Best Life Canine

29/09/2024

Call for help for WNC

As we are all aware, our beautiful Western NC has been completely devastated by Hurricane Helene. Entire small mountain towns have been wiped away by mudslides and unimaginable flooding. The roads are not passable, leaving many stranded with no water and food running low. Entire homes have been wiped away leaving people with no clothes, shoes, or needs for their pets. The Rainbow Bridge and Flowering Garden at Lake Lure has been swept away and lost. Brown Mountain Beach Resort has been destroyed along with the owner's home. So many NC treasures are gone.

The flooding is not over with rain in the forecast and waters rushing down the Catawba River, with Lake Norman already seeing flooding and ordering evacuations in surrounding areas. Flood gates were opened to allow for movement of water to protect dams and other holding structures, but that means flooding will happen to some extent. This may very well get worse before it gets better.

Bissell Pet Foundation is on the ground, I believe with a base set up in Statesville, to aid Asheville Humane Society. My understanding is they are getting animals out for temporary refuge at Forsyth Humane Society. But they need help. Supplies - food, water, bowls, crates, paper towels, cleaner, etc.

They also need volunteers to help with care, probably in whatever way someone can help. They need emergency fosters. I know that is not everyone's wheelhouse, but if you have ever thought about doing it - THE TIME IS NOW. I can give you plenty of guidance on how to handle fostering. With crates and ex-pens it's not complicated. Bonus - you all have skills to help these dogs settle and give them even the tiniest bit of education, really just to help them settle in for temporary respite.

If you are not able to foster, consider volunteering time to gather or deliver supplies to the reputable resources. Or consider helping Forsyth Humane manage the influx of dogs by going to visit the dogs for walks and care, or whatever other help they may need. Or donate funds to help them get the supplies needed and support the rescue efforts. Air support is coming from all over - it's the only way in / out of some areas - but they need support to make the rescue efforts happen.

If you're in Greensboro, All Pets Considered is collecting donations and partnering with Red Dog Farm Animal Rescue Network for delivery.

My heart is completely broken for these communities. Boone / App State was once my home away from home and place of refuge in my late teens and where I felt my life begin as a Freshman in college. It is truly devastating to see the destruction and the floods along the traveled paths of my life. I know many in this group feel the same.

If you feel compelled to help, I have collected resources to make it a bit easier to find an organization to help. If anyone has others to contribute, please share in the comments below. I will share more information as I have it.

Pics and videos in comments to help all understand the complete devastation and very long journey we have to rebuild this part of our state. This is not going to be a quick recovery. 💔

Support needed:

Bissel Pet Foundation
https://www.bissellpetfoundation.org/

Forsyth Humane Society
https://forsythhumane.org/

Asheville Humane Society
https://www.ashevillehumane.org/

Red Dog Farm Animal Rescue
https://reddogfarm.com/

Diaper Bank of North Carolina:
https://www.ncdiaperbank.org/

The No Woman, No Girl Initiative:
https://www.nowomannogirl.org/projects

Hunger & Health Coalition, Inc. in Boone, NC: https://www.hungerhealthcoalition.com/

American Red Cross North Carolina (western NC):
https://www.redcross.org/.../western-north-carolina.html

Operation Airdrop:
https://www.operation-airdrop.com/hurricane-helene

BeLoved Asheville:
https://belovedasheville.com/

Operation BBQ Relief (multiple SE states):
https://operationbbqrelief.org/

North Carolina Community Foundation disaster relief fund:
https://www.nccommunityfoundation.org/news/hurricane-helene

Samaritan's Purse:
https://www.samaritanspurse.org/.../pray-for-those-in.../

Mutual Aid Disaster Relief:
https://mutualaiddisasterrelief.org/

Hearts With Hands in Asheville, NC:
https://www.heartswithhands.org/

24/09/2024

Thank you to all who came out for my "Sit on the Dog" Master Class! We had 8 dog and handler teams join us for class, including a few who have been putting in the work to overcome social anxiety or reactivity. The dogs all handled themselves very well, and each handler did a great job working their dog!

Each dog had moments they struggled to lay down, struggled to stay relaxed, or became a bit curious of other dogs or people in the shop. And each dog had moments they found success in relaxation.

Here's the thing...those are exactly all the things this exercise is designed to help teach you and your dog.

You will not transition from training at home or in the yard to a busy or new environment with a dog who can actually do all the things in that new space, on the first try. It takes time and repetition for a dog to learn how to generalize what they know in different contexts and how to respond to new stimulus (new places, things, sounds, etc.).

