Adventure Dogs Academy

18/12/2023

Laugh/cry.

just be consistent

—

meme: Two still frames from The Simpsons animated sitcom.

Frame one: Johnny Tightlips, a mob goon, stands in a doorway. He is expressing a tense smile as he waves at the viewer. He is labelled with the text, ‘dog who “doesn’t react anymore.”’

Frame two: A view from the other side of the doorway. Smithers is threatening the mob goon with a gun in his back. Smithers is labelled with the text, “the trainer,” and the gun is labelled with the text, “pain and fear.”

15/12/2023

All of this to file a dog’s nails.

Please be careful with who you hire for dog training. There’s really not much more to say than that.

Choke chain, shock collar, prong collar, suspended on a chair - why wouldn't it be his favourite thing?

10/12/2023

Jacki makes the best collars. Happy Hanukkah! 🕎 🥔 🍲

30/11/2023

CIRDC Update
Recently, we have been fielding a number of calls and questions regarding severe respiratory infections in dogs in the US.

There has been much US media coverage about multiple veterinary hospitals reporting an increase in dogs with respiratory illnesses…with a subset of cases being quite severe and life threatening. The increased media coverage is causing fear and confusion for pet owners.

The illness is known as Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex (CIRDC).
This is a combination of both viral (various) and bacterial infections, that will cause dogs to become ill and cough.

Given the genesis of the spread of illnesses, we may see cases soon. We don’t want to downplay its significance, but wanted to provide our clients with factual information about the issue.
Attached is a blog by Dr Scott Weese, an infectious disease specialist at The Ontario Veterinary College.
The blog will take you through what you need to know as a pet owner.

https://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/2023/11/articles/animals/dogs/a-dog-owners-guide-to-navigating-respiratory-disease-concerns/

Please contact our hospital to ensure your pet(s) are up to date on the vaccinations to mitigate the chances of illness.

If your pet becomes ill with coughing, sneezing, eye or nasal discharge…or is not eating please contact our hospital.

The veterinary profession is still gathering more information on this illness and will keep you updated as it unfolds

Larry Wilder DVM

23/11/2023

Sitting here, enjoying a cup of hot coffee, with cookies baking in the oven, reflecting on all of the things in my life for which I am grateful.

1. My family and friends. Your support has allowed my passion to turn into a thriving business, and for that, I am so grateful.
2. My clients – thank you for having faith in me to guide you and your dog.
3. My mentors and fellow dog trainers, who have become like my family over the last decade. Without your thoughtful and kind approach to sharing knowledge, I wouldn’t be half the trainer I am today. Our group messages and brunch/lunch dates help me get through the hard days.
4. The dogs – thank you for keeping me humble, while also making me look good. 😉
5. Last, but certainly not least, Pickles. You are the reason I became so interested in dog behavior, the reason I became a dog trainer over a decade ago. As we celebrate your 12th (!!!) birthday this weekend, I am so grateful to be your person. You have been by my side through the lowest lows, and the highest highs. I don’t deserve you, yet here we are. Thanks for being the best business partner / walking billboard a girl could have. Love you, Pix.

22/11/2023

If you’ve worked with me, you know how I feel about errorless learning!

Errorless learning is a stimulus fading procedure that can reduce incorrect responses in a stimulus discrimination task. Errorless learning has been d…

10/11/2023

For those of you with dogs who don’t like having their nails clipped or dremeled (so the majority of dogs!) - check out Fre the wire haired dachshund, filing his own nails. You can create a doggy nail file by glueing heavy grit sandpaper to a piece of plywood, and leaning it against your legs. Lure the dog with food to put his feet on the board, once he does, mark with a yes, and then toss a treat. Dogs pick up on this very quickly and you can put it on cue, like Emily has here with “dig!”

08/11/2023

Look for the puppy that solicits pets and attention, that isn’t worried about noise or movement. If all of the puppies are fearful, do not get one. And if Mom is growling at strangers, do not get one. Trust me. Fearful puppies turn into fearful adults, even with the best socialization plan, we can only do so much.

27/10/2023

This made me chuckle 🤣

26/10/2023

When pet dog people call or email me they initially say that they need their dog to heel or to be obedient but when we start talking that's not actually what they want. These are buzz words they heard and think are what they are supposed to say.

What I find most people really want is to live a joyful life with their dogs and to be told that they aren't screwing up.

Social media is awesome for flexing what someone does right and someone else is doing wrong. It's totally toxic and people unknowingly prescribe to this and then hate the social pressures that it creates.

