Loyal Leashes

21/02/2025

Why do I shovel so many paths for my dog?

Rylee has a hard time getting around in the snow so she is very limited to where she can go in the winter. All these paths give her the opportunity to choose where she goes and how she gets there. I want her to have as much freedom of choice as possible.

Plus, I love seeing her trot around on her trails 🐶😁

04/02/2025

If I were a dog I would most likely be reactive 😅

I am a creature in need of autonomy and I do not do well when my choices are taken away.

What is something you would react poorly to if you were a dog that we (as a society) expect as the norm?

04/01/2025

Bogey got some leave it practice on our enrichment visit yesterday. He was a true professional!

This is not a new cue or behavior I introduced while out for a walk on trash day. But because it’s a cue we’ve practiced at home with controlled distractions, he was ready for the real deal when we unexpectedly ran into it. Good job Bogey!

28/11/2024

Happy Thanksgiving!

11/11/2024

22 positive reinforcement trainers got together yesterday. It was great to meet everyone. I’m so glad to be part of a great community who care so much about the animals we work with!

08/11/2024

🤣

25/10/2024

Duffy is getting used to having people in the house and he’s doing amazing!

Using an x-pen, we are able to keep everyone together while still keeping them apart. The humans were able to visit with each other comfortably and Duffy didn’t have to be sent to his crate or another room. He’s making great progress!

27/09/2024

Bogey and I had such a fun morning at Bradbury Mountain!

22/09/2024

This! 💥

Think of a leash like a seat belt. There for safety and security. You should use one, just in case and even on short trips, but you often forget that it's there soon after putting it on.

A steering wheel on the other hand needs constant supervision and direction. Your leash should not used to navigate your dog where to go. You shouldn't subject your dog to sharp U turns or abrupt stops.

A leash is there for safety, but it shouldn't stop the dog from enjoying their walk. The same goes for you. No yanking this way or that, directing the dog wear to go, stopping your dog from sniffing or taking in the scenery too. Certainly not using your safety line to apply force and pressure to your dog, like corrections. There is absolutely no fun in that.

Loose lead walking often has far less to do about the leash and more to do about the engagement between you and your dog so if you are using your leash to navigate, get in touch so we can help you both learn how to start enjoying the ride. 🚙

www.rplusdogs.com

18/09/2024

A lot of you know Rylee through FB but she hasn’t made an appearance for a while. So, I figured I’d give you all an update with how she’s doing.
She’s 13 years old and showing her age. On a good day, we play our mini version of fetch (in the video) but most days she’s content to just sleep the day away.
We’re working with our vet to manage her pain and keep her comfortable. She had a couple episodes of vestibular disease about a year and a half ago that really took a toll on her but she’s doing great all things considered.
We’re heading toward the end, but we’re not there yet. I’m doing everything I can to keep her happy and enjoy all the time we have left together ❤️

09/09/2024

Did you know that I offer enrichment visits?

This is not your average dog walking service! Great for dogs who are reactive, under socialized, or just hard to handle.

Let me help you give your dog the gift of adventure! These visits are all about having a good time and letting your dog be a dog.

Enrichment can come in many ways – walks, hikes, puzzle toys, games, nose works, and other activities – including some training!

The primary focus of these visits is to get some energy out, decompress, and have fun!

Let me know if you think your dog could benefit from some extra "dog time."

26/08/2024

Happy National Dog Day!
Let’s see who you’re celebrating today 🐶❤️🦴

16/08/2024

It’s ok to need a break from something scary or uncomfortable. This is why consent and cooperative care is so important.

It’s much easier to get through difficult procedures if we feel we have some kind of control.

Sometimes we need to go ahead with things our dogs find uncomfortable because it’s a case of welfare. And we shouldn’t feel guilty about that. Dogs are amazingly forgiving and if we put enough good stuff in, the bad stuff has less of an impact.

But providing more choice and control for our dogs in as many areas we can. Can make getting things done much less traumatic for both of us.

A few of you asked to know more about consent handling and start/stop buttons after I shared it in my story. If you would like to watch my free video explanation, comment CONSENT and I’ll DM you the link.

28/04/2024

I’m VERY excited to be offering a virtual, interactive, seminar on teaching your dog not to jump as a fundraiser for Old Dogs New Digs 🙌🙌🙌

The minimum donation to attend this hour long seminar is $25 and 100% of the proceeds go to the rescue to help them help senior dogs in need 🫶

Taking place on June 6th @ 7:30pm EST you can say goodbye to those airborne greetings with my fun and helpful guide to curbing the jump-happy antics of your best dog friend while raising money for a fantastic cause.

Let’s keep those feet firmly planted and those spirits high as we embark on a journey to transform your four-legged friend from a jumping bean, into the ultimate master of canine manners In this hour long virtual seminar (a recording will be emailed after)

The seminar will include a power point presentation as well as interactive exercises you can participate in with your dog.

Registration is through my class registration page on my website (link in bio on Insta and in the comments on FB)

Please share this with everyone you know who has a dog and could benefit and let’s raise as much money as possible for some wonderful senior dogs in need!

17/04/2024

Spark is demonstrating great social behavior walking through a busy downtown.

A social dog does not mean they want to say hi to everyone. It means they are comfortable being around people and ignoring them. We don’t greet everyone we pass and your dog shouldn’t either.

My rule of thumb is your dog should greet less than 10% of the people and dogs they see.

29/01/2024

Monday morning snow fun! ❄️☃️
Who else makes paths for their dogs? I know I’m not alone!