Socialization doesn’t mean playing!Well…it doesn’t mean ONLY playing. True socialization is having happy, new experiences. This could mean playtime, but it could also be exploratory time pairing new props, sounds, etc. with high-value treats. This is a no-force activity. We allow puppies some freedom to investigate new things and enjoy yummy snacks in the process. If the puppy likes the treats, it will help them like the object by pairing them together in a gentle way.We explore LOTS of things in my puppy kindergarten classes, because we want the babies to grow into confident adults. And you know what? It makes the class even more FUN!Speaking of classes (here’s my shameless plug😜,) registration just opened for September and October sessions @centraldawgma . Send a DM, and we’ll get your pup registered! (We also have a couple spots left in the open enrollment summer classes if your dog needs training before that.) ………………. #positivereinforcement #dogtrainingtips #fearfree #dogmom #dogdad #petparent #highdrive #watchme #obedience #puppyschool #hagerstown #gooddog #labsofinstagram🐾 #malinoispuppy #goldenretrieverlovers #doodlepuppy #frenchbulldogpuppy #cavalierworld #cavalier #rottweilers #rottiepuppy #socialization #dogtrainer #cpdtka #pmct #hagerstownmd #smallbusiness #marylandbusiness #tristate
Life gets overwhelming, but it doesn’t just happen with us. It happens for our dogs, too! We all get overwhelmed by life. It is absolutely okay to need to get away. Go out in nature and get back some serenity. Just walk or sit or sniff (for your dog 😉.) Decompress.Share to your stories to help us all relax a bit more.#stressmanagement #stressfree #relaxation #meditate #zentime #calmness #naturewalks #forestwalk #hikingtrails #hagerstownmd #greencastlepa #dmv #dogtrainer #positivereinforcement
Everyone loves gummy bears, right?! Let’s make some gummies for our dogs! These gummies aren’t just yummy, but they’re HEALTHY and made with SUPERFOODS!Here’s the easy, DIY recipe: Ingredients- 1️⃣ cup of bone broth (this one was more liquid than my normal variety, but it didn’t matter for this recipe.)- 2️⃣ tablespoons of beef gelatin (this creates the jelly texture)- Any dog safe herbs, spices, or flavors you’d like. I added a superfood power that had turmeric, ashwagandha, and more. (Optional) Directions- Heat the bone broth until it starts to simmer. - Remove from heat and allow it to cool for a minute or two.- Add in the powders or mixes and stir WELL.- Pour into molds.- Freeze for 30 minutes or refrigerate until set (at least two hours.)- Give dog one gummy. - Give dog another gummy. - Tell dog he’s had enough gummies.- Remove rest from molds and store in a container in the fridge.Note - the gelatin will dissolve, but herb or spice powders may sink to the bottom of the mold and stick upon removal. For me, small gummies all came out clean, but larger molds with slight detail would stick.Would your dog like these? Comment GUMMY, and I’ll send you a link to the adorable to dinosaur mold and a list of add-ins to make these homemade gummies even healthier!#cookforyourdog #dogdiy #dogmomlife #healthydog #foreverdog #longevitylifestyle #seniordogmom #dogdad
Behavior modification shouldn’t be intense. I’ll say it again. Behavior modification SHOULD NOT be intense. That stuff you see on television with trainers battling giant dogs with gnashing teeth? That stuff is made for TV (and usually terribly unfair to the dog.) It grabs your attention, BECAUSE it’s dangerous and exciting. Truth is… that’s a recipe for disaster. The ideal method, though? It should be gentle enough to use on a bunny. Here’s what I mean… The animal should be under little to no stress. (No stress is extremely difficult to achieve.) All triggers should have been accounted for and minimized or eliminated, and there needs to be a buffer, escape plan, or something similar in place if things become too much. In this video, I’m working on Zoe’s fear of her stroller. She will sit in it fine inside, play games, and even do tricks. Unfortunately, she gets afraid during walks. She kind of starts to shut down and solely exist in space. Part of this is just being outside, and part is the motion of the stroller. Today we simply sat outside. I put the stroller in a place where Zoe had both shade and sun and could move to either spot. She was given treats in both areas, too. I know that Zoe is alright if she’s eating. If she stops taking treats, she’s over her threshold and too stressed. This is what happens on walks. So, I gave her lots of leafy greens, sat with her, and read my book. We took a little time of just being held, too. By the end of the session, she was moving around, rearranging her potty pad, and “being naughty,” as I call it. 