Mosaic Dog Training LLC, Family Dog Mediation and Support

11/26/2024

Tuesday's Teaching...

Many have heard the Rule of 3 when we've adopted a dog. Three days, three weeks, three months, has been an accepted guideline for us as a dog assimilates into a home. But, it's not realistic and can set us up for feelings of frustration and disappointment in ourselves and our dogs.

A better guiding statement is "It takes as long as it takes."

Dogs are as individual as we are. They bring their own life experiences, genetic influences, and personality into our homes. Helping our dog feel safe so they will show us their rich, multi layered selves takes time.

As we learn about them, we can grow and adapt together. This kind of relationship takes time. How much? Well, it depends...

"It takes as long as it takes." Going into your new relationship, knowing there is no agenda and no time frame, takes the pressure off you and your dog since there are no goals to achieve. You have all the time in the world...just enjoy the journey...

11/25/2024

The Tao of Dog...

It takes as long as it takes...

11/24/2024

Beautiful...

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11/23/2024

Mosaic Musings...

11/21/2024

Mosaic Meditations...

Thank you to whomever created this ❤️

11/20/2024

Indigo and I were out for a walk just before dusk...

As we walked by a small woods, she stopped and gazed intently; as if she heard the calling of an old friend from a distance. We stood still, suspended in time for quite a while. As I ascended into her world, I asked her to show me what she saw here. "Look between, look deep."

Soon, I caught a glimpse of dancing white tails hopping thru the trees...

She shows me the most beautiful treasures ...🦌❤️🐾✨️

11/19/2024

Tuesday's Teaching...

"It's so quiet..."

I said this the first time I was at Cedar Springs Ranch. I was standing out in the pasture, offering Reiki to two beautiful horses. The horses relaxed into the space, head low, eyes soft. Then suddenly, the one closest to me straightened up, eyes wide, ears twitching in all directions. Then, after a bit, he would relax again.

This went on for a while, and it got me curious. In my mind, it was a quiet calm day. Or was it? As I followed my companion's movement, I opened up to listening deeper, widening my senses, quieting, waiting...

To my surprise, I realized that the silence was actually pretty noisy. I heard tarps rustling from down the hill, planes overhead, the distant sound of popping, the hum of a summer breeze...no wonder my horse was having trouble staying relaxed.

I thought about this the other day when Indigo and I were out for a walk. I was curious in open my mind to all the things that she can hear, smell, and see that I can't. I wondered how loud her world is on a daily basis.

Animals have such well developed senses and we should recognize that as we spend our days with them. Well it's wonderful to have a flowery and fresh smelling home, think about how we feel when somebody is wearing overpowering perfume. That's likely what our dog senses when we use too many fragrances in our environment. When we crank the TV or the radio up we have to recognize how sensitive their hearing is. When we use bright harsh lighting it can hurt our eyes, imagine what it does to theirs. When we take our dogs for a walk and out of nowhere they seem to respond to something by jumping or barking or pulling, realize that they are sensing so much more than we ever could.

The more we open our mind to viewing the world through our dog's eyes, the better we can support them and ensure they will live their best life...

11/19/2024

Thank you Dogs Disclosed. The first thing we will do when working together is to discuss management...here's why

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ARE YOU MANAGING?
Are you managing your dog’s environment to prevent or improve unwanted behaviour?

As people, we tend to prefer and look for the more complicated solutions to problems. This tendency is termed “complexity bias” - the tendency to prefer complicated explanations and solutions instead of looking for the simpler ones.

Surely a complicated, time consuming, detailed solution has to be more effective, superior, impressive, or correct?

Complexity bias is so relevant when it comes to changing a dog’s unwanted behaviour. We often get so stuck on trying to modify behaviour through counter conditioning, desensitization or detailed training plans when sometimes the simplest solution to the problem lies in simply managing the environment.

Dogs will do what dogs do – when an opportunity arises to help themselves to food left on a table, to bark at the gate at anyone passing by, to have a drink from that big water bowl at the perfect height, that we call a toilet, to running off with irresistibly smelly dirty underwear, to rummaging through bins in search of anything that may or may not be edible, to running out an opened door in search of adventure - the list is long - dogs will be dogs.

