Faithfully Yours Dog Training

17/12/2024

Congratulations to all our student-dog teams who took their AKC Fit Dog Level 3 assessments today! 🥳

This team has spent the better part of the year working towards finishing up the entire Fit Dog class series.

The improvements from Level 1 class to now are just amazing and they should all be proud!

If you are interested in Fit Dog, come join us for the next Level 1 virtual class starting in January!

Read more here:
https://fydogtraining.com/akc-fit-dog

16/12/2024

Wonderful advice to keep the holidays low-stress for everyone!

To add to this, there are pet gates for cat-owning homes that span the entire doorway if you don't want to stack two gates - just Google "cat pet gate". 🐶✨

13/12/2024

Building on this great post, I couldn't agree more that there’s rarely a straightforward answer when it comes to behavior. It’s not that trainers or behaviorists are being vague, it’s that behavior is incredibly nuanced and influenced by so many factors.

While there are certainly patterns and similarities within a species, it’s uncommon to find a one-size-fits-all explanation or solution. Every dog is shaped by their unique experiences, genetics, environment, and individual needs.

This is why personalized support is so valuable. A trainer or behaviorist who takes the time to gather a detailed history of your dog can develop a tailored approach that truly works for you and your dog - if you humor us by giving us a small bit of your time. 🙂

12/12/2024

Have you ever felt unheard by your vet when expressing concerns about your dog’s behavior? You’re not alone.

Many of our students seek Dynamic Dog Assessments after struggling to find support from their current veterinary team.

It’s frustrating, but some vets still recommend trainers without proper certifications or continuing education as the catch-all solution to behavior problems.

This often ends in more issues, not less.

So, how can you find a vet who truly listens, understands, and provides reliable guidance?

And how do you know when it’s time to trust your instincts and get a second opinion?

Our latest blog post dives into these questions and shares what we prioritize when referring students to veterinary professionals.

If you’ve ever felt stuck or unsure about your dog’s care, this post is for you. Let’s make sure your voice, and your dog’s, are heard!

In this blog, we discuss the importance of selecting the right veterinarian and knowing when to seek a second opinion to ensure your dog's health and well-being. I share the story of Oakley, my dog diagnosed with discospondylitis after persistent advocacy and seeking a second opinion, highlighting t

12/12/2024

At this point in time, most folks understand the link between pain and behavior. It’s logical: you don’t feel well, you have less patience and tolerance, you lash out or shut down or otherwise are not the best version of yourself. It makes sense that the same would be true for dogs.

But how do we know there is pain with animals who cannot verbalize that pain?

The short answer: we can’t know.

The longer answer: we also can’t know there ISN’T pain.

Meet Malus.

From puppyhood, he’s been a little spicy. But he’s a terrier, so that’s normal, right? He didn’t like having his feet handled. No biggie. And as he got older, he got a little reactive to other dogs - again, see “terrier” in the dictionary. And after he got neutered at 2.5 years old, his behavior spiraled - going after his housemates, aggression directed at his owners, even less tolerance for handling, increased fence fighting. But there’s some evidence of increased aggression after neutering, so maybe he just got unlucky.

For many folks, that explanation would’ve been enough. They would’ve worked on behavior modification, or just accepted a crate and rotate household, or managed the heck out of all of his triggers… or, honestly, would’ve ended up euthanizing him for his dangerous behavior.

Luckily, Malus’s mom is Katrina, who is essentially a terrier in a human body. She dug in.

Training, a veterinary behaviorist, consulting with other behavior experts, expensive testing - and then we got our first physical explanation: low zinc.

But even with a zinc supplement, his aggressive episodes remained unpredictable. Katrina had noticed some very, very intermittent lameness, foot chewing, butt/tail biting, so off they went to the first orthopedic specialist - one who cleared him orthopedically for all activities.

So they did physical therapy, and pain meds, and kept working on training.

But the weird, mild lameness continued, and so did visits to specialists. A neurologist who recommended an MRI, then more physical therapy for a possible psoas strain, different meds, another orthopedic/rehab specialist consultation, adjustments to physical therapy, a PEMF bed for home use, adjustments to behavior meds, consults with nationally respected trainers and behavior specialists, and finally - FINALLY - a recommendation to see a pain management specialist.

“I think he may have Tethered Cord Syndrome. I’m going to try different pain meds, but there’s a specialist in Massachusetts you should get in touch with.”

