Mosaic Dog Training LLC, Family Dog Mediation and Support

01/29/2025

This supportive resource isn't just for Pet Doulas, this is for anyone who is anticipating or has suffered a loss of their pet...

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Visit our website at www.TwoHeartsPetLossCenter.com for free downloadable resources, access to our CE courses, brochures you can use in your practice and more.

01/28/2025

Tuesday's Teaching...

Did you know that our dog's nervous system and ours function very much the same way?

Pretty interesting, right? Here's another really cool bit of science, because our nervous systems are so similar, they can talk to each other. And, this happens without us even realizing it most of the time. They know what we are thinking and feeling long before we acknowledge it. This is called neuroception of the nervous systems. Our dogs' nervous systems will match the vibration of ours.

This is an important bit of information as we support and guide our dogs. If we are calm and confident in a situation, this can help our dogs to be a bit more relaxed and confident as well. If we go into a situation anticipating the worst and being fearful about what can happen, our dogs will pick up on that and respond the same way. This is called co regulation. They always say our companion animals are our mirror, and what we see in them is what we feel in ourselves. The longer I guide guardians and their dogs, the more I see that this is true.

And speaking of mirrors, both our selves and our dogs have mirror neurons in our brains. This also helps them understand what we feel before we realize it. They will mirror our emotions. Try this, next time your dog is acting in a way that you'd rather not, stop for just a moment and check in on your emotions. Are you seeing something simular to what you feel? It's ok, just take a deep breath, thank your dog for helping you, and relax and continue on...

Our dogs and ourselves have amazing capabilities of communicating on so many different levels. Acknowledging the physiological communication that happens almost automatically at any given moment is key to helping our dogs feel safe with us. And, as we open our minds to these concepts, we too can learn how our dogs are feeling on a deeper level as well.

01/27/2025

The Tao of Dog...

I understand how you feel...

01/25/2025

Mosaic Musings...

01/23/2025

Hi all!! I'm teaching family dog manners classes at Lake Mills Veterinary Clinic!!

It's a short drive to quality holistic guidance where you and your dog will learn life skills as we dive deep into who that furry buddy really is. You will learn as much as your dog. And it's FUN!!

I only take 4 dogs to keep our time relaxed and intimate. Next class starts Saturday March 15th at 11am...

See you there!!

Lake Mills Veterinary Clinic - Veterinary Clinic in Lake Mills, WI

01/23/2025

Mosaic Meditations...

Sit is a quiet comfortable space, close your eyes. If your dog is with you, wonderful. If not, bring them to your minds eye...now place your hand over your heart.

Breath in and out long and slow in a way that is comfortable for you. As you do, imagine your heart glowing brighter with each breath as you think of your dog.. create a bridge of light from your heart and offer this loving connection to your dog's heart.

Sit in this loving connection for as long as you like. Bring your hands together in prayer position and thank your dog for sharing their bright brilliant loving heart with you...

***Thank you to the artist who created this beauty***

01/21/2025

Tuesday's Teaching...

As I move into the New Year, I'm looking forward to getting back to group classes, continuing private lessons, and public speaking for Pet Partners Community Education for Lake Mills Veterinary Clinic. I'm also looking ahead to deeper learning in Automomous Horsemanship and guiding healing with and for horses. This last year has been a quiet, introspective one with much growth and metamorphosis. Like the monarch, I cocoon into my self and let intention and release do its magic...

It struck me Saturday when I was in orientation with my class, what an honor it is to be in a position to help those who walk with me to see their canine companions on a more intimate level.

Our dogs are truly amazing if we look deeply into who they are. Their resilience as we choose them, bring them into our strange environment, and clumsily try to communicate with them is stunning. Their tolerance as we shower them with well-intentioned but nonsensical mammalian silliness is impressive. Their ability to forgive and love in the face of sometimes unspeakable trauma comes from a sacred place that we can't even begin to imagine. Their lessons, if we open our hearts wide enough to put our pride aside, are the echoed teachings of the wise and ancient Ones.

Yes, this post is a bit profound, but our dogs deserve nothing less than to be revered and held in awe for the sacred beings that they are...look deeper

01/20/2025

The Tao of Dog...

I am a deep soul. I have wants, needs, desires, and expectations for my life...just like you...

01/19/2025

They are always just a heartbeat away...
❤️🐾🙏

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01/19/2025

What a great day!! It's feels amazing to get back to teaching group classes again. And what a great group we have for Family Dog Manners!!

Thank you to Lake Mills Veterinary Clinic for the opportunity!! My next round of classes starts March 15th. Call soon if you're interested.

https://www.lakemillsvetclinic.com/

01/18/2025

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01/17/2025

There is a belief that if you use food to teach, you are being force free. And, yes, using food reward rather than painful corrections is indeed one way to teach using positive reinforcement. But, we need to be aware of what food means to our dog.

