Wise Mind Canine

28/02/2025

Given the current political climate in the US I wanted you to know that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will never be dirty words at Wise Mind Canine. I meant to do this earlier but I too have been drained by the last month.

In case you don't know, I am disabled, neurodivergent and LGBTQ+. I had to start my own business because no one wants to deal with the accommodations I'd need to be someone's employee. I think the exact quote from my disability hearing was "unhireable" and I only collected more disabilities in the years since. So I had to make my own employment.

The world can be a cruel place for people who are different and the current administration seems intent on making that so much worse.
So I want you to know that you are welcome here if you are trans. You are welcome here no matter who you love. You are welcome here regardless of your immigration status. You are welcome here no matter the color of your skin. You are welcome here regardless of what your body and mind can or cannot do. You are welcome here if you need me to teach you differently.

Scholarships are available to those who need them. Accommodations are available to those who need them. They will remain available. Just ask.

If you need a safe spot to just think about your dogs and only your dogs for a little while you know where to find me.

ID: The words "HEY YOU!" over the pride flag, including the symbols for intersex, trans, and people of color on the left side.

25/02/2025

I made something shiny and free about physical exercise alternatives for dogs who can't handle neighborhood walks. Want it? 15 Ideas. 20 pages. All yours!

ID: A dog looks down at the words check below. The Wise Mind Canine Logo is on the Image

18/02/2025

Do you have a construction plan for your multi dog household? Did you know it can be a trigger for conflict between dogs as stress levels rise and routines are thrown aside?

We are undergoing a remodel of our 1950's bathroom right now. It went from 10 days to 25 days. But despite having a dog who can display intrahousehold dog aggression under pain and stress, we have gotten through this unscathed. Why? Because we had a plan!

✅ Separation for the male dogs who have previously had conflict during the early construction period as we gauged what the reaction would be.

✅ Proactive use of behavior rescue meds prescribed by our veterinarian during the loudest and most disruptive parts of construction.

✅Arranging the house so that the dogs never had to come into contact with the many strangers that are in and out of our home. That's an added stressor no one needed.

✅Paid attention to what the dogs told us about where they wanted to be. The first day our oldest shepherd was in the basement at the furthest point in our home from the construction. She panicked. She wanted to escape the basement. So we let her. Her choice? Her crate that directly shared a wall with the room being demoed. Why? Not sure, but she has been happy with that arrangement ever since. Fisher couldn't settle and kept trying to climb into my desk chair with me. I got the memo and blew up an air mattress in my office so he could snuggle into me. Slept like a baby after that. Make the best plan you can, but adjust to the new information they give you.

✅Tried to keep as much routine as we could during the changes to our living situation that have overflowed into every room of the house. They still got their walks, their normal meal times, and other typical activities. We also immediately created routines within our new circumstances. Where dogs would go, who they would be with, what we would do when they got there. We did everything we could to create predictability within chaos.

✅Provided calming activities like food puzzles, chews, lickable items etc.

✅Extra opportunities to play with us and each other.

✅Increased supervision of our spicy jalapeno shepherd in his dog dog interactions during this period. Proactive intervention with trained skills if he was showing "off" behavior in interactions.

We will continue to watch them closely in the weeks after this project concludes and thoughtfully provide activities that help them feel happy and burn off stress.

I want to know:

Have you ever seen conflict between dogs arise after a home remodeling project?

Did you even know that was possible?

What have you done to help your dogs through construction?

ID: Image shows a bathroom gutted down to the studs. The banner reads "preventing issus in multi dog households due to constructions". The Wise Mind Canine logo is on the image.

14/02/2025

Have you ever paid attention to the relationship preferences in your multi dog household?

Fish LOVES Zeke. Playing with him. Walking with him. Lying next to him (or apparently on him). Well most of the time, a story for another day perhaps. But today? They'd totally be each other's Valentine.

I'd love to see some cute pictures of your dogs' doggy Valentines in the comments.

ID: Fish rests his head across Zeke's neck and back. Both dogs are snuggled together, fast asleep on the couch. Text asks "who's your dog's Valentine?