It takes practice for the dog. It takes practice for the handler too, as you also have to learn how to be more socially aware, through the lens of the dog.

When you hear me say things like "we went out to work on table manners" this is often part of what I am talking about. This SOTD exercise. Yes, table manners means learning not to jump on the table or steal food. But there is so much more to the concept of table manners.

The relaxation in a busy, loud, or disruptive environment. The emotional regulation when people want to stop and chat about what a cute dog they are or the dog learning not to pester me for attention or panic at every little new movement or sound.

I will host another SOTD Master Class, so stay tuned for dates and times! Please note: at this time, enrollment is only available for our current students and Alumni as a minimum level of proven handling skill is required.

If you would like to learn more about this class and our training programs, please contact me at www.bestlifecanine.com.

Happy Training,
Andrea

20/09/2024

Thank you to all who voted and helped bring us to 2nd place for the best dog trainer in Winston-Salem! Truly grateful for the wonderful clients I work with, everyday. 💕💕💕

Your support means the world to me! Thank you for your trust and encouragement. Here’s to many more happy moments with the doggos!

15/09/2024

Don’t mind me…fan girling over here!

I am so excited to be attending this conference, Pet Wellness Summit “Raising Pets Naturally” outside of DC, featuring Dr. Karen Becker and Rodney Habib as the keynote speakers. (That’s the Dr. Karen Becker in the pic!!)

We are two speakers in to the conference and already the amount of info I am bringing back with me, is immense.

Pet Food Industry Corruption - Nutrition for health and healing - Homeopathy - Chiropractic - Acupuncture - Allergy healing - and so much more.

I have so much to continue to research and share. My passion continues to grow as I work to gain more knowledge to improve the lives of your beloved doggos.

It all begins with educating ourselves on the options available, understanding what is out there for us to better serve our dog (and let’s be honest - ourselves too). I am here to help share what I learn and point you in the direction(s) to find out more and to become comfortable asking questions of your Veterinarian.

I can’t wait to organize my thoughts and share more!

27/08/2024

From my Sophie girl and the rest of our crew, Happy National Dog Day!! Every day is such in this house but on these kind of special days, we take a few extra minutes just to be with the pups, whether our own or the students with us in training. Their lives are too short not to stop and admire them as much as we can. Much love to each and everyone of those sweet pups out there. 💖

07/08/2024

I am excited to share, I am now a Certified Family Dog Mediator.

If you will, please bear with me as I share some thoughts.
This was an intensive course with fascinating insights and validation in my belief that “training” as we have historically viewed it, needs to change. We covered a lot of science and technical work around ethology, ecology, epigenetics, canine genetics, breed groupings, and even a bit of human psychology. Being the science nerd I am at heart, I did my own deep dives and further research and reading as I moved through the course units. It is my life’s work, passion, and livelihood to pursue knowledge of, and educate others in, the human and canine togetherness. The details matter to me, regardless of how many calls I receive asking me to just “fix it”.

That is not actually my job. My job is educator - translator - advocate - consultant - mediator - and to some extent and sort, some have used the word, therapist.

My role and responsibility for my own dogs is guardian - educator - advocate - protector - care giver - partner - friend.

The most common way I conceptualize this for clients is through the parenting model of relationships. But just as easily, we can speak to other relationship models like upper management or Military. But those don’t “feel” as good or relatable for most. So we stick with the parent-child model.

The way we live with our dogs should not be centered around the concept of obedience. In fact, the “obedience” portion of the training is only a piece of the whole puzzle. It has it’s place but is most effectively viewed through the lens of communication - establishing a common language with which we can provide information, instructions, and guidance to these amazing animals we bring alongside us in this thing called life. You’ve heard me say this before, but it may not have stuck in your mind - “obedience is really just about communication”. What we are able to accomplish and teach dogs is truly remarkable. However, the root of it all is not how many words we can teach them or how many names of toys they are intelligent enough to learn, but in how they are integrated into our home and world through the relationship and experiences they have as sentient beings. These sentient beings have a place and purpose in our lives, but it is not to be our adult replacement for once doted upon childhood stuffed animals or surrogate lovers, babies, or parents.

They are our friends and confidants, who once fulfilled a purpose as our partners in survival of the human race.

