K9 Mama Natural Dog Trainer

08/08/2024

🥳The kids and I do this to our 3 rescue pups ALL. THE. TIME🥳

And tell it again and again and again

08/08/2024

💜Love the photo my daughter snapped of my beautiful Mama Coco ☀️💜

02/08/2024

Sleepy boy doesn’t want to get up. 💙

02/08/2024

🤣🤣🤣

26/07/2024

My Soul Tribe! 💜🥳

In their company, the boundaries of species dissolve, and the mystical threads that connect us all are revealed.💫

11/07/2024

What do you believe is the single most important element when wanting to change a dogs behavior long-term?

29/06/2024

Hello friends,

$5,324.97 is our current Care Credit debt from implants, vet bills and medications. Our limit is $5,500. That means we have $175 left for any vet emergency, which puts us in a very scary place as a sanctuary. We are in dire need of donations to pay this down and we are humbly reaching out... we need your help.

No donation is too small. It all adds up, and the birds need you. Our sanctuary needs you.

Donations can be given here or through:

Our website: https://www.georgiasplacebirdsanctuary.org/support

Venmo: Rehana Mohammed-Smith@georgias-place

Paypal: [email protected]

Thank you so much. It's painful asking for money, but as a nonprofit, that's how we survive.

13/06/2024

🔍 "The Power of Proprioception: How Body Awareness Shapes Dog Behavior and Emotions 🐶💡

🔎 When it comes to understanding dog behavior, we tend to focus on the obvious - visual and auditory cues 👀👂. But there's a hidden gem in the canine sensory experience that's often neglected: proprioception 🔍. This vital sense allows dogs to tune into their body's position, orientation, and movement, playing a profound role in shaping their behavior, emotional state, and overall well-being 🐾.

🤔 What is Proprioception?

🔍 Proprioception is the ability to sense the position and movement of one's body in space 🌌. It's made possible by specialized sensors called proprioceptors, which are found in muscles, tendons, and joints 🤯. These sensors send signals to the brain, providing vital information about body position, movement, and tension .

🐕 How Proprioception Affects Dog Behavior

🔑 Proprioception has a direct impact on dog behavior, influencing their:

✔️ Posture and movement 🤸‍♂️
✔️ Balance and coordination 🤹‍♂️
✔️ Spatial awareness 🗺️
✔️ Emotional state 🌈

🌟 Dogs use proprioception to navigate their environment, adjust their movement, and respond to stimuli 💡. When proprioception is disrupted or overwhelmed, dogs can become:

🔸Anxious or stressed
🔸Disoriented or confused
🔸Reactive or fearful

🌈 The Impact on Emotional State

💖 Proprioception also plays a crucial role in a dog's emotional state. When a dog's body awareness is disrupted, they may experience:

✔️ Increased anxiety and fear 😟
✔️ Decreased confidence and trust 😔
✔️ Heightened reactivity and sensitivity 😳

🐾 By understanding the importance of proprioception, we can better support our dogs' emotional well-being and behavior. Remember, proprioception is a vital aspect of dog behavior and emotional state. By recognizing its impact, we can provide our dogs with a more compassionate and supportive environment 🌿.

🙏 By prioritizing proprioception-friendly training methods and activities, we can help our dogs feel more grounded, confident, and emotionally balanced.

When it comes to understanding dog behavior, we tend to focus on the obvious - visual and auditory cues. But there's a hidden gem in the canine sensory experience that's often neglected: proprioception. This vital sense allows dogs to tune into their body's position, orientation, and movement, playi

11/06/2024

11/06/2024

Building Trust with Your Dog: The Power of Validating Their Emotions and Desires 🐾💕

Hey fellow dog parents! 🐾👋

As dog parents, we often focus on training our dogs to obey commands and behave well, but we may overlook a crucial aspect of our relationship with them: emotional validation 💖. Validating your dog's emotions and desires is essential to building trust and strengthening your bond with them 💪. In this post, we'll explore why this is the case and how you can start validating your dog's emotions today 🤔.