13/02/2025

If you've ever been intrigued by the world of dog sports this is a great opportunity to learn about Rally. Free! Donate if you can.

Even if you never compete this can be a great activity for you and your dog at home.

Every Dog Austin has an amazing library of webinars just like this one available for free. If you've worked with me in private training odds are I've sent you there at least once. Register for the webinar then go check that out.

Join Ayoka to learn all about Rally Obedience - a fun and accessible dog sport for all dogs and their handlers. Speaker: Ayoka Bubar FREE, donations optional!

12/02/2025

Meet my most popular blog post. While you're there, join the mailing list so you'll never miss free content.

Bonding activities for dogs are a great way to improve the relationships in your multi dog household. Learn more about helping dogs bond!

11/02/2025

Fights between dogs in your home can be incredibly scary and disrupt the entire household. If you're going through this I'd love to have you join me for a free assessment. My Dog Fight Rehab private training program has helped households like yours restore safety and harmony. Let me help you chart a path forward! Appointments available as soon as next week.

ID: Tired of living with dog fights? Join me in a free assessment for Dog Fight Rehab! Image shows a cartoon person with their head in their hands with a thought bubble showing a dog fight above their head. The Wise Mind Canine and Aggression in Dogs Master Course Certificate of Completion logos are on the image. The trainer's name is Kathryn Sipple IAABC-ADT.

11/02/2025

2025 Private Training Program changes are here!

Only Dog Fight Rehab and Custom Canine Private Training Programs are available right now. Thriving Multi Dog Households should arrive in March alongside the group class level.

I am now enrolling private training program students for March. Want to know more? Head to the website and schedule a free assessment.

24/01/2025

Tension over resources is a huge trigger for dog fights. It can start with minor things like sn**ching their housemate's treat or jostling each other to the be the closest to you and the resource. While some dogs are more amenable to the chaos, others can't handle the insecurity surrounding the things they want. Most people won't see a reaction the first time this happens or even the first 30. But these little interactions stack up over time.

If this behavior is present in your multi dog household you can avoid the risk factor it presents by using management strategies like gates or by working on helping your dogs take turns. Taking steps to show your dogs that their resources are theirs and they don't have to compete helps maintain harmony. If you need help preventing a possible future dog fight or dealing with the aftermath of one just send me a message.

ID: The words Dog FIght Risk Factors with a warning light above them. Next to a graphic of a dog's mouth and nose with teeth bared with a thought bubble that says grrrr. The remaining text reads " Your dogs don’t know how to receive resources like treats or attention in a group. They may try to sn**ch items from one another. Commonly they also push and shove one another in the process. Similarly, they may show this behavior when you have a resource you’re not about to share, like your dinner. Tension and insecurity surrounding resources can lead to dog fights. You can intervene NOW, BEFORE a fight. Contact Wise Mind Canine today." The Wise Mind Canine logo is on the image.

21/01/2025

I've been hard at work on the Thriving Multi Dog Households online course and Thriving Multi Dog Households free community. That means I've been thinking a lot about the questions you might have about living with multiple dogs.

But as I work to finish this project, I really want to hear from you about what you want to learn or even wish someone had taught you when you had multiple dogs for the first time. So what do YOU want to know about living with multiple dogs? If you're too shy to comment publicly you can send me a message.

ID: A graphic image with two toy poodles with question marks over their head. The image asks "what do you want to know about living with multiple dogs??". The Wise Mind Canine logo is on the image.

17/01/2025

One of my favorite phrases for my clients over the years has been "your pace is the right pace". Behavior change is hard for people and dogs. Not to mention the fact that every learner is different or the hundred other things you have going on outside of working with your dogs. That's why we build a solid management plan first. So you can take a break whenever you need one. If you, your dogs, and the general public are safe and we are making even micro movements toward your goals, I am happy. Fast, slow and everything in between, it's up to YOU and the dogs. I'm here to happily work within whatever effort you're able to give me. You're doing great. I promise.

I'd like to know, what's one way you give yourself grace when working (or not working) with your dogs?

