Lets Get Pawsitive LLC

17/08/2024

Victor did so well yesterday! 🙌 He has grown so much confidence around other dogs since we started working together, specially big dogs. Victor was attacked by two big dogs and has been reactive toward them ever since, but his momma is hopeful he can be a service dog again. 🤞

We had both Kane and Rizzo at Lowe’s yesterday and Victor did fabulous with each dog, and was relaxed with them being around ! 🤩

Dog rehabilitation is not easy and requires a significant amount of time. We wouldn’t want to rush a person’s progress when dealing with trauma, and the same applies to dogs. 🐾

17/08/2024

This is an amazing analogy. It’s so important to listen to our dogs. 🐶

So you’re at an outing, standing next to your spouse or friend. Someone approaches you with a tray filled with hors d’oeuvres, and offers one to you. You look at the tray, but then say “no, thank you.” The waiter moves away.

Now, imagine if after saying “no, thank you” the waiter didn’t go away. Imagine if the waiter continued to push you to take one, and even your spouse started saying “come on, take one!” So you uncomfortably took and ate one, even though it wasn’t what you wanted. You’d probably be pretty aggravated with your spouse too. But you think it’s a one off and you carry on with the evening.

A few minutes later another waiter approaches with another tray, and the same thing happens. This time you feel yourself get more upset, especially after saying “no” multiple times. But your spouse insists also, even going so far as to take the snack off the tray and try to put it in your mouth. By the end of the interaction, you’re really on edge.

The third or fourth time you see a waiter approach you, you’re feeling either stressed, angry, or both. The waiter hasn’t even gotten all the way over to you yet and you’re ready to yell “no!” You look around for a place to escape to but your spouse/friend has their arm around you and you can’t back away. You end up physically snatching the tray from the waiter and throwing it on the ground, yelling obscenities and getting as quickly out of the room as possible. The guests look at you while your spouse simply says “I don’t know why she’s being so aggressive! They were just wanted to give her a snack!” I’m guessing you would be pretty angry at your spouse/friend by this point too. They aren’t helping support you at all. You can’t trust them OR the waiter.

You see where I’m going with this don’t you?
Try to imagine if your “no thank yous” were ignored. How many times would it take being ignored for you to get angry, get physical, or try to escape, or worse, just shut down completely. Everyone would handle it differently, but we’d all hate it.

Dogs deal with this EVERY DAY. They say “no, thank you” all the time. And we often times are guilty of ignoring that request and trying to convince them otherwise, sometimes even going so far as to force them through something because WE don’t understand. And then we wonder why dogs reach a point of aggressing or avoiding. Whether we are the waiter; trying to push something onto the dog like an interaction, or the spouse/friend not supporting the dog and backing up their request of “no, thank you” we are doing serious harm to the dogs confidence and even more harm to our relationship with them.

Your dog can only use his body language to tell you what he wants, so pay attention. If your dog says no thank you, listen. If they don’t want a stranger to touch them, support them. If they don’t want to meet a strange dog, let it go. If they want to take their time trying something different, let them take their time. I can tell you the more choice they feel they have the more likely they are to actually decide to try when they are ready. Just like you may finally get hungry enough to want a snack from the tray, but on your terms, and one that you get to pick.

Choice and consent matters in ALL species. Respect your dogs “no, thank you” and you’ll get a lot of respect back.

- Helen St. Pierre, No Monkey Business Dog Training. Please if you share give credit.

15/08/2024

It’s the most exciting part of coming home ♥️

14/08/2024

Look at all those puppy ears 😍

Welcome back, Lyla, Buddy, and Aurora! I sure missed seeing these babies!! Team Aurora and I worked together 3.5 yrs ago, when Aurora was just a baby ❤️🐾 Her guardian called me excitedly that they were back and would love to work together again 👏 I am happy to report that Aurora is a such a Good Dog 🐕

Many things have happened to Aurora in the last 3 years. Some dogs were not too kind to her, so we are building her confidence up and making her comfortable out and about. She quickly reacts to seeing humans with running up and jumping as well, so we are going to fine-tune her doggie manners.

-Agnes

14/08/2024

It's breakfast time! I always make sure that at least one of my dogs' meals is served through a fun and enriching method.

The older dogs receive their food in hollowed-out bones and cow hooves. I fill the bones the night before and freeze them overnight. The puppy gets her food on a lick mat.

Enrichment for our dogs goes far beyond just food, but I try to incorporate enrichment in every way possible.

Just as we expect and demand that zoos provide animals with enriching lives, the same should be expected of us for our companion animals. While dogs have evolved to live alongside humans, it is entirely up to us to determine the quality of life our dogs experience.