😈 That shows me she was feeling more comfortable. We still have a lot more practice to do, but I’m happy with her progress today. The next time you train your dog, ask yourself if you would try the same thing with a bunny. 🐇 If the answer is “no,” you might need to rethink your technique. Intense approaches are never necessary, regardless of the animal or problem. Share if you agree trainin
Our dogs depend on us for everything. Whether it’s something fun and happy, like playing ball, or a basic necessity, like food or water, we control everything. Remember this the next time you feel frustrated or angry. You have the great honor of being their guardian. It may not always be easy, but they can’t change it.They need you...#yougotthis #perseverance #dogthoughts #puppyparents #helpme #lifeishard #dogmomaf #lifeishardsometimes #youcan #selflovetips #motivationalquoteoftheday #intervention #dogmom #motivationmonday #mindfulliving #dogdadsofinstagram #positivereinforcementdogtraining #controlfreak #canineenrichment #miracle #dogdads #dogguardian
My dog was so sad. 🥺 But was he really, or am I just projecting emotions onto him? How much can animals “feel”? I’m sure there are some who would say he probably didn’t have much emotion and that I’m anthropomorphizing. Given the context, though, Toby appeared to show sadness when he realized my SUV was gone. Lowered posture, slower movement, and a lack of enthusiasm during an otherwise exciting time (being outside + snow) would indicate a decreased morale. So yes, I think Toby was honestly sad because he understood his adventure-mobile was gone. According to Jaak Panksepp, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at WSU, I might be right. He’s identified seven different “emotional systems” for both animals and people, including grief (previously called panic.) With respect to sadness, “depression is not a lack of pleasure; it’s a lack of enthusiasm.” That’s exactly what Toby showed. The truth is none of us will ever fully be able to know what another being is thinking or feeling. Dog cognition and emotions research is always happening. Thanks to folks like @umddoglab , we are regularly learning new things about what a dog might be able to think or understand. I would love to have this guy participate in a study, because sometimes his understanding seems a little extraordinary.Has your dog ever surprised you by appearing to understand something you didn’t think they should? Tell us in the comments!Sources:https://cals.cornell.edu/news/jaak-panksepp-lectures-emotions-animals-humanshttps://rb.gy/9z9nax.........#dogcognitionstudy #playinthesnow #positivereinforcementtraining #dogbraintraining #saddog #positivereinforcement #cognition #dogmom #dogbehavior #huskymom #dogmomaf #snowpuppy #huskyproblems #disappointed #sadhusky #dogemotions #dogscience #animalresearch #dogpsychology #animalpsychology #animalbehavior
‼️HERE’S THE ANSWER‼️If you followed my stories over the weekend, you would have seen me asking what might be a very interesting sound to socialize a puppy to. I gave a few hints, those being: that is commonly found in a house and that those of the millennial or Generation Z groups may not ever hear it. I had a lot of really fantastic guesses that are perfect sounds for socializing a puppy, but no one guessed exactly what my idea was. Does it make sense now? Many American families no longer use a traditional chimney or fireplace setup. A lot of them have propane and fireplaces that light up with the click of a button. But for those that have older houses and still use a traditional fireplace or woodstove, they are going to need cleaned, and that can be a loud process!It’s best to socialize a puppy to that sound as babies, even if it’s not in the right weather season. Once the season changes, and you realize that you haven’t cleaned the chimney yet, that can be really scary to a dog if he’s never heard it. Now, I know not every dog is going to need socialized to this sound. But it gets you thinking, right? If you have a thing for old houses, it might be something that you want to consider. Or maybe there’s something else that applies to your lifestyle, such as ocean wave sounds. In addition, it’s just a really good idea to socialize our dogs to all sorts of sounds, sights, textures, people, etc. It helps them be more well-rounded adults who are confident in their environment......