They have needs as unique species that are not fulfilled and met by much of our modern world and the conveniences we now have that remove us from nature and from the utility of survival instincts ourselves. We no longer need dogs for their utility, but rather they tend to serve to make us feel good, be our arm candy, fill emotional voids, become replacement children, or elevate our societal status. Look - I am not demonizing these things. They are not inherently bad. But they can be. The potential is there for these modern utilities of dogs to become a slippery slope to diminished animal welfare and just plain weird.

Real talk - I sometimes call my dogs my kids. I did not have children but always wanted them (still do but that ship has sailed), so yes my dogs fill that void in my heart and life. And much like a parent-child relationship, I am responsible for their wellbeing. But I love and respect them as the animals they are, as dogs. I have “asked” them to be a part of my life. In doing so, it is my responsibility to make sure they have their needs met and I provide a quality of life that suits their genetics as a canine - not a human.

Our dogs are a fish out of water in our modern society. We bred these intensely intelligent, creatures to serve us with purpose and aid in our survival as a species. We bred them to be hunters, guardians, trackers, herders, rodent killers, and even literal flea magnets. They have been brought alongside humans for thousands of years to ensure the survival of the human race. We would not be here without the assistance of dogs.

Let’s talk for a moment about what we are currently encountering at unprecedented levels with the modern dogs.

As professionals, we are encountering a staggering increase in “behavioral cases” amongst the family dog population, including dogs from breeders, shelters, and rescue environments. Prevalent issues are anxiety disorders, intolerance, frustration, lack of self and independence, withdrawal from social connections or environments, violent tendencies, mood swings (“out of no where”), destruction, self-harm, and addictions or obsessive behaviors. What does this sound like when we speak with potential clients? To name a few common complaints: separation anxiety, crate anxiety, jumping, tail chasing, destruction of the sofa, resource guarding, won't come when called, escapes the yard, human aggression or reactivity, dog aggression or reactivity. These things are not “training” problems. But they are welfare, education, guidance, and awareness problems.

Each of those things has little, to nothing, to do with obedience and commands. They are issues rooted in the relationship between the human and the canine, and understanding their L.E.G.S.

Enter the L.E.G.S. model. L.E.G.S. stands for:
L - Learning
E - Environment
G - Genetics
S - Self

These 4 elements converge to create the life experience of our dog as an individual. For years I have asked detailed questions which relate to each of these elements. I now have more insight as to why the questions I ask are relevant, and what other questions we need to be asking as professionals. I can tell many clients are annoyed by my line of questioning, digging for more information. This goes back to the skewed way of thinking about life with our dogs - the “just fix my dog” mentality. But your dog is not a broken AC unit that needs a new part and will be good as new. I also can tell when clients cannot be bothered to read the guides provided in the very beginning of our process together, with my Pet Parent Guide and Wellness Guide. I can tell there is a lack of appreciate for the simple foundation games of Search and Freedom of Choice. Yet these are the very building blocks on which I can help the dog find even the tiniest bit of fulfillment and see their world through a different lens. This begins to offer your dog clarity they have been craving, often relieving completely unnoticed levels of stress in a majority of dogs I work with.

I will not stop asking questions. My questions are a critical component of my job in advocating for the dog and for the goals of the family.

Now, in a very real, raw moment - this profession is exhausting. We endlessly repeat ourselves to the same people, but what we are explaining, answering, showing, or teaching very often falls on deaf ears. To be asked over and over to “fix my dog or else…” makes one weary beyond what most are willing to deal with. The compassion fatigue and burnout are palpable. Hear me now when I say - it is never the dogs that wear us professionals to the bone. The human may pay the bills, and the human side of the welfare is crucial and must be treated with compassion - but I serve at the pleasure of the dog.

Studying the L.E.G.S. model strengthens how I have already been approaching the “training” process for several years now. I simply have more of the dots connected and more in-depth understanding of the “whys” behind much of what we do.

If we are going to bring dogs alongside us in this life, it is our responsibility to show them what this life means to them, how to navigate life in the environments we place them in, to provide for their appropriate welfare needs as dogs - not what appeals to us as humans. We must learn what their ancestry might be telling them to do, how to work with their genetics (the ones we bred them for), and have compassion for how this clashes with our modern integration of the pet dog. We must learn how they communicate with us, teach them how we communicate, and how we can develop our own communication system which blends the two together, with a natural wonder and beauty that few other inter-species relationships will ever realize in this iteration of the Earth.

Stop for just a moment everyday to appreciate the joy of watching your dog, just be a dog.

28/05/2024

Something really fun has happened; Best Life Canine has been nominated for Best Pet Training in CommunityVotes Winston-Salem!

