening to dogs. Instead, watch the dog's body and observe their behavior.

Use a relaxed posture: Stand or crouch down in a relaxed manner, avoiding leaning over the dog or getting in their face. Invite the dog into your space instead of forcing your way into their space.

Avoid overwhelming the dog: Limit the duration of the interaction and keep the initial greeting brief. Some dogs may need time to warm up to new people.

Remember, not all dogs may be receptive to greetings from strangers, and it's critical to respect their boundaries and the owner's wishes.

16/04/2023

🎉 Thank your dog for growling! That’s right, you heard me!

👉🏻 Growling doesn’t make for a bad dog.

🐕 The misconception is that bad dogs growl.

💟 We should thank our dogs for growling.

‼️ Growls are an important communication behavior for dogs.

✔️ Dogs who growl aren’t bad. Dogs who growl are desperately trying to tell us that they are stressed in that moment.

✅ Dogs who growl are doing their best to not escalate to a bite. The growl is a warning signal that they need more space from what’s stressing them.

✅ If growls are ignored a snap or even a bite is the next step for a dog to try to get out of a stressful situation.

‼️ Never punish your dog for trying to communicate what’s causing them to be anxious.

⚠️ Punishing a dog for growling may stop the growl, but all you’ve done is take away their warning signal. Now you won’t know when they are stressed. Instead of warning you they are stressed, they will go right to biting.

⛔️ A dog who no longer growls is like having a fire alarm in your house without batteries.

19/03/2023

Some basic training with distractions at the park! Way to go Sparkles!

18/03/2023

Happy 10th to my bestie. Love watching her open gifts like my kids. May we have many more years together! Luna, you are one of a kind! You are the bestest dog a girl could ask for!

27/02/2023

Puppy socialisation is NOT just about playing with other dogs.

In fact, too much uncontrolled exposure to other dogs can cause so many unintended consequences.

If you have a puppy, make sure you try to work on ALL aspects of socialisation, as listed in the bottom graphic.

21/02/2023

Dog licks are often thought of as doggy kisses. But it’s actually something to take a step back and notice. And could sometimes be considered a “Kiss to Dismiss” (more on that below). These licks do trigger some questions that may seem a bit silly to ask in response.

Something like...
👉“Describe the licks for me. Fast, slow, and then does the dog move away?”
👉 “Is it a full tongue or a little bit?”
👉 “Full tongue lick or quick flick?”
👉“Is the child sitting and the dog approaches or vice versa? What level of mobility does the child have? Is food present or remnant?

Learn the difference between affection and asking for more space by reading the blog below ⬇️

https://www.familypaws.com/kiss-to-dismiss-we-just-dont-understand-why-he-bit-her-out-of-the-blue-he-always-gives-her-kisses-he-loves-our-daughter/

Graphic:

08/02/2023

27/01/2023

Bond with your puppy, hike with your puppy! And check out this loose leash walking and handler hand position!

26/01/2023

Service dogs.
Probably one of the most unpopular topics for any pet dog trainer.
I cannot begin to count the amount of service dog training requests I receive.
“Can your online courses train my dog to be a service dog?”
“I need to make my dog a service dog so he can ride on the bus with me” (Yes, someone seriously asked me this)
“Do you certify service dogs?”
No - no - no - and more no.
Service dog training is completely different from pet dog training.
If your dog is trained to walk nicely on a leash and sit and stay, they are a pet dog.
If your dog comes up to you and nuzzles you when you are sad - they are still a pet dog.
If you want your dog to accompany you into stores or fly in-cabin on planes … they’re still only a pet dog and these privileges are not for them.
Service dogs are task-trained.
They are specifically taught to work for people with disabilities.
A dog that solely provides comfort is not a service dog.
I see a lot of people acquiring dogs, labeling them as “my service dog” and *then* going about training them.
This is not how that works.
You cannot just select a dog, put a service dog harness on them and figure the rest out as you go.
We regularly receive requests from dog owners who tell us that their “service dog” pulled them over on leash or has always been highly reactive.
That their service dog relentlessly chases wildlife on walks or has anxiety in social settings.
One time I got a request from a lady who told me that she got a dog from the shelter to be her son’s service dog, but that “service dog” was now biting the son and could I please fix it.
I’m sorry - none of those dogs are not service dogs then. And they likely won’t be service dogs in the future either.
Please be honest about the dog you own.
Unless you worked diligently to train them as a service animal with specific tasks, they are a pet.
A beloved, (hopefully) well-behaved, wonderful pet.
But not a working dog, and you should not demand the privileges that are reserved for true service dogs.
Staying clear with this distinction protects the actual service dogs and their owners :)

