The Paid Pup: Modern Dog Learning & Advocacy

15/08/2024

This is important!

Myth busting Monday: “I’m pretty sure he’s doing it to protect me”

Sometimes, when I get called in to work with a dog struggling around strangers, the dog’s person says something along the lines of “I’m pretty sure he’s doing it to protect me”. They may say this because they’re searching for an answer as to WHY the dog is behaving aggressively, they may say this because the dog only does it when in the home, or when they’re with their people. But this is not typically the reason for the dog’s aggressive behavior.

The vast, vast, VAST majority of aggressive dogs I see and work with are doing so out of fear. This is even more true for dogs who bark at, lunge at, and try to bite strangers. It’s tempting to think that the dog is protecting their human; honestly I sometimes think it’s even flattering to the human, thinking that their dog values them so much they’ll protect them. Here’s the rub though: there’s no way to know for sure what the dog is thinking (my job would be much easier if I could simply ask your dog to lie on my couch and tell me about themselves!), but framing it as “protection” rather than what it truly is, which is fear, can derail your training and lead you off on an unnecessary path.

“Yeah okay but they only do it when I’m around, if I’m not around they’re fine!” You might say. To which I say “what does fine look like?” In these cases usually fine looks like barely tolerating or avoiding strangers, some mild stress signals, absence of obvious aggression. More often than not in these scenarios the dog is merely tolerating the presence of the strangers because it’s people aren’t around and they know they don’t have their “posse” nearby; they understand that if they make themselves obvious by acting aggressively that they don’t have any back up! It’s not uncommon for behavior to change depending on who is around, and that can often make situations like this a real head scratcher. But I have found that it’s RARE for dogs to be actively pro social and affiliative (dog trainer speak for a dog who actively seeks out attention and petting from people) towards strangers in these situations.

Because we don’t speak dog and dogs don’t speak English it can be hard to identify WHY the dog is doing something, but the good news is a trainer that knows what they’re doing doesn’t need to know the WHY to change it! At the same time it’s important to realize that taking fear based behaviors and reframing them in a way that makes us feel good or better about the situation is problematic, can lead to inefficiency in your training, and can lead to serious quality of life issues for our dogs.

The one caveat to this post may be dogs trained in protection sports, police k9s, certain working lines of different breeds, etc. but I simply don’t know enough about these exceptions to speak on them... so I won’t! 😁

13/07/2024

Look at this precious Angel!

Old Dog Haven HOME FOUND

This girl needs our help! If you can't foster for Old Dog Haven, you can still help by hitting your share buttons. 🙏🙏

URGENT - PERMANENT Old Dog Haven FOSTER HOME FOUND
(in W. Washington or Portland OR only)

Female (not sure if spayed) chihuahua, who weighs 7 pounds. This sweet little girl came into the shelter infested with fleas (treated for that of course) and thus with a severe flea-bite anemia. She was in pretty bad shape but with care and time she should recover. She's eating well and good on walks so hasn't given up at all. She definitely needs a dental when recovered enough and there is a large soft mass on her hip that's not been diagnosed yet. We would really like to get her out of the shelter and started on good care to fix her up.

If you would like to help this sweet old girl (we don't know her age) that the shelter is calling Bianca, she needs you! To join our network of forever foster homes, please read through the link below and contact us. We have MANY dogs on our waitlist!!
All vet bills are covered for the life of the dogs we bring into our care. This is possible because of donations.

https://olddoghaven.org/how-to-help/fostering/

10/07/2024

Five years without you today, my guy. Unbelievable. You are forever my North Star and my reason. I see your spirit in Rilo, and I know Mia is with you.

This feels like a milestone. That I’ve survived without you for five years. That I’ve taken the lessons you taught me and shared them with other guardians who are dealing with their own “difficult” dog—or rather the dog who comes into your life to turn your world upside down and evolve your soul.

You are always on my mind and in my heart. I miss you. Tell Mia hi for me.
Photo description: A tan, 20lb terrier/chihuahua
type dog with big ears and wearing a black coat stands on a ledge and looks at camera with blue sky, a few clouds, and big green trees in the background.

06/07/2024

I posted this to my stories earlier and it seemed to resonate, so here it is on the grid to stay.

