Paws for Thought Dog Training

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Paws for Thought Dog Training

We specialize in puppy training, behavior issues, and separation anxiety.

01/07/2024

Join us for Puppy Playtime on Tuesdays in July at First Avenue Veterinary.

Sign up using this link: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=24053165&appointmentType=64306897

In this off-leash play setting, puppies will build positive associations with other dogs and the valuable skill of relaxing around other dogs. Guardians will learn what positive puppy play looks like and how to watch for signs of negative interactions.

Puppies must be under 20 weeks old to participate and guardians must submit proof of first round of vaccines and negative f***l sample or proof of first dewormer.

14/11/2023

I once overheard someone say that I was "trying to kill my dog" after I didn't let my dog say hi to theirs. That seemed a little extreme to me but in my experience people have big feelings about this topic! I often feel like dog guardians take personal offense when another guardian doesn't let their dog say hi because they believe that decision to be a reflection on their dog. I'm here to say that'a not always the case! There are plenty of reasons why someone might not let their dog say hi. It's important to understand these and to respect the choices of others!!!

07/11/2023

We love our clients!!! Amazing feedback from another successful reactivity case.

31/10/2023

Happy Howl-oween everyone!

I hope you all have so much fun trick or treating OR if that's not your thing, enjoy staying in with some sweet treats and a spooky movie!

Remember if you're planning on bringing your dog out and about when trick or treating it's important to keep them safe and comfortable! Follow these tips to ensure everyone enjoys their HOWL-oween 🎃👻💀

13/10/2023

New blog post - link in bio!!!

If you've ever thought that dog trainers have the perfect dogs and probably don't struggle with the same issues you do...think again!!

We recently brought an adolescent foster dog home and oh my gosh is she putting all of my canine knowledge to the test.

If you feel like following along with our behavior journey or getting an inside peak into the frazzled brain of an overtired dog trainer then this is the content for you 🤪

10/10/2023

Does your dog hide from you the second you pull out the nail clippers? Is going to the vet a traumatic experience every time? Handling and grooming procedures can be a significant source of fear and frustration for dogs and guardians.

Ditch the stress! We can help you and your dog to feel calm and confident for vet and grooming procedures!

In this webinar, which we are offering for FREE in collaboration with you will learn how to assess if your dog is stressed during handling and tips for addressing their fear around handling!

Head to the link in bio to sign up!!!

21/09/2023

Have you been considering CBD to treat your dogs anxiety or stress? Well you're not the only one. Over the past few years we've seen the interest in CBD rise in not only humans but pets too!

There are so many more resources available now with peer-reviewed evidence of the effect of CBD on stress in dogs. Want to learn what we found out? Head to the link in our bio for the blog post!

Disclaimer, we are not veterinarians! If you do have an interest in trying CBD to address your dog's stress - speak to your vet first!

13/09/2023

If you're working with a trainer or behavior consultant they've probably recommended some level of management. This might be a new concept to you but it's one of the most important when beginning your behavior journey!

We'd love to hear what kind of management tools you're using to prevent your dog from performing less desirable behaviors!

07/09/2023

Raise your hand if you had a great summer! 🙋🏼‍♀️

Now that summer's wrapping up we are so excited to get back to work with all of our fantastic clients!

Friends of Paws for Thought, if you are a current package holder please make sure you look to the calendar to get your next Follow-Up session scheduled. With lots of travel this summer we've noticed that people may be cutting it close on their package deadlines! If you need help scheduling, reach out to us! We want you to get all the help you can in order to reach your pup's behavior goals!

14/08/2023

We're taking some much needed time for rest and relaxation!

We will be checking email and instagram periodically. We appreciate your patience while you wait for a response.

All current clients, you know how you can reach us!

11/08/2023

Had such a blast hanging with our friends tonight!

If you stopped by for free treats or training advice and would like to get more support for your dogs behavior struggles please don't hesitate to shoot us a DM or email! ☺️

08/08/2023

Have you ever had a trainer tell you that you should ignore your dog when you come home because they could develop separation anxiety if you make entrances a big deal?

We think that's a load of phlewy!!!

Here's the reality, there are a lot of factors that could lead to separation anxiety in dogs. Sometimes we're looking at genetics, othertimes we could be focusing on a change in environment. Either way, if your dog is not currently showing signs of separation anxiety I don't recommend that you change your habits to ward off something that isn't already there!

Even for my SA clients I don't instruct people to ignore their dog when entering. We may modify the greeting so it's a little less arousing but it's ok to say hi to your dog. They missed you to!

01/08/2023

If you have a dog with separation anxiety you're probably feeling like you've tried everything and you're at the end of your rope when it comes to finding a solution.

We're going to clue you into a secret, there's no quick fix for separation anxiety.

To address this issues in your dog it's going to take perseverance and life changes. It's going to be really tough, we won't lie. But when you finally get to the point of being able to walk out the front door and not worry about your dog at home, it will all be worth it.

Are you ready to REALLY give training a shot? If you are we're here for you! DM us to book the initial assessment or email us at [email protected]

27/07/2023

Have you heard of the term “trigger stacking” before?

I like to explain this idea in human terms. Think about your average morning before getting to work. If you wake up and realize you’ve slept poorly that might not be a day ruiner. If on your way to work you miss your bus your frustration might be rising. If you get to work and realize after all that, you’ve left your key card at home and now can’t enter the building, you might be pretty upset. Now given your crappy morning, it’s understandable that you blew off a little steam by yelling at your intern for a mistake they made in their email yesterday. Right?

Our dogs experience similar stress increases as they are exposed to triggers along their walks. Stress compounds and it doesn’t lower until there’s a chance to decompress.

So while your dog might be ok watching one dog from a distance walk by, after they’ve come across a skateboarder, a car backfiring, and a bicyclist in the span of one walk they might be a little on edge.

The more triggers they are exposed to on a walk the lower their threshold or tolerance for triggers will be. Which is why by the 5th trigger they see they are no longer able to keep their cool and are barking and lunging at the end of the leash.

Now that you know about trigger stacking, what will you do to try to avoid this on your walks? Let us know in the comments!

25/07/2023

We love hearing success stories from our fantastic clients!

Team Benson worked so hard to get him comfortable with being home alone. And it turns out that separation training really was a game changer for them!

12/07/2023

If you have a dog who barks and lunges at one point in time you’ve probably heard a professional say the word “trigger.”

Usually when discussing reactivity, behavior professionals refer to the stimuli that elicit your dog’s barking and lunging as they’re “triggers.”
 Dogs can have very specific triggers or they can have a variety of triggers that result in barking and lunging behaviors.
 It’s important to learn what your dog’s triggers might be as a first step to addressing the behavior problems.

10/07/2023

Have you heard of cooperative care training?

Through cooperative care training you can teach your dog to take an active role in their veterinary and grooming procedures.

These techniques are extremely useful in decreasing the amount of stress and fear your dog experiences at the vet!

We have been practicing these techniques for awhile but we FINALLY got around to acquiring our Fear Free Certified Professional credentials so we thought now was a perfect time to bring them up.

In this blog post we talk about what cooperative care is, what the benefits are, and we take a look into new evidence from the science world examining the effect of cooperative care training on dogs!

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http://www.pawsforthoughttraining.com/

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