Most pet dog people need to learn how to help their dog feel safe and comfortable in the world around them. They need some enrichment for their day to day life and we need to be able to do basic things like go for walks, car rides and the vets without stress or conflict.
This looks different for different people and dogs but it rarely needs to include heeling and obedience.

Lastly I'll add, heeling is awesome. Obedience as a sport is awesome. It's just not mandatory for anyone and no one should feel pressure to do these things. They probably won't fix a problem. They might be fun but they might be stressful. That will depend.

23/10/2023

In an effort to reduce wait time for new clients, I am now offering Monday morning time slots for intake calls. I only have 3 or 4 spots per day on Tues/Thurs/Fri/Sat, so this is cutting the wait time down from seven weeks to about two. I appreciate how patient everyone has been and hope these new times help! ❤️, Laurie and Pickles

03/10/2023

Dog training is an unregulated industry. Ask for credentials and insurance. You deserve more than someone who “grew up with dogs” - yes, that is a common phrase in the “experience listed” section of some local dog trainers’ websites. I’ve had teeth my whole life; that doesn’t make me a dentist.

This week, this very week someone messaged to tell me a dog had turned up for a meet and greet with them wearing a prong collar.

At the advice of a dog 'trainer' the guardians were:

Eating out of the dog's bowl before they gave him his food.

Waking him up and moving him out of his bed so they could stand in it.

They were so relieved to find out it was all nonsense.

That they didn't actually have to do those things for their dog to feel understood.

Dogs deserve so much better than that.

People deserve so much better than that.

With so much free education at our fingertips.

With so many people who know the truth desperate to educate.

How is this silliness still happening?

Eating out of your dog's bowl?

Moving them out of their bed to stand in it?

Honestly.

It beggars belief.

It does.

I'm so grateful that my dogs will never be exposed to the madness in the World. Safe till they leave this Earth. Safe to be who they are, Safe to sleep when and where they choose until they are ready to wake. Safe to have an opinion or 10.

Safe.

28/09/2023

Me to my clients, regarding feeding for position for certain behaviors: “dogs tend to hang out where they get fed, so be mindful of where you’re delivering the reinforcer.”

I know all of my trainer friends will get a laugh out of this. 🤣

26/09/2023

Any time a client dog presents to me with sudden aggression, the first thing I recommend is a vet visit for a physical, dental, and blood work. Pain is so often the underlying motivator when aggression suddenly appears in a dog.

Up to 82% of dogs who present to veterinary behaviorists have either pain or systemic disease. That is a big number. In our practice we think that it is about 50% at least.

Learn more about how metabolic diseases can affect the behavior of dogs and cats in my new article for Vet Clinics. Free to download until November 9th!

https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1hnkqiToz4XWw

21/09/2023

"If you can teach a whale to p*e in a cup, you can train your dog without punishment" - Ted Turner, Exotic Animal Trainer

Animal Behavior Wellness Center
https://www.abwellnesscenter.com
Treatment. Training. Compassion.

18/09/2023

Crate training done correctly! Your breeder should be acclimating to crates at a young age.

15/09/2023

Pickles 🤦🏻‍♀️

13/09/2023

Why do we train the way we do? Not only because it’s the most humane, but it’s also the most effective and the safest.

11/09/2023

Does your breeder acclimate your puppy to a car or crate? Please ask, as these are important life skills!

06/09/2023

We love our local VBs, particularly Drs Amy L. Pike and Meaghan Ropski.

Judging by my clients over the years, there are a LOT of myths circulating about veterinary behaviorists, when you need one, and what they do and don't do etc. So let's talk about it!

Myth 1: Veterinary Behaviorists are a LAST Resort.

The time to take your dog to a veterinary behaviorist is BEFORE you are at your wits end and your dog's behavior has escalated to a point where you feel you can't live with them anymore. Psych meds are a process, and they take time and trial and error. You and your dog don't need to suffer to this level before seeking this kind of help. I'll talk about when you might want to consider a VB in a moment.

Myth 2: The veterinary behaviorist is going to drug the liveliness and joy out of my dog.

Nope! The VB is going to seek to alleviate your dog's psychiatric symptoms with their quality of life in mind. That means they are going to want your dog to be able to do things that make them happy and fulfilled. Sometimes psych meds have side effects, these can be short term as your dog adjusts to a medication or long term. When there are long term side effects that are impacting your dog's quality of life your VB will explore options to alleviate that wherever possible.