I highly recommend this AMAZING book on dog enrichment! Author Shay Kelly provides numerous fantastic options and fun activities you can enjoy with your dog. While many suggestions involve food, there are also plenty of activities that don’t. He explains in great detail why enriching our dogs' lives is so incredibly important. As it says on the cover of his book, “The book your dogs NEEDS you to read”.

CANINE ENRICHMENT: THE BOOK YOUR DOG NEEDS YOU TO READ 2ND EDITION https://a.co/d/gZjZEm9

13/08/2024

Welcome Daisy Mae, the 11 months old terrier mix to the Basic Manners Training Course 👏

Daisy Mae is sooooo sweet and smart! We had a lot of fun working in the backyard on her Loose Leash Walking skills.

She is going to wear a beautiful pink Balance Harness from www.blue-9.com for more comfort for Daisy Mae and better control for her momma.

Being outside first, in a place she is familiar with, helped us drain some of her excess energy, and she was still able to give us her undivided attention.
Then, back in the house, she quickly picked up on mat training and laying down 💪

Looking forward to continuing our training journey with team Daisy Mae ❤️🐾❤️🐾

-Agnes

11/08/2024

This handsome boy is up for adoption! Not through the shelter, but through a previous client.

His name is Trigger, he is 3 years old and is such a sweet pup! He is friendly with most other dog, good with kids and he is up-to-date on vaccinations and neutered! 

This boy is being rehomed due to his owner having health issues. The family is just hoping he can find a good forever home. 💕

Please message us if you’re interested.

11/08/2024

Way to go Benny!! 🤩 This adolescent golden retriever was like most his age, pulling like a freight train and losing brain cells at every distraction. He especially struggled walking down nature trails, there is just so many good smells and animals to investigate!

Now look at him! He did so well walking on a loose leash, checking in with his guardians and responding beautiful to any behavior asked. 🥳 He has made so much progress in the past month and I am super proud of him and his family for putting in the work. 👏

Navigating adolescence with dogs can be a challenging time, filled with hormonal changes and bursts of energy that may lead to some wild behavior. Just like teenage humans, dogs in this phase might test boundaries and push limits. However, this period is also incredibly rewarding; it’s a time for bonding, learning, and growth. With patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement, you can help your pup develop into a well-mannered companion. The love and loyalty that emerge from overcoming these tough times make every moment of effort worthwhile, creating a strong, lasting connection that enriches both your lives. ♥️🐾♥️🐾

11/08/2024

This is a wonderful video!! 🤩🐾

09/08/2024

One of the first things you should do with your puppy is create wonderful associations with their name! One of the best ways to get your puppy to respond is to pair their name with a yummy treat (or toy!). When I say "Poppy," she comes running from anywhere and away from anything because she knows she will receive a fantastic reward for doing so. Every single time she responds to her name, she gets a treat. Eighty percent of the time, that treat is something high-value, like chicken or hamburger.

Will it always be this easy? Nope! Adolescence is just around the corner for her, and I know we're in for a rollercoaster ride of emotions and challenging behaviors! It's still incredibly important to establish a solid foundation right now and continue this training, no matter how bumpy the ride becomes.

We need to stay consistent so that she will remain consistent. 🐾

Keeping a few treats in your pocket, having jars of treats around the house, and wearing a treat pouch are all good ways to ensure you reward your puppy every time they do something you like!

Send a message to learn more

08/08/2024

Welcome Kali, the 8 months old Labradoodle to our Basic Manners Training Course 👏

My heart was singing when I read our information request form: Reason for training? “Overall quality of life for dog and owners” 🤩💖🐶

Our humane, positive, and fun training approach focuses on enhancing the lives of both guardians and their dogs. We emphasize this because training is much more than just obedience; it’s about building a better life together.

What a sweet and energetic girl Kali is ❤️ We started to work on keeping all 4 on the floor (no jumping), using management, like toys, harness and leash, and lots of rewards for good behaviors, eye contact, positioning to heel and loose leash walking in the house.