Emotional Validation: What Does it Mean? 🤔

Emotional validation is the process of acknowledging and accepting your dog's emotions, rather than dismissing or ignoring them 🙅‍♂️. This means recognizing when your dog is feeling anxious, scared, excited, or happy, and responding in a way that shows you understand and care about their emotional state 🤗.

Why is Emotional Validation Important? 🤝

1️⃣ Builds Trust: When you acknowledge and accept your dog's emotions, they feel heard and understood 🗣️. This builds trust and strengthens your bond, as your dog learns to rely on you for emotional support 🤝.

2️⃣ Reduces Anxiety: Validating your dog's emotions can help reduce anxiety and stress 🙏. By acknowledging their fears and worries, you can help them feel more secure and calm 🌈.

3️⃣ Encourages Communication: Emotional validation encourages your dog to communicate their needs and desires more effectively 📣. By responding to their emotional cues, you can better understand what they want and need 🤔.

4️⃣ Fosters Empathy: Validating your dog's emotions helps you develop empathy and compassion for their experiences 🌈. This empathy can deepen your connection and improve your relationship 💕.

How to Validate Your Dog's Emotions 🐾

1️⃣ Pay Attention: Observe your dog's behavior and body language 👀. Notice when they're feeling anxious, excited, or happy 🎉.

2️⃣ Label Their Emotions: When you recognize your dog's emotions, label them 📝. For example, "You seem really excited today!" or "I can see you're feeling a bit scared" 🤔.

3️⃣ Respond Appropriately: Respond to your dog's emotions in a way that shows you care 🤗. If they're anxious, offer comfort and reassurance 🤗. If they're overwhelmed, help soothe them 🌈.

4️⃣ Be Patient: Validating your dog's emotions takes time and patience 🕰️. Don't rush the process, and remember that every dog is different 🐾.

By validating your dog's emotions and desires, you'll create a safe space for them to express themselves 🌈. Remember to pay attention, label their emotions, respond with love, and be patient 🐾. With time, you'll build a more trusting relationship and a deeper connection with your furry friend! 🐾💕

As dog parents, we often focus on training our dogs to obey commands and behave well, but we may overlook a crucial aspect of our relationship with them: emotional validation. Validating your dog's emotions and desires is essential to building trust and strengthening your bond with them. In this art

10/06/2024

Understanding Canine Behavior: Nurturing Homeostasis and Redefining "Inconvenient" Behaviors 🐾💆‍♂️

🤔We often find ourselves frustrated with our furry friends' behaviors, labeling them as "inconvenient" or "problematic." 🤦‍♂️ But what if we took a step back and considered that our dogs' actions aren't intentionally trying to disrupt our human world? 🌳

🌳 What if, instead, their behaviors are simply a result of their biological nature, designed for a different world where survival is the ultimate goal? In the wild, canines relied on their sympathetic nervous system (SNS) to survive. 🐺 This "fight or flight" response triggered essential survival skills like chasing prey, marking territory, and digging burrows. 🏃‍♂️

🤯 However, in our modern world, we've brought dogs into our homes and expected them to adapt to our rules and expectations. But their biological nature remains the same!

💖 Here's the key: the more we nurture our dogs' parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) and foster a state of homeostasis, the more they'll deviate from their survival skills. The PNS promotes relaxation, calmness, and balance, which can suppress the SNS-driven survival instincts. 🙌

🌈 By creating a nurturing environment that supports the PNS, we can help our dogs feel safe and secure, reducing the need for survival behaviors. When we label our dogs' behaviors as "inconvenient," we're imposing our human perspective on their natural actions. 🤷‍♂️

🐾 What if we shifted our perspective? What if, instead of seeing our dogs' behaviors as inconveniences, we recognized them as a natural part of who they are?

🙏 By acknowledging and respecting their biological nature, we can begin to find solutions that work for both humans and canines. By nurturing the PNS and promoting homeostasis, we can help our dogs feel more relaxed and calm, reducing the need for survival behaviors.

