Faithful Friends Dog Training, LLC.

28/10/2025

Be honest.

Honesty Is Responsible

As a guardian, caregiver, and professional, I’m not here to tell you my dogs are perfect, quite the opposite, they all have various likes and dislikes.

Some cope better in certain sitiatuions than others.

I’m here to say that if your dog struggles, being honest is the best thing you can be.

When something hurts, a thorn in a paw etc my dog Denzel will growl at me if I try to look.

He does the same with the vet. I don’t hide that, I tell them and discuss stratagies that minimise his worries.

I’m working on it, but I don’t make excuses. Honesty keeps people and dogs safe, and it also advocates for my dog.

If a dog might snap, i say so. " Sorry but they prefer space and might snap, can we get some space please.

I’ve told vets to take a break when I see my dog getting stressed. I’ve told class instructors we wouldn’t participate because my dog would panic. That’s not failure, that’s responsibility.

If I know my dog, I will speak up. Your judgment means nothing compared to my duty to protect and advocate for my dog.

Being honest about your dog isn’t shameful, it’s being responsible and can be a game changer for all involved 💛

28/10/2025

Trust is the magic ingredient in every successful dog training recipe!

Nurture trust between you and your pup and watch as boundaries blur and possibilities soar.

28/10/2025

SO important.

Don't assume a friend or family member will take care of your pets if you should pass away.

28/10/2025

It's so NOT funny...

With Halloween coming up and Christmas right around the corner, it’s a good time to remind people that Scared Dogs Aren’t Funny.

Social media posts, usually videos, of clearly scared dogs and people laughing at them make me sad. Dogs startling at lawn inflatables. Dogs backing away from people in costumes. Dogs barking at toys or decorations that move or make sounds. Dogs barking at or giving Santa the side eye.

And people laughing at them or worse, pulling on the leash to force the dog to have an interaction with the scary thing. People trying to get the dog to sit next to the scary thing and then getting frustrated when the dog won’t sit.

Let’s reduce dog bites this holiday season by being thoughtful and understanding of our dog’s fears and what they’re communicating.

Read more here: https://rescuedbytraining.com/2025/10/20/archives-scared-dogs-not-funny/

27/10/2025

Haku wasn't at all phased with Dad's newfound mustache and glasses! And the jester's hat had jingley bells on it. Ho-hum! That's what we want!

27/10/2025

It's not just for Halloween! Alfie is learning that people are weird sometimes (Ha!) and don't always look the same at any given moment. We don't give it a second thought when we change our profile by wearing hats, glasses, hoodies, bulky coats, etc. But your pup doesn't know what just happened! Pairing it up with yummy treats can help change the pups' association with this crazy, sometimes scary, human-centric world.

27/10/2025

Shiny, sparkly and flowing. Its all part of life skills. And not a care in the world!

27/10/2025

Proprioception at work! Back feet on an angle; front feet on a Fit Paws donut. Two different positions and surfaces, but Haku's brain is telling him, "You can do it!"

22/10/2025

I couldn't love this more! Well done, Juno! And Pointer!

This morning on the beach, Juno and I were playing – scoot, pivot, tussle, pause, repeat. She loves to play with me, just not with canine strangers. The sand was firm, the air salty, and Juno’s zoomies carved long commas across the shoreline.

A large pointer spotted us and lit up. He came in bouncy and hopeful, a picture of good intentions. As he closed the distance, Juno flicked me a look that means “pause.” So we did. He stopped too and folded into a clear play bow, chest low, tail soft, weight rocking back. Juno answered with a small lick of her lips, a slight tightening of her mouth, and turned her head away, body loose but still. A polite “no, thank you,” stated in fluent dog.

He read it. He took two slow steps to double check and then stepped off to sniff a clump of seaweed with exaggerated focus. Space offered. Pressure released. After a moment, he glanced back and made a third, lighter invitation without pressure. When she didn’t take it, he trotted on, easy and unbothered. Conversation complete.

And then, the sweetest thing. As soon as he moved off, Juno sprang back to me with a grin, ready to re-engage in our game as if to say, “Where were we?” We scooted and pivoted and tussled again, and the beach felt even kinder than before.

What I loved most was the clarity between them. Juno’s signals were small but precise. His response was thoughtful, patient, and beautifully observant. No chasing, no insisting, no “convincing.” Just two dogs negotiating the terms of play with grace.

This is the kind of beach etiquette I wish every caregiver could see. The clear ask, listen carefully, and let the other individual set the pace. When we honour those quiet messages, dogs don’t have to shout. They can simply live their conversations out loud, in sand-scuffed sentences and soft, readable commas.

That is what "friendly" looks like.