#puppysocialization #soundsensitivity #puppymom #puppyeducation #servicedogs #servicedogtraining #chimneysweep #positivereinforcementdogtraining #labpuppy #puppyschool #puppytraining #newexperiences #loudsounds #dogtraining #dogtrainingtips #desensitizationtraining #listen🎵 #listentothis #usethissound
Happiness…. Sometimes it seems so far away and difficult to find. This struggle happens in all areas of life from just having a baby who won’t sleep through the night to coping with a senior dog dealing with pain on the floor next to you. We all have moments where it’s a struggle of which we have no control. But what we can control is internal creation of happiness.Happiness doesn’t always have to be some extrinsic thing. Happiness can come from the inside. It might be something small like finding the silver lining in a bad situation, or it might be something huge like realizing that you have made so much personal growth in the past year that you’re proud of who you are now. Happiness can come from within.If you ever struggle to find that happiness, please know that you are NOT alone. We’ve all been there, and some of us might be with you there now. I always encourage this account to be a safe space. So…❤️If you want to leave a comment asking for some good vibes or prayers, please do so. ❤️If you have a friend you think would benefit from this post, please share it. ❤️If you just want to drop by and say “hi,” we appreciate you.“Happiness is an inside job.” - @jerichomcmatthews ....#yougotthis #perseverance #dogthoughts #igotstuck #helpme #lifeishard #lifeishardsometimes #youcan #selflovetips #motivationalquoteoftheday #intervention #towtruck #motivationmonday #mindfulliving #divineintervention #positivereinforcementdogtraining #cartrouble #canineenrichment #miracle #thankgod #imalive
Blooper! 🙈 Toby completely derailed my video. But you know what…? He redeemed himself by independently offering a check-in. ALWAYS try to reinforce good stuff, even if it’s not the most convenient timing......#blooperreel #goofydog #sillydog #basicmanners #dogobedience #hikingwithdogs #outsidedog #positivereinforcementdogtraining #trainyourdog #snowdogs #hikinginthesnow
Stop letting your dog pull on leash! What I mean is stop walking behind them as they pull you. If that leash gets tight, stop moving. If you’re following behind your dog as they pull you along, you’re reinforcing the behavior. This is because the dog’s goal is to move forward. When you move behind them as they pull, they’re still meeting that goal. Instead, stop moving. Once they provide slack in the leash, or you encourage them back to you, you can resume motion.It’s also a good idea to give a dog treats for any time they spend beside you with a loose leash. I always suggest starting this part inside first so you both know what you’re doing before you head outside.If you’d like a full tutorial on how to teach loose leash walking, comment, “walkies” below! I’ll send you the link!.....#looseleashwalking #positivereinforcementtraining #doghiking #dogharness #obediencetraining #positivereinforcement #gooddoggo #dogwalks #dogdadsofinstagram #dogmomsofinstagram #dogmomproblems #leashskills
I didn’t die last week…but I could have. I was driving down the interstate when I realized my car felt funny. “Could be the road,” I thought. I switched into the right lane, but it keep happening. In a sec, the check engine light started coming on. “Oh, shoot. Is this real or a fluke? I’m gonna have to pull over. Oh, there’s can exit coming up.” It’s never a good idea to pull over on the side of the interstate, if you can avoid it. It can be really dangerous. I decided to try for the exit. As I’m driving, I’m starting to wonder if this is okay. “Should I have turned the car off? Will I hurt something?” I felt like I could be pushing it. 1/2 mile started feeling long. I put my four-ways on and babied it to the exit ramp. Once I was off the ramp, I realized there was a park ‘n ride across the street. “Should I go there? I don’t know if I’ll make it.” Instead, I decided on the shoulder. I made it and realized I’d lost my power steering… then I realized the brakes were gone. But I was okay.