Parents of little children use management all the time without giving it much thought. Baby locks on cupboards, covers on electrical sockets, valuable or dangerous items put far out of reach, fences and locks around pools, etc.

We wouldn’t just train a toddler not to stick their fingers in an electrical socket, not to open cupboards, not to touch a hot plate – it’s far safer, simpler and logical to first manage the environment, to prevent potential incidents.

The same principle should apply to managing a dog’s environment to prevent unwanted behaviour.

The more a behaviour is practiced the more difficult it is to prevent. The more a behaviour is rehearsed the better dogs become at it.

Preventing the behaviour from happening in the first place by using management is the logical, simple and effective way to address it.

Be a good manager – it’s far less stressful, for both us and our dogs.

11/18/2024

YES!!!

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Having safe play for your child and dog around eachother doesn’t need to be complicated! 🐶

Here is a quick and easy acronym to help you and your family have SAFE play!

P - Proactive Management: Having things like baby gates, x - pens and setting up success stations are essential for safe play for both dog and child!

L - Leave Space: Recognize the grumble and growl zones in your home and around other people’s homes as well that you may be visiting! Always leave enough space!

A - Active Supervision: Whenever your dog or baby are playing, there needs to be an active, alert and awake parent or guardian supervising! Dogs and babies should never be left alone together!

Y - You in between: Whenever there is a dog and baby on the scene, YOU should have yourself in between! This helps create Yes zones and helps keep everyone safe and comfortable!

Did you find this post helpful? Please like, comment and share to help others become more dog aware! 🐾

11/18/2024

The Tao of Dog...

Silence is...noisy!!!

11/17/2024

Hi All!!

It's getting close to that special time of year where thoughts turn to decorating trees and opening presents and all the good cheer!!

I bet you are thinking about the perfect gift that Santa will bring your furry family member!! Me too!!

Join me for a Canine Christmas Shopping Event at Pidder Padder Paws LLC Watertown WI, and let's choose that gift for your special dog together. While you're there, we'll have an informal chat about how we can create a safe and stressful free holiday season. Grab a handout or two...and if you stop to chat, you'll be entered to win a $25 in store gift certificate!! You don't have to be present to win.

See you there on Saturday December 7th from 10am to 1pm!!

11/14/2024

Mosaic Meditations...

https://youtube.com/shorts/6CuunwvlRP8?si=Vh7fgd0HsXwK0X-P

11/12/2024

Tuesday's Teaching...

Do you get up in the morning and ask your self, how do I feel today? Or, what would I like to do today? I'm sure there are some days you wake up and are ready to take on the world. Then there are other days when you want to roll over and pull the bed covers over your head and hope no one knows you're there.

On our good days, we can be so "on". We get it right, we do all the things, we are productive and we feel so proud of ourselves. But, on those days when we just want to cocoon into our selves and heal, many times we feel a sense of disgust for our lack of motivation, like this is a bad thing...

Let me tell you, it's not!! We need the days to be alone, to disconnect, to say "no thank you" and to heal. This is healthy for our body and our soul.

Now when you are a dog guardian, you may feel that you need to be "on" all the time for them. Gotta train this, gotta walk there, gotta do, do, do. We'll I have a secret to share. Not necessarily...

Yes there are days when our dogs need the stimulation of a walk or a teaching session, but just as much, they need the same cocoon time as you do. Some days, they will wake up and be ready to do all the things. And some days, they will just want to lay around. Let them...Teaching and activity is good when it's warranted. But it doesn't need to be a heavy weight on your shoulders.

🎶There is a season turn turn turn...there is a time and a place to do what needs to be done. But equally the same goes for what can wait. Learning to recognize and accept the flow of life as it is is something I deeply believe our companion animals are here to teach us...let's learn from them...

11/11/2024

The Tao of Dog...

Just Be with me...

11/10/2024

Please just don't...there are many healthy and safe treats we can gift our dogs with this holiday season.

Having trouble deciding? I'll be heading over to Pidder Padder Paws LLC in early December to hold a "Canine Christmas" shopping event. While I'm there, you can stop by, and I can help you pick out the perfect gift for your canine companion...

Stay tuned for details coming soon!!

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11/10/2024

Share beautiful things...spread love and light

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