Engaged Dogs; Walking & Training

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Engaged Dogs; Walking & Training

Offering Family Therapy that includes 4legged friends too! Engaged Walks + 1:1 Training available🐶
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11/24/2024

What are some things you might consider to set your dog up for success before your next holiday bash?

“For many humans, the holidays are a time of merriment, increased socializing, and stress as we celebrate with friends and family, host holiday gatherings, and rush around to complete our never ending to-do lists.

Humans often forget how these factors might impact their pups, perhaps only realizing once in the thick of Thanksgiving that their pup is trying to herd the children and might be having a hard time.

Most dogs are creatures of routine and comfort, and when something is different in their lives, like their routine is off or unfamiliar people are in their space, this can bring up big feelings and be very challenging for them for a variety of reasons.”- from our blog, ‘Setting Fido up for Success During the Holidays’

11/23/2024

“3) Know your dog’s boundaries and preferences and use this knowledge to set them up for success:
In the human world, some humans have really ridiculous beliefs about our dogs, one of which is that they “should” be able to get along with every person, and every dog, in every situation. Not only is this far from the truth, but it is legitimately disrespectful and potentially dangerous to make this assumption.

No human loves all other humans, and the same is true for dogs.
Similarly, some humans have very clear, significant physical space boundaries while others may have more flexibility or even appreciate touch.
Every dog, like every human, is an individual and has individual preferences and boundaries which should be known and respected.
For example: Penny Grace isn’t super excited about being pet often times, especially by strangers. While she tolerates it and is compliant, this is not something she seeks out or enjoys. Knowing this, I can advocate for her space and her boundaries and ask others to not approach us or touch her unnecessarily. “- from our blog “Setting Fido up for Success During the Holidays”
Find it on our website, 🔗in bio

11/17/2024

“While ‘a tired dog is a good dog’ is true to some degree, just like with toddlers, there is a balance in all things. An overtired dog or a dog who is unsure how-to self soothe can often look like a dog with energy to burn. The difference between the two is that while you can exercise many dogs to the end of the earth, you will be doing so in an unproductive and potentially even harmful way at a certain point. (Think overstressed joints, poor form, or more reckless behaviors when overtired for example.)”- read more in our blog Skill Breakdown: Teaching Your Dog to Settle

11/15/2024

"WOW! You are SO brave girlfriend! I'm SO proud of you! I love you so much!"

I felt my stomach clench and my eyes instantly began to swell....

I swallowed hard.

"Yikes. Where is that emotion coming from?" I wondered aloud, as I looked down, smiling slightly sad at Penny Grace who lovingly looked back up at me, wagging her tail as we walked around the Jefferson.

As an AuDHD person raised in a society that has encouraged disconnection from our emotions and our bodies, it often takes me a lot of intentional exploration to know what I am feeling and why, and so the swell of emotion was not new, but trying to place where it was coming from was.

Penny and I carried on, enjoying our morning walk together in the cool, crisp Fall air around the Tidal Basin.

As we continued to walk and I babbled on with the occasional praise to her:

"What a good girl you are!! You are being SO brave. (::Traffic noises are scary under an overpass ya know!::) Nice nice work Penn...."

and then, it hit me:

This is how I wish I had been spoken to and treated as a child.

I am reparenting myself through how I raise my dog.

11/14/2024

These gourd-geous Engaged Dogs have been working hard during their Engaged Pack Walks!

11/10/2024

‘ Life is Gourd’ when you’re an Engaged Dog enjoying Fall in DC ! 🐶🍁🥰

NOW is the time to train and prepare your dog for your upcoming holiday festivities!

Transitions and emotions can be really challenging for humans and canines alike this time of year.

Are you setting your pup up for success to navigate the holidays by your side?
Schedule a session now to get your dog ready!
Checkout our blog (linked in bio) to learn how to ‘Set Fido up for Success During the Holidays’ 🐶

11/09/2024

Happy 3rd birthday to our friend Echo!! 🐶🥰
Echo is a sweet and smart coonhound mix who loves to play ball and enjoys sniffing every blade of grass around her neighborhood.
Happy birthday Echo! 🐶🎉

11/01/2024

“Do NOT wait for your dog to mess up!!

Set them up for success as often as possible by communicating clear expectations through routines, providing limitations, verbal and nonverbal communication including marking and rewarding preferred behaviors as often as possible so that your dog understands when they are on the right track.”- Have you checked out our blog yet? Linked in bio

10/31/2024

Happy Howloween!! 🐶

10/29/2024

Bubbles, pack walks, and the most incredible fall weather 🐶🍂🍁🍃

10/22/2024

We got a bubble machine + my inner child is ecstatic about it!!

The bubble machine is a good opportunity to build confidence and neutrality in a new unusual experience and some of the dogs even loved chasing them.

10/20/2024

We’ve gotten some cute spooky season and fall bandanas for our Engaged Dogs who enjoy an accessory during their sessions.
Engaged Dogs are trained using cooperative care techniques to get comfortable with any new accessories, props, etc that we use in photos with them, and they always have the opportunity to consent or deny engagement with something like wearing a bandana.