“Well, how’d you stop?” my mechanic a“I coasted…?” I thought about it later that day, and then I wasn’t exactly sure how I stopped. I just knew that I did. So, I coasted, was blessed by Divine intervention, or both.There are so many ways that could have been my last day:💭 This started when I was on the passing lane, farthest from the ideal spot to pull over. 💭It was mid afternoon in winter, so the sun was almost blinding in my direction. Not a great time to have issues, because people may not see me if I’m stopped. 💭I lost both power steering and power brakes. If I had gone for the park n’ ride, I’m not sure I would’ve made it across the street. I might have been stuck sideways in the middle of the road. (Or I could have rolled into someone once I got there.)I’m truly thankful that I was kept safe.Share to inspire others ❤️.....#yougotthis #perseverance #dogthoughts #igotstuck #helpme #lifeishard #lifeishards
Training Tip Tuesday - Don’t do what I did! Make sure you adequately prepare whenever you go out with your dog. Be it hot, cold, rainy, salty, or anything else, think about what you might need. Do you need a towel to dry off? Boots for hot pavement? A sweater for a short-haired dog? Be prepared and understand all possible consequences for both you and your dog.In this scenario, we were going to a familiar place. It was relatively small, and a trip back to my car wouldn’t have taken long if I had gotten too cold. Should I have done this on an unfamiliar 2+ mile trail? Absolutely not. Having a plan is part of preparedness, too!Follow for more videos where I help you learn from my mistakes!.......#trainingtips #dogtrainer #positivereinforcement #dogmom #huskymom #akitamom #dogtraining #givechoices #walkthedog #snackleadernotpackleader #dogtrainingtips #chambersburgpa #dogtrainersofinstagram #aggression #humanedogtrainer #greencastlepa #boxersofinstagram #goldensofinstagram #donttryit #pittiesofinstagram #labsofinstagram #noshocksneeded #humanetraining #hagerstownmd #ilovemydog #dogbehavior #dogmomaf #dontdothis
🙋♀️🙋♀️Raise your hand if you got a puppy for Christmas! If that’s you, now is the perfect time to get them into a puppy class. All puppies have a socialization period during which they start deciding what is safe or scary. This is the premium time to get them exposed to new situations while simultaneously keeping it a happy experience. This socialization period starts when your pup is still at the breeder’s, but it can end as early as 14 weeks old. So, it’s really important to join an appropriate puppy class during this time. (You can still work on this process outside of the socialization period, but it could look a little different.)Our next puppy class starts January 17th. You can register on our website or DM us for a direct link. 😉......#positivereinforcementdogtraining #puppyclass #trainingtips #puppyparent #dogdadsofinstagram #trainingtiptuesday #puppyforChristmas #puppiesofinsta #offleashlife #hagerstown #greencastlepa #waynesboropa #chambersburg #dogmom #dogdad #dogsofinstagram #dogobedience #puppiesofinstagram #adventureswithdogs
Training Tip Tuesday - Off-leash practice! One way to work on your dog’s off-leash skills would be to practice “potential reconnection.” What I mean is the two of you are physically disconnected (no leash joining the two of you,) but it would be simple and quick to reconnect. Long lines make this very easy to do.Long lines give you the ability to practice skills with a safety net to get your dog reconnected to you quickly and from a distance if things go awry. You can attach the long line to the collar or harness and then allow a portion to drag while you hold the rest or let it drag completely for those dogs a bit more advanced. The main thing is we want them to feel a greater sense of freedom than with a regular leash.When in our training do we start this? You’ll know you’re ready when your dog has acquired decent loose leash, recall, and/or check-in abilities on your normal walks and hikes and you’ve already accomplished regular skills from the end of your 6ft leas leash. If your dog can’t do those things with a majority of success, they probably aren’t ready for this. If your dog CAN do those things, then you just might be ready to practice with a long line instead of a short leash. Pro tip: the closer you are, the easier it will be for the dog to listen. Don’t automatically start at the end of a 50 ft line. If you’d like to learn more of the process and what to work on from a lower level, comment below!......#positivereinforcementdogtraining #trainingtips #dogdadsofinstagram #trainingtiptuesday #offleash #offleashtips #offleashlife #hagerstown #greencastlepa #waynesboropa #chambersburg #dogmom #dogdad #dogsofinstagram #dogobedience #hikingwithdogs #adventureswithdogs
