From Their Perspective, LLC., Animal training and behavior consulting

23/06/2025

With high temps in the 90s this week, we KNOW we’re going to see dogs rushed in for heat stroke. Please prove us wrong: Don’t let it happen to your dog. Please please please.

Avoiding the heat of mid-day and not leaving dogs in cars are the obvious points; here’s what you may not know:

Heat stroke is rapid and persistent elevation in core body temperature which can lead to massive full body inflammatory response followed by rapid onset multi system organ failure and death.

Breeds at greatest risk are are short-snouted breeds (bulldogs, boxers, frenchies/bostons, pugs, s**z tzu, etc), and breeds that tend to be intense about exercise and play (pit bulls, huskies, shepherds, labs, etc)

Pets with pre-existing health concerns such as laryngeal paralysis, heart disease, or obesity are also at high risk.

If you suspect your pet is having a heat stroke event:
- Use cool (not icy cold) water-soaked towels to cool them off
- Offer cool (not icy cold) water, small amounts at a time
- Call your ER veterinarian for advice, and if indicated, get to the emergency room ASAP. Please call the ER in advance so we can be fully prepared upon your pet’s arrival.

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21/06/2025

Dog parks. A place for fun or fights?

Would you enter a house knowing it is haunted? What if you didn’t know? Often, when people aren’t aware of the risks or danger, they are more likely to do something. There is a sense of innocence of the situation.

The benefits of dog parks: (maybe?)
1. Exercise
2. Enrichment
3. Training and Learning (dogs must be kept under threshold)

The risks in the dog park are any number of things including but not limited to:

1. Poor design and small spaces. Often there is nowhere for dogs to get away from one another if need be or, too many places for a dog to be “trapped” by another dog or multiple dogs.
2. People! They can be the catalyst for dogs to fight, especially in owner- guarding scenarios or people reaching to grab collars. Pet owners do not want to hear their dog is not playing nice or has bad behaviors. Often the person, too, becomes the dog park bully.
3. Lack of knowledge or participation from the average dog park goers. They do not see the early signs of stress or that their dog is NOT having fun. They are on their phones, not involved with their dog.
4. Communicable diseases. Are all the dogs vaccinated? Do they have illnesses? Can other dogs sense they are sick, or can a sick one behave aggressively towards others?
5. No professional supervision or control. There can be too many dogs with clashing personalities and no one to help distinguish this.
6. Dogs may lack pro-social skills or be dog-selective with novel dogs or people.

What can you do to help?
First, for safety: avoid them if you are unsure of any of the above risks.
1. Do not let your dog enter if highly aroused and excited or, if there are dogs in this emotional state waiting at the gate. Thresholds and feeling trapped can be catalysts for fights.
2. Avoid bringing your dog unless they have a solid recall in highly distracting situations. Being able to call your dog away from a potential situation before it arises is crucial.
3. Avoid reaching in between dogs should a conflict arise.
4. Pay attention to your dog. Learn what subtle and overt stress and avoidance looks like in your own and other dogs. Remove your dog immediately to avoid escalation or to give your dog relief from the situation if they are not having fun.
5. Make sure your dog is up to date with vaccines. Clean up after your dog.
6. Safely leash or remove your dog if they start showing fear, guarding, targeting one dog, or aggressive- type behavior displays. Do not bring toys if toy guarding is unknown in group.
7. Take your dog to a private venue such as a daycare with 1 on 1 play time, Sniffspot or make your yard exciting by scattering/hiding treats.
You can also engage is a safe dog sport under supervised, professional and humane help.

How are you meeting your dog's physical, mental and emotional needs today?

(stock photo)

18/06/2025

What an important and often forgotten detail when leaving pets in the care of others.
Do you have a plan?

Tell us about your summer travel plans, please! We'd love to tag along, of course, but the real reason is so we know who has permission to authorize care of your pets while you are away.

Before heading out of town, send your veterinarian an email that they can incorporate in your pet's account. Please include the dates you will be traveling, who is allowed to make medical decisions in your absence, and even any specific measures you'd like to authorize in case you can’t be reached immediately. Your vet will still attempt to reach you in the event of an emergency, but this will allow them to act more quickly and in accordance with your wishes.