Food is essential for survival to our dogs and, as such, should be readily and safely available to them. This means that if we use food to lure fearful or shy dogs towards stimuli that they find concerning, we are putting them in a very unfair position. Choose food vital to survival in the face of danger, or stay safe but be hungry. This makes food aversive and cooersive.

It's not always as simple as "I use treats to teach". When we move forward to teach our dog a life skill we first need to decide if it's necessary and why (for our benefit or for our dog's) and if we are guiding in a safe gentle way that helps keep our dog feeling safe.

This link has a multitude of great information that expands on these concepts. Have a read and let me know if you have any questions...

Thank you Trailie Paws For Thought for this excellent resource...

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HAND-FEEDING FEARFUL DOGS: FOOLPROOF OR FAUX PAS?

When I started blogging, I chose to tackle this topic first because it is probably one of the most misunderstood aspects of dealing with a fear of people. Just now, I came across a post from a qualified trainer who wrote that she encouraged a stranger to handfeed her fearful dog as part of her dog's training.

For a non-fearful dog who trusts his human, hand-feeding can be an enjoyable way for us to create connection, reward good choices and behaviours we would like to see more of, and help us teach them new skills. However, for those dogs which are hesitant around or wary of people, this can actually be quite detrimental.

Using food to encourage, coax, or lure a dog to interact with someone or something they are worried about can cause an internal struggle known as Approach Avoidance Conflict. This places the dog in a position where he has to decide whether his desire for the food outweighs his worry and uncertainty of the person, and if he chooses to go for the food, he might well find himself too close and outside of his comfort zone. This may cause him to panic, and might even lead to a bite if he is very frightened.

A common scenario is where the dog bonds with one caregiver, but is frightened of the partner. Some will recommend that the partner feeds the dog all of their meals in an attempt to also forge a connection. However, it really isn't fair to force them to face their fear in this way and use their means of survival to do this; the most likely outcome is creating greater stress and fear.

In this blog, you can read more about the risks and fallout of handfeeding fearful dogs, and what IS advised:

https://www.trailiepawsforthought.com/post/hand-feeding-fearful-dogs-fool-proof-or-faux-pas

I'm very happy for my content to be shared, but please do not copy and paste (to avoid sharing from source), screenshot, or download any part of it. THANK YOU! 🐾 🐾

©️ Trailie Paws For Thought
www.trailiepawsforthought.com

01/16/2025

Mosaic Meditations...

Take time to observe...

Sit within sight of your dog. It doesn't matter what they are doing, you are going to just observe with curiosity.

Take a few deep breaths and settle in. Just watch your dog. How are they moving, do they prefer a direction, how do they lay, how do they stand. These observations are an important step towards understanding your dog on a deeper level.

Being still and grounded will helps you learn with an open heart...

01/14/2025

Tuesday's Teaching...

Yesterday was grooming day. When you share your life with Malamutes, that means pick an area and do your best!

When Indigo first came to us, she used to lay really still while I groomed her. I was really surprised. That's usually not the case.

However, as time went on, she let me know that she had some sore spots she really didn't want me around. And I was so happy she did.

Indigo is a true survivor, and as such, she was cautious and inconspicuous at the beginning. Often, rescue dogs will be quiet and subdued when you first bring them home. Blending in is a good safety strategy when you aren't sure of your surroundings.

As Indigo started to feel comfortable with us, she knew she could tell us how she was feeling and that she could say no. While that may seem negative, I'm actually honored that she felt safe enough with us to say so. From here, we can work thru the steps we need to help her.

Behavior is information. It's our dog's way of expressing themselves and telling us us how they feel. Learning their language and listening with an open heart can create a strong relationship between you and your dog.

Trust takes time, time to feel safe, time to learn each other's language, time to learn how to work together respectfully.

There are no shortcuts...but the rewards are timeless.

01/13/2025

The Tao of Dog...

I speak volumes, but you have to want to listen with an open heart...

01/12/2025

If you share your life with children and pets the time will come when you will need to support your children thru the death of their companion.

This is never easy, but books and resources such as these are important to have on hand when that time comes.

Take a look on my website for other resources as well. The goodbye is hard, but let's talk about it...

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Discover a gentle way to navigate the tough journey of pet loss with your child. 'Forever Friend' offers a loving blend of activities and technology-driven ideas to express and normalize the whirlwind of emotions. Let's honor the paw prints left on our hearts together. 🐶🐱

Check out the books here: www.foreverfriend.pet