With the new meds on board, his behavior improved. He was brighter, happier, had fewer episodes of lameness, self mutilation, and aggression.

Yesterday, Malus had a dynamic MRI at Tufts, where Tethered Cord Syndrome was confirmed.

Today, he had surgery to relieve the adhesions to his spinal cord that have been causing him pain.

He was never “just being a terrier.” He was not acting out for no good reason. He didn’t need harsher training methods. He wasn’t aggressing for no reason.

He was in pain.

There are no words to adequately describe how thrilled I am for Katrina and Malus to have this diagnosis and surgery in their rear view mirror - it has been a long time coming. The strain on Katrina and Kevin’s emotions, time, resources, finances, and household over the last 5 years cannot be overstated. Most folks wouldn’t - and couldn’t - go to the lengths they did.

We can’t rule out pain. We can only rule out specific issues and diagnoses. For Malus, it took finding the right vet who had heard about this rarely diagnosed issue to connect them with the vet who could help.

To my clients I encourage to work with their veterinarian to try to find any physical explanations: Katrina and Malus are the reason why I will push you more if your primary care vet shrugs you off. It’s why I will push and push and push, especially if your commitment to training and management is excellent but we still are struggling to make progress. Malus is on my shoulder (sometimes literally), poking me with his nose, screeching in my ear to look harder.

If you’ve ever heard him, you know how hard that ✨ delightful ✨ noise is to ignore.

(PS - Here’s your sign to sign up for pet insurance.)

To learn more about Tethered Cord Syndrome:
https://vet.tufts.edu/news-events/news/breakthrough-surgical-procedure-relieves-dogs-chronic-pain

11/12/2024

E-fences, do they actually keep your dog safe? It actually turns out not so much. 😬

People often turn to electronic collars, and electronic fences, as the seemingly top-tier method of keeping their dog within a certain confined space. However, a study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, found that they are actually significantly less effective than the bog standard fence types including privacy fences and see-through fences. In fact the dogs confined with an electronic fence were almost twice as likely to escape (44%) than those using the other fence types (23.3%).

This is also not the only issue with using an electronic fence/ e-fence to keep your dog confined compared to the more traditional fence types, such as...

❎ It doesn't prevent dangers entering, which could put you and your dog at risk.
Even if the fence was able to keep your dog in, it doesn't stop other creatures, or people, entering the space that could either hurt your dog or even try to steal them. A privacy fence, or other fence type, would not only deter a dog from leaving but unwanted visitors from coming in too.

❎ If the dog does get out, they may not be able to get back in.
Sometimes dogs are hit with such strong adrenaline it will surpass the pain of the e-collar shock, this could be due to fear, prey drive or something else. This could leave them free outside the confinement area where they could get hurt, or become exhausted, and then not be in the same state of adrenaline in order to get in again, leaving them vulnerable and stuck outside the confinement area.

❎ It can create unexpected or unintended negative associations if the dog gets shocked whilst watching something near the fence line.
Dogs like to watch things, we all know dogs who sit at the window all day to have a nosey at what is going on in the neighbourhood. If your dog is watching at the fence line, and see something interesting, such as another dog or person, they may inadvertently move forward enough to receive a shock. They may now associate whatever they were watching with this negative consequence, which could lead to fear or even aggression if they encounter the same or similar visual later on.

So E-fences are not only not as effective as they are often perceived to be, but they also carry their own specific risks on top of that as well. So if you wish to keep your dog safe, I would recommend to always aim for a suitable physical fence, rather than relying on an e-collar. 👍

You can find the study quoted in the graphic here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28117644/ #:~:text=Dogs%20confined%20by%20an%20electronic,22%2F82%20%5B26.8%25%5D).

10/12/2024

We’re officially fully booked for all Behavior and Private Training services until we’re back from our holiday break on January 7th!

If you’re a current or past student and need to secure a spot in January, now’s the perfect time to act.

January is shaping up to be a busy month, so be sure to get on the schedule early to avoid missing out.

Thank you for trusting us this year to help you and your pups grow together. We can’t wait to work with you again in the New Year!

Here’s to making 2025 a pawsitive start! 🥳

10/12/2024

We can't thank Heart Dog Behavior and Training for shouting us out here. ❤

Trainers and behavior consultants alike are learning more and more every day about how health checks BEFORE trying to modify behavior are not just important, but necessary.

I shudder to think how many dogs have been put down because their behavior was related to their unresolved medical conditions or unidentified injuries - not their trainability or "personality".

