Payton's Paws

25/01/2025

We believe diversity is a source of strength, equity is worth pursuing, inclusive practices foster humanity and progress, women's and LGBTQ+ rights are human rights, retaining control over our outcomes is fundamental, and kindness reflects true character. We reaffirm our commitment to foster inclusivity in training and behavior. In 2025, we will expand our scholarship opportunities for those who represent and/or support underserved and underrepresented communities. We will continue to evaluate and explore ways to further support this through our various platforms and brands in the weeks, months, and years ahead. More: https://bit.ly/4jKjlCD

06/01/2025

Every room in our house has a gate! We’ve always been a multi-dog household, including dogs that didn’t get along (e.g., Boone and Sadie), who primarily lived in a crate-and-rotate* setup.

We use gates to separate the dogs during mealtimes (even though they don’t guard their food, I’d like to keep it that way and don’t want them to feel any social pressure from their housemates). Sometimes, the humans need space without dogs underfoot, so we use the gates for that as well.

Simple management strategies like baby gates and crates can help keep everyone safe, happy, and under threshold.

(*In separate rooms separated by a gate—so maybe “gate and rotate” is more accurate.)

Let's get real for a second.

The world often paints a picture that dogs who live together are best friends and do everything together.

This is just not true. Many many many multidog household utilize management in different situations to allow dogs personal space to enjoy things such as:

- feeding time
- chew time
- play time
- attention time

This. Is. Normal.

Just because someone utilizes management, doesn't mean their dogs don't enjoy each other's company or have fun together. It just means that there are certain activities that they prefer to do on their own.

And I will tell you firsthand that implementing safe space zones and time apart can be so beneficial to the relationship between two dogs.

Think about it-- do you enjoy doing every single activity that you do at home with your spouse, family, or sibling RIGHT there? I don't think so.

So let's normalize management between dogs who live together!!

Do you want to work on your dogs' relationship and/or interactions? Go to my website here to schedule a private consult: perkedears.com/private-training-sessions

06/01/2025

So much fun on our buddy hike with Adrian and Noah! Adrian was thrilled to see Noah. Noah, however, wanted to know why he—a rat terrier/noodle mix—had to wear a winter coat, while the Finnish Lapphund, built for cold weather, didn’t. So unfair!

05/01/2025

Today, we honor the incredible life and legacy of Karen Pryor, a pioneer who transformed the world of animal training and left an indelible mark on our industry.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that Karen Pryor’s groundbreaking work paved the way for trainers like myself, and countless others, to advocate for humane, effective training methods. While the fight for positive change would still continue, her visionary efforts undoubtedly accelerated the progress, bringing us to this better place much sooner than we might have otherwise achieved.

Karen Pryor was one of the first to show the world that animals don’t need to be trained with violence or fear. Her work with marine mammals in the 1960s, grounded in science and compassion, paved the way for positive reinforcement techniques that continue to shape the industry.

She didn’t just teach us how to train better; she taught us to see animals as sentient beings, deserving of respect, patience, and understanding.

Her book Don’t Shoot the Dog! remains a cornerstone in the field of behavioral psychology and animal training, introducing the world to the principles of operant conditioning and the power of positive reinforcement. The Karen Pryor Academy, founded in 2007, has trained thousands of professionals, ensuring her legacy endures in the hands of those committed to ethical training practices.

She laid the foundation for a movement that prioritizes trust, connection, and kindness. The positive changes we see in the industry today, our collective rejection of outdated, punitive methods, are a direct result of her fearless advocacy and unwavering belief in a better way.

Her work changed our field, but more importantly, it changed the way we connect with the animals who share our lives.

Thank you, Karen, for showing us what’s possible when science and compassion come together.

Your legacy will continue to inspire us, and we’ll strive to honor your memory by carrying your vision of compassion for animals forward. Rest in peace, and thank you for everything.

Zak George

05/01/2025

Buddy hikes with Charlie and Greg!

05/01/2025

Norman 🤎

05/01/2025

Sleepovers, playdates, and hikes with our pal Norman! 🤎 This kiddo has made amazing progress in interacting with other dogs.

04/01/2025

Drop in visits + Play Dates with Charlie and Sammy (featuring Greg and Noah!)

04/01/2025

Some very belated Christmas photos 😆🎄

04/01/2025

Adventure Spaniels (and Greg)

04/01/2025

Fun on our buddy hike with Charlie and Greg!

04/01/2025

Obi and I have been having a blast working on our skills. We’ve played the engage-disengage game, worked on our location-specific reward markers, practiced touch, name games, and more! A very smart (and slobbery) buddy!

04/01/2025

Adventure Spaniels!

New year, new gear for Miss Jelly Bean! How pretty does she look? ✨💖

01/01/2025

𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐀𝐑𝐘 𝐒𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐃𝐔𝐋𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄

Payton’s Paws will be closed on Monday, January 13th, and possibly for a few additional days due to vehicle maintenance.

Please note that my schedule will be limited this week. Thank you for your understanding and support!

23/12/2024

Crowds, children, loud music, new environments, other dogs, etc. are all potentially part of a holiday gathering with family and friends. This can understandably be overwhelming and stressful for many dogs.

It’s absolutely ok for your dog to not be present at these holiday gatherings, whether that means to leave your dog at home (if they don’t have separation related issues) while you attend the gathering, or provide your dog with a safe room they can get a little peace and quiet in.

If you were considering taking your dog to a gathering with friends and family and you’re not sure if your dog would be comfortable there, consider calling the host to find out the number of people who will be there, whether there are any other dogs there, as well as anything else you think your dog might be overwhelmed by, so that you can have a plan!

If the gathering is at yours, consider having a space for your dog, like a comfy room, where guests know that your dog is not to be disturbed when they are in there and your dog can choose to have a rest in there with their bed(s) and toys, etc.

And if you have guests who are really keen on interacting with your dog when your dog isn’t feeling so keen on that, you could consider asking them to help with filling up a snuffle mat or snuffle toy to give to your dog!

It does not make our dogs less like family to not be present at holiday gatherings with family and friends and your dog who finds these gatherings overwhelming will certainly not feel like they’re “missing out”.

It just means our dogs get to enjoy their holiday season in the way they’d prefer to!

ID: The text says “Your dog does not have to be present at holiday gatherings if it’s overwhelming and stressful for them.”. Above this is a drawing of a dog sleeping while wearing reindeer ears.

16/12/2024

Decompression walk and a training outing (practicing engage-disengage game in a parking lot) with my very smart buddy, Obi.

16/12/2024

Drop-in visits, play dates and a sleepover with Charlie and Sammy (with a cameo appearance by bestie/hype man Noah).

16/12/2024

Slumber parties, walks, play dates and photo shoots with our buddy, Norman.