A Better Companion Dog Training

27/08/2024

I love it when dogs go from the first picture (anxious) to the second picture (relaxed) in the kennel. Great job Dizzy!

23/08/2024

Miss Dizzy is here in residency training to gain a little confidence and work on her public access skills. She's really picking up her heel and sit around the neighborhood! 🥰

21/08/2024

Whether it's running in or running out, well behaved dogs know not to blast through thresholds. I don't need them bouncing off of me in a NASCAR type race where I end up in the pits for repairs or watching nothing but tail lights racing off down the speedway of the neighborhood. Threshold respect helps keep you and your dogs safe. They should always do a full stop waiting for permission for entering and exiting through ANY doorway. That means front doors, back doors, car doors, crate doors, shopping store entrances and yard gates. It's up to you to consistently reinforce their good behavior to keep them sharp on their safety habits.

20/08/2024

Walks are good! Bailey came in for a little refresher and did great 😁

1.04 on the trails behind the community.

Total mileage on My Adventure K-9 Challenge: 19.17/65.0

17/08/2024

Isn't Ace a goof!

Ace is doing private lessons to polish up his obedience, stop the pulling and work on his loud mouth. His owner is working diligently on her homework and checking off the requirements for Ace's graduation certificate. I'm enjoying his progress but I'm gonna miss seeing his fun personality every week!

16/08/2024

Today was Torvin's turn at the New York Infantry side of the Manassas Battlefield. 1.84 miles 😁

Despite the massive amount of walking I do everyday, getting the time to get out into nature is surprisingly hard but so worth it!

Total mileage on My Adventure K-9 Challenge: 18.13/65.0

14/08/2024

It's good to be home! Don't get me wrong - I LOVED Pennsic: the people, the camping, the shopping, the woods, AND walking 75.6 MILES!!

But I MISSED my dogs (and Breacan)!!

So it was awesome to get out with Kyrie and continue on my challenge walk with 1.83 miles on the New York infantry loop at the Manassas Battlefield.

Total mileage on My Adventure K-9 Challenge: 16.29/65.0

12/08/2024

Finally, we’re at a turning point in veterinary nutrition. ✨ Vets are the last group of formally trained medical professionals to still actively (and sometimes aggressively) promote the exclusive feeding of ultra-processed, pelleted food for a lifetime (birth to death), as a means to achieve longterm health. 🥺❓
This incongruent and unorthodox recommendation is a result of our nutrition education during veterinary medical school. As of now, every vet school around the world is endowed by a Big Pet Food brand, so their nutrition curriculum is funded, prepared and executed (taught) by the top (ultra-processed) pet food manufacturers (or faculty funded by them), so our future vets don’t have access to unbiased nutrition information. But our Next Generation vet students are asking more questions 💥; aren’t less processed, fresher foods healthier for all mammals? How does heat and extended, unregulated, storage temps affect added nutrients, flavorings, palatants and additives 🌡️? Where are all the synthetic nutrients coming from, and is anyone regulating safety? In the U.S., there’s no limit on the amount of copper and other minerals in pet food… and what happens when we feed excessive amounts in perpetuity?
While some vet med students may not feel nutrition is relevant to their future (see link in graphic), and some (correctly) feel they aren’t adequately prepared for the job ahead of them, we have a whole new generation of intelligent, inspired, and empowered veterinary students who actually understand all of these issues, and are moving forward with a clear sense of what needs to happen in veterinary hospitals around the world, but also what has to happen in the industry ☄️. The next generation of present-knowledge vets is here… let’s support the heck out of them❣️

07/08/2024

Still hanging out in the middle ages - I'll see you all next week!

29/07/2024

Yep, 5AM on Saturday we pulled out for Pennsic. The cars seemed to have so much more room when I didn't have to pack in three dogs for the five hour drive up past Pittsburg 🤣

(The pups are staying home with my Dad and their Aunt Whitney and Uncle Mike)

Pray for good weather and that the Viking tent goes up without a hitch 🙏🏻

27/07/2024

It's that time of year again!!! Or, maybe I should say: Finally!! Pennsic is here and as of 5AM we are on the road. We'll be back in two weeks.

My guys are kicking back, being rowdy and having a blast with their Uncle Mike and Aunt Whitney.