Help us save more dogs by spreading the word and supporting trainers who think of heath first!

Jess here with my favorite behavior nerd post of the season created by From Dusk till Dog! It always gives me a chuckle!! But truly, there is no amount of training we can provide that will solve a problem that’s related to physical illness or pain. Sudden change in your dog’s behavior? Please go to the vet! Sudden lapse in house training? Go to the vet!! Dogs suddenly fighting with one another? Please, take both dogs to the vet! There are so many behavioral issues that can come from pain, or even from stimuli that your dog has come to associate with pain. Having trouble pinpointing what might be causing a sudden behavior change? We have personal experience with and recommend Lauren at Faithfully Yours Dog Training who is trained in the Dynamic Dog Assessment, a thorough functional analysis of many parts of your dog’s life such as their movement, posture, and conformation that might impact their behavior and the choices they make. (This isn’t a marketing post- we just really believe in this!!) So don’t be like the Who’s- rule out those medical causes before implementing a training plan!

08/12/2024

Schedule Cleared

06/12/2024

Does your dog suckle blankets, random items, or their own legs?

You aren't alone! We recently had this question submitted to us by a dog owner.

We answered on our blog to discuss the limited research into this topic and what these behaviors may mean.

Read our answer at the link below:

The blog post explores the intriguing behavior of blanket and flank sucking in dogs, particularly in Doberman Pinschers. It explains that this behavior is often a self-soothing mechanism rooted in comfort-seeking. Studies on flank sucking in Dobermans show it may have a hereditary component and para

05/12/2024

TRAINING TUESDAY

Have you ever been advised by your trainer to put management in place to limit the rehearsal of a behaviour?

Maybe your dog was jumping up to steal the roast turkey 🦃 that was resting on the counter or they got too excited when you put up your Christmas tree🎄and started stealing the decorations to run away with?

No matter what your struggle is, good management is the first step of your success as a team.

Management options for excitement around the Christmas tree could look like this:

🐶 - Using a play pen to limit access to the Christmas tree

🐶 - Using a baby gate to limit access to the room where you put up the Christmas tree

🐶 - Using a playpen to create a resting area for your dog to stay in the room where the Christmas tree is located. (Make sure to provide your dog with some type of enrichment activity to prevent boredom and negative association with the playpen)

🐶 - Having your dog on a leash when they are in the room with the tree.

All of these suggestions limit the rehearsal of the behaviour. When your dog isn’t able to practice a behaviour such as having access to the Christmas tree to steal the decoration, they won’t receive the reward of being chased by you to grab that bauble they have in their mouth. Hence, they are less likely to repeat the behaviour.

The next step after implementing a management plan is to start teaching your dog alternative behaviours. An example could be a solid “Place” cue!

Checkout the full article on our website to learn more about management and how to teach some of the alternative behaviours for the above example.

https://www.ppgaustralia.net.au/page-1862226

What management plan have you implemented in your home to limit the rehearsal of a behaviour?

Share your photos with us in the comments.

05/12/2024

"𝘋𝘰𝘨𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘤 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘱𝘴𝘺 (𝘐𝘌), 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤 𝘯𝘦𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴, 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘦𝘪𝘻𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴. 𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘨𝘰 𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘥, 𝘺𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭-𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴. 𝘈 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘺 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘋𝘰𝘨 𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘥𝘰𝘨𝘴, 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴..."

Read more about what they discovered at the link below:

Learn how idiopathic epilepsy affects dogs beyond seizures, including behavioral changes like excitability, anxiety, and cognitive challenges. Also read about the importance of early intervention, holistic care, and tailored behavior modification. Improve your dog's quality of life with expert dog b

04/12/2024

For the past two years, my life with my three personal dogs has taken a path I never anticipated.

Each one of them (yes, all three!) was diagnosed with medical conditions after I learned how to better detect the subtle signs of pain in dogs.

At first, I was overwhelmed with grief for the adventures we might never share. Dreams of activities we could no longer safely pursue seemed to vanish overnight.

There was sadness for how these diagnoses compromised their ability to move comfortably, to simply be dogs in the way they had always been.

And then came the confusion: Where do I go from here? What could I do for them now?

We were fortunate to have amazing professionals guiding us, but the reality was clear: each expert could only provide advice within their own scope.

They didn’t know the nuances of the dog sports I loved. They didn’t know the specific demands of training classes.

Their guidance was invaluable, but it often left me piecing together a bigger picture, alone.

