Day of the Dog Training

08/08/2024

Well stated. I agree with everything except the barriers to adoption which I don't think makes any difference. I've seen dogs in shelters that people paid lots of money for and gave up on and I've seen homeless people who take better care of their animals than the wealthiest adopter. Otherwise, SPOT ON!! Heartsticks and gas chamber killing should be illegal.. When I worked in the Lake County shelter, that was one of the first things I changed. No heartstick euthanasias and no animal would be euthanatized on the cold wet concrete floor of their kennel. Speak up people. It's time for change at Polk County Animal Control.

NOTE FROM TED: This talk contains a graphic description of animal abuse. This talk only represents the speaker’s personal views and understanding. TEDx event...

21/07/2024

Shared by my friend Debbie Thomas. Faults and imperfections, just like people.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=250286871103784&id=100083674194172

19/07/2024

Great words of wisdom. We totally agree.

29/06/2024

In Florida, this is everyday in the summer. Not just this weekend.

27/06/2024

Absolutely great advice. And especially stop telling kids to put their hand out for the dog to sniff. If the dog chooses to interact, you will know it.

If you need help with your dog, contact me at [email protected].

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3239508456132259&id=526204004129398

🛇 Use your Manners! 🛇
The Sniff test - Stop doing that!
The sniff test - a badly engrained habit that society has been taught, without a clear understanding of what they're actually doing.

🚩When you reach out towards a dog, you are using body pressure AT them, giving them no time to assess whether you are safe & whether they require further investigation to pick up your information. You are forcing an interaction of a relationship that hasn't had time to develop. To some dogs, this is quite rude & the reason a lot of dogs snap at or bite people. This can cause alot of behavioral issues because of layered stress due to forced interactions.

🚩If they are on lead, they have no where to go if they are sensitive to spacial pressure, so can end up shutting down, shying away or snapping at your hand so you back off. This is an example of how a dog is now using pressure to turn off pressure & make you back off so they aren't so stressed.

🚩People think by offering your hand it can give the dog time to sniff to know you're friendly... they can sniff without being forced to sniff your hand.Their noses are far more superior than ours & they don't need close contact forced upon them to smell you.

🚩Some dogs might not want to know you. You have no relationship with them and that's perfectly fine. They aren't your dog so you don't need to touch them or steal pats for your own satisfaction.

🤔 If you are meeting a dog, what should you do?
⚠Ask the owner if you can interact with their dog. Not all people want strangers touching their dogs. Especially strangers who you are unlikely to see again.
⚠Stand up straight & relaxed, with your hands at your side.
⚠Ignore the dog & talk to the owner.
⚠Don't stare at the dog & don't try to force an interaction by going in for a pat. If the dog wants to know you, it will come up to you & sniff around. Usually they will move away & then come back for a second sniffathon. Some dogs will bunt your hands & wag their tails, which are good signs that you're likely an accepted new friend. Give them a few slow pats down their back (NOT THEIR HEAD) & then stop. Is the dog happy? Has it accepted your interaction? This will determine whether you can give it more pats.

🐶This is a more stress free option for dogs & a reason why in consultations we can develop a good level of trust, especially with fearful dogs & aggressive dogs, without a bunch of negative side effects from forced interactions.

18/06/2024

It’s the time of year to leave your dog home when you attend outside events. It’s way too hot for them. And always check how hot the pavement is before walking them. If you can’t leave you hand on the pavement for 5 minutes, it’s too hot for your dogs feet. And absolutely no running with the dog. Heat stroke is real.

16/06/2024

So easy to keep everyone safe. Please parent your children and give your dog a choice to walk away.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=426557830124064&id=100083095514192

Let's talk about this photo. It's cute, except it's not. I see a dog who cannot get up without telling the child to get off. How do you think a dog is going to do that?

The 7 Golden Toddler Dog Rules:
#1: If a dog walks away from you, you DO NOT FOLLOW.
#2: Always leave room for the dog to walk away from you.
---that right there is 90+% of dog bites eliminated---
#3: We do not climb on the dog.
#4: We do not grab or pull on the dog.
#5: We do not hit or throw anything at the dog.
#6: We do not touch the dog's food.
#7: We do not go into the dog's kennel.