🌊 This doesn't mean they'll never exhibit these behaviors again, but it will help them become more adaptable and responsive to our human world.

🌈 So, let's embrace our dogs' natural behaviors and nurture their parasympathetic nervous system. By doing so, we can create a more harmonious and compassionate relationship with our furry friends, and help them thrive in our human world. With understanding, patience, and love, we can build a stronger bond with our dogs and help them feel safe, secure, and loved. 🐾❤️

"

As dog parents, we often find ourselves frustrated with our furry friends' behaviors, labeling them as "inconvenient" or "problematic." But what if we took a step back and considered that our dogs' actions aren't intentionally trying to disrupt our human world? What if, instead,

09/06/2024

🐾💕 Building a Deeper Connection: Understanding Dogs as Emotional Beings

🤔 As dog parents and enthusiasts, we often focus on training and behavior, but let's not forget to acknowledge the emotional depth of our canine companions! 🐶💖

🎉 Dogs are not just intelligent animals; they are emotional beings that thrive on connection and understanding. They experience a range of emotions, from joy and excitement to fear and anxiety. 🤯😂

🤝 Before we ask them to listen to us, we must first build a foundation of respect, trust, and emotional connection. That means understanding their individual personalities, needs, and emotions! 🤝💡

🌟Recognizing Canine Emotions-

🐾 Dogs experience a range of emotions, from joy and excitement to fear and anxiety. They have a complex emotional landscape, influenced by their environment, social interactions, and personal experiences. By acknowledging and respecting their emotional lives, we can create a deeper understanding and connection with them. 💖

The Importance of Emotional Connection-

🔑 Before we start training or asking our dogs to perform tasks, we must establish an emotional connection with them. This means taking the time to understand their individual personalities, needs, and emotions. By doing so, we build trust and create a safe space for them to open up and respond to us. 🌟

Why Respectful Understanding Matters

🙏 We have no right to expect our dogs to listen to us without putting in the effort to build a respectful and understanding relationship. Dogs are not machines or tools; they are living beings with feelings and emotions. By acknowledging their emotional lives and connecting with them on a deeper level, we earn their trust and respect. 💕

📝 Here are my top tips to build a deeper connection with your dog:

1️⃣ 🐾Spend quality time together doing what makes them happy! 😊

2️⃣ 🤔 Observe and understand their body language and emotional cues! 🤓

3️⃣ 🤗 Practice empathy and validate their feelings!

4️⃣ 🎁 Use positive reinforcement training methods that focus on building trust and respect! 🎉

5️⃣ 🌟 Be patient and understanding - every pup is unique and has their own emotional journey! 🌈

💕🐾 By building a deeper emotional connection with our dogs, we can create a lifelong bond built on trust, respect, and understanding. We earn their trust and respect by acknowledging their emotional lives and connecting with them on a deeper level. Let's take the time to truly understand our furry friends, recognize their emotional lives, and build a connection that goes beyond just training and behavior. 💖

As dog parents and enthusiasts, we often focus on training and behavior, but forget to acknowledge the emotional depth of our canine companions. Dogs are not just intelligent animals; they are emotional beings that thrive on connection and understanding. Before we ask them to listen to us, we must f

08/06/2024

Robyn Scatena 6/8/24 Robyn Scatena 6/8/24 The Gut-Brain Connection in Dogs: How Tension Disrupts the Delicate Balance Read More Robyn Scatena 6/7/24 Robyn Scatena 6/7/24 Embracing the Parasympathetic Nervous System: Keeping Your Dog in the "Go with the Flow" State Read More Robyn Scatena 6/6/24 Roby...

08/06/2024

✨Homeostasis and Dog Behavior: A Delicate Balance

🔸When it comes to understanding dog behavior, many factors come into play. One crucial concept to grasp is homeostasis, a delicate balance that affects your dog's physical and mental well-being. In this blog post, we'll explore homeostasis, its impact on dog behavior, and provide examples to illustrate its significance.