ID: This is word graphic. "You deserve a dog trainer who....respects and supports the pace that works for you and your family without judgement. Take a break, breathe, you’ve got this! There are ways to put dog behavior challenges on ice so you can attend to other things in life." The Wise Mind Canine logo and the name Katie (Sipple) Carey IAABC-ADT, FDM, BSc are on the image.

15/01/2025

Many people don't know where to start when their dogs are fighting. So I'll start sharing small tips like these.

I cannot emphasize enough the number of dogs who come into my Dog Fight Rehab private training program that turn out to have a medical condition or chronic pain. In those cases treating that medical condition or pain goes a long way toward actually succeeding in reintroducing the dogs. I don't know about you but I'm not always a happy ray of sunshine when I'm feeling unwell. Dogs can be much the same and far more likely to get angry with a housemate.

You can take the step of going to your veterinarian even if you haven't found the right trainer yet. In fact you'll be ahead of schedule if you do this on your own. If the fight was severe and your dog is really struggling emotionally in other areas of life you can ask if behavior meds might be appropriate for your dog while you're there too.

Progress toward your goals can be negatively impacted when we approach behavioral issues like dog fights without addressing medical conditions. Once your dogs are fighting, your life is already hard. Don't spend your precious time beating your head against a brick wall trying to fix a medical condition with behavioral interventions. Often dogs need both, but that behavior change piece can be hard or impossible to accomplish when your dog isn't feeling well.

And if nothing turns up, well, you move forward from there and start training. However it's important to note that a clean bill of health at one exam doesn't necessarily mean there's nothing going on. It just means their either isn't an issue or you and your vet don't yet have the information that would uncover what's going on, sometimes that comes later.

Need help with a multi dog household gone wrong? You know where to find me.

ID: A growling dog look at the following words: "Are your dogs fighting? Things to do:
It’s time to visit your primary veterinarian to do a thorough screening for health conditions and possible pain. This is especially important for behavior that you feel popped up ‘SUDDENLY” or “OUT OF THE BLUE”. Do this even if the injures from the fight were not severe. " The Wise Mind Canine logo and instagram handle are on the image.

13/01/2025

Hey all, I'm going to transition to using my married name before it's totally official so you'll start to see Katie Carey or Katie (Sipple) Carey anywhere my name is present. New name, same me! Thank you for your kind wishes! I haven't caught up with comments yet.

Now I'll give you one wedding picture and then it's back to dog training. We are doing the whole big thing later so we are rocking our temporary rings right now.

Just a reminder: 2024 pricing leaves in February but private training program slots are open and enrolling now. Don't actually want to start this month? Purchase Month 1 now, then schedule your behavior evaluation on your desired program start date. That will lock you into 2024 prices as long as you start Months 2+ within 28 days of your behavior evaluation. Who wants a happier multi dog household in 2025?

ID: Close up of Katie and Kyle's hands with a snowy background. They have matching temporary wedding bands and a handfasting cord that is white red and green over their hands.

11/01/2025

If you've been here awhile you probably know that I'm disabled. I opened Wise Mind Canine using the Ticket to Work Program which helps people with disabilities return to the workforce. This whole process has had its ups and downs. Small business can be very feast or famine, especially early on. Learning how to balance the business and a body that has decidedly forgotten how to be a body without a lot of manual interference has been tough. Recently though I crossed a threshold in the Ticket to Work Program. It's a huge milestone. I'm in the phase where they let me completely stand on my own two feet and only catch me if things go really wrong. I'm determined to not need to be caught at all.

I'm feeling reflective and grateful in the New Year. I wanted to thank you all for making this dream possible. Thank you for following the page, liking, commenting, and sharing so I don't have to have an ads budget. Thank you to my fellow professionals in the dog world who believe in my work with multi dog households and refer cases to me. Some months, that choice carries me. Thank you to my paid clients, past and present for giving this whole virtual training thing a chance. Thank you for sharing your stories and your dogs and your lives with me. Thank you for making me excited to start my day and for motivating me to show up even when my body is not on board. Thank you for this goofy photo of my boy dogs and the ability to fight for Zeke's life and keep him on hospice. Thank you most of all for being the reason that I can finally marry the love of my life this weekend.