It’s bananas hot in Seattle right now, so 8am is a popular walk time in my little neighborhood. We saw several dogs and guardians we usually don’t see, and for the most part, my neighborhood is pretty dog savvy, but one dog/guardian duo stood out.

They were walking their dog on a head harness with less than two feet of leash in a forced heel. Across the street there were three dogs being walked by two people being barked at by a dog behind a fence. The dog in a tight heel looked over at the commotion (normal!), and the guardian pulled over to the side and was—the best word to describe—threatening their dog. It was unsettling.

Then this dog and human turned the other way to come toward Rilo and I. They forged ahead and I have no doubt that they were just going to pummel right into our space, dog stiff and unable to move, so I quickly started the “Ready? Get it!” game and moved across the street to alleviate distress for both Rilo and the restrained dog.

As we got across the street I looked back to see the person snickering at me for what I presume was my liberal use of food and happy tones with Rilo. And so, this little rant was born.

In general, I give people a lot of grace because the misinformation is strong and people are doing their best. I don’t fault guardians who simply don’t know that they don’t need to treat their dog like s**t to get cooperation from them.

And those folks are out here too. In the general public, and among “professionals”—and the attitude this person had was most likely passed down from a charlatan who says things like “soft fur mommy cookie pushers suck!”

But I’ll be a soft fur mommy cookie pusher with a loose, bouncy dog who CHOOSES to move with me over a hard military officer with a stressed out dog who is terrified to step out of line ANY DAY.

So who’s having the last laugh now? 🍪🌶️

Accessibility in comments.

18/06/2024

I was interviewed for this article! Dog daycares are not created equally, and this article gives you a great reference on how to separate the ones who care about dog welfare and the ones whose priorities are elsewhere.

Look out for these red flags — and pay attention to what your dog is telling you.

03/06/2024

Gay as in q***r. Q***r as in liberation from oppressive systems that harm us all, including our dogs.

Q***r liberation isn't just about freedom for LGBTQIA2S+ individuals—it's a crucial part of dismantling all forms of oppression.

If you’re not fighting for q***r liberation, you’re not fighting for animals, here’s why:

Q***r liberation recognizes that our identities intersect. Transphobia and homophobia often overlap with racism, s*xism, ableism, nationalism and other forms of hate and bigotry. By fighting for q***r rights, we're also challenging these interconnected systems of oppression.

Q***r liberation challenges rigid gender norms and binaries that are harmful to everyone. Destroying patriarchal structures that perpetuate dominance and control impacts how we interact with each other and with animals.

Embracing q***r liberation fosters a culture of empathy, compassion, and a commitment to fight for a more equitable world. This mindset directly impacts welfare for all species, and how we live with and teach our companion animals.

When we zoom out and understand the “why” behind the persistence of punitive training methods, it goes far beyond prong and shock collars—it’s a culture of ideas, beliefs, and values that are informed by brutal and inhumane systems that prioritize subjugation over collaboration, rigid control over choice and autonomy, and fence-sitting in the face of need for rebellion and evolution.

Crushing oppressive systems takes all of us. We need to fight in whichever little corner of the world we can. Mine happens to be this one, and I will shout it from the rooftops:

I am q***r and I will continue to fight for the liberation of all beings from oppression with direct action in my everyday life and in the way I approach dog behavior and training.

Happy Pride, ready to fight?

[image description: Words overlayed onto a pride flag background. Words say "Welfare-based dog training is gay".]

***r ***rliberation ***r

20/05/2024

TW: Behavioral/Quality of Life Euthanasia

I had the privilege of knowing and loving Pikachu. A sensitive, beautiful soul who leaves a forever mark on my heart.

The world was scary for Pikachu. Even with the safety and unwavering support of his loving people, he was trapped in a body that wouldn’t allow him to thrive and feel secure.

Pikachu’s family went down every avenue possible with strength and dedication. Their compassion and love for their sweet, complex boy will forever be legendary.

But we had to say goodbye. In the face of despair and heartbreak, a testament to their deep love and devotion to Pikachu, his people released him to the universe.