24/01/2023

15/01/2023

18/12/2022

We've all seen those adorable videos of kids opening their gift box to find a fluffy little puppy inside.

What you don't see is that puppy getting dumped at a shelter six months later.

You also don't see a mom struggling for months with a dog she never really wanted.

You don't see a frustrated dad yelling at a dog because he has no idea how else to deal with it.

You don't see the confused, unfulfilled dog trying to get through life with zero guidance.

You don't see the children ignoring their "best friend" because the novelty quickly wore off.

You don't see the dog sitting in a cold cage at the pound trying to figure out where it's people are and what just happened!

You don't see any of this but that's the reality for so many holiday gift dogs. Please don't be that person! Living, breathing, feeling beings are not surprise gifts. They are a massive responsibility that deserves lots of thought, research and understanding before making the decision to get one.

If you're thinking about getting a Christmas puppy, wait six months and use that time to learn, research and understand the responsibility that comes with raising a dog. Then if you feel it's something you can properly take on then go ahead and get your "holiday pup" six months late but just on time to do it right!

13/12/2022

23/10/2022

It’s all just a bunch of Hocus Pocus! 🎃

16/10/2022

Great quote from The Secret Dog Walker!

Love life like our dogs!!

08/10/2022

A DOG BITE PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR KIDS & FAMILIES

The Be a Tree program is a dog bite prevention seminar program for school-age children. This program focuses on fun and interactive activities to teach children how to read dog body language and how to act safely around both their own dogs and strange dogs.
https://doggonesafe.com/Be-A-Tree

07/10/2022

DON’T FORCE ME TO BE SOCIAL!
We expect that dogs should naturally like all other dogs and want to be friends, after all they’re the same species! Many owners have the expectation of their dog happily interacting and befriending other dogs at parks or when out walking, thoroughly enjoying the chance to engage with the same species, but the reality is often very different, leaving owners feeling frustrated and irritated and wondering what’s wrong with their dog.
Dogs are not that different from us when it comes to social preferences. As people, do we like every person we meet? Do we want to be friends with everyone with meet? Are we all social beings who love to be surrounded by people? The answer is no, but somehow, we assume that our dogs should be.
The sociability scale of dogs is influenced by early socialization and experiences, genetics, environmental factors, what they have learned through life experience and their own individual circumstances. Certain breeds are naturally more reserved than others.
Early socialization, habituation and positive experiences are vitally important and should not just stop after puppy hood, but ideally continue throughout life. A dog’s social tolerance can be improved or may even change through careful behaviour modification and management, but sometimes, we just need to accept that our dog is just not that into other dogs and that’s ok. Every dog is an individual and once we have done all we can to improve their social abilities we need to just accept and love them for who they are and never force them to be something that they’re not.

06/10/2022

We are collecting items now thru Saturday 10/8.

06/10/2022

For those of you who are uncertain about crate training, this puppy is your proof that There is not a better way to give your dog a safe comfortable space, while maintaining safety and a destruction free home! Not to mention very limited accidents on the floor. Cashew is just 11 weeks old And he’s doing fabulous with potty training, crate training, walking on the leash, bonding with his parents, Eye contact, name recognition, recall, and more in just two training sessions! #

14/09/2022

My whole heart❤️

10/09/2022

Original post from Training

04/08/2022

Morning Treasures! A gentle reminder to spend time with your dogs doing what they love. It’s not always easy to find the time or the energy, but it will make all the difference.