I felt frozen, paralyzed by uncertainty.

Every movement my dogs made - bounding up the stairs, breaking into a trot - made me wince. Was this okay? Was I letting them hurt themselves?

The fear of doing something wrong stopped me in my tracks.

So, I began to learn.

I dove headfirst into dog anatomy, physiology, and the specifics of their conditions. I sought out every resource I could find, talking to professionals on both the medical and training sides, and taking course after course.

And slowly, the grief began to fade.

In its place, something new blossomed: Hope. Excitement. A realization that, while some doors had closed, so many others remained open.

We could still train. We could still bond. And most importantly, we could still thrive.

This learning journey didn’t just transform my relationship with my own dogs. It reshaped the way I approach my students and their dogs.

Today, when I work with families with dogs facing medical challenges, I see the possibilities I once thought were lost.

Knowing what I know now, I’ve been able to make a far greater impact than I ever imagined possible.

As the new year approaches, I feel myself stepping more fully into this role.

It feels like coming full circle. From my background in massage therapy and tutoring anatomy and kinesiology, to where I stand now, helping dogs and their owners navigate the delicate balance of training and medical needs.

I’m still learning every day. My students and their dogs continue to teach me, pushing me to grow alongside them.

But if there’s one thing I want you to know, it’s this: a diagnosis, a grey muzzle, or even the (sometimes painful long) pursuit of answers isn’t the end.

It's just the beginning, if you let it be.

03/12/2024

How well can dog owners recognize pain-related behaviors in their dogs?

Find out in our new blog post below! 👇

Learn how to recognize subtle signs of pain in dogs, from changes in activity to body language cues. Discover insights from a recent study and why early detection is key to improving your dog's quality of life. Explore how Faithfully Yours Dog Training can help with expert behavior assessments.

02/12/2024

Heads up, everyone! 🐶

We came back from Thanksgiving break to quite a few emails and calls.

If everyone who has contacted us signs up, we will have NO spots left before the new year for Behavior Guidance Calls.

If you have contacted us about help for your pet and have a tight schedule, please respond promptly so, we can find a time that works for you.

(We have already emailed everyone back, so please check your spam folder if you do not see it!)

Otherwise, times and dates before Christmas will likely be slim pickings.

As for those waiting until the new year to sign up for private programs who have already had a call with us, now is the time to email Lauren about getting on the January-start schedule.

Spots are already filling into spring for private sessions and we only take around 50 private students a year!

02/12/2024

Last Chance! Virtual AKC Fit Dog Classes are on sale!

Today is the final day to save $50 on all levels of our Virtual AKC Fit Dog group classes!

Start the new year strong by working toward an AKC Fit Dog title from the comfort of your home. These classes are perfect for staying active with your dog, especially during the colder winter months. ❄️

🎯 Sale Details:

- Save $50 on all levels of AKC Fit Dog group classes.
- Offer ends tonight, December 2nd, at 11:59 PM.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to bond with your dog and reach new fitness goals together. Sign up today!

https://fydogtraining.com/akc-fit-dog

Let’s earn some titles in 2025!

Virtual AKC Fit Dog ClassesVirtual American Kennel Club FIT DOG Group Classes   ALL FIT DOG VIRTUAL CLASSES ARE $50 OFF UNTIL CYBER MONDAY!What Are AKC Fit Dog Classes? The AKC Fit Dog program is a fun and fitness-focused curriculum developed by the American Kennel Club and taught by experienced AK...

30/11/2024

Happy Thanksgiving from Faithfully Yours Dog Training! 🦃

This Small Business Saturday, we’re excited to offer $50 off our VIRTUAL AKC Fit Dog group classes for all levels! 🎉

Kick off the new year by working toward an AKC Fit Dog title right from the comfort of your home. These classes are perfect for indoor training during chilly winter months and a great way to stay active with your dog.

🎯 Sale Details:

- $50 off all levels of AKC Fit Dog group classes
- Sale ends Monday, December 2nd, at 11:59 PM

Learn more and sign up at the link below.

We can’t wait to help you and your dog achieve new goals in the year ahead! 🐾

Virtual AKC Fit Dog ClassesVirtual American Kennel Club FIT DOG Group Classes   What Are AKC Fit Dog Classes? The AKC Fit Dog program is a fun and fitness-focused curriculum developed by the American Kennel Club and taught by experienced AKC Fit Dog Instructors. Our specially designed courses help ...