Before we loaded up the cars all the dogs got baths. This is one of those times when I'm really glad they have all been taught to Come when I call, Stand when I ask them to and get their baths whether it's their favorite thing or not. FYI: Emma hates baths, Torvin loves them and Kyrie and Seamus are indifferent. AND, yes, I got soaked 🤣

I can't wait to hear what you all did with your dogs while we were gone!

25/07/2024

Between the heat, working with clients and packing for PENNSIC the real walks have seriously been on hold but we finally got out to explore a community trail around an office complex. At nine o'clock Torvin, Kyrie and Seamus were still panting hard with the humidity. We still did 1.66 miles and had fun getting out as a family.

Total mileage on My Adventure K-9 Challenge: 14.46/65.0

24/07/2024

20/07/2024

"What do you mean it's too hot out here?" - Seamus 😝

19/07/2024

LOVE THIS FOOD!!!

19/07/2024

Well the pupsicles were a hit!

Okay, mostly 🤣 Emma wasn't a huge fan but Torvin, Kyrie and Seamus thought it was awesome 🥰

18/07/2024

Felt like 107 yesterday so I made pupsicles for the dogs. This time I used Volhard AM crumble, bananas, strawberries, yogurt, peanut butter, and water. I'll see how they like this mix tomorrow.

Pupsicles are a great way to engage your dog on a hot day and introduce them to different fruits and vegetables. You can put just about anything edible in them from yogurt to broth to pumpkin puree to treats or their normal food. You will obviously stay away from onions, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts and anything else that dogs shouldn't eat but enjoy experimenting and discover your dogs favorites.

To make it last longer and really make them work, I will often put the "mix" in a Kong toy or a hollow shank bone and freeze but today I just used some solo cups.

18/07/2024

09/07/2024

Got another hike in with Kyrie (3.44 miles). Started at Cabell's Mill and continued further up the Cub Run Stream Valley trail. Easy, mostly level, mostly paved trail with several places to get you dog wet. Great place to work your pup around other people and dogs sprinkled throughout, while staying mostly in the shade!

Total mileage on My Adventure K-9 Challenge: 12.8/65.0

08/07/2024

Sploot! Torvin is getting maximum contact on his belly from the cool tile floor 🤣

08/07/2024

05/07/2024

My guys were feeling a bit left out so here's a couple more proud American dogs 🥰

04/07/2024

Happy Independence Day!!

This is one of my favorite pictures for a patriotic 4th of July - It's a picture that Timber's family gave me a few years ago. 🥰

Hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable day full of joy and gratitude.

03/07/2024

Another nice hike/stroll through the woods with Seamus! We went up to the New York Infantry side of the Manassas Battlefield doing 1.69 miles on the traditional pack walk loop. Saw practically no people, one deer and tons of squirrels. Heard a wood pe**er but he alluded our gaze. Yes, Anna is barefoot as typical. And, Seamus is in a proper heel (see the bend in the leash at the buckle location and his head lined up with my left leg).

I am really enjoying getting out for this hiking challenge!

Total mileage on My Adventure K-9 Challenge: 9.36/65.0

02/07/2024

Kyrie and Torvin are taking advantage of a cool time of day to let off some steam. I personally don't know how they do it - it's still too hot! 🤣

01/07/2024

Got in a walk on the Occoquan Trail near Bull Run. It was hot enough that I let Torvin swim first. Saw some turtles and picked up a hitchhiker. Did 2.93 miles from route 28 and back.

Total mileage 7.67/65.0 - slowly but surely 🚶‍♀️

29/06/2024

"But mom, if I can carry it, it's not too big! And, it's a STICK!!!" 🤣

28/06/2024

Got to spend some time with Pickles 🥰 Did a little work on barking while at a party and as a bonus got some snuggles. Life is good!

27/06/2024

Ollie and Cole's owners are doing a great job! Both dachshunds have made awesome progress in a week learning to Heel, working on Sit and the barking is getting there. Super proud of both these cute dogs and their owners!!

26/06/2024

Got another walk in at 7am - it's still SO HOT. Praying not for rain but at least cooler temperatures 😆

Took Kyrie to Eleanor C Lawrence Park. Did 1.62 miles from the visitor center, around the pond and back. Easy, pleasant little walk.

Total mileage 4.74/65.0 - got a ways to go 😁