❓ What is Homeostasis?

🔸Homeostasis refers to the ability of an organism to maintain a stable internal environment despite changes in the external environment. This balance is crucial for survival, as it enables your dog to adapt to stress, regulate bodily functions, and maintain overall health.

✅Physiological Homeostasis

🔸Physiological homeostasis involves the regulation of bodily functions, such as:

🐾 - Body temperature

🐾- Blood sugar levels

🐾- Blood pressure

🐾- Heart rate

🐾- Digestion

For example, when your dog exercises, their body temperature rises. To maintain homeostasis, their body sweats to cool down, ensuring their temperature remains within a safe range.

✅Behavioral Homeostasis

🔸Behavioral homeostasis focuses on your dog's mental and emotional balance. This includes:

🐾- Emotional regulation

🐾- Stress management

🐾- Social interactions

🐾- Learning and memory

For instance, when your dog experiences stress, their behavioral homeostasis is disrupted. To restore balance, they may exhibit calming behaviors like panting, yawning, or seeking comfort from their owner.

✅How Homeostasis Affects Dog Behavior

🔸Homeostasis plays a significant role in shaping your dog's behavior. When their physiological or behavioral balance is disrupted, they may exhibit:

🐾- Anxiety or fear

🐾- Aggression

🐾- Destructive behavior

🐾- Withdrawal or avoidance

🐾- Hyperactivity or restlessness

🔸Examples:

🐾- A dog with arthritis may become irritable and snap when touched, due to discomfort disrupting their physiological homeostasis.

🐾- A dog experiencing separation anxiety may engage in destructive behavior, indicating a disturbance in behavioral homeostasis.

✅Maintaining Homeostasis in Dogs

🔸To support your dog's homeostasis and promote balanced behavior:

🐾- Provide a stable and predictable environment

🐾- Offer regular exercise and mental stimulation

🐾- Manage stress and anxiety through training and relaxation techniques

🐾- Ensure proper nutrition and hydration

🐾- Offer a comfortable and safe living space

✨Homeostasis is a vital concept in understanding dog behavior. By recognizing the delicate balance between physiological and behavioral homeostasis, you can better support your dog's overall well-being and address behavioral issues that may arise. Remember, a balanced dog is a happy and healthy dog!

When it comes to understanding dog behavior, many factors come into play. One crucial concept to grasp is homeostasis, a delicate balance that affects your dog's physical and mental well-being. In this blog post, we'll explore homeostasis, its impact on dog behavior, and provide examples to il

07/06/2024

💜The Art of Calm Socialization: A Guide to Helping Your Dog Thrive in New Environments

🌟Socialization is a vital aspect of a dog's development, and it's crucial to approach it in a way that prioritizes calmness and neural regulation. By teaching your dog to remain calm and composed in the presence of new stimuli, you can help them develop the skills necessary to navigate new environments and experiences with confidence and resilience. This approach not only helps prevent over-arousal and reactivity but also fosters a strong, healthy bond between you and your dog. By prioritizing calm socialization, you can help your dog become a well-adjusted and well-behaved companion, equipped to handle the challenges of everyday life with ease.

✅The Importance of Homeostasis and Neural Regulation

🌟Homeostasis, the state of balance and stability in the body's physiological processes, is essential for a dog's emotional and behavioral well-being. When a dog is in a state of homeostasis, they are better equipped to handle new experiences and stimuli without becoming overwhelmed or reactive. Neural regulation, the ability to control and manage neural responses to stimuli, is critical for a dog's socialization. Before exposing your dog to new environments and stimuli, it's essential to teach them to regulate their neural responses, ensuring they can handle the stimulation without becoming over-aroused or reactive.

✅Calm Exposure and Socialization

🌟Calm exposure, the process of gradually introducing your dog to new stimuli while maintaining a calm state, is vital for successful socialization. By first exposing your dog to new environments, people, and dogs in a calm and controlled manner, you can help them develop the neural regulation necessary to handle stimulation without becoming reactive. All greetings, whether with people, dogs, or the environment, should be first handled neutrally, before allowing your dog to interact with the stimulus. This means teaching your dog to remain calm and composed in the presence of new stimuli, rather than allowing them to become over-aroused or reactive.