I promise these are not overly difficult concepts for littles, nor will they rob a kid of their bond with the family dog. It will deepen that bond, while keeping everyone safe.

"Oh, it looks like Moose is walking away from you. She is saying she wants a break. Let's play with this instead!"

"It's Moose's dinner time! Let's give her space to enjoy her yummies."

"That is Moose's room(kennel) and only she is allowed to go in there."

"If Moose wanted a break, could she walk away from you right now? No she really couldn't. Let's move away from the play house. You can keep playing but now she can leave when she wants a break."

In conclusion, ***parent your child or your dog will do it for you, and you will not like how they do it.***

11/06/2024

I am not one to ever recommend that you adopt two puppies at the same time. I am of the belief that each puppy needs to acclimate into a family individually. Sibling syndrome is real in the dog world. Not every time, but often enough to cause concern.

However, I also work with cats and that syndrome does not apply if adopting kittens. It is BEST practice to adopt two kittens at a time. See the reasons why here.

Need help with your spicy cat/kitten or your new puppy/dog. I can help. Contact me. [email protected].

20/05/2024

Old Habits die hard. With humans and dogs. Teaching a new brain process takes time and patience. Usually the undesirable habits dogs form are from being, maybe inadvertently, reinforced for years. For example: When the dog jumps at the door or all over the human at the presentation of the leash, then the human hooks them up and takes them outside. Inadvertently reinforcing the undesirable jumping behavior!

Read on and contact me if you need help with your dog.

[email protected].

After owning the same basic van for 30 years I have upgraded and downsized. As a dog person it took some serious consideration to move myself to a smaller vehicle, but it’s time. Without so many big dogs to haul around I can get by with something smaller. Plus I haven’t been traveling to dog

09/05/2024

Contact me for positive science based training for your dog. Let’s build a better relationship with your best friend. [email protected].

06/04/2024

Well written article about punishment training and the fallout involved. For positive, scientific based help with your dog, contact me. [email protected]. Read on.



“When they say it doesn't hurt, they are either lying (usually trainers so they can get/keep clients), or they really have been duped and have no understanding of operant conditioning.”

By Ren Volpe

30/03/2024

Please be very careful about boarding or board and train facilities. There is no oversight group in dog training. Leaving your dog with someone for a month without knowing what they are doing with your dog during that time is a huge risk. Training is a partnership between you and your dog. You need to be invested in the process.

All of my training is done in your home or in central locations for working on specific behaviors. Contact me if you need help or share this post with a friend.

[email protected]

MCSO INVESTIGATING UNEXPLAINED DEATH OF THIRD DOG IN THE CARE OF A PALM CITY TRAINER/GROOMER/BOARDING FACILITY

The Martin County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division has received a third formal complaint about the suspicious and untimely death of another dog, this time a 2-year old puppy, in the care of Nikki Camerlengo owner of Paws-a-tively Paradise located in Palm City. (Website image below).

The death of the labradoodle-mix puppy comes after two prior complaints from customers who say they left their dogs in her care at that facility for either grooming, training or boarding, and their dog died as well. In each case, the dog was under 5-years old.

MCSO has obtained the professional resources to complete necropsies on the dog in the most recent case, as well as one prior case, and will make a determination on potential criminal charges following the results of those necropsies as well as any witness information or evidence obtained during this investigation.

Last year, Martin County Sheriff’s Animal Services wrote six citations to the facility for various improper care issues. In addition, we have received unconfirmed information that there have been additional deaths that have gone unreported to law enforcement.

If you, or someone you know, used this facility and your/their pet was injured, became seriously ill, or died at the facility, or shortly after being returned back to the owner, we are asking that you call the Martin County Sheriff’s Office at 220-7060. These incidents cannot be investigated unless they are officially reported.

29/03/2024

Contact me if you need help with your dog. 20+ years experience.