I am happy to report that she was tired at the end of the session 😂

-Agnes

08/08/2024

We hope to see you there!! 🐾🤩

Join us at our annual silent auction, the Beer, Bark & BBQ! 🐶🐾

All proceeds directly help our shelter! ✅

RSVP using the link to our event, we hope to see you there! ⬇️

https://facebook.com/events/s/beer-bark-bbq/1046328360249342/

07/08/2024

A huge congratulations to Benji for completing Basic Manners Training! 👏

This adorable boy has learned so much in our time together and I am so proud of his progress. He learned sit, lay, stay, loose leash walking, recall and hand targeting! Not only did he learn all those behaviors, but he was able to do them out in a busy environment as well! 🤩

Benji is such a smart boy and he was so fun to work with. I wish him and his momma all the best with their future adventures! 🥰🐶

-Lindzee

06/08/2024

Meet Bruno, a handsome 4-year-old male that is just full of love ♥️🐾

With his sweet personality and laid-back demeanor, Bruno is a lovable dog you simply can't resist! 🥰 Yet despite all this, he has been at the shelter for 8 months!! He was recently sponsored though and we are hoping that will help out his forever family so they can come and pick him up! 👏

This boy is always ready for an adventure, Bruno enjoys everything from leisurely walks to energetic play sessions with his toys. 🙌 Whether it's exploring new trails or taking a stroll around the neighborhood, he's always up for some outdoor fun. And when it's time to relax, you can count on him to snuggle up on the couch and keep an eye on those barking dogs on TV! 😂

Bruno has made multiple dog friends at the shelter, but he has also met some dogs he simply does not like, so a meet and greet is very important with this big guy.💙

Isn't he just adorable? Check out those expressive eyebrows! 🤩

If you're interested in Bruno, we hope you go visit him at the shelter and see how great he is! Don’t be afraid that he will bark at you in his kennel, he does this simply because he has been sitting here so long and he can’t wait to get out and hang out with you!! 💙🐾

Bruno's adoption includes a free session with Lets Get Pawsitive LLC 🐾

Loving Paws Adoption Center
181 Loving Paws Lane
Crocker, MO

Their business hours are Tuesday- Saturday 10-4 pm

05/08/2024

Zachary and Apollo have made huge progress together. I am so proud of this team! 👏 🤩

Apollo is learning how to walk nicely on the leash, and Zachary is learning how to work with and teach his best friend. 💙

04/08/2024

Please welcome the gorgeous 8 month old American Bully x Staffordshire terrier mix, Kyro! He has started Basic Manners and I am so happy to work with this big boy 🤩

We were contacted because the guardian is struggling with letting Kyro out of his crate for long periods. He runs around and will knock over his two-year-old human sibling. He also will jump when excited in the adults, and he is becoming unsure of strangers.

I was happy it only took a few moments and some chicken for Kyro to like me and let me work with him. 👏💖

We started with some basics like hand targeting, name game, eye contact, and we started teaching “sit”. Kyro has to learn HOW to learn, he needs to see good things come from learning and working with his pawrents.

Another big concern we talked about is making sure Kyro is getting enough physical exercise and mental stimulation. He is an adolescent high-energy breed, and training can’t make
good progress when the dogs needs are not being met. We talked about getting more toys, specifically a flirt pole! Feeding him from a Kong, and more bones to chew. Also, to try to fit in more walks.

I look forward to making progress with this handsome boy and his family 💕

-Lindzee


04/08/2024

Congratulations to Milo for completing our Behavior Modification Training Course 👏 💪
Milo is an 8 months old Siberian Husky + Australian Cattle Dog. 🤩

Milo exhibits significant anxiety towards various noises and dogs. Previously, he also displayed leash-pulling behavior when encountering cars.

We have determined that Milo’s behavior and reactivity are likely influenced by his genetic makeup. During his mother’s pregnancy, she endured challenging circumstances, which may have impacted Milo and his siblings.

I am happy to say we have seen remarkable progress by Team Milo. Through consistent training and support, Milo has shown significant improvements in his leash walking, attention span, recovery from stressful situations, and interactions with dogs. He now shows a happier and more relaxed demeanor!

That being said, Milo’s training and management will have to continue, and thanks to his guardian angel, he is in the best hands 💙🐾💙

-Agnes

03/08/2024

We just got our beautiful shipment of Blue-9 Balance Harnesses! 🤩

If you know us personally, you know these are our FAVORITE harness! The design allows for natural movement, reduces pulling, and fits dogs comfortably. 👏

Whether your dog is walking, running, or playing, the Balance Harness supports their body mechanics, making it great for both everyday use and active adventures. 🏃

It clips around the neck like a collar so you don’t have to pull it over your dogs head. Additionally, it’s also fully adjustable and non-restrictive, which makes for a happy dog! 🐶

Read what the research says! ⬇️

https://www.blue-9.com/blogs/news/balance-harness-what-the-research-says

They are Just 💲40 each and that includes shipping!! 💵

If anyone is in need of one of these please reach out! We will also be happy to help you fit it properly on your dog👌

03/08/2024

Congratulations to Holly and her family for completing Behavior Modification Training!! 👏🤩

We were contacted because Holly was uncomfortable with people inside the house and outside, and she would show them that by barking at them. 🫣

She has made tremendous progress with strangers outside, so much that the family can happily take her to the pet store now and Holly no longer feels the need to bark at anyone!