The term “behavioral euthanasia” is outdated in my opinion. Quality of life euthanasia looks at the whole picture using compassion and understanding instead of a narrow view of how dogs should or shouldn’t “behave”. The families who have been through this anguish don’t need to feel ashamed and stigmatized on top of all of the other swirling emotions, and an emphasis on “euthanasia for behavior” doesn’t do them any favors.

To Pikachu’s family: your love and support gave Pikachu his best life possible. Your decision was a profound act of kindness, and I admire your courage. Pikachu’s perfect little face, bunny ears, and furrowed little brow live in my heart. It was an honor to know him.

Rest easy, sweet boy.

Image descriptions: Three photos, first photo shows a large white and tan dog with perky ears and a smile looking at camera with a giant cherry blossom tree in the background. The second photo shows the same dog smiling and looking directly at camera in his backyard with the flirt pole on the ground. The third photo shows a close up of his adorable face with him wearing a handkerchief that says "Nervous, Needs Space".

06/05/2024

*NEW SERVICE ALERT!*

Want to accelerate your dog’s learning? Save time? Take a break from your high needs dog? Give your dog something to do while you’re away at work that will benefit their overall behavior?

Behavioral Health Visits may be a great fit for you!

Learn more at my website linked below!

We’ll start with a 60-90 minute virtual consultation, where I’ll get to know your dog’s background—personality, breed, learning history, and current environment they find themselves in. We will also talk about your relationship with your dog, and the goals you have moving forward, and how we...

09/04/2024

Ever wondered why a puppy's behavior seems erratic during adolescence, which occurs between six months and 18 months of age?

The neurobiology of adolescence is fascinating, with some key events that alter both the structure and function of the brain.

During canine adolescence, s*x hormones are changing which effects the animals stress responses. Adolescent dogs have a decreased ability to modulate sensory processing and subsequent behavior.

The connectivity between the frontal cortex (responsible for decision making) and amygdala (responsible for emotional processing) decreases, resulting in less behavioral control.

So what does this mean? This could mean that your dog, who used to come when called, suddenly cannot. This could mean that your dog, who didn't jump up on guests, suddenly does. Your dog that walked nicely on leash is now pulling. Or perhaps it seems like some days your dog responds to behaviors you ask of them, and some days they don't, without any rhyme or reason.

We also see increased risk taking and more sensitivity to fear.

As your puppy undergoes this transition into adulthood their inner world is intense, even chaotic. Many pet owners experience an increase in undesirable behavior and find themselves becoming increasingly frustrated. In turn, frustration and impatience sometimes cause us to act unpredictably.

This adds to your puppy’s inner turmoil. When the inside and the outside are both unpredictable it can be difficult for puppies to adjust.

By understanding this we can gain greater compassion and understanding. When we approach adolescence with patience we can help create a world that is predictable and gentle so our puppies grow up to be their best selves.

03/04/2024

Before you expect your dog to change their behavior, perform a cue, or “listen” to you, ask yourself these 3 questions:

1. Does my dog associate me with safety, fun, and reinforcement—or does my dog associate me with punishment and control?

Don’t worry, it’s not too late to build a bond with your dog and be the source of good things in their life.

Start with letting go of control (we already control so many things in our dogs’ life!). Let them choose when they want to interact with you (consent matters!), provide multiple resting spots, ask them what their favorite form of reinforcement is (if it’s food, which food do they like the best?), which direction they want to go on a walk—and so much more.

Look into The Play Way by to form a bond based on mutual play.

2. Have I provided sufficient outlets for the behaviors my dog was born with?

Dogs come with innate needs. We can meet these needs in a controlled way, which will satisfy our dogs and benefit their behavioral health. If we do not allow for these needs to be met, we will see an overall lack in quality of life, as well as “problem” behaviors when they find their own way to meet the need. Some of these needs are chewing, ripping, shredding, dissecting, foraging, sniffing, running, chasing—to name a few!

Follow and read Canine Enrichment for the Real World for fantastic information on this.

3. How does my dog feel right now? —physically and mentally.

Every one of our dogs’ behaviors has a function. If we observe and listen to them, we will find that they are trying to tell us something. Whether it’s that they’re over-stimulated so their thinking brain isn’t “on” and they can’t “hear” you—they’re snapping or suddenly acting different because their body hurts—or they are chronically frustrated or stressed with many possible underlying reasons, we need to get them decompressed and feeling safe and stable before we even begin to think about reaching their “thinking” brain to teach them or change their behavior.