Myth 3: If these meds aren't working fast, they're never going to work!

MANY psychiatric medications require time to build up in your dog's body and have their full impact. That means you have to be patient and wait it out. Always ask your VB when you can expect to see an impact, if there's going to be one. That way you're not bailing on medication before it can even get a chance to work.

Myth 4: My trainer/veterinarian is just suggesting a veterinary behaviorist because they want them to tell me to euthanize my pet.

I'm actually unsure where this one comes from. Yes, sometimes a veterinary behaviorist can make a recommendation of euthanasia. However that is never done lightly and it comes when there are severe quality of life concerns and serious safety concerns that cannot be mitigated. Usually animal professionals are sending you to a veterinary behaviorist to get help for your dog and to create a situation where your dog can feel better, begin to thrive and learn new behavior that will make life together better for all.

Myth 5: Medicating my dog is lazy.

No folks, it's kind. Dogs can suffer from chemical imbalances in their brain just like people do. They can go through traumas that impact how they function. They can have medical issues that impact their behavior in big ways. In these dogs we can train and provide enrichment until it has turned into a full time job and get little to no progress. You're not lazy if you're seeking help for your dog. And don't forget, seeing a veterinary behaviorist is typically done in conjunction with a team. That team has your regular veterinarian, your veterinary behaviorist, and a trainer. You're not just giving meds to make behavior stop, you're using the new ability to relax and think to teach your dog things that will make their life better and fuller. That's as opposite of lazy as I can imagine.

Myth 6: My dog isn't bad enough for a veterinary behaviorist, they're not Cujo!

Not every dog that could use a trip to a veterinary behaviorist is aggressive. Here are some basic guidelines that I use when I think about sending you to the veterinary behaviorist with your dog.

1. Have you tried a LOT of good and skilled things to change this behavior with credentialed professionals with no progress?
2. Is this behavior intense?
3. Does your dog require a truly prolonged recovery period after a trigger?
4. Is your dog having difficulties sleeping and relaxing throughout their daily life despite having needs that are well met?
5. Does your dog have a WIDE variety of triggers such that they are difficult or impossible to manage and create an environment where they can exist with low stress?
6. Does your dog physically injure themselves when they are panicked or afraid?
7. Does your dog have compulsive behavior?
8. Does your dog have a complex web of medical issues alongside challenging behavior?
9. Has your dog experienced trauma?
10. Your dog cannot focus enough to learn, despite good training mechanics, clear criteria, and short sessions.
11. Is this behavior potentially dangerous?
12: Does the behavior escalate rapidly (zero to 60, no communication or signaling)
13. Fear, panic, or anxiety that impacts quality of life on a daily basis.
14. Atypical and extreme behavior is popping up in a young dog under 4 months old.
MORE....

Obviously I can't put my entire dog trainer brain on display for you here, but these are some of the factors I consider when recommending you go to a Veterinary Behaviorist. Usually if I recommend it if you have some combination of these factors at baseline that send up red flags in my head. Typically those things, taken together with a thorough history of your dog have shown me that your dog might need medical help to be successful at a behavior modification plan. Or we work together for a bit, and despite hard and skillful work, things are not changing for the better.

Myth 7: If I go to the veterinary behaviorist I don't need to work with a trainer anymore.

Wrong again. Your dog still needs help, the meds are just there to help ensure that help can actually take hold in your dogs' brain and to make that training process easier on you too.

Myth 8: If I put my dog on meds now, they will have to be on them FOREVER.

This is true for SOME dogs. Other dogs who respond well to their behavior modification plans can sometimes have their meds changed, doses lowered, or titrated off meds under the care of their veterinary behaviorist.

Myth 9: The veterinary behaviorist doesn't know anything more than my vet does.

Veterinary behaviorists are specialists in dog behavior. Just like a human psychiatrist. They are experts in what they do. Some general veterinarians will work with you on psychiatric meds for your dog. Some will want you to go to the veterinary behaviorist and will not prescribe meds. Others will just bridge you and your dog with a trial of meds until a VB can take over. Ultimately this depend on what the veterinarian thinks is going on with your dog and whether they think they can help you with their individual knowledge and expertise. General veterinarians can help, but sometimes, you really need that specialist.

Myth 10: I've failed if my dog needs a veterinary behaviorist.

