Trailside Canine

01/07/2025

Obedience is for dogs who have already been taught a correct mindset. An unsound, unstable mind cannot process your obedience requests. Calm the mind- then focus in on other skills. ✨

01/07/2025

Running 30min sessions max the next 3 days yall. It is brutal outside. Anytime the State of Ct issues its hot or cold weather protocol, we have to adjust business accordingly. Pray for a warm up! 🐾

01/07/2025

I do believe that the farmers almanac this year was correct-

Cold, cold winter is upon us.

Our suggestion is always this: Weather acclimation is crucial for both us and our dogs!

Small bits of exercise spurts through out the day, each day, no matter what, to acclimate the body. Do not hide away indoors day in and day out and wait for spring to arrive.

•Exercise in the winter is important for everyone, our senior dogs especially, as their joints being inactive all winter can be extra painful. Cold plays a part in that pain. Being on a few good joint supps can make a great difference!

•Your dogs coat and weight matter. Dogs with little to no coat do benefit from an outer layer when not working, some even while in work. Booties can also help some dogs but are not essential for most.

•Overweight, obese dogs are not necessarily happy dogs, even in the cold! Feed those extra cals to your working dogs in the winter- but keep in mind- heavier is *never* better.

•Activity type also matters. Your dog going for a physical run, going out tracking, hunting, doing some obstacles, agility, etc is far better than expecting your dog to stay warm standing on your outdoor deck in the winter or lollygagging around in the backyard. All movement is not created equal.

•Indoor forced air, heat, wood stoves can also increase skin allergies in your dogs and dry skin. We skip most baths through the winter and double the amount of physical *brushing* we do to keep the hair and coat stimulated. We add an extra fish oil capsule to food and use coconut oil on any dry spots.

•Keep water fresh and take breaks to warm up! Keep an eye for shaking or quivering to tell you how your dog may be feeling.

🙂

Most of all HAVE FUN!
In all seasons, get out there and have FUN!

01/06/2025

PSA: 🚨

From now until April, we do operate on a case by case basis in terms of individual dog and how they react to certain temperatures. Be your dogs advocate and let us know!

We are a weather based business as we operate 100% outdoors so we have to be flexible, in all seasons.

My schedule is super full in January- but if you feel like 25, 30, 35 is too cold for your dog during our appt time, please let us know ahead of time and reschedule. Anytime the state of CT issues hot/cold weather protocol, we have to adjust the way we operate. I remain flexible as long as you give me a heads up!

Some breeds and individual dogs thrive in the cold, others don’t. Just as some dogs thrive in higher heat and some don’t. You know your dog best. Shoot us a message!

Thanks!
TC ✨

01/06/2025

No, your 4yr old dog with extreme separation anxiety and destructive behavior- isn’t going to learn to self soothe while you’re away with licky mats and the TV on. You need to start from scratch now and rebuild. Complete foundation restart.

01/05/2025

There’s a lot of uncertainty in dog training nowadays for new clients. Too many choices, higher prices, market over saturation, mixed reviews, differing methods and information. Etc.

Our bottom line is-
Once your dog is a client of ours, we’re all in.

Your dog gets lost, goes missing?
We’re bringing out the hounds.

Your dog has a birthday here?
We’re celebrating.

Your dog gets injured, gets a negative diagnosis? We’re standing by you to help however we can.

You go away on vacation?
Keep us on speeddial.

Your dog ages and crosses the bridge?
We’re mourning right along with you.

We put work into your dog and we come to love them too. You’re not alone in this. Training doesn’t have to mean solely during their 8wk package session. 🤎

01/04/2025

AKC FIT DOG SCHEDULE 2025- Posted*

Going big this year guys, excited!

•Complete 4 consecutive walks, get one free group class!
•Bring a friend to a walk, get your friend a $10 discount on a new private session!

We want to see as many folks out this year staying healthy with their dogs! We can’t wait to get started and moving.

AKC FIT DOG IS ALWAYS FREE.

Tag your friends, join us in March! ✨

01/04/2025

A high drive dog is a GIFT*

In a pet/companion setting however, that same dog is often considered a burden. A struggle, an inconvenience. A difficulty. An annoyance.

Drive is always a good thing! Drive gives you material. Drive gives you a handle and something to work with.

Once you learn to tap into it, it’s a blessing. Misunderstood and mishandled however, it’s a nightmare. Often misread and incorrectly punished or channeled. Incorrectly used and underworked.