✅Practical Tips for Calm Socialization

1. Start at Home: Before exposing your dog to new environments, practice calm exposure at home. Introduce new stimuli, such as people, dogs, and objects, in a calm and controlled manner, rewarding your dog for remaining calm.

2. Choose Neutral Locations: When introducing your dog to new environments, choose neutral locations, such as parks or quiet streets, where they can feel calm and composed.

3. Bring Calming Enrichments: Bring calming enrichments, such as treats, toys, and blankets, to help ease stress and create positive associations with new environments.

4. Practice Being in the PSN: Dogs can sense our state of body in every situation, so it's essential to practice being in the parasympathetic nervous system (PSN) yourself. Take deep breaths, relax, and remain calm, and your dog will be more likely to do the same.

5. Gradual Exposure: Gradually expose your dog to new stimuli, starting with small, manageable amounts, and gradually increasing the intensity.

6. Reward Calm Behavior: Reward your dog for remaining calm and composed in the presence of new stimuli, using treats, praise, and affection.

7. Avoid Over-Stimulation: Avoid over-stimulating your dog by introducing too many new stimuli at once. Gradual exposure is key to successful socialization.

🌟Socialization is a critical aspect of a dog's development, and it's essential to approach it in a way that prioritizes calm exposure and neural regulation. By teaching your dog to remain calm and composed in the presence of new stimuli, you can help them develop the skills necessary to handle new experiences and stimuli without becoming overwhelmed or reactive. Remember, all greetings should be first handled neutrally before allowing your dog to interact with the environment, ensuring a calm and composed response. With patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement, you can help your dog thrive in new environments and develop a strong, resilient bond

Socialization is a vital aspect of a dog's development, and it's crucial to approach it in a way that prioritizes calmness and neural regulation. By teaching your dog to remain calm and composed in the presence of new stimuli, you can help them develop the skills necessary to navigate new environmen

04/05/2024

https://www.animalhouseshelter.com/pets/jax-13/

🙏🏻Poor Jax has been at the shelter for several months..

🙏🏻LETS FIND HIM A HOME OR FOSTER!!!!

Share share share!

All dogs are microchipped, neutered, current on all vaccines, heartworm tested (if age appropriate), and up-to-date on preventatives at the time of adoption. An application is required to view our adoptable pets. All household members and any dogs from the household need to be present to be able to....

07/04/2024

29/03/2024

❌When wanting to work on behavioral issues it’s not about needing more “obedience training”.

✅It’s about needing a deeper connection, and with that comes clear communication.
Our dogs are social mammals able to live in very advanced social packs. We are their social pack/family. It is our duty to teach them our culture and be their benevolent leader at all times.

27/03/2024

Remember this the next time you get mad at your dog, or using adversive tools.

Dogs trust their instincts and follow those internal urges and patterns. They are not biologically designed to live in our culture so “mistakes” are inevitable. It is our job to teach, guide, and manage them at all times.

We must understand their subconscious reactions. Only then can we make them conscious of their behavior, their environment, and their reactions.

Emotional reactions become patterns in which the dog does not control. Creating new patterns of peace and connection is key when wanting to teach and guide our dogs in our human world.

16/03/2024

Dobby is loving his new siblings 🤣

09/03/2024

Mama and Luna trying to squeeze into Dobby’s beds 🤣🤣🤣.

08/03/2024

My sweet girl 🥰

08/03/2024

🥹🥹🥹

07/03/2024

Well look who happened to find his way into my pack.😝

After I lost Bruno my heart needed another small male partner.

Meet Dobby!

I just keep going smaller and smaller! 🥹

💜He was rescued from a backyard breeding situation along with with 46 other chihuahuas!

He is adjusting so wonderfully and loves his doggy sisters! 💜