Shark & Paws K9

03/11/2024

Great Danes are like gentle giants of the dog world. With their impressive stature and regal appearance, they turn heads everywhere they go. But don't let their size fool you—they're incredibly affectionate and loyal. 🐾

02/11/2024

🐾 Welcome Baby Nyx! 🐾

Meet the newest member of our pack—baby Nyx! This adorable 4-month-old German Shepherd x Lab is here to stay, and we’re thrilled. We’re hoping she’ll take to learning tasks and one day become Nick's service dog. Stay tuned for her exciting journey!

The current pack has greeted her with open paws:
- Yuki has taken on the role of motherly disciplinarian (while still finding time for a good run around the house).
- Loki is eager to play, though we’re keeping them apart for now since he plays a bit rough for her age.
- Thor, of course, thinks she belongs to him—working on that one! 😂
- Freyja is indifferent, more curious about the new addition.

We’re so excited to see how Nyx grows and learns with us. Welcome to the family, Nyx! 🐶❤️

30/10/2024

This will be an interesting webinar...

"Rest or Rehabilitate? The Impact of Early Behavioral Treatment on Shelter Dog Rehabilitation

Research is needed to identify and refine lifesaving interventions for unadoptable dogs exhibiting fear in a shelter. This session will report on the efficacy of a behavioral treatment program for shelter dogs admitted to The ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center (BRC), and highlight results from a study assessing the impact of differential treatment delays on their behavioral rehabilitation. During this session, participants will gain a detailed understanding of the BRC’s behavioral rehabilitation program and methods including case examples, and learn from new research highlighting the impact of refinements on behavioral rehabilitation program success. Broader implications and applications of this work as it relates to widespread sheltering efforts will be discussed."

Research Forum is a signature virtual event that brings animal welfare professionals and researchers into a unique space to discuss cutting-edge research that can change animals’ lives. Explore past sessions on demand at learn.aspca.org This free, live forum is open to professionals including but ...

26/10/2024

Weston absolutely rocked his park outing today! 🌳🐶 Amidst all the distractions—children running and yelling, people, dogs, bicycles—he showed incredible self-control and minimal reaction. Not a hint of prey drive to herd the kids. Just pure curiosity and calm composure. So proud of his progress!

23/10/2024

📣 Happy to announce we are now back up and running with a new phone, along with a new provider!

I could not wait 24-48 hours for my other one to send me some email to fix my service connection. Unbelievable!

21/10/2024

🚨ATTENTION ALL: 🚨

My cell service provider seems to have had a glitch in their matrix and my phone shut off when I fixed my address. They are investigating why this happened and a few other bugs on why it couldn't be fixed through support, but until then, my regular texts will not work - but I can still be contacted here via messenger and on WhatsApp, so long as I have Wi-Fi.

Until this is fixed, please be patient on responses if you reach out.

Thank you for your understanding and patience! 🐾

20/10/2024

When your dog is depressed, engage in play. When your dog is unsure, demonstrate decisiveness. When your dog is bored, provide enrichment. Remember, you are always the role model, and your mood matters. This is often the key to unlocking your dog's self-assurance and contentment.

19/10/2024

The unfortunate reality is that many dog owners have dogs for the wrong reasons—they focus on what they need from the dog rather than what the dog needs from them. This often leads to anxiety in the dog.

19/10/2024

Excitement is a state of mind, not a behavior. It's easy to inadvertently reward excitement, which can quickly escalate into anxiety. When we encourage something—whether it's a mood or a behavior, intentionally or not—we increase its occurrence.

18/10/2024

Fear is a persistent state, with fears being continuously learned and unlearned. When fears aren't unlearned, they can escalate, becoming more irrational and generalized, eventually developing into phobias. A major factor in the persistence of fears and phobias is owners giving affection at inappropriate times, which inadvertently rewards the dog's fearful behavior. This reinforcement strengthens the behavior operantly and generalizes the emotional state classically—a double impact!

18/10/2024

Dogs can sense our moods, and it’s widely accepted that our emotions influence them. Ignoring this connection would be unwise.

15/10/2024

🐾 Building Trust and Preventing Possessive Aggression 🐾

A dog that knows everything belongs to you will never show possessive aggression. Trust is vital. Your dog should feel secure knowing that if you take away food, a toy, or a bone, it’s just temporary, and you’ll give it back. Reward them with something even better for giving up their bowl or bone.

Gentle techniques work well with such aggression. If the dog sees you as a potential threat and you use correction or punishment, you only prove it right. Forcing dominance or leadership onto a dog doesn’t work. Intimidating a dog might make them give up items, but this won’t apply to other people, and it won’t earn trust or respect. Leading with firm kindness and providing all resources is key, and then you await the freely given trust and submission that follows.

14/10/2024

🐾 Tailored Training for Every Dog 🐾

There’s no “one size fits all” when it comes to training dogs. Dogs have complex feelings and emotions, and diagnosing issues isn’t a simple formula. This is why an assessment prior to behavior training is crucial for both the dog and the professional. Each dog is unique, and so should be their training approach.

13/10/2024

🐾 Leadership in Dog Ownership 🐾

A timid owner with an aloof, powerful breed can be a dangerous combination. Dogs, like children, need clear leadership. Owners who treat their dogs as equals, without providing both love and firm boundaries, might pose a greater risk to public safety than those stereotypically portrayed as threats. Dogs make decisions based on rewards and consequences. Without consequences, you’re only halfway in control. Setting rules and boundaries is essential to prevent raising a potentially dangerous dog.

13/10/2024

🐾 Why Dogs "Snap" 🐾

Social structure exists in dogs, and individual differences mean some dogs need stronger leadership. This doesn’t mean we should revert to the outdated “pack leader” concept. However, many dog owners struggle to establish rules, structure, and effective leadership, leading to unexpected aggressive behavior. This gap in leadership might explain why we see more "problem dogs" today.

12/10/2024

Dominance in dogs is a mindset and reaction that depends on the value of a specific resource at that moment. It's not a permanent trait or default setting.

I said what I said.

12/10/2024

💪This was such a phenomenal course!
I'm proud to have completed it - and I ended up adding more emergency items to my kit that I keep in my truck. When I say your fur babies are in the best hands, I have the education to back that up! 😉