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16/06/2025

"Hi! Happy Monday. Huge wins for Gus (and me). A salesman came to the door and rang the doorbell and I instantly put him in "place". J said he tried it earlier and it wasn't going to work. He went to place and was able to calm down and even laid down and stayed while I walked away until I told him free.
Looks like we will need to work on it more with j, but I'm proud of him."
-Team Gus

Congrats on training all the steps, putting it all together and seeing how powerful it is and, it works!
Congrats on having the knowledge and understanding to know that "we need to work on it more with J".

Does behavior modification and training take time? Yes
Is humane and ethical training the safest way to help animals? Yes
Do you have to physically put in the effort? Yes
Will it cost money to learn how to help your dog(s). Yes
Is there an emotional and mental commitment? Yes
Is it worth it? YES!!!!!!

Send a message to learn more

12/06/2025

Do you have a noise sensitive dog?

It will be that time soon when many dogs will struggle.
What can you do?
First, talk to your vet and ask if meds can help. This needs to be done prior to scary events, not in the moment of. Being proactive can reduce your dog's trauma and negative experience.
Keep them in a safe, secure and quiet indoor location.
Provide soft beds or several blankets to lay on and bury if need be.
Use management to keep them safe, while giving them a choice to go and hide if need be.
Play soothing music such as classical. Reggae has even been suggested as soothing through research.
Close shades and windows, to block visual and sound effects as much as possible.
Avoid exposing them to fireworks. This is not the time to start a training session for them to "get over it".
Provide them with social support- your presence of being near and a gentle touch, only if they allow to be touched. You are not rewarding them- you are supporting them while in a likely stressed and fearful emotional state.
Empathize with your dog's behavior in that moment. Accept and appreciate the info your dog is giving you about their emotional state.
Learn what you can do to help them in the future.

(photo credit in poster)

01/06/2025

Just one of the reasons I do what I do!

Helping dogs. Helping people. Having fun!

23/05/2025

Who is bringing their dog(s) to a cook-out this weekend?

Who is having dogs come over to their house for the cook-out?

Does this scene look familiar?

What can we do help dogs who "counter surf"?
Let's chat and share some thoughts!

(stock online photo)

21/05/2025

Helping dogs. Helping people. Having fun!

We played hide and find Sunday!

Are you ready to play?

16/05/2025

Did you think of ways we can help dog that show likely guarding behaviors?

First, there should always be management in place as a layer to prevent the guarding from happening and being practiced.

If management fails, we need a safe way to separate the dog from the item.

One training I like to use is a hand target recall.

This is a practice set-up. We practice the training intermittently.
Do you know why?

He is a resource guarder and, the couch is one of his favorites to guard.
Can you see any signs in this video he is likely guarding?

If you have ever been bitten trying to take something from your dog or, pull them off the couch, can you see how this can keep everyone safe from a potential bite?

Need help with resource guarding or any other behaviors?
Email us for your complimentary 15-minute chat to learn how we can help.
[email protected]

13/05/2025

Let's chat about "resource guarding".

Did you know that guarding can be a natural behavior in animals? We may see it as an "unwanted", "undesirable" or "aggressive" behavior but it is natural to the dog. Do you know why?

It is also natural to humans. We can be resource guarders as well. Can you think of an example?

Dogs may guard toys, food, water bowl, treats, space, beds, couches and even their "person" or family.

Many pet guardians are baffled when they are growled at or bit trying to take something their dogs has or, even just approaching the dog. This can be upsetting and many take it personal.

What does your dog guard?

In many cases, we can prevent or minimize the chances of guarding behaviors. Can you think of any ways?

Let's get the chat going! I will show you an example video soon!

(Image; free stock photo online)

06/05/2025

Body language and behaviors can be confusing. We may see behaviors in one context, and they mean one thing but, in another context, they mean something totally different. We see this in dogs as well as humans.
For example, you may punch your friend in the arm as a "tag, you're it, buddy" gesture and you may punch someone because they are in your face yelling. That "punch" has two different meanings and sending different messages.

Can you think of other behaviors or body language that we do as humans that can have different meanings?

Let's look at Barkley's body language in this video.

Would you approach and pet him?

Why or why not?
What are your reasons for the interaction or, for no interaction?

03/05/2025

Registrations will be closing soon for these two events.
Intro:
May 18th in Deep River, CT
May 31st in Shelton, CT

Benefits of mantrailing:

*Builds confidence
*allows dogs to engage in species-specific behaviors
*can reduce boredom
*promotes physical, mental and emotional stimulation
*can reduce "undesired" behaviors
*builds trust and strengthens human/dog bond
*FUN!

Email us at [email protected]