Start with a veterinary appointment to assess for pain, and get to know your dog’s body language and how they communicate how they’re feeling.

Then read Doggie Language by .

We sure expect a lot from dogs without truly taking their experience into consideration. When you consider them as the feeling beings with preferences who deserve choice and agency, your world and theirs will open up.

ID: Text slides on white background. Slide one: Before you expect your dog to change their behavior, perform a cue, or “listen” to you, ask yourself these 3 questions: Slide two: Does my dog associate me with safety, fun, and reinforcement—or does my dog associate me with punishment and control? Slide three: Have I produced sufficient outlets for the needs my dog was born with? Slide four: How does my dog feel right now? —physically and mentally. Caption for more.

22/02/2024

This absolute stunner is Nilla! He has some feelings about wearing a harness, and a collar won’t work because his neck needs to be naked due to IVDD.

His guardians are so supportive and patient as we investigate possible pain, and start from square one with tiny baby steps to get a gauge on how we can help him so he can safely go on walks!

He’s got this—don’t you think?

A photo of a small tan colored dog with big brown eyes and perky ears looking directly at camera while standing on a red chair in a living room.

15/02/2024

Just some rhyming reminders!

Roses are red, violets are blue. Your dog is not trying to dominate you.

Roses are red, violets are blue. Every time you interact with your dog, they’re learning from you.

Roses are red, violets are blue. Yelling at your dog won’t get them to listen to you.

Roses are red, violets are blue. Don’t punish your dog, unless you want them to fear you. (And if you want them to fear you, please seek help for yourself.)

Roses are red, violets are blue. If you don’t meet your dog’s needs, they’ll do it for you. (And you may not like how they choose to do it!)

Roses are red, violets are blue. Stop sneaking up behind dogs who don’t know you.

Roses are red, violets are blue. Dogs are the best, celebrate them today (and every day)—please do!

: 7 slides with a red background, rose icon, and white words that read the same as the caption above.

11/02/2024

ADOPT GOOSE!

Goose is such a good guy. He is basically a supermodel. He is smart as heck and loves learning (he already knows a lot!). He loves his people and dog friends and is goofy and guaranteed to make you laugh every darn day. Everyone needs that, right?

The reason it didn’t work out with Goose’s original guardians? Their home location and that is it. They love him dearly and are committed to finding the best match for him, and even plan to support his new adopter with information and resources.

Environment plays a powerful role in a dog’s wellness and behavior, and as a dog with a few herding breeds in his mix, a buzzing city location with many sights, sounds, and smells was too overwhelming for him. He’s been staying with a foster who lives on property and it has made a world of difference for him. He has been able to decompress and gain new skills, confidence, and resilience.

Goose is ready to settle into the good life with guardians who have a decent understanding of herding breeds and dog body language, and are committed to a force free lifestyle (not using pain, fear, intimidation, coercion, or punishment).

He is such a wonderful dog who deserves the absolute best—plus, he comes with some excellent resources—a team of dog professionals who love him and plan to be here for any questions his new people may have.

Here's a video of him in action!
https://youtu.be/Z5dxoREG_QY?si=lCxNpwyGpWzu8Yy7
And here is his adoption profile:
https://home-home.org/pet/994018/goose-116/

Interested in giving this guy the home he deserves?
Email: [email protected]

17/01/2024

“Pack walks” with one person walking a big number of dogs on slipleashes or other aversive tools such prong collars and choke chains are unfortunately popular, but they are a red flag.

In these “pack walks”, dogs are often given little to no opportunity to sniff, they cannot move freely and comfortably, and they are often not even allowed to p*e. Here are some of the reasons why these walks can be harmful:

- It’s unnatural, uncomfortable, and stressful for dogs to walk in a group so closely. If we look closer at the body language of dogs in “pack walks” they are often showing lots of stress signals.

- The dogs have no way of creating space for themselves as they are trapped by the other dogs as well as the slipleash that would cause them pain if they tried to move away.

- The dogs do not get to express natural behaviours and have an enriching or decompressing walk.