You haven't. Some dogs just have complex behavior. It's really not all in how you raise them. Even dog trainers find themselves in need of a veterinary behaviorist for their personal dogs sometimes. Myself included. You're a kick-ass dog parent if you care enough about your dog's mental well being to make the investment in a veterinary behaviorist and do the hard work of helping your dog feel better. Don't let anyone tell you any different. This is TOUGH stuff, and you deserve to have compassion and kindness for yourself.

ID: Text on the image reads "Myth-Busting: Veterinary Behaviorist Edition". The image has a cartoon person with purple hair in a bun. They are wearing scrubs and reaching with a stethoscope toward a small cartoon dog with a paw on the person's knee. The Wise Mind Canine logo is on the image.

14/08/2023

A happy and pain-free Pickle during and after his cold-laser therapy this morning 💚🥒

06/08/2023

I highly discourage folks from taking their dogs to dog parks.

It’s not an oasis. It’s a thunderdome for pooches.

01/08/2023

This is a trainer who offers boarding and board and train that uses shock collars and leash corrections on their client dogs. They’ve gotten really good at using pretty words and dancing around actually saying the types of tools they use. Buyer beware. Do some digging to make sure your trainer’s values align with yours.

09/05/2023

Let’s talk about our boarding kennels!

We have two 4x6 kennels in an outbuilding on our property for visiting dogs. They have heat, AC, and video monitoring. They’re cleaned 2x/week with Rescue kennel spray, as well as after a dog finishes their stay, and they’re spot cleaned daily.

If I have more than two dogs staying here at a time, the third is crated in front of the left kennel in an XL wire, or they’re crated in the upstairs living space.

When dogs come for their acclimation stay - a requirement for all new pups - I test out crating in different locations if they’re hesitant about the kennel. Some dogs prefer to be crated; in fact, my own dog will choose the tight fit of an airline crate over a larger pen.

Puppies who are still working on housetraining will usually be crated within the kennel at night to prevent accidents in the larger space.

When dogs arrive, they’re given ample time to exercise, usually 45-60 minutes, before I even open the kennel door. Then, I take about 15-20 minutes and play treat/retreat to get them comfortable entering and exiting the space. I want it to be viewed as a quiet, comfortable place to rest - not a punishment that they’re forced into.

From there, I monitor the cameras. I don’t book acclimation stays on days where I have off-site lessons. I want to be available should they panic, so they aren’t struggling for an extended period. My loose definition (though it may vary) of struggling is when a dog is vocalizing without resting for over 15 minutes. Some dogs will cry or bark for a few seconds, the majority will stop and relax and sleep, since they’re physically and mentally tired.

Dogs who bark for longer than five minutes usually cannot settle themselves and start to panic when no one helps them. This is why I don’t adhere to the “cry it out” method, because their stress levels and adrenaline will climb with each break in the kennel.

Luckily the vast majority of pups who come for their acclimation pass with flying colors, like Wynnie, the sweet golden retriever puppy on the right. If they’re borderline, I’m happy to work with the owners on gradually acclimating them with play dates, and then daycare, before working up to an overnight, if we have enough time before the long stay.

Have any questions for me? Leave a comment or send me a DM!

03/04/2023

Hi, friends! Laurie here. I wanted to introduce myself and Adventure Dogs Academy.

I've been an animal lover since childhood, and always knew I wanted do something with dogs, though I wasn't sure what exactly. In my late teens and early 20s, I volunteered with my labrador, Moose, at nursing homes, hospitals, and libraries. When I adopted Pickles in 2012, I received some horrific advice from a trainer, which caused me to dive deeper into dog behavior, and eventually, leave my career in marketing.

I began teaching puppy classes for a local force free trainer in 2013, and haven't looked back! I started offering boarding and boarding with training a few years later, and Adventure Dogs Academy was born. The name pays tribute to both the dogs of my childhood (Chief, Fred, Joe, and Tiffy), and the two I've had as an adult (Moose and Pix!).

The dogs I grew up with were more content than many of the dogs I see today, in part because of their lifestyle - free to roam on our farm - and also because we didn't impose unrealistic expectations upon them. They were free to be dogs. Sniffing, exploring, hunting...a new adventure every day.

Today I try to impart some of those lifestyle changes on my clients. Let your dogs sniff on walks. Provide appropriate outlets for normal dog behaviors like digging, chewing, chasing, and shredding. Once you implement those changes, a lot of the behavior "problems" diminish, and from there, the manners work goes smoothly.

Visit our website to learn more about our services --

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