We started working on mat training inside the house, and let me tell you, this girl seriously LOVES training! She initially struggled to stay lying on it, but by our last session, she was doing much better! She is just such a happy wiggly girl she wanted to be as close to the treat people as she could be 😂

We also discussed how, when strangers come over to the house, they should toss her treats to help her feel more comfortable. This method has worked with everyone new she has met so far! Within five minutes, she is ready to be their friend. 🥰 We also talked about how it would be easier for her if she met people outside the home first. These little changes can make all the difference.

-Lindzee

02/08/2024

Did you know that a dog’s eyes can tell you a lot about how they’re feeling? One of the key signs to watch for is pupil dilation.

👁️ **What is Pupil Dilation?**

Pupil dilation occurs when the pupils of a dog’s eyes become larger. While this can happen for various reasons, it most often means that your dog is feeling very stressed or anxious.

In the photos below, you can see the differences in Zara’s expressions. On the left, her eyes are at their normal size, with smaller pupils. Her ears are upright in their usual shape, and her facial muscles appear relaxed. On the right, however, you can see that her pupils are much larger, her ears are pinned back, and there’s noticeable tension in her face. I’ve also included another picture where her ears are upright, but they are very erect, which is different from her relaxed posture. Once again, her eyes are telling me everything about how she feels.

I brought Zara into Lowe’s for the first time today, which is why she was feeling so nervous. While she listened to me, accepted treats, and did what I asked such as sitting and lying down, it’s about so much more than just obedience. I care about how she feels in these situations, and those feelings don’t always manifest in her behavior. I have to be looking at her body language, and it’s important for every dog parent to be able to know when their dog is stressed out.

02/08/2024

Dogs are just being dogs and it is our responsibility to teach them how we want them to fit in our big, crazy World!

For the last century, dog owners were told to view their dogs as adversaries. Scheming, manipulative creatures who were out to take over our lives by leaning on us, jumping on our furniture, and "not listening" to our commands.

Even in the early days of positive reinforcement training, we trainers still told owners that they must be leaders, giving away nothing, not even affection, unless the dog worked for it. Why? Because if they didn't, the dog was going to take over.

One of the most important shifts in modern training has been to view animals in our care as members of the same team. Instead of forcing our will on dogs like dictators or imposing strict rules to make them see us as leaders, we've started acting like leaders.

We've opened the lines of communication. In the old days, communication was a one-way street, going from us to the dog. When that wasn't successful, we devised all sorts of creative methods and tools to punish the dog for it.

Now, we can read subtle cues that tell us when a dog is anxious, frustrated, not ready for a certain environment or level of distraction, and even when they want to start or stop an invasive procedure like nail trims, vaccinations, and grooming.

These cues also tell us how a dog is responding to behavior modification for serious problems like aggression so we can be sure that our plans are creating long-term change, not just temporary suppression of symptoms like growling and barking.

And by learning that these behaviors are a form of communication that prevents bites and fights, we've begun to listen to what the dog is telling us and making adjustments to prevent the need for the dog to escalate.

We've also learned how to break behaviors into smaller steps, speeding the learning process and helping dogs figure out what we want more quickly. Oh, how the quality of my training and my clients' successes improved when I learned this!

We are better at inspiring dogs to be the best they can be, finding what motivates each individual dog instead of insisting their reward is whatever we decide it should be or working just to avoid an unpleasant consequence. Dogs' enthusiasm during training used to be rare 20 years ago, and now I regularly see dogs that can't wait to get to work!

I think most importantly, we have taken accountability for our dog's success and failures. After all, dogs only know how to act like dogs. It is up to us to teach them how to behave in human society.

A good friend of mine has always impressed me by asking, "What am I doing wrong?" when one of her dogs fails to get a concept. She never makes excuses because of their breed or labels them as stubborn. She acknowledges that it is her responsibility to help them learn and that when they struggle, SHE needs to figure out how to adapt to their needs, not the other way around.

This means making sure our skills are up to par, that we know how to teach behaviors, put them on clear, consistent cues, and that they have been reinforced enough that the dog is motivated to perform them without resorting to force or bribery.

Our dog's successes and failures affect us both. Labels and excuses don't change anything. Two-way communication, inspiration, and accountability do.