I could use your help to advance as a top nominee in the voting!
• Nomination Phase is on until August 11
• Top nominees move to the Voting Phase beginning on August 14
• Winners to be announced September 18

Winners are selected through voting so, if you have a spare couple of minutes, would you support me? Here is the link:
https://winstonsalem.communityvotes.com/2024/04/pet-and-pet-care/pet-training

All you have to do is go to the site via the link above, look for BEST LIFE CANINE and select "NOMINATE" next to our name!

I would really love to advance through the nominations to be considered for this recognition. Thank you all for considering this support for my business.

-Andrea

Official 2024 Community Voting Awards Platform for Winston-Salem, NC. Where the community votes for their favorites every year.

21/05/2024

We like to approach teaching recall with a few different techniques to keep it interesting, and offer a variety of ways to practice such a crucial skill. Our favorite piece of the process is to make it into a game for the dog! Consider these key points if you find yourself struggling to get your dog to come when called.

"Recall - or the 'come' or 'here' command - is arguably the most important command you can teach your dog. This is far more critical than just getting your pup to come back inside from a play session in the backyard. Reliable recall can make or break the safety of your dog in an emergency situation - like slipping out of a collar and running towards the road or another dog.

For many of my students, the struggle with reliable recall often hinges on a few points:
* Teaching and practice are not fun and engaging enough from the dog’s perspective.
* Often we use it when we are upset or afraid, so there is frustrated or angry energy when the dog comes to us.

Overall, this indicates when we ask the dog to “COME!” we have not built up the value in the command and the relationship...." - 𝘌𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘶𝘱𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘙𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘎𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦, Best Life Canine

This list is by no means comprehensive but highlights some of the most common errors we see when working with our students. If you want help teaching your dog to come, let us know! [email protected] or Text 336-344-9619 to schedule your free phone consult.

20/05/2024

𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝗴 𝗗𝗮𝘆!!

Show us your rescue pups!! We want to hear your stories about your beloved rescue dogs - how they came to your life, their silly antics, challenges they overcame - tell us all about your pups!

14/05/2024

Leash Up!

The leash is one of the most under-valued training tools. Its purpose extends beyond restraining our dog from running off when outside. Think of the leash as a communication line, like an old-school landline phone that allows you to converse with your dog.

It is a training tool. And training is really about building common communication skills. Make using the leash inside part of your protocols while you're working on training better choices and communication - so eventually you don't need the leash indoors.

𝘌𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘶𝘱𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦:
We recommend you have at least 2 different leashes - an outdoor leash and an indoor leash. Have an outdoor leash that can be dedicated to outside time and it’s OK if it gets a little dirty…For the second leash, you want to have a dedicated inside leash, or a ‘house line’. This house line should not have a handle on the end to prevent it from getting stuck on anything as the puppy drags it around…The leash enables you to give them directions more effectively than your voice alone. Remember, your puppy doesn’t know yet what your words mean so your voice is likely not very useful right now…We want to prevent or stop behaviors or incorrect decisions, rather than accidentally reinforce them. Things like jumping on us, getting on off-limits furniture, running around the house to make us chase them if they pick up something dangerous, counter surfing, nipping, jumping on a guest, etc.

Avoid the struggle to get your dog to stop doing something by implementing an indoor leash. You can show them what not to do, but more importantly, you can show them what you DO want. This will give you that landline communication with your dog while you are teaching them the more appropriate choices or working on their obedience training skills.

*Do not leave the leash on your dog while they are home alone, unattended, not actively with you, crated etc. The leash is to be used when we are with the dog and the dog can be supervised.

13/05/2024

How adorbs are these custom doggo cookies??!! Our good friends at did the most amazing job making these cookies for us to gift one of our recent dog training grads. And she did them in Best Life Canine blue as a surprise because she’s just that freakin’ cool y’all!

Thanks HAM for the support and wonderful service as always!🐾👏💕

13/05/2024

This is Koda. A few years ago I trained this wonderful pup. He was an anxious fella and had a lot to work through. One issue was not being afraid to get in the crate, especially the crate in the back of my vehicle.

Our first attempt to hop in immediately told me to pump the brakes. He needed the exercise broken into more digestible steps to build his confidence and understanding.

So, we changed course. I didn’t let him give up. We tried one more time. (Actually, it was lots of times through smaller steps.)