- Many “pack walks” take photos where all the dogs are lined up sitting next to each other in a row which may often be achieved through force, physical manipulation, and other compulsion based methods.

- Some “pack walks” take in reactive dogs and it may appear as if the dog is suddenly fine walking with other dogs. However, this dog is really being flooded and is highly stressed but can’t do anything about it. They can’t react as they may get choked with the slipleash or they may be too scared to react as they are surrounded by so many other dogs.

On top of that, let’s also remember that dogs are NOT “pack animals”. Walking in such close contact with a big group of dogs is not normal.

In this photo, we can see that the dogs are stress panting with their tongues out and spatulate, commissures pulled back, ears pulled back, tails lowered with one possibly tucked, etc. While this is a stock photo, it is not dissimilar to the body language of dogs you’ll find in photos and videos of “pack walks”, both while walking and while being posed.

Coercing and forcing dogs to all walk closely together or sit in a row for the camera is not a flex and dogs should not be treated as props. If you need a dogwalker, look for one who’s R+ based and pay attention to the dog body language in their content.

ID: The background photo shows 4 dogs on tight leashes with one person holding their leashes. The dogs are mostly stress panting and have their ears pulled back. The large text on top says "Large group pack walks are a red flag" and the smaller text on the bottom says "What body language signals do you see here?"

11/01/2024

Rant ahead:

While out for walks lately, I’ve noticed an uptick in other folks with their dogs marching straight ahead toward us as we are *obviously* quickly trying to get space. I’ve experienced it with Rilo and with clients’ dogs. In each case the other guardian was present, aware of what was happening, and had plenty of environment to make room. In two of the cases, I had to turn back and say “we are trying to get space from you!” as they powered toward us. Only one of the guardians slowed down and gave us some space.

Rilo and I were on a wide paved trail earlier today when we saw a dog and guardian team coming up in the opposite direction, so we stepped off the trail and got behind a barrier, which I thought would be enough room. Nope. The guardian kept her dog (who was wearing aversive gear) in a strict heel and on the same side we were on and got as close to us as possible—the lunging and wincing dog was almost able to get nose to nose with Rilo even though they had an infinite amount of room to scoot over. We had to hop in the bushes to get distance.

This kind of interaction reminds me of the creep who sits right next to you on the bus even though all other seats are open. It brings me to some questions:

Is this ego? “My dog is in a heel, look at me, I’m such an alpha badass.”

Entitlement? “I refuse to move an inch to accommodate anyone—I was walking here and I will continue walking in the exact direction at the exact pace and anyone who’s in the way can just deal with it.”

Instructions from backyard trainers? “Your reactive dog needs to be exposed to dogs out in public as close as possible while being threatened with metal prongs in the neck if they step out of line.”

Or perhaps something more generous: People are just generally clueless that dogs need space and are unaware of what’s going on around them?

Maybe it’s just Seattle.

Either way, I implore everyone who shares public spaces with their dogs to show some consideration and compassion for other beings and slow down, make space, and understand that we are all trying our best out here.

[ID: Graphic with words on a neon green background: Normalize giving other dogs and guardians space while on leashed walks—especially if they’re having a hard time or clearly trying to get distance from you.]

07/01/2024

spot the difference

—

meme: one panel of a Spider-man cartoon. Two Spider-men stand, facing and pointing at each other, each accusing the other of being an impostor. One Spider-man is labelled, “flooding,” while the other is labelled, “place command.”

Flooding is a procedure in dog training and other applied behaviour practice wherein the subject (dog, person, or other) is exposed to a situation that is frightening or upsetting, while escape from the situation is prevented. The goal is to extinguish the subject’s behaviour by teaching them that it is futile.

“Place command” is more innocuous at face value. It is essentially just down stay on a station, bed, or platform. In practice, it is often used to expose the subject to situations beyond their capacity to cope, sometimes using fear, pain, or intimidation to prevent the dog from leaving the “place” station.

04/01/2024

If your dog has big feelings about noise, read this well-researched article—not only does it offer specific ideas to mask noise—it digs further into why some sounds work better than others. Eileenanddogs

Dogs who are scared of thunder and noise can benefit from masking, "canceling," with fans, noise machines, or certain types of music.