Dogs aren't trying to take over, they are simply behaving in ways that get them what they need to be safe and comfortable in our world. We need them to behave in ways that are acceptable in our society and meet our goals for life with us. By working together, we can ensure that everyone gets what they need.

20 years ago, I was your average dog owner who only knew what I had learned from friends until the day came when lack of communication with my dog landed a teenage girl in the hospital. Because of that incident, I was forced to learn how to listen to my dog and how to communicate with him to prevent further tragedy (I was lucky that I had that opportunity back then - I don't think I would have it now).

I've made horrible mistakes, followed even worse advice, and imposed my will on far too many dogs in the past. And I still feel every one of those dog's failures as my own, even 10-15 years later.

Like me, maybe you did it wrong in the past. Maybe you have regrets. Maybe you and your dog are still in the midst of a communication breakdown. We all do the best we can with the information we have in that moment. As long you keep learning and trying to do it better, you are a success and doing the best you can for your team.

Go, Team [insert dog's name]! I know you can do it!

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©2017 Lisa Mullinax. All rights reserved. Please feel free to share on FB. However, downloading for redistribution in any form, for any reason is prohibited.
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Learn more at www.4pawsuniversity.com

31/07/2024

Congratulations to Kola, the 1yr old boy for completing the Basic Manners and Behavior Modification Training Course.

Kola was a little rascal. Counter-surfing, jumping, and not listening at all! 🙈 It was a struggle to keep her out of her kennel with the family around. 😫
We arrived just in time to help!

Our magic potion? Mat training, down, stay, hand targeting, eye contact, leave it, drop it, staying out of the kitchen, attention grabbing with positive interrupter, and more physical and mental exercise!

I am happy to report that Kola is doing very well and her guardian is having fun training her 👏💪🐾

-Agnes

30/07/2024

They sure know how to make us feel bad about making that money for their bougie lifestyle 😂

26/07/2024

These types of reviews are what I work for! 🐾 I absolutely love getting to help dogs and their family live better lives together! 👏

-Lindzee

25/07/2024

Welcome Jax, the 3yrs old mix to our Behavior Modification Training Course 👏

I was so happy to read the inquiry form from the family that stated, "We would like to bond with the dog and establish our place in his life." That is exactly what we want and hope for every adopted pup and what every training experience should start with . 💖

This sweet boy was adopted from the , and in his short life, this is his 3rd home 😫
Jax knows most of his basic behaviors but is struggling on the leash. He pulls, he barks at other dogs and loves squirrels 🤭🐿

We fitted Jax in a Balance Harness from , layed down some ground rules for leash walking, started to create a plan for encounters with other dogs, and worked on training inside the house.

Jax is a smart boy, and his furever pawrents and Jax himself are very lucky to have each other 💜🐾

-Agnes

25/07/2024

Getting to take dogs out on enrichment adventures are probably one of my favorite things to do! They get to just be a dog and enjoy themselves and I get the pleasure of hanging out with them. Zeus found a ball at the field we were walking around and he proceeded to have a whole lot of fun! 😂 -Lindzee

23/07/2024

Congratulations to Shadow, the mix (black and white), and Bailey, the mix (white) for completing the Behavior Modification Training Course 👏

We started training with the boys shortly after Bailey got adopted from the . This once nervous boy started to come out of his shell with our !
The boys' reactivity towards other dogs was incredibly frustrating for the pet pawrents. Bailey was very nervous about new people as well.

We worked inside on foundational training with pups and humans, then practiced outside as much as we could around dogs and people. The weather wasn't too kind to us in the last 3 months...

They boys did very well out and about, and walks became more enjoyable for all 💙🐾💙

-Agnes

23/07/2024

Welcome Sol, the 11 months old mix to our Basic Manners and Behavior Modification Training Course.

Sol is still a puppy. He chews, he is rambunctious, and he barks and jumps. Sol also has allergies, which can empify all the undesirable behaviors, as it can be very annoying to Sol.
❗️Just think about how you feel when something is medically bothering you ❗️Sol is visiting the vet about this problem!

We talked about proper outlets for Sol’s energy, mentally and physically, and we started our training journey on mat training, hand targeting, and eye contact.

-Agnes

22/07/2024

Teaching a dog to “Say Hi” on cue (with a hand target ) can be extremely beneficial! 👋 This shows how to approach someone politely, without jumping or being overly excited. This helps your dog learn appropriate manners when interacting with people.

This is also clear communication to your dog. It lets them know when it’s okay to go up to someone and when it’s not.

Benny the adorable in the video has been practicing this and you can see he is doing great! We are all proud of him 🤩