[email protected]

https://www.facebook.com/share/zWmaXAroxF6EVSED/?mibextid=WC7FNe

09/03/2024

How can you pass up this face? Up for adoption. Come on guys.

Púa’s just sitting here… wondering why she’s had little interest for adoption.

Doing well with dogs ✅
Pokey but tries to play with cat ✅
Does well with strangers ✅
Does well with guests in-house ✅
Does well with teens and toddlers ✅

Crate trained ✅
Potty trained ✅

Estimated 1 1/2 years!
Spayed
UTD on vaccinations

Available for adoption through Wags and Whiskers
*They’re located in Mobile, AL. I’m hoping to place locally (Central FL) for follow up support and should anything change post-adoption.

-Discounted boarding available with playtime!

Adoption form below!

https://form.jotform.us/70898112177159?mibextid=xfxF2i

26/02/2024

Great advice from my friends Success Just Clicks Dog Training. Contact me for help at [email protected]. Share if you have a friend with a new puppy. Let’s get these puppies off to a good start so they are well rounded adult dogs.

https://www.facebook.com/share/kB3M24EmSDvpZzhE/?mibextid=QwDbR1

It's Puppy Day!! In honor of Tena picking up her new puppy today, here's another puppy themed cartoon!

It is critical that puppies experience the world before they are finished with their full puppy series of vaccinations. You cannot expect a puppy to transition into the world easily if it has not left your home for 8 weeks except to go to the vet.

Your puppy's protection against distemper, parvo, and other illnesses increases with each booster, but even after the first one there is some protection on board and bringing your puppy to low-risk places or bringing low-risk visitors to your home is important.

My puppy will have a couple of days to settle in but within the first month in my home, he'll be going to friend's homes, hotel stays, outdoor doggo events, SJC's training room/center, going to class with other doggos, to nature areas, to stores that allow dogs but aren't typically full of dogs (NOT pet stores), to various urban areas, and just all over the place watching all sorts of happenings in the world. There might even be a meet the puppy event at SJC at some point or another!

I personally avoid pet stores, dog parks, and popular park areas with high dog populations. But my puppy gets to experience a ton of things in the world well-before he will be fully vaccinated.

The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior's position statement is very clear, "For this reason, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior believes that it should be the standard of care for puppies to receive such socialization before they are fully vaccinated."

06/02/2024

It's been 6 weeks since those Christmas puppies came home and usually this is when people start realizing how much work puppies are. We love our puppies, but it can be a challenge sometimes. Contact me for help. Don't give up!! It will get easier with just some basics. Adopted puppies/dogs get a Rescue Discount. Let's talk. Share this post with a friend who may need help.

[email protected] or text me at 412-780-4983.

22/01/2024

If you are one of the folks who adopted or purchased puppies at Christmas who are now thinking this puppy thing isn’t what you expected, before trying to rehome, please consider working with a positive reinforcement trainer. Some issues can be a quick fix when you know how to handle them appropriately and longer term training is a great way to understand your pup and develop a great bond.

Contact me! Discounts for adopted shelter pups.

Don’t panic, don’t give up. I can help. Email me at [email protected].

22/01/2024

Peanut butter is widely used in training and for stuffing kongs, smearing on licki mats, etc. Please check for xylitol or now birch sugar on labels before using. At minimum it will make your dog very sick and some may die from it. Be safe.

29/12/2023

According to the SPCA and Humane Society, in the next 4-8 weeks, you'll all be seeing the "We need to re-home our pet..." posts. If you are one of the folks who adopted or purchased puppies as Christmas gifts who are now thinking this puppy thing isn’t what you expected, before trying to rehome, please consider working with a positive reinforcement trainer. Some issues can be a quick fix when you know how to handle them appropriately and longer term training is a great way to understand your pup and develop a great bond.

Contact me! Discounts for adopted shelter pups.

Don’t panic, don’t give up. I can help. Email me at [email protected].

09/12/2023

Stop by the Doggie Bag on Edgewood for supplies and take a chance to win some great baskets. All tickets purchased benefit 4 local charities. ❤️