Skylar the beagle for example thought the bandanas made better chew toys than accessories so opted out of rocking one on her Engaged Pack Walk this week 🐶🥰🫠

We’ve got just a few openings left this week.
Have you signed your dog up to Get Engaged?

10/16/2024

Join us THIS Sunday 10/20
at Waterfront Park at 11AM
for Posing for Pawtraits! *

Being your favorite accessories and props and let us snap several Pawtraits of your pup amongst the pretty fall scenery in our neighborhood. Join them for 1 or all of their photos to capture a family pawtrait as well!!

Can’t join us Sunday?
Or maybe you have a preferred location for your session, like the Capital, the Wharf, the Navy Yard boardwalk, or the Jefferson.
Schedule a Private Posing for Pawtraits session with Sara directly at a time and location of your choosing.

All digital photo files will be shared post the event via USB and photos can be shared on socials, printed and framed, used for holiday cards, or any other way you might like to use them!

Choose your favorite image and we will print and frame a 5x7 photo for you. (All products delivered to you within 2 weeks of event.)
Questions? Reach out! Or learn more on the website: www.choosetoliveengaged.com

*Register for all services a *minimum* of 24 hours in advance please*

10/12/2024

I was honored to es**rt my friend Koozie to his pawrents not-wedding this evening so that he could be part of their special day.

Koozie was a superstar and seemed to enjoy posing for photos with his pawrents.

Do you have a special event coming up that you want your dog to be part of and need someone present to manage them and help set them up for success? Reach out! 🤸🏻🐶🥰

10/10/2024

“It is ALWAYS better to take introductions SLOW and to set our dog’s up for success in new introductions,
rather than to risk starting a new relationship off with big feelings, dog fights, and/or tension.”- read more in this weeks’ blog post: Introducing dogs to each other, safely

09/28/2024

Have you signed your pup up for a pack walk yet?
Pack Walks for pre-established Engaged Dogs are available Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
Want to get Engaged?
Create your pup’s pet profile on the website and schedule an initial consultation.
Pack walks are for established Engaged Dogs who have had several 1:1 sessions to learn leash manners foundations and build their engagement before joining a pre-established pack walk.
Questions? Reach out!

09/24/2024

Aim to capture and reward calm behaviors your dog is naturally offering as often as possible.
You can make this easier to do by keeping treats and/or kibble in jars throughout your home and a few in your pocket or a treat bag at all times. Your goal is to always be looking for behaviors you like and want to see repeated that you can mark and reward those as often as possible. Keep in mind, the more we do of this up front to set a really solid foundation and to communicate clearly, the less management we will have to do in the long run.“-
Want to read more? Find our blog:’ Skill Breakdown: Teaching your dog to settle’ on our website, linked in bio.

09/24/2024

These Engaged Dogs have been enjoying the cooler weather during our sessions. Check them out in action 😍📸🐶🥰

Address

465 M Street SW
Washington D.C., DC
20024

Telephone

+17742011509

Website

https://www.choosetoliveengaged.com/dog-training, https://www.choosetoliveengaged.com/post/dog-communication-breakdown-w

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Videos

We recommend teaching your dog to 'Place' (lay down until further notice,) on a visual marker of some sort. (A blanket, a towel, a mat, a bed, etc. something that is easily transportable and easy to clean.) Teach your dog that laying down on the Place marker is valuable and highly rewarding. Build duration in Place by rewarding your pup for staying on the Place marker. You can also offer high incentive items, like a special chew or lickimat while your pup maintains the Place cue. If they get up, simply calmly and quietly remove the reward until they put themselves back into Place. This will take a few seconds for them to workout- be patient!!! The second they land in Place once again, Mark with YES!!! Place! and immediately deliver the special treat/ chew/ lick mat back to them.

All Engaged Dogs know and love the Go Find game and several variations of it. From a simple scatter feed on the floor, to adding challenge by sprinkling kibble and treats in the grass/ low lying bushes/ a new novel area, we can increase the challenge and novelty of the game. Follow for more tips, training, and games to play with your dog! #gamesfordogs #dogtraining101

Practice the "Touch" cue regularly in short training sessions and incorporate into your daily life. Reward every. single. time. If your pups' Touch cue is reliable, it can be your most versatile tool in your toolbelt. #dogtrainingtips #dogtraining101

Remember that dogs take in much more information from the environment than humans do and as their general managers in this life experience, it is our job to set them up for success by allowing time for acclimation and training them in ways to help them co-exist confidently, happily, and healthily in this life, by our sides. If you'd like to join us for the next pack walk (In the DC Area), sign up on our site. We would LOVE to see you there! #dcdogs #dogtrainingtips

Stationary Work with Penny Grace at the Capital 🐶🇺🇸

The simple fact that you asked them to complete a cue and they were able to do so successfully is a confidence building exercise you can do regularly. Use known cues to your dog in environments you are confident they can be successful and repeat often! Follow us for more Dog Training Tips.

JUST ONE MORE WEEK! This book is the perfect way to learn how to understand your dog and build an authentic relationship. I am so excited to cover the framework and topics in this book, and have incredible discussions about our dogs, their behaviors, and how we can strengthen those relationships even more. Anyone (even those outside of the DC area) are more than welcome to join! Register today using the link in my bio! #virtualbookclub #dogbehavior