Let us help you get there 🤙🏻

Goldie is one heck of a powerhouse in terms of drive, stamina, endurance, focus, athleticism. Her drive needed some control. She aged a bit, matured and steadied. Now, it’s all up from here! It might be cold out but she’ll never say no to getting to work! (She’ll just bow out after 20mins like the rest of us! 🤣)

01/04/2025

People that cannot properly read and understand dogs or give you the “WHY”- shouldn’t be training them. Punishment OR REWARD at the surface level, is a bandaid. Ineffective and dangerous in the long term.

01/03/2025

This.

Good work from all.
Incredible job.

On 1/2/25 at approximately 2146hrs, the evening shift responded for a check welfare. It was reported that a female had left her residence before calling family to report she was cold, intoxicated and currently self harming. The female stated she wasn’t able to stand up and did not know where she currently was. Information was received she was possibly still in the area around her residence. Perimeter units started to check the area along with a request for the Drone Unit and K9 Unit. The area around Asnuntuck College was checked with the drone due to the female saying she could see a blue light. While checking the wood line a heat signature was identified with the thermal camera affixed to the drone inside the baseball field dugout. The female was approached by perimeter officers who rendered aid and Enfield EMS transported her to the hospital. A K9 track also confirmed her line of travel from home to the dugout.

01/03/2025

When the day winds down, the chores are done, the dogs are exhausted, inside and warm, YOURE exhausted, kids are exhausted- and all is quiet.

You just look forward to that hot cup of coffee and hot shower in just a short while.

If you know what it’s like working outdoors in January, you know this. A blessing and a curse! 🤣✨ Happy Friday all.

01/03/2025

We have several fantastic adult and young adult dogs waiting for permanent, active, loving homes. Pm us with serious interest! 🐾

01/03/2025

Part of what I love about doing what I do here is that I have the ability to be creative.

To think of new ways to keep dogs and people happy, having fun, staying engaged. New ways to keep everyone learning.

I’m scheduling our 2025 AKC FIT DOG clubs walks and hikes this month and will be posting soon.

I’ll be running an incentive program this year to really focus on getting as many people out and active as we can!

COMMENT OR PM ANY CT TRAIL SUGGESTIONS FOR WALKS THIS YEAR BELOW! I love to use this book for new ideas as it’s a great resource. We will also run a few urban as well this year!

Hikes begin in March! Let’s go! 🌟🐾

01/02/2025

Canine Communication! 🌟

As a rule of thumb, I never punish communication. Punishing a vocal, up front, good communicator of a dog- will give you a dog who will explode without warning.

Growling is communication

Body language is communication

Lifting the lip, pinning the ears, holding a steady stare, an erect tail, a tall/still chest/body is all clear communication. Visa versa- a tucked tail, a lowered head, showing the belly, all clear communication.

*If you miss those signs, that’s not the dogs fault!*

If the dog is exhibiting these signs to another dog in a warranted situation- I let them.

If the receiving dog doesn’t heed these warnings, I intervene.

If a dog is a known POOR communicator- typically an insecure or submissive dog- they will get bullied and I intervene.

In the same respect- if a dog is communicating clearly to US as humans, it’s our job to listen and pay attention! 🚨

Personally, when seeing a new client, I love a dog that growls! It tells me what I need to know. A dog that is comfortable growling at a human is ALSO telling me that their leadership structure is off.

Growling, snapping, lifting of the lips, raised heckles, a stiff body, etc toward a human is a dog that feels too comfortable asserting his position in the home and in the relationship. He needs a new job and a new role in your life. Time to adjust.

Out of all dogs I have here on site at this time, not one will show possessiveness or dominance toward a human. This isn’t because I’m a harsh, cruel leader. It’s because I provide calm, clear leadership and boundaries.

Dogs thrive when you heed their communication and adjust as needed! ❤️

01/01/2025

Our thoughts and prayers go out to those canines and officers in New Orleans and in Houston tonight that will be putting their lives and their training on the line- to search the terrorists home and surrounding streets.

What an absolute nightmare of a situation and for the lives lost, senselessly, by someone who doesn’t even deserved to be called human. Associated with a terror cell that should have no access or entry or influence in our country.

Time to be vigilant, eyes open, head up this year yall. The real world is a scary place. Pray for those dogs. Love your dogs and your family at home tonight.

🇺🇸

01/01/2025

Official* New Years Eve jaunt, before sunset.

So happy we got out, twice today, despite the kids feeling ehh still. Everyone was glad we made that call! Dogs especially.

You never regret the times you decide to get up off the couch and out the door.

Happy New Years everyone!