29/12/2023

One year without you, Miss Moo. I’m not sure how I did it. It’s still surreal. Time isn’t real and I miss you with every fiber of my being, always.

We celebrated you today with a beach romp. Thank you for letting us know you were there with us. Rilo loves the beach, just like you.

You are everywhere there’s presence and peace, waves crashing, sun-shining, and eagles soaring. ✨

I love you and miss you baby girl.

Image descriptions: The first photo is Mia, a 10lb tan Chihuahua standing on a ledge in the sun and looking directly at camera. She is wearing an animal print fleece and a teal harness. The second photo is a crow standing on a fence with the sun and the sea in the background. The third photo is a small brown and white dog (Rilo) standing on the beach looking out at the sea. The fourth is Rilo running toward camera on grass with a view of the water and clouds with sun poking through in the background. The fifth is the same as the fourth but Rilo is standing still and looking alert off to the side of camera. The sixth is Rilo very asleep in his car seat—it looks like he’s unable to hold his head up and his eyes are closed.

09/12/2023

Practicing posing for photos. I think he nailed it, don’t you?
Image description: An 8lb white and tan dog with floppy ears sits on a green ottoman wearing a purple fleece coat in a living room. His lip is barely stuck on his teeth and he looks expectant (for the treat!).

08/12/2023

This is important.

29/11/2023

You know your dog's triggers, but do you know yours?

Let's be real: dog behavior can be irritating, loud, and repetitive. If you have sound sensitivities, or are easily overwhelmed in general, keep reading.

Simply knowing which of your dog's behaviors trigger a reaction in you goes a long way in effectively managing and teaching them.

To help your dog regulate, you must learn to regulate first. When you feel a nervous system hijack coming on, take note of where in the body you feel it, name the emotion, and take some deep breaths. Then, help your dog regulate.

It's normal for our dogs to bump up against our triggers. Just like it is for any being in our life who we have a deep connection with. When we learn how to work through our own reactions, we can teach our dogs how to work through theirs.

When you have space, explore the possible reasons behind your triggers, just like you do for your dog. Not only will this practice help you understand your dog better, it will help you show up better for all beings in your life.

[Image description:] Six slides with words (same as caption) in the middle, the Paid Pup logo on the left lower corner, and a white arrow in a yellow circle pointing right, on a light purple background.

17/11/2023

ALERT SEATTLE!

🔥 ANOTHER FIRE at THE DOG RESORT 🔥 - UPDATE as of 11/17/23 - 2 dogs have been killed on I-5, one dog, Remi has been found injured, but alive.

HOW MANY MORE DOGS HAVE TO DIE?

🚩🚩🚩 There are so many obvious red flags that the Dog Resort is the most dangerous place to take your dog, yet the city of Seattle allows Mona Elassioutti to continue to operate this business. 🚩🚩🚩

As someone who dedicates their life to working with dogs, this not only breaks my heart, but it INFURIATES ME! The list of what’s happened in recent months…

- February 1 - Lake City Dog Resort dryer fire breaks out with over 100 dogs inside (capacity is about 40), due the negligence.
- February - Owner raises $31,000 from community on GoFundMe from fire to rebuild Lake City location caused by her negligence.
- April 4 - Dog escapes Dog Resort S**o location and is hit and killed on I-5 on-ramp.
- April 6 - Another dog escapes
- July 12- And another escapes
- July 22 - And ANOTHER dog escapes, is hit by a car and is reunited with parents after making an 8-mile trek in an attempt to return home.
Additional reportings:
- Neighbors and ex-employees confirming dogs being yelled at and kicked.
- Dogs being returned covered in urine and f***s, underweight, physically injured, sick with kennel cough and parasites
- Dogs returned so sick, they needed to be euthanized
- Food and medication being withheld from dogs
- Witnesses saw a male employee urinate in front of the dogs to "assert his dominance"
- Employees doing drugs on premise
- Owner offering people from the encampments a place to sleep in exchange for watching the dogs
- Employees are forced to sign an NDA and are not allowed to have cell phones. Employees are bullied and threatened by the owner to not share what happens at the facility.
- Clients are bullied and threatened by the owner from speaking out against The Dog Resort.

If this also infuriates you, join us in holding those responsible accountable. Pet Lovers Against Dog Resort
**o