I’ve been sitting on this idea for a while. It took me a few days to figure out the terms, but I finally designed it the way I like it. This contest is open to pet parents everywhere, and anyone can win! Plus, the more people participating, the more prizes given out! The whole goal is to get you active and engaged with your dog. So really, as long as you participate, you’re already a winner!Comment “I’m in” if you plan on joining us!#dogsofinstagram #dogcontest #newyearsresolution #newyearsgoals #newyearscontest #petcompetition #beactive #getoutthere #dogactivity #dogmom #dogdadsofinstagram #dogsofasheville #dogsofmaryland #dogsofphilly #getactive #barkranger #canineenrichment #dogexercise #getfitwithme #workoutwithyourdog
Did you see it? Did you see the little pup ask for a break in the playtime? Body language can be very subtle unless you know what to look for. Once you know, you realize dogs’ bodies are always communicating some message(s). From wags to yawns, they speak volumes without saying a word! 🐶💬 That doesn’t mean it’s easy, though. Some dogs can be hard to read, so we have to consider the context, setting, what’s normal, etc. If you still can’t understand, don’t hesitate to reach out to a qualified positive reinforcement trainer (or message me here.) We’re happy to help!Follow for more dog behavior content!#positivereinforcementdogtraining #DogBodyLanguage #CanineCommunication #SpeakDog #UnderstandingDogs #DogWhisperer #PawsomeCommunication #TheSecretLanguage #FurryFriends #ManBestFriend #TailTales #WoofWisdom #DogTalk #NonVerbalCues #FourLeggedFriends #HappyHounds”
📣 Calling all reactive dog parents!! This reminder is so simple to remember it’s easy to forget. If you have a reactive dog, and outings feel difficult, remember the weather. Many people don’t like walking in the rain, snow, or cold. That could be the perfect time for you to have adventures with your sensitive doggo! (Just take all the necessary precautions and equipment, like boots or raincoats, so you both stay safe.)Tell us your favorite adventure in the comments!.......#trainingtips #dogtrainer #positivereinforcement #dogmom #huskymom #akitamom #dogtraining #givechoices #balancedtraining #snackleadernotpackleader #dogtrainingtips #chambersburgpa #dogtrainersofinstagram #aggression #humanedogtrainer #greencastlepa #boxersofinstagram #goldensofinstagram #endbsl #pittiesofinstagram #labsofinstagram #noshocksneeded #humanetraining #hagerstownmd #ilovemydog #dogbehavior #dogmomaf #controlfreak
Don’t do what I just did… I love my dog’s long line, but using it in a cornfield post harvest is apparently quite dangerous. 😅 You can’t see it, but I had a mark on my cheek for a while, and it stayed tender even longer.Don’t be lazy like me. Just go unstick the thing........#trainingtips #dogtrainer #positivereinforcement #dogmom #huskymom #akitamom #dogtraining #donttrythisathome #walkthedog #snackleadernotpackleader #dogtrainingtips #chambersburgpa #dogtrainersofinstagram #aggression #humanedogtrainer #greencastlepa #boxersofinstagram #goldensofinstagram #endbsl #pittiesofinstagram #labsofinstagram #noshocksneeded #humanetraining #hagerstownmd #ilovemydog #dogbehavior #dogmomaf #dontdothis
Is your dog a little naughty? Help them get on the nice list! Locals can attend our drop-in class tomorrow night. Distance learners can watch our Holiday Manners playlist on YouTube. If you practice just a little bit each day, they’re bound to get more than charcoal biscuits in their stockings! 😅➡️ ➡️ YouTube.com/attapuptraining . . . . #holidayplaylist #positivereinforcementtraining #nicelist #fromnaughtytonice #naughtylist #gooddoggo #christmasdogs #trainingtips #dogtraining #chambersburgpa #greencastlepa #hagerstownmd