In 2025 I'm going to need you all more than ever but first I wanted you to know the profound impact you have on someone's life when you support a small business. I have huge plans for this year. Firm dates are hard for me, my body does what it does and I'm along for the ride. I always prioritize my current clients over projects when that happens. But lower cost group services with live meetings are coming. Blogs and graphic series and a free community too. As well as the continuation of my Dog Fight Rehab Program for multi dog households in crisis. And as always, if you need something off topic or just need a fellow disabled person who understands where you're coming from, we can work something out. This year I need you, but I'm planning to give back too. Scholarships will continue as I am able.

Again, thank you, thank you, thank you. You have all collectively changed my life. Stay tuned and Happy New Year!

07/01/2025

Before you bring a new dog home, I want you to consider how you're going to give your new dog and your resident dog(s) breaks from each other. Alongside how YOU are going to get a break from supervising.

Often this means using barriers like exercise pens, doors, and gates to provide physical separation while still allowing the dogs to have space to move and engage in their own activities.

Pro tip, having at least one stable yet movable barrier can give you lots of flexibility for placement. Especially if you're on a budget. I'll put a favorite in the comments.

ID: A pit bull terrier tilts their head while looking at the camera next the words "Did You Know" with a large teal question mark. The text blurb says " It’s important to give dogs breaks from each other during the introduction process. Especially when high stakes resources are present. Using barriers like doors, gates, and exercise pens with or without visual blocks is an excellent way to facilitate breaks for you and your dogs."

06/01/2025

This is the LAST call for 2024 pricing on private training programa. They will be updated on February 3rd.

Want a new and improved multi dog household in 2025? Let's chat! From growly to chaotic, to proactive I've got you covered!

ID: Two German Shepherds tug on a jollyball in the snow. Last chance lock in 2024 private training program pricing before February 3rd, 2025. Up to 3 slots available. The Wise Mind Canine logo is on the image.

05/12/2024

This has been my life recently, just soaking up all the happy days with Zeke. Time really is precious.

That being said, he is in more of a stable holding pattern right now so I have been diving back into the Thriving Multi Dog Households public group and online group course projects. It is my hope to have those ready sometime in January. Been plugging away at that project over the past 2 weeks.

Private training program slots are currently open and available with December and January start dates. If you want to start the new year with a new start for your multi dog household, just reach out!

ID: There are 2 images. The first has medium sized black dog (Zeke) with a grey muzzle nestled between Katie's legs on the chaise of a couch. He is wearing a green coat to stay warm and looking at Katie with soft eyes. The second image shows Fish, a German Shepherd cuddling with Zeke, still in a green coat on the floor. Fisher's head is resting on Zeke's shoulder.

30/10/2024

Things have been quiet here on the public business front, for good reason.

I've been soaking up time with Zeke who is nearing 14 years old. We've shifted to comfort care and are enjoying whatever time we have with him. At this point we don't have any idea how long that will be. We just know he's stable right now, comfortable, and happy after fighting like hell to achieve that.

We are filling his days with things he loves. Sunbeam naps. Stroller rides. Snuggles on the couch. Visits with his favorite people. Forest preserve time with the help of a stroller and my partner carrying him to places like where this picture was taken. A whole bucketlist of things.

I'm trying to find the energy to be more active and consistent on social media and push the Thriving Multi Dog Households project forward. Both the free public group (join above) and the online group course. But I also know that this time with Zeke will not come again. I thank you all for your patience as you wait to actually be let into the free group and get word on course availability. It's coming. Just slower than I wanted it too.

Though social media has gone quiet my private training programs are still alive and well with spots available. Including 2 partial scholarship spots for disabled clients. That's where my business energy has been going and I'm so proud of the work my clients are doing there. You can message me here about those services.

If you made it this far. I want to know something! What was your favorite thing you did when saying goodbye to your senior dog? Mine so far was this forest preserve trip where we got Zeke deep into the woods and saw him light up with joy, wag his tail, and move faster than we thought was possible.