Argot Animal Training

31/08/2025

Juniper has been hard at work helping our reactive dog clients get more comfortable and calmer around other dogs this month!

Is your dog fearful, frustrated, or distracted? Once they've learned some foundation skills, they might benefit from spending some of their lessons practicing with Juni on their way to being a calmer canine.

Reach out when you're ready to schedule!

21/08/2025

Get back to school with your dog, and learn some skills together! ✏️📚🍎🎓

We have a few more openings this week and next, as well as later this month!

30/07/2025

This month, while the weather is sometimes too hot to safely take daytime walks with your dog, we're featuring some alternate ways that we and some of our clients have used to meet some of our dog's exercise, enrichment, or socialization needs. You can use these as inspiration for what might fit you and your dog's lifestyle best.

Today's post features some easy frozen enrichment. Frozen enrichment can help your dog keep cool, makes licking/chewing activities last longer, and licking is a natural dog behavior that is good for calming.
* tiny farmers market bell pepper (bell peppers are dog-safe, but other peppers contain capsaicin, which is not safe for dogs. be sure you know the ones you're offering are safe first before giving them to your dog!)
* cut off the top, hollow it to remove seeds
* fill with dog safe soft or chunked edible goodies: in this case, we used salmon wet food and cantaloupe
* give to your dog somewhere you're okay with it being a tiny bit messy, and let them chew and lick until it's gone!

This kind of enrichment can be done indoors or outdoors, so be sure to check if the temps are low enough to be safe outdoors for a while, or if putting out towel or dog bed to catch any indoor mess is a better bet!

Remember that every dog's health and preferences are different when deciding which enrichment is appropriate for your dog! Always feed extras and new foods in moderation, and when in doubt, double-check! You can check with your vet, or double-check the safety of unusual foods or treats for your dog on the ASPCA toxic & non-toxic plants list, on AKC's website, or on another reputable source for plant safety info of your choice. Always modify for your dog's health needs and taste/texture preferences.

21/07/2025

This month, while the weather is sometimes too hot to safely take daytime walks with your dog, we're featuring some alternate ways that we and some of our clients have used to meet some of our dog's exercise, enrichment, or socialization needs. You can use these as inspiration for what might fit you and your dog's lifestyle best.

One of the ways to have some outdoor time with your dog in the warm weather that keeps you both a bit cooler is water play! You can use sprinklers, kiddie pools, and splash pads to help you and your dog keep cool in the outdoors to get a little exercise and enrichment in out in the sun without getting too warm.

Make sure you have plenty of drinkable water available too, and that you go inside before you or your pup get too warm!

Remember that every dog's health and preferences are different when deciding which enrichment is appropriate for your dog! Not all dogs like water by default, and some may need some time to adjust to it, or some rewards for investigating it at their own pace before they can find water fun. It's always good to adjust your enrichment and exercise activities to better suit your dog!

19/07/2025

Check out our upcoming openings!

18/07/2025

This month, while the weather is sometimes too hot to safely take daytime walks with your dog, we're featuring some alternate ways that we and some of our clients have used to meet some of our dog's exercise, enrichment, or socialization needs. You can use these as inspiration for what might fit you and your dog's lifestyle best.

Today's post features some easy food and chewing based enrichment:
tiny cabbage from the farmers market
drill or poke holes in it
stuff treats in the holes
*let your dog go to town shredding

This kind of enrichment can be done indoors or outdoors, so be sure to check if the temps are low enough to be safe outdoors for a while, or if putting out a sheet to catch your cabbage scraps is the better bet!

Remember that every dog's health and preferences are different when deciding which enrichment is appropriate for your dog! Cabbage can be an appropriate veggie treat for many dogs, but just like in humans, it can make some dogs gassy. Always feed extras and new foods in moderation, and when in doubt, double-check! You can check with your vet, or double-check the safety of unusual foods or treats for your dog on the ASPCA toxic & non-toxic plants list, on AKC's website, or on another reputable source for plant safety info of your choice. Always modify for your dog's health needs and taste/texture preferences.

17/07/2025

14/07/2025

Let's talk about walks...

Walks are great, but... walks aren't an innate "need" for dogs. Walks are one of many ways to meet your dog's needs.

The dog needs we are trying to meet with walks are:
1 - exercise
2 - enrichment
3 - socialization

Sometimes a walk isn't the best or safest option. During a heat wave it may not be safe to walk your dog during the daytime.

For many dogs a leash walk also isn't enough on its own. This is especially true for higher energy dogs!

Try other ways to meet your dog's needs when its hot! Protect your pup from heat related illnesses this summer.

Follow to see examples of other ways you can provide your dog exercise, enrichment, and socialization this month. Stay cool!

07/07/2025

We still have July openings!

If you want your dog to be less worried about fireworks next year or to be more prepared for polite behavior with guests next time, now is the best time to start!

04/07/2025

Scroll right to see more of Juniper!

Juniper is mildly upset by fireworks. He startles or seeks comfort after really loud booms, or whistles (same for thunder), but isn't scared the entire time and stays fairly calm, if occasionally a little nervous. My family rates him 2/5 💥. Our fireworks plan for him helps lower his overall background stress and reduces the impact of the fireworks on him, to help prevent him from becoming more afraid of them in the future.

Every dog reacts to fireworks a little differently, and dogs who are more or less fearful may need different kinds of support to set them up for fireworks success.

What is your fireworks preparedness plan for your pets?

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03/07/2025

Scroll right to see more of River!

River is very scared of fireworks: her family rates her 4/5 💥. They have a plan in place to minimize her exposure to fireworks for now, and are working with her to help her reduce her fear of fireworks for the future.

Every dog reacts to fireworks a little differently, and dogs who are more or less fearful may need different kinds of support to set them up for fireworks success.

What is your fireworks preparedness plan for your pets?

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03/07/2025

🎆🎇🎆 It's big time fireworks time TOMORROW!!! 🎆🎇🎆

If your dog isn't too scared by them, you can use those real-world noises as an opportunity to teach your dog that big loud noises aren't so bad after all too, the same way as you do with recordings. After you hear the boom, treats rain from the sky for your dog.

If your dog is freaked out already, it's time to make a fireworks preparedness plan:

* UPDATE YOUR DOG'S MICROCHIP AND ID TAG, AND TAKE AN UP TO DATE PHOTO! A significant amount more dogs go missing during fireworks and thunderstorms than other times. Be prepared to make sure your dog had the best chance possible to get back home if they accidentally get loose.

* Try out different white/brown/pink noises, calming music, etc, to see which your dog reacts most calmly to, and which seems to drown out the noises for your dog best.

* If your vet has said that your dog needs meds for events like this, ask them as far ahead of the 4th of july as possible. Remember that it takes time to fill prescriptions, and your vet will be busy this time of year! Be patient and kind, and show a little more appreciation for your vet staff this month.

* Prepare some calming soothing enrichment activities for your dog. A good easy option is using kong or lick mat style toys and freezing them with wet food, peanut butter, or unflavored, unsweetened greek yogurt in/on them. Always double check that whatever you're using is safe for dogs.

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