We worked with the crate removed from the vehicle, on the ground. We worked on jumping in the vehicle without the crate. We methodically combined the two until he learned how to float confidently into the crate, in the back of the vehicle.

We don’t teach to give up, we teach to try again. With our dogs we should be honoring the ability to learn and be resilient, not enabling giving up. To do so is to be clear. To be clear is an act of kindness. A kindness we can share with our dogs is to teach them to become a confident and resilient animal who accepts challenges, rather than crumble at the slightest bit of pressure.

Help your dog become a confident thinker and handle stress without big feelings of anxiety or fear.

If your dog is struggling with something, do what I did for Koda. Evaluate where they are in their learning, slow down the process, and guide them to success. If you aren’t sure what to do, seek professional coaching and training for you and your dog.

07/05/2024

Trainer Tip Tuesday - Get back to basics!

Seriously, don't be afraid to go back to basic exercises you used when you began your training. So often we get to rolling along with our training homework and forget to keep throwing in a bit of the things we did on Day 1. Or maybe we don't think it matters anymore because the dog has progressed beyond those first exercises.

If you're early on in your training program or process, this should definitely be part of your weekly activities with your dog. The more attention you can give the fundamentals, those fun maybe even silly games you started with, the more practice your dog has with those building blocks. It pays off big time as you keep learning!

If you're a seasoned dog parent whose working on more advanced skills....this is also for you. Go back to play with those fundamental concepts. You aren't above needing to check-in with basics every so often, no one is.

Honestly if for nothing but the fun and simplicity of those intro type of training games - do it! You and your dog will have a blast!

They will absolutely benefit from a few reps of recall practice during your regular afternoon play sesh after work. They will find joy in playing engagement games, like our Freedom of Choice, for a few evening treats.

Going back to these skills your dog has already "mastered" has a few benefits:
* They know it well which can be confidence boosting - especially if you're also working on new skills or challenges during your session.
* They have learned this is the best time ever with their favorite human.
* Dogs find joy in the simple things so you give them an insta boost of happy.
* The easy things are motivating for both you and your dog.

Give them that "oh hell yeah, I know this one!' moment of success and motivation!

What are your dog's favorite training games? (Don't say fetch - if that's all ya got, we need to talk! 😂)

06/05/2024

"Everyone may not start the same way, but the most important thing is when we are able to be the best with our own version."

We all have different training journeys. While some goals may be the same, and some techniques may be the same, the path to get there is rarely the same. Each of us has our own unique relationship with our dogs. What one dog needs may not be what another needs. There are so many factors that influence how behavior, relationships, and emotions are shaped.

Sometimes dialing in is difficult because we know the end goal and we may be in a hurry to get there. We need the reminder to slow down so we can give our attention to the little goals, the small pieces of the puzzle that make the whole.

As you begin your week, decide where you are today and what you want your focus to be. Pick a realistic, achievable goal for your week. I want this to be motivating, not defeating, so dial in on a goal that you have time for this week. You and your dog will appreciate the success ahead. Write down your goal. When we write down our goals, we tend to have a deeper level of accountability.

Mine is in the comments below! If you would like, share your goal in the comments ⬇️

Need help understanding where to begin? We have a variety of in-person programs and customizable solutions to help you and your dog with your goals. We also offer virtual consults to help you begin your training or troubleshoot specific needs. Visit us at www.bestlifecanine.com to learn more.

05/03/2023

As we start gearing up for spring flowers and plants to add color and whimsy to our homes and yards, keep in mind many household plants are toxic to our 4 legged friends. Please keep in mind how you can keep your pets safe in your home and yard by finding safe alternatives to plant.

Link in comments to plants to consider around your home!

https://www.farmersalmanac.com/toxic-houseplants-30149?

While plants and greenery add beauty to your home, certain ones can make your dog or cat sick. Here's a list of the most common toxic houseplants.

03/01/2023

𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗴𝗴𝗼?

Join our BRAND NEW - 𝗕𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗞𝗦 𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗦 with Ryan!!

Class is hosted at Howlin’ At The Moon Dog Bakery with three class options.

Have questions? Give us a call at 336-344-9619 or email us at [email protected]

Check out the details here:

Register here for our upcoming Tricks Training Class! Enrollment is open. Class begins in January 2023.

12/11/2022

Come join the PAWTY tomorrow to celebrate our good friends for their 1 Year Anniversary!!

We will have paw print painting at our tent! Stop by to make a cute keepsake for your doggo bestie. First Come - First Served, get there early before supplies